Oconee County, GA Politics

The Oconee County Democratic Committee unanimously re-elected Dan Matthews Chair of the group for his third term 2013-14 during the second part of their caucus at Krimson Kafe in a brief meeting Saturday morning. "I am honored and humbled by their continued confidence in my leadership," said Matthews. "Our goals for the next term include candidate recruitment, increased civic participation, and greater visibility. We want people in Oconee County know it is cool and socially acceptable to be a Democratic supporter once again in our community." Matthews is the only Democratic candidate from Oconee County during the last two years, having run for both Mayor of Watkinsville and Georgia State House of Representatives in the old 113th District. He made the run-off against Chuck Wiliiams in the 113th special election to replace Hank Huckaby (having defeated Republicans Alan Alexander and Sarah Bell) and lost to Charles Ivie in the mayoral race several months later in 2...

Eric Gray, Communications Director, Democratic Party of Georgia The Oconee County Democratic Committee enjoyed swelled ranks last night during their regular March monthly meeting at the Government Annex on Greensboro Highway on the heels of the very successful "fun"-raiser at Krimson Kafe a fortnight back with former candidate for Labor Commissioner Darryl Hicks. We were also quite pleasantly surprised to welcome the Communications Director of the Democratic Party of Georgia in Eric Gray. He answered every one of our sharp and pointed questions succinctly and honestly and is certainly welcome back anytime. Gray even called others to try to answer our questions about certain obscure procedures for the delegate selection process in Madison at Morgan County High School next month. The biggest news to come out of the meeting was the resignation of acting director Ann Hudson Stoneburner and the resumption of yours truly as director. This move was long contemplated and quic...

Darryl Hicks, former candidate for Georgia Labor Commissioner Watkinsville , Georgia – February 9, 2012 – The Oconee County Democratic Committee will host its annual Democratic "Party" on February 25, 2012. The theme of this year's Democratic "Party" will be, All Hail The Two Party System! The Democratic "Party" will take place at Krimson Kafé, 40 Greensboro Highway, Watkinsville, from 5 to 7 p.m. "When you live in Oconee County it's easy to forget that we have a two-party system in America," said Ann Stoneburner, chair of the Oconee County Democratic Committee. "But there are Democrats making contributions to this community just like there are everywhere in this great country, and we want to come together for food, refreshments, and fellowship." Darryl Hicks will be the featured speaker at this year's Democratic "Party". Mr. Hicks is a leader among Georgia Democrats. He ran for Secreta...

Timothy Echols of Winterville and Bubba McDonald of Commerce continued to embarrass themselves and make Northeast Georgia the laughingstock of those few who pay attention to the Public Service Commission. One person who I think would do a much better job is former candidate for Department of Labor chair Darryl Hicks.  He will be speaking locally at Krimson Kafe Feb. 25th. I would recommend everyone to attend this speech.  Of PSC loggerheads and letterheads

. Another friendly reminder that the Oconee Democrats will meet next Saturday, Aug. 6., at 8:00 a.m. at the Oconee Connector fire station (next to the new QT) to clean up our adopted mile of road.  This project is part of the national observance of President Obama's birthday and we will be joining Democrats around the state and country in community service projects. NOTE: Please join us at Krimson's Kafe at 11:30 for lunch and fellowship, whether or not you can participate in the cleanup. I predict a break in the ridiculously hot weather by next Saturday! See you then. Sarajane Love P.S. Don't forget to bring a pair of work gloves. __._,_.___   __,_._,___

It shall be an extra challenge for those wanting to help the Oconee County Democratic Committee pick up garbage along our adopt-a-mile area on the Oconee Connector at noon. Krimson has a broken pipe at the cafe and hopes to open at 11 AM tomorrow.   If anyone wishes to have lunch before the clean-up, they will be able to eat tomorrow . I will keep you posted on the developments about her business. Rita

We need your help, and you need not be a Democratic supporter or even an Oconee County resident to participate in picking up debris along the busiest thoroughfare in Oconee County. Woven brightly,  Daniel J. Matthews, Jr To: oconee@yahoogroups.com From: sjathome91@yahoo.com Date: Tue, 4 Jan 2011 07:53:38 -0800 Subject: [oconee] Adopt a Road Jan. 15   Please join the Oconee Democrats on Sat., Jan. 15, 2011, at 1:00 p.m. and help us pick up the litter along Oconee Connector/Mars Hill Road. Bring a pair of work gloves and meet at the Barber Creek Fire Station, near the intersection of the Connector and 316 (and next to the new, sprawling QT). Before the clean up, join us for lunch at 11:30 at Krimson Kafe, 40 Greensboro Hwy. in Watkinsville. Thanks for your help in keeping Oconee County Beautiful. Sarajane Love __._,_.___

The Oconee County Democratic Committee selected three delegates to State Convention in Athens in August during their caucus Saturday afternoon at Krimson Kafe in Watkinsville. Vicky Moody is already a member of the State Delegation, and Robert Wyatt and Jonathan Veit will be joining her along with Ann Stoneburner. Tony Glenn and yours truly as alternates.  The secret ballots were tabulated by Vicky and Ann, who is the assistant chair of the committee but graciously chaired this meeting. Many discussions of the recent primary, on both sides of the ballot, as well as education and other topics were discussed soon thereafter. Though we may be small in number, we are strong in spirit and opinion. It was good to see longtime members Herb and Myrna West return to the fold for the meal and meeting at the Watkinsville lunch time eatery. The Oconee County Democratic Committee does not always have enough members to meet or make quorums as was the case for their most recent meeting prior ...

Watkinsville diners will soon have another choice for breakfast, lunch and dinner in Town Center. Normally this would not make me bat an eye, but biking past local restauranteur and former UGA football coach Ray Goff coming out of Mirko's Pasta, I saw a "coming soon Subway" banner adorning the middle section where the clothing store used to be. Once upon a time there was a Quizno's where Mirko's is, so things have changed in this downtown space before. I would well imagine Mike Thornton is behind this one as well, but I do not know that. There are some Oconee County diners who will surely be happy to have a choice out of the David Weeks continuum of Mirko's and Barberitos and not wanting to take their family to Chops and Hops. There are others who dread the continued encroachment of a national chain and would rather keep Watkinsville weird (to paraphrase a slogan swiped from Austin and fitting for Athens). I worry about the negative effect on the sales t...

DePalma's Italian restaurants have had three locations in Athens for some time, and is moving one of its locations a whole lot closer to Oconee County. A lease was signed recently to relocate the franchise in the Homewood Hills shopping center at 2467 Jefferson Road to a new location on Timothy Road near Dos Palmas, a new European Deli run by Anne Miller-Anderson of Maison Bleu fame, Aqua Linda and Loco's (another beloved local restaurant chain that almost moved to Oconee). Many Oconee County readers will recall that DePalma's was going to open a new eatery in Oconee County near Butler's Crossing, but the Oconee County Board of Commissioners inability to come to a decision quick enough on beer and wine sales led to a new restaurant location for the chain Taqueria La Parilla to park it in Oconee. Sorry to see Floyd's Grill shut down for the second time in Watkinsville. Congrats to the new management of the ice cream store in Sweet ReTreats. I love Gail's fish...

What are you doing for lunch tomorrow? I will be conducting basketball practice, but if you are so inclined, please go to Krimson Kafe tomorrow and talk to some good people about interesting subject. Woven brightly, Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. From: oconee@yahoogroups.com To: oconee@yahoogroups.com Date: Wed, 10 Dec 2008 17:58:25 +0000 Subject: [oconee] Blue Hats of Oconee Co. Democrats, 12/13/2008, 1:00 pm Reminder from:   oconee Yahoo! Group   Title:   Blue Hats of Oconee Co. Democrats   Date:   Saturday December 13, 2008 Time:   1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Repeats:   ...

Please attend this event and let Rita know you are coming Woven brightly, Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. From: oconee@yahoogroups.com To: oconee@yahoogroups.com Date: Sun, 14 Sep 2008 16:56:46 +0000 Subject: [oconee] Blue Hats of Oconee Co. Democrats, 9/20/2008, 1:00 pm Reminder from:   oconee Yahoo! Group   Title:   Blue Hats of Oconee Co. Democrats   Date:   Saturday September 20, 2008 Time:   1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Next reminder:   The next reminder for this event will be sent in 4 days, 3 minutes. Location: ...

Please attend the Blue Hats meeting if you can - besides the egg salad sandwiches at Krimson's are to die for. Woven brightly, Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. Subject: [oconee] Blue Hats of Oconee Co. Democrats, 8/16/2008, 1:00 pm Reminder from:   oconee Yahoo! Group   Title:   Blue Hats of Oconee Co. Democrats   Date:   Saturday August 16, 2008 Time:   1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Next reminder:   The next reminder for this event will be sent in 4 days, 3 minutes. Location:   Krimson Kafe, Watkinsv...

So what do you think of renaming the Blue Hats to the Bonanza Democrats or something equally not associated with the Red Hats or anything else. Member Rita Bennett was recently chronicled in the Athens Banner-Herald's Oconee Living section , oh and a correction to the Oconee Enterprise, Oconee Living and longtime Athens Banner-Herald writer and editor Wayne Ford is not going to California, sorry Maridee and Miss Vinnie. Title: Blue Hats of Oconee Co. Democrats Date: Saturday April 12, 2008 Time: 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Repeats: This event repeats every month on the second Saturday until Saturday January 31, 2009. Next reminder: The next reminder for this event will be sent in 4 days, 2 minutes. Location: Krimson Kafe, Watkinsville, GA Street: 40 Greensboro Hwy City State Zip: Watkinsville, Georgia Notes: Discussion of important topic! Look for us to the left inside. Come early to eat lunch. PLEASE RSVP RITA BENNETT AT bonanzagirl@hotmail.com or 706-...

Slowly but surely the Creekside development of the cross section of Oconee, Oglethorpe and Clarke county in the Old Barnett (Shoals) Estates area inches forward, with cameras, traffic counters, surveying, et cetera near the old country club called Green Acres. Bill Paul and some supporters spoke with the Athens Banner-Herald reporter. The area in question is one of the last quaint quarters of the county, with even a few mailing addresses of that area of Oconee County called Arnoldsville. Paul's properties are on both sides of the county line for Clarke and Oconee if memory serves me correctly. He has done an amazing job restoring some old structures and an even better job organizing opposition to the proposed development. Meanwhile the Oconee County Democratic Committee continues to chug along almost unnoticed in their regular monthly meetings in the mainstream media of the three local newspapers. I suppose I can take discredit for that slip-up. I need to let them all know the n...