Oconee County, GA Politics

According to Lee Becker's blog Oconee County Observations , the property formerly belonging to Al Cuming next to Elder Mill Covered Bridge and containing the path leading down to the creek, has been placed under contract . It is a damn shame that the Oconee County Board of Commissioners could not follow through on the opportunity to purchase it. Now a once in a lifetime opportunity has passed them by, perhaps we can ask the new property own for a right of way on the path to the creek?

Friend -- Yesterday morning, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that corporations can spend freely in federal elections. It's a green light for a new stampede of special interest money in our politics , giving their lobbyists even more power in Washington. Now, every candidate who fights for change could face limitless attacks from corporate special interests like health insurance companies and Wall Street banks. While the GOP is celebrating a victory for its special interest allies, President Obama is working with leaders in Congress to craft a forceful response that protects the voices of ordinary citizens. Please add your name right away to help show that the American people support strong, urgent action to prevent a corporate takeover of our democracy. Congress: I support bold action to ensure fair elections. The Supreme Court decision overturned a 20-year precedent saying that corporations could not pay for campaign ads from their general treasuries. And it struck...

Mountaintop removal is an abomination that must be seen to fully appreciate the level of devastation. Instead of traveling to West Virginia or the Appalachian Mountains, why not go to Waycross, Albany or Statesboro (or maybe even author Janisse Ray's house for a potluck!) and hear more about this environmental travesty. Woven brightly, Daniel J. Matthews, Jr.  Date: Fri, 22 Jan 2010 15:21:36 -0500  From: stewards@altamahariverkeeper.org  To: stewards@altamahariverkeeper.org  Subject: South Georgia Riverkeepers Host Mountaintop Removal Road Show January 25 - 28  After seeing Kayford Mountain in West Virginia get blown up for coal,  Dave Cooper decided to devote himself to stopping mountaintop removal.  Dave will be traveling through south Georgia in late January, presenting  the Mountaintop Removal Road Show.  This issue is vitally important to Georgians as we fight new  coal-fired power plants in our watershed proposed ...

Elder's Mill Covered Bridge Originally uploaded by michael griffey Photo from Flickr of our local treasure, can we please make a park out of the property around it?

I hope someone in the Oconee County Board of Commissioners office shows some leadership in securing Elder Mill Covered Bridge by purchasing Al Cuming's former exotic bird farm and home as well as the property on the other side of the stream with the Grist Mill .  There is an excess of nearly $10 million in unused SPLOST funds . The property has been put for sale by local real estate agent Norm Grayson , who lives in Oconee County as well. To paraphrase Watkinsville City Council member Brian Brodrick, this is a no-brainer . Everyone (or at least the vast majority not in the lunatic fringe) in Oconee County would support this positive governmental move and use the park. I am afraid this opportunity will not last very much longer, and I wish I had more confidence in my local government's ability to make the right decision quickly.  Please prove me wrong!

Once again the Oconee County Board of Commissioners choked on a golden opportunity to expand our recreational and or historical facilities. Land near Elder bridge for sale || OnlineAthens.com

Friend -- Yesterday's disappointing election results show deep discontent with the pace of change. I know the OFA community and the President share that frustration. We also saw what we knew to be true all along: Any change worth making is hard and will be fought at every turn. While it doesn't take away the sting of this loss, there is no road to real change without setbacks along the way. We could have simply sought to do things that were easy, that wouldn't stir up controversy. But changes that aren't controversial rarely solve the problem. Our country continues to face the same fundamental challenges it faced yesterday. Our health care system still needs reform. Wall Street still needs to be held accountable. We still need to create good jobs. And we still need to continue building a clean energy economy. The President isn't walking away from these challenges. In fact, his determination and resolve are only stronger. We must match that commit...

Man shot in Oxendine hunting party  | ajc.com Posted using ShareThis

Would you like to be a soccer coach for Oconee County Recreation Department? I can forward you the forms Woven brightly, Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. From: jhightower@oconee.ga.us CC: mperkins@oconee.ga.us Date: Wed, 20 Jan 2010 14:34:08 -0500 Subject: Spring Soccer Coaches Needed Fall Soccer registration opens February 1 . * Boys and girls leagues for all ages 4 – 16 this season. If you are planning to return to a coaching roll this season please complete the attached forms for the upcoming season. Below you will find the 2010 soccer info. The following coaches have already turned in the coach forms: U10 Girls 1 Alan Franzluebbers 2 Duane Peterson (either league) U10 Boys 1 Duane Peterson U12 Girls 1 Nelson Pavao U12 Boys 1 Jimmy Rickard 2 Shannon Harrell U17 Girls 1 David Stearns Age Group     ...

Man shot in Oxendine hunting party identified; shooter was 14 Posted using ShareThis

So John Oxendine, our Commissioner of Insurance, would rather hunt (and do so evidently unsafely) instead of hearing from the media in Athens last night? Hmmm, Jim Whitehead memories keep flooding in. Keep this in mind when deciding which candidate to support for Governor of Georgia Man shot in Oxendine hunting party | ajc.com

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Mike Link is a dedicated public servant as a long time Watkinsville City Council member and supreme volunteer here and retired paid firefigther. Experienced battalion chiefs retiring from fire department || OnlineAthens.com

Sounds like counterfeiters and those that practice voodoo or Santeria religion have made their impact in Oconee County, Georgia according to this edition of the police report. I am glad the police in Watkinsville warned of bandits robbing houses in pairs or groups. If anyone even walks past my house, my neighbor's five (?) dogs go ballistic and wake up the whole neighborhood. Actually I am grateful that my neighbor works the late shift as a male nurse at Athens Regional and is home during the day so if someone swiped something from me (or any one of adjoining house), he might be home to deal with them or at least call 9-1-1. The fact that several Oconee County Sheriff Deputies have lived or currently are living in my subdivision does not hurt either. Talk to your neighbors about suspicious people prowling your streets and homes at odd hours especially. I do not suffer fools gladly, and generally do not like to be solicited at home by any unannounced visitors. Oconee County police ...

Oconee County Democratic Committee's book club announces the 2010 line up for their book club. Here are some links for the books if you would rather order them online as opposed to getting them at a discount at Book Galore in Watkinsville: But the discussions begin at 6 p.m. Jan. 27 at Five Points Deli on Epps Bridge Parkway when the group gathers to discuss Thomas Friedman's best-seller " Hot, Flat and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution - and How It Can Renew America ." The book describes America's current response to climate change "as that of the proverbial frog in water brought to a boil." Friedman provides ideas about how America can rise to the challenges, just as it launched a manifold attack to the Soviets' early lead in the space race. During the year, other book choices celebrate the splendors of and threats to the natural world. Aldo Leopold's classic "Sand County Almanac " and Paul Hawken's "The Ecology o...

This is the third story (at least) about this couple to grace my blog. I wish them the best in their Watkinsville relocation. Couple move shop - and its eclectic collection - to Watkinsville || OnlineAthens.com

Six of the seven Republican candidates face off in a debate broadcast on several television channels and radio stations. They spent entirely too much discussing what they planned to do to battle Obama-care rather than any specifics about what they want to do to save Georgia from.....Republican tactics, failed plans and sleaze. GOP gubernatorial foes face off in debate || OnlineAthens.com

I have had a distinct pleasure of working with Al Cuming over the years on a variety of projects, and I consider it a major epic failure of the current Board of Commissioners for not using the $10 million budget surplus on that as a park. From: Lee Becker < lbbecker@mindspring.com > Date: January 19, 2010 10:28:02 PM EST To: lbbecker@mindspring.com Subject: Elder Bridge Reply-To: lbbecker@mindspring.com Dear Friends, The house and 2.3 acres formerly owned by Al Cuming on Elder Mill road just south of Elder Mill Bridge has gone on the market. It is via this piece of property that many people visiting the historic covered bridge gain access to Rose Creek, which flows over shoals after passing under the bridge. Despite efforts of citizens interested in preserving land around the bridge, the Oconee County Board of Commissioners has been unwilling to spend money to purchase land for that purpose. Go to http://tiny.cc/OCO for details. Lee -- Lee Becker Blog: www.oconeecountyobservati...

Thought provoking column from Pat Priest Priest: Panel to address 'cookie-cutter' mentality || OnlineAthens.com

Empty out your closets and attics to locate treasures to donate to the Oconee County Arts Festival. OCAF seeks donations for annual fundraiser || OnlineAthens.com

Glad to see a resurgence of organized Democratic party activity in Walton County, will Barrow County be next? Woven brightly, Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. EMAILING FOR THE GREATER GOOD Join me From: ksolheim@hotmail.com To: ccdc-nm@clarkedemocrats.com Subject: CCDC FW: Walton County Democratic Party Annual Gala 2010 Date: Mon, 18 Jan 2010 16:30:28 -0500 Dear CCDC members and friends,   Please read the email below from the Walton County Democratic Party.   Sincerely, Karen Solheim CCDC Vice Chair for Communications =========================== Walton County Democratic Party            Annual Gala 2010   The Walton County Democratic Party is inviting you to join them for an evening to be remembered.   The Honorable Roy Barnes, Democratic candidate for Governor of Georgia 2010, will be the keynote speaker at the Party's Annual Gala to be held on Saturday, January 23, 2010 at 7:00 pm. This black tie...

Good article by Joe Vanhoose about the new Mayor of Watkinsville Joe Walter Watkinsville mayor settles into new role || OnlineAthens.com

The practice gymnasium at Oconee County High School had to have made some other nearby principals jealous from its sudden and secretive arrival on the scene of secondary education. This brand spanking new practice gym is a certified money maker for the county coffers as the Northeast Georgia Premier Basketball League has rented the facility for the last two weeks at least, bringing in visitors from at least three neighboring counties and even parents and families from Oconee County multiple times in the same soggy Saturday. The sparkling court floor is immaculate and can handle dozens of dribblers in a day long frenzy of fast break full court action. The four rows of seats pull out and are comfortable for bleachers. The irony is that this is exactly the kind of semi-public facility to which I would be an ardent supporter, yet the apparent manner in which this was planned, promoted, built and publicized just seemed to somehow be off the radar of the local media and bloggers. ...

So what happens when the Mayor does not want to attend to the town's business? Politics, like space, abhors a vacuum. So this is what happened, according to Fred, while Mayor Jeff Thomas did not attend the meetings of the council over the last months of his considerable tenure. Some meetings had quorums, others did not, but that never stopped the concerned citizen activists of this small town from attending to the needs of the people in this small crossroads. From: Fred Johnson  Date: January 17, 2010 2:24:24 PM EST To: Fred Johnson ilovehighshoals@yahoo.com Subject: TONHS October through December Town Notes from Fred Dear Fellow High Shoalers,                                                                       January 17, 2009 Since our last meeting where a quorum was present in Septemb...