Oconee County, GA Politics

I think Cindy has done an amazing job in her tenure. She will be missed. She deserves a portrait. Sincerely, Dan Matthews Sent: Tuesday, June 20, 2017 4:10 PM To: danmatt@hotmail.com Subject: Announcing the Upcoming Departure of the Oconee Cultural Arts Foundations' Executive Director --> --> Announcing the Upcoming Departure of the  Oconee Cultural Arts Foundations' Executive Director Cindy Farley, Executive Director of the Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation has announced that she will be leaving her position by the end of October. Ms Farley has served as the Executive Director since January of 2014. During Ms Farley's tenure as Executive Director, OCAF has grown in membership from 412 members at the end of 2013 to 624 members at the end of May of this year. Under the leadership of Ms Farley, OCAF has experienced growth in participation f...

Report: 2 Georgia state officials resign after party  Something tells me they will not be at the concert Saturday in Sanford Stadium

Mark Melvin Resigns As Oconee's Deputy Fire Chief

There has been a lot of anger and acrimony at North Oconee High School this year, and it is not because the football team did not win the State Title. The Oconee Enterprise newspaper reported it quite poorly this evening, somehow equating the five deaths of fathers of students and a recent suicde as fueling the controversy. Guess what? Dads die every day. It does not make the heads of school turn in their resignations. However the death of a student certainly does not make one want to stick around. What does make administrators decide they no longer want to work at a school? The lack of cooperation and respect of the teachers and employees. The parents taking their kids out of the newest school in the county. The students not wanting to say hello to the Principal when they walk down the hallway. I have not been inside North Oconee during the school day to accurately gauge, yet alone trace the reasons for, the anger and hostility toward Mr. Lollis. I have heard from the parents and...

Town of North High Shoals 108 Jefferson Road High Shoals, Ga. 30645 Jeff. D. Thomas Mayor November 16, 2009 Dear Council and Citizens of the Town of North High Shoals: After eighteen plus years of arduous service as mayor of North High Shoals, I have come to the decision that my presence is no longer desired or required. I have remained steadfast to the last concerning my duties, but I now feel that valor and devotion can accomplish nothing that will compensate for the loss of time to my family that would attend the continuance of my services. I will take with me the satisfaction that proceeds from a consciousness of duty faithfully performed; and I earnestly pray that a Merciful God will extend to this council and the citizens of this town His blessings and protection. With an unceasing admiration for the constancy and devotion to this city shown forth by the many town councils which I have presided over, and with a grateful remembrance of your kind and generous ...

It is time to ask the Oconee County Board of Commissioners for the resignation of County Attorney Daniel Haygood. His performance during this entire episode has been reprehensible. The duty of the County Attorney is not to keep secrets from the people that he serves. Outgoing Oconee County Commissioner Don Norris did us all a favor by letting his true feelings known in the recent interview with the Athens Banner-Herald's Adam Thompson. It is time to make our feelings known in each and every meeting with the Oconee County Board of Commissioners. I do not think these people are actively in conspiracy with developers to deny the Oconee County citizenry any information, however their tactics suggest a contempt for any attempt at getting documents, news and facts to the people about how government does and does not work for some of the people most of the time. On Lee Becker's website he clearly explains the myriad of reasons why Haygood should be discharged immediately in his most...

No, the Mayor Jeff Thomas did not resign at last night's meeting. He apparently did ask the city attorney what the best time would be during the Monday. City Council member B.J. Ivie did offer his resignation in an apparent attempt at some sort of de-certification due to a lack of quorum. Council member Steve Holzman is working on posting audio of the fractious session. Expect more soon from him at Small Town Politics - North High Shoals soon. Expect Fred Johnston and Violet Dawe to do something to try and mitigate these circumstances. North High Shoals is nothing if not entertaining. Here is where the tape recorded audio is. This is not official minutes.

Very few municipalities have been as amusing or shrouded in mystery and controversy as that of Bogart, Georgia. I have not been to a meeting for quite some time as the powers that be at the Banner-Herald have decided I am not worthy of reporting freelance stories (thanks Melissa and Wayne). Recently resigned Mayor Thomas "Tom" Peavey was always one to get up in former Mayor Jan Thurmond's face when it came to matters involving her son Bret or just about anything involving the softball facility or recreation department. I can recall Peavey going toe to toe with former residents such as Jack Hierholzer and former mayors such as Robin Hoag and city council members such as Woody Bruce over any number of personal and public topics. We can speculate all day long on why Peavey choose to resign but he never struck me as typical leadership material. Peavey seemed to be very blue collar type in a white collar job. I wish the municipality of Bogart well and interim Mayor Terri Glen...