Author: Dick Mangrum

A popular Rabun County, Georgia eatery has been acquired by an Atlanta company.  The sale of the Dillard House foretells significant change ahead for a family-style restaurant in business for more than 100 years. According to WLHR Lake Hartwell Radio at Lavonia, Georgia, the Atlanta Business Chronicle reports the new owner is Legacy Ventures — a company known for developing […]

Oconee Joint Regional Sewer Authority will have the welcome mat out in Westminster for an open house focusing on its Central Basin Sewer Planning Study.  The JRSA has scheduled three such open house meetings in the county to avail the public of a study that collects and analyzes census data, growth projections to help plan for future growth over the […]

The third day of early voting ahead of this month’s GOP presidential primary produced a new batch of Oconee votes cast — 513 of them.  And, the running count after three days of early voting in the county stood at 1,480.  Meantime, the office of Oconee Election announces a need for volunteer poll managers for this year’s elections.  Kristi Burr, […]

The state has decided that a 49-year-old Oconee County rural bridge has served its time.  So, it’s time to start a lengthy process that’ll see the dismantling of the s-106 (Clearmont Road) bridge over Colonel’s Fork Creek near Westminster and its eventual replacement.  About the condition of the old bridge, the DOT says, “The existing bridge is structurally deficient….”  The […]

A two-and-a-half-week investigation has resulted in the arrest of a 24-year-old Townville man charged with criminal sexual conduct with a minor first degree.  The arrest of Nicolas Gabrale Connally took place Tuesday morning in Westminster.  After a tip received through the Anderson Sheriff’s Office on February 1, Oconee investigators developed information that determined a sexual battery offense against a child […]

A fourth-grade teacher at Ravenel Elementary School will move to Keowee Elementary to be that school’s new assistant principal.  The appointment of Lucas Harper was approved during this week’s regular meeting of the Oconee school trustees.  Harper finished his student teaching at Ravenel and taught math and science there seven years.

Nearly one thousand Oconee County voters have already made their votes known as to who they prefer to run for the Republican presidential nomination. After the second day of voting, Oconee’s election staff counted an additional 585 votes cast — bringing to 967 the count after the first two days of early voting.

The EF 3 tornado that devastated parts of Seneca in 2020 is an infamous part of the city’s history.  Remaining, however, is the financial blow incurred by the city’s utility system to repair damage.  Now, four years later, Seneca can count on millions of dollars in reimbursements from “FEMA” – the Federal Emergency Management Agency.  Scott Moulder, city administrator, made […]

Westminster officials say they may have to resort to a new boil advisory, as early as Monday, as crews undertake repairs to a water line leak on highway 76.  Kevin Harbin, utilities director, told the mayor and council that Monday is specifically targeted as the day to fix a 14” line because, as President’s Day, there will be no public […]

The deadline has passed, and Westminster is left with 10 candidates in the running to be the city’s next police chief.  Kevin Bronson, city administrator, announces that city council can expect to start interviews by their next regular meeting, March 19.  The upshot of some lengthy discussion at last night’s meeting is that while the city’s elected leaders will leave […]