Oconee County, GA Politics

The latest incarnation of Keep Oconee County (Clean and) Beautiful will attempt to clean up all the garbage in Watkinsville's Harris Shoals Park in what they are marketing as M ake O conee B eautiful or MOB squad. They are engineering an attack 9:00 am Saturday morning, April 24, 2010 with bags and gloves furnished. April is, after all, litter clean up month. I would suggest they splinter an expedition across that ridiculously busy Experiment Station Road and pick up garbage in that no man's land over there too as there appears to be a bunch of refuse strewn about the creek and the steep and rocky walls.  They need your help, and you will be reminded several dozen times between now and then. You can call Keep Ocone County Beautiful Commission at 706-310-3525 or email at clean&beautiful@oconee.ga.us

Letter: 4-H is 'life skills' training || OnlineAthens.com

Friend -- The Final March for Reform is going strong -- yesterday, OFA supporters made the phones ring off the hook in Congressional offices on Capitol Hill and across the country. But for every member of Congress, there are eight anti-reform lobbyists swarming Capitol Hill -- and the upcoming vote is still too close to call. So in these crucial, final days, we must make sure the voices of constituents break through the lobbyist attacks. And here's the plan to make it happen: As the next step in the Final March for Reform, OFA supporters like you will be gathering at volunteer phone banks across the country. We'll be calling supportive voters in critical districts nationwide, asking them to reach out to their representatives and express their strong support for reform. A local OFA organizer will be on hand at every event, and no experience is required. Here's how to join in: First, find and RSVP for an event near you. Before you go, make sure to invite frien...

No, not that one | Blogs.OnlineAthens.com Posted using ShareThis ....and not this one either

Friend -- President Obama has called for the House to vote to move health reform forward as early as next week. Today, across the country, supporters of President Obama are calling their representatives to thank them if they've been fighting for reform, and ask them to support it if they haven't made up their mind. The final vote will be very close, and we need to let members of Congress know that voters at home are standing with the President on health reform. Click here to look up your representative and make a call today. We know the stakes: Coverage for millions of uninsured Americans. Ending insurance company abuses, like denying coverage to those with pre-existing conditions and drastically raising premiums. Reining in costs that are bankrupting families and crushing businesses. Putting life-and-death decisions in the hands of patients and doctors, not insurance company bureaucrats. Everything we've worked for depends on winning this upcoming vote i...

This was borrowed from an advertisment in the Oconee Enterprise newspaper, 3/11/10 ~ I would love to know the back story Notice Concerning Oconee State Bank Vicky V. Cain provides notice to the public that Oconee State Bank is proceeding wrongfully on its foreclosure on her home located at 1063 Lancaster Court, Bogart, Georgia 30622. Mrs. Cain has offered to pay off the lot loan in return for Oconee State Bank simply canceling its security deed. Mrs. Cain borrowed absolutely no money from Oconee State Bank to build her home. When the loan for the lot was issued, Oconee State Bank never revealed an intent to reap a windfall from the significant improvements (investment) Mrs. Cain made to this lot with her own money to build her home on it. Neither she nor the Bank intended the home that was being built was going to be collateral for other business debt that Mrs. Cain is not responsible for. The Bank now seeks to be enriched unjustly by attempting to foreclose on her hom...

There always seems to be some sort of "kill the messenger" reaction against the recommendations of these groups, so Oconee County and Watkinsville are in a "damned if they do, damned if they do not" verdict no matter what their suggestion to the Oconee County Board of Commissioners. Oconee panel recommends new judicial campus || OnlineAthens.com

THRIFT SALE 2010 Georgia's Largest Indoor Yard Sale PREVIEW SALE Friday Mar. 12, 7pm - 9pm Silent auction; appetizers; wine; and lots of fun $5 admission/double the low, low market prices SALE DAY Saturday Mar. 13, 8am - 2pm FREE ADMISSION - FREE PARKING LOCATION Old Gym - 34 School St. Downtown Watkinsville (706) 769-4565 email: info@ocaf.com OVER 10,000 ITEMS Art, Antiques, Books, Designer and Vintage Clothing, Electronics, Housewares, Tools, Toys, Yards of Fabric, Jewelry, Furniture, Sporting Goods, Plants, Etc. Sponsored by Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation (OCAF). Proceeds from Thrift Sale 2010 will benefit vital art programs and art education in the Oconee County and Northeast Georgia areas. For directions to OCAF Click Here 34 School Street / P.O. Box 631 Watkinsville, GA 30677 (706) 769-4565 info@ocaf.com / www.ocaf.com

Oconee County Chairman G. Melvin Davis like chicken, and so do I. He wants to keep the state bird as the Brown Thrasher, and I want the Turkey Buzzard. Flip the birds || OnlineAthens.com

The woman holding the paper was not pleased with the school. All manner of feathered fowl and birds shall be granted sanctuary inside the city limits of Watkinsville following the City Council approval of an amendment embracing the idea of not trapping, hunting, shooting or molesting in any manner any bird or wild fowl. Donated by Athens Seed The second reading of the amendment went smoothly save Council member Mike Link's suggestion of switching verbs from "may take" to "may approve" which was endorsed by City Attorney Joe Reitman, Jr. as a prudent shift.  Basically if a big enough flock of grackles or turkey buzzards congregates in your yard, you can still seek council approval to take care of them, except not with a shotgun anymore. City Attorney Joe Reitman, Jr. At least one member of the audience recalled a time when the city advertised a similar less official proclamation back in the day. Later she made sure the donated bird feeder from Athens...

Friend -- As the President has made clear, Americans deserve a final up-or-down vote on health reform. And the House is now expected to hold its final vote as soon as one week from today. As we speak, insurance-industry lobbyists are gathering at the D.C. Ritz-Carlton to stage a last-minute blitz to block reform -- even as they jack up premiums by as much as 60% for small businesses and families across the country. So starting today, we're launching an unprecedented week-long campaign sprint -- our "Final March for Reform." Each day until the vote, we'll feature a powerful new way for OFA supporters to speak out in our communities and weigh in directly with Congress. Today, we'll start by spreading the facts about reform in our communities. Smears and falsehoods have clouded this debate -- Congress must understand that if they pass reform, their constituents will know the truth about what we've finally achieved. Click here to begin. We...

Friend -- As the President has made clear, Americans deserve a final up-or-down vote on health reform. And the House is now expected to hold its final vote as soon as one week from today. As we speak, insurance-industry lobbyists are gathering at the D.C. Ritz-Carlton to stage a last-minute blitz to block reform -- even as they jack up premiums by as much as 60% for small businesses and families across the country. So starting today, we're launching an unprecedented week-long campaign sprint -- our "Final March for Reform." Each day until the vote, we'll feature a powerful new way for OFA supporters to speak out in our communities and weigh in directly with Congress. Today, we'll start by spreading the facts about reform in our communities. Smears and falsehoods have clouded this debate -- Congress must understand that if they pass reform, their constituents will know the truth about what we've finally achieved. Click here to begin. We...

State Representative Bob Smith is trying to something in his first term since his chairmanship wings were clipped Bill would bar legislators from local government work | Gold Dome Live Posted using ShareThis

Begin forwarded message: FROM THE OCONEE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY: Hi,             Don't forget our meeting Monday the 15 th .  This time we will be meeting at the OCAF building (School Street Watkinsville) at 7:00.  It is an important meeting as we continue to discuss   Heritage   Park   plans as work out the details for our open house of the 3 historic buildings at   Heritage   Park   on March 20 th .  We have a group who has volunteered to help us with the hayride we discussed last month, but we have plenty of details to work out.  We hope this event will help us raise money towards our sign project but we need your help to make it happen.  See you Monday. Peggy Ps. If you can't make the meeting but can make Touch a Truck please let me know.

Watkinsville scientests and Agricultural Engineers at the local USDA center would not longer get to use this facility under the latest round of budget cuts. The Republicans are going medieval on our ass here in Georgia. Tifton Gazette - Ag research faces cuts Posted using ShareThis

<iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=occogapo-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=bpl&amp;asins=B001LJXC04&amp;fc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;lt1=_blank&amp;m=amazon&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;bc1=000000&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;f=ifr" style="padding-top: 5px; width: 131px; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" align="left" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"> If you were needing a good excuse to check out the local steakhouse Chops & Hops, I would recommend going to listen to the lovely North High Shoals resident and relative of mine Rachel O'Neal Saturday evening. From: Rachel O'Neal  To: rachelp182003@yahoo.com Sent: Wed, March 10, 2010 8:30:24 AM Subject: Chops & Hops Saturday Hungry for a fabulous dinner and some musical accompaniment? Well, I have just the thing for you... Come to Chops and Hops in Watkinsville this Saturday n...

Go to Rocket Gym on down on School Street in Watkinsville Friday night for the $5.00 admission advance sale, or do not and there will be more for me. Items of every kind on hand at thrift sale || OnlineAthens.com

Events honor former Oconee resident’s life || OnlineAthens.com Posted using ShareThis

Yet another well written story from the Athens Banner-Herald's local journalist Chris Starrs about our burgeoning bicycle advocacy group and their mainstream aims to enhance bicycle paths, lanes, parks and other pedaling public safety issues. A military background and experienced approach to any governmental lobbying mechanism is always welcome change from the status quo of typical political backroom dealings which has plagued this county entirely too long. I wish nothing but the best for this group and their goals of making the roads of Oconee County safer for both bicyclists and motor vehicles. One hybrid of both of those modes of transportation that we will start seeing more of soon is scooters, but I digress from the group Oconee County Cycling Organization of which I am an enthusiastic supporter. I rode my semi-recumbent conversation piece down to the Patriot Park dedication the other day and was happy to go on the sidewalks with some kids from my subdivision and at least one ...

Former Oconee County BOC Chair Wendell Dawson's daughter Jennifer Dawson gave a well attended presentation on Jeannette Rankin (the first female U.S. Congress member) Sunday at the Oconee County Library. Rankin lived part time in Oconee County for some 50 years and made quite an impact locally. 3-8-10 Jeannette Rankin, Oconee County, Shady Grove - History at Oconee Library on 3-7-10 Posted using ShareThis

Congressman Paul Broun has drawn a primary opponent in the 10th district, although most of the so called mainstream media chooses to ignore him. Subject: Cason Sisk I was reading your website and thought I would drop you a quick line.  My name is Amanda Dudley and I'm the social events coordinator for the Cason Sisk campaign and needed to inform you on some corrections to your website.  Cason is actually 25, born October 22, 1984. He was raised in Toccoa, not LaGrange; he lived in Stephens county most of his childhood through graduating high school.  His area code is 912 because his parents currently live in Bruswick, GA and has had the same number since he went to college in Valdosta when he was on his parents plan. (that's just an FYI, you referenced his number on the website). We are trying to lay low in the beginning of this election because we don't want Paul Broun using Congressional Tax Payer dollars to run against us.  There are schools, roads, and count...

my lovely life Posted using ShareThis

What a wonderful turnout of people of all ages, stages, colors, political persuasion, religions, even nationalities. Biggest thanks should go to the person who wrote the below letter, Melissa Steele Subject: A Rose Creek Thank You! Dear Friends, Words are inadequate for me to express my graditude to all of you for your participation in my Rose Creek clean-up project.  I am honored that you thought enough me to listen to my request in the first place, then chose to become involved, step up, and make an effort to make a difference.  And make a difference you did!  Together we picked up 85 pounds of trash, and a combined 220 pounds of glass, plastic, and cans, ALL recycleable!  How 'bout that!!! The most important thing we did together, however, was raise awareness in our community and in our own hearts. Now as we open our eyes any time we are outside, we will all notice the trash on the roads, riverbanks, and wherever humans tread, and in many cases ...

The Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is not the only idiot signal caller messing around with alcohol with some vague connection to Oconee (the Steelers QB has a home on Lake Oconee and decided to try instead to get wet in Milledgeville).  Former Oconee County High School quarterback Zach Mettenberger was arrested near Valdosta for possession of alcohol and other related charges. He was arrested at a bar called Flip Flops in Remerton, GA (surrounded by Valdosta) near Valdosta State University for disorderly conduct and underage possession of alcohol and possibly a third (felony)? charge and is now back in Athens. Zach's mother is a secretary for the UGA football team. Needless to say, this young man's spring break came crashing to a halt and he is suddenly entrenched in bottom of the supposed quarterback race at the University of Georgia. We wish the best for this Oconee County resident and hope he gets his act together, but at this point football may be ...

Always happy to help local business start ups, especially those that symbiotically fit in with established businesses already here ( Ashford Manor Bed and Breakfast wedding assembly line, Elizabeth Ann florists, etc.) Small Biz: Wedding expert starts shop, education venture || OnlineAthens.com

The Reverend John Andrew chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution dedicated the new Patriot Park in Watkinsville Sunday before an overflow audience of several hundred people in the side yard of Mike Thornton's property just across the business route of Highway 441 where it connects with State Route 15. The local chapter of the DAR is the youngest in the state, and at least 17 American Revolutionary soldiers have been identified with Oconee County ties, including a distant relative of mine in  John Harris, buried on Barnett Shoals Road in Oconee County.  Names such as Elder, Fambrough, Haygood, and Nunnally are represented on street signs, historic markers and the cemeteries all across Oconee County, Georgia and coming out of the town once called Big Springs coming from Creek Indian territory and home to Eagle Tavern and Elder Mill Covered Bridge, here honored in a duplex bird house to hoisted upon the small parcel of land soon in yet another wonderful award from th...

Watkinsville lobbyist works to help educate elected officials on interesting ways to save water. Well written article by Walter C. Jones of Morris News that was also in the Rome News Tribune. Will catching rain catch on with public? || OnlineAthens.com