Oconee County, GA Politics

Brian Brodrick sent this link my way. A very special lady friend of mine eats there all the time to celebrate her closing on a house, etc. I would urge everyone to descend on Watkinsville Saturday for the annual Fall Festival. The national champion UGA Gym Dawgs of soon-to-be-retiring in two seasons Suzanne Yoculan will be there 10 am-12 noon but somehow I do not expect them to be performing routines on School Street. The Oconee County Democratic Committee is having a yard sale adjacent to the goings on at Rocket Field. It will be interesting to see if Bobby Saxon shows up after evidently cleaning house with his campaign staff. Any rumor mongers out there have any knowledge of what is up on that score?

In a story much better written than the tripe I churned out for the Banana Herald editorial writer contest, the Oconee County Planning Commission recommended approval of the YWCO's massive plans for recreational expansion near Butler's Crossing. This is a very savvy move by the YWCO by shifting sites slowly and making sure they are doing things right as much as possible in both Oconee and Clarke counties. Obviously I am biased toward Oconee County, but I also realize the symbiotic relationship both counties have in more areas than just soccer and tennis. The comments of John Gentry, the head of the Oconee County Recreation Department, were very smart and well crafter and he is to be commended for running the department as well as it has been in quite some time. The YWCO offers a lot of choices in terms of sports and after school activities for kids and parents. In a slightly related matter, if you are available Sunday from 2 to 3 pm and want to enjoy some talented soccer b...

So writes Don Nelson and recommends the Oconee County Planning Commission. Seems like I remember something about a hotel being built next to the horribly named Oconee County Community Complex a few years back which evidently fell through. Where would you like to stay while you are here? Let's just make sure they are on a safe sanitary sewer and not leaching in a huge septic tank doo-doo field. There is still lots of wheeling and dealing with the Oconee County Planning Commission and not the least bit of controls on conflicts of interests, appearances of conflicts of interests, buying lavish dinners for planners, free trips, good ol' boy backroom dealings and what not. Time to rope them back in with similar controls to what are already on the books in Clarke County. We need a real visionary community-driven comprehensive planning map for 40 or 50 years in the future around here before Oconee County suddenly becomes Snellville. Oconee County should take another clue from Watki...

Regardless of how the Oconee County Board of Commissioners chooses to deal or not deal with beer and wine pouring in restaurants outside the municipality of Watkinsville, we will finally have a real Taco Stand at Butler's Crossing in early 2008. A lease was finally signed recently. The Taco Stand is as beloved an Athens institution as any restaurant. This location will be packed with basketball and soccer families coming to and from various events at North Oconee, Oconee County, Athens Academy, Westminster and Prince Avenue Christian schools. Good luck to co-owner Mark Marchant and the new Oconee County location of the Taco Stand opening maybe in mid-January 2008. Should be ready by Super Bowl Sunday - my 45th birthday - February 3 if all goes well with the build out (here's to hoping there are no problems or punch lists persisting past Christmas). Here is an excellent example of adaptive reuse that everyone can get behind. Glad to see that another choice for finer fast food...

This pretty much sums up the contempt that the Governors of the four Southern States have for the working media and bloggers. They will be down yonder in Greene County on the shores of the shriveling Lake Oconee not worrying about the water crisis or anything important.

Although there were a few skirmishes round these parts, I always look forward to hearing about the War of Northern Aggression, the War Between the States, the Civil War (and the uncivilized war) not to mention WEIRD GEORGIA. THE OCONEE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY INVITES YOU TO GEORGIA CIVIL WAR AND WEIRDNESS A BOOK SIGNING AND TALK BY JIM MILES TUESDAY OCTOBER 30TH 7PM OCONEE COUNTY LIBRARY

We're on for another movie night! Come join other Democrats from Oconee and Clarke County as we get together to see and discuss the film "A Crude Awakening" this Wednesday, October 17th, at 7:15 at Ciné in Athens. This 2006 Swiss movie about dwindling oil stocks has been described as "compelling, intelligent, and highly entertaining." Meet at 7 inside the theater, located at 234 W. Hancock. Our movie nights are a good opportunity to see thought-provoking movies, meet new friends, and support our fine arthouse cinema! Our monthly book group also meets this week -- on Thursday at 6:30 at Five Points Deli on Epps Bridge Parkway. We'll be discussing Thomas Frank's "What's the Matter with Kansas?" a book one writer described as "the true story of how conservatives punk'd a nation." Hope to see you! Pat Priest Oconee County Democrats

These are the stories you will not hear, read or see in the Mainstream Media

MINUTES OF MEETING OF MAYOR AND COUNCIL CITY OF WATKINSVILLE October 10, 2007 PRESENT: Mayor Luken, Council members Purcell, Brodrick, Walsh, Walter and City Attorney Reitman ABSENT: Council man Link VISITORS: See attached sheet. QUORUM CHECK: Mayor Luken acknowledges a quorum is present. All speakers are asked to approach the lectern and address Council. Mayor Luken commends Councilman Brodrick on his recognition as one of the 40 under 40 of Georgia’s Best and Brightest in the Georgia Trend Magazine. Mayor Luken further appreciates the accomplishments of all council members as he gives a highlight report of the activities over the past year. MINUTES: Councilwoman Purcell moved and Councilman Brodrick seconded the motion to approve the minutes of the September 12, 2007 Council meeting as presented. Motion carried unanimously. RUSSELL RHODES: Councilman Walsh moved and Councilman Walter seconded the motion to approve a business license for A Rhodeside Plumbing at 1020 Stone Shoals Ter...

This article in Time magazine may be an indicator of things yet to come

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky's office leaked the home office of 12-year-old Graeme Frost in Kentucky. This boy woke up out of a coma not long ago and suddenly became the latest symbol of Republican greed and selfishness by speaking for the Democratic party in last week's radio address about the S-CHIP legislation expanding insurance coverage to the lower middle class (quickly disappearing thanks to the economic foolishness of the GOP). Now the right wing water carriers are attacking the kid and his family over every thing from their counter tops to the schools they attend. Give it a break GOP. You have met your match on this one. You can smear Cindy Sheehan and let Rush condemn phony soldiers and countless others, but this one is going to blow up even more in your face.

This is the first common sense thing the Bush Administration has contemplated in a long time.

The Watkinsville City Council passed the beer and wine pouring licenses for the five outstanding restaurants inside the city limits and all of them are maybe three blocks apart on Main Street. The newest kid on the block is called Mirko's Pasta at 2 S. Main Street and this restaurant could give DePalma's a run for their money as far as fresh pasta and good service. They took over the spot where a Quizno's once was a few weeks back in the Town Center development at 2 South Main Street, Suite 101. The owner is named Mirko Digiacomantonio but a gentleman named Stefano appeared before the city council pleading for new employees only half jokingly. They have been very busy and packed since opening a week ago Friday. Kenneth Gautreau resubmitted his license application for the Cajun restaurant which bears his name. Anne Miller-Anderson did the same for Maison Bleu. Both lost loved ones who ran their respective restaurants in the last calendar year. Marta Dean appeared for Jos...

I do not take pleasure at our government's ineptitude. I know President Clinton had chances to take care of Bin Laden more than a decade ago. I wrote a paper in a class at UGA two decades ago pointing out Al-Qaeda's threat to the US. But this is inexcusable.

There are more of these at Spotted . Thanks to Catherine Hodges for taking these photos.

The following was pilfered from RecoveringLiberal.com via Craig's List. It is written from a Hebrew point of view about Larry Craig and cohorts. Both parties have had their share of sleazy activities articulated in many more places than this. Believe nothing on the internet unless you know it to be true. That got me thinking about other Republican holier than thou folks who might be in the same boat. I asked a friend to do a bit of research on that subject, and here is the list that he put together; Republican County Constable Larry Dale Floyd was arrested on suspicion of soliciting sex with an 8-year old girl. Floyd has repeatedly won elections for Denton County, Texas, constable. Republican judge Mark Pazuhanich of Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania pled no contest to fondling a 10-year old girl and was sentenced to 10 years probation. Republican Party leader Bobby Stumbo of Floyd County, Kentucky was arrested for having sex with a 5-year old boy. Republican teacher and former city cou...

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The Democratic Party needs to enunciate the positive alternatives to the Republican culture of corruption and not just line up like sheep behind the latest Clinton brand of political washing machine soap to clean out the sleaze of GOP cronyism. Locally this could be best formulated with comprehensive smart growth planning for our rapidly growing county. The perception is that development drives our economy. We need to connect our communities, build more sidewalks, make it safe for Johnny to ride a bike to school. Right now Oconee County is nothing more than a gathering of semi-secluded neighborhood subdivisions which keeps up apart. Sewer systems are not available outisde of Watkinsville. The roads are entirely too narrow in most of our municipalities. Our schools are not the least bit connected for jogging, biking, skating or walking. We need to plan more and build less, unless it is bike paths or sidewalks. There are some good subdivisions and development that seem to come fro...