I do my best to respect people's privacy. I am in no way condemning the Oconee Enterprise newspaper for disclosing that she has Lupus, especially if she is OK with them disclosing it. I guess I am a little sensitive to the sharing of medical information after working in the University Health Center for a number of years.
I hope Margaret Hale battles and defeats Lupus and gets her discs in her back worked on to the point where they are no longer bothering her.
Friday, November 06, 2009
Thursday, November 05, 2009
Stop legislation to repeal DOMA (Rep. Paul Broun) - The Hill's Congress Blog
The following link is to the comments from Georgia 10th district Congressman Paul Broun concerning the attempts to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act
Stop legislation to repeal DOMA (Rep. Paul Broun) - The Hill's Congress Blog
Stop legislation to repeal DOMA (Rep. Paul Broun) - The Hill's Congress Blog
Proof that when a butterfly flaps it wings, on the other side of the world
someone makes a video that has nothing to do with anyone intended in the original, but hey thanks for trying - Lee can you fill me in on "hot topix?"
Richt to address FCA rally || OnlineAthens.com
Coach Mark Richt of the University of Georgia Bulldogs football team will talk about his faith this evening at the Oconee County High School football stadium.
Richt to address FCA rally || OnlineAthens.com
Editorial: Credit Oconee for preserving sharecropper cabin || OnlineAthens.com
In house editorial supporting historic preservation efforts in Oconee County. The kindness of the two people involved to the tune of $23,000 is very kind and considerate. I am glad we can share the past with those in the future.
Editorial: Credit Oconee for preserving sharecropper cabin || OnlineAthens.com
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
6 Oconee schools win state honor
Half dozen Oconee County public schools make the grade
34 area schools win state honor || OnlineAthens.com
34 area schools win state honor || OnlineAthens.com
Last Day OCPRD Youth Basketball Registration
Should your child want to shoot hoops with others their age in an organized manner, they have less than 24 hours to do so either in person or online.
Daniel J. Matthews, Jr.
Subject: Last Day OCPRD Youth Basketball Registration
Parents,
A reminder that today (November 4th) is the last day to register for the Oconee County Parks and Recreation Department's Youth Basketball Leagues. To register please stop by Oconee Veterans Park, Herman C. Michael Park, or go online to www.oconeecounty.com .
For more information please contact the Oconee County Parks and Recreation Department at 706-769-3965.
Thank you!
Herman C. Michael Park
PO Box 55
Watkinsville, GA
30677
Daniel J. Matthews, Jr.
Subject: Last Day OCPRD Youth Basketball Registration
Parents,
A reminder that today (November 4th) is the last day to register for the Oconee County Parks and Recreation Department's Youth Basketball Leagues. To register please stop by Oconee Veterans Park, Herman C. Michael Park, or go online to www.oconeecounty.com .
For more information please contact the Oconee County Parks and Recreation Department at 706-769-3965.
Thank you!
Herman C. Michael Park
PO Box 55
Watkinsville, GA
30677
Pranks, or something more sinister? Or maybe just time for a yard sale.
I know a few of my more literate and internet savvy neighbors in the lovely Morgan Manor Estates subdivision read this blog, so I ask of them, did anyone see any people in my open car port yesterday (November 3) afternoon between 11 am and approximately 4 pm?
My son and his mom came over right after that time of day yesterday to get the coat and book and discovered someone had set a fish wire booby trap across the corner of my lawn. This was nothing out of Apocalypse Now or Full Metal Jacket variety, but just about 40 yards of fishing line tied twice with a surprising strong series of knots from a small magnolia tree back to my car port tied just about the perfect height to trip were it not for the perfectly bright full moon reflecting off the twin lines last night.
My son tried to break it to no avail, and I thought about calling Watkinsville Police Chief Lee O'Dillon to let him know about this childish stunt, but they have much more important things to concern themselves with then some neighbor kid taking fishing line from my car port.
So I proceeded to walk my aging black lab-pitbull-Georgia Black dog on her daily walk around my yard to do her business, as I did yesterday without incident in the AM. I have not taken her on a proper walk since she was diagnosed with needing an ACL repair at the tune of $2,800.00, so it makes me wonder if it was some kid familiar with my frequent dog pooping activities in my yard?
A few of them and their parents also read my blog, and they will not be allowed in my yard for future activities. I took the initiative to throw away more and more crap out of my car port, which has been subject of a warning from the City of Watkinsville's Code Enforcement officer.
I am the first to admit I am a bit of a hoarder and regularly need to jettison about 2/3rds of my belongings, and I apologize to the neighbors for having to put up with this apparently genetic disease or disorder, as I had to go rent a dumpster recently to rescue my nearly 80 year old grandfather of a large portion of crap in his side yard in Druid Hills. It was a humiliating and humbling experience for everyone involved.
For those who may have slightly more traditional family structures, I am sure it is a source of great amusement or embarrassment, depending on your point of view, for some local residents. I will be the first to admit I am domestically challenged, and need to toss away tons of crap from my car point, storage house and attic.
But does this make it OK to arrange hard-to-see trip wires near sidewalks and right in a path I use daily? I think not. But I will be ever vigilant to try and catch the creeps coming on my property without my permission to violate the sanctity of my home and make things dangerous for my family. And I will continue to cram crap in the three beat to Hell trashcans and try to imagine things from other people's points of view to perhaps shame myself into keeping a tidier car port.
Whatever your leanings, please respect my property and if you have difficulty with it or anything I have left in the open, let me know in a polite and civil matter and do not encourage reckless youth antics in my side yard or elsewhere. Thank you very much for your indulgence. Things could be much worse with the abandoned Camaro across the street, the apparently empty rental house next door, the intermittent boat repairs up the street or Lord knows what else in my subdivision, but I cherish my relative anonymity and do not suffer fools gladly.
My son and his mom came over right after that time of day yesterday to get the coat and book and discovered someone had set a fish wire booby trap across the corner of my lawn. This was nothing out of Apocalypse Now or Full Metal Jacket variety, but just about 40 yards of fishing line tied twice with a surprising strong series of knots from a small magnolia tree back to my car port tied just about the perfect height to trip were it not for the perfectly bright full moon reflecting off the twin lines last night.
My son tried to break it to no avail, and I thought about calling Watkinsville Police Chief Lee O'Dillon to let him know about this childish stunt, but they have much more important things to concern themselves with then some neighbor kid taking fishing line from my car port.
So I proceeded to walk my aging black lab-pitbull-Georgia Black dog on her daily walk around my yard to do her business, as I did yesterday without incident in the AM. I have not taken her on a proper walk since she was diagnosed with needing an ACL repair at the tune of $2,800.00, so it makes me wonder if it was some kid familiar with my frequent dog pooping activities in my yard?
A few of them and their parents also read my blog, and they will not be allowed in my yard for future activities. I took the initiative to throw away more and more crap out of my car port, which has been subject of a warning from the City of Watkinsville's Code Enforcement officer.
I am the first to admit I am a bit of a hoarder and regularly need to jettison about 2/3rds of my belongings, and I apologize to the neighbors for having to put up with this apparently genetic disease or disorder, as I had to go rent a dumpster recently to rescue my nearly 80 year old grandfather of a large portion of crap in his side yard in Druid Hills. It was a humiliating and humbling experience for everyone involved.
For those who may have slightly more traditional family structures, I am sure it is a source of great amusement or embarrassment, depending on your point of view, for some local residents. I will be the first to admit I am domestically challenged, and need to toss away tons of crap from my car point, storage house and attic.
But does this make it OK to arrange hard-to-see trip wires near sidewalks and right in a path I use daily? I think not. But I will be ever vigilant to try and catch the creeps coming on my property without my permission to violate the sanctity of my home and make things dangerous for my family. And I will continue to cram crap in the three beat to Hell trashcans and try to imagine things from other people's points of view to perhaps shame myself into keeping a tidier car port.
Whatever your leanings, please respect my property and if you have difficulty with it or anything I have left in the open, let me know in a polite and civil matter and do not encourage reckless youth antics in my side yard or elsewhere. Thank you very much for your indulgence. Things could be much worse with the abandoned Camaro across the street, the apparently empty rental house next door, the intermittent boat repairs up the street or Lord knows what else in my subdivision, but I cherish my relative anonymity and do not suffer fools gladly.
Voice of Moderation: A First for Oconee?
Council member Brian Brodrick reports on the Oscar Meyer Weinermobile whistling up the Oconee Connector/Mars Hill Road tomorrow to the Athens Area Humane Society's new location. Suddenly I am craving a chili dawg! Maybe after work if I did not have to run around teaching fourth graders to box out at the Athens Academy lower school gymnasium at 6:45 pm where I can say we have a solid team.
Voice of Moderation: A First for Oconee?
Voice of Moderation: A First for Oconee?
Results for races in Oconee County and involving a Postal Worker employed in Watkinsville
HULL
Mayor
Paul Elkins (I) / unopposed
City Council
Paul Cook (I) / 6
Paige Phillips / 23
(works in Watkinsville Post Office)
OCONEE COUNTY
BOGART
City Council
Four-year term
(top two vote-getters win)
Pam McNair / 38
Michael Ward / 70
John Larkin / 59
Weymand Steed / 40
Two-year unexpired term
T.L. Turman / unopposed
NORTH HIGH SHOALS
City Council
Post 3
David Lawrence / 110
Scott Wilson / 78
Post 4
Stephen Arnold / 98
Sarah Donegan / 88
Post 5
Violet Dawe (I) / unopposed
Mayor
Paul Elkins (I) / unopposed
City Council
Paul Cook (I) / 6
Paige Phillips / 23
(works in Watkinsville Post Office)
OCONEE COUNTY
BOGART
City Council
Four-year term
(top two vote-getters win)
Pam McNair / 38
Michael Ward / 70
John Larkin / 59
Weymand Steed / 40
Two-year unexpired term
T.L. Turman / unopposed
NORTH HIGH SHOALS
City Council
Post 3
David Lawrence / 110
Scott Wilson / 78
Post 4
Stephen Arnold / 98
Sarah Donegan / 88
Post 5
Violet Dawe (I) / unopposed
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
Steve Arnold and David Lawrence win council seats in North High Shoals municipal elections Tuesday
The always contentious municipal election in North High Shoals continued the recent trend of repudiating the do-nothing tenure of Mayor Jeff Thomas with narrow victories for political newcomers Steve Arnold and David Lawrence Tuesday in the quaint picturesque town at the juncture of Walton, Morgan and Oconee Counties. Lawrence defeated Scott Wilson and Arnold edged Donegan in the first races for all of the participants. Accusations flew of conflicts of interest, sweetheart sidewalk placement, illegal home businesses, and assorted mischief and malfeasance from both sides.
These results sent from outgoing council member Fred Johnson
The results would seem to solidify and recertify the reform bloc started most recently by council members Steve Holzman and Violet Dawe. They have redone the charter, hired local attorneys and clerks, hosted forums, all largely without the cooperation or participation of Mayor Jeff Thomas and City Council member Eddie Cape. Thomas has reneged on repeated pledges to resign, postponing any action until the next election. Seems like the voters answered his latest time post with a hand holding open the door out of city hall.
Although non partisan, this municipal election was quietly seen a small scale referendum on relative political strength and organization. Donegan has a Facebook group with about as many members as her vote total including local GOP chair Jay Hanley. Things have been extremely bitter in the last days before the election, with lots of shouting on the blogs such as Small Town Politics.
These results sent from outgoing council member Fred Johnson
Post 3: David Lawrence 110 & Scott Wilson 77
Post 4: Steve Arnold 98 & Sarah Donegan 88
Thanks for everyone for voting.
The results would seem to solidify and recertify the reform bloc started most recently by council members Steve Holzman and Violet Dawe. They have redone the charter, hired local attorneys and clerks, hosted forums, all largely without the cooperation or participation of Mayor Jeff Thomas and City Council member Eddie Cape. Thomas has reneged on repeated pledges to resign, postponing any action until the next election. Seems like the voters answered his latest time post with a hand holding open the door out of city hall.
Although non partisan, this municipal election was quietly seen a small scale referendum on relative political strength and organization. Donegan has a Facebook group with about as many members as her vote total including local GOP chair Jay Hanley. Things have been extremely bitter in the last days before the election, with lots of shouting on the blogs such as Small Town Politics.
If you live inside North High Shoals or Bogart city limits, please vote today
If you are a resident of the burgeoning border cities of North High Shoals or Bogart, Georgia here in Oconee County (with a tiny slice of eligible voters in Clarke County for Bogart), please go to the polls and cast your votes in the municipal elections for city council members in a couple of posts in both towns. Here are the eligible candidates in a list purloined from the Athens Banner-Herald. I believe both polls are open until 7 pm
OCONEE COUNTY
► BOGART
• City Council
Four-year term
Pam McNair
Michael Ward
Four-year term
John Larkin
Weymand Steed
Two-year unexpired term
T.L. Turman
► NORTH HIGH SHOALS
• City Council
Post 3
David Lawrence
Scott Wilson
Post 4
Stephen Arnold
Sarah Donegan
Post 5
Violet Dawe (I)
OCONEE COUNTY
► BOGART
• City Council
Four-year term
Pam McNair
Michael Ward
Four-year term
John Larkin
Weymand Steed
Two-year unexpired term
T.L. Turman
► NORTH HIGH SHOALS
• City Council
Post 3
David Lawrence
Scott Wilson
Post 4
Stephen Arnold
Sarah Donegan
Post 5
Violet Dawe (I)
Monday, November 02, 2009
North High Shoals: like a fine wine, keeps getting better with age
Stay tuned for the latest episode in the ongoing saga that is the North High Shoals town council and mayor. Will they actually meet with a quorum? Will Mayor Jeff Thomas ever resign like he said he would? Will the current Mayor ever actually attend a meeting with the current council members? Will this election tomorrow be binding? And what about Naomi?
The following have been pilfered from Small Town Politics blog:
Here is the latest from the Mayor:
Wow Steve,
I love the way you spin things around. Are you seriously wanting me to believe that a public hearing concerning city business -an official meeting of the council - a meeting that requires a quorum - would not need to be set by the council?
As to the expressed language of the attorney, the question is one of availability. Your previous statement is incorrect meaning either the attorney did not understand the question or you did not understand the reply. I was never 'not available' by phone to discuss the issue of rescheduling a meeting date - if council desired to set one. Instead it appears that you and Violet decided on the date - or Violet by herself. I was never contacted - if an attempt had been made, then you would have known I was not unavailable. Again, I state the question, why would anyone propose a meeting without even notifying all members of council in advance?
Jeff Thomas
Mayor
Town of North High Shoals
From Steve:
The call for two public hearings and their dates, WAS set by the council. Rescheduling, to me, anyway, shouldn't require a full council vote. But once again, I ask, what is the big deal! Is it really just procedural? Or is it something more?
Since this may go in circles, let's try this as a way to get to a solution. Until such time as we can get this codified in the code, when a meeting is canceled, the clerk calls you and all councilpersons and finds a suitable date for rescheduling? If she cannot reach everyone within 48 hours, but she is able to reach enough to constitute a quorum, then she uses that date.
and yet another overview from Steve's blog:
There's been a flurry of activity via emails and blog comments. Here's a summary. Feel free to add a comment or two.
The Code.
One of the first things we were advised to do by our town attorney was to update the charter and then update the code. We finished the charter this spring, and the approval of the code is almost complete. After 10 work sessions on the code, I would think that citizens have had ample time to weigh in. We scheduled two public hearings at our September meeting. These were set for Oct. 19th and November 16th. Both to be held before regularly scheduled meetings. Mr. Cape had earlier in the week notified council of his unavailability, but we didn't get notice from Mayor Thomas about his unavailability until 2:23pm on the date of the hearing. So without Mr. Cape and Mr. Thomas, we would not have a quorum. As it was late, I felt that I should be there to let citizens know about the cancellation personally. A note on the door is just bad form. Fred & Violet decided to do the same thing. We met some citizens that had shown up and let them know about the cancellation. I hoped we could reschedule a public hearing, but that is not my job. Obviously, November 2nd was out because of set-up for elections, but Nov. 9th seemed to be a good date. I told Violet (mayor pro tem) that the 9th would work for me. On the 20th of October our clerk sent out an email with the rescheduled code hearing set for Nov. 9th. All seemed well.
On the 28th the mayor sent a note to the clerk asking where the Nov. 9th date came from and letting her know that he would be unable to attend. The clerk sent this to council on Sat. (31st) night. Today, Mr. Cape also let it be known that he will not be available on the 9th. They do not support Violet's authority to reschedule the public hearing. They believe she should have called the Mayor (I don't know if she made an attempt...I haven't been able to reach her today) and Mr. Cape to see if the date would work with them. In hindsight, it certainly would have made things easier. I guess I didn't think rescheduling a public hearing was such a huge deal. I guess I overestimated the commitment of the Mayor and Mr. Cape to creating a new code. Mr. Cape, can you summarize your thoughts about the code in a comment to the blog? I don't want to paraphrase our recent email conversation.
So...a public hearing on the code is still scheduled for November 16th at 6:30pm. I have heard nothing about a rescheduled October regular meeting.
The following have been pilfered from Small Town Politics blog:
Here is the latest from the Mayor:
Wow Steve,
I love the way you spin things around. Are you seriously wanting me to believe that a public hearing concerning city business -an official meeting of the council - a meeting that requires a quorum - would not need to be set by the council?
As to the expressed language of the attorney, the question is one of availability. Your previous statement is incorrect meaning either the attorney did not understand the question or you did not understand the reply. I was never 'not available' by phone to discuss the issue of rescheduling a meeting date - if council desired to set one. Instead it appears that you and Violet decided on the date - or Violet by herself. I was never contacted - if an attempt had been made, then you would have known I was not unavailable. Again, I state the question, why would anyone propose a meeting without even notifying all members of council in advance?
Jeff Thomas
Mayor
Town of North High Shoals
From Steve:
The call for two public hearings and their dates, WAS set by the council. Rescheduling, to me, anyway, shouldn't require a full council vote. But once again, I ask, what is the big deal! Is it really just procedural? Or is it something more?
Since this may go in circles, let's try this as a way to get to a solution. Until such time as we can get this codified in the code, when a meeting is canceled, the clerk calls you and all councilpersons and finds a suitable date for rescheduling? If she cannot reach everyone within 48 hours, but she is able to reach enough to constitute a quorum, then she uses that date.
and yet another overview from Steve's blog:
There's been a flurry of activity via emails and blog comments. Here's a summary. Feel free to add a comment or two.
The Code.
One of the first things we were advised to do by our town attorney was to update the charter and then update the code. We finished the charter this spring, and the approval of the code is almost complete. After 10 work sessions on the code, I would think that citizens have had ample time to weigh in. We scheduled two public hearings at our September meeting. These were set for Oct. 19th and November 16th. Both to be held before regularly scheduled meetings. Mr. Cape had earlier in the week notified council of his unavailability, but we didn't get notice from Mayor Thomas about his unavailability until 2:23pm on the date of the hearing. So without Mr. Cape and Mr. Thomas, we would not have a quorum. As it was late, I felt that I should be there to let citizens know about the cancellation personally. A note on the door is just bad form. Fred & Violet decided to do the same thing. We met some citizens that had shown up and let them know about the cancellation. I hoped we could reschedule a public hearing, but that is not my job. Obviously, November 2nd was out because of set-up for elections, but Nov. 9th seemed to be a good date. I told Violet (mayor pro tem) that the 9th would work for me. On the 20th of October our clerk sent out an email with the rescheduled code hearing set for Nov. 9th. All seemed well.
On the 28th the mayor sent a note to the clerk asking where the Nov. 9th date came from and letting her know that he would be unable to attend. The clerk sent this to council on Sat. (31st) night. Today, Mr. Cape also let it be known that he will not be available on the 9th. They do not support Violet's authority to reschedule the public hearing. They believe she should have called the Mayor (I don't know if she made an attempt...I haven't been able to reach her today) and Mr. Cape to see if the date would work with them. In hindsight, it certainly would have made things easier. I guess I didn't think rescheduling a public hearing was such a huge deal. I guess I overestimated the commitment of the Mayor and Mr. Cape to creating a new code. Mr. Cape, can you summarize your thoughts about the code in a comment to the blog? I don't want to paraphrase our recent email conversation.
So...a public hearing on the code is still scheduled for November 16th at 6:30pm. I have heard nothing about a rescheduled October regular meeting.
Athens Academy Land Acquisition
| Isn't it odd how some schools expand quicker and less noisier than others? --- On Mon, 11/2/09, Athens Academy <pmyers@athensacademy.org> wrote:
| |||||||||
Oconee Democrats Adopt-a-mile 10:30 am Saturday, Nov. 7 on Oconee Connection
Reminder: The Oconee Democrats will clean up our adopted roadside this Sat., Nov. 7, 2009. Meet at 10:30 a.m. at the Barber Creek Fire Station. Bring work gloves and any empty aluminum cans that you want to put in the firefighters' collection bin.
We have had a long string of Saturday activities, with the Strolls and the Yard Sale. This one doesn't take too long if we have enough bodies, and it really improves the appearance of one of our major roads. So suck it up and come out one more Saturday, hope the weather cooperates, and you can enjoy the rest of your fall weekends!
Thanks!
Sarajane
North High Shoals provides plenty of poltical intrigue and entertainment for the rest of us in Oconee County, Goergia
On the eve of municipal elections in North High Shoals, once again this tiny town (where 13 votes can win or lose an election) proves to be the center of political intrigue and discontent for Oconee County 2009.
The matter of an absentee mayor has festered slowly over the last several year period, as first the silent brother lost his council seat.then the Mayor himself repeatedly threatened and promised to resign, only to constantly change the scenario in which he would consider stepping down. Meanwhile he continues to avoid attending meetings quite successfully blocking a quorum to establish anything. Now would-be outgoing Mayor Jeff Thomas broke his own code of silence to post in the blog of city council member Steve Holzman, which is not anything even attempting to masquerade as official.
The following does not constitute an official communication of the Town of North High Shoals for the Town of North High Shoals or anyone acting in the interest of North High Shoals, or does it? I believe the Charter is what they were meeting to discuss. Eddie Cape can play softball but not basketball. Mayor Thomas surely has a dictionary at the nursing home, doesn't he?
Steve,
I guess I will have to break one of my own rules and respond to this attack upon the mayor's office by a councilmember, even if it is hiding behind a blog. Would you please check the charter concerning the calling of a meeting and especially pay attention to the part concerning who calls a meeting and when and the importance of being in contact with all members to assertain their avaiabilty unless there is an emergency. Do you really think it is appropriate or fair for Violet to contact two members by phone and not contact the other two?
Jeff Thomas
Mayor
Town of North High Shoals
Blogger: Small Town Politics - North High Shoals - Post a Comment
Working backward, this was Steve's original post:
Just got an email from the mayor saying he would NOT be available for the rescheduled 1st public hearing on the new code...which is to take place on Nov. 9th at 7pm. I guess it's all up to Mr. Eddie Cape. If he can make it we'll have a quorum. If he can't...well...I guess we'll just have to try again.
Then there is the allegation of people paving sidewalks supposedly right past their front door; this from a previous post essentially quoting an advertisement in the Oconee Enterprise newspaper (I boldfaced the whole quote to continue the differentiation):
From Scott Wilson's post:
" The fact is that you have current council members and what could be new council members that are adjoining land owners where our sidewalks and the City Hall are proposed. In my opinion, there is a direct conflict of interest when concerning sidewalks and the City Hall. "
I was at the council meeting when we talked about sidewalks. We simply thought it was a good idea to connect the existing sidewalk on Elder Rd. to the park. That's all. As for City Hall...the park is the only piece of property the city owns. Where else would we put it? Conflict of interest is a serious allegation. I heard today that you also do this in an ad in the Oconee Enterprise. Do you stand by this accusation? Feel free to clarify via a comment if you wish.
For the record, do you support or oppose additional sidewalks in North High Shoals?
(Sarah, if you are reading this feel free to comment).
The comments for that were nine in length (and quite some length) but this is the key one from Stephen Arnold's challenger Sarah Donnegan (post 4)
A member of our community goes door to door campaigning for a candidate. While doing this, he states over and over again that the candidate running against his candidate of choice, got their business license in a knowingly illegal manner because they’re in “cahoots” with the mayor. For the record, this campaigner doesn’t even know the candidate he is giving this false information about. He is only using “information” supposedly given by a current council member. This could be considered slander since its not true and the situation was unfortunate and caused the candidate and their family much stress and concern! Especially since when you call Oconee County, they inform you that to get a business license you call the Mayor. When you call the mayor, he gives you a license in the same manner he has done with small businesses for years, with the warning that there’s to be no signs or noise after 7. In this economy to have a small business succeed is a blessing since many people are out of work and its difficult to find a job. AND, when the Business License was issued, it didn’t BECOME an issue for 2 years and in that 2 years a considerable amount of money was put into the business because there was no knowledge that it was a problem. To state that the candidate did something wrong is a “serious allegation”. I don’t think Scott Wilson , who is a Certified Property Appraiser, pointing out adjoining property that current council memebers own, that in his PROFESSIONAL opinion could potentially appreciate in land value due to sidewalks is a "serious allegation". I’m not sure why the landowners/ council members are so ignited by Mr. Wilsons comment.
As far as how I feel about sidewalks, I really like the idea of having them. HOWEVER, When I think about sidewalks in the community, I picture them in areas that people would allow their children to walk on like IN Hickory Ridge or IN Hickory Lake or IN historic High Shoals. I don’t picture them along roads where endless vehicles SPEED thorough on, for example Highway 186. We are so fortunate to have SPLOST funds and I think we should make sure we’re spending them wisely. I feel for us to allot $250000( which is a low estimate after doing some research) on a sidewalk through a flood plane that requires a bridge and tons of grading ,is not great planning. Side walks might be better placed in the areas I listed above, and would be far more beneficial, safer and without the risk of unleashed spending. IF we exceed that budgeted amount, where will the additional funds come from? Taxes. I’ve also heard residents of Hickory Ridge and Hickory Lake voice that speed bumps would be appreciated . That could certainly be budgeted as a street improvement . And, as for the city hall, Steve, you incorrectly state that High Shoals only owns one piece of land. We also own the property that the current city all is on. So, While I agree a new city hall is a great want and would be pretty, we have citizens that don’t have city water and share wells, as well as roads in need of repair. With city water comes fire hydrants which would cause our homeowners insurance rates to go down. Wouldn’t it be nice if taxes that we pay into High Shoals came back to us in some way? Only after we have the necessities should we take on the wishes, like a pretty new city hall. This is a conservative point of view but in this economy, we should all make sure our projects don’t exceed our budgets. I hope that if I get elected I can use my experience as a small business owner, wife and mother to bridge the gap between the council, Mayor and our community. Lets face it, the last thing anyone wants is their taxes to go up because we didn’t plan correctly. The council owes the citizens better than that.
For more on Ms. Donnegan and her belief and presentation, please reference this video introduction
Steve Lawrence, who is running for the other open post 3, retorted with this barrage:
Once again Scott Wilson has stated that Lawrence's property ownership is a conflict of interest (as he runs against him for Post 3) since one tract adjoins Violet Dawe's property and the Lawrence home is across the street from the city park. This becomes funnier everyday as the election draws nearer because Wilson cannot explain how this is a conflict of interest. He knows it's just as nonsensical as it was the day he would not shake Lawrence's hand after a brief "discussion" about it.
The Lawrence's wooded lot in High Shoals Plantation will probably be one of the last tracts in N. High Shoals to ever benefit from sidewalks, water lines, or street improvements because of its remote location. Wilson also has not mentioned Councilman Cape's location across from the city park and his adjoining lot to the Lawrence's home. So, it's a conflict of interest for Lawrence but not Cape?! I'm surprised Cape is even supporting Wilson with this type of ridiculous accusation! Undoubtedly, this questioning of a person's integrity will cost him votes. It's a dismal attempt at mudslinging, I guess.
Needless to say, you need a scorecard to keep track of who is quibbling with whom, and I have no interest in who wins or loses these races, but it is highly entertaining and amusing to us political junkies outside of North High Shoals. I would think that David Lawrence for Post 3 and Stephen Arnold for Post 4 would be the best candidates for North High Shoals, and they can consider that an official endorsement (for whatever that may be worth). I am highly opposed to poor grammar and superfluous screaming with all capital letters.
Here is more about Stephen Arnold
I am cherry picking some of the more entertaining aspects of this municipal election but I would love to see a voter turnout of 85 or 90% there tomorrow. I love North High Shoals, and think it is great people care so much about this small town. Salutations to everyone who runs for such a thankless position.
The matter of an absentee mayor has festered slowly over the last several year period, as first the silent brother lost his council seat.then the Mayor himself repeatedly threatened and promised to resign, only to constantly change the scenario in which he would consider stepping down. Meanwhile he continues to avoid attending meetings quite successfully blocking a quorum to establish anything. Now would-be outgoing Mayor Jeff Thomas broke his own code of silence to post in the blog of city council member Steve Holzman, which is not anything even attempting to masquerade as official.
The following does not constitute an official communication of the Town of North High Shoals for the Town of North High Shoals or anyone acting in the interest of North High Shoals, or does it? I believe the Charter is what they were meeting to discuss. Eddie Cape can play softball but not basketball. Mayor Thomas surely has a dictionary at the nursing home, doesn't he?
Steve,
I guess I will have to break one of my own rules and respond to this attack upon the mayor's office by a councilmember, even if it is hiding behind a blog. Would you please check the charter concerning the calling of a meeting and especially pay attention to the part concerning who calls a meeting and when and the importance of being in contact with all members to assertain their avaiabilty unless there is an emergency. Do you really think it is appropriate or fair for Violet to contact two members by phone and not contact the other two?
Jeff Thomas
Mayor
Town of North High Shoals
Blogger: Small Town Politics - North High Shoals - Post a Comment
Working backward, this was Steve's original post:
Just got an email from the mayor saying he would NOT be available for the rescheduled 1st public hearing on the new code...which is to take place on Nov. 9th at 7pm. I guess it's all up to Mr. Eddie Cape. If he can make it we'll have a quorum. If he can't...well...I guess we'll just have to try again.
Then there is the allegation of people paving sidewalks supposedly right past their front door; this from a previous post essentially quoting an advertisement in the Oconee Enterprise newspaper (I boldfaced the whole quote to continue the differentiation):
From Scott Wilson's post:
" The fact is that you have current council members and what could be new council members that are adjoining land owners where our sidewalks and the City Hall are proposed. In my opinion, there is a direct conflict of interest when concerning sidewalks and the City Hall. "
I was at the council meeting when we talked about sidewalks. We simply thought it was a good idea to connect the existing sidewalk on Elder Rd. to the park. That's all. As for City Hall...the park is the only piece of property the city owns. Where else would we put it? Conflict of interest is a serious allegation. I heard today that you also do this in an ad in the Oconee Enterprise. Do you stand by this accusation? Feel free to clarify via a comment if you wish.
For the record, do you support or oppose additional sidewalks in North High Shoals?
(Sarah, if you are reading this feel free to comment).
The comments for that were nine in length (and quite some length) but this is the key one from Stephen Arnold's challenger Sarah Donnegan (post 4)
A member of our community goes door to door campaigning for a candidate. While doing this, he states over and over again that the candidate running against his candidate of choice, got their business license in a knowingly illegal manner because they’re in “cahoots” with the mayor. For the record, this campaigner doesn’t even know the candidate he is giving this false information about. He is only using “information” supposedly given by a current council member. This could be considered slander since its not true and the situation was unfortunate and caused the candidate and their family much stress and concern! Especially since when you call Oconee County, they inform you that to get a business license you call the Mayor. When you call the mayor, he gives you a license in the same manner he has done with small businesses for years, with the warning that there’s to be no signs or noise after 7. In this economy to have a small business succeed is a blessing since many people are out of work and its difficult to find a job. AND, when the Business License was issued, it didn’t BECOME an issue for 2 years and in that 2 years a considerable amount of money was put into the business because there was no knowledge that it was a problem. To state that the candidate did something wrong is a “serious allegation”. I don’t think Scott Wilson , who is a Certified Property Appraiser, pointing out adjoining property that current council memebers own, that in his PROFESSIONAL opinion could potentially appreciate in land value due to sidewalks is a "serious allegation". I’m not sure why the landowners/ council members are so ignited by Mr. Wilsons comment.
As far as how I feel about sidewalks, I really like the idea of having them. HOWEVER, When I think about sidewalks in the community, I picture them in areas that people would allow their children to walk on like IN Hickory Ridge or IN Hickory Lake or IN historic High Shoals. I don’t picture them along roads where endless vehicles SPEED thorough on, for example Highway 186. We are so fortunate to have SPLOST funds and I think we should make sure we’re spending them wisely. I feel for us to allot $250000( which is a low estimate after doing some research) on a sidewalk through a flood plane that requires a bridge and tons of grading ,is not great planning. Side walks might be better placed in the areas I listed above, and would be far more beneficial, safer and without the risk of unleashed spending. IF we exceed that budgeted amount, where will the additional funds come from? Taxes. I’ve also heard residents of Hickory Ridge and Hickory Lake voice that speed bumps would be appreciated . That could certainly be budgeted as a street improvement . And, as for the city hall, Steve, you incorrectly state that High Shoals only owns one piece of land. We also own the property that the current city all is on. So, While I agree a new city hall is a great want and would be pretty, we have citizens that don’t have city water and share wells, as well as roads in need of repair. With city water comes fire hydrants which would cause our homeowners insurance rates to go down. Wouldn’t it be nice if taxes that we pay into High Shoals came back to us in some way? Only after we have the necessities should we take on the wishes, like a pretty new city hall. This is a conservative point of view but in this economy, we should all make sure our projects don’t exceed our budgets. I hope that if I get elected I can use my experience as a small business owner, wife and mother to bridge the gap between the council, Mayor and our community. Lets face it, the last thing anyone wants is their taxes to go up because we didn’t plan correctly. The council owes the citizens better than that.
For more on Ms. Donnegan and her belief and presentation, please reference this video introduction
Steve Lawrence, who is running for the other open post 3, retorted with this barrage:
Once again Scott Wilson has stated that Lawrence's property ownership is a conflict of interest (as he runs against him for Post 3) since one tract adjoins Violet Dawe's property and the Lawrence home is across the street from the city park. This becomes funnier everyday as the election draws nearer because Wilson cannot explain how this is a conflict of interest. He knows it's just as nonsensical as it was the day he would not shake Lawrence's hand after a brief "discussion" about it.
The Lawrence's wooded lot in High Shoals Plantation will probably be one of the last tracts in N. High Shoals to ever benefit from sidewalks, water lines, or street improvements because of its remote location. Wilson also has not mentioned Councilman Cape's location across from the city park and his adjoining lot to the Lawrence's home. So, it's a conflict of interest for Lawrence but not Cape?! I'm surprised Cape is even supporting Wilson with this type of ridiculous accusation! Undoubtedly, this questioning of a person's integrity will cost him votes. It's a dismal attempt at mudslinging, I guess.
Needless to say, you need a scorecard to keep track of who is quibbling with whom, and I have no interest in who wins or loses these races, but it is highly entertaining and amusing to us political junkies outside of North High Shoals. I would think that David Lawrence for Post 3 and Stephen Arnold for Post 4 would be the best candidates for North High Shoals, and they can consider that an official endorsement (for whatever that may be worth). I am highly opposed to poor grammar and superfluous screaming with all capital letters.
Here is more about Stephen Arnold
I am cherry picking some of the more entertaining aspects of this municipal election but I would love to see a voter turnout of 85 or 90% there tomorrow. I love North High Shoals, and think it is great people care so much about this small town. Salutations to everyone who runs for such a thankless position.
Meet the Candidates - MadisonJournalTODAY
Good luck to Paige Phillips, who works at the Watkinsville Post Office with her first run for political office (tomorrow) in Hull.
Meet the Candidates - MadisonJournalTODAY
Meet the Candidates - MadisonJournalTODAY
Oconee sets rules for soliciting but when will it pay their firefighters?
Now we have rules for standing in the middle of busy intersections with open boots, and we will hopefully know how to use them. I am glad that non-profits only can do this at all in Oconee County, Georgia. Yes we are and were an affluent county but people are handing out a whole lot less cash in general around these parts. I hope this is safe for all parties concerned. My poorly written ABH comment about wanting to pay the firefighters for training and certification stands. These people save our lives for free daily, and we need to reward them for their continued heroism.
Oconee sets rules for soliciting | News | OnlineAthens.com
Oconee sets rules for soliciting | News | OnlineAthens.com
Sunday, November 01, 2009
Piss poor conditions at Oconee Veterans Park gymnasium
OK, so it was the day after Halloween and with the time change, I am always willing to cut a little slack to the fine folks at the Oconee Parks and Recreation Department. As the fourth grade basketball season starts in earnest tomorrow evening, I took my son up to a familiar haunt for me, and that is the Open Gym session where basically anyone can shoot hoops. Now admittedly not that many people are going to work on their three-point shot at noon on a Sunday, but I was raring to go and wanted to give my son a taste of what big boy basketball is going to be all about. So when we got there the gym was locked tight as a drum and no signs to contradict the previously posted 8 am to 6 pm posting. Maybe there was something online, but I was too damn stubborn to look (not to mention tired too).
So we drove around the remnants of Autry Road as there was a very major girls softball tournament going on and that obviously had the attention of the parks and rec staff. We drove all the way to the back end where that road used to connect with Hodges Mill Road, and some guy was inside and locking a gate still a ways away from the creek crossing and where you could even see the end, so we turned back.
By now the gym was open, but no one seemed too anxious to open or even attempt to get the basketball court ready. A father and son worked out on the elevated track, and several meetings were going on downstairs. We walked in the main gym area and neither of the big main hoops were down, which were not that big a deal. OK, now there were no basketballs out or available and no one at the desk to ask for one and there were a couple of bags quite visible behind the counter. So I told my son to wait on the other side of the desk and I walked back and grabbed both bags and was only able to figure out how to untether one of the sacks. By now a family of four had joined us in the still somewhat dark gym. I found one light switch the big overhead mercury halide (?) lights were yet to be ignited or warmed up. OK, I eventually asked and got someone to do that and turn them on to warm up and light the complex.
Not a single net was completely connected to the four remaining basketball hoops in the gym. Some were torn, some were off by one or two strands to the rims, but none were ready for any serious action. All right, I have shot hoops on more than one net-less or net-frayed rims, so no big deal there either. But I kept noticing crud on the courts, maybe grass, or mud, or clay, or some combination thereof. OK, it just needs a dry mop and it should be good to go. Lord knows I skipped a few sweepings in my four year run at Herman C. Michael park and the John T. Brannen building from 1989 to 1994.
Then I noticed moldings where the bricks meet the floor had been torn away in not just one place but most of the back wall. OK, maybe some doofus on the construction company did not let the glue harden long enough or something, but the whole back wall? No way. Then I looked down in the middle of the far small court and it appears that someone or something had been maybe making posters or something just short of grinding fashionable heels into the pristine nature of the recently completed court.
All these working together suggests we need to get the OCPRD's John Gentry back from Afghanistan to make sure things are getting done at the new complex because to this trained eye they were not. I hope they let him see his family during the Christmas season so he can see for himself how fast this new park has been allowed to deteriorate, decay and rot in a relatively short time. Let's all try to take better care of our public facilities to make them last longer for all us. I will get off my soap box now but will never give up being a gadfly for great basketball surfaces in this wonderful county of ours. Oconee County rocks, and let's keep it going instead of planting new PVC farms, as my friend Steve told me the name for the ghost towns springing up and shutting down all over Oconee County.
See you on the courts, my friends. I will give the Oconee County Parks and Recreation Department props for joining the social networking world, but you should make sure to place a link to the actual site and not jam it all together like OconeeCounty ParksandRecreation and have an Athens, GA network under it in the wonderful world of Facebook.
So we drove around the remnants of Autry Road as there was a very major girls softball tournament going on and that obviously had the attention of the parks and rec staff. We drove all the way to the back end where that road used to connect with Hodges Mill Road, and some guy was inside and locking a gate still a ways away from the creek crossing and where you could even see the end, so we turned back.
By now the gym was open, but no one seemed too anxious to open or even attempt to get the basketball court ready. A father and son worked out on the elevated track, and several meetings were going on downstairs. We walked in the main gym area and neither of the big main hoops were down, which were not that big a deal. OK, now there were no basketballs out or available and no one at the desk to ask for one and there were a couple of bags quite visible behind the counter. So I told my son to wait on the other side of the desk and I walked back and grabbed both bags and was only able to figure out how to untether one of the sacks. By now a family of four had joined us in the still somewhat dark gym. I found one light switch the big overhead mercury halide (?) lights were yet to be ignited or warmed up. OK, I eventually asked and got someone to do that and turn them on to warm up and light the complex.
Not a single net was completely connected to the four remaining basketball hoops in the gym. Some were torn, some were off by one or two strands to the rims, but none were ready for any serious action. All right, I have shot hoops on more than one net-less or net-frayed rims, so no big deal there either. But I kept noticing crud on the courts, maybe grass, or mud, or clay, or some combination thereof. OK, it just needs a dry mop and it should be good to go. Lord knows I skipped a few sweepings in my four year run at Herman C. Michael park and the John T. Brannen building from 1989 to 1994.
Then I noticed moldings where the bricks meet the floor had been torn away in not just one place but most of the back wall. OK, maybe some doofus on the construction company did not let the glue harden long enough or something, but the whole back wall? No way. Then I looked down in the middle of the far small court and it appears that someone or something had been maybe making posters or something just short of grinding fashionable heels into the pristine nature of the recently completed court.
All these working together suggests we need to get the OCPRD's John Gentry back from Afghanistan to make sure things are getting done at the new complex because to this trained eye they were not. I hope they let him see his family during the Christmas season so he can see for himself how fast this new park has been allowed to deteriorate, decay and rot in a relatively short time. Let's all try to take better care of our public facilities to make them last longer for all us. I will get off my soap box now but will never give up being a gadfly for great basketball surfaces in this wonderful county of ours. Oconee County rocks, and let's keep it going instead of planting new PVC farms, as my friend Steve told me the name for the ghost towns springing up and shutting down all over Oconee County.
See you on the courts, my friends. I will give the Oconee County Parks and Recreation Department props for joining the social networking world, but you should make sure to place a link to the actual site and not jam it all together like OconeeCounty ParksandRecreation and have an Athens, GA network under it in the wonderful world of Facebook.
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