Oconee County, GA Politics

Friend -- Yesterday, I visited Caminada Bay in Grand Isle, Louisiana -- one of the first places to feel the devastation wrought by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. While I was here, at Camerdelle's Live Bait shop, I met with a group of local residents and small business owners. Folks like Floyd Lasseigne, a fourth-generation oyster fisherman. This is the time of year when he ordinarily earns a lot of his income. But his oyster bed has likely been destroyed by the spill. Terry Vegas had a similar story. He quit the 8th grade to become a shrimper with his grandfather. Ever since, he's earned his living during shrimping season -- working long, grueling days so that he could earn enough money to support himself year-round. But today, the waters where he has worked are closed. And every day, as the spill worsens, he loses hope that he will be able to return to the life he built. Here, this spill has not just damaged livelihoods. It has upended whole communities. And the...

At barbecue, politics a main course || OnlineAthens.com

Dear Colleague, You are invited to join National Supplier Registration (NSR)  www.nationalsupplierregistration.com   NSR is the Nation’s only “Central Directory” for capturing and maintaining business profile data. It replaces all independent supplier registration systems run by Fortune 500 companies and government agencies.   When you register with NSR your business profile becomes available to all businesses both large and small.   It is used by supply chain professionals (buyers) at Fortune 1000 companies, government agencies and educational institutions for sourcing and maintaining all of their supply chain business partners. It also eliminates the need to register your business with companies that have their own supplier registration system (black hole).   NSR eliminates the redundancy of your company having to maintain business profiles with various corporate websites. You may instantly present your business pro...

The Oconee Enterprise > News > Early voting for primary begins June 7

Thanks to Dustin for enlightening me as to Carol Dodd Porter's mystery primary opponent. Answer: Who is Patricia “Trish” McCracken? : Georgia Liberal

I often have to vote in the local Republican primary to have any influence on local elections, and obviously I then have to continue the vote all the way up the ticket. I think Karen Handel, despite all my differences with her, may help me make up my mind to fill in the blank for her. Georgia Right to Life picks a fight with Karen Handel | Political Insider

Lee Becker wrote about this several days ago, but it was nice of the Banner-Herald to write about this. Rates and fees hiked in Oconee || OnlineAthens.com

That was the single biggest question I was left with after attending the Oconee County Chamber of Commerce Political Forum hosted by Tim "Don't call me Anita" Bryant of NewsTalk 1340 WGAU AM. Here Oconee County Board of Education members Mack Guest and Kim Argo basically dropped the bomb on Carter Strickland by refusing to endorse his candidacy for the appointment of the slot to fill the slot for the departed Tom Breedlove's slot on the BOE despite limiting the four candidates who could claim the seat. Now that a Democrat might actually make it, we can't have that in Oconee County where someone who supports the schools in a different manner than the guaranteed shenanigans of the Republican orthodoxy dare challenge the status quo. Oh well, a little diversity never hurt anyone, especially Ms. Argo and Mr. Guest. But it looks like it is not going to be a fun time at the June 14th meeting, although Guest said it should be a very interesting meeting in their respon...

They have a great breakfast Woven brightly,  Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. Subject: CCDC FW: AAD (Athens Area Democrats) Breakfast, Sat., June 12 To: ATHENS AREA DEMOCRATS BREAKFAST SATURDAY, June 12, at 9AM Wilson's Soul Food 351 North Hull St. SPEAKER: Jane Kidd, Chair of Democratic Party of the State of Georgia THERE WILL BE A FULL BUFFET BREAKFAST FOR $6, BUT EACH PERSON WILL PURCHASE AND PAY FOR WHAT THEY CHOOSE TO EAT. HOWEVER, WE DO ASK THAT YOU MAKE RESERVATIONS, SO THAT WE CAN NOTIFY THE WILSONS HOW MANY PEOPLE TO EXPECT. Please make reservations by Tuesday, June 8, 2010. Please make reservations with Barney Brannen at anitabarney@charter.net or 706-543-1480 or Denise Ricks at   athensareademocrats@hotmail.com    or  706-247-3558.

Sheriff Scott Berry keeps the folks in line down by the Home Depot (and the rest of Oconee County for that matter). Day Laborers Crossing the Line?

I'm going - are you? You need to attend to see the future of Oconee County and not to mention the impressive acoustics of the North Oconee High School Fine Arts Auditorium. Woven brightly,  Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. Date: Thu, 3 Jun 2010 18:00:17 +0000 Subject: [oconee] Reminder: Political Forum Tonight   Just a reminder that the Chamber of Commerce Political Forum is tonight, 6 - 9:30 pm, at the North Oconee High School Auditorium. Questioning does not begin until 7 pm. Meet and greet is from 6- 7 pm. Please attend if you can to both learn everything you can about the BOC candidates and support Democratic candidates. Thanks! Jonathan __._,_.___

Oconee County trees help UGA beautify - thanks Brian. University of Georgia: News & Information

Democrats plan regional BBQ || OnlineAthens.com

Also saw an interesting piece on WNEG TV 32 about this as well. New textbook options will be open to public | The Augusta Chronicle

My, my, my the Palmetto State seems to have their fair share of political sluts. I'm sure we do, too. Second politico claims affair with S.C.'s Nikki Haley | Political Insider

So will the Oconee County Board of Education appoint Carter Strickland - a Democratic candidate - to the open slot on June 14? We shall see. The conventional wisdom has been outdone by unconventional approaches, and I hope the BOE appoints Strickland June 14. Lone candidate for Oconee post || OnlineAthens.com

Friend -- I wanted to make sure you saw the message from Mitch below. The House's vote on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is a huge moment -- for our movement and our country. But this fight is just getting started. The Senate will take up this issue soon, and there are Republicans pledging to block a vote from even taking place. Polls show that 78 percent of the country agrees that it's time to end "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," but opponents of reform aren't getting the message. Can you sign on to help us show that Americans overwhelmingly support repeal? Add your name: http://my.barackobama.com/DADTRepeal Thanks, Yohannes Yohannes Abraham Political Director Organizing for America -----------------Original Message----------------- From: Mitch Stewart, BarackObama.com Subject: "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Friend -- This is big news: Yesterday, the full House of Representatives and the Armed Services Committee...

Without question, Oconee County has its fair share of very talented potters. There are artists of every stripe coming to this event and you should go buy some pottery or paintings. Potters band for annual sale || OnlineAthens.com

Garden club's plant sale on Thursday || OnlineAthens.com

Saturday stroll focuses on mosses, mushrooms || OnlineAthens.com

Around Oconee || OnlineAthens.com

Guest won't seek appointment

This Week with GMOA The Art of: Style Wednesday, June 9, 2010, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Ashford Manor Bed and Breakfast, Watkinsville, Ga. This event, sponsored by the Friends of the Georgia Museum of Art in collaboration with the Athens-Clarke Heritage Foundation , will feature an exploration of the main house of the Ashford Manor Bed and Breakfast (ca. 1893) in Watkinsville, led by Dale Couch, GMOA's curator of decorative arts. The event will include a discussion focusing on interior design, inspiration and the creative process. Admission to the event costs $10 for Friends members, $15 for non-members and is free with a new GMOA membership. For more information and to RSVP, call 706.542.0830

Classes have begun today at our new location on Jamestown Blvd. Please visit our website to view class descriptions and summer schedule , summer camp information , party facts or our next Kids's Night Out event. Click here for a map of our new location. Oconee Gymnastics Center 1071 Jamestown Blvd. Watkinsville, GA 30677 (706) 769-1239

Members' Exhibit Opening Reception this Friday Night! June 4th, 6 - 8 PM From June 4 th thru 30 th , The Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation (OCAF) will display in its Main Gallery the 2010 Members' Exhibit. Included in this exhibit will be a diverse display of works from a variety of skilled artists who are also OCAF members. All of the works are for sale and include sculpture, paintings, drawings, textiles, jewelry, pottery and photos. Opening reception: Friday, June 4th from 6 to 8 PM. Free admission, open to the public. Exhibit hours: June 4 -30, Tuesday thru Saturday from 10 AM - 4 PM Location: OCAF's Main Gallery, 34 School Street, Watkinsville GA For more information please call (706) 769-4565, email: info@ocaf.com, to get directions click here or visit our website at www.ocaf.com. ...

It is very cool that the pooches are getting a pool at Oconee Veterans Park (no matter how temporary at the beginning of July), but would not it be much cooler if there was a permanent pool for people to use too at the park? Once upon a time, a mysterious benefactor offered to contribute $10,000.00 toward the building of a pool at the park, long before the first blade of dirt was turned in the park. The bureaucrats and politicians who control the Oconee County Parks and Recreation Department ultimately decided in their infinite wisdom to deny the residents of Oconee County a public swimming facility and turn down the generous benefactor's donation. Remember these are the people we elected that did this, and denied us a park at Elder Mill Covered Bridge. Nonetheless, I think it is peachy keen that our animals are better treated then our children (at least when it comes to public water competitions), even though I suspect a large number of these soggy canine athletes are imports or c...

Oconee Commision Budget Vote - WGAU Local News on 1340wgau.com

I talked about this in the Watkinsville City Council meeting last month Sisters bring history home || OnlineAthens.com

One of the anxieties we deal with as parents is letting go the strings on our kids as they learn to interact with people in the surrounding neighborhood.  I am blessed to live in a subdivision with lots of kids my son's age to give him a choice of multiple pods of people in various pockets, streets and cud de sacs around the area.  Lately one of my son's favorite haunts has a new gas powered dune buggy looking vehicle which is little more than a go cart with PVC pipe.  I am all for kids learning how to drive safely and understand that Officer Horton of the Watkinsville Police Department has talked to these kids about traffic laws. I hope he will read some of them the riot act like I did the next time he has a chance to talk to them again. Now I am sure I am whole lot more than reactionary when it comes to this situation literally right outside my front door. I live at an intersection with a stop sign and when I see young kids not even thinking about slowing down at the ...

Even though this is a Jackson Browne song, it shows the versatility of the Tony Pritchett band, who will be performing tomorrow evening at Ashford Manor Bed and Breakfast as the Jimmy Buffett cover band called Sons of Sailors. Y'all come if you can and enjoy the sets but I think you need to find your own lost shaker of salt. Subject:   Talk it up :  Due to a clerical error, ads for this Monday's Concert did not make it into this weeks Flagpole, Oconee Enterprise, Oconee Leader.  It did make it into the ABH. But as families look for stuff to do on the holiday they often turn to these other pubs. Please spread the word.  We will be sending out Facebook, My Space and Twitter as usual.  But we would appreciate your help. Sons Of Sailors, the sounds of Jimmy Buffet Gates open at 5:oo  The band is playing two complete sets and will play from 6:00 to 9:00 Contact   www.amconcerts.com Call Ashford Manor 706-769-2633 for particular questions. Hope to see y...

Closed debates: Just say 'no' | savannahnow.com

Political forum set Thursday at NOHS || OnlineAthens.com