Oconee County, GA Politics

I extend my deepest condolences to the local families and friends of the student killed at the University of North Carolina today and the George Walton Academy student murdered yesterday at Auburn. Any death is awful, but to have a life extinguished on campus when we think someone is safe is exponentially horrendous. The same can be extended to the Drew Marshall family and that of Mark "Microwave" Myrtowitz, for their deaths in recent weeks, even though circumstances may differ greatly, death sadly put things in perspective.

I have been negligent in my posting with various responsibilities and illness. Persevere kind reader and find the following links from the Oconee Banner-Herald, oops I mean Athens of course. First, SICKNESS, everybody wash their hands, cover their mouths after coughing and please keep your kids out of school if they are sick. With spring break next week, perhaps we shall see some abatement of the massive amounts of flu, bronchitis, et cetera that seems to be decimating our school system ranks Second, THANKS, to the kid Cameron K. from across the street for bringing my dog back after she nefariously decided to sneak down the street with the long-ass chain still around her neck yesterday morning. Third, NO THANKS to my son for flushing copious amounts of paper towels wrapped around fingernail clippers down his loo. He did handle an afterschool crisis at school with diplomatic aplomb though so I have to give him credit where credit is due. Fourth, GLAD WE CAN ALL GET ALONG DEPARTMENT, to...

Please do not attempt to attend this month's Oconee County Democratic committee meeting Thursday evening as it has been canceled. Thank you very much. Woven brightly, Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. To: oconeedemocrats@yahoogroups.com; oconee@yahoogroups.com From: herbwest@bellsouth.net Date: Wed, 5 Mar 2008 07:54:30 -0500 Subject: [oconee] March 6 Oconee Democratic Committee meeting CANCELED! Sorry for the late notice, but we have just decided to CANCEL the Oconee County Democratic Committee meeting that was scheduled for this Thursday, March 6.  It appeared that most, if not all, members of the Executive Committee are going to be absent due to various conflicts.  Therefore, even if we were able to manage a quorum, there would be no one to run the meeting.   The next regularly schedule meeting will be Thursday, April 3, although stay tuned as that meeting may be rescheduled since Becky will be absent.   Herb West, S...

Add Nancy Schaefer's name to the list of candidates for the U.S. Congressional seat currently held by Athens' and Oconee's own Dr. Paul Broun, Jr. Barry Fleming of Augusta is generally considered the establishment Republican favorite and Schaefer a right-wing nut job making Broun's eccentricities seem main stream. She is a Baptist reactionary out of Toccoa, oops Turnerville. She is an utter buffoon with fringe views on a variety of topics ranging from the North American Union (huh? - oh yes, yet another right wing fantasy) to Women's Reproductive freedom and other issues making her election an absolute uncertainty. However, her candidacy does doom Broun's chance at getting renominated, at least that would be the general political common sense at this point. Perhaps Bobby Saxon can start raising some real money now ?

I love Rocket Field and hope it can continue to be used by everyone who needs to, and maybe expand to include soccer. The Mayor of Watkinsville Jim Luken was out there with the Watkinsville Street Department scoping the next adjustments to the city recreation field this lovely afternoon. Come to the meeting next Wednesday and put int your two cents worth. Woven brightly, Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. Subject: Planning Rocket Field (Watkinsville) Date: Mon, 3 Mar 2008 17:10:47 -0500 From: BBrodrick@jacksonspalding.com To: BBrodrick@jacksonspalding.com CC: wkvcityhall@charter.net Planning Rocket Field (Watkinsville) All: Next Wednesday, March 12, Watkinsville is going to have the first of a few public comment periods on the future of Rocket Field as a part of our regular city council meeting .  We have already replaced the old chain link fence and have allocated funds to add sidewalks around the edges and significant street trees in coming years . W e are see...

I love the History Channel and the Moore's Ford incident, as horrible as it was, needs to be accurately recreated for future generations to never forget our inhumanity. CAST + CREW CALL :: HISTORY CHANNEL RE-ENACTMENT - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Producers from the HISTORY CHANNEL are seeking actors, crew and production assistants for a historical re-enactment shoot of the Moore's Ford lynching to be shot near Athens on FRIDAY MARCH 7th From the Producer…. We need to cast: 2 Black males - 22-28 years range. They should appear young and trim. 2 Black females - 20-25. They should appear young and trim. 12-16 white males - from 20 to 50 years of age. Our 4 young black actors need to have some acting skills as they will be playing the part of the very distressed victims. The white men don't need any major acting skills. They'll be tying up the black males, dragging them through the clearing, and firing the prop guns at the mock exec...

Here is your chance for infamy and actor glory. I love the History Channel -------------- Forwarded Message: -------------- From: filmathens <info@filmathens.net> To: filmathens <info@filmathens.net> Cc: dinacanup@hotmail.com Subject: cast + crew call :: HISTORY CHANNEL RE-ENACTMENT 3/7 Date: Mon, 3 Mar 2008 18:31:07 +0000 > > - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > CAST + CREW CALL :: HISTORY CHANNEL RE-ENACTMENT > - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > > Producers from the HISTORY CHANNEL are seeking actors, crew and > production assistants for a historical re-enactment shoot of the > Moore's Ford lynching to be shot near Athens on FRIDAY MARCH 7th > > From the Producer…. > > We need to cast: > 2 Black males - 22-28 years range. They should appear young and trim. > 2 Black females - 20-25. They should appear young and trim. > 12-16 white males - from 20 to 5...

Please support Lee Becker and his battle for our water safety future with various factions of the Oconee County Board of Commissioners. Please read the following email and consider contacting the Commissioners to let them know of your feelings about the future of Barber Creek before Tuesday evening. Dear Friends,   The Oconee County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday night will make the most important decision yet on the upgrade of the Rocky Branch sewage treatment plant when it decides whether to accept the recommendation of the Selection Committee it appointed to review the bids for the engineering design of the plant. That Committee has recommended that HSF Engineering of Snellville be awarded the contract for the upgrade. The Committee also recommended an alternate design, rather than the design used at the County’s only other sewage plant on Calls Creek. The design of the plant is crucial, for it determines the quality of the water that will be released ...

The Athens Banner Herald newspaper correctly took Oconee County Sheriff Scott Berry to task for inappropriate comments coming on the heels of the murder of a motorcycle rider in Bogart. The death of anyone is a tragedy and should be treated as such, not to be woven into socio-political commentary (even though that is what I am guilty of here). The editorial is a well written chastising of Sheriff Berry for letting his true feelings come out at a most difficult time. Oconee and Clarke counties have been remarkably free of conflagration and horrible tragedy on a mass scale, and I certainly hope it remains that way. However our leaders need to show a little more discretion before opening their pie holes to make fools or our selves and our counties. For the record, I have nothing but the highest regard for the fine deputies and staff of the Oconee County Sheriff's Department and have always been treated extremely well and very professionally every time I have had any reason to step fo...