Author: Dick Mangrum

An accidental natural gas line break near Walhalla led to a request by public safety responders for nearby homeowners to shelter-in-place.  For a time yesterday, Earlestead Drive was closed both ways in the vicinity of Christmas Tree Drive.  The shelter-in-place was lifted after about an hour and a half.  Walhalla Fire Department held the scene, awaiting the arrival of Fort […]

The city of Walhalla has a new planner.  He is Mark Bloomer.  Introductions will be made during next week’s meeting of the city planning commission.  The commissioners meet at 5:30 Monday evening at city hall.

City of Walhalla says water service has been restored to customers on Wolf Stake Church Road and vicinity, after a new line break there.  At 7:30 last night, the city announced service restored; however, the clock had started on a 24-hour boil advisory before using the water there.

Fair Play has a sewer basin study; now it’s time for a triangular area of Oconee County to receive one.  During the two o’clock hour this afternoon, a representative of a planning and engineering turned to a well-attended Walhalla meeting for an inter-active discussion of where new sewer is liable to be needed within and around the triangle formed by […]

Doyle Wayne Whisenhunt remains today in the Oconee jail, a man wanted by authorities in two states.  Whisenhunt faces multiple Oconee charges, including attempted murder, after the car he allegedly drove made an unauthorized entry and caused damage last week at Duke Energy’s Oconee Nuclear Station. Local authorities also say Whisenhunt is wanted in his home state of Arkansas on […]

Burrell’s Ford recreation facilities at the Chattooga River have closed as personnel continue to fight a strong wildfire that, so far, has consumed 95 acres.  Scott Krein, director of Oconee Emergency Management, says the U-S Forest Service continues to use resources to stop the wildfire in this extreme dry period.  Last night the wind brought a line of smoke to […]

Sarai Melendez looks forward to a second, 4-year term on Walhalla City Council.  She issued the following statement this morning: “I am deeply humbled and honored by the trust the voters of Walhalla have placed and the consideration  to serve a second term. This success is not mine alone; it belongs to all of us who believe in planning and […]

Incumbency was an asset that stood candidates well throughout yesterday’s municipal elections in Oconee County.  In every instance, an incumbent held onto a seat.  Case in point:  Seneca, where the voters preferred status quo.  All four council incumbents were returned for new, four-year terms.  Walhalla provided the night’s drama, as the available mayor’s office went to Tim Hall.  He tallied […]

A church worker in Walhalla says, “We have seen a consistent large response.”  And the St. Luke Methodist Church on E. Main Street may see such a response this afternoon.  Today is a free Wednesday food day.  From 4:30 to 5:30 today the church will give away boxes of packaged foods, fresh fruit, along with frozen meat and vegetables.