Author: Dick Mangrum

Near the Mason-Dixon Line.  Appalachian Trail hiker Wayne Garland from Walhalla this morning was in Maryland, six miles south of Pennsylvania, on his months long trek to finish his final leg of the Georgia to Maine trail.  Garland invites those interested to keep track of his hike at wanderingswithwayne.com.

It’s now one year and counting since an EF-3 tornado tore apart parts of Seneca and surrounding area, and it’s likely to be many months more before the looks of part of the county will return to the normal of pre-April 13, 2020.  That is the estimate that Oconee government has received from “FEMA”—the Federal Emergency Management Agency.  But to […]

Top cops in Oconee municipalities were impressed by the public turnout for last evening’s “Back the Blue” in the county.  Seneca Chief Casey Bowling, speaking to the crowd, said, “It’s not every day we get support like this.”  From the standpoint of the Walhalla police, Chief Sean Brinson said last night’s demonstration for the work of law enforcement went well.  […]

South Carolina’s senior U-S senator, Lindsey Graham, says he has been vaccinated and is glad he did it.  “If you haven’t been vaccinated, get vaccinated,” Graham said in a statement.  “I think the vaccine is safe.  I think it’s effective.”

The U-S population count, conducted during the time of a world pandemic, was announced this afternoon by the Census Bureau.  By April 1, 2020, the total of U-S residents was 331,449,281.  That’s a 7.4% increase over the 2010 count, but it’s a smaller increase that in the past.  Ron Jarmin, acting Census director, also highlighted the apportionment figures that are […]

After a lightning strike that damaged equipment, repairs have been made and Oconee County is back in the business of crushing rock and selling its products to those in the business of hauling rock.  Amanda Brock, county administrator, said the crusher was returned to service late Friday afternoon and today has been a regular day of business at the quarry […]

An old county building has a new look.  Amanda Brock, Oconee County administrator, says the Clemson University Joseph F. Sullivan health services gave a facelift to the former state health department building facing Booker Drive in Walhalla.  Brock says it’s part of an expansion of health services available there to Oconee County residents.

Clemson University researchers say new evidence that an ancient river system flowed from Canada’s western mountains to the Labrador Sea raises questions about the impact it may have had on Earth’s climate millions of years ago.  It could hold clues to what future climate might be like.  Scientists have hypothesized that the now-extinct Bell River and its tributaries flowed east […]

In a report this afternoon, South Carolina DHEC noted 362 new COVID-19 cases.  Sixteen of the cases are Oconee residents.  Statewide, the death toll increased by two persons.  Of 13,206 test results, the latest positivity is 3.7%.  The numbers reflect the 24-hour count effective at 11:59 Saturday night.

Qualifying government agencies and non-profits are invited to apply for Duke Energy funds from the utility’s Keowee-Toxaway Habitat Enhancement Program.  The program funds projects that create, enhance and protect fish and wildlife habitats along the shores of the lakes Keowee and Jocassee, along with their watersheds.  Among projects eligible:  planting native shoreline vegetation, constructing osprey platforms and wood duck boxes, […]