Merritt left the Banner-Herald to become the Enterprise Editor

Citizens for Oconee's Future, Inc.
P. O. Box 1301
Watkinsville, GA 30677

Following is the text of a message from Lee Becker, Friends of Barber Creek with follow up information on the meeting with Banner Herald staff.
Charles Baugh


Dear Friends,
About 30 people showed up at the Oconee County library last night to meet with the half dozen editors from the Athens Banner-Herald, who organized the gathering to get citizen input on the paper's coverage of Oconee County.
I was encouraged when Executive Editor Jason Winders told me that the paper will assign a new reporter to cover the County five days a week, rather than the three days that former reporter Merritt Melancon spent on the County. Melancon, who has left the Banner-Herald to become editor of The Oconee Enterprise, did general assignment on Saturdays and Sundays. Her off days were Thursdays and Fridays.
I also was pleased when Editorial Editor Jim Thompson asked me about the pending Georgia Environmental Protection Division decision on the County's request to begin dumping treated sewage water into Barber Creek. Clearly he has been paying some attention to the issue. I've encouraged him in the past to write an editorial or column about the Creek. I'll follow up on his stated interest by asking him again to write about the Creek, even before the EPD decision, which probably will be announced within the next four weeks.
The Banner-Herald has an audited circulation of 27,168 copies daily and 31,606 on Sunday. Winders told me that about 60% of that circulation is outside Clarke County. He did not say how much is in Oconee County, but he said the paper sees Oconee as a growth area.
As the only daily newspaper in the six-county area surrounding and including Clarke, the B-H is an important means of spreading the word about issues of importance to Oconee citizens. I think we do well by communicating our concerns to the editors.
The Oconee Leader, the new, free distribution weekly, goes to all mail addresses in the County. According to the 2000 Census, Oconee County had 5,629 single family, owner-occupied households at that time. The Oconee Enterprise has an unaudited, claimed circulation of 4,000.
I encourage everyone concerned about Barber Creek and Oconee County to write to these papers as well as to WGAU, 1340 on the AM radio dial. WGAU gave good coverage to the December 12, 2006, EPD hearing and has asked me to keep it informed about future developments involving the Creek. WGAU is the only local broadcast outlet doing any news coverage of the County.
Lee
Lee Becker

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Jeff Dantzler's arrests may be the best thing that ever happened to him

THis has next to nothing to do with Oconee County with the possible exception of the location of his former office, but a former colleague of mine on the radio got popped today for four counts. Any one who has listened to 960 the Ref AM sports talk radio or heard the UGA Lady Dawgs or men's baseball team has surely heard the encyclopedic knowledge of one Jeff Dantzler. Jeff and I are pretty much diametrically opposed poltically, but today he was arrested on four counts including DUI. I hope he gets the help he needs following his incarceration. I work for a lawyer who could help him out if he does not having someone already representing him. This man is a great broadcaster and I hope this arrest serves as a wake-up call for him and his rock and roll lifestyle. I live a far from perfect life myself but long ago and far away I learned how and when not to drink. Now we will be without he dulcet tones on Lady Bulldog broadcasts as well as on Georgia baseball games and also on the after...
Read more

A deep wound waiting to be healed - restoring order and dignity in the city cemetery

Image
The Watkinsville City Cemetery is an oasis amidst the houses on the east side of the municipality, near the neighborhood once called Sidney. There is a large section of the cemetery that remains a mystery, but perhaps we can work together to dignify the eternal resting spot somewhat better than the current neglected and forgotten (not to mention unmarked) graves of 70 people, more than likely of African-American descent. They deserve to be honored as well. An effort has been undertaken to repair the graves with fill dirt to stop the continued erosion amongst the graves. The most recent grave and bench belong to Larry Sheats,  and as any one who played basketball at Herman C. Michael Park or knew him otherwise  can attest, he was among the best people this county has ever seen. Larry was always ready to help. Now it is our turn to help. Do it for someone you knew there, maybe the Hardens, or the Downs, or any number of other people, but allow me to reminisce about how L...
Read more

I strongly disagree with the impending demolishing of the iconic Watkinsville Water Tower

Image
I know the Watkinsville Water Tower near where the "Big Spring" of what was one called Big Springs, Georgia serves no functional purpose anymore. I know it is a hazard. I know it is rusty and old and past its usefulness for the most part. I see a purpose beyond the aesthetic and instead as a possible financial benefit.  I know there is a way to keep it and make money for our municipality. I wonder who is doing the seemingly shoddy job of removing it (or at least preparing to raze it) and who stands to make money off that?  The dismantling of the Watkinsville Water Tower has already caused one gas leak and I can only imagine what problems await the demolition of the dinosaur.  If it is only because a group of kids have been crawling up it, then build a fence around it. I would think the City of Watkinsville would benefit and making monthly lease fees if they would instead do what about 90% of these abandoned water towers do and that is become a cellular telephone tow...
Read more