Oconee County, GA Politics

Subject: Alert! Location change for business meeting So sorry about the necessary change, but..... We will meet tomorrow evening, Thursday, March 19th, at 7 pm in the Glassed-In Room at the Oconee Library on Experimental Station Road.  I called Angela Helwig this afternoon about picking up the Annex key tomorrow at the Courthouse, and she said that another group had been using "our" room for several months.  Mrs. Helwig said that she didn't know we were still meeting out there, as it had been a long time since anyone had inquired about the key.  Jittery Joe's room is reserved for tomorrow night, and the Library only had the "glass room" available.  So I reserved it for us.  Hope  everyone is okay with that.  Please let me know that you received this, so I can avoid bothering you with a phone call later tonight. Thanks, Ann

Luke Bishop asking for permission to expand The Watkinsville City Council met Wednesday evening at the Community Center with a few blossoming items on the agenda including a home Bud and Blooms flower arrangements business at 36 Harris Lane and the expansion of the Fastenal building owned by the Bishops down on Highway 15, but everyone's mind seemed to be on the overwhelmingly favorable vote to enact the distilled spirits referendum from the night before. Now how to go about enacting that bit of seismic shift in local restaurants being able to pour mixed drinks. As of the time of the meeting after the landslide election mandate, the restaurant Chops & Hops had yet to apply and pay the $1,000.00 application fee. Whether or not there will be a 75-to-25 ratio of food to drinks as in the county, or whether the fee will remain a $1,000.00 for the fee will be decided during the second reading of the proposed language for the ordinance. So far those are the Mayor's prefe...

Chaotic brawl breaks out in Bogart after teen hits man who insults mother

Oconee County's Lacksen has an automatic racket

Oconee County Observations: Watkinsville Voters Approve Liquor-By-The-Drink Re... : Light Turnout Watkinsville voters have overwhelmingly approved a referendum allowing for the sale of alcoholic drinks in addition to beer ...

Here are your voter breakdown for electoral geeks such as myself. Thank you to Grady Newsource and Adeline Kennerly for kicking booty as usual. » Watkinsville Voters Overwhelmingly Approve to Have “Liquor-By-the Drink”

Watkinsville restaurants such as Chops & Hops will now have the opportunity to compete with other area restaurants such as Cheddar's, where liquor by the drink has been successfully implemented for more than a few months now in greater Oconee County outside of the Watkinsville city limits. So far the only complaints I have heard are for the length of time it takes to get a seat at Cheddar's, and perhaps some whining from restaurant owners that have yet to pay the thousand dollar fee to pour liquor by the drink. The City of Watkinsville is expected to replicate that fee structure for a pouring license. The immediate reason that the March 2015 referendum passed at a ratio twice that of the County results from November 2014 (that included the municipality voters as well) is simply organization.  Postcards were sent, yard signs were made and planted in the yards of restaurants and homeowners, interviews were made, news stories filed, blogs were posted, newspapers were read,...

» Liquor License Vote in Watkinsville

In light turnout, Watkinsville voters OK by-the-drink liquor sales

The Liquor by the Drink referendum in Watkinsville passed by a 216 to 49 tally Tuesday in the county seat municipality in Oconee County. The Watkinsville City Council meets Thursday but it is too late to get items on that agenda. Chops & Hops could apply to be on the April agenda and possibly be pouring liquor drinks by early May.

Watkinsville man arrested on charges of molesting girl A 37-year-old Watkinsville man remains in the Oconee County Jail without bond on charges that he molested a 14-year-old girl. Walter Kent Hipps Jr., 37, of Bouldercrest Circle, was arrested Friday on charges of statutory rape and aggravated child molestation, according to the Watkinsville Police Department.

Oconee County Democratic Committee Agenda - March 19 2015 Business Meeting   Government Annex, Watkinsville, GA  1281 Greensboro Highway, Room B2   1. Call meeting to order, and record Members present or with excused absences 2. Nomination and Election of Officers: Committee members who have agreed to accept nominations: Margaret Holt - Chair; Sarajane Love – Secretary; Robert Wyatt – Treasurer; Vicky Moody - State Committee Member; and Pat Adams - First Vice-Chair. Additional nominations for officers will be accepted from the floor. 3. Recognition of Carolyn Crawford, past Chair 4. Collection of Dues from Committee Members: Carolyn, Wendy Wade, and Margaret have paid dues for 2015. There is no set amount for dues. Members have given what they consider reasonable.   According to the bylaws: “3.9. Dues: Reasonable dues for members may be set, upon due deliberation and majority vote of the Committee. ...

Just a word of warning to those who might be driving downtown to vote or anything on Simonton Bridge Road west toward downtown in Watkinsville. Work has begun near the First Christian Church to stop the flooding that may or may not be caused by the large Town Center shopping mall across Simonton Bridge. There was one block cordoned off while curbs were being finished this extremely busy Special Election St. Patrick's Day Tuesday on a warm and lovely afternoon.  Might be a good day to walk to the polls? afternoon. The final westbound block (between First and Main Streets in downtown Watkinsville) of Simonton Bridge Road in under construction and blocked for construction of new curbing to attempt to abate the near constant flooding at the church on Main Street. Watkinsville Mayor Charles Ivie worked with various members of the church to come to some compromise on what the city will or would not do, and apparently they are doing with the guidance of Mr. Mar...

And apparently there is a burn on the bypass 10 Loop as well -------- Original message -------- From: Oconee County Georgia Sheriff's Office Date:03/17/2015 9:42 AM (GMT-05:00) To: danmatt@hotmail.com Subject: Advisory Message: controlled burns --> Message sent via Nixle | Go to nixle.com | Unsubscribe Tuesday March 17, 2015, 9:42 AM Oconee County Georgia Sheriff's Office A message from your Sheriff's Office. Advisory: controlled burns Dear Nixle User, There are two controlled burns today (that we know of). One is on Old Salem Road and one is on JT Elder Road. Controlled burns are under the jurisdiction of the Georgia Forestry Commission. http://www.gfc.state.ga.us/ For full details, view this message on the web . Sent by Oconee County Georgia Sheriff's Office 1140 Experiment Station Rd, Watkinsville, GA 30677 To manage you...

Legendary Landers retires after 36 seasons

Subject: Atlanta Falcons Heads Up Football Clinic - Elberton Hello: My name is Amanda Dinkel and I am the Community Relations Coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons. I wanted to reach out and let you know about a special opportunity in your area from the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons will be hosting a Heads Up Football Clinic on Tuesday, March 24 in Elberton, GA. This free clinic is for children ages 6 –14 and focuses on teaching proper tackling and a variety of football fundamentals. A Parent Informational Session will also be offered for parents during the clinic that will be led by former Atlanta Falcons Linebacker Buddy Curry. Parents can learn about proper equipment fitting, concussion awareness and Heads Up Tackling. For more information and to register, please see the link below. www.atlantafalcons.com/headsupclinics Heads Up Football Clinic – Elberton, GA Date: Tuesday, March 24 Time: Heads Up Clinic 6:00 – 8:15 pm, Parent Information Session: 6:15 –...

I firmly believe that Watkinsville will continue to grow and prosper with the passage of Liquor By The Drink tomorrow. Municipal voters do not have to wear green to vote at either the Government Annex or the City Hall/Community Center from 7 pm to 7 am to keep Watkinsville a viable, dynamic community compatible with the rest of Oconee and Clarke counties. Please vote and if you need a ride to the polls, I will be happy to give you one, at 706-372-1062. The times that would be best for me at 7 am to 8:00 am, or 12:15 pm to 1:45 pm or 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm. I am sure it will be a nice day to walk to the polls if you have not advance voted yet. Watkinsville is a wonderful city that continues to evolve and grow. Should we vote NO as a City, we might as well be Bishop. There are municipal voters who eat at restaurants every day of their lives who have voted against it. There is an organized effort to pass it with the signs and postcards and what not, but surely there are just as many close...

Town of North High Shoals - meeting tonight on building new Town Hall TONHS Residents, Council member Holzman is inviting community members to come to the council meeting tonight at Town Hall at 7:30 pm to provide community input on the new town hall.  He says they will be " Putting the final touches on the request of proposals or deciding to go with an architect."   Please come provide them input on this important building project and pass on the word about the meeting. Here is the rest of the agenda:  Old Business:      Street Update – M. Beall          Possible Erosion Plantation/Speedway – V. Dawe      Park Update – M. Beall; S. Holzman Barn,          Clean-Up Day, Fitness Trail, Playground Equipment, etc.      Swimming Pool and Fence – Morgan Wheeler   ...

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