Author: Dick Mangrum

A federal jury in Athens, Georgia on Friday acquitted a former probate judge in Hart County.  Bobby Joe Smith, 77 years old, went on trial last week charged with bribery and deprivation of rights.  The jury, however, found Smith not guilty on all charges.  Upon announcement of the verdict, family and friends of Smith cheered and many broke out in […]

A textural amendment to the Seneca zoning ordinance will be considered tonight at City Hall.  The planning commission will take up a change to the city zoning law to add a section covering small wireless facilities.  The meeting takes place at 6 o’clock.

The Oconee Sheriff’s Office continues to be proud of deputy sheriff Chris Johnson, who received a state award for graduating from the police academy with the highest academic average.  For that distinction, Johnson was awarded $250 dollars from the Oconee Sheriff’s Foundation.  Johnson is not keeping the money.  He will donate the $250 dollars toward next year’s trip by Walhalla […]

Rep. Jeff Duncan and four of his fellow House Republicans want an explanation from the Army Corps of Engineers for a decision to raise dock and land-based facility permits in the South Atlantic Region. The corps this month announced a revised fee schedule that will raise dock and facility permits from $400 dollars to $835 dollars and re-issue permits from […]

After 33 years service, Flora Riley of Seneca is retiring from the Oconee Board of Voter Registration and Elections.  She is being commended for wisdom, fairness and honesty.  The board will honor her on her retirement with an event July 11 in the Oconee County Council Chambers.

The case of a former building department head against his former employer Oconee County and others will remain in the pre-trial stage, as the result of rulings made today by a Common Pleas judge. It’s the case that David Stokes filed in 2017 against the county and two council members alleging slander and wrongful termination. Judge McIntosh made nine rulings […]

From federal court in Athens, Georgia there’s word that the government’s case against a former Hart County probate judge could reach the jury room this afternoon. The prosecution went to trial against Bobby Joe Smith on Monday. The 77-year old former probate judge is charged with bribery and deprivation of rights.

The police in Seneca have made their first arrest in a series of auto break-ins and thefts that have plagued car owners since the Memorial Day weekend. The crimes have occurred on the south side of the railroad tracks. The police have announced the arrest of Kenneth Charles Goss of Seneca, accused in eight arrest warrants. And Chief John Covington […]