Oconee County, GA Politics

Minutes Oconee County Democratic Committee Meeting May 21, 2009 Oconee County Government Annex, Watkinsville, Georgia Committee members present: Jonathan Veit (5-3) Chair; Ann Stoneburner (1-3) Vice Chair; Rita Bennett (3-2) Secretary; Dan Matthews (2-2); Herb West (5-1); Myrna Adams West (5-2); Robert Wyatt(6-1); Diana Jeffreys (6-2); Pat Adams (6-3). Committee members absent (excused): Violet Dawe(1-1) Treasurer; Tony Glenn (1-2): Sarajane Love (2-3); Linda Elkins (3-1); Bill Yarbrough (4-2); Erika Ferrari; Liz Goodroe. Others: Pat Priest Jonathan called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM. Minutes: The minutes from the April 5th meeting were approved unanimously after a motion by Dan Matthews. Treasurer's Report: Treasurer Violet Dawe was absent so there was no report at this time. OLD BUSINESS: Report on Gubernatorial Ice Cream Social: David Poythress and Duboise Porter, two of the Democratic candidates for Governor, were present. Thurbert Baker was contacted, but he did not appear...

I am a Democrat and I hate paying taxes. I am also convinced that government in general has to do what it has to do to maintain a level of services. Lee Becker once again nails the local government down with accurate assessments that no one else, not Blake GIles, not Rob Peecher, not even Adam Thompson (yet) has written about. I think Adam will soon. Begin forwarded message: From: Lee Becker < lbbecker@mindspring.com > Date: May 22, 2009 11:31:06 PM EDT To: lbbecker@mindspring.com Subject: Tuesday Public Hearing on Budget Reply-To: lbbecker@mindspring.com Dear Friends, The public will be given a chance to comment on the proposed 2010 Fiscal Year Budget during a scheduled half-hour hearing Tuesday night at the courthouse in Watkinsville. Projected revenue from all sources for the General Fund budget starting July 1 is expected to be about $2 million less than the county expected to collect this year and $4 million less than the county had budgeted to spend this year. Cuts in spen...

Great line up - even better than last year. I intend to be at every show! --- On Tue, 5/19/09, Ashford Manor Concerts on the Lawn <ashfordmanor@charter.net> wrote: From: Ashford Manor Concerts on the Lawn <ashfordmanor@charter.net> Subject: Ashford Manor Concerts on the Lawn Kick-Off in just 6 Days! To: danjmatt@bellsouth.net Date: Tuesday, May 19, 2009, 11:06 AM Greetings and Salutations! We're so happy to announce that the annual Ashford Manor Concerts on the Lawn Series is just under a week away from getting started! We've put together an exciting and diverse line-up for 2009 and we are looking forward to seeing all of our friends, new and old, next Monday for our first of nine concerts! Please take a moment to read through this email, as we have a lot of important information to help aid you in your pursuit of another fantastic time under the stars with the best local and regional music Georgia has to offer. We have a brand new website at www.amconcerts.com wi...

Note this meeting is now on the third Thursday of the month and not in the Courthouse but instead the Governmental Annex down Highway 15. All are welcome to attend, no matter what some people may say or think. Woven brightly, Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. Subject: [oconee] Oconee Democrats Regular Monthly Meeting, 5/21/2009, 7:00 pm Reminder from:   oconee Yahoo! Group   Title:   Oconee Democrats Regular Monthly Meeting   Date:   Thursday May 21, 2009 Time:   7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Repeats:   This event repeats every month on the third Thu...

The battle lines are drawn and Watkinsville is area of contention. Your task, should you choose to accept, is to start at the municipal boundaries of the county seat of Oconee County and pick up as much garbage from the streets as possible. Should you choose to participate in a partisan manner, you may do so with the Democratic party through Jonathan Veit (706-255-0222) or Jay Hanley with the Republican party through the Oconee Enterprise newspaper or Facebook. You can also choose to freelance or pick up garbage on your own in a non-aligned manner. The only thing required is you pick up trash on the streets of Watkinsville between 9 and 10 am Saturday, May 30.

Nothing revolutionary or revelation-ary to report about either, but this is how I spent my Saturday. Bought a coconut pie for $8 behind Eagle Tavern after getting a 12 pack of eggs from chickens from Bostwick fir $2.75 that even came with a green eggs. I bought some lemonade as well. The Farmers Market has moved to the back of Eagle Tavern and that gives it more of a market feel and less of a jumble sale feeling. It will also give the new sod in the front more of a chance to grow and thrive. Later that day we walked up to Town Center and had dinner at Barberiteos. The big screen HDTV was good, The service adequate. The audience sparse, The food was pedestrian, but what would you expect? I hope the restaurant continues to succeed. I need to eat more at Maison Bleu.

Great job Dr. Love Woven brightly, Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. Subject: [oconee] Congratulations to Sarajane Love From the May 2009 OCAF (Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation) newsletter:   "On Saturday, May 16, OCAF Board Member and longtime volunteer Sarajane N. Love, Verner F. Chaffin Distinguished Professor in Fiduciary Law at the University of Georgia, will be presented with an Honorary Doctors of Laws degree from LaGrange College during the Commencement Ceremony for the Class of 2009."   Sarajane is also a very active member of the Oconee County Democratic Committee in many ways, but especially in chairing our quarterly road cleanup of the Oconee Connector/Mars Hill Road.   Congratulations on this well-deserved honor, Sarajane!!! __._,_.___

And the budget process was opened for next fiscal year found some opposition to an $8,000.00 metal faux flower finding the opposition in councilman Mike Link and an unidentified person in the back row. I would well imagine Link and Brian Brodrick will vote again against beer and wine, this time in the stores. However the only no vote of the evening I stuck around for was when Council member Samantha Purcell voted against the demolition of a historic property on Main Street. A new baby store and another insurance company were the businesses approved. Stanley M. Mann received unanimous approval for Cotton States Insurance in the far northern property of the Thornton development otherwise known as Town Center. Frederic and Rebecca Amy and baby Kaydeen were given approval for The Natural Baby on 17 North Main. Mary Mills was given a demolition permit which Purcell did not vote for. Two cop cars were purchased and revenues are down. Wi-Fi is now in the Community Center. My biggest surprise ...

The bookstore at Gainesville State College's Oconee County campus expanded long after I toiled thirteen hour days there during the first couple days of each semester back in the heady days of the start of Facebook when you still needed a .edu email address to get on the social networking site in say 2006. Wayne Ford of the Athens Banner-Herald wrote his typical comprehensive yet not boring history of the area and captured the flavor of the farm field without sitting in a cow pie. Most Oconee County residents have never laid eyes on the actual campus as it is just beyond the point of view off the Oconee Connector/Experiment Station Road down Bishop Farms Parkway. I am glad the Board of Regents has worked with Dr. Penny Mills of GSC~Oconee and the Oconee County Planning Commission to expand that campus. The larger long range and short range expansion plans of that campus need to center on possible back entrance or possibly exit only right on to the 441 Bypass or at least the sound ...

The bookstore at Gainesville State College's Oconee County campus expanded long after I toiled thirteen hour days there during the first couple days of each semester back in the heady days of the start of Facebook when you still needed a .edu email address to get on the social networking site in say 2006. Wayne Ford of the Athens Banner-Herald wrote his typical comprehensive yet not boring history of the area and captured the flavor of the farm field without sitting in a cow pie. Most Oconee County residents have never laid eyes on the actual campus as it is just beyond the point of view off the Oconee Connector/Experiment Station Road down Bishop Farms Parkway. I am glad the Board of Regents has worked with Dr. Penny Mills of GSC~Oconee and the Oconee County Planning Commission to expand that campus. The larger long range and short range expansion plans of that campus need to center on possible back entrance or possibly exit only right on to the 441 Bypass or at least the sound e...

The Oconee County Board of Education taught their high school students today it does not pay as far as driving to school or taking part in after school athletics as far as doing drugs and alcohol is concerned. I can't imagine it has changed all that much since I went to school, but kids are getting blitzed on booze and buds every day. Some will get caught, others will be merely inconvenienced. All of them have suffered irreparable harm to their civil liberties.

Not exactly sure where Grandpa Donnan lives (whether Clarke or Oconee or what difference does it make), but he restored ordered to the Georgia Bulldogs and his grandson T goes to school with my son, and I think he is an outstanding coach and person. Congratulations to Coach Donnan for his long overdue induction to the Hall of Fame .

This just came in from Peg Sommer and the folks at the Oconee County Historical Society attempting to purchase some tasteful signs showing what we have here in Oconee County to display to students of historical structures. I applaud their efforts as always and urge you to consider a sizeable or small financial donation. --- On Tue, 5/12/09, psommer <psommer@bellsouth.net> wrote: From: psommer <psommer@bellsouth.net> Subject: can you help? Date: Tuesday, May 12, 2009, 11:10 AM Hi,             At our meeting last night we voted to raise money to buy a couple signs for Central Schoolhouse and the cabin .  The signs will be made of a PVC type material with wooden post. The cost of the signs are as quoted by Athens Sign; The cost of a 24" x 48" double sided routed and painted PVC sign will be $541.00. The cost of a 24" x 48" single sided routed and painted PVC sign will be $413.00 . T...

begin:vcard fn:Vicky Moody n:Moody;Vicky email;internet:vickymoody@charter.net tel;work:706-583-2859 tel;home:706-769-7966 tel;cell:706-338-9185 version:2.1 end:vcard Vicky Moody (706-769-7966) needs you help being an usher at the best venue in Athens at the Seney-Stovall Theater next to the Varsity. Woven brightly, Daniel J. Matthews, Jr.   Subject: [oconee] Rose of Athens Needs Volunteers for Pooh Rose of Athens Theatre Company is seeking volunteers to usher for our performances of Winnie the Pooh at the Seney-Stovall Chapel. School Performances: Wednesday - May 13th at 9:00am and 11:00am Thursday - May 14th at 9:00am and 11:00am Friday - May 15th at 10:00am General Public Performances: Friday - May 15th at 7pm Saturday - May 16th at 7pm To volunteer for one or more performances. please e-mail or call me. __._,_.___ . ...

Mayor Jim Luken of Watkinsville is a former Marine who had remained largely nonpartisan is an incredibly partisan position. To his credit, he has remained above the fray even when those around him might be supporting one candidate or the other. In general, he has done what is best for the county seat of Watkinsville whether it might favor Republicans, Democratic people or neither or both. Luken came up with the briiliant idea, and has approached the youngest county chair in the State in the G.O.P's Jay Hanley as well as his crusty old counterpart Jonathan Veit on the Democratic side, to have an hour long competition to see which political party can gather the most garbage on the streets of Watkinsville. This will take place 9 to 10 am Saturday, May 30th with the Oconee Democratic participants starting on Simonton Bridge and the Republicans starting on some abandoned development near the jail (just joking there - but I have not known too many Republicans to pick up garbage, so this ...

Terry professor feared for life after map to her house found in Zinkhan's Jeep - News Another obscure link to an Oconee County resident in the remnants of a man whose body hopefully finished with the finding of his body in the Clarke county part of Bogart this weekend in a grave of his own making.

1. People are friendly and generally mind their own business. 2. Everyone seems accepting of everyone else. 3. Art is not only accepted, it is encouraged. 4. Music is tolerated before 11 pm. 5. Change is not a foreign concept. 6. Divergent political philosophies are generally tolerated. 7. You can walk to restaurants and get a hair cut. 8. Side walks. 9. Garbarge pick up. 10. Parades. 11. relatively light traffic. 12. Ashford Manor Bed and Breakfast. 13. Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation. 14. Rocket Field. 15. Harris Shoals Park. 16. Sweet ReTreat 17. Mirko Pasta 18. bicycling is somewhat safe and allowed on sidewalks. 19. Horses are seen sometimes on the streets. 20. Joggers, skateboarders and dog walkers are common. 21. People care about each other. 22. Eagle Tavern 23. Oconee County Courthouse 24. Two weekly newspapers 25. Krimson Kafe 26. Jittery Joe's 27. Girasoles 28. Uncle Floyd's 29. Maison Blue 30. Aunt Gail's But what did Mike Thornton just put out in front of his h...

Norma Lee Sexton Matthews was born in Marshalltown, Iowa December 17, 1930 to Helen and Charles Sexton. She was the second of four children, but would not settle for second to anyone the rest of her life. Among other things, she was the State of Iowa spelling bee champion and the female editor of the Daily Iowan newspaper while attending the University of Iowa. She edited the newspaper in Cooperstown, New York but returned to her native Iowa to marry the Georgia Peach of Meredith Publishing in Dan J. Matthews, Sr. and started on a long road of political exploration and innovation. She started a business called Campaigns, Incorporated which took many of the principals she learned the hard way in her own failed races for the Board of Education and House of Representatives. Along the way Caucuses were held in our house at 518 44th street on the legendary Snake Drive just north of Grand, Presidential candidates came knocking on our door and many hands were grasped and acquaintances made....

The manner with which governments function is about as exciting to participate in sometimes as watching paint dry, but I always give massive props to those who spend their own hard earned time to volunteer above and beyond the call of duty to try to refine our processes to make them more participatory and less of a micro-managed oligarchy. The Oconee County Board of Commissioners has been an evolving beast as long as I have lived in the county, and will continue to change as our children come in to the forefront a decade plus down the road. The steps that Chuck Horton, Jim Luke, Margaret Hale and others are taking to try to restructure the load and communication process are greatly appreciated .

This note just came from Karl Berg and the fine folks at the Oconee County Farmers Market beside Eagle Tavern on Main Street and Third Street in the heart of Watkinsville right across the street from the Courthouse.  I hope it stays dry and people buy early and often tomorrow at this season's kick-off of the Farmer's Market. Woven brightly, Daniel J. Matthews, Jr.     Good Morning, The Market is finally opening this Saturday!! We will have greens, sugar snap peas, herbs, shiitake mushrooms, grass fed beef, homemade soaps, cakes, pies, cookies, pork skins, boiled & fried peanuts and who knows what else... Hope to see you there!! Remember we will be set up behind and to the side of the Eagle Tavern! Karl   Karl Berg 706-215-7385 www.oconeefarmersmarket.org  and http://www.apvoc.com/