Writer Carlos Galarza of Seneca joined the Daily Journal/Messenger November 13, 2006 and has been covering economic development, the courts, Oconee County Sheriff's Office, Pickens County Sheriff's Office, and the Town of Salem. Originally from Puerto Rico, he graduated from City College of New York. Prior to Upstate he spent 17 years working for various daily and weekly newspapers in Florida, the last being the Orlando Business Journal.

Recent Stories

• Home foreclosures peaking in Oconee County
  Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009
  Given the unprecedented number of properties to be sold in foreclosure proceedings at the courthouse next month, it could well be a blue Christmas for dozens of Oconee County property owners. | Read more

• Talks continue on Lake Hartwell project
  Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009
  A Seneca group is still hopeful of working out a deal with the state to develop more than 300 acres on Lake Hartwell into a tourist attraction. | Read more

• Interim Oconee County boss takes unpaid medical leave
  Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009
  One month into his tenure as Oconee’s interim administrator, Gene Klugh has requested and received a three-week medical leave of absence. | Read more

• Upstate Forever checks up on Keowee River
  Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009
  A ranking official with a regional environmental group said Thursday that the organization likes everything it has heard so far about the proposed $200 million Keowee River project on Highway 130 near Seneca. | Read more

• Oconee’s Delinquent Tax Sale brings in $668,796
  Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009
  This week’s Delinquent Tax Sale brought $668,796 in to Oconee County’s coffers. | Read more

• Oconee schools ask county for $2.5 million loan
  Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009
  The School District of Oconee is asking to borrow about $2.5 million from Oconee County to deal with a cash-flow issue, and county officials might oblige for the chance of getting the loan repaid with interest. | Read more

• Oconee County jail tour shocks council members
  Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009
  Oconee County Council members toured the local jail this week for the first time. | Read more

• County projects list nears $100 million
  Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009
  Oconee County likely will have to spend close to $100 million over the next 10 years to address pressing needs, Finance Director and Assistant Administrator Kendra Brown told the County Council this week. | Read more

• Cherokee monument to be dedicated on Saturday
  Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009
  Cherokee descendents’ monumental gift to the county — “The Spirit of Oconee” — is at long last standing tall on the sidewalk directly in front of the Oconee County Courthouse. | Read more

• Oconee council rejects call for outside audit
  Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009
  Just as he did at the previous council meeting when he made a motion to reduce property taxes to cut the budget by $6 million, Oconee Councilman Wayne McCall waited to the end of Tuesday night’s meeting to stir the pot again. | Read more