Of the 212 structure fires in Oconee County in 2012, less than 10 percent were in homes or buildings with working smoke detectors.

Government works best when it works out in the open, airing differences and working together to come up with solutions that are best for everyone concerned, especially the people these government entities represent.

The issue of domestic violence in Oconee County and throughout the state has received a lot of attention in the past couple of years, but the tragedy of men, women and children not being safe in their own homes with their own families continues.

Recently, Sheriff Mike Crenshaw said he was planning to support the statewide campaign to ban the ownership of dangerous wild animals.

On Monday night, a U.S. serviceman — father of three — sat his wife down in their living room and had the conversation those protecting our freedoms should never have to have: “How long can we make it if the government stops paying me?”

Thirty years ago, there would have been no panic about a federal government shutdown, no television shows with a time clock counting down the hours, minutes and seconds until a deadline for a deal.

According to The Journal’s largest online poll to date — with roughly 600 voters — we know people are certainly adamant about one thing: they don’t want to pay additional taxes. At least not yet.

Oconee County spent a little more than $73,000 over a six-year period to send county employees and elected officials to the S.C. Association of Counties (SCAC) annual conference.

It seems like everybody — children, teachers and parents alike — are coming down with the scratchy throat, sniffy nose, seasonal allergy symptoms and the whole nine yards that comes with back to school and the changing of seasons in Upstate South Carolina.

The first week of October is going to be an important time when it comes to laying the groundwork for Oconee County’s economic future.