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Showing posts from May 4, 2008

FW: Movie in the Park

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I saw Jerry Seinfeld open up for former Colbert/Comer resident Kenny Rogers about 22 years ago in the Stegeman Coliseum on Father's Day. Now Seinfeld stars in the title role of Bee Movie live and free at the Oconee County Community Complex Saturday evening. Go check it out. The following is from a blast from the Recreation Department. Woven brightly, Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. Movie in the Park - Saturday, May 10, 2008 at the NEW Oconee Community Complex located at 3500 Hog Mountain Road (across from Herman C. Michael Park).  Activities will begin at 6:30 p.m.  Concessions, The Big Easy, and Chick-fil-A will be available.  We will have Mr. Clown, bungee run, bounce house, giant slide, and rock wall -ALL FREE! Outdoor movie will begin around 8:45 p.m. We will be showing Bee Movie. The raffle will take place right before the movie! See you tomorrow at our 4th Annual Movie in the Park!

Hood does good in her first radio interview

Oconee County Board of Education candidate Ashely Hood proved that she does know about the School System of Oconee County quite well today on the Newsmaker Friday show of Tim Bryant's on NewsTalk 1340 WGAU . This was her first interview, but you could tell she knew exactly what she was talking about whether it was the charter school or other topics tossed her way by Bryant. The homemaker and mother of five children - Happy Mother's Day by the way to her and every mother everywhere - has a tall order in taking on and defeating Kim Argo and Carter Brank for Post 3's Republican nomination, which is tantamount to winning the seat since the Democratic party of Oconee County only managed to get one candidate Rich Clark for another post, and that person is not even on their committtee. It will be interesting to see how all the candidates handle the consortium sponsored debates in a couple of weeks in library. I will predict they wish they had booked the Civic Center instead of the

Who will now save us from Governor Oxendine?

The Athens Banner-Herald reports t hat U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson will not run for Governor in 2010 to replace Gov. Sonny Perdue, but will actually run for re-election instead. Will Doc Eldridge run for Insurance Commissioner now that John Oxendine has announced he will seek the Governor's office in the next election cycle after this one is complete in a couple of months. I urge Brian Brodrick to run for Governor

Save the DATE--Richard-Russell Dinner

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I love Dublin, Georgia. It is the town where I visited my Grandfather the last time and he is buried not far from there. It is a relatively short drive from Watkinsville. You should attend this event is event. I don't believe Richard and Russell need to be hyphenated. Woven brightly, Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. SAVE THE DATE! The 2007 Richard Russell Dinner in Macon was a huge, successful event.  The 2008 dinner promises to be even better.  Please save the tentative date: September 13, 2008 DuBose Porter Training Center Dublin, GA www.heartofgatech. edu   Please check out our website www.campaignwindow. com/GADCC/   and come back often for updates on the 2008 Richard  Russell Dinner. __._,_.___ __,_._,___

Candidate Forums June 2nd and 4th

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Pretty succinct summary of the local candidates Woven brightly, Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. The following information is taken from Lee Becker's blog ( http://www.oconeecountyobservations.blogspot.com/ ).   Citizens for South Oconee County is one of the sponsoring groups for these two candidate forums.  Please note that the forums will have a moderated open format, meaning that citizens may ask whatever relevant questions they may have (i.e., questions will not be pre-screened).   Please mark your calendars and plan to attend.  Sharpen your pencils and start drafting questions for the issues that you feel are important to you and the county as a whole.   See you there, Tony Glenn   Oconee Candidate Forums Set for June 2 & 4 Meet the Candidates at the Library A consortium of Oconee County citizen groups announced May 6, 2008 that it will hold two Candidate Forums for the July 15 Oconee County primary elections. The first For

Vote for Maxey if you want to pave the entire county

Listening to Mike Maxey on NewsTalk 1340 WGAU AM this morning was an interesting and ear-opening experience. He is younger than me, so I salute him for running for Post Four on the Board of Commissioners against Chuck Horton. He has lived here his whole life, so I am a carpetbagger compared to him (I've been here since the early 1990s). To listen to him though on Tim Bryant's show, we are an anti-business bunch on the BOC and have a bloated budget needing to be sliced in Oconee County. Look folks, we have a volunteer fire department. That is going to need to change sometime in the next couple of decades. We have more people coming to his county every day, so we need to have an equal increase in government infrastructure and planning. I think Mr. Maxey's experience on the planning commission proves he is part of the problem, not part of the solution. We have three thousand empty lots in various subdivisions and developments right now, so I think we need to let the infrastruc

Mason's campaign announcement and photo

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE JAMES P. MASON TO ANNOUNCE CANDIDACY FOR GEORGIA’S 10th DISTRICT Jefferson, GA (April 25, 2008) – James P. Mason, a former Marine from Jackson County, Georgia will be hosting members of the media along with the general public at an official campaign press conference on Friday, May 9th, 2008 at 4:30PM EST. Mr. Mason will be announcing his independent candidacy for Representative from the 10th Congressional District of Georgia. The conference will take place in the Auditorium of Athens-Clarke County Library, located at 2025 Baxter Street, Athens, Georgia, 30606. Coffee, water and light refreshments will be provided for all attendees. Transcript, audio and video footage of the conference will be made available by 12:00PM EST, on Saturday, May 11, 2008. Attendees are encouraged to record the event and will be accommodated in whatever manner possible. Further information regarding James P. Mason and his congressional campaign will be released both prior to and at this

[Fwd: Candidate Forums]

-------- Original Message -------- Subject: Candidate Forums Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 23:07:58 -0400 From: lbbecker@mindspring.com <lbbecker@mindspring.com> Reply-To: lbbecker@mindspring.com To: cgriverhaven@yahoo.com , chjping@hotmail.com , "Dick Field" <dickfield@co.clarke.ga.us> , djstuddard@charter.net , "dwenner" <dwenner@uga.edu> , fayerkemp@yahoo.com , hmflannery@aol.com , ivhughes@aol.com , joynelson@charter.net , kakimbaris@yahoo.com , ksailors@charter.net , laura2990@charter.net , "llknighton" <llknighton@earthlink.net> , manoll@athens.net , rfj@uga.edu , sterling@uga.edu , tjcaprice@charter.net , washington.john@epa.gov , clairedunphy@yahoo.com , elainecress@charter.net , debbross48@hotmail.com , tvlad@uga.edu , bikerbecker@yahoo.com , lowellsdad@gmail.com , gregljohn@charter.net , dhudson@uga.edu , danjma

Charter School up for vote in June

The next Board of Education will not be the same as this one. The following is pulled from the Banner-Herald today Oconee County Board of Education members said this week they will vote on a proposed public charter school - the Oconee School of Math and Science - at their June 9 meeting. The charter school's organizers, including a number of University of Georgia faculty, are expected to appear before the board to answer questions Monday, at the board's regular session, said schools Superintendent Thomas Dohrmann. If approved by the local school board and the state Department of Education, the Oconee School of Math Science would open for the 2010-11 school year, according to a petition submitted last month

Oconee debates set for June at the Library

As appropriated from NewsTalk 1340 WGAU: A consortium of Oconee County citizens groups sets the dates for Oconee County candidates forums: June 2 for Oconee County Commission candidates, June 4 for School Board hopefuls. Both forums will be held at the Oconee County Library. The candidates debates come in advance of Oconee County’s July 15 primaries.

Estelle Porter proves her naivete on alcohol once again

No Estelle Porter, the Oconee County Board of Commissioners COULD NOT, by State Law, put beer and wine on a referendum, nor combine it with a referendum for hard liquor. And you chose to run against a woman because you are a woman? Sheesh. Playing politics is not a game for amateurs and you have proven your lack of basic understanding of how government works. I would strongly recommend NOT voting for Ms. Porter in Post 3 on the Oconee County Board of Commissioners based on her performance on Tim Bryant's Newsmaker Wednesday, May 7, 2008. Please, go back to selling aluminum siding. Good Lord. We do not need another builder/developer on the Board of Commissioners, especially replacing Margaret Hale for Post 3. I salute Porter for having the desire to serve her community, but my goodness, let's try to understand some issues of local importance a little better before we go on the local media, please.

Independent congressional candidacy of Jefferson's James P. Mason will effect Broun, Saxon, Fleming (photo of Barry and hometown museum sign on I-20)

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Tire store marketing employee James P. Mason of Jefferson intends to enter his name on the ballot of the 10th district U.S. Congressional election here in Athens (and Augusta and north to the border), and I think his long shot independent candidacy will have equal effect on the Republican or Democratic candidates. I salute the former Marine who served his country in Afghanistan who has taken on the established parties. We shall see how effectively young Mr. Mason markets himself in the rather disjointed district stretching from the Central Savannah River Area to the Mountains of North Carolina with a dip in Watkinsville and Washington-Wilkes. Only one thing is for certain, Nicholson resident Bobby Saxon should have talked to his fellow Jackson County veteran in Mason and figured out why (or at least what is prompting him) he is going to run. Conventional political wisdom would prescribe that the Mason wild card will siphon off some votes from both sides of the aisle, but probably hur

Independent candidacy of James Mason will effect Broun, Saxon, Fleming

Discussion with local, award-winning author Philip Lee Williams 6:15 pm Thursday, May 15th, 2008

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Philip Lee Williams is a fantastic local award-winning author and one with whom you should be well acquainted with if you are not. He will be at the next gathering of the Oconee County Democratic party book group at the new Five Points Deli location in the Epps Bridge Parkway area. Woven brightly, Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. Hello! The book group sponsored by the Oconee County Democrats is especially excited about this month's book and meeting! The author, award-winning local writer Philip Lee Williams, will be joining us that evening! If you don't know Williams or his work yet . . . well, inspired by his writing, let me describe coming across his books as rather like finding a well-honed arrowhead or delicate lily while out in the woods -- OUR woods, right around here where we live! See the press release below. Come join us! Pat Priest The community-wide book group sponsored by the Oconee Democrats will discuss local

Blake Aued did write about Tommy Malcom, sorry Blake

I have been griping about Tommy Malcom getting no love in a couple of articles in the Athens Banner-Herald newspaper, but here is one I missed

Athens Habitat Hosts a Survivors Build with the Loren Smith Center for Cancer Support

 Great Relay for Life turnout this previous weekend before last, and here is another step forward for cancer survivors PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Laura Dempsey Public Relations Director Athens Area Habitat for Humanity (706) 208-1001 PR@athenshabitat.com   Athens Habitat Hosts A Survivors Build in Partnership with the Loran Smith Center for Cancer Support   Athens, GA — Athens Area Habitat for Humanity teams up with the Loran Smith Center for Cancer Support at Athens Regional Hospital to host a Survivors Build on May 22, 2008. Cancer survivors and cancer patients will work together with members of the community to inspire strength. For more information on how you can get involved and show your support, call 706-208-1001.   Athens Area Habitat for Humanity, an independent affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, is an ecumenical, not-for-profit organization dedicated to the elimination of substandard housing in Cla

Agenda for 5/6/08 BOC Meeting

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Charles Baugh should have filed to run against Melvin. Not to late to mount a write-in campaign!!! This is the agenda for tomorrow night's Oconee County Board of Commissioners' meeting. No word whether Satan will make another appearance. Woven brightly, Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. Citizens Following is the agenda for the 5/6/08 BOC meeting.  Notice the rezones and the variances being requested by Barber Creek Land Company.  If these are approved we may as well forget about the portions of our development code that requires high quality construction.   Once one developer gets a deal they all want the same deal. Charles Baugh BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF OCONEE COUNTY , GEORGIA May 6, 2008 Commission Meeting Chambers Oconee County Courthouse 7:00 p.m.     1.                   Approval of Minutes:   Minutes of the April 1, April 7 (Budget), April 8 (Budget), April 8 (Called), April 9 (Budget) and April 22, 2008

Central School house another example of BOC bait and switch

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The Central School house was moved a couple miles down the road to Heritage Park a few years back too Heritage Park and it created a positive buzz of national media notoriety for Oconee County. Now the lack of action by the Board of Commissioners in the planning and budgeting for this facility is appalling but just more evidence of the disdainful practice of supporting something on the surface but denying important funds and infrastructure behind the scenes. Can't really call this lip service per se, but more of a bait and switch approach to appearing supportive to some thing that would be almost impossible to oppose, then behind the scenes making sure nothing gets appropriated or done on the project. The proposed park around Elder Mill Covered Bridge is another example of saying one thing and doing another.

Central School house another example of BOC bait and switch

The Central School house when moved a couple miles down the road

Thought provoking article about voter supression with UGA study cited and massive Oconee political ramblings that have nothing about the story

Voter suppression is a very hot button topic around Georgia, what with the poll tax, the county system, and various other nefarious schemes cooked up over the years and here. So this study and article should be of some interest to those who wish to Get Out the Vote and register more people. I wish we had voter registration tables at Gainesville State College campus in Oconee, the Oconee County Courthouse and every soccer, baseball and softball game (not to mention auto shows). Good to see Tommy Malcom out campaigning this weekend. When will Blake Aued of the Athens Banner-Herald cut Malcom a little bit of slack and at least include him in the conversation about State Senate District 46 seat held by Athens attorney Bill Cowsert? There have been a couple of articles and a few blog posts that sometimes do not even mention Malcom as a candidate against Cowsert, suddenly the darling of the state GOP party. I saw a lot of Malcom signs out Good Hope way in Walton County. What is Mike Maxey

BUY TICKETS TODAY FOR Athens Area Democrats Breakfast ticket deadline

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Please attend if you can as this is not restricted to residents of one county or another. Woven brightly, Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. IF you are planning on attending the Athens Area Democrats Breakfast this Saturday, May 10, please note that the ticket purchase deadline is today, Monday, May 5.  See email below for information about purchasing tickets.   Karen Solheim CCDC Corresponding Secretary BUFFET BREAKFAST ATHENS AREA DEMOCRATS 9:00AM – MAY 10, 2008   TRUMPS – WASHINGTON & JACKSON  ST. (FREE PARKING IN COUNTY  DECK ON HANCOCK ST)   SPEAKERS– KEITH HEARD                             DOUG McKILLIP STATE HOUSE REPRESENTATIVES PRICE: $12.00 per person Tickets may be purchased at Bobby Saxon's Campaign Hq. 1:00-5:00pm M-F  (Phone 706-549-2862) at 125 S. Milledge Ave, SE corner of Broad & Milledge, diagonally across  Broad  St. from the Varsity (parking at rear off Broad at bldg. with dark green metal roof)  or contact Anita Brannen  anitabarney@charter.ne