Oconee County, GA Politics

Oconee County Observations: Gilland Reports Raising Nearly $5,000 for Oconee County Commissioner Race Posted using ShareThis

Lee Becker does his usually thorough job of analyzing the financial disclosures of the local races. The post on Lee's blog illustrates the mountain of work awaiting the Oconee County Democratic Committee if they are ever to come close to getting an even political field in this reddest of red counties in Georgia. Subject: Gilland Raises Nearly $5000 for BOC Race Reply-To: lbbecker@mindspring.com Dear Friends, Tammy Tate Gilland confirmed her intention to run for Post 3 on the Oconee County Board of Commissioners on April 1 when she filed a campaign contribution disclosure report indicating that she has raised $4,685 toward her campaign. Nobody else came anywhere close to raising that amount for the race. For details, see: http://oconeecountyobservations.blogspot.com/2010/04/gilland-reports-raising-nearly-5000-for.html Lee -- Lee Becker Blog: www.oconeecountyobservations.blogspot.com Web: http://lbbecker48.googlepages.com/

I applaud the selections, the authors, the audacity of a group bold enough to try to spread ideas of liberty and freedom through literature, and anyone with the balls to try to expand the literacy of an otherwise backwoods country county with a bunch of people meeting in a deli to compare notes on books they love or do not care for and why. Go check it out in the Oconee County Library. Click on the links and order the book and I may actually see a few pennies someday out of your purchase. Subject: April book selection Hello! Could you please help me get the word out about the book choice for our April discussion?  We're reading the classic "Catch 22." I really appreciate your assistance.  Our group keeps growing and is increasingly diverse. Thank you! Pat Priest Member, Oconee Democrats ------------------------------------ The community-wide book group sponsored by the Oconee Democrats is reading Joseph Heller 's " Catch 22 " for its April...

Thieves enter fourth church || OnlineAthens.com

Bike day in North High Shoals tomorrow and a group is pedaling through. Begin forwarded message: From: Fred Johnson < ilovehighshoals@yahoo.com > Date: April 9, 2010 10:32:02 PM EDT To: Fred Johnson < ilovehighshoals@yahoo.com > Subject: TONHS Bike Day Saturday April 10 To any folks with kids who may be interested in the "bike day at the park." Safety check for child bikes at the park Saturday at 12:30 pm. Thanks, David Lawrence   The Tony Serrano riders will be using the North High Shoals City Park   Saturday, April 10th , as a rest/water stop on their 100 mile journey!       The earliest any riders should arrive will be 12:30. Most of the riders will arrive between 1:00 and 3:00.           Tony Serrano's parents, Antonio and Isabel will hold the safety check for the local children around 12:30.   Both are avid cyclists and Antonio is a talented mechanic. He will bring the tools necessary to make mi...

Deal used $19k in campaign cash for ethics defense Posted using ShareThis

College comes early for one | The Red and Black Posted using ShareThis

I have been wanting to see this for some time. Hi,             Here's a brief summary of activities you are invited to attend on April 19 th .  Some of our members were interviewed for this film and some of the participants will be available for the question and answer session afterwards. Peggy Screening of Film Made by Historical Society Member Celestea Sharp    "Carving Up Oconee," a documentary made by Historical Society member Celestea Sharp, will be screened by Gainesville State College in Watkinsville on April 19 th at 6:00pm in the Student Resource Center on campus in Room 522.  The public is invited, and there will be no admission charge. The film discusses the issues of growth and development in Oconee County .  Since she interviewed many people in Oconee County , here's a chance to see your friends and neighbors on film.  There will be a question and answer session after t...

Dr. Pat Priest did a fantastic job organizing the Saturday Strolls last year through downtown Watkinsville. This year she is using Harris Shoals Park as a focal point of the successful series. Woven brightly,  Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. This year's "Saturday Strolls" Hi! Finally! We've got the series set up for this year's "Saturday Strolls" sponsored by the Oconee Democrats. We're really excited about the series, this year based each week at the lovely Harris Shoals Park in Watkinsville. We want to get people outdoors with experts to showcase our interest in and support for nature and science. (And we also have three art-themed jaunts because Oconee has such a strong arts community.) Here are the details below. Please help us spread the word -- and join us! Thank you! Pat Priest Proud member, Oconee Democrats "Saturday Strolls at Harris Shoals" Where: Harris Shoals Park Experiment Station Road (near VFW D...

Editorial: Winning or losing isn't issue in 10th District || OnlineAthens.com

Kemp seeks special AG to sue Justice Department Posted using ShareThis

This may be the worst written story about Oconee County government that I have ever read. Glad I had nothing to do with their staff reports, which at one relatively recent point in my journalism career, I would have. Should I have been involved with this story, I would have attempted to attribute these actions with a few more facts and figures and also ask why non-chains seem to be excluded from this decision. I am all for franchises to add to this county's tax roll. I am also for the reallocation of sewer charges which seems to be the unwritten story here (especially when there is a very shown mistake). These businesses are on the fringe of the way the sanitary sewer line is growing for businesses toward Bogart. We are going to continue to have growing pains in the adolescence of industrialization of Oconee Counyt, Georgia. The Banner-Herald would do itself a favor to rehire or reassign a reporter to Oconee County alone to explain the challenges of our rapid growth and decline. ...

It is going to be an interesting race, to say the least Hank Huckaby to seek state House seat || OnlineAthens.com

Friend -- Ever wanted a quick explanation of how health reform will benefit your area to share with friends and family? We made this one-of-a-kind customized video to do just that. Watch now. Opponents of reform are already calling for its repeal -- and spreading outrageous lies about what it means for America. We can't let them tear down public support for reform. Share this link with everyone you know so they can get the truth about how many people in their state will benefit from reform: http://my.barackobama.com/WhatItMeans Thanks, Natalie Natalie Foster New Media Director Paid for by Organizing for America, a project of the Democratic National Committee -- 430 South Capitol Street SE, Washington, D.C. 20003. This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. This email was sent to: oconeedemo.crats@blogger.com Update Address / Email | Unsubscribe

Congratulations to Lisa Pizarek of Watkinsville for graduating with honors and a perfect 4.0 grade point average. University honors 'cream of the crop' || OnlineAthens.com

Dr. Patrica Priest and Robert Wyatt of the Oconee County Democratic Committee each held United States flags on poles aloft behind Russell Edwards as he announced his candidacy on a pollinated Wednesday evening in front of the Athens City Hall. Dr. Neil Priest introduced the law school student to a crowd of a couple hundred people, including Mayor Heidi Davison as well as Athens-Clarke County Commissioners Mike Hamby (who spoke briefly) and Kelly Girtz. There were many other Democratic supporters in the audience, ranging from Bertis Downs and Kevin O'Neil of the R.E.M. office to many law school students and professors. For Edwards to make an impact, he will have to be constantly raising funds and attending events in every county in the 10th District not named Clarke. He needs to make high impact introductions to the voters of Northeast Georgia in both paid and earned media. He needs to add a positive voice with real solutions for the considerable problems of the 10th district. The ...

Subject: Make Oconee Beautiful! Hi Everybody! Since you all were responsible for our Rose Creek Clean Up being so successful, I thought you might want to take part in this event as well!   Keeping Oconee Clean and Beautiful Commission, in association with Keep America Beautiful, has organized this county wide event!    I will be there and I am hoping to gather a group to work along Elder Mill Road, Saxon Road, and Antioch Church Road.  We got about 60% of Elder Mill Road covered last time, but there is still trash washing downhill towards Little Rose and Big Rose Creeks..  Would LOVE to see any of you guys!   Thanks and PLEASE pass this on! Melissa Steele 706-255-8528

Ken Sherman is a cyclist from the Athens-Oconee area. While I may have met him, I do not know him personally other than through his work incorporating the Oconee County Cycling Organization. I am not yet a gung ho bike pedaler, although I would like to become one who could join in the rides to Bostwick or Bishop, yet alone Athens or Savannah. I read a column by Sherman in today's Athens Banner-Herald and understood from a Facebook post that the Editors at the Athens Banner-Herald removed some germane parts of his piece about a deliberate act of driving at a bicycle rider that resulted in an accident and broken bones in Jackson County. Here is the complete letter from Sherman: 4/2/10 Dear Editor: For the safety and well-being of cyclists and others in our community, please print this letter.  Earlier today, three other cyclists and I were riding east on New Kings Bridge Road, just a mile or so from the middle school. We were obeying all laws, riding single file, keeping far...

If I were a betting man, or laying odds or percentages for the G.O.P. side with the rumored early entrants of the race for the Republican nomination to replace Bob Smith for the House 113th district, I would lay chalk equally on Kirk Shook (30%), former Oconee County Board of Education member Tommy Malcom (30%) and UGA fundraiser Hank Huckaby (30%) across the district with them scrambling over the undecided 10% to find out who will emerge as the front runner. Of course that would almost certainly mean a Republican run-off most likely between Malcom and Huckaby. I do not expect this to be an ugly race at all. Although if there are feats of strength or a civics test, then the North Oconee Offensive Line Coach and government teacher Shook is the instant favorite. Huckaby contributed to Paul Broun's race in 2008, which is a badge of honor for some and the kiss of death for others.

UGA VP Huckaby is the latest House candidate | Blogs.OnlineAthens.com Posted using ShareThis