Category: News

The state released the End of Course Report Cards for 2013 in November, but one school was missing from the School District of Oconee County’s list, the Hamilton Career Center.  Oconee County Schools Superintendent Dr. Mike Lucas congratulates the career center staff on the positive report from the state.  “The Hamilton Career Center, since it’s a little different in that students […]

Oconee County Emergency Services and the Westminster Fire Department will be hosting an open house on Thursday at 5:30pm. The open house will run in conjunction with the Westminster Christmas Parade which start at 6pm. The community is invited to park at the fire station and walk to the parade. There will be safety demonstrations and activities for the entire family, including […]

The South Carolina Department of Public Safety announces five people were killed on state roads during the 2013 Thanksgiving holiday weekend, which ran from Wednesday, November 27 at 6pm until Sunday, December 1 at midnight.  As of December 1, 690 people have died on South Carolina highways, compared to 787 highway deaths during the same time period in 2012. OconeeCounty has […]

The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help regarding a reported burglary and attempted arson that occurred over the extended Thanksgiving holiday weekend.  Oconee County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Jimmy Watt gives details.  “According to investigators, a deputy was dispatched to a reported fire at a location on Ames Street on the Utica Mill Hill near Seneca […]

The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office announces two additional arrests over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend in the drug conspiracy case titled “Operation Smurf” that began last Monday.  All 31 individuals sought by the Sheriff’s Office in this case have now been arrested. The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office, assisted by all municipal police departments in the county, conducted “Operation Smurf,” which was […]

In spite of a shorter shopping season and challenging economic environment, Small Business Saturday helped jump start the holiday shopping season for small businesses across the country. According to the second installment of the 2013 Small Business Saturday Consumer Insights Survey, released by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) and American Express, consumer awareness of Small Business Saturday across […]

A power outage Monday morning prompted the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce to power down its servers, causing a delay in services.  The MyBenefits portal (mybenefits.dew.sc.gov) is now operational, and claimants may also file by phone and speak with representatives at 1-866-831-1724.  The South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce is extending its operating hours today and tomorrow […]

The 10th Anniversary Hospice of the Foothills Christmas Tree Festival is this week at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church on Bountyland Road in Seneca.  Oconee Medical Center Foundation executive director Cortni Nations gives details.  “Beautifully decorated trees, wreaths and swags will be on display at the church all week beginning on Tuesday, December 3.  We have handmade crafts that […]

The Oconee County Chamber of Commerce announces new members to its Board of Directors. Sharon Alec, Gene Blair, BJ Gatten, Joey Hawkins, Grant Nicholson and Mike Stancil were recently elected to serve from January 2014 to the end of 2017.  Oconee County Chamber of Commerce executive director Jillian Lusk gives details. “I’ve said it before and I will say it […]

South Carolina residents continue to display real, fresh-cut Christmas trees each year. The S.C. Christmas Tree Association reports that sales of real Christmas trees were up 10 to 12% last year, after rising by 15% in 2011.  The Association expects another increase in sales this season as well. Christmas tree growers around the state offer a variety of trees. The […]