Like everyone else in Oconee, we were happy to hear from county officials this week that new safety measures at the Fall Creek access areas on Lake Keowee helped lead to a drowning-free summer at that park for the first time in recent memory.

For individuals or families, a strong economy only matters so far as you’re able to put food on the table and a roof over your head. But for Americans in general, and South Carolinians in particular, plenty of recent data suggests things are looking up.

Shortly after noon today, Donald Trump will repeat the words, “I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States,” and formally become our nation’s president.

Like anybody else, school districts aren’t able to please all of the people all the time, and certainly some weren’t thrilled with the decision for Oconee’s middle schools to start classes at 8:30 a.m. and high schools at 8:45 a.m. beginning next fall.

We hope many of you read every Wednesday on the front page of our Lifestyle section the stories from our Celebrate Community series on the many, many organizations that help make our little neck of the woods a better place.

Clemson fans everywhere couldn’t have been more excited Monday night — actually very early Tuesday morning — when their beloved Tigers secured the second national title in the football program’s history.

Since our doors opened the morning after Clemson’s dramatic national title win, the phones have been ringing off the hook with folks wanting to get their hands on a copy of Tuesday’s paper.

We know some of you couldn’t care less about Clemson playing for a national title, and many who read this won’t be pulling for the Tigers on Monday night.

With the new 2017 session set to kick off in the Statehouse next week, legislators and media will gather in Columbia today for a legislative workshop sponsored by the South Carolina Press Association, South Carolina Broadcasters Association and Associated Press.

With the swearing in of three members of Oconee County Council on Tuesday night, we hope the new year will ring in a new sense of cooperation among the body.