Oconee County, GA Politics

Please come and check this out - bring anyone regardless of party affiliation or county of residency. Woven brightly, Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. From: jveit@bellsouth.net Date: Sat, 16 Jan 2010 17:25:41 +0000 Subject: [oconee] Regular Monthly Meeting Thursday, Jan. 21 7 pm   Just a reminder that John Beasley will be our special guest at our regular monthly meeting. John is part of an organization called Water-Life-Hope that is building wells in Haiti in an attempt to bring clean drinking water to that forsaken country. John's presentation will be particularly poignant in the context of the recent horrible earthquake devastation. He was in Haiti as recently as December. Please bring your spouses and some friends, and tell anyone you know. These people are in dire straights and there might be a way that we can help them. The meeting, as usual, will take place at the government annex at 1291 Greensboro Highway. See you there! Jonathan Veit __._,_.___ _

Slightly more about Bob Smith losing his chairmanship Smith out as committee chairman || OnlineAthens.com

No wonder State Representative Bob Smith has been so uncharacteristically quiet about the Speaker's race. Seems he hitched his cart to the wrong horse. Payback is hell (especially in Oconee County). Now the old "well we need Bob Smith to protect our interests" line becomes even more irrelevant and inappropriate. Back when the Banner-Herald used to pay me to cover municipalities' meetings, I can recall one of the more conservative former mayors calling him and every other local legislative leader out back when Smith ostensibly had more power and influence. Now can one of the mystery candidates clamoring for a certain local political consultant's help step up to take on Smith for the next campaign with gusto and vigor (and most important of all, campaign funds)? Bob Smith gets on Speaker Ralston's bad side | Blogs.OnlineAthens.com

Does anyone else see a potential conflict of interest with the Williams brothers profiting a cool $300K off the Watkinsville land purchase for a new Board of Education building that has no drawings or funds slated for construction?  Does this eliminate the possibility of the Oconee County government purchasing a tract adjacent to the jail for any future judicial building? Why do these backdoor deals seem so sleazy? How many of the current Oconee County Board of Education will be in office after the next election cycle? I put the over/under at one right now. Will any member of the Oconee County Board of Education win in any other office? Rumors have circulated about Mack Guest wanting to run against current Oconee County Board of Commissioners member John Daniell (ostensibly because Daniel sees the light about working with Clarke County on a joint economic development plan). I say run and Guest will be humiliated by the massive backlash for all the considerably poor decisions b...

Crime is creeping into Oconee County slowly but surely, but I do not think it will take long to find these fools. Armed robbery is an awful crime that by in large has remained out of the police blotter in this suburban county for many years. I heard the sirens and did not know what was going on Wednesday. This is way too close to home. The Oconee Enterprise Latest Updates City offers reward leading to arrest in robbery

The business of municipalities never stops, even with the titular head of the local government in absentia for nearly a year. The wheels have turned, the papers have been signed, and new people have assumed office and duties. So I am nearly giddy that the wonderful small town of North High Shoals will conduct some honest city council meeting activities on a Federal Holiday evening.  There are some amazing individuals at the confluence of Oconee, Walton and Morgan counties, and they deserve an equally accessible representation by their local peers. Congratulations to the new City Council members Post 3 – David Lawrence and Post 4 – Stephen Arnold and to interim Mayor Violet Dawe. May the meeting run smoothly and as quick as the local residents will allow.   Here is the agenda for that meeting swiped from Steve Holzman's blog. I wonder who will make an appearance for Family Life Enrichment Center, as this is the business belonging to former Mayor Jeff Thomas. They may no...

Rumors remain of various members leaving and or running for another office from the current line up of the Oconee County Board of Education. I think this purchase may hasten some departures as most local voters would otherwise want to toss them out of office. Oconee BOE spends $900K on land for office || OnlineAthens.com

Thanks to Brian Brodrick for posting a link to this..... Home - Home Page | Chopsandhops.com

I believe they are opening January 15 - although I will always hold this space dear because of Oconee County resident and Maison Bleu owner Anne Miller-Andersen and (the later Peter Anderson and Jim Shearon). Brief Cases: Watkinsville’s Town Center gets eatery || OnlineAthens.com

Charlie recently bought Full Moon Studios in Watkinsville from Mark Cooper Smith Calendar Pick: Charlie Garrett Band - Flagpole Magazine: Colorbearer of Athens, GA

Sometimes decisions can be misreported, misunderstood and confusion reigns supreme. I am just as guilty as anyone, sometimes spreading rumors as if it were facts.  A current member of the Oconee County Board of Education was reported to be resigning his (or her) position on the B.O.E. when in fact this person merely resigned their position at their day job instead. So anyone contemplating signing up to replace this person in an appointment sense will instead have to wait until the next election cycle.

I would well imagine a few local politicos are on this list as well Barnes blasts tickets as lobbying tool || OnlineAthens.com

Good advice: do not support Ralphie babe for insurance commissioner Hudgens says he won't reverse money transfer || OnlineAthens.com

Watkinsville welcomed new Mayor Joe Walter at the start of their city council meeting with little fanfare Wedensday evening with five approved business licenses a signal that the economy continues to improve in Oconee County. I am a big time supporter of Joe and was proud to have voted for him last time around he was contested. He ran unopposed for Mayor and was up to all the tasks in this first meeting, with a few pointers from Council member Brian Brodrick on various protocols. Pete Chamberlain commenced the cavalcade of new money makers describing his wife Genie's innovative Wed Ed, Inc. which is basically going to teach brides how to get married. This business should thrive in Watkinsville with Ashford Manor Bed and Breakfast wedding factory essentially across Main Street in the Dan Elder building at 10 N. Main Street. Robert Davis was approved for Davis Landscape & Design's home office at 58 Harden Hill Road with the codicil of no construction equipment being...

I am awaiting independent confirmation, but sources indicate that a member of the Oconee County Board of Education is moving out of the county and resigning his (or her) position on the BOE. Stay tuned for further details as they become available.

Obviously Eagle Tavern and Elder Mill Covered Bridge jump to mind. I would consider nominating Ashford Manor Bed and Breakfast as well. What do you think should make the list of a regionally important resource in Oconee County? Subject: Nomination - Regionally Important Resources Folks, Check out these links.  Considering our resources in Oconee County, I encourage people to submit nominations, either through organizational affiliation or as individual citizens. http://negplanning.org/rir   http://negplanning.org/nomination_form/new   If you have questions, Nina Butler with the NEGRC has offered to help.  Here's her contact info. Nina Butler Planner, Northeast Georgia RC tel 706.369.5650 x319 fax 706.369.5792   nbutler@negrc.org .     Cheers, Tony ******************************************** Anthony E. Glenn, Ph.D. USDA, ARS Russell Research Center Toxicology & Mycotoxin Research Unit 950 College Station Ro...

Oconee County Historical Society meeting site change for 7 pm Monday, January 18 Sent: Wed, January 13, 2010 10:25:27 AM Subject: location changed The meeting on January 18 th will be at the Watkinsville First United Methodist Church 1331 New High Shoals Road at 7pm.  We will be in the Sunday School room at the end of the front wing of the church so park in the front parking lot.  Please be thinking of other possible locations that we can meet and bring your ideas to the meeting or e-mail me with suggestions. Peggy

Interesting group with high ideals and goals, but we still need a viable candidate to oppose Dr. Broun. Woven brightly,  Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. Subject: Pull the Plug 1st Regional Forum Tomorrow Date: Wed, 13 Jan 2010 07:45:28 -0700 Media release written by Michael Smith and includes quotes attributed to Dwight Acey, spokesperson for the Barrow County Citizens Group. Michael Smith is media and strategy adviser for Pull the Plug PAC. GA-7 Health Insurance Reform Supporters Organize Health Policy Forum Barrow County Citizens Group sponsors GA-7 Event in Winder, GA. Pull the Plug (GA-10) Provides Support for Event to Promote Regional Cooperation on Federal Issues Panel and media support provided by Athens, GA based Pull the Plug PAC to promote regional cooperation on timely federal issues. Pull the Plug PAC is an independent political action committee opposing U.S. Rep Paul Broun Jr. (GA-10) in the 2010 federal election. For more information about this a...