Category: News

A public prayer vigil for the recovery efforts of a Tampa, Florida man who apparently died last week on the Chattooga River is scheduled for 7pm tonight at Long Creek Baptist Church, which is located at 151 Academy Road in Westminster.  Organizers want to give people of the community and those participating in this recovery effort the opportunity to come together and pray […]

Clemson University is establishing a scholarship endowment to honor its 14th president, James F. Barker, and his wife, Marcia. The Barker Scholars Unrestricted Scholarship Endowment will provide need-based scholarships for undergraduate students at the university. Barker was the first in his family to attend college and graduated from Clemson in 1970. However, his college career was nearly derailed at the end of […]

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today made this statement on the Supreme Court ruling on the Defense of Marriage Act. “I believe in the traditional definition of marriage.  South Carolinians have repeatedly said that is the definition they support as well.  I have been a strong supporter of the Defense of Marriage Act.  I voted for it as a […]

As the Fourth of July holiday approaches and Americans make plans to celebrate the stars and stripes with a little red glare from celebratory rockets, the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the South Carolina Society of Ophthalmology urge the public to take important steps to prevent fireworks-related eye injuries. The Academy asks parents and other adults to be especially cautious when children […]

Boaters or those swimming near boats should be aware that combustion engines produce carbon monoxide, which is an odorless, invisible gas known as a silent killer. Carbon monoxide can accumulate anywhere in or around boats with combustion engines. It is heavier than air and lighter than water, so it floats on the water’s surface. Early symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning […]

Independence Day is right around the corner, and with it comes one of the busiest times of the year for recreation at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Savannah District’s lakes, Hartwell, Richard B. Russell and J. Strom Thurmond. With thousands of people expected to visit the lakes, the Corps reminds the public to play it safe on the water. […]

The water management page many use to monitor reservoir levels at Hartwell Lake, Russell Lake, and Thurmond Lake is undergoing unexpected maintenance. These reservoirs are located in the upper Savannah River basin. The Savannah District Corporate Communications Office has posted an explanation on its blog, Balancing the Basin, which also contains links to alternate sites where the public can track reservoir levels. The […]

An Oconee County jury found Gregory Lee Murphy guilty on Wednesday of distribution of methamphetamines.  This was his second offense. The Honorable Alex Macaulay sentenced Murphy to 25 years suspended on the service of 90 months followed by 5 years probation. Tenth Judicial Circuit Solicitor Chrissy Adams reports that on August 8, 2012, Murphy sold methamphetamine to an undercover informant […]

The agencies involved in the search and recovery efforts for Thomas Hill of Tampa, Florida are reaching out to other organizations, agencies, companies and wild and scenic river managers across the country to get input on other options for the recovery of his body. Incident Commander Scott Loftis said they are looking at how others have handled similar situations and […]

Swiftwater rescue teams from Columbia and Lexington County, S.C., continued efforts Wednesday to find the body of Thomas Hill.  A search dog from the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office also worked at the scene. “We continue to bring in teams to search for Mr. Hill’s body,” said Incident Commander Scott Loftis. “Similar to yesterday, the search dog indicated that Mr. Hill […]