Author: Dick Mangrum

A spokeswoman for Duke Energy says her company’s response to send workers to repair Ida hurricane damage does not impact its ongoing project to lay new utility lines along SC 188 on and beyond a Lake Keowee bridge. In fact, says Mikayla Kreuzberger, “We have recently successfully completed a significant phase of the construction effort and are now transitioning to […]

This statement this afternoon:  “In response to a now record-breaking surge of COVID-19 hospital admissions throughout our healthcare system, Prisma Health will temporarily postpone elective inpatient surgeries at Greenville Memorial Hospital on Thursday and Friday while we manage our need for additional beds.   As of Wednesday, elective surgeries were also paused at Prisma Health community hospitals in the Upstate. […]

A search and rescue this afternoon at Walhalla’s Stumphouse Tunnel Park ended successfully, as a female hiker from Georgia was found safe.  Capt. Will Bates of the fire department said this afternoon’s storm of hail and rain for a short time delayed the search.

Because of lightning strikes in the Walhalla area, this afternoon’s drive-thru COVID-19 Pfizer clinic has been from outside Walhalla Library to inside the building.  Blair Hinson, library director, says, “We will be in here for the duration unless all the storms move through”.  The clinic is scheduled to run until 8 o’clock tonight.

The chief magistrate for Oconee, Will Derrick, denied setting a bond today for Westminster murder defendant Charles Stephon Trapp Jr.  Derrick instead assigned an October 15 court date for 19-year old Trapp and referred the setting of a bond to a judge at the circuit court level.  It means that, at least for now, Trapp will remain jailed, facing charges […]

At its meeting, Oconee County Council heard calls for a task force that can address Oconee County’s homeless problem.  And the suggestion that one homeless shelter, the one in downtown Seneca, may not be enough.  Margaret Harper, a former longtime Red Cross volunteer, called for the creation of a task force to work toward alleviating homelessness, and she received thumbs […]

In today’s South Carolina DHEC report, COVID-19 takes the lives of 22 South Carolinians, including nine residents of Oconee, Anderson, and Pickens counties.  The breakdown went:  one new death in Anderson; and four deaths in each of Oconee and Pickens.  Statewide, health authorities confirmed an additional 2,167 cases (25 in Oconee County).  Of 20,211 test results received, the positivity was […]

After a one-year hiatus because of COVID-19, Westminster looks forward this week to the return of its largest outdoor gathering—the 60th Apple Festival, a celebration of this year’s crop of apples.  Something old, something new this year:  the return of the “Honey” apple mascot.  One of the traditional festival events is the Main Street parade, which rolls through at 5 […]

Two projects have been finished or close to being finished that are aimed at enhancing Oconee Regional Airport safety and future expansion of the county-run airport near Clemson University.  Except for the removal of some dirt, airport manager Jeff Garrison says, the west terminal apron expansion which included partial re-location of Mount Nebo Church Road has finished.  The county, using […]