Author: Dick Mangrum

DHEC has new data that show mask laws help slow the spread of COVID-19. As of this week, according to the state’s health agency, nearly 40%, or about two million South Carolinians, live in jurisdictions that have local mask requirements.  Those jurisdictions with mask requirements have seen an overall decrease of 15.1% of total cases for the four weeks after […]

Seneca’s Blue Ridge Community Center and the Clemson Area African American Museum are among South Carolina non-profits to benefit from employee-directed grants committed for social justice and racial equity.  Each will get $5 thousand from yesterday’s Duke Energy Foundation announcement that there’s as much as $200 thousand for non-profits statewide.  Overall, the $200 thousand is part of a $1 million […]

Walhalla learned yesterday of the approval of a $500 thousand grant for the first phase of the city’s Greenway project.  The money was awarded by the Appalachian Regional Commission.  This money will allow for 4,250 linear feet of pedestrian and bicycle paths in the downtown.  Overall, Greenway is about 3.25 miles running along North and South Broad streets.  The trail […]

DHEC yesterday announced 712 new confirmed cases and 19 new probable cases of the novel coronavirus COVID-19, 45 additional confirmed deaths and one new probable death.  Three Oconee County cases were included in the latest count. This brings the total number of confirmed cases to 102,143, probable cases to 831, confirmed deaths to 2,057, and 87 probable deaths. By Tuesday, […]

Here’s an update on an earlier 101.7/WGOG NEWS story.  The Oconee Sheriff’s Office has learned that a Winnebago RV stolen in Oconee County last week has been found in Greenville County.

The state police made this announcement this morning: “Agents of the S.C. Law Enforcement Division are investigating an incident from Tuesday night in which gunfire was exchanged during a confrontation between two suspects and deputies from Anderson County Sheriff’s Office. One male suspect was killed and one female suspect was injured. An Anderson County Sheriff K-9 was also injured during […]

A long-time city hall worker in Westminster has the job of interim administrator, as the city’s search for a permanent administrator enters a third month.  Mayor Ramey believes Rebecca Overton is well suited for the appointment, as in her long city career, she’s familiar with all city departments.  The city’s inability to land Chris Carter’s successor is a point of […]

An investment group wants to buy the remains of Utica’s former textile building and property, but the state’s environmental authorities want more testing as part of a voluntary cleanup of the property.  According to a legal advertisement, there’s concern that the use of the S. 6th Street property as a textile mill may have caused environmental pollution.  The prospective buyer […]

Three, first-year councilmen in Westminster bring with them strong personalities and strong opinions on how their city should progress.  That was so noted this morning in an interview with Brian Ramey, the city’s second-term mayor.  Ramey doesn’t always see eye to eye with council’s new faces, but he accepts the notion that sometimes an adjustment period is required for the […]