Oconee County, GA Politics

AGENDA CITY OF WATKINSVILLE May 18, 2016 CALL TO ORDER QUORUM CHECK MINUTES 1. April 20, 2016 APPEARANCES 1. Landys Turner — business license — Precise Cleaning — 112 Morrison Street 2. Ted Evans, Jr. — business license — Evans Quality Buildings — 1180 Greensboro Highway 3. Jason McGahee — business license — Clarke Veneers & Plywood — 1450 Greensboro Highway 4. Watkinsville Memorial Baptist Church — rezone 18 Second Street 5. Jared York — variance request — 58 Wilson Road - garage size from 400 sq. ft. to 462 sq. ft. 6. Jared York — variance request — 60 Wilson Road — garage size from 400 sq. ft. to 462 sq. ft. 7. Ken Beall — Site Development Plans — Industrial Finishing Specialists — 1051 Business Blvd. 8. Ingram Construction — building permit — 3500 sq. ft. warehouse — 1051 Business Blvd. 9. Bob Smith for Fifteen Properties — Sketch Plat & Concept Plan — 420 & 540 Jerry Smith Drive ADMINISTRATION 1. Reconciliation Reports - April 30, 2016 General ...

Gwinnett expands early voting Saturday

Secretive political fund tied to House Speaker Ralston

House Speaker David Ralston enters Fannin County flap over bathroom rules | Political Insider blog

School buses wreck at Oconee Connector : Two Oconee County school busses were involved in a minor traffic accident Thursday morning that resulted in about a dozen children being transported to the nearby Barber Creek fire station.

Update: 13 students were taken to Station 8. Their families have been contacted. All of the other children went back to school. All of the students are from RBES. The buses were on a field trip. School officials are working to contact specific parents. I left for the scene immediately after typing the message and am trying get get updated information now. I will update as I can. I will not be able to respond to specific questions. Apparently three Oconee County school system buses were involved in two separate accidents on the same busy morning, near the last day of school. The more serious of which occurred near 316 and the Oconee Connector and two buses. There was a different wreck involving a school bus on Malcom Bridge earlier this morning. There were four students on that bus, none were injured, and the school officials were immediately able to contact those parents. These are two completely separate incidents.

Two Oconee County school buses were just involved in an accident at 316 and the Oconee Connector. Any injuries to children are being described as minor. At the time of this writing, I have no specific information as to the nature of the accident nor injuries beyond that described as above. Sheriff Berry is on scene. All of the children on the buses are being taken to Oconee County Fire Station #8. The address is 1050 Oconee Connector. This is the fire station next to the QuikTrip. Parents may go to the fire station to check on their children. MEDIA: Please give us time to assist the families before you start calling and rushing to the scene!!

No serious injuries were reported in connection with a Thursday morning accident involving an Oconee County school bus, according to Oconee County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Lee Weems. The accident occurred at the intersection of Malcom Bridge and Rocky Branch roads, Weems said. No one was transported from the scene for medical treatment, the chief deputy said. No additional details on the wreck were immediately available. No injuries reported in Oconee County school bus wreck

Turtle expert's opinion overlooked in DNR's report : Georgia’s Department of Natural Resources ignored its own turtle expert’s advice in a document prepared for Sea Island Acquisition’s request to build a new beach, according to testimony Tuesday at a state appeals hearing at Old City Hall in Brunswick.

I predict that Oconee County Sheriff Scott Berry win re-election and shall defeat a very determined Kevin "Chappy" Hynes. I think the outcome will be a whole lot closer than anybody expected ,and while you cannot combine the Trey Downs vote from 4 years ago with the support for Kevin chappy Hynes is not a true political calculus equation. Trey Downs voters are not necessarily all going to vote for Hynes, but I imagine a good bit of them will. I do think that those distinct demographics will come together to give Scott Berry a whole lot closer a race, and I do hope that Chappy Hynes does get a real job with a law enforcement organization that is full time in the next four years (and could possibly be our next Sheriff). Sheriff races are usually won on personality. Scott Berry has a whole lot of personality and charm. Given all the obstacles and possible problems he has overcome, I cannot see Sheriff Berry losing this time around. I do think that Penny Mills will g...

Oconee County falls to Decatur in penalty kicks in Class AAA state semifinals

‘Will McAvoy’ Goes Viral on Donald Trump

The Georgia GOP has not yet joined Donald Trump’s new financing strategy | Political Insider blog

Public Art Watkinsville' Features Diverse Sculptural Works Art Notes By Jessica Smith "Hands of Respect" by Stan Mullins A small but thriving community, Watkinsville once earned the nickname “Artland of Georgia” for the many potters, painters and studio artists quietly working from their homes. Fully embracing its reputation as a center for established and emerging artists alike, the City of Watkinsville and the Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation (OCAF) have been working in cooperation behind the scenes to arrange not one but two exhibitions of public artwork, which are now fully installed and ready to cruise or stroll by. “Public Art Watkinsville: A Pop-up Sculpture Exhibit” features five diverse sculptural works temporarily installed at prominent locations along North Main Street. The imaginative creations were selected from works submitted through a call for entries issued by Watkinsville’s Arts Advisory C...

National Weather Service Watch Warning Advisory Summary

Oconee County Observations: Early Voting Suggests High Turnout In Oconee Count... : Voting Continues Nearly 400 voters cast ballots at the Oconee County Board of Elections and Registration by the end of the first week of e...

Oconee County Observations: Oconee County Candidates Restate Their Credentials... : Chops And Hops The Oconee County candidates in the May 24 Republican primary covered familiar ground last night in introducing themselves ...

Future Gymdogs, local gymnast win national titles