Oconee County, GA Politics

Sad day in Oconee County restaurant history. For the longest time the local newpspaper seemed to want to push the door closed on them a bit prematurely, but I am ashamed to admit I only ate there a half dozen times over the years. Please give your fondest Maison Blue memories in the comments section if you would be so kind. It will help my friend Amanda cope at the very least. From: amandahobe@bellsouth.net Date: June 2, 2009 7:28:48 PM EDT To: soxfanrpw@gmail.com (Rob Wilson), absaff@yahoo.com (Trina Saffold), bgilmore@heywardallen.net (Bill Gilmore), natfretwell@yahoo.com (Natalie Fretwell), DSJKEB@aol.com (Kim Birkett), tberding@yahoo.com (Terry Berding), beverlybeltran@hotmail.com (Bev Beltran), danjmatt@bellsouth.net (Dan) Subject: FW: Thank You from Maison Bleu Restaurant Heartbroken is the only thing I can say -------------- Forwarded Message: -------------- From: alana miller < alana@maison-bleu.com > To: amandahobe@bellsouth.net Subject: Thank You from Mais...

Here are some of the pictures I took this morning from the garbage clean up in the city of Watkinsville which was dreamed up by Mayor Jim Luken as a means to foster some friendly political competition between Republicans, Democrats and Independents inside the city limits. Sadly there are lots of pockets of garbage remaining off the main thoroughfares, but that is for another day. For an hour on a warm Saturday morning, more than fifty people who participated in the clean up of every stripe and direction Some of the people who picked up free coffee from Jittery Joe's this morning after cleaning up garbage in the city limits. My son Lowell picking up garbage on Barnett Shoals in Watkinsville this morning. We started out at 8:30 at the church near Chairman Veit's house at Calls Creek, then drove on Norton Road and started picking up garbage at the sides of the road on Barnett Shoals. Picked up a couple of odd items ranging from a photo of people kissing to several parts of hubca...

The latest on the litter political picker uppers tomorrow morning Begin forwarded message: From: "Jonathan R. Veit" < jveit@bellsouth.net > Date: May 29, 2009 6:52:32 PM EDT To: " oconeedemocrats@yahoogroups.com " < oconeedemocrats@yahoogroups.com > Subject: [oconeedemocrats] From Mayor Jim Luken: Watkinsville Political Clean-up Reply-To: oconeedemocrats@yahoogroups.com From:   Jim Luken <mayor@cityofwatkins ville.com> Date:   Fri, 29 May 2009 16:42:39 -0400 Conversation:   Watkinsville Political Clean-up Subject:   Watkinsville Political Clean-up We've had a good response to the Watkinsville "Political Clean-up" of the main arteries transiting the City.     Matt Adair and his group have been the last to join and will cover Experiment Station Road and hopefully Greensboro Highway.  Peggy Holcomb reinforced by Councilman Mike Link will cover North Main Street. Jonathan Veit and the Obamas will cover Simonton Bridge Road and hopefully ...

You do not have to live in Watkinsville or even Oconee County to help us pick up litter this Saturday. If you are one to want to help the Democratic leaning lifters of garbage, you may gather at Chairman Jonathan Veit's house in Calls Creek subdivision (actually just outside Watkinsville city limits on Simonton Bridge Road/Whitehall Road entrance to Watkinsville at 8:30 am. This is near Veit's house and you can call him at 706-255-0222 or email gridirongazette@bellsouth.net or you can pick up debris in your own neighborhood if need be. This is from an email sent out by Veit earlier this week. What: Watkinsville Litter Pick-up. When: Saturday, May 30th, from 9 - 10 am (Coffee at Jittery Joe's to follow.) Where: Gather at the entrance to Calls Creek Estates, which is on Simonton Bridge Road. Park at the Watkinsville First Baptist Church, 1610 Simonton Bridge Road. Calls Creek Estates is directly across the street from the church. From Veit's house, or possibly on my own ...

Kathy and Jerry Chappelle are great people deserving of our support, so please attend their sale.  They have done more for Watkinsville and Oconee County tourism than any government agency. Yes, they even bought commercials on my old talk radio show on NewsTalk 1340 WGAU AM back on Friday mornings. They have interesting art, they support Georgian artists and they have put their money where their mouths are time and time again. We need to support the arts in the Artland of Georgia, and there is no better place to start then the Chappelle's gallery on historic Main Street in Watkinsville. I guarantee they will have something interesting for you to ponder and perhaps purchase. Get up off your lazy arse and down to Chappelle Gallery. Woven brightly, Daniel J. Matthews, Jr.   Hope to see you there.   Kathy & Jerry

Farmington deserves our support. Please attend this meeting Tuesday, June 2, 2009 at the Farmington Community Center. Woven brightly, Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. Date: Tue, 26 May 2009 09:07:23 -0700 From: southoconee@yahoo.com Subject: Farmington Community meeting & BOC news To: aglenn@uga.edu Hello all, A Farmington Community meeting has been called for next Tuesday, June 2nd at 7:00 p.m. in the Farmington Community Center. My understanding is that the main objective of the meeting is to address how the Farmington Community Center is currently managed and operated.  That's all I know at the moment. Since this facility is used by many individuals and groups throughout Oconee County, I encourage everyone to attend if possible. On another note, many of you may be interested in reading Lee Becker's current blog post concerning recent county government meetings that occurred without required public notice. http://oconeecountyobservations.blogspot.com/ Regards, Tony Glenn

Dear Oconee Democrats: Several of you have emailed that you will not be able to make the Watkinsville Litter Pick-Up (Details below) because of travel or prior commitments. Of course I am completely sympathetic. But I want to remind Oconee Democrats and people in Oconee County who are sympathetic with democratic causes that this is an opportunity for the local news media and the unaffiliated groups who will be participating to make a direct comparison between the Republicans and us. This is why I would like to encourage anyone and everyone who does not have a prior commitment to spend an hour on Saturday morning picking up trash along Simonton Bridge/White Hall Road. You do not have to be a resident of Watkinsville. Heck, you do not even have to be a resident of Oconee County. You simply have to be somebody who cares about making a show of Democratic strength in a Republican-dominated county, and who cares about the environment. I am not normally so gung-ho in my solicitations, but I s...

Ashford Manor Concerts on the Lawn Cancelled Tonight Reply-To: " ashfordmanor@charter.net " < ashfordmanor@charter.net > We are greatly disappointed to announce that tonight's kick off for the annual Concerts on the Lawn series is going to be rescheduled due to the chance of severe thunderstorms. After consulting with the local and state meteorological departments, we have made the decision that we cannot risk the safety of our patrons and tonight's performers. The Packway Handle Band has rescheduled for September 21st, and all purchased tickets will be honored on that date. Once again, we regret having to postpone tonight's event, it was a difficult decision to come to, but the safety of our friends, families, and the musicians must take priority. The grounds of Ashford Manor will remain open if you would like to spread out your own picnics. We will be playing a pre-recorded Packway Handle performance from July of 2007 free of charge. Season and sponsorshi...

All Republican secessionist should be drawn and quartered more about " Alternate realities . . . ", posted with vodpod

On this Memorial Day weekend, we as Georgians may not always agree with what our leaders decide for us in Washington, but did not any of us learn from what happened a hundred and thirty years ago? Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine and Secretary of State Karen Handel should both be removed from office immediately for these treasonous comments.

Chairmans of the Board of Commissioners of Oconee County will come and go, and this is time for current chair G. Melvin Davis to go ahead and resign after the revelation of a second secret meeting in December of 2008 before the first one revealed at the start of this calender year. The whole stink about the attempted raises by the Oconee County Board of Education now threatens to smear the careers of not only chairman and Barberitos co-owner David Weeks, but also State Representative Bob Smith for being a turncoat if nothing else. To completely understand this local version of a secret cabal, you need a scorecard at the very least. Essentially Board of Commissioners chair G. Melvin Davis called meetings in December of 2008 without proper public notice and this is a crime for which he needs to do the time no longer as a public servant. Please step down now, Chairman Davis, and spare us any more of your public humiliation and embarrassment. There will be lots of finger pointing about wh...

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 ...