Category: News

A comprehensive tourism plan to brand and market Oconee County has been granted $200,000. Thanks to the Local Legislative Delegation and the South Carolina Heritage Corridor, Destination Oconee has funds to work with, explains Mountain Lakes Convention and Visitors Bureau President and CEO Ken Sloan. “It started with State Senator Thomas Alexander, who was able to find $100,000 for us […]

Health care providers agree that the best defense against the flu is vaccination, which is encouraged for all individuals six months and older to prevent the flu. The flu can cause mild to severe illness and can be deadly, especially to vulnerable people, including the very young, the elderly and those with certain chronic health conditions. Symptoms can include a […]

The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) reports that the state has suffered its first four flu-associated deaths of the season. Those individuals lived in the Upstate, Pee Dee and Lowcountry regions of the state. This is the beginning stages of South Carolina’s flu season and health care professionals advise residents to get vaccinated now. As the vaccine […]

Agents of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) arrested a Walhalla Police Officer on Monday in connection to an Oct. 18 incident. According to warrants, 25-year-old Zachary Lance Covington stands charged with assault and battery in the third degree, which is a misdemeanor that carries a penalty upon conviction of 30-days in jail, a fine of up to $500 […]

Streetscape work continues with milling of the existing asphalt between College and Catherine Streets on Walhalla’s Main Street today. Hutch ‘N Son requests downtown motorists to bear with them as they prepare for the final asphalt work of the project. Crews are also pulling electric wire and undertaking water and sewer explorations between Ann and Catherine Streets in downtown Walhalla […]

In 1790, Pendleton was founded by the Scots-Irish, who came down the Great Wagon Road from Pennsylvania and Maryland, Revolutionary War veterans, who received land grants for their military service, and wealthy Charlestonians, either starting new lives or escaping the summer heat. These diverse people formed what soon became the political, economic, and social capital of the Upstate. On Nov. […]

Despite some last minute impassioned pleas, the Board of Trustees for the School District of Oconee County voted unanimously Monday night to close Tamassee-Salem Middle/High School at the end of the current academic year. Oconee County Schools Assistant Superintendent of Operations Steve Hanvey gives details. “Last night at the Board meeting there was two and half hours of public comments […]

On Monday, Richard Rittmayer pled guilty in Oconee General Sessions Court to criminal sexual conduct with a minor in the third degree. The Honorable Letitia Verdin sentenced Rittmayer to the maximum sentence of 15 years. He will receive credit for time served. Rittmayer will be on the Sex Offender Registry as well as the DSS Central Registry. In September of […]

Students in the School District of Oconee County did not attend school on Monday, allowing teachers a professional development day. It was a busy day for teachers despite not having students in the classrooms, explains Oconee County Schools Assistant Superintendent of Instruction Ginger Hopkins. “Staff worked on a number of strategic initiatives, all geared toward helping our students learn and […]

The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office seeks the public’s help solving a counterfeit check case this summer at the Walmart in Seneca as well as seeking the identity of an individual in relation to the case. A deputy spoke with the victim who lives in the state of Georgia on Sept. 15 regarding charges on the victim’s bank statement that were […]