Oconee County, GA Politics

I think Ralph Hudgens must have been reading the blogs or at least the tea leaves indicating he had no chance in Hell of winning the Special Election for Dr. Charlie Norwood's seat in the US Congress. Maybe this will spur Brian Kemp or Doc Eldridge to drop their hats in the ring, so we are back down to 10 candidates (nine announced) for the June 19th race. Hudgens has too much baggage from his malapportionment boondoggle of Athens-Clarke County a year ago plus.

Please spread the word! From: Purcell, Samantha [mailto:spurcell@walton.k12.ga.us] Sent: Thursday, March 08, 2007 11:03 AM To: Mark Campbell; kmcq13@yahoo.com; Jan.Smith@georgiacenter.uga.edu; John McNally; Brian Brodrick Subject: 10:00 - 12:00 Watkinsville City Council Clean Up Day March 24 Please spread the word that we will be meeting at Rocket Field on March 24th. We will give volunteers predetermined routes to clean. It would work well if volunteers cleaned routes near where they live and work. John, can Oconee Clean and Beautiful help us out? We need orange trash bags. Do you know where we can get them free? Your group could count this as part of the Keep Oconee Clean and Beautiful Campaign. Give me a call 769-2788 or my cell 706-338-3838. Thanks for everyone’s support of the city! Sam

The Landowners Meeting on March 15, 2007 at 7:00 PM in the Oconee County Library Auditorium will be the kick off meeting for the Oconee Partnership for Farmland Protection 2007 Program. Please help to reach all those who might be interested in protecting their farm with an Agricultural Conservation Easement, or those who might benefit from the considerable federal and state tax incentive programs. It will be an educational meeting which can help any landowner see the value in protecting their land, and see how they can benefit from putting a conservation easement on their land. Those who are interested in protecting their land for "Agriculture", for a "River Walk", for "Open Space", or just for land conservation purposes should attend this meeting. See the letter below from Russ Page. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Oconee Partnership for Farmland Protection 1201 Sunset ...

Go Blue Devils Go

WE DID IT!!! The BOC voted unanimously to deny the rezone request by Francis Williams to develop a convenience store and gas station at the corner of Branch Road and US441. After 15 months, three different plans, two withdrawals by Mr. Williams, and two denials by the Planning Commission, the BOC finally got to hear the issue. I am very proud of all of us, with a particular pat on the back to Paul Poninski. Paul spearheaded a petition drive that resulted in 205 signatures of individuals who did not want to see this type of development in south Oconee. Paul presented the petition signatures to the BOC, which clearly got their attention. Overall approximately 20 people signed up to speak against the rezone. We provided them with our own personal assessments, data on traffic and fire hazards, and even statements from the county’s Comprehensive Plan and Planning Staff Report that clearly supported our position. In other words, we made a thorough and strong case for denial. I knew ...

Here is the article from the Athens Banner-Herald and below is a letter from Charles Baugh. I think it is well past time that we need to get some quality candidates to run against Luke and Norris and even Chairman Davis. Citizens for Oconee's Future, Inc. P. O. Box 1301 Watkinsville, GA 30677 The Board of Commissioners voted to join with Walton County in the troubled Hard Labor Creek water project. Commissioners Davis, Norris and Luke voted to enter into an agreement which will ultimately cost Oconee in excess of $105,000,000 plus interest with the initial cost to be in excess of $45,000,000 and only 3.5MGD of water. Here is how the vote went. Commissioner Horton moved they vote not to participate in the Walton project and Commissioner Hale seconded. Commissioners Luke and Norris voted against the motion and Commission Davis voted against to break the tie. Commissioner Luke moved to enter into an agreement with Walton County which was seconded by Commissioner Norris. Hale a...

PRESS RELEASE Two Local Golfers Earn Sponsor’s Exemptions into the Athens Regional Foundation Classic Peterson and Rymer are Former Champions on Nationwide Tour ATHENS, Ga., March 6, 2007– Tournament organizers announced today that Northeast Georgia residents Matt Peterson and Charlie Rymer have been offered two of the sponsor’s exemptions for the 2nd Annual Athens Regional Foundation Classic (ARFC), scheduled for April 19-22 at Jennings Mill Country Club. The Nationwide Tour event will not be an unfamiliar place for Rymer and Peterson, as both have experienced victory on the Tour in their professional careers. “Matt and Charlie are two of this area’s most accomplished and well-known golfers, and we’re thrilled to have them in the field,” said Len Sapera, Chairman of the Athens Regional Foundation Classic. “We’re confident that our home town heroes will be able to play with the best when the tournament arrives in Athens in just over a month.” Success came early for Rymer who, at the a...