Author: Dick Mangrum

Fire destroyed a mobile home late yesterday morning near Westminster.  The fire occurred on U-S 76 in the vicinity of Welcome Church Road.  Chief Smith of Westminster Fire Department said three adults were displaced from the singlewide mobile home.  The cause of the fire was under investigation.

The following announcement from Westminster: “THE CITY OF WESTMINSTER PUBLIC WORKS ADVISES THE RESIDENTS LIVING ON US 76 WEST OF RIVERSONG DR, ALL ROADS OFF OF US 76, INCLUDING UNITY CHURCH RD, COBB BRIDGE RD, NORTH UP HWY 76 ALL THE WAY TO THE WELCOME CHURCH COMMUNITY LOCATED IN OCONEE COUNTY, TO VIGOROUSLY BOIL THEIR WATER FOR AT LEAST (1) […]

The Walhalla area could see the thermometer drop to around 14 degrees tonight.  A church in Seneca is doing something about this colld weekend.  For anyone in nee of warmth, the Church f God at 1010 E. Main Street, Seneca remains open for those seeking shelter until the noon hour tomorrow.

Walhalla announces the boil water advisory for customers in the vicinity of Halfway Branch has been lifted.

“Gotta get people to vote” and “It’s going to be crucial.”  Those were comments you heard this afternoon before the start of an Oconee County Democratic event in Seneca.  And the chit chat was about the importance for Democratic voters to turn out in droves February 3 for what’s called the first in the nation Democratic presidential primary.  And from […]

Last year in a packed Westminster meeting room, Oconee’s Democratic Party chairwoman clashed with the county’s all-Republican state delegation to Columbia.  Compared to that, the 2024 delegation meeting with constituents was free of any political barbs.  And the crowd last night was small compared to last year’s, as there were empty seats inside the Walhalla Depot.  The state lawmakers and […]

An Oconee agriculturist, Gwen McPhail, confirmed talk this morning that she will make the race this year for the District Five seat on the county council.  It’s the seat held by Glenn Hart.  McPhail is part of a farm family along the Pine Grove Road.  She’s a former chairman of the Oconee Planning Commission and her daughter, Meghan Ketterman, represents […]

A missing person’s alert New Year’s weekend led to a missing Oconee teenager in Cherokee, North Carolina.  Oconee deputies learned the girl had been in communication with others using different apps.  Yesterday the sheriff’s office announced the arrest of a north central Virginia man, Michael Ross Carrico.  He was booked into the Oconee jail after being transferred from Swain County, […]

Throwing money just may be a solution to South Carolina’s shortage of public school teachers.  State Rep. Bill Whitmire of Walhalla last night announced that he and the governor agree they will support a $2,500 teacher raise.  In the parlance of getting things done, both Whitmire and Governor McMaster hold influential positions.  Through time, governors have been effective in cajoling […]

Mayor Tim Hall signed the papers, and the city council directed the city administrator to enter a purchase deal for nine acres on highway 28, Blue Ridge Boulevard to be the location of a city community center.  Leading Walhalla to this venture is the growing need faced by the city recreation programs.  Administrator Myers expects the facility to house gymnasiums, […]