Oconee County, GA Politics

Watkinsville was nailed from two different directions with spontaneous summer storms. Some said inline winds, others said tornado, some thought wind shear. The damage to the trees was on both sides of the street in this gullywasher. My neighbor Tom Gwinn said it came in two bursts from different directions right at five o clock Thursday. I came upon a fire department truck working on a house struck by lightning at 1041 Taylor's Drive in Taylors Landing in the subdivision next to mine. Many limbs were down, trampolines blown away and basketball goals knocked over by the wind. Here are some photos.

As Georgia residents suffer through a record heat wave, everyone needs to think about how to cut down on energy usage to prevent brown-outs and to avoid the need for building more power plants. Ordinary light bulbs, for example, waste a lot of energy as heat, and that heat makes our air conditioning work harder. The basic design of the incandescent bulb has changed very little since Thomas Edison’s day. As the need for energy efficiency becomes more urgent because of rising energy costs and the threat of global climate change, one technology is looking especially bright: LED lighting. LED, which stands for light-emitting diode, leapfrogs even compact fluorescents in its efficiency. LED lights are expensive upfront, but they are vastly more efficient, are cooler, contain no mercury, and last up to a whopping 100,000 hours. The Oconee County Democrats are sponsoring a free presentation about this promising new technology on Sunday, August 26, at 7 PM at the Oconee County Library on Exper...

Oconee County residents may have more recreation choices in the near future after YWCO took the tender first steps toward an intended expansion by announcing the purchase of a large tract of property in near Butler's Crossing across from Briarwood Baptist Church on Hog Mountain Road (State Route 53)near Oconee County High School. The property in questions has been the subject of a rezone application before the Oconee County Planning Department before the recent deadline for the next meeting, but has yet to be accepted. The YWCO would like to build a fitness and aquatic center targeting the needs of families and seniors, according to a recent press release. "We have discussed this expansion for several years and believe that our mission and abilities will well serve the need(s) of Oconee County," said Dave Hudgins, YWCO Board President. Many Oconee County residents already utilize the YWCO through its fitness center, summer day camp program, daycare and aquatics program....

Oconee County residents may have more recreation choices in the near future after YWCO took the tender first steps toward an intended expansion by announcing the purchase of a large tract of property in near Butler's Crossing across from Briarwood Baptist Church on Hog Mountain Road near Oconee County High School. The property in questions has been the subject of a rezone application before the Oconee County Planning Department before the recent deadline for the next meeting, but has yet to be accepted. The YWCO would like to build a fitness and aquatic center targeting the needs of families and seniors, according to a recent press release. "We have discussed this expansion for several years and believe that our mission and abilities will well serve the need(s) of Oconee County," said Dave Hudgins, YWCO Board President. Many Oconee County residents already utilize the YWCO through its fitness center, summer day camp program, daycare and aquatics program. Just exactly wh...

In the wake of Dr. Paul Broun's win over Jim Whitehead for Congress, suddenly something seismically changed in the political power structure around here. Within a period of less than a half an hour, I conversed politely with local Republican leaders Melvin Davis (Board of Commissioners chairman) and Jim Luke (Board of Commissioners and former Planning Commission member) and had State Representative Bob Smith shake hands with me and ask me about my soccer playing son in Publix. I was astonished, but they all know we vote as well, sometimes with our noses held, and do occasionally have to vote G.O.P. in dire circumstances. Melvin made some feeble excuse for his vote on the Barnett Shoals rezone about a 30,000 square foot lots adjacent to the development as why he cast the vote to break the tie. Jim Luke, who voted against it, made it clear he is a property rights person "as long as it is reasonable" but also thumped his chest from the planning commission days about sidewalk...

I think we should urge these three folks to run for the Board of Commissioners in the next election, except that I think one of the BOC now staggered terms slots coming up next is Chuck Horton. The following are from emails from Dr. Anthony Glenn, Charles Baugh and Lee Becker, heroes all for attempting to engineer a little opposition to the development stampede so willing to stamp any corner of the county clean of pesky woods, trees, tranquility, clean water, river banks, archeology and historic areas. Morning folks, As many of you know by now, the BOC approved the rezone request for the construction of a 196-lot subdivision next to Creekside Country Club on Old Barnett Shoals Road. There were many solid arguments against this development, and most centered on the reasonable idea that the density of the development was too high for the area. Concerns were even disclosed over whether the bridge crossing the Oconee River on Barnett Shoals Road was structurally sound enough to support t...

The recent Oconee County Board of Commissioners vote to approve the Barnett Shoals Estates development on Barnett Shoals Road does not bode well for that tranquil corner of the county. This is an area where development has essentially escaped until recent attempts to cram a development on an area where Indians once gathered some 4,000 years ago. The BOC voted to ignore a private architect report on the possible potential historic significance and instead exponentially increase traffic in the area. A group of residents from Clarke, Oconee and Oglethorpe counties have come together to try and battle the development were successful in getting the Planning Commission to recommend denial, but the Board of Commissioners voted to approve with Chairman Melvin Davis making the tie-breaking vote . Commissioners Luke and Horton voted against it, Margaret Hale and Don Norris voted for it. I should have lobbied Hale and her husband harder at Uncle Floyd's car show last First Friday in Watkinsv...

Last night the Watkinsville City Council started the long process of considering the sale of beer and wine at the city's two or three stores. These sales, known as package sales, were introduced by council members John Walsh and Samantha Purcell. Immediately council members Brian Brodrick and Mike Link spoke out against the measure to allow a couple of convenience stores to sell beer and wine. Keep in mind it is already legal to buy beer and wine at stores outside the city limits of Watkinsville in Oconee County. This leaves city council member Joe Walter as the deciding vote on this contentious issue. There will be forthcoming workshops and public input at various, much like the process the city went through last year to decide to allow beer and wine sales in restaurants. I hope Walter supports the idea of Purcell and Walsh. Sam wants to attract a new grocery store to town. I am sure the local churches will be in opposition once again. Police Chief Lee O'Dillon said to me h...

I would bet a large percentage of the 500 people who signed the petition opposed to restaurants serving beer and wine in Oconee County have already eaten at one of the four restaurants in Watkinsville where it is already legal. Does this make them hypocrites? No, it would just make them patrons of Girasoles, Maison Bleu, Floyd's Grill or Gautreux's restaurants. The petition signers do not want the Oconee County Board of Commissioners to even consider whether or not restaurants may serve beer and wine to their customers. This is downright unconstitutional in terms of government responding to constituents business requests and suppressing popular support with a few hundred whiners not wanting wine and brew served to restaurant patrons in Oconee County, Georgia. This close minded effort recalls the opposite direction movement of the "Let Us Vote" stickered crowd when the County Commissioners would not consider a referendum for alcohol several years ago. This essentially...

Having just returned from a long weekend vacation to the northern Iowa lake country near Okoboji, I went through Minneapolis twice and had a friend come down from Duluth traversing over that now collapsed bridge to pick me up at airport. This makes one realize that airlines losing luggage means nothing in the grand scheme of thing. My prayers are with the families in Minnesota. It was remarkable that there was not more carnage on a much grander scale, and I suppose it is a testimony to our survival skills that relatively speaking so few people perished. The TV coverage was initially eerily similar to that of 9/11/01 in terms of the not being able to look away from the train wreck type of fixation. I stayed glued to MSNBC last night with Dan Abrams and Keith Olbermann making a nice alternative to CNN's Wolf Blitzer until about 11 before I went to bed without my usual Daily Show fix. Donate some blood, money or time to the Red Cross or your favorite disaster relief agency. I found i...

If there is anything voters in the 10th district should get upset about, this would be it. More Republican duplicity and sleaze; Whitehead whines his way to a recount while having the Norwood fundraisers raking in the dough on Lake Oconee. I am glad that the voters of the 10th district decided to go another route and elect Paul Broun. At least we have a Congressman from Oconee County, Georgia in Washington, DC looking out for our local interests. Nothing that Whitehead did or say ever encouraged any confidence he would work for this end of the district. The Medical College of Georgia is not leaving Augusta. The Navy School sight will become a satellite campus. We need new doctors. Quit your whining, Mr. Whitehead, get back to selling tires. Conceding graciously would be woefully out of character so I suppose it is too much to expect from the Evans former state senator. Some narrow minded people complained about Broun soliciting funds before Norwood died, but I find the Norwood fundrai...

Oconee County business man and one time Georgia GOP honcho Jim Ivey is employing a new attorney and strategy in his indefensible crime of embezzling money from the Veterans Fund for a memorial at the new Oconee County Community Complex across from Herman C. Michael Park. According to this story in the ABH (registration required) the new lawyer Kim Stephens wants to move the trial out of county because he could not receive a fair trial locally. If anything, he would receive a more fair and balanced trial here because some local people know this man, know what he stands for, knowns how he lived way beyond his means. District Attorney Ken Mauldin and Defense Attorney Stephens would try to strike jurors who did not subscribe to a particular political philosophy, in my amateur attorney attempt at prophesy of a trial that may or may not start around Thanksgiving. I give thanks that Mauldin stopped the shut down of the Sexual Assault Center here, took the time to get the case worked well ...

Another squeaker for the Doctor from Oconee County. I wonder how long it has been since we have had a sitting Congressman who lives here. Congrats to Dr. Broun on his narrow evident victory and I hope he does good things for our area. The big losers besides Whitehead are Jeff Emanuel of Peach Pundit, State Representative Bob Smith and Senator Bill Cowsert and well as future Ralph Hudgins opponent Brian Kemp. Winners include Jeannette Jamison of Toccoa.

This article captures the current congressional race rather well from a national perspective. I would strongly urge everyone to vote for Broun if you vote at all as a protest vote to Whitehead's anti-Athens attitude.

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...

Concerts on the Lawn Presents The Packway Handle Band POSTPONED DUE TO BAD WEATHER Reschedule date will be: Wednesday July 4th, 2007 Dondero’s menu has changed a little: Lemon & fresh herb roasted chicken breast with fruited sauce, Red, white, & blue potato salad, Gourmet cole slaw, Corn bread, Raspberry jam bar $12 Whole apple pies: $14.50 Slice of apple pie: $3 *Please call them directly to make any changes on your meals and to *speak with them regarding information on today’s meals* Ph 706-389-7955 (Email: donderoskitchen@bellsouth.net) The Packway Handle Band Originating in Athens, Georgia in 2001, the Packway Handle Band is a solid and innovative bluegrass quintet. Their energetic performances are composed of tight three and four part harmonies, original works, and entertaining covers from bands such as The Cars, Talking Heads, Violent Femmes, and Stevie Wonder. They are currently on tour in Colorado, but will be heading back to the south to perform in the 7th Annua...

The Oconee County Democratic Committee has adopted a stretch of the Oconee Connector to call its own and have to respond by picking up the garbage dropped by others. Here are the particulars for those interested in helping them out: Oconee Dems Road Cleanup, 6/30/2007, 9:00 am Reminder from: oconee Yahoo! Group Title: Oconee Dems Road Cleanup Date: Saturday June 30, 2007 Time: 9:00 am - 9:00 am Location: Oconee Connector/Mars Hill between Hwy 316 & Brookwood Drive Phone: 706-353-8310 Notes: Meet/park at fire station on Oconee Connector just off Hwy 316; bring gloves; safety vests and bags will be provided!