Oconee County, GA Politics

Just so anyone who reads this article will know, there is an appropriate use of the infamous "N-word" in the article demonstrating how far we have come in a relatively short time as a society (and how far we still have yet to go). Bethel Baptist is still the only church in Oconee County I have visited on repeated times for funerals, and they are to be commended for continuing this important honorary celebration honoring all people. Law enforcement pioneers honored || OnlineAthens.com

Oconee Democratic Committee's book club gets some love from Wayne Around Oconee: Trends talk today || OnlineAthens.com

Suddenly Brian Kemp is no longer a Shoe In for Secretary of State Report: Perdue to name Cole as secretary of state || OnlineAthens.com

Many of the long standing myths surrounding Oconee County Georgia were dashed this year, including that of the never ending economic growth for the county and the supposed superiority of the School System were done in by a series of scandals and decisions which were seemingly not very popular with the majority of the local populace. Oconee County can no longer count on continued expansion of subdivisions in every direction as we have countless "PVC farms" and ghost towns in considerable corners of the main arteries ranging from Hog Mountain Road to Whitehall/Simonton Bridge Road. One can only hope for the local economy to improve well enough in 2010 where there will once again have need to build houses and have people living in them out here next year. The lack of some essential services in this county continues to come up perilously close to causing us some serious problems, but so far our government has done exactly what it needs to support our local police officers and...

I am quick to criticize the Oconee Enterprise newspaper, so I should be equally quick in giving them praise when it is due. The special section dedicated to outgoing Watkinsville three-term mayor Jim Luken is well done, deserved and a wonderful keepsake for the son of the former Mayor of Cincinnati. Blake Giles wrote a long essay that pretty much portrayed the former Marine from every angle imaginable. Good job folks

Business coming to Watkinsville from Madison - hallelujah Attic Treasures to move to Oconee: Cost of rent driving relocation | Morgan County Citizen Online

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Friend, I just made a holiday video for you, with the help of a few friends. You'll recognize at least one of them. Watch it here: http://holiday.barackobama.com/Holiday-2009.aspx?uid=bb34db56-9f30-4167-af08-d45d4fc37dda&g=1&s=Dan&s=Dan&g=1 Dan

Dear Oconee County Georgia Politics Friend, I just made a holiday video for you, with the help of a few friends. You'll recognize at least one of them. Watch it here: http://holiday.barackobama.com/Holiday-2009.aspx?uid=bb34db56-9f30-4167-af08-d45d4fc37dda&s=Dan&g=1 Dan

Wish I had time to play and coach some volleyball this season, but perhaps you do? Seasons Greetings, Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. Date: Mon, 21 Dec 2009 15:31:01 -0800 Subject: OCPRD Volleyball Instructors and League Coaches Needed Parents and Participants, The Oconee County Parks and Recreation Department is in need of paid instructors and volunteer league coaches for our Spring 2010 Youth Volleyball Program.  The OCPRD recreational volleyball program has been a growing over the last few years and there has been a great interest in the sport of volleyball from our participants.  It is our hope to provide a quality recreational sports program that gives our youth volleyball participants an opportunity to learn and succeed! Basic Information ? OCPRD Spring Volleyball 2010: Volleyball 1 (ages 9 - 11) Instructional Program -       Oconee Veterans Park -       6:15 - 7:15 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays -...

He puts on a great family friendly show which I highly recommend to everyone. I have seen Willie twice here in Athens (and twice more elsewhere) and he is always entertaining. Willie Nelson to perform in Athens next month || OnlineAthens.com

Well written letter to the Editor of the Athens Banner-Herald from an Oconee County resident and ER Doctor at St. Mary's who knows what he is talking about when it comes to the Health Care bill about to be approved by the U.S. Senate. Neal Priest: Reform proposal is Christmas gift || OnlineAthens.com

As someone who has to deal with the Secretary of State's office on a daily basis, I can only hope for a seamless transition to whomever takes over and or is subsequently appointed for the next year. Handel had already desecrated the office already with her social networking advertised on the Georgia Secretary of State official website. In this article it is interesting to find out there are three announced Democratic candidates for the Secretary of State. Also the silence or lack of quotes from other Republican candidates speaks volumes (or reporter laziness, not sure which). I wonder if Governor Sonny Perdue will appoint the currently unpolitically-employed (and SOS front runner, well known local product and former State Senator) Brian Kemp to fill out the remainder of Handel's term, making him an incumbent in November for an office he seemingly already has sewn up. But then he could not raise funds either during the forthcoming 40 day frenzy that is the State Legislature. N...

Police department officers never get enough thanks, and especially for pioneering African Americans from the area. Please take time to appreciate them New Year's Day. Around Oconee: Emancipation plans set || OnlineAthens.com

Lost in a lot of the bluster of the last several days was the fact that Osborne applied for another principal job in another county, which unto itself could be means toward an end of employment. Joy Anderson Brown: Oconee BOE didn't 'win' anything || OnlineAthens.com

Thanks to Johnathan at Beyond the Trestle for finding this first, and Merry Christmas to Kate McDaniel and the entire Oconee Republican majority. I do think she missed the point of Jim Thompson's orginal column, but Kate continues to crank out her letters to the Editor at the Athens Banner-Herald and even used to attend the Oconee County Democratic Committee meetings back when we were in the big Courthouse before being re-exiled back over yonder at the Government Annex exactly opposite the monthly Republican meetings, which are at the Watkinsville Community Center I believe. Stay involved in 2010 you all. Kate McDaniel: Richardson is only human || OnlineAthens.com

Don Nelson of the Athens Banner-Herald supplies a behind the ropes look at what it takes to make or break a sponsorship of a Nationwide golf tourney event, and damn is it expensive. A lot of Oconee County businesses and groups griped about the lack of local involvement in the tourney when it was at Jennings Mill the last four years with visions of spend thrift golfers and golf fans dancing in their heads. Golfers are arguably the cheapest professional athletes, and these are not the top golfers in the world. So perhaps it was not realistic to remain hopeful about a bunch of second-tier golfers (or their caddies or families or friends) emptying out their wallets in Watkinsville. Four years ago in the Chappelle's downtown Watkinsville gallery back yard I learned of the game "Corn Hole" where you toss bean bags at an inclined wooden box in a modern game of horseshoes in a BBQ put on by local folks in an attempt to win allegiance from the traveling troupe of struggling prof...

This article quotes a Watkinsville native Josh Darnell and how his life was saved by quick thinking and courageous acts by a British helicopter pilot. Well done one and all. British helicopter pilot takes risk, saves American Soldier | www.fortgordonsignal.com | Fort Gordon Signal

What a lot of opponents of the personnel action of the Oconee County Board of Education against Principal Osborne do not realize is that they do not have a legally binding cause of action for a legitimate recall election against any members of the BOE or the unelected Superintendent Dr. Jackson. You could constantly badger the Board members at the Monday meetings and ask for their resignations, but until someone breaks a law and gets caught, you are going to be hard-pressed to have a recall which would withstand the scrutiny of the judicial system. I am not an attorney, nor do I play one on TV, and I think a lot of this is going to come back and bite the current members of the Board of Education on the rump should they decide to run for re-election in 2010 or 2012. Osborne resigned, which is his decision, end of story? (not likely). North Oconee principal says he plans to resign || OnlineAthens.com

Live blogging the caucus meeting: Ralston wins speaker vote | Gold Dome Live