Oconee County, GA Politics

Well written letter to the Editor which should be the Final Chapter on the North Oconee ~ Oconee County High School debate, but it won't be. That much is for certain. Victoria E. Cruz: Focus on academics in Oconee | Letters | OnlineAthens.com Shared via AddThis

Public transportation in Oconee County, Georgia, any form of it, is about three decades overdue and well behind most of the Western world. How about we work together to try and maintain some level of assistance for the elderly and those in need. Pushing for transit in Oconee | News | OnlineAthens.com Shared via AddThis

Bulldogs to honor troops on helmets | ajc.com Posted using ShareThis

Perspectives: GA Pottery Invitational Largest pottery sale of it's kind in Georgia - Over 5,000 pieces on display and for sale!   Open every day now thru Wednesday,September 16, 10 AM to 5 PM Don't Miss This Final Weekend! Studio Tours Sunday, September 13th The 7th annual Perspectives Exhibit and Sale is underway and is designed to showcase the largest variety of functional handmade pottery currently being produced by professional art potters throughout the state of Georgia. Over 4,500 individual pieces of pottery provided by 50 of Georgia's finest potters are available for sale at this event. Visitors to the OCAF Art Center may see two outstanding exhibitions of pottery. The largest exhibit, with over 140 pieces of pottery, will feature the works of each of the 50 participating potters and a select number of pieces from private collections. The second Members Gallery Exhibit is titled "Pottery Line-Up" will display art ...

Time for a little fantasy work here about our roads in Oconee County. I do not suffer the Georgia Department of Transportation gladly, but I drive enough roads around these parts that I can share a few ideas no matter how far fetched they may seem. Leave Simonton Bridge/Whitehall Road substantively alone. Build some bike paths off the road, maybe add a turn lane here or there, sidewalks would be welcome as well. Add extra lanes on 441 from the Watkinsville By-Pass all the way to the Athens Perimeter. Here too bike lanes would actually make sense and a couple of sidewalks would do wonder to the health and beauty of Oconee County. Extra acceleration lanes off the Perimeter on to Highway 316 (at least past the Oconee Connector past the perimeter). Hook up the new fly over the By-Pass behind Lowe's and across the Perimeter to the Jennings Mill Superhighway. Then it will only take four minutes instead of five for Jennings Mill residents to take the back way to Sam's Club. Mak...

Oconee County Republican leader Jay Hanley, who may indeed be the youngest party county party chair in the state of Georgia, declined to resign his dream gig as Chair of the local GOP to run for the non-partisan Post 3 slot Joe Walter is giving up on the City Council to become Mayor. "I  will not be a candidate (for the Watkinsville City Council at this time)," wrote Hanley in an email earlier this evening. "While I don't rule out a future run for public office in the City of Watkinsville or Oconee County, my political focus right now will be the Chairmanship of the Oconee County Republican Party." While I have not attended either of the recent meetings, I must give massive props to Jay for having the political acumen to schedule a series of strong speakers with free food and advertising in the local media to keep attention focused on the majority party in Oconee at the Watkinsville Town Hall exactly opposite of the Oconee County Democratic Committee meetings....

OK, it is the Ed show and not Countdown with Keith Olbermann or the Rachel Maddow show, but I knew some national media would hop on this clip. Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News , World News , and News about the Economy

Dr. Neil Priest, who lives in Oconee County, offers a prescription for our health care needs. Forum: Local doctor offers health reform ideas | Opinion | OnlineAthens.com Shared via AddThis

Go buy eggs, dairy and veggies at the Oconee Farmers Market this weekend and consider attending the Saturday Stroll with Mary Mellein, chair of the Keep Oconee County Beautiful committee at 9:00 am leaving from the Courthouse. Woven brightly, Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. Date: Thu, 10 Sep 2009 11:32:47 -0700 From: oconeefm@yahoo.com Subject: Saturday's Market To: oconeefm@yahoo.com Hello, I hope to see you all at the market this week! We will have: many types of pound cake , banana bread , assorted pies, fresh bread, homemade dog biscuits, farm fresh eggs, milk from Johnston Dairy, peaches, scuppernongs, an assortment of jellies and jams, handmade soaps and lotions, squash, okra, tomatoes, cucumbers, potatoes, green beans , field peas, eggplant, onions, canteloupe, watermelon, fresh cut flowers, ornamental plants , herbs, grass fed beef, fresh lamb, woolens, gourds, woodcrafts, salsa from Salsa Ya'll and many more wonderful things, so come on out and support our local gro...

Sounds like a great excuse to get out early Saturday morning Woven brightly, Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. EMAILING FOR THE GREATER GOOD Join me Date: Thu, 10 Sep 2009 11:32:47 -0700 From: oconeefm@yahoo.com Subject: Saturday's Market To: oconeefm@yahoo.com Hello, I hope to see you all at the market this week! We will have: many types of pound cake , banana bread , assorted pies, fresh bread, homemade dog biscuits, farm fresh eggs, milk from Johnston Dairy, peaches, scuppernongs, an assortment of jellies and jams, handmade soaps and lotions, squash, okra, tomatoes, cucumbers, potatoes, green beans , field peas, eggplant, onions, canteloupe, watermelon, fresh cut flowers, ornamental plants , herbs, grass fed beef, fresh lamb, woolens, gourds, woodcrafts, salsa from Salsa Ya'll and many more wonderful things, so come on out and support our local growers/vendors! See you there this Saturday!!   Karl Don't forget to tell a friend or co-worker about the market!!   ...

I know this event has nothing to do with Oconee County, Georgia but I just had to post this. 32nd Harkin Steak Fry Shared via AddThis

The pissing match that is the facilities/PR battle between Oconee County Board of Education Superintendent John Jackson and North Oconee High School principal John Osborne is now forever embargoed to the scrap heap of history for people to weigh the merits and make the same old arguments over and over again. Once again I would suggest a three and a half mile run between the two area schools on the first day that Osborne returns from his non-self-imposed leave of absence. Editorial: Statements not enough in Oconee principal issue | Opinion | OnlineAthens.com Shared via AddThis

More waste of our financial resources from our esteemed House of Representatives member Dr. Paul Broun, Jr. U.S. Rep. Paul Broun, congressional time-waster | Fresh Loaf Shared via AddThis

Ryan Lewis tries to give Congressman Paul Broun passed kidney stones

I am not even exactly sure where current boundaries of Alpharetta and Roswell end and the city limits of Milton begins up in haughty North Fulton County, and I did work at a newspaper up yonder near the city in the 1980s, but the idea of privatization of small municipal governments sounds highly uneconomical to say the least. Has anyone else heard of smallish communities doing this? I guess if you are a start-up city trying to compete with neighboring municipalities it is the most efficient way for a bang for your buck? I remain dubious of this kind of public-private partnerships. When someone wants to build a sewer spur or something like (which has occurred in Watkinsville recently), I understand the need and applaud the companies and individuals involved. The idea that most of industrial South Watkinsville was not on the sanity sewer blew my mind, and I am glad that has been rectified. Milton to split with privatization firm | ajc.com Shared via AddThis

Perhaps we buried the four lane movement of Simonton Bridge Road last night a bit prematurely. Government never quite knows what the right hand is doing versus the left hand sometimes. Road group backs Simonton Bridge widening | News | OnlineAthens.com Shared via AddThis

I have to present Congressman Broun's point of view as well. Woven brightly, Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. EMAILING FOR THE GREATER GOOD Join me From: paul.broun@houseenews.net Subject: What are your thoughts on the health care address to Congress? To: danmatt@hotmail.com Date: Wed, 9 Sep 2009 18:52:34 -0700 If you are having trouble viewing this message, please click here . September 09, 2009 Unsubscribe Update My Profile Website | About Paul | Services | 10th District | News | Issues | Contact Click here to view a detailed examination of the Obamacare bill.   This is what I think Obamacare would look like (click the image to see a larger chart): ...

The last quarter of Mayor Jim Luken's third and final term in office as Mayor of Watkinsville was run like a Marine inspection by the former Marine and son of former Cincinnati mayor of the same name. It appears the younger Luken may have found a signature send off in stopping the four lane build out of Simonton Bridge Road after members of the Georgia Department of Transportation said the thoroughfare does not meet the criteria for becoming four lane at a MACORTS meeting today. The fact he also found an extra $40,000.00 from interest on the city's Certificates of Deposit for the City coffers is not bad thing to be remembered by either.  "We have a real chance to step in a muddy hole here," commented Luken.  "We have got to be careful."  The county seat of Oconee County continues a carefully honed path of progress and growth amidst a sea of abandoned subdivisions even encroaching inside the city limits. Among the new businesses approved by the Cit...

Athens small business owner, music and scooter entrepreneur Ryan Lewis asks a question of Congressman Paul Broun at the Town Hall in Watkinsville Tuesday morning. Rep. Broun walks away from constituent after question on healthcare Shared via AddThis

One of current Mayor Jim Luken's last before he gives way to Mayor-designate Joe Walter. This will also be Henry Norman's first meeting and had the pleasure of speaking with him at First Friday last week. We have a great town. #4 is off the board of tonight's agenda: AGENDA CITY OF WATKINSVILLE September 9, 2009 CALL TO ORDER QUORUM CHECK PRESENTATION OF THE WATKINSVILLE BEAUTIFUL YARD AWARD MINUTES 1. August 12, 2009 APPEARANCES: 1. Thomas McElwayne – business license – Shooters Den of Georgia, Inc. – 1040 Turkey Industrial Road, Suite B 2. Buford O. Edwards, Jr., M.D. – business license – B. O. Edwards, Jr., M.D. – 2 S. Main Street, Suite 201 3. Jeff Stephens – business license – Georgia Monument & Vault, LLC – 1240 Greensboro Hwy. 4. REMOVED: Devin Berry – building permit – 24 x 32 garage/storage building – 16 Second Street 5. Johnny Ralston – business license concern – regarding 1061 Camden Park Drive (Ultimate Car Care) ADMINISTRATION ...

Got a call this morning from Mr. Robert Urich of Athens Academy telling me a little about why my son was not allowed to watch the President's speech to Kindergarten through Sixth grade elementary school students yesterday. Essentially they took the easy route out, which was to be expected at a private school where there are no African-Americans at all in the Fourth Grade. They did play the Inaugural speech last January, and they made no effort to utilize the Smart Board in the classroom where it would be easiest and most effective way to display the President asking the students to achieve in the classrooms and wash their hands.

The turn out at the Oconee County Civic Center today for 10th District United States Congressman Paul Broun's Town Hall on Health Care was very diverse, packed as much as I have ever seen it for any event, and generally well behaved. I admit I was only there for a very few minutes as it took the better part of my fortunately early lunch hour to get there to snap these few shots. I want to thank Shawn Wheeler at the Oconee County Civic Center for putting this event together with little notice and probably less appreciation. Also Sheriff Scott Berry and his deputies who made sure the unusual parking situation did not get out of hand. I parked near right field at the Warriors baseball stadium. I doubt the Civic Center has seen that many people when school was also in session. They took a potential colossal clusterf*ck and made it work smoothly, perfectly and to the point. People did get rowdy and some blood was flowing stronger coming out then going in. Ryan Lewis tried to pass a ...

So when you get rid of an attorney hired because of a job termination, and the people you were leading at the school are having a celebratory BBQ in your honor, and the Board of Education is no longer having a hearing about said position, then it is a pretty safe assumption you have your job back. Remember the Titans, the students, the parents, the coaches, the inadequate athletic and other facilities, the port-a-potties, the middle school seats in a high school facility and the many other mistakes making North Oconee High School the unforgettable place it is. Welcome back Principal John Osborne and I am sure the celebration is on at Veterans Park even as I write this. I am equally certain there will be some electoral retribution very soon. Osborne reaches agreement on NOHS job | Breaking News | OnlineAthens.com Shared via AddThis

I firmly believe you are doomed to repeat your mistakes if you do not learn from history Subject: next meeting Hi,             This is my usual reminder that our next meeting will be Monday September 14 th   7pm at   Carson 's Store in   Farmington .  This is an important meeting and we hope of have a good turn out.  We will be discussing the future of the history village at   Heritage   Park   and would like to know what you think it should be like.             The Oconee Fall Festival is also coming up (October 17 th ) and we will be discussing our booth there. See you there. Peggy

Local rock band R.E.M. contributed music to this commercial about health care Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. Subject: R.E.M. & MoveOn members made a video Dear MoveOn member, Last week we asked MoveOn members to share photos showing how they and their loved ones are suffering under our broken health care system. The responses simply blew us away. We showed the photos to recording artists R.E.M., and together we produced this incredibly powerful video. Watch the video and share it with your friends today. With the news that some in the White House are considering a public option "trigger" 1 —a delay tactic designed to kill it—it's more important than ever to get the word out that we simply can't afford to wait for real reform. Click here to watch the video and send it to your friends today: http://pol.moveon.org/healthcare_cantwait/?id=17194-1665952-CigaDxx&t=3 Thanks for all you do. –Nita, Laura, Matt, Kat, and the rest of the team Source: ...

Paul Broun was only ‘one thin door’ away from…. Posted using ShareThis

Your lawmakers vacation -- and who paid for it | ajc.com Posted using ShareThis

More fodder from the Letter to the Editor writing brigade, this one featuring a cavalcade of achievements and accomplishments listed by McClintock on behalf of ousted North Oconee principal John Osborne. It shall be interesting to see the outcome of the decision by the Oconee County Board of Education this afternoon. Reita McClintock: Keep Osborne as NOHS principal | Letters | OnlineAthens.com Shared via AddThis

Sage advice for people of any political persuasion attending Dr. Broun's Town Hall this morning. Please by kind and considerate, even if the person next or near to you is not being so polite. Do take photos, video and express yourself to the best of your ability. Editorial: Let's be careful out there at today's town hall | Opinion | OnlineAthens.com Shared via AddThis

To quote David Byrne and the Talking Heads, we're on the road to no where. Oconee parkway extension kicks off | News | OnlineAthens.com Shared via AddThis

Would love to be at this almost as much as I would like to give Congressman Paul Broun a piece of mind tomorrow morning here in Watkinsville Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. Date: Mon, 7 Sep 2009 11:26:02 -0400 To: From: info@barackobama.com Subject: On the road in Atlanta Dan -- Our "Health Insurance Reform Now" bus tour -- part of a big 50-state push as Congress heads back to Washington -- will be in Atlanta this Wednesday at 6:45 p.m. We'll hear from local leaders, present thousands of Georgians' declarations of support for reform, and watch the President's big speech to Congress. Will you join the bus tour in Atlanta? Click here to RSVP. Here are the details: What: "Health Insurance Reform Now" Bus Tour Stop Where: Martin Luther King Jr. Historic Site 450 Auburn Ave NE Atlanta, GA 30312 When: Wednesday, September 9th 6:45 p.m. Be part of history -- sign up now to join the ...

Local politicos including our own State Rep. Bob Smith and City Council member Brian Brodrick, not to mention Morgan County Democratic chair Patsy Harris and State Chair Jane Kidd of Athens give their opinion of our blowhard Congressman Hurricane Paul Broun. Broun rails and eyes roll | News | OnlineAthens.com Shared via AddThis

The cries of racism here I think are largely unwarranted, but what do I know? North Oconee parents focused | News | OnlineAthens.com Shared via AddThis