Author: Dick Mangrum

The first-ever doctoral address at Clemson University was given by a man born in Afghanistan who grew up as a refugee in Pakistan.  Tanin Haidary credits his success to his family which has a deep devotion to education.  Haidary’s father was a base commander in the Afghan military.  In Pakistan, the only job he could get was repairing television sets.  […]

Before the long desired vision of sewer pipe in the ground along I-85 in Oconee, there’s the matter of obtaining a remaining number of easements from property owners whose cooperation is needed for Sewer South II.  Seven easements belonging to individuals or groups, according to Chris Eleazer of the Joint Regional Sewer Authority, are either in the appraisal or negotiation […]

For the latest count available, there were no South Carolina COVID-19 deaths.  The slate of zero deaths covered a 24-hour period that ended at 11:59 on Saturday night.  For that period, there were 56 new cases of the virus statewide, two of them in Oconee County.  Of 7,612 test results received, the positivity fell to 1.2%.

Requests for sewer service from developers of two new Oconee County home developments have been rejected, and the explanation is a familiar one.  As explained to a Joint Regional Sewer Authority committee, the reason is the lack of available treatment capacity inside the Seneca Creek basin of the JRSA’s service territory.  The JRSA’s finance and administration committee spent much of […]

The major sewer spill early this month near Seneca has been followed by a smaller second spill.  Chris Eleazer, executive director of the Joint Regional Sewer Authority, delivered the news yesterday of a 1,500 gallon spill at Speed’s Creek on the eastern side of the service area.  Once again, the JRSA called on outside contractor Tugaloo Pipeline to make repairs.  […]

A two-man inspection team has determined the Keowee Dam in Oconee County is in satisfactory condition.  A communication from the Atlanta regional office of the NRC to Randy Herrin, a Duke Energy vice president, states, “The project meets our guidelines.  Michael Woodruff and Jeff Holloway (the inspectors) found no problems that would present an immediate concern for dam safety or […]

If the federal government says yes, Oconee Nuclear will continue to churn out electricity until at least the middle of the century.  Duke Energy today announced it has applied to the NRC to renew Oconee’s operating licenses for an extra 20 years.  Its current operating licenses remain through the early 2030s; this second license renewal would extend the licenses to […]

A Georgia man was arrested in Oconee County and charged with multiple offenses, including possession of a stolen pickup truck.  Law enforcement records identify the man arrested as Toccoa resident Donald Lee Bales.  The 63-year old Bales was arrested early Friday on the grounds of Wal-Mart near Seneca after a sheriff’s officer determined a 2007 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup was […]

A state biologist and a research team confirm that about 20 thousand shorebirds (whimbrels) roosted at night on a small coastal island during their spring migration.  The team documented the May 2019 sighting and saw similar numbers again in 2020.  The single flock included nearly one-half of the declining shorebirds’ estimated eastern population.  And that, according to the South Carolina […]