Oconee County, GA Politics

Congressman Paul Broun delivers on stunts and fear tactics telling our mama's going to die when she falls and breaks her hip. Makes one wonder how many patients of Dr. Broun's passed before he lost his medical license. From: Date: August 9, 2009 1:56:34 PM EDT To: Dan Matthews < > Subject: Visit Rep. Broun's office in Athens Reply-To: info@barackobama.com Dan -- Thanks for answering the President's call to support health insurance reform. All throughout August, our members of Congress are back in town. Insurance companies and partisan attack groups are stirring up fear with false rumors about the President's plan, and it's extremely important that folks like you speak up now. So we've cooked up an easy, powerful way for you to make a big impression: Office Visits for Health Reform. All this week, OFA members like you will be stopping by local congressional offices to show our support for insurance reform. You can have a quick convers...

Kudos to the local G.O.P. for feeding the hungry with free lasagna. Apparently the speaker is Zell Miller's grandson. I think someone ought to go videotape this performance. Around Oconee: Lasagna and Miller | Oconee | OnlineAthens.com Shared via AddThis

I have three conservatively bent Facebook friends who predictably freak out any time I post anything about possible insurance reform on that social networking site. So now I am taking a different approach to call for toning down the rhetoric without having to call someone a Nazi or say that death panels are coming to take your Grandmother away. The Georgia government did not do a very good job with the PeachCare debacle and I doubt that they will do a much better job this time around, but lucky for us we will probably get a federally enacted insurance reform this time around. Thanks to Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa my step mom will not get refunded for talking to counselors about end of life options for my father, who talks about his impending death every other time I talk to him. Can't we deal with death a little better? After all it is inevitable. Dan Matthews: Stop health reform hysteria | Letters | OnlineAthens.com Shared via AddThis

We need to help this young man with leukemia if at all possible. Organization, family to host bone marrow drive | Living | OnlineAthens.com Shared via AddThis

You can stroll around Watkinsville and learn from State Representative Bob Smith about the history of the city and buy fresh vegetables and baked goods and dairy behind Eagle Tavern in a shaded area in the back yard where the Eagle Tavern once extended. If I can wake my son up on a Saturday morning (no small task) I will be going on one of these eventually. You can still make it to the Farmers Market without going on the stroll at 9 am that generally departs from the front of the Courthouse.  Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. Date: Fri, 14 Aug 2009 04:30:30 -0700 From: oconeefm@yahoo.com To: oconeefm@yahoo.com Hello,  Hope everyone is well. This week we will have : many different kinds of pound cakes , banana bread , assorted pies, including blueberry, fresh bread/rolls (rye, honey wheat, sourdough), fresh eggs, fresh milk from Johnston Dairy,  blueberries, peaches, jams , jellies, handmade soaps & lotions, grass fed beef, tomatoes, okra, eggplant, green onions , ...

The Georgia Department of Transportation will be buying the fronts of some 150 people's yards in Oconee County sooner than later, but actual construction will wait until the most inopportune time possible in order to create wider lanes. The state funded job is a long time coming and planning but will drive by it many times in the future. I am glad we are being allowed to expand a little bit and I can only hope that sidewalks and or bike paths/lanes are included. At one point I remember being told that sidewalks were going to be part of this. I was reminded of this clogged corridor trying to make it to the Oconee Veterans Park Oconee Rec soccer tryouts in the mere half an hour commute from the officer yesterday. I wonder which Coach selected my son? Mars Hill Road project moving | News | OnlineAthens.com Shared via AddThis

NOTICE OF ELECTION Election for Mayor, presently held by Jim Luken; Council Post 1 presently held by Brian Brodrick; and Council Post 2 presently held by John Walsh will be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2009 during the hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Watkinsville Community Center for Watkinsville West voters and at the Oconee Government Annex for Watkinsville East voters in Watkinsville, Georgia (please see voter registration card). Provided no changes in the county voting location, the location you vote in the county election is same location you will vote in the city election; however, city and county elections will be separate. Those candidates elected as Mayor and to Posts 1 and 2 in the 2009 General Election shall serve a term of office of two years, commencing on January 1, 2010. Persons seeking election as a member of Council must designate the particular post for which they are offering as candidate. Candidates receiving a plurality of the votes cast for Council posts shall b...

Another point of view on the Broun display last night in Clarkesville. Rep. Broun (R-Ga.): Obama Part Of A Socialistic Elite That Plans To "Take Over" Shared via AddThis

Nice photo of the back of Oconee County Democratic Committee's chair Jonathan Veit's head and a variety of other interested individuals attending the Saturday Stroll in Watkinsville a few weeks back. Local church focal point of stroll in downtown Watkinsville | Oconee | OnlineAthens.com Shared via AddThis

Adding to the misinformation about healthcare and disrespect of our Commander in Chief, U.S. State Representative Paul Broun fueled the paranoia of our older America by stoking the fires of fear in Clarkesville yesterday. His stunts are wearing old quickly. Can we find a candidate to take on this buffoon? Obamacare a 'rotten fish,' says Broun at town hall | News | OnlineAthens.com Shared via AddThis

Will the Mayor of North High Shoals Jeff Thomas keep his promise to resign after the forthcoming municipal election? Will popular Watkinsville mayor Jim Luken seek a fourth term? Will anyone come forward to challenge him or Brian Brodrick or the heir apparent to John Walsh, Jr.'s recently resigned seat to battle Henry Norman? We shall see by September if there are local battles this November. Qualifying begins in municipal elections | Election Central | OnlineAthens.com Shared via AddThis

Randall Bramblett performed Monday evening as part of the Concerts on the Lawn series at Ashford Manor Bed and Breakfast in Watkinsville. The temperature was exceedingly hot and the music simmered equal to the task. They got people dancing and grooving if it was only with a fan for some of the songs. Sitting next to me on a blanket was Katherine Taylor, Elizabeth Alder and Katherine's friend Bebe from Frisco who is a music journalist specializing in articles about drums, and local music publicist Michelle Roche and her friend David, a man about town if there ever was one. My long-time UGA friend and mentor Candace Sherman, she of great kids and formerly the University Union and WUOG 90.5 FM, sat next to us in a small chair fanned serenely, fending off moisture while only being falsely accused of being the bearer of the thin nose plyers (it belonged to the opening act whose gear was strewn around at our feet). At least a few dozen families followed the members to various plots of ea...

I would think this pretty much guarantees a run off in this election to replace Ralphie Babe in the fightin' 47th here in NE Georgia. Fourth Republican announces for Senate District 47 seat | Breaking News | OnlineAthens.com Shared via AddThis

Some chance for local voters to let Congressman Broun know respectfully what we think about real healthcare reform about an hour away Monday and Tuesday. Healthcare forums this week | AccessNorthGa Shared via AddThis

I recently received a letter asking me to go and visit Dr. Paul Broun at this office in Athens. The following is the text of that letter asking me to go and visit Dr. Paul Broun to have your own town hall meeting in Bogart on Broad Street. All throughout August, our members of Congress are back in town. Insurance companies and partisan attack groups are stirring up fear with false rumors about the President's plan, and it's extremely important that folks like you speak up now. So we've cooked up an easy, powerful way for you to make a big impression: Office Visits for Health Reform. All this week, OFA members like you will be stopping by local congressional offices to show our support for insurance reform. You can have a quick conversation with the local staff, tell your personal story, or even just drop off a customized flyer and say that reform matters to you. We'll provide everything you need: the address, phone number, and open hours for the office, information abo...

While I was on vacation, there were a few changes on the Watkinsville City Council worth noting. Current council member John Walsh Jr resigned contingent upon his remarriage and moving outside the city limits and almost immediately former Real Estate Relator and current property preservationist Henry Norman announced his intention to run for that slot. Norman brought his real estate practice before the council a few month prior to receive the proper permits. Whether this will significantly shift the balance of power on controversial issues such as beer and wine remains to be seen. The Council also meet at Ashford Manor Bed and Breakfast for a work session where lots of planning for future growth were made but few concrete decisions were decided upon at this early stage. Tom Breedlove presented his plans for helping to solve the current courthouse needs. How these events will effect Watkinsville's future remains to be seen. The most daunting remaining decisions will be the probable...

Coaching soccer is a very rewarding way to give back to the community. I highly recommend it. I did it for three seasons and at this age, the kids respond well to running, having fun and kicking the ball all over the place. Woven brightly, Daniel J. Matthews, Jr.Date: Sun, 9 Aug 2009 10:57:41 -0700 Subject: U8 Soccer Coaches Needed We are in need of (4) coaches for U8 Soccer.  If you are interested or know of someone willing to coach, please have them contact Jared Hightower at jhightower@oconee.ga.us or 706-769-3965.  Coaches training will be offered next Saturday, August 15 from Noon to 1:30 p.m.  Thank you! Jared Hightower Oconee Veterans Park 3500 Hog Mountain Road Watkinsville, GA 30677