Category: News

From Thursday through Saturday last week, the state health agency noted an additional 131 new COVID-19 cases among Oconee County residents.  During those three days, DHEC confirmed deaths or probable deaths of two Oconeeans.  Statewide, the new death count ranged from 2,541 reported Saturday to 3,036 reported Friday.  Of 28,793 test results received Saturday, the positivity was 14.5%.

Public safety responders and road crews have had a busy morning in Oconee County, as parts of the county have been soaked by rains from Tropical Storm Fred.  Road flooding is reported on both sides of the Bountyland traffic intersection, on both Keowee School Road and the Oconee Estate Road.  Fire fighters tackled a structure fire on highway 107 not […]

A traffic stop at 1 o’clock Sunday morning in downtown Walhalla resulted in drug charges against four Myrtle Beach residents.  Police records show the four were charged with trafficking cocaine after a police officer spotted a dark-colored vehicle that repeatedly failed to maintain its lane on E. Main Street.  Two of the four were also charged with unlawful neglect of […]

The following news release from the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office offers the following information on the new gun possession law that arrived over the weekend: “On August 15th, the Open Carry with Training Act takes effect in South Carolina.  And with the new law comes changes in regards to how current and valid Concealed Weapon Permit holders can choose carry […]

Two males were found dead over the weekend near Central, and the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the circumstances.  At 12:57 Sunday morning, the sheriff’s office received a report of a shooting in the area of 128 Edwards Lane, Central.  Deputies said they found two male subjects deceased just a few feet from the paved roadway.  Leads are being […]

The car driver in an early morning accident on the Coffee Road near Walhalla escaped injury when his car went off the road and down an embankment.  Walhalla Fire Department responded to the accident at 2 o’clock this morning.

Between customer and electric power companies the question arises whether everyone would be better off if more overhead lines were buried beneath the ground.  One utility CEO, Jim Lovinggood of the Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative, says the answer isn’t simple, and the costs are prohibitive in today’s economy.  Writing in this month’s South Carolina Living magazine, Lovinggood said, “Without question, […]

The chairman of Oconee Republicans, David McMahan, has issued a statement in response to reports the state police have been asked to investigate claims of domestic abuse against County Councilman Matthew Durham.  101.7/WGOG NEWS spoke last night with McMahan, who confirmed that he issued the following statement:  “We, the Oconee County Republican Party, are deeply saddened to learn of the […]

The police in Toccoa, Georgia say they have received word of the arrest in Hamilton County, Tennessee of their suspect in last week’s robbery at the Northeast Georgia Bank on the Big A Road.  The arrest of Sidney Alan McCollum took place Saturday night around 7:30.  A Chattanooga police officer spotted the suspect’s vehicle pulling into a restaurant and took […]

David Underwood, Walhalla city councilman, says he’d like Grant Keehn and Tyler Jordan to join him on the city’s governing board.  Keehn and Jordan are announced candidates for two of the three Walhalla council seats to be voted on during the November 2 city election.  Today is the day that candidates’ books open throughout the county’s municipalities for the November […]