Oconee County, GA Politics

Situated in what used to be Poss's Lakeview once upon a time lies the most prestigious golf community in Oconee and Clarke counties in Jennings Mill. This weekend they are hosting the first professional golf tournament ever in the area. The only thing I can remember even coming close was the Kenny Rogers All-Star Sports Celebrity weekend back in 1986 in Colbert. That was the first event I covered for the Banner-Herald on a freelance basis, and I remain a freelance journalist with them to this day. I think Ed Tant has a longer relationship with them, but I appreciate the ink and the chance to write. I put a whole bunch of photos online at spotted of the Jr. Clinic Tuesday at the Nationwide event . Former UGA golfers taught a couple dozen kids how to grip a driver and what not. The Oconee County Sheriff's Department is at one end making sure you don't turn into Meriweather Drive unless you are media. So go park at the old Wal-Mart and take the buses or golf carts around Jenni

OnlineAthens.com | Letters to the Editor | Chip Shirley: Democrats should get in 10th District House race 04/21/06

Jane Kidd, look what the Republicans did.

Looks like Gainesville State's campus in Oconee County is about to get some neighbors.

April 19, 2006 MEMORANDUM FOR: FEDERAL AND STATE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES FROM: JEFF DiSANTIS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF GEORGIA SUBJECT: 2006 QUALIFYING PERIOD This year’s qualifying period opens at 9:00 am on Monday, April 24, 2006. On Monday through Thursday, qualifying will occur from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm, and on Friday, April 28, qualifying will occur from 9:00 am until noon. No one will be permitted to qualify later than noon on April 28. The Democratic Party of Georgia’s qualifying will be located in the House Chamber at the State Capitol in downtown Atlanta. Parking is available across Capitol Avenue from the Capitol, and next to the World of Coke museum at the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr., Drive and Washington Street. When candidates arrive in the House Chamber, qualifying will occur as follows: (1) All required information will be collected from you and data entered by a member of the Democratic Party staff. A qualifying affidavit containing that

Dear friends, The Moore's Ford Memorial Committee cordially invites you to attend our Seventh Annual Scholarship Banquet, set for next Thursday, April 27 at the Sanctuary in downtown Watkinsville. We gather at 6:30 p.m., serve the meal (catered by Weaver D's Delicious Fine Foods) at 7 p.m., with program to follow. Fourteen finalists from five area public high schools of Athens-Clarke, Oconee and Walton Counties have been invited. We will award six $1,000 scholarships; the rest receive $100 merit awards. Last year's program is attached. We are still revising the 2006 program. Join in the fellowship and pay tribute to these fine young people nexThursday night, April 27. Let us honor these "living memorials" to the Dorseys and the Malcoms, two African American couples killed by a lynch mob at the Moore's Ford Bridge in 1946 . We in turn will be honored by your presence. For those new to the story, see www.mooresford.org. According to recent news report

Please make note of numbers 9, and 17. 20 Amazing Facts About Voting in the USA Did you know.... 80% of all votes in America are counted by only two companies: Diebold and ES&S. http://www.onlinejournal.com/evoting/042804Landes/042804landes.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diebold There is no federal agency with regulatory authority or oversight of the U.S. voting machine industry. http://www.commondreams.org/views02/0916-04.htm http://www.onlinejournal.com/evoting/042804Landes/042804landes.html The vice-president of Diebold and the president of ES&S are brothers. http://www.americanfreepress.net/html/private_company.html http://www.onlinejournal.com/evoting/042804Landes/042804landes.html The chairman and CEO of Diebold is a major Bush campaign organizer and donor who wrote in 2003 that he was "committed to helping Ohio deliver its electoral votes to the president next year." http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/07/28/sunday/main632436.shtml http://www.wishtv.com/Gl

Oconee and Clarke county residents should get well acquainted with the Athens Regional Foundation Classic golf tournament this weekend. Come out to Jennings Mill and see some of the Nationwide golfers get their groove on over the Clarke-Oconee border. My favorite golfer was the pink panted Bradley Hughes of Austrailia, one time Austrailian Rules Football signee. He was around seven over when I saw him put one under the bleachers on 18. This tournament is being run quite well with plenty of volunteers but I felt sorry for the ladies having to tell me I was not allowed in the corporate tent. I am a shade seeker, but managed to hike from Oconee to Clarke county up on the old 16th/5th hole - they flopeed the order of the holes. Meanwhile up the road in the real Bogart there are charges a-flying between the council and mayor. Seems there are no real easy solutions when nepotism takes it toll. Too bad they have to air there dirty laundry at the same time when such a great tournament is going

Do you think a lot of Hispanic Americans will vote for the re-election or even re-nomination of Governor Sonny Perdue after he used them to be the scapegoat of his anti-immigrant legislation?

Neal Priest: Deconstructing GOP's political 'doublespeak' 04/19/06

Profile: Lorraine Thompson 04/19/06

Wayne Ford's editing work on my city council story.

Great letter to the editor: Chamber's job is business, not government, politics 04/18/06

Merritt makes Mayor Jim Luken talk about getting a massage, well not really, but he says the sign ordinance needs to get massaged a bit.

This Major General's brother lives down the street from me and his nephew just bought three glasses of lemon lime gatorade from my son Lowell.

Really cool BBQ at the Chapelle Gallery Monday at 6pm as well