Oconee County, GA Politics

The Athens Academy White Shadows, coached by Chris Pittard, won the 3rd/4th grade division of of the Northeast Georgia Premier League this evening 15-14 in a thrilling game at the Oconee Practice Gym, capturing the League Tournament title in front of the likes of University of Georgia men's basketball coach Mark Fox and Athletic Director Damon Evans, among many other extremely interested parents. The teams battled nerves to a 0-0 tie at the end of the first period, followed up by a 7-0 run in the second quarter, highlighted by a three pointer from Lowell Matthews. The scrappy guard-forward engineered the victory with a half dozen rebounds and steals to go with five points and three assists. Oconee battled back in the third quarter to tie things up with four flawless free throws from Luke Dickens. The teams switched leads in a feisty fourth quarter with the White Shadows icing the game with a ferocious  full court press. Alex Deltchev and Carson Pittard, all star selections for ...

The Oconee Enterprise newspaper announced extremely qualified candidacy of Tammy Gilland running for the Board of Commissioners Post 3, currently held by Margaret Hale but already the subject of former candidate Esther Porter already running for the post. In a separate article, the Enterprise also announces no one plunked down the $5.00 qualifying fee to run in the special election in March for the late Harold Parsons seat. In the same piece written by local GOP chair Jay Hanley , Kim Kraeling is the only candidate qualified for the special municipal election for Mayor of North High Shoals. According to her Facebook Profile, Ms. Kraeling is a fan of former Alaskan Governor and Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin .

Alabama Oxendine contributors reject Georgia subpoenas  | ajc.com Posted using ShareThis

Please attend the Oconee County Board of Commissioners Town Hall meeting 7 pm Tuesday evening at the Oconee County Civic Center. Also read the new blog of Johnathan McGinty. That is all. From: Lee Becker lbbecker@mindspring.com Date: Sun, Feb 14, 2010 at 8:55 PM Subject: Tuesday Town Hall Meeting To: lbbecker@mindspring.com Dear Friends, Readers of this blog know that the county is holding a town hall meeting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday at the Civic Center. Other bloggers also have promoted the meeting. But readers of the print media alone easily could have missed it. Both of the local weeklies have ignored the meeting. The Athens Banner-Herald at least has run two shorts announcing it. I've listed a number of issues that could--some are arguing should--come up at the meeting. I'm certain you can think of others. I urge you to come to the meeting and express your concerns and ask your questions. My list and other details about the meeting are at: http://oconeecounty...

No better way to celebrate Presidents Day than with a tournament title game for the Championship of the Northeast Georgia Premier League with the fifth seeded Oconee 3rd and 4th grade team taking on the Athens Academy White Shadows at 6:00 pm Monday evening at the Oconee County High School practice gymnasium. Admission is $3.00 for the best in young basketball action in a six county area. This game got postponed and rescheduled twice and I am glad it is finally going to happen, unless of course the expected overnight snow freezes again.

Friend -- In just the last 3 days, OFA volunteers like you have pledged an incredible 4,000,000 (and counting!) hours to support members of Congress and candidates who fight for real health reform. We can prove to Congress that health reform is good policy and good politics, but we need to go as big as possible. So today we're setting a new goal: 5 million hours pledged. If we hit it, the country will know. We'll be running an ad with the final tally in USA Today, the nation's largest newspaper. And to make sure your voice is heard where it matters most, we'll run radio ads in critical states and districts, featuring local voters announcing the pledge total from their area. Your hours will make a huge difference wherever you live, and there's many different ways to get involved. Can you help us hit 5 million hours by pledging today? http://my.barackobama.com/YouFight Beginning soon, we'll talk to voters state-by-state, district-by-distric...

God bless James Holland and the Oconee - Altamaha Riverkeepers. Yes, we are in the headwaters of this watershed. He should run for Governor or Congress. Retiring riverkeeper celebrates successes || OnlineAthens.com

I think it is very important that each and every one of us attend this town hall forum 7 p.m. Tuesday to ask the Oconee County Board of Commissioners any question you want. Oconee town hall set for Tuesday || OnlineAthens.com

Oconee County came out reasonably well from the quick melting snow this weekend. Roads were treacherous, schools were not in session, and kids made snow men and got in snow ball fights. Basketball tournaments were canceled, grocery store shelves were ransacked of most staples. My brief journey to the neighboring county was as if someone turned on the idiot switch at the Clarke County border as the perimeter and any areas left in shadows were in peril to say the least. Most major arteries seemed to be passable by the sunny mid afternoon. Will we get another dose Monday to waste a perfectly good President's Day? It is cold enough to keep the snow on the ground for a few days.

All the championship and All-Star tilts in local Northeast Georgia Premier League basketball action were postponed for today Saturday, February 13 scheduled for the Spartan Center on the Athens Academy campus. No word on make-ups yet.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow, may all your jumpers be nothing but net. Go Spartans! Woven brightly, Daniel J. Matthews, Jr.  Subject: FW: Championship Games and All-star Games for tomorrow  Date: Fri, 12 Feb 2010 14:57:44 -0500  From: chrisp@windowco.net  Here's the latest...I will do the best to keep you up to speed. Chris Pittard  Hi all,  Weather permitting, we are going with the schedule below for tomorrow  for both the Championship and All-star games. Please check the website  tomorrow morning for status on play. Due to loss revenue in combining the games to one day, please inform your parents that the admission  charge will be $4 rather than $3 to cover the additional cost, etc.  Trophies will also be presented for Champions, MVP's, and all-stars  tomorrow.  _*Athens Academy Spartan Center*_  1:00-3/4th championship  2:15-3/4th All-star  3:30-Blue/White 5/6th Cham...

Georgia's Top Two Youth Volunteers Selected in 15th Annual National Awards Program Posted using ShareThis

Northeast Georgia Premier League This is the league of basketball teams that was hosting an all-star game tonight and a tournament hopefully still this weekend. All Star games originally scheduled for tonight ~ Friday, February 12, 2010 ~ are canceled due to concerns over inclement weather and snow. As of now the tournament games are on for tomorrow, although there was speculation over moving it up. My son and his second seeded Athens Academy "White Shadows" team is scheduled to play for the championship at 2:30 pm Saturday. Hope is still commences versus Coach Huckaby's fifth seeded Oconee team. Posted using ShareThis

Need to buy a Valentine on this near panic snow day? I am obviously prejudiced, but I would suggest buying them from this classmate of my son's. Athens Academy to host fundraiser for Haiti || OnlineAthens.com

Annual fundraiser honors service and life of Denny Stephens | Northeast Georgia SportsLine Posted using ShareThis

I am pulling for my Oconee homeboy Zach Mettenberger to get the QB job, but I suppose it is Logan Gray's to lose. Bulldogs' QB candidates take aim at starting job | savannahnow.com

Friend -- As we head into an election year, the new strategy for killing reform is claiming that members of Congress who vote for it will suffer at the polls. For months, our opponents have spread lies about reform to scare voters away. But the simple truth about what reform would actually do -- save jobs, guarantee all Americans affordable, stable coverage, and significantly reduce the deficit -- is something most Americans strongly support. The question is, come November, will the voters know the facts? OFA supporters have asked for a way to show every member of Congress that if they fight for reform now, we'll back them up this election season. That's why we're launching "You fight, we'll fight" -- a volunteer pledge bank where you can commit your time to back up candidates and officials who fight hard for health reform. We're shooting for 1,000,000 hours pledged to spread the word to fellow voters. And if we get there, we...

Give these fine folks your bipedal feedback - there are many cyclists who come to Oconee County who do not live here either. Woven brightly,  Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. Date: Thu, 11 Feb 2010 13:17:00 -0500 Subject: New Oconee County Cyling Organization Survey From: bretthaslam2@gmail.com To: bretthaslam2@gmail.com Good afternoon, Hopefully all of you have heard the good news about the OCCO's recent incorporation!  To ensure we are adequately positioning ourselves, the board is reaching out to you for your opinion on some of our direction.  Would you please spend a couple of minutes (it literally should take 2 minutes) to complete the following survey via the link below?   Your responses are critical is assisting us in both our long-term and short-term strategies. http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/9LSY92B Thank you in advance and happy cycling, Brett Haslam OCCO Board Member

Broun brings a heavyweight buddy to Georgia | Blogs.OnlineAthens.com Posted using ShareThis

Happy to help some disc golf at the Herm Woven brightly, Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. From: jhightower@oconee.ga.us Date: Wed, 10 Feb 2010 11:47:53 -0500 Subject: Disc Golf - MAY DAY MADNESS III The May Day Madness III  disc golf tournament will be held Saturday May 1, 2010 at OCPRD's HERM disc golf course in Oconee County Ga. This email  includes the 2010 registration form, the link to our website where you will also find tournament details,  a downloadable form and an ONLINE registration opportunity. We will play (2) rounds and (1) round for Juniors under age of 13 with lunch provided. If you have any questions please email or call. Jared Hightower Athletic Division Program Coordinator Oconee County Parks & Recreation Department Phone: 706-769-3965 Fax: 706-769-3967 jhightower@oconee.ga.us www.oconeecounty.com "There are no Ex Marines"