Oconee County, GA Politics

Our own local Bernie Madoff? Man admits Covington investment fraud  | ajc.com Posted using ShareThis

Representative Alan Grayson of Florida schools our own Congressman Paul Broun about the Constitution recently.

Oconee County Town Hall Meeting Oct. 20, 2009 from Lee Becker on Vimeo .

Oconee County Board of Commissioner members held an informal town hall meeting Tuesday evening, and all evidence pointed toward civility, cooperation and distinguished interaction on all fronts. I highly commend everyone involved in the process, and give massive credit to the Margaret Hale, John Daniell and Chuck Horton as they seemed to spearhead this movement toward more community involvement in the democracy of Oconee County government. Plenty of Oconee projects, little funds | News | OnlineAthens.com

Riding the rails through Watkinsville, Georgia

Please consider attending this Saturday morning's stroll through Watkinsville and come to our yardsale at Rita Bennett's house at the corner of Second and School street in lovely downtown Watkinsville UGA ecologist leads next 'Saturday Stroll' | Oconee | OnlineAthens.com

Finally the Democratic leaders in the state go on the offensive The money behind these Republican politicians is simply a-mazing! | Who do they represent?

With the non-partisan suggestion by an ad hoc citizens group suggesting the possibility of banning bikes, the time for serious cyclists, non-serious cyclists (me)  and non-cyclists to come together is now better than ever. Woven brightly, Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. From: smkogan@uga.edu To: smkogan@uga.edu Subject: Oconee County Cycling Advocacy Group Date: Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:52:04 -0400 Dear Fellow Cyclists and Cycling Friends, As you have probably heard, a dedicated group of cycling enthusiasts is emerging who are focused on advocating for cycling in Oconee County. We appreciate your interest and are compiling a list of names, addresses, and emails of cyclists and others who share our concerns. We will post regularly to this email list to update you on our efforts and to invite your participation. Our goal is to develop a formal advocacy group, the Oconee County Cycling Organization. Over the next 3-6 months we will be building the foundation for a long-term, e...

This takes all of five minutes top over your lunch hour or break if you can do this today. Thanks! Be polite and firm and realize these calls are largely symbolic but important. Woven brightly,  Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. From: info@barackobama.com Subject: Call for Jenny Organizing for America Dan -- Jenny U. from Missouri did what any parent would: When her son needed a kidney, she donated one of hers. But she didn't realize insurance companies would use her kindness as an excuse to never cover her again, calling her donation a "pre-existing condition." Now, insurance companies are spending millions on a campaign of lies to kill health reform that would help folks like Jenny. So, today, with crucial negotiations taking place in Congress, we're raising our voices and making it clear: It's time to deliver on reform. We've set a big goal: 100,000 calls to Congress made or committed to in a single day. To hit it, we'll need your help -- will...

Decent primer on how to actively participate in your local democracy here in Oconee County. Most people are very well behaved at these meetings already, but I can imagine that a few folks will get red in the face about some issues. Let's hope banning bicycles is not chief among them. Editorial: Give Oconee commissioners credit for forum | Opinion | OnlineAthens.com

So what can we do, Rita? The yard sale items in your yard should be OK but I would not leave anything on the ground too long with the frost Woven brightly, Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. Date: Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:21:45 +0000 Subject: [oconee] Yard Sale/Fund Raiser Redux   The yard sale was tough sledding on Saturday because of the weather. Still, we managed to collect about $250. Not bad considering it was 49 degrees and rainy. Thanks to everyone who worked so hard and stood out in the cold rain! Still, we didn't do as well as we wanted and there's lots of really nice stuff left, so we decided that we would try again this Saturday, October 24th. However, we need people to help with set up and selling. The set up will be easy, because we left much of the stuff out and under tarps. It is supposed to be a lovely weekend and there's no Georgia football, so we should do very well. Of course, that means that we need all hands on deck. Anyone who can spare a few hours on...

Georgia often sneers as Atlanta struggles  | ajc.com Posted using ShareThis

Informal, as commissioner Margaret Hale says she wants it to be, town hall meeting concerning real Oconee County concerns commencing at the Civic Center on a Tuesday evening 7 to 9 pm. Too bad I will be across Hog Mountain Road in Oconee Veterans Park at my son's soccer game. Even though other bloggers seem to think I am being a tad bit disingenuous of a stretch, I would ask about banning bicycles on Oconee County roads to try and prevent the story from going further than this: Committee member James Morris, however, said problem cyclists are a "minority," according to the minutes, and he felt the county didn’t really have jurisdiction, despite Crowe’s legal review. Crowe made a motion, seconded by committee member Courtney Gale, that the committee continue its discussion of the issue at future meetings, and that motion passed 5-4. At the March 10 meeting of the committee, Chairman Abouhamdan brought the matter up again. Oconee to open it up at meeting | News ...

So this is the second time in a week I have heard mention that some ill advised comments from a citizen proposing the banning of bicycles on our roads in Oconee County, Georgia. While I do not think for a second that the current Board of Commissioners would ever pass such a stupid law, it would be the quickest way for the Democrats to come back in power in Oconee.  Not to mention a huge waste of sheriff deputy and municipal police time. Non-Watinsville resident Kate McDaniel dared dangle that out of her mouth at the end of Watkinsville City Council meeting the other evening, and evidently she was harkening back to this meeting that Lee Becker once again uncovered. Thank you Lee. Even Athens madman Jeff Snowden would oppose this, not to mention Watkinsville city council member Brian Brodrick, the dozens of local bicycle enthusiasts and triatheletes and every parent who bought their chid a bicycle at Sunshine cycle or Wal-Mart. From: Lee Becker < lbbecker@mindspring.com > Dat...