Author: Dick Mangrum

The new Westminster City Council was brought up-to-date yesterday with utility language such as pop-off valves and step-down banks.  The mayor felt it was important for the council, which features three, first-year members, to know where the city stands with water and electric power upgrades.  So, they all listened and asked questions of engineers Troy Rosier and Richard Tucker in […]

A Westminster boy, the subject of a missing person alert June 1, has been located and is safe.  That’s the word from an investigator at the Oconee Sheriff’s Office in the case of Levi Locklear, 15, who was missing.  Another teenager from another jurisdiction who also was listed missing has been located and is safe also.

An officer of the court says the Oconee Courthouse in Walhalla closed this morning, after a telephoned bomb threat. Sheriff Crenshaw told 101.7/WGOG NEWS:  “Call into Sheriff’s 911 Center about 10:30.  We evacuated and searched with our explosives K-9 along with another K-9 from Clemson University PD.  Courthouse has been cleared and normal operations have resumed.” Apparently the only crowd-attracting […]

Walhalla business members, along with civic promoters, had the numbers last night in the Depot meeting room, and they applauded four speakers who credited the hospitality tax fund for helping Main Street cash registers ring and strengthening the local economy.  Among the four was Emily Roberts, member of the downtown development board and the wife of Josh Roberts, former city […]

Between the possibilities of rewarding 8% or 10% salary increases, Walhalla City Council is opting for the lower figure.  In a budget workshop, the council voted 6-2 in favor of 8% across-the-board pay increases for city employees during 2022-23.  Voting no were councilmen Keehn and Jordan.  Councilman Grant Keehn, worried about rising inflation, pushed for a 10% increase.  Councilman Keith […]

County government gets a new budget.  Oconee’s new spending plan was affirmed in a 3-1 vote last night, after county council opened the floor for public comment.  The councilmen got brief comment from Matthew Durham, their suspended colleague, who spoke as part of the public hearing.  Durham registered opposition to some recreation spending, the addition of a code officer, as […]

The Methodists at Walhalla’s St. Luke man their pantry again this afternoon to distribute packages of food — bread, cheese, fruit, and chicken.  The giveaway will be 4:30 to 5:30 this afternoon at the E. Main Street church.