Oconee County, GA Politics

Glad to say I have nothing to comment on this story, other than I am thankful that the ambulance service so far seems seamless and safe. So far, so good, for privatized local ambulance services || OnlineAthens.com

I doubt this will change many people's views of the Insurance Commissioner race on the Georgia GOP side, although I do want to urge State Representative Keith Heard to toss his hat into the ring on the Democratic side of the ledger. Ralphie babe does not come across as either very sincere or likable in the few encounters I have had with the smarmy snake oil salesman from Hull. Man claims Hudgens shifted funds illegally || OnlineAthens.com

Former Atlanta mayor, Congressman and UN Ambassador Andrew Young will be speaking in nearby Monroe as part of the Georgia Association of Black Elected Officials meeting Saturday, April 3 and then take part in a march to the Oconee-Walton for the umpteenth reenactment of the last mass lynching in America now some 60+ years ago at Moore's Ford bridge during the Truman administration. Young to take part in Moore's Ford rally, march || OnlineAthens.com

The once very trendy Fair Tax (yes I spelled it different in the headline thanks to some of the more insightful comments on the ABH story) has lost a good deal of popular momentum but Georgia gubernatorial candidate John Oxendine seems to think it will not sink his campaign to become the leader of this state if he seals his fate with a largely wishful thinking tax strategy that is now becoming quite stale. Decide for yourself if you want to reserve a seat in our Civic Center Thursday where the Ox and some lackey will show their side of the taxation issue. Somehow I cannot image it being quite as crowded as either the health care debate at the Veterans Park parking lot or the Paul Broun Town Hall in the Civic Center both in much nicer weather last year. Could it be because there is no attempt at a bipartisan dialogue on this important issue? Hmmmmm 'Fair Tax' rally planned this week in Oconee || OnlineAthens.com

Oconee County Board of Commissioners chair G. Melvin Davis has recently been very publically relieved in a governmental reorganization of a large portion of his power to remain running the day-to-day operations of Oconee as if it were his own personal fiefdom. So for him to rebel and balk at every opportunity to do something new and innovative (by Oconee County standards) is to be expected for the remainder of his term. How a Sarah Bell or anyone else for that matter would handle this differently is a matter for speculation, but I do think it is in the best interest of Oconee County to cooperate with Clarke or any other governmental entity whose sole task is to bring better industry to the area. I hope we can allocate some of our precious governmental dollars to this valuable potential joint economic partnership, what with the looming new buildings in Watkinsville belonging to the Board of Education and the Judicial system in large empty areas of the north part of the county seat. O...

Letter to the Editor defends Brian Kemp's Secretary of State appointment. Jeff Marshall: Kemp appointment 'a good one' || OnlineAthens.com

An excellent column about Georgia's most dangerous two lane road which starts right here in Oconee County and has claimed far too many lives. The road (that should be) less traveled by | Jacksonville.com

Tonight I saw the best basketball gymnasium in Oconee County, and before this week I never knew this brand spanking new facility existed. It is the practice gym in the other end of the older Oconee County high school which might be the straw that broke John Osborne's back as far as his public fall from grace with respect to North Oconee's desire to have just as good facilities at his place up Hog Mountain Road. So it was with great interest I inspected this hidden gem of a gym heretofore unknown to the general populace.  Could this have made John Osborne loose his grip on decorum? Perhaps it was a catalyst for other personal demons as well. But it does make one wonder when a visiting football team has to change in a tent at North Oconee while OCHS can handle a huge tournament of grapplers along with dozens of third, fourth and fifth grader hoopsters from at least four counties I am aware of. This practice gym even has a plaque with the members of the 2009 Oconee County Board ...

I still hope this gets moved to Oconee Heritage Park near Farmington somewhere in between the massive show facility where they have rodeos twice a year and the Central School House. Proposal to move old UGA barn collapses || OnlineAthens.com

Thanks to Watkinsville City Council member and longtime area athletic proponent Brian Brodrick for first alerting me to this article in the Athens Banner-Herald. I only wish I had taken my son to the game last weekend and bought a bunch of burgers. Any photos of this or any other area events any readers want to submit are always welcome..... Titans come together to aid longtime custodian || OnlineAthens.com

I for one hope they stay open for my son's basketball game Saturday..... The Oconee Enterprise Latest Updates Gainesville State closes, Oconee students stay tuned

Local farmer does well - they feed us all! January FFA Salute: Thomas Coggins

Congratulations to the students and educators at these schools and the continued excellence of Oconee County Schools Five Oconee schools win benchmark awards || OnlineAthens.com

Once again another thought provoking and provocative letter to the Editor from Neal Priest, who works in the Emergency Room of St. Mary's Hospital. I wish he would run for Congress against Paul Broun. Neal Priest, M.D.: U.S. health care isn't working || OnlineAthens.com

It would seem that the Pull the Plug people should concentrate on getting a candidate to back or to help before working on just the message of Paul Broun in bad. I think the message is one we all agree on, but we need leadership. Woven brightly,  Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. From: jveit@bellsouth.net Date: Wed, 6 Jan 2010 15:08:42 +0000 Subject: [oconee] Pull The Plug Event/January Meeting   Dear Dems: I hope that everyone had a happy holiday season. As many of you know, we have been considering whether or not to have a town hall meeting in Oconee County hosted by the Oconee County Democrats but sponsored by Pull The Plug. The issue would be either health care or climate change. After much deliberation, it's the consensus opinion of the committee that we aren't going to host a town hall event. Our concerns are: 1) A climate change town hall wouldn't get much turnout in Oconee County; 2) People are sick (no pun intended...

Athens Banner-Herald's institutional editorial on the ethical dilemmas facing the new Secretary of State designate - a man I often see in line to pick up or drop off our kids at school. Editorial: New secretary of state in tough political spot || OnlineAthens.com

How long we maintain this ranking is another matter all together, but thank goodness the economic bubble bursting has not had a worse effect around here other than it has. People are still getting new roofs and bicycles in Watkinsville. RN-T.com - Rome, Georgia news, sports, business, lifestyles, weather, breaking news and more from the Rome News-Tribune.

I use to work for Jeff Wallace when he received his first team National Championship (and second trophy for this) back in 1994. I am fairly certain he lived or lives in Oconee County as I have seen him at the Taco Stand at Butler's Crossing and seem to think his son attended school out here. Jeff Wallace Receives National Coaching Award - Official Athletics Site of the University of Georgia Bulldogs

Oconee Democrats have an outstanding book club and here are some selections for 2010 - Subject: Community-wide book group/ New slate of books Hello! Happy New Year! We've put together an interesting line-up of books for our community-wide book group, which continues to grow each month! Here's information about our choices below. Thank you! Patricia J. Priest Member, Oconee Democrats ---------------------------------------------------------------- The community book group sponsored by the Oconee Democrats has announced its slate of books for 2010. The list includes classics such as "Catch 22" and "Frankenstein" alongside newer books such as "Hot, Flat and Crowded," the best-selling book by Thomas Friedman about the global energy and climate crises. Other choices celebrate the splendors of and threats to the natural world.  Aldo Leopold's beloved classic "Sand County Almanac" and Paul Hawken's "The ...

Boom! just like that, Sonny fulfills one of my predictions from late 2009 when Karen Handel was first rumored to be exiting the Secretary of State's office. Now the Athens area developer can have a little on the job training for a very demanding j0b and win the Primary as an incumbent. Brian Kemp appointed Georgia secretary of state || OnlineAthens.com