Author: Dick Mangrum

The highest peaks of the Appalachian Mountains are home to many animal species found nowhere else on Earth. These species include many tiny arthropods, such as insects, millipedes and their relatives living in leaf litter of forests located in high elevations on the mountains. Research in these mountain communities has revealed many new species in recent years, but the full […]

The superintendent for public schools in Pickens County, Danny Merck, will lend a hand tomorrow to a project organized by the Riley Institute at Furman University.  Merck is part of a group of Riley Fellows who will unveil a new food truck for its first service of meals to Greenville County students.  The truck will serve free, nutritiously balanced summer […]

The mayor and council in Seneca go back to work tonight on a short-term rental ordinance that awaits second and final reading.  The ordinance is up for consideration during a work session that starts at 6 o’clock this evening at City Hall.  That work session will be followed by a special council meeting planned for executive session.  The closed-door agenda […]

Three days of inspections have so far produced, according to the Oconee County administrator, no cause for Saturday night’s fire in the solid waste compactor in Seneca. Amanda Brock says out of precaution the facility was closed today, but the plan is to open at regular hours tomorrow. Casualties of the fire include the loss of a calculator and damage […]

The brand new Pioneer water plant went online last week, but since then about one dozen customers have complained about bad taste and a foul smell. Terry Pruitt, general manager, says crews have begun flushing lines in the problem areas and, as put it this afternoon, “the issue seems to be improving.” According to Pruitt, the cause of what happened […]

An autopsy today points to drowning as the cause for the death last week of an Easley man in Oconee County.  Coroner Karl Addis this afternoon released the results of Bobby McCombs autopsy.  A boat passenger, McCombs dived into the lake for a swim.  On his way back to the boat, he went under and did not resurface.  McComb family […]

A 33-year old man was ordered today to serve 15 years in prison for the shooting and beating death of a man in Seneca two years ago. Keena Jerome Brown was originally charged with the murder in the death of Ricky Nickles Jr., but the case was resolved by a negotiated plea to the charge of voluntary manslaughter. That plea […]

Senator Lindsey Graham, who will ask the voters next year to send him back to Washington for a new, six-year term, has announced campaign chairman to cover all 46 South Carolina counties.  Three of his campaign helpers will be Oconeeans prominent in civic, party, and government affiliations.  They are banker Daryl Broome, GOP county chairman Bill Jerome, and former U-S […]