Oconee County, GA Politics

There are also trainings going on in Bogart and Athens. Woven brightly, Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. Date: Sat, 10 Jan 2009 11:39:13 -0800 From: moveon-help@list.moveon.org To: danmatt@hotmail.com Subject: Your Congressional Action Training is tomorrow! Dear Dan, Thanks so much for signing up to attend a Congressional Action Training tomorrow! Across the country, over 9,000 MoveOn members are participating in these trainings. We've got a big year ahead of us, so we're getting together to learn the most effective strategies to influence Congress and make good on President-elect Obama's bold agenda for change. Here's the agenda for your training: Watch a new 20-minute training video on how to hold an effective meeting with a member of Congress Practice preparing for a congressional meeting. Role-play a congressional meeting and share feedback about how it went. Plan for our first actual visits to local congressional offices. (On We...

Please use at your availability. Thank you very much for your consideration. You may call 706-769-1131 with any questions. Cutline: Oconee Democrats beautify Oconee Connector along their Adopt-A-Road sign The Oconee County Democratic Committee members continued quarterly community service obligations for the sign along side the Oconee Connector Saturday with keeping the thoroughfare free of refuse for a few hours at least. From the fire station to the Presbyterian Church, every shred of debris was picked up along the mile-long stretch. The Democrats perform this duty as the party of the Adopt-A-Road program. New party chair Jonathan Veit not only took this photo but explained his goals for identifying candidates and expanding party membership for 2009 at their recent meeting with Tenth District chair R. Terry Holley at the Government Annex. The Democrats meet at 7:30 p.m. the first Thursday of the month in the government building on Greensboro Highway. Pictured along side the sign...

Here is where the training will take place Sunday Woven brightly, Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. Date: Fri, 9 Jan 2009 22:28:05 +0000 Subject: Thanks for signing up! To: danmatt@hotmail.com From: actiontraining@moveon.org Dear MoveOn member, Thanks for signing up for a MoveOn.org Political Action event. If you want to contact your host, please do not respond to this email. Instead, go to your event page: http://pol.moveon.org/event/events/attendees/index.html?event_id=86878&id=-1665952-aN8C0ux Here are the details of your event: Athens, GA Congressional Action Training Barrett Home 145 Deertree Drive Athens, GA 30605 Sunday, 11 Jan 2009, 2:00 PM We'll send you updates on the event -- please stay tuned. Thanks, --The MoveOn.org Political Action Team

This would be great for anyone thinking of seeking office. Woven brightly, Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2009 11:12:44 -0800 From: moveon-help@list.moveon.org To: Subject: Come to my training in Athens We're getting ready to talk to Congress!  can you come to my training on Sunday? Host: Ryan B.—fellow MoveOn member Where: Barrett Home (in Athens) When: Sunday, Jan. 11, 2009, at 2:00 PM What: MoveOn members in Athens are getting together to learn the most effective strategies for influencing Congress and get ready for our first visits to congressional offices! Can you make it to my Congressional Action Training? I can come Sorry, I can't make it this time. For more info and to find other events in your area, click here .   And don't worry, this email was sent through the MoveOn system, so your personal cont...

Well worth your participation. There may indeed be something in North High Shoals as well. Steve? Woven brightly, Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. To: oconee@yahoogroups.com From: becky@beckyvaughn.org Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2009 16:22:42 -0500 Subject: [oconee] Fwd: MLK Service project ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Carl McGrath < carlmcgrath@ yahoo.com > Date: Mon, Jan 5, 2009 at 3:35 PM Subject: To: Carl < CarlMcGrath@ yahoo.com > Hey, remember me from the campaign? Well, Felton Hudson and I have answered the call from Barack Obama to organize a service project on the MLK Holiday, Jan 19th. Since this is also the day before Inauguration, the activity can also serve to rally us together to begin our celebration of Barack Obama becoming President of the USA .   The service project will involve removing debris from a ravine in the Maple Circle Community in Greensboro.  To see a photo of the project si...

1. Miss Vinnie Williams 2. Rep. Bob Smith 3. Rich Rusk 4. Sheriff Scott Berry 5. G. Melvin Davis 6. Carl McGrath 7. Larry Davison 8. Jimmy Marbut 9. Peggy Holcomb 10. Zach Mettenberger 11. Brian Brodrick 12. Jim Luken 13. Suzanne Yoculan 14. Donald M. Leebern, Jr. 15. Burnell Brown 16. Jim Shearon 17. Jim Luke 18. Chuck Horton 19. Margaret Hale 20. Don Norris 21. Johnny Pritchett 22. Krimson Black 23. Henry Hibbs 24. Russ Page 25. Chuck Toney 26. Ashley Hood 27. Damon Evans 28. Samantha Purcell 29. Andy Landers 30. Anne Anderson 31. Wendell Dawson 32. Jim Marshall 33. Michael Mobley 34. Jay Hanley 35. Penny Mills 36. Doug Kilpatrick 37. Doug Dickens 38. Mark Marchand 39. Rob Peecher 40. Tony Glenn 41. Lee Becker 42. Kate McDaniel 43. Becky Vaughn 44. Kim Argo 45. Bob Smith the land planner 46. John McArhtur 47. Sara McArthur 48. Maridee Williams 49. Jonathan Veit 50. Mark Cooper Smith 51. Mario Castro 52. David Shearon 53. Dan Arnold 54. Chuck Williams 55. Bill Yarborough 56. Travis Ma...

Lee Becker simplifies the concept of contempt for the Oconee County Board of Commissioners for their seemingly ignoring the desire of constituents and instead caving to legal pressure to push forward with development in a neighborhood not needing or wanting a shopping center. ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Lee Becker < lbbecker@mindspring.com > Date: Wed, Jan 7, 2009 at 10:18 PM Subject: Rezones to Remember To: lbbecker@mindspring.com Dear Friends, I didn't intend to write anything about last night's BOC meeting, but it did leave an impression I've not been able to shake all day. Since the /Enterprise/ reporter left long before the votes on the second rezone had been taken, and the /Banner-Herald/ doesn't always cover the meetings (though a reporter was present last night), I decided to share a short report with those who are interested. Here's the teaser: The developer asked for a shopping center. The board approved an office park. No...

OK, first off, shame on the Oconee County Board of Commissioners for ruining LaVista Drive off Hwy. 441 in the small sliver of the Athens area of Oconee County near Athens Academy by approving the rezoning despite massive neighborhood opposition near the Chaddwyck subdivision for some ill-conceived grocery store chain, and I urge everyone to boycott this store once it is built some months from now. Second off, Acting Superintendent Jackson of the Oconee County Board of Education may be a fine man and decent administrator but the mere fact that he was at the helm during the Dickens gets to keep his job during softball state title while banging and stalking his former player scandal pretty much disqualifies him from consideration for the permanent position in my book. I hope the guy from Banks County does a good job. Third, go see an Oconee County Recreation Department basketball game now that the regular season has started. My son Lowell played very well in his opener Monday and even th...

Once again Lee Becker scoops the mainstream media with details of the environmental devastation that could be wrought by this massive development behind Lowe's at the By-Pass. Please consider writing the Georgia Environmental Protection Division to voice your opinion of the environmental impact of this development and the lack of wetlands set-asides in Oconee County. ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Lee Becker < lbbecker@mindspring.com > Date: Sun, Jan 4, 2009 at 11:15 PM Subject: Epps Bridge Centre Update To: lbbecker@mindspring.com Dear Friends, The Georgia Environmental Protection Division has given those interested in commenting on an application by the developer of the proposed Epps Bridge Centre until Jan. 19 to file statements about the environmental impact of the development. Developer Frank Bishop wants the state to set aside its requirements that streams on the site of the proposed development be protected by a 25-foot buffer. He wants to pipe a...

I will be coaching basketball at the time, but would strongly urge and forever be grateful if you would to help the local Democratic party pick up trash and cigarette butts from the side of the Oconee Connector next Saturday. Woven brightly, Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. Subject: [oconee] Adopt-a-Road clean up Jan. 10 The Oconee Democrats will clean up our adopted mile of the Oconee Connector/Mars Hill Road on Sat., Jan. 10, 2009. Meet at the Barber Creek Fire Station at 9:30 a.m. and bring a pair of work gloves (and empty aluminum cans for the firefighters' recycling project). Be sure not to park in front of the fire station's bay doors.   I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and a very happy new year! Sarajane Love __._,_.___

I listened to Tim Bryant talk to Rev. Marvin Nunnaly yesterday on his Newsmakers show and this sounds like an important gathering to start the New Year. I went to the recently expanded church for the Burnell Brown funeral last week and was extremely grateful for the Chief Lee O'Dillon and the Watkinsville Police Department for traffic assistance and helping people cross the busy Highway 441 extension at the church as we parked in front of Sunshine Cycles and Art Masters with the overflow crowd. Expect a packed house again tomorrow.

I listened to Tim Bryant talk to Rev. Nunnaly yesterday on his Newsmakers show and this sounds like an important gathering to start the New Year.

With recent residential transplant and Safe as Houses blogger Johnathan McGinty jumping the shark to Tondee's Tavern today, I nominate Lee Becker as Oconee Blogger of the Year. Here is just a little more from UGA PR prof Becker who helped battle the Oconee County government on any number of fronts, including the Barber Creek and numerous development skirmishes. ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Lee Becker < lbbecker@mindspring.com > Date: Tue, Dec 30, 2008 at 10:37 AM Subject: Update on Two Roadways To: lbbecker@mindspring.com Dear Friends, I've just posted a story on my blog about the twists and turns the Board of Commissioners went through to justify rezoning on Dec. 2 the piece of property just east of the blind curve on Daniells Bridge Road for an office building. What isn't so clear is why the Board wanted to make these twists and turns, though the hope for more development in the area seems to be a part of it. For details, go to my blog at ht...

The Department of Community Affairs ranked Oconee County as the most prosperous in the State of Georgia, with nearby Hancock as the poorest, according to an Associated Press article.

I echo the sentiments of the incoming First Lady Woven brightly, Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2008 11:19:12 -0500 To: danmatt@hotmail.com From: info@barackobama.com Subject: Happy holidays Obama for America Dan -- This holiday season, the grassroots movement you helped build can make a big difference for those in need. I hope you will join me in supporting your favorite charity or contributing to causes that are especially meaningful to me and my family. While many of us will spend the holidays counting our blessings and sharing dinner with loved ones, millions of people around the country won't be so fortunate. Donating to your local food bank will help provide a holiday meal to people in your community who can't afford one. Talking with the families of deployed troops was one of the most rewarding experiences I had during the campaign. Giving to Operation USO Care Package is a great way to send members of our military stationed around th...

La Parrilla opening restaurant Alonso Haro, owner of Mexican restaurant Taqueria La Parrilla in Homewood Village Shopping Center, will open a second location Monday. The new restaurant will be located in Watkinsville at 1431 Capital Ave. Unit 101 in the Market Center.

UGA PR prof and Oconee County Observations blogger Lee Becker once again scoops the mainstream media with details on the March 17 referendum allowing our illustrious and well educated voters to decide if we want to keep coming up with an extra penny for the next six years. -------- Original Message -------- Subject: SPLOST Vote Set Date: Sun, 21 Dec 2008 13:15:53 -0500 From: Lee Becker <lbbecker@mindspring.com> Reply-To: lbbecker@mindspring.com To: lbbecker@mindspring.com Dear Friends, The Oconee County Board of Commissioners has taken the final two steps needed to give voters a chance to decide to reduce local sales taxes by a penny on the dollar or to continue paying that tax for another six years. The Board has approved an intergovernmental agreement with the county's four cities and set the election for March 17, 2009. The county also ...

-------- Original Message -------- Subject: You're Invited! Date: Tue, 16 Dec 2008 22:58:22 -0500 From: Carl McGrath <carlmcgrath@yahoo.com> To: danjmatt@bellsouth.net Carl McGrath has sent you an invitation to 'Health Care Community Discussion' -- click here to view the invitation and submit your response: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gptkpf

The funniest moment of the Jim Shearon party for me was when I laughed so hard I cried during the Effie's Club Burlesque routine where Vice President Dick Cheney and President George Bush put on a particularly energetic dance routine which ends with the Veep prematurely shooting the soon-to-be-Ex-President Bush with a shotgun. After Dick nailed Bush and the dancer fell into heap she was pelted with shoes and had the whole audience roaring on a very wet evening and scurrying on the checkerboard dance floor. Keeping in mind this was a very well dressed and somewhat conservative appearing audience, but of course ran the gamut from gay to straight, young to old, black to white to brown, rich to poor, outlandish to invisible, connected to obscure, developer to educator, Republican to Democrat, town to gown, newborn to octagenarian, innocent to guilty. There was a genuine outpouring of grief and frustration and joy and celebration and outrageous laughter all at the shame time. Shoes over...

The launch of the Chinese lanterns unto itself may be the single most profound and accurate religious symbolism of the soul ascendancy I ever have taken part in, and I am far from a Biblical School scholar or Divinity School expert. It just was powerful and these pictures only begin to barely do it justice.