Category: News

Source: Tax Foundation. The nation had few taxes in its early history. From 1791 to 1802, the United States government was supported by internal taxes on distilled spirits, carriages, refined sugar, tobacco and snuff, property sold at auction, corporate bonds, and slaves. The high cost of the War of 1812 brought about the nation’s first sales taxes on gold, silverware, […]

The School District of Oconee County is working on its new calendar that will take effect in 2014-15.  The District establishes its calendars a couple of years ahead of time and it is asking teachers and parents their opinions on the three options.  Oconee County Schools Superintendent Dr. Mike Lucas discusses the first two options.  “We have put this information […]

Thanks to the generosity of the citizens of Oconee County, especially residents in the City of Seneca, this year’s Celebrate Christmas with a Hero party was a huge success.  Sgt. Lisa Williams of the Seneca Police Department is one of the organizers and she is thanking everyone who played a part in providing needy kids of Oconee County with a […]

In 2013, a former deputy with the Oconee County Sheriff’s Department will assume the number two job at the Walhalla Police Department.  Police Chief Ronald Wilbanks announces that Curtis Rogers has been appointed captain, effective January 1. Wilbanks held the rank of captain until he was selected as interim chief, to replace Tim Chastain. Rogers has 20 years experience serving […]

The City of Westminster officially welcomed their new police chief Friday morning as Dean Awalt took the oath of office to serve the citizens of the city.  Westminster Clerk-Treasurer Jennifer Adams administered the oath to Awalt, a former Seneca Police Officer.  He succeeds Scott Bannister, who resigned earlier this year.

An autopsy was performed Thursday morning on 82-year-old Will Kelley of Mountain Rest, who died Wednesday afternoon in the emergency department at Oconee Medical Center approximately 45 minutes after a single vehicle collision in Walhalla.  Oconee County Coroner Karl Addis reports that the autopsy determined he died as a result of blunt force chest trauma sustained in the motor vehicle […]

Sister Station WGOG reports that traffic signals are in the works for a Highway 11 intersection north of West Union. It is the four-way intersection of Highway 11 at Fowler Road and Scenic Heights Road. WGOG reports that it is to be a cost-sharing project of the South Carolina DOT and the Oconee County “C” Fund Committee.  Due to a […]

This has been a year of development for the City of Seneca.  Three major projects were announced in 2012 by the city.  The largest being the announcement that Seneca would become the first all-electric fare free public transit system in the country.  Seneca Mayor Dan Alexander gives details. “With the CAT bus to be able to make that happen was […]

South Carolina has been chosen as one of five states to help lead the nation in preventing unemployment fraud. The state Department of Employment and Workforce was selected for the Unemployment Insurance Integrity Task Force, Integrity Center of Excellence.  The Palmetto State will work with Colorado, New Jersey, Ohio, and Washington to see how states can share information and best […]

The South Carolina Department of Public Safety is cautioning motorists about the escalating number of highway fatalities in the fourth of 2012.  Numbers had been down from last year until the holiday season, when travel increases.  Since November, 40 people have been killed on state roads and highways causing the yearly figures to even out with last year.  So far, […]