Oconee County, GA Politics

From: Ben Jackson  Date: August 21, 2010 12:20:42 PM EDT To:   Subject: Oconee County Historical Society Fall Turkey Shoot Fund Raiser Members  - Last Monday night at our August monthly meeting we decided to have our first Turkey Shoot fund raiser on Saturday November 13, 2010.   UGA football is at Auburn that weekend.  The shoot will be held at the Richard Pendergrass farm on Colham Ferry Road from 9 am to 3 pm.   There is no hard evidence, but we expect up to 300 attendees. So what's a Turkey Shoot?  Basically, people pay to compete by shooting at targets with their weaponry (shotguns, bows, muzzle loaders, 22s) and the winners get frozen turkeys.  These events are popular all over the country, especially in the fall before hunting season. We have looked into insurance, permitting, parking and other requirements so now we are focusing on other topics like sponsors and/or exhibitors, displays, volunteers, and etc.  We plan to have a fo...

SUIT FILED IN TRAIL CREEK DISASTER             A class action lawsuit was filed in Athens-Clarke County Superior Court on Friday, August 20, 2010 on behalf of property owners along Trail Creek in Athens , Georgia against J&J Chemical Company. The suit alleges nuisance and trespass, among other causes of action related to the spill of poisonous chemicals into the creek, killing its wildlife, dying it blue, and causing noxious odors or fumes and foamy build up along the creek’s route to the North Oconee River .             Eric Krasle, a local attorney, as well as John C. Bell, Jr. of Augusta’s Bell and Brigham firm and Jim Dunlap, an Atlanta attorney, represent the current Plaintiffs and will be adding additional ones.             According to Krasle, who also owns land along the Oconee River downstream and r...

Poll: Deal leads Barnes by 4 points || OnlineAthens.com

----- Forwarded Message ---- From: Oconee Farmers Market <oconeefm@yahoo.com> To: Oconee Farmers Market <oconeefm@yahoo.com> Sent: Fri, August 20, 2010 12:59:42 PM Subject: Oconee Farmers Market This week t here will be homemade cakes and assorted pastries as well as Blueberry Pie , Peach Pie, Sweet Potato Pie , P ecan Pie , delicious pound cakes , snickerdoodle cookies, apple-pecan muffins and Whoopie Pies . We will have fresh locally grown herbs, homegrown tomatoes, eggplant, cucumbers,  fresh corn, okra, peaches , melons, garlic, potatoes, radishes, purple hull peas, bell peppers , jalapeno peppers , various sweet and hot peppers, figs, sprouts, basil, green onions , squash ,  yellow onions  and boiled or fried peanuts and pork skins. Fresh made jams and jellies. Don't forget about our farm fresh eggs and Johnson Dairy Milk !! We will have ornamental plants , transplant-able vegetables, blooming perennials and annuals, hanging ...

My only question is this: every time a business wants to open in Watkinsville and some feathers are ruffled along the way, will we have a special called meeting? I hope the entire episode is a lesson well learned by all parties. I am grateful and glad that Watkinsville now has a high class portraiture studio in town, even though the traffic and turns generated by it may make it even worse of a traffic nightmare on Whitehall - Simonton Bridge Road. All that being said, here are my seven cents of sense on this issue. No one is right or wrong or to blame in this contentious matter. I truly understand how each side voted and why contingencies were added. 1. Conditional Use Permits in general suck ass, and are a Pandora's box better left unopened which always seem to lead to the perspective of spot zoning (regardless of the fact of whether they are or not). 2. Realtors should never be allowed to have huge ugly four foot by four foot signs for any property - commercial or otherwise - an...

Editorial: Deeper look at Oconee BOE selection process || OnlineAthens.com

 GEORGIA'S LARGEST ANNUAL POTTERY EVENT KICKS OFF WITH GALA RECEPTION AUG.27, 6-9 PM  Dear Dan, Don't miss your chance to come out and celebrate the arts at our 8th annual gala reception for Perspectives 2010: GA Pottery Invitational . This year we have added entertainment to the reception to enrich the evening's experience , so read down further to find out more!   RON MEYERS Friday, Aug. 27th, 6-9 PM Perspectives 2010 Gala Reception     OPENING RECEPTION & PREVIEW SALE $5 ADMISSION/DONATION For a complete schedule of events during Perspectives: GA Pottery Invitational click HERE! GEORGIA MUDCATS LIVE- GEORGIA MUDCATS  PERSPECTIVES 2010 The Georgia Mudcats will bring you a program of Appalachian string-band music, flatland country blues, gospel music and traditional songs from all over the South. With the advent of radio the music of ...

Oconee County Observations: Oconee County BOE Selects Three Men with Long Ties to Community as Post 5 Finalists

Deal open to casino gambling || OnlineAthens.com

Four-legged hired hands go to town on kudzu || OnlineAthens.com

Southern Political Report

Soon to be former Oconee County State Representative and local realtor Bob Smith is deciding to burn bridges with the local arts and municipal government leaders due to their due diligence deliberating supposed spot zoning for the conditional use permit allowing a long-time established Athens portraiture photographer Dan McClure and his daughter a tract of land called the Oaks property after current owner David Oaks who has hired Bob Smith to sell the property. To accommodate Mr. McClure sudden withdrawal at the end of a contentious and long Watkinsville City Council meeting last week and subsequent resubmission at a special called meeting this evening Thursday to consider such a matter of great concern. I It seems the issues in this CUP are separate and distinct, ranging from the fact that this is not actually Dan McClure's studio but his daughter's Lauren Forrester potential residence and business home despite who might be paying for it to Bob Smith's arrogance in lecturi...

Friend -- Powerful special interests are pledging to spend $200 million to help elect conservatives this fall. But President Obama has advocated for a different kind of politics since he launched his campaign, and it's because of supporters like you that we've never let special interests buy their way to victory. This November, it's the same game plan. Instead of asking for checks from PACs and lobbyists, we're counting on 3 million grassroots donations to elect strong allies for President Obama. We need just 25,000 donations this week to be on track to meet that goal -- and are counting on 15 donations from your area. Please donate $3 today and add your name to the By the People Fund . Organizing for America supporters like you set this movement apart -- and together, we're changing politics. With your help, we're going to run a real, grassroots, on-the-ground campaign to win in November -- knocking on doors, making calls, and talking to n...

So far, Deal&#8217;s keeping tax returns to himself

(Not so) glad to see the copy editors at the ABH fell asleep at the wheel again last night Around Madison || OnlineAthens.com

They say they are not political, but historical..... Confederate group gathers || OnlineAthens.com

Taste of Watkinsville only for Gainesville State students || OnlineAthens.com

Georgia men’s basketball releases non-conference schedule || OnlineAthens.com

This nasty bit of smearing was shared on the conservative talk radio locally this morning to show the Republican political consultants are wasting no time in getting dirty against Georgia Democratic nominee for Governor. Essentially is the accusation is that Roy Barnes is a sorry S.O.B. who has supported every dastardly Democratic candidate in the last 20 years. RGA Ad: Barnes on Obama-Like Apology Tour « Republican Governors Association

And this is who the Georgia Republicans nominated even after a run-off? Hudgens transfer reversed || OnlineAthens.com

Breaking down the best regions in Class AA | Prep Zone: High School Sports

2010 Suits and Sneakers Gala:

Ethics chief calls for possible criminal charges in Oxendine donations case | ajc.com

Woven brightly, Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. Date: Tue, 17 Aug 2010 11:24:26 -0400  Subject: Trail Creek updates  From: ben.emanuel@gmail.com  To: ben.emanuel@gmail.com    Dear friends:    I wanted to send out an update to many of you, including those who  attended the August 2nd forum at the ACC Library, on the last several  days' news regarding the chemical spill in Trail Creek.    As you may know, last Thursday Georgia EPD issued a consent order  requiring certain cleanup measures of J&J Chemical Company (to be  performed by its contracted cleanup firm, HEPACO).    Among these measures is the use of activated carbon filtration at the  extensive wetland in the Olympic Drive/ Athena Drive area of East Fork  Trail Creek. The filtration should reduce (to "non-detect" levels) or  remove the harmful chemicals from the water, and prevent them from  flowing downstream into East Athens, through...

Cops: Ex-speaker Richardson held gun to head, threatened suicide | ajc.com

UGA Young Democrats are always quite welcoming to members of the community as well Woven brightly,  Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. Date: Tue, 17 Aug 2010 10:07:15 -0400 From: ugademocrats@GMAIL.COM Subject: Fall kickoff meeting with Russell Edwards! To: YDEM-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU Hey Young Dems! We hope everyone had a great summer. We are gearing up for our first meeting of the new semester and are very excited to announce that Congressional candidate and UGA Law alum Russell Edwards will be joining us to discuss his campaign in Georgia's 10th district. The meeting will be in Room 148 of the Miller Learning Center at 6:15 p.m on Wednesday August 25. As always, we'll have free pizza. RSVP here: http://tiny.cc/firstmtg Bring your friends & questions for discussion!

State has just weeks to use or lose $7.6 million | ajc.com

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Adrienne Hunter-Strothers was in Oconee County recently attempting to garner any attraction at a Karen Handel event, and she also had a very strong presence at the Democratic Party of Georgia State Convention this past weekend in Athens. Kemp to rule on judge candidate

Please attend this meeting and meet and hear from House 113th District Democratic nominee Suzy Compere in her second appearance before the Oconee County committee. Or you can attend a Russell Edwards organizational meeting in Athens at their joint headquarters with the Athens-Clarke Democratic Committee on Baxter Street near the restaurant "Just Pho" and the old DaVinci's location at the same time. Woven brightly,  Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. From: oconee@yahoogroups.com To: oconee@yahoogroups.com Date: Mon, 16 Aug 2010 22:58:45 +0000 Subject: [oconee] Oconee Democrats Regular Monthly Meeting, 8/19/2010, 7:00 pm Reminder from:   oconee Yahoo! Group   Title:   Oconee Democrats Regular Monthly Meeting   Date: ...

This sewer line upgrade project has been in the works for as long as I can remember. Bogart businesses have always been treated as the red headed step child of the county, with no sewer lines and what not. Sewer line will help prevent jobs drain || OnlineAthens.com

UGA football walk-on gets scholarship

Friend -- Did you see the President's email? He's right. Studies have shown that when people pledge to do something, they're much more likely to follow through. This simple but powerful concept helped us make history in 2008, when first-time voters who made a commitment played a critical role in the election. This fall, volunteers are taking this strategy into communities across the country once again. But it begins with you. Will you join me in committing to vote in the 2010 elections? http://my.barackobama.com/Commitment Thanks, David Plouffe -----------------Original Message----------------- From: Barack Obama Subject: Today, it's time to commit to vote Friend -- Eighteen years ago, shortly after graduating from law school, I helped lead a voter registration campaign in Chicago that generated record turnout on Election Day. That experience taught me one of the most important lessons I ever learned as a community organizer: When people pro...

Oconee County Observations: Oconee County Saturday Strolls at Harris Shoals Ra... : "Adult/Family Summer Camp For the second year in a row, the Oconee Democrats raised more than $1,000 for local charities through its Saturda..."

From: Fred Johnson ilovehighshoals@yahoo.com Date: August 15, 2010 9:44:26 PM EDT To: Fred Johnson ilovehighshoals@yahoo.com Subject: TONHS August 2010 Meeting Notes from Fred Dear Fellow High Shoalers,                                                                                          August 15, 2010 Mayor Kraeling continues to do a good job of leading the Council to wrap up past business and plan for the future.    It's great to see the length of the agenda dwindle and the Town Council come to the meetings obviously well inform...