Oconee County, GA Politics

Oconee County came out reasonably well from the quick melting snow this weekend. Roads were treacherous, schools were not in session, and kids made snow men and got in snow ball fights. Basketball tournaments were canceled, grocery store shelves were ransacked of most staples. My brief journey to the neighboring county was as if someone turned on the idiot switch at the Clarke County border as the perimeter and any areas left in shadows were in peril to say the least. Most major arteries seemed to be passable by the sunny mid afternoon. Will we get another dose Monday to waste a perfectly good President's Day? It is cold enough to keep the snow on the ground for a few days.

All the championship and All-Star tilts in local Northeast Georgia Premier League basketball action were postponed for today Saturday, February 13 scheduled for the Spartan Center on the Athens Academy campus. No word on make-ups yet.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow, may all your jumpers be nothing but net. Go Spartans! Woven brightly, Daniel J. Matthews, Jr.  Subject: FW: Championship Games and All-star Games for tomorrow  Date: Fri, 12 Feb 2010 14:57:44 -0500  From: chrisp@windowco.net  Here's the latest...I will do the best to keep you up to speed. Chris Pittard  Hi all,  Weather permitting, we are going with the schedule below for tomorrow  for both the Championship and All-star games. Please check the website  tomorrow morning for status on play. Due to loss revenue in combining the games to one day, please inform your parents that the admission  charge will be $4 rather than $3 to cover the additional cost, etc.  Trophies will also be presented for Champions, MVP's, and all-stars  tomorrow.  _*Athens Academy Spartan Center*_  1:00-3/4th championship  2:15-3/4th All-star  3:30-Blue/White 5/6th Cham...

Georgia's Top Two Youth Volunteers Selected in 15th Annual National Awards Program Posted using ShareThis

Northeast Georgia Premier League This is the league of basketball teams that was hosting an all-star game tonight and a tournament hopefully still this weekend. All Star games originally scheduled for tonight ~ Friday, February 12, 2010 ~ are canceled due to concerns over inclement weather and snow. As of now the tournament games are on for tomorrow, although there was speculation over moving it up. My son and his second seeded Athens Academy "White Shadows" team is scheduled to play for the championship at 2:30 pm Saturday. Hope is still commences versus Coach Huckaby's fifth seeded Oconee team. Posted using ShareThis

Need to buy a Valentine on this near panic snow day? I am obviously prejudiced, but I would suggest buying them from this classmate of my son's. Athens Academy to host fundraiser for Haiti || OnlineAthens.com

Annual fundraiser honors service and life of Denny Stephens | Northeast Georgia SportsLine Posted using ShareThis

I am pulling for my Oconee homeboy Zach Mettenberger to get the QB job, but I suppose it is Logan Gray's to lose. Bulldogs' QB candidates take aim at starting job | savannahnow.com

Friend -- As we head into an election year, the new strategy for killing reform is claiming that members of Congress who vote for it will suffer at the polls. For months, our opponents have spread lies about reform to scare voters away. But the simple truth about what reform would actually do -- save jobs, guarantee all Americans affordable, stable coverage, and significantly reduce the deficit -- is something most Americans strongly support. The question is, come November, will the voters know the facts? OFA supporters have asked for a way to show every member of Congress that if they fight for reform now, we'll back them up this election season. That's why we're launching "You fight, we'll fight" -- a volunteer pledge bank where you can commit your time to back up candidates and officials who fight hard for health reform. We're shooting for 1,000,000 hours pledged to spread the word to fellow voters. And if we get there, we...

Give these fine folks your bipedal feedback - there are many cyclists who come to Oconee County who do not live here either. Woven brightly,  Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. Date: Thu, 11 Feb 2010 13:17:00 -0500 Subject: New Oconee County Cyling Organization Survey From: bretthaslam2@gmail.com To: bretthaslam2@gmail.com Good afternoon, Hopefully all of you have heard the good news about the OCCO's recent incorporation!  To ensure we are adequately positioning ourselves, the board is reaching out to you for your opinion on some of our direction.  Would you please spend a couple of minutes (it literally should take 2 minutes) to complete the following survey via the link below?   Your responses are critical is assisting us in both our long-term and short-term strategies. http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/9LSY92B Thank you in advance and happy cycling, Brett Haslam OCCO Board Member

Broun brings a heavyweight buddy to Georgia | Blogs.OnlineAthens.com Posted using ShareThis

Happy to help some disc golf at the Herm Woven brightly, Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. From: jhightower@oconee.ga.us Date: Wed, 10 Feb 2010 11:47:53 -0500 Subject: Disc Golf - MAY DAY MADNESS III The May Day Madness III  disc golf tournament will be held Saturday May 1, 2010 at OCPRD's HERM disc golf course in Oconee County Ga. This email  includes the 2010 registration form, the link to our website where you will also find tournament details,  a downloadable form and an ONLINE registration opportunity. We will play (2) rounds and (1) round for Juniors under age of 13 with lunch provided. If you have any questions please email or call. Jared Hightower Athletic Division Program Coordinator Oconee County Parks & Recreation Department Phone: 706-769-3965 Fax: 706-769-3967 jhightower@oconee.ga.us www.oconeecounty.com "There are no Ex Marines"

My cousin Jo An Chewning is major part of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and I always try to give them props for their considerable activities in the city of Watkinsville: the pocket park, the cleaning of the cemetery, etc. DAR chapter to dedicate Patriot Park soon || OnlineAthens.com

Having traveled these roads a good bit, I can attest to their deplorable condition and urgent need for immediate repair. Sheriff Scott Berry and former BOC commissioner candidate Steve Smith live near the mouth of Whippoorwill. Around Oconee: Two roads get repairs || OnlineAthens.com

Town of North High Shoals 108 Jefferson Road P.O. Box 129 High Shoals, Georgia 30645 706-769-4289 February 15, 2010 – 7:30 p.m. Call to Order Welcome and Declaration of Quorum Agenda Setting: Order of agenda. Monthly Business: Presentation of Draft Minutes for month of January, 2010 Presentation of Financial Statements Citizen Comments on Non-Agenda Items Resolutions: Staff Resolutions (KB and FJ) Resolution to move funds for election costs Resolution re: Engineering Firm Old Business City Code of Ordinances 1. City Park Update - softball team practice, portable toilets, trash pick-up, flower bed fence repair, bush-hogging of back field, water fountains, adding to existing sign, etc. (D. Lawrence) 2. Website Update (S. Holzman) 3. Insurance update, including additional tail coverage (S. Arnold) 4. Election Update (C. Pritchett) 5. Adopt a Stream Update (D. Lawrence) 6. Water line update (V. Dawe) 7. Sidewalk Survey, Grants, Etc. (F. Johnson) 8. Zoning Map ...

Next on my reading list and the reason I really do not like shopping at Wal-Mart. Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. Subject: New Book Cornered Discusses Walmart, Destructive Monopolies Date: Tue, 9 Feb 2010 10:05:00 -0500 Dear shopper, Do you want the real story about who destroyed America's REAL economy? We wanted to recommend a new book that just hit the shelves. In Cornered: The New Monopoly Capitalism And The Economics Of Destruction , New America Foundation's Barry C. Lynn takes an explosive look at how Wall Street financiers took advantage of the overthrow of our antimonopoly laws to consolidate unprecedented powers. They use these powers in ways that destroy jobs, degrade safety, crush independent businesses, forestall innovation, harm our environment, and threaten the political foundations of our democratic republic. Not surprisingly, Walmart is a major player in this disturbing...

I am certain we have a few dozen volunteers here in Oconee County wanting to help with the local tournament. Nationwide event at UGA course seeks volunteers || OnlineAthens.com

The Northeast Georgia Premier League postseason basketball tournament begins this evening in the freshly refurbished Spartan Center on the lovely and spacious campus of Athens Academy, just barely into Oconee County on Highway 441 near the 10 Loop Bypass around the Athens metro area with Athens Academy's 3rd grade team coached by Marvel against Oconee County 3rd grade.  There are two more  game tomorrow, and my son's 4th grade team plays Wednesday night. Thursday's semis are in the Oconee Annex gym at Oconee County High School for at least one bracket.

Always happy to help my friends at Habitat for Humanity and the Oconee County campus of Gainesville State College. Sounds like a good jog! Habitat Hustle 5K set for Feb. 20 || OnlineAthens.com

Tea party threat likely kills governor’s consolidation effort Posted using ShareThis

Secretary of State Brian Kemp takes steps to bring Georgia in compliance with Federal law more than four months after the fact Kemp backs bills to make voting easier || OnlineAthens.com

Very cool these dogs go to those in need even at the steep cost but good job all around raising the funds necessary. Rossiter: Given a new leash on life || OnlineAthens.com

Good karma returns to Select Trees for donating trees to many different groups in Oconee County. Business Briefs: Select Trees gets top business award || OnlineAthens.com

Watkinsville could well have a lot to learn from the industrialization of Cordele, a city I have always admired. Cordele could become "inland port" city, create thousands of jobs - Local & State - Macon.com

These publications listed and linked repeatedly below in a brazen commercial attempt on my part are the current selection for the Oconee County Democratic Committee's book club and it sounds like a perfect tome for the season Learning to link, and linking to learn, Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 09:45:15 -0500 Subject: [oconee] A book well worth reading   Hello! If you've never joined us for the book group sponsored by the Oconee Democrats, this month would be a great place to start! We're reading . . . and some people are happily rereading . . . the wonderful A Sand County Almanac  by Aldo Leopold. Pick up a copy of this and read it aloud to your Valentine! Read it if you're depressed about what's going on in the world or in America. Read it if you'd like to know more about nature to explain to your child or grandchild. Read it if you're forgotten to look up at the sky to see the stars or clouds. Give a copy to p...

Begin forwarded message: From: Pat Priest < ppriest@charter.net > Date: February 7, 2010 9:32:47 AM EST To: Wayne Ford < wayne.ford@onlineathens.com >,   Rob Peecher < editor@theoconeeleader.com >, Oconee Enterprise < announcements@oconeeenterprise.com >,   News Leader < news.oconeeleader@gmail.com >, Kate McDaniel < katemail@bellsouth.net >,   Sarah Bell < docofenglish@gmail.com >, dan matthews < danjmatt@bellsouth.net > Subject: February book: a great one! Hello! Could you please help me get the word out about the book group book for February?  It's a lovely book people will treasure discovering -- or REreading, as many people do! Thanks! Pat Priest Member, Oconee Democrats ------------------------------------------------------ The community-wide book group sponsored by the Oconee Democrats is reading Aldo Leopold's classic "A Sand County Almanac" for its February selection.  The book is a collection of lovely e...