The comparison is not very apt since a Lake Oconee versus Lake Okoboji comparison would be much accurate. Nonetheless, I will give Oconee County, Georgia the nod because of better grocery stores. And while I have still not stepped in the city limits of Oconee, Georgia, let me say if it is anything at all like Tennille, Georgia where my grandfather William Collins Matthews is buried, then it is no contest whatsoever. Watkinsville will always be a winner in my book.
Lake Okoboji is located about 10 miles from the Minnesota state line in far northern Iowa lake country. It is connected to Spirit Lake and has 15,000 acres of the finest fresh water one could ever hope to find. It is where wealthy Iowans go to play and stay in overpriced vacation or summer homes. The lot next to my friend Dirk's family lake house was being offered at $900K and it was a nonstop procession of people taking a gander at this very narrow acreage with only 50 feet of lakefront property.
The farmers are doing quite well these days in the upper midwest. Their harvests are being bought everywhere and land prices are going through the roof. There is no drought going on in Iowa or Minnesota, as best I could tell. What lessons do the economic hardships of this state have to teach Georgia? One at least would be patience. Two would be economic prosperity is fleeting and should never be taken for granted on any level ever.
Georgia's crop of Vidalia Onions were available from the Bland Family and found their way to Hy-Vee frequented by many of my friends and associates. I saw a case of Burton and burton balloons in this same store.
No one was crowing about Tim Pawlenty or Michelle Bachmann except in the most heinous and derisive of terms. Iowans now John Wayne was born in Wintersett and John Wayne Gacy was from Waterloo. And yes my High School prom date Mary Seaman Baker is a staunch Minnesota Republican. She shares a cottage in Spirit Lake with another friend from High School who is also a Republican and lives in Mitchell, South Dakota and works at Dakota Wesleyan College where George McGovern maintains a residence. Former Vice-President Henry Wallace was on display at the cottage I stayed at as he was once a partner with my host's grandparents in farming and publishing in Des Moines in the 1930's and before.
We did not eat out or boat as much as usual for a variety of reasons. The economy has taken its toll on our not so lavish lifestyles. We still play kick ass rock and roll music and basketball when we can. I hope you all get to visit Lake Okoboji sometime soon.
Sunday, August 07, 2011
Saturday, August 06, 2011
Thursday, August 04, 2011
Not too wild about Monroe’s art scene - WaltonTribune.com: Business
Always happy to welcome a new business moving to the Artland of Georgia. Not too wild about Monroe’s art scene - WaltonTribune.com: Business: "MONROE — A little more than three years ago, Rose Handy set up
shop in Monroe with a dream of sharing art with the community."
shop in Monroe with a dream of sharing art with the community."
Your morning jolt: $30 million in traffic fees diverted from driver’s ed
Once again a reminder that Republicans in Georgia are doing their damn level best to make the drivers unsafe for all the rest of us. Think of this next time you vote or are in a wreck that was not your fault.Your morning jolt: $30 million in traffic fees diverted from driver’s ed
Oconee retreats on sewer project || OnlineAthens.com
This is not going to help local economic development any, but I trust our County Commissioners to delineate our priorities when it comes to sanitary sewer systems. Quite frankly I find it rather barbaric and third world like that there are so many homes and businesses in Oconee County who have to still use septic systems. Of course we no longer have raw sewage pouring directly into Calls Creek like it was when our new State Representative played in it as a child. Oconee retreats on sewer project || OnlineAthens.com
Wednesday, August 03, 2011
Tuesday, August 02, 2011
The four great hypocrisies of the debt deal
http://current.com/shows/countdown/videos/special-comment-the-four-great-hypocrisies-of-the-debt-deal
College costs shock students as HOPE dwindles | ajc.com
Just remember, Georgia collegiate student, it was the GOP who brought you this
College costs shock students as HOPE dwindles | ajc.com
College costs shock students as HOPE dwindles | ajc.com
Daily Job Listing - Oconee, GA Patch
Just be careful when you write tickets for the principal or athletic director as it might lead to their termination
Daily Job Listing - Oconee, GA Patch
Daily Job Listing - Oconee, GA Patch
Heritage Park Trails closed August thru December 2011
I do not know anything at all about the Heritage Park's water flow, but trust my neighbor Jimmy Marbut as well as the Oconee County Parks and Recreation Department, so hopefully there can be some kind of compromise without crushing one interest or the other..
From: tonyglenn@gmail.com
To: shermankathens@gmail.com; mikeely@hotmail.com; lbbecker@mindspring.com; danmatt@hotmail.com; BBrodrick@jacksonspalding.com; brian@HUBBIKES.COM
Subject: RE: Heritage Park Trails closed August thru December 2011
Date: Mon, 25 Jul 2011 10:49:14 -0400
Sincerely,
Dan MatthewsFrom: tonyglenn@gmail.com
To: shermankathens@gmail.com; mikeely@hotmail.com; lbbecker@mindspring.com; danmatt@hotmail.com; BBrodrick@jacksonspalding.com; brian@HUBBIKES.COM
Subject: RE: Heritage Park Trails closed August thru December 2011
Date: Mon, 25 Jul 2011 10:49:14 -0400
I was quick on the blame game…….here are more details from Jimmy Marbut.
"yea, it's a "water mitigation" project. i believe they are going to build a lake, or at least make some pretty big changes of how the water flows through the area. i'm super bummed about it. it's going to destroy alot of trails we've put our blood, sweat and tears into. it was discussed at last weeks sorba meeting but i wasn't there, so i don't know the latest details. it's not a budget cut issue which is good. i'll see if i can get some more info from the sorba folks."
Tony
From: Tony Glenn [mailto:tonyglenn@gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2011 10:46 AM
To: 'Ken Sherman'; 'mike ely'; 'Lee Becker'; danmatt@hotmail.com; 'Brian Brodrick'; brian@HUBBIKES.COM
Subject: Heritage Park Trails closed August thru December 2011
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2011 10:46 AM
To: 'Ken Sherman'; 'mike ely'; 'Lee Becker'; danmatt@hotmail.com; 'Brian Brodrick'; brian@HUBBIKES.COM
Subject: Heritage Park Trails closed August thru December 2011
I'm spreading the news…..share with others that may be interested.
I've just learned that Heritage Park will be closed August thru December. See the "Announcements" here http://www.ocprd.com/
Perhaps some of you were already aware of this.
I'm assuming the reason behind the closure is county budget cuts. Parks & Rec was hit hard.
Tony
Watkinsville couple injured in collision || OnlineAthens.com
Please drive carefully and watch for cyclists, pedestrians and runners of all size and stripe.
Watkinsville couple injured in collision || OnlineAthens.com
Watkinsville couple injured in collision || OnlineAthens.com
Smith: Matthews' personality perfect for JMU || OnlineAthens.com
Great to see the Matthews family - who used to live, coach and play here in Oconee County, are doing so well for the James Madison Dukes football program.
Smith: Matthews' personality perfect for JMU || OnlineAthens.com
Monday, August 01, 2011
A Ton of Events
Opportunities all over Georgia
Date: Sat, 30 Jul 2011 14:18:07 -0400
From: info@georgiademocrat.org
To: danmatt@hotmail.com
Subject: A Ton of Events
Sincerely,
Dan MatthewsDate: Sat, 30 Jul 2011 14:18:07 -0400
From: info@georgiademocrat.org
To: danmatt@hotmail.com
Subject: A Ton of Events
 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Next weekend, Georgia Democrats will be celebrating our proud history and bright future with a ton of events throughout the Peach State. Won't you join us on Saturday, August 6th for a Day of Action near you?
Join your local Democrats on Saturday, August 6! "Snowflakes are one of nature's most fragile things, but just look at what they can do when they stick together," -Vesta Kelly.  | . | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
MIKE BERLON, CHAIR; NIKEMA WILLIAMS, FIRST VICE-CHAIR; RUSSELL EDWARDS, TREASURER; R.J. HADLEY, VICE CHAIR; MIGUEL CAMACHO, VICE CHAIR; REP. PEDRO "PETE" MARIN, VICE CHAIR; LAVERNE GASKINS, SECRETARY NOT AUTHORIZED BY ANY CANDIDATE OR CANDIDATE'S COMMITTEE • WWW.GEORGIADEMOCRAT.ORG | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fw: Tell Rep. Broun: no more hostages
Call Dr. Broun and respectfully let him know what you think of his country club comments
From: "Daniel Mintz, MoveOn.org Political Action"
Sent: Monday, August 1, 2011 3:33 PM
Subject: Tell Rep. Broun: no more hostages
|
Congress is about to vote on a debt deal that will make deep cuts in government spending while doing nothing to make the rich and corporations pay their fair share.
This was the ransom demanded by Republicans in exchange for not tanking our whole economy. And if the deal passes, they'll hold America hostage all over again the next time there's an important decision to be made, and push for more cuts to vital programs and tax giveaways to millionaires.
They need to hear how angry their constituents are at this unbelievable act of economic sabotage.
Can you call Rep. Broun right now and tell him that the Republicans' unpatriotic threats against America's economic well-being are totally unacceptable?
Representative Paul Broun
Phone: 202-225-4101
Phone: 202-225-4101
According to a survey of MoveOn members this morning, the vast majority of them oppose this deal. Here's more info:
- Here's a detailed rundown from the Huffington Post on what exactly is in the deal.
- New York Times columnist Paul Krugman calls the deal a "catastrophe on multiple levels."
- Former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich argues that "the radical right has now won a huge tactical and strategic victory."
- And for a different perspective, here's why the White House thinks the deal is "a win for the economy and budget discipline."
This deal is dramatically out of step with America. The great majority of Americans want jobs, not cuts—and want corporations and millionaires to pay their fair share, so we can afford to jump-start our economy and rebuild the American Dream.
Whatever happens today, one thing is clear: This debt ceiling fight is the beginning of a much larger struggle to force Washington to listen to all of us, not just huge corporate donors and the tea party fringe.
We can start by making sure the Republicans get an earful from constituents for what they've done.
Thanks for all you do.
–Daniel, Elena, Tate, Eli, and the rest of the team
Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 5 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.
PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.
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