Oconee County, GA Politics

Dear Concerned Oconee County Citizen, As you, I am sure, are aware, Oconee County is currently in the process of revising its Land Use Plan. I need not remind you of the importance of this plan to the quality of our lives and the livability of our community. It is this plan by which we will grow and develop. Though the county has appointed a number of citizens to help put this plan together, the presence of this committee does not prevent all interested citizens from being involved. All citizens are invited and encouraged to come to committee meetings and will be provided opportunities for input. Though the county posts the dates of the committee meetings on its web page and in the Enterprise, we often tend to over look these notices. For this reason I am sending all my friends and acquaintances the dates for upcoming Comprehensive Land Use Plan Development Committee meetings. Please come voice your concerns and opinions. Hope to see you there. Mary Mellein May 15 – Citizens I...

Anyone (except 3 BOC members and most of the Planning Commission) with a little bit of foresight and knowledge would quickly realize the curvy Daniells Bridge Road cut-through will see a hundred fold traffic increase with each new massive development thoughtlessly shoved down our throat. At least it looks like a traffic light is going into where it meets Experiment Station Road - most Gainesville State College kid drivers know this traffic route now. I wrote the preceeding paragraph but I got the rest of this from Lee Becker via Charlie Baugh. Citizens for Oconee's Future, Inc. P. O. Box 1301 Watkinsville, GA 30677 Following is a message from Lee Becker with information about a rezone on Daniells Bridge Road. More of the same, rezones creating more traffic on narrow unsafe roads. Just another step in our march toward "Developed Land". Those directly impacted by this may want to let our elected decision makers know of your concerns. Charles Baugh Dear Neighbors: As ...

Thanks to Charlie Baugh for this about Sheriff Scott Berry grandiose grey bar motel: Citizens for Oconee's Future, Inc. P. O. Box 1301 Watkinsville, GA 30677 Following is the agenda for the 4/17/07 Board of Commissioners meeting. Reckon the Sheriff's contract to house out of county prisoners will cover the cost of housing a prisoner in our new jail? Those who attended the BOC meetings where the jail was discussed will remember that we needed the jail because the old jail was inadequate to house our prisoners. Now we are out drumming up business to put prisoners in the beds and feed them well. Some will also remember the Sheriff stating the state does not pay enough to cover the cost of housing a prisoner. Let's hope the Sheriff sets a high rate for his new hotel. Charles Baugh AGENDA BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF OCONEE COUNTY, GEORGIA Tuesday, April 17, 2007 Commission Meeting Chambers Oconee County Courthouse 7:00 p.m...

Hmmm, which one will I do? 70% chance of rain.... Dear Fellow Dems, Please come to our Voter Registration meeting on Saturday, April 14th! 10 am 337 Milledge Ave, Butler Building Park in the back. Come in the back door. Follow the signs. We need every one of you! For more information, contact Barbara A. Sims 10th Congressional District Chair at simsba1969@aol.com In today's Athens Banner Herald paper: Dems plan training for registration drive and breakfast The Clarke County Democratic Committee will train volunteers Saturday to register voters for the upcoming 10th Congressional District special election June 19. The organizational meeting will be held at The Butler Building, 337 S. Milledge Ave., beginning at 10 a.m., and is open to all Democrats who live in the district. Democrats also have scheduled a breakfast with Athens lawmakers at 8 a.m. April 28 at the University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education. State Reps. Doug McKillip and Keith Heard are expected to review...

Ever have a mosquito buzzing around your ear? You keep trying to swat it.......and trying...........and trying..........but it just keeps buzzing around waiting for its chance to suck your blood. Leaving you with an ugly bump that itches and irritates long after the mosquito is gone. Well our mosquito is back once more. Take a look at the front page of this week's Oconee Enterprise. Mr. Francis Williams has filed suit against the BOC for its denial of his rezone request for the corner of US441 and Branch Road. I only have time for a quick email since I am heading out the door for a weekend meeting in North Carolina. I'll be back in touch early next week. While a unanimous denial of this rezone by the BOC would on its surface appear to mean that they are willing to stand by this decision, even if sued, this may not be the case. This BOC has a history of arranging out-of-court settlements. Such settlements are another cause we must stand up and fight against. We, the citize...

Long Drive Shootout & Junior clinic Part of Tournament Week Activities Nationwide Tour Players and Host Pro swing for Bragging Rights ATHENS, Ga., April 9, 2007 – Tiger Woods may be the number one ranked player in the world with millions per year in earnings, but he would be only tied for 96th on the Nationwide Tour in terms of driving distance. Local sports fans will have the opportunity to see some of this power displayed firsthand as some of the Nationwide Tour’s biggest hitters tee it up in a long drive competition prior to the upcoming Athens Regional Foundation Classic (ARFC). In addition, local youth will have the opportunity to learn how to hit the long ball from several of the pros following the competition in the annual ARFC junior clinic. Taking place on Tuesday, April 17th beginning at 4:00 p.m. at Jennings Mill Country Club (JMCC), five Nationwide Tour Players and JMCC host professional Larry James will battle it out for bragging rights. Southern Broadcasting’s 960...

HELP! We have fallen, and we are about to get up! Dear Democrats in the 10th Congressional District of Georgia, Now is our chance! We?ve been asking for it. We have a wonderful opportunity to put a good Democrat in Congress representing our interests! What an exciting day that will be! The Democratic Party of Georgia (DPG) and the Voter Registration (VR) Committee have targeted Athens-Clarke County as the key to the 10th. We feel if we get our old faithful and new faithful to simply vote on June 19th, 2007 we can take this seat from the Republicans. Wow! That does not give us much time! The last day to register to vote is May 21, 2007. *********The DPG VR Committee is holding a get-started meeting in Athens on this Saturday, April 14th at 10am. 337 S Milledge Ave (Butler Bldg). *********** We want YOU there! We want every good Democrat to get involved! If you are a good Democrat, a member of your County Democratic Party, the State Committee or Executive Committee of the DPG, League of ...

Candidate for 10th says UGA quip just 'a joke' Bomb the university? By Blake Aued | blake.aued@onlineathens.com | Story updated at 10:41 PM on Saturday, April 7, 2007 State Sen. Jim Whitehead's 2004 comment about doing away with the University of Georgia was a bad joke that was blown out of proportion, the congressional candidate said Friday. Whitehead, a UGA graduate and 10th Congressional District candidate, was quoted by an Elberton newspaper saying that the university is "a bunch of liberals," adding that, except for the football team, someone ought to bomb it. The Evans Republican made light of the comment Friday while campaigning in Athens. Whitehead said he "popped off" during a meeting with Elbert County officials at a woman who cited UGA economists while criticizing him over austerity cuts to the state budget in 2004. "It was a joke," he said. "The next time, before I do that, when I don't know the town, I'm going ...

Here is our best chance to win back the 10th: James Marlow to Kickoff Campaign for Georgia 's Tenth Congressional District on Tuesday, April 3 Campaign Stops in Lincolnton, Evans, Toccoa, ATHENS ( Athens ) James Marlow will kickoff his campaign for Georgia 's Tenth Congressional District in his hometown of Lincolnton at the Lincoln County Courthouse on Tuesday, April 3, 2007 at 9:00 a.m. Marlow will also make stops in Evans, Toccoa, and ATHENS. The Athens kick-off will occur at 4:45 PM tomorrow, at the Athens City Hall, 201 College Avenue. Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend. "I am running because I believe the Tenth District deserves to have a voice in Washington that will represent their values – a voice for better jobs, better health care, better schools, and fiscal responsibility," said Marlow. "I look forward to sharing my plans over the coming months for bringing innovative, common sense solutions to the people of the Tenth District." Addi...

Citizens for Oconee's Future, Inc. P. O. Box 1301 Watkinsville, GA 30677 Citizens Shortly after the Board of Commissioners vote on the grossly expensive reservoir project with Walton County I sent an e mail with the results and a promise for further information after having time to think about it for a while. Here is what I think about it. The voting majority of this Board made up of Davis, Norris and Luke is on a mission to fully develop this county no matter what the cost to quality of life for current residents. There is no way to change this policy without changing 3 votes. There is on {I think he meant no, although it could be one} way to change 3 votes without changing Davis, Norris and Luke for three with a more balanced policy. The current development policy will eventually directly impact every one of the 30,000 who live here now. It will do no good to fight each rezone proposal as long as the county "economic development" policy is to promote more ...

OK, so John Coyne owns property in 10th. The Orchard community is not my favorite place in Clarkesville. The fact that this candidate seems content to clone a couple of the more notorious GOP proposals does not inspire too much sympathy on this end. Here is his campaign piece via Laura Floyd Georgia's 10th Congressional District Democratic Candidate PO Box 191047 Atlanta GA 31119-1047 (404) 886-2430 Biography PERSONAL John Coyne is 56 years old and has five children and six grandchildren. He resides with his wife, Pamela, and son, Christopher, in Alpharetta, GA. I have been a property owner in The Orchard Community of Clarkesville for almost ten years. EDUCATION John was born in Glen Ridge, New Jersey in 1950, graduated from Livingston High School in 1968, attended Essex County College in Newark, New Jersey where he studied engineering and was Captain of the Golf Team from 1968-1970. In 1970, he transferred to the University of Georgia and received a Bachelor of Science Degree ...

NOTICE TO PUBLIC The Watkinsville City Council will be holding a Called Council Meeting on Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 6:30 p.m. at the Watkinsville Community Center to discuss the following: AGENDA CITY OF WATKINSVILLE CALLED COUNCIL MEETING March 28, 2007 @ 6:30 p.m. QUORUM CHECK APPEARANCES 1. Dan Elder – building permit – 14’ x 85’ retail/office space – 10 N Main St., Ste A 2. Dan Elder – building permit – 14’ x 85’ retail/office space – 10 N Main St., Ste B 3. Industrial Mechanical – building permit – 130’ x 24’ office addition – 1241 Greensboro Hwy. 4. Oconee Ventures – building permit – 80’ x 120’ storage building – 1040 Business Blvd. 5. Nathan Mende – sign request appeal – NPR Ducati @ 1461 Greensboro Hwy. NEW BUSINESS 1. Consider Farmers Market Board Member. ADJOURN

A few years ago there was a big uproar here in Oconee County because the Board of Commissioners would not let Oconee County, Georgia residents vote on whether or not to have alcohol in our restaurants. Ultimately we did get another referendum (which was defeated) but several members of the BOC were sacrified along way. Watkinsville is now serving beer and wine in restaurants (thanks to a 3-to-2 vote in the City Council) and the world continues to turn. Now the GOP bigwigs in the Statehouse have decided that local community control is something they do not want , and Georgia remains one of three states left in the United State of America where local communities can not decide whether they want to have alcohol served in restaurants on Sundays. Republicans often preach about local control, but when it comes to practicing what they preach, it seems this is out of the reach of those in control in Atlanta. Why not give local city and towns the right to decide whether or not beer or wine wil...

The five announced Democratic candidates for the 10th District US Congress special election in Georgia for Dr. Charlie Norwood's seat appeared before a packed house in the fourth floor of the Athens - Clarke County courthouse Thursday evening. People came from Oconee, Habersham, Madison and other counties as well. Denise Freeman found a new friend in me. This lady is incredibly impressive. She needs to visit white churches as much as possible between now and June 19th. She might surprise more than a few people. She has the most votes against Norwood in a previous election 2000. She lives in Lincolnton and knows the district well. She is a Baptist minister. She could be our Heath Shuler but more likely our Barack Obama. She resonates positive energy although she might be a little fuzzy on the wonky details of how she might tweak Charlie Norwood's now languishing patient bill of rights, at least according to Tim Bryant's talk show this morning on Newstalk 1340 WGAU AM Jim Ma...

I know it is late notice, but the four announced Democratic candidates have been invited to tonight's Clarke County Democratic meeting at 6 pm at the Courthouse in Athens if you are interested in attending and listening to Denise Freeman, James Marlow, Terry Holley and a gentleman from Rabun Gap named Jeff Reynolds. Marlow has hired Charlie Bailey as his campaign manager and this former Yahoo marketing exec will have a campaign HQ at the Butler building in Athens on Milledge.

Karen Solheim sent me an email announcing that the four announced Democratic candidates for the 10th district Congressional Special Election Thursday. I thought there was only two, Terry Holley and Evita Paschall, but now former Yahoo executive Jim Marlow of Lincoln County and a guy from Rabun Gap named Jeff Reynolds. So here is her reply to me. I have the four Dem candidates as Terry Holley and Denise Freeman: 706-359-2232 e-mail: freemanforcongress@hotmail.com James Marlow: 404-841-7181 e-mail: james.marlow@yahoo.com Jeff Reynolds: 706-982-1253 e-mail: jreynolds@rabungap.com Karen

I think Ralph Hudgens must have been reading the blogs or at least the tea leaves indicating he had no chance in Hell of winning the Special Election for Dr. Charlie Norwood's seat in the US Congress. Maybe this will spur Brian Kemp or Doc Eldridge to drop their hats in the ring, so we are back down to 10 candidates (nine announced) for the June 19th race. Hudgens has too much baggage from his malapportionment boondoggle of Athens-Clarke County a year ago plus.

Please spread the word! From: Purcell, Samantha [mailto:spurcell@walton.k12.ga.us] Sent: Thursday, March 08, 2007 11:03 AM To: Mark Campbell; kmcq13@yahoo.com; Jan.Smith@georgiacenter.uga.edu; John McNally; Brian Brodrick Subject: 10:00 - 12:00 Watkinsville City Council Clean Up Day March 24 Please spread the word that we will be meeting at Rocket Field on March 24th. We will give volunteers predetermined routes to clean. It would work well if volunteers cleaned routes near where they live and work. John, can Oconee Clean and Beautiful help us out? We need orange trash bags. Do you know where we can get them free? Your group could count this as part of the Keep Oconee Clean and Beautiful Campaign. Give me a call 769-2788 or my cell 706-338-3838. Thanks for everyone’s support of the city! Sam

The Landowners Meeting on March 15, 2007 at 7:00 PM in the Oconee County Library Auditorium will be the kick off meeting for the Oconee Partnership for Farmland Protection 2007 Program. Please help to reach all those who might be interested in protecting their farm with an Agricultural Conservation Easement, or those who might benefit from the considerable federal and state tax incentive programs. It will be an educational meeting which can help any landowner see the value in protecting their land, and see how they can benefit from putting a conservation easement on their land. Those who are interested in protecting their land for "Agriculture", for a "River Walk", for "Open Space", or just for land conservation purposes should attend this meeting. See the letter below from Russ Page. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Oconee Partnership for Farmland Protection 1201 Sunset ...

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