Author: Dick Mangrum

On today’s report from South Carolina DHEC:  391 new cases of COVID-19 across the state; five cases in Oconee County.  Statewide, for the 24-hour count that ended 11:59 Monday night, there were 11 new South Carolina deaths from the virus.  Of 9,090 test results:  the positivity was 6.3%.

South Carolina DOT is placing plans for a travel safety improvement project before the public in the Westminster area.  An in-person meeting for improvement work proposed for SC 24/the West-Oak Highway, from the Greenfield Road to S-58 (the Fair Play Road), is planned between 3 and 7 pm Tuesday, May 4 in the Family Life Center of the Westminster First […]

A Michigan man placed in North Carolina custody faces the charge of vehicle theft in Oconee County.  Oconee Sheriff’s Office records show Michael Joseph Harris II of South Lyon, Michigan was arrested and charged with grand larceny of a 2000 Nissan Frontier Pickup truck stolen April 7 from the driveway of a home in the Tamassee Community.  According to an […]

Amtrak announces daily service will resume for several of its trains throughout its national network.  Last fall Amtrak reduced service on many long distance routes including the Crescent that stops in Toccoa, Georgia and passes through Oconee County.  According to the Rail Passengers Association, the American Rescue Plan COVID relief bill, passed by Congress and signed by President Biden, provides […]

A sheriff’s officer’s pursuit of a suspect, for a time yesterday, was considered a situation of moderate potential danger and resulted in a code yellow at the Fair-Oak Elementary School.  The suspect, for whom the sheriff’s office held warrants, got away when the officer’s car caught fire in a field.  Sheriff Crenshaw traced the origin of the fire to wiring […]

The South Carolina Forestry Commission is calling for a Red Flag Fire Alert for Wednesday and Thursday, April 21 and 22. The alert will go into effect Wednesday at 7 a.m. The alert is being issued to discourage people from burning  outdoors when weather conditions present an elevated risk of wildfire. The weather forecast statewide over the next two days […]

Walhalla’s elected leaders are on their way to find a place for tiny homes.  Last night they gave preliminary approval to permitting homes of up to 500 square feet in size by requiring a special exception to the zoning ordinance and restricting them to general- residential zones in the city.  For some prospective homeowners, tiny or container-type housing is appealing […]

Walhalla City Council seemed pleased to return to their natural meeting room in the City Hall.  The meeting room is small, but is well-lighted and there’s no problem hearing what’s being said.  The opposite was true for the community depot meeting across town, which became the city council’s temporary location when the pandemic was declared.  At the top of last […]

\Masks will be required in Oconee County government buildings one month less than originally planned.  In spite of the objections of one councilman, the mask requirement shall be sunsetted May 30.  The original ordinance, which was enacted as a temporary measure, was to expire June 30.  Councilman Julian Davis moved to curtail the ordinance, saying that with the speed and […]

Senator Tim Scott says there’s no question in his mind that the jury in Minneapolis reached the right verdict in the trial of the former policeman Derek Chauvin.  In a statement after yesterday’s guilty verdicts, Scott said, “George Floyd died because Derek Chauvin kneeled on his neck and stopped him from breathing for more than nine minutes.  While this outcome […]