Oconee County, GA Politics

Oconee County Observations: Oconee County Saturday Strolls at Harris Shoals Ra... : "Adult/Family Summer Camp For the second year in a row, the Oconee Democrats raised more than $1,000 for local charities through its Saturda..."

Begin forwarded message: From: Lee Becker < lbbecker@mindspring.com > Date: August 13, 2010 11:28:37 PM EDT To: lbbecker@mindspring.com Subject: Adult/Family Summer Camp Reply-To: lbbecker@mindspring.com Dear Friends, For the second year in a row, the Oconee Democrats raised more than $1,000 for local charities through its Saturday Strolls series. For a report on the series, including a video clip from one stroll and a slide show that includes pictures from all 14 strolls, go to my blog: http://oconeecountyobservations.blogspot.com/2010/08/oconee-county-saturday-strolls-at.html Lee -- Lee Becker Blog: www.oconeecountyobservations.blogspot.com Web: http://lbbecker48.googlepages.com/

Woven brightly, Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. Date: Fri, 13 Aug 2010 06:35:09 -0700 From: oconeefm@yahoo.com Subject: Oconee Farmers Market To: oconeefm@yahoo.com This week we will have cinnamon rolls, fresh homemade breads, sourdough bread , pretzels, bagels and biscotti as well as granola!! There will be homemade cakes and assorted pastries as well as Blueberry Pie , Peach Pie, Sweet Potato Pie , P ecan Pie , banana-nut bread, delicious pound cakes , snickerdoodle cookies, apple-pecan muffins and Whoopie Pies . We will have fresh locally grown herbs, homegrown tomatoes, eggplant, cucumbers,  fresh corn, okra, peaches , blueberries, melons, garlic, potatoes, radishes, purple hull peas, bell peppers , jalapeno peppers , various sweet and hot peppers, figs, sprouts, basil, green onions , squash ,  yellow onions  and boiled or fried peanuts and pork skins. Maryanne Simmons will be here with her homegrown tomatoes. Fresh made jams and jellies. Muscadines. Don't fo

Down to the minute schedule of Democratic speakers in Athens tomorrow afternoon. The Democratic Party of Georgia would like you to pay a $50.00 donation to get accredited but the speeches are free and open to the public. Barnes headlines Democratic convention schedule

I am amused at how far the coverage goes on this story, now appearing in the Washington Post, and I am appreciative of his manners. But my goodness, there are so many more important stories with dateline Watkinsville than some drug addled jerk apologizing for holding up Vision Video. Ga. robber takes cash, apologizes before fleeing

You can still pitch a tent in Oconee County It’s almost time for UGA fans to start tailgating … but where? | UGA: The Junkyard Blawg

Georgia Democrats meeting Saturday in Athens

Friend -- Eighteen years ago, shortly after graduating from law school, I helped lead a voter registration campaign in Chicago that generated record turnout on Election Day. That experience taught me one of the most important lessons I ever learned as a community organizer: When people promise that they'll do something -- like voting -- they are far more likely to do it. That's why one key part of our Vote 2010 plan this year is to get folks like you from across the country to commit to vote, to make sure we get as many people as we can to cast their ballots this fall. But getting the commitments we need starts with your own promise to make it to the polls and cast your ballot. Will you please commit to vote in the 2010 elections? Over the next 82 days, volunteers across the country will spend countless hours calling voters and knocking on their doors, asking them the same question. And you can bet that I am counting on you to join them in talking to voters in

Cage Match in Georgia

Here in Athens this weekend 2010 State Convention | Democratic Party of Georgia

Nathan Deal: Among &#8220;15 Most Corrupt Members of Congress&#8221;

Georgia Trend

Georgia congressman tells Sarah Palin to go away | jacksonville.com

Friend -- I want to thank the OFA supporters who stood with House Democrats as they raced back to Washington this week to cast a vote on a state assistance bill. I'm proud to say they passed the bill yesterday and the President immediately signed it into law. And, because of it, hundreds of thousands of jobs will be saved -- including an estimated 161,000 public school teachers across the country. Republicans called this bill a "bailout" and a "handout." They called the police officers, firefighters, and teachers whose jobs were on the line "special interests." And nearly every House Republican voted no. But Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats did the right thing, reminding us again of what we're fighting for in the upcoming elections. When voters cast their ballots in November, it's up to us to make sure they remember who's fighting for them. Thanks for all you do, Mitch Mitch Stewart Director Organizing for America

This is some salacious material involving former President Bush spokesman Ari Fleischer and a hotel room in Greenville. No wonder former 99X current Dave FM radio host Jimmy Baron has divorced her. Ex-Ralph Reed Spokeswoman Lisa Baron Spilling Sexy Political Details for Book

There is no question this ugly structure has outlived its usefulness and is an architectural abomination. That much being granted, however, I have to concur with Board of Commissioners member Jim Luke that the rebuilding of this structure needs to be carefully moderated and since it houses a Federal bureaucracy, this would be an ideal situation for Federal stimulus dollars to at least help Oconee County alleviate some of the considerable expense. That of course is assuming we had something more than a do-nothing dodo bird as a Congressman in Washington with Dr. Paul Broun who would not even know how to assign federal expenditures if we really needed any. Pork you, Paulie. Commission hires architect for annex renovation || OnlineAthens.com

Draft Tammy Gilland for Board of Commission chair 2012 to take on Sarah Bell. National award for Oconee woman || OnlineAthens.com

I just sincerely hope any excess funds generated by Oconee County for housing other counties' prisoners goes toward improving existing facilities or perhaps an account for the much-ballyhooed Criminal Justice Center to be built ostensibly between the jail and the Mack Guest memorial Board of Education building on the Williams' brother property on business 441. Agreement reached on Athens inmates || OnlineAthens.com

The ne'er do wells who perpetrated this scam against an Oconee County resident attempted the same thing with my elderly father in the Atlanta area a few months back and I am grateful my step-mother stepped in to stop him at the bank before any money was wired to Canada. Know what to listen for from a phone scammer || OnlineAthens.com

Oconee schools lift robbery-related lockdown || OnlineAthens.com

The Oconee Enterprise > Latest Updates > Gunman robs Vision Video

Karen Handel concedes in Republican runoff for governor

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2010 Gubernatorial primary runoff results map | ajc.com

My Watkinsville neighbor and Sunshine Cycles local business owner Jimmy Marbut gets quoted about a cool new bike, essentially an affordable fully carbon road bike and his next XC bike revealed. Bicycle Retailer and Industry News

Evidently echoing the sentiment across the state, Nathan Deal defeated Karen Hande l locally by a 2414 - 1599.

I guess I missed this while on vacation Smith had affair with staffer, divorce records say | ajc.com

Finalists chosen for Oconee BOE seat || OnlineAthens.com

Dear Reader of the Oconee County Politics blog, As many of you probably know, our campaign has moved into our new headquarters. Thanks to your generous support, we have been able to get a space that is perfect. It is an ideal space that can accommodate many volunteers and supporters so we can run a great campaign. We want to invite you to our Grand Opening Celebration. What: Russell Edwards for Congress HQ Grand Opening Celebration When: Thursday, August 12th Time: 5:00pm - 7:00pm Where: 1063 Baxter St., Athens, GA 30606 ( Click here to map it) Come and enjoy refreshments and good company. Check out some pictures here . We look forward to seeing you at the opening. If you cannot make it to the event on Thursday, we would love for you to stop by sometime. Our office is open everyday from 9:00am - 5:00pm, Monday through Friday. If you would like to volunteer your time at the office, please click here to fill out the volunteer form. P.O. Box 80706 Athens, GA 30608 This message

Dear Dan, As many of you probably know, our campaign has moved into our new headquarters. Thanks to your generous support, we have been able to get a space that is perfect. It is an ideal space that can accommodate many volunteers and supporters so we can run a great campaign. We want to invite you to our Grand Opening Celebration. What: Russell Edwards for Congress HQ Grand Opening Celebration When: Thursday, August 12th Time: 5:00pm - 7:00pm Where: 1063 Baxter St., Athens, GA 30606 ( Click here to map it) Come and enjoy refreshments and good company. Check out some pictures here . We look forward to seeing you at the opening. If you cannot make it to the event on Thursday, we would love for you to stop by sometime. Our office is open everyday from 9:00am - 5:00pm, Monday through Friday. If you would like to volunteer your time at the office, please click here to fill out the volunteer form. P.O. Box 80706 Athens, GA 30608 This message has been forwarded by danmatt@hotmail

Begin forwarded message: Resent-From: ccdcnm1@clarkedemocrats.com From: Karen Solheim < ksolheim@oconeeschools.org > Date: August 9, 2010 9:00:55 PM EDT To: ccdcnm1@clarkedemocrats.com Subject: CCDC: UGA YD and Election Day info Dear CCDC members and friends,   Please read the two emails below from the UGA Young Democrats, and don't forget to vote on Tuesday, August 10, in the primary runoff election.!   Sincerely, Karen Solheim CCDC Vice Chair for Communications =========================== 1. A message from the Roy Barnes campaign: On Saturday, August 14, the Democratic Party of Georgia will host its annual state convention in Athens from 9:00am-4:00pm at The Classic Center.  We need as many volunteers as we can get to help register statewide volunteers, pass out campaign materials, and show some hardcore Roy 2010 spirit.    I wanted to give you a first-shot to sign up to volunteer.  If you're available, please RSVP by using our Facebook event page ( http://

The Oconee County Board of Education demonstrated its narrow minded viewpoint by selecting Wayne Bagley, Michael Burnette, and Glenn Townsend for the top three finalists to fill the vacant Post 5 seat. A decision will be forthcoming as to who will get to serve on the School Board Distinct lack of diversity seems to be the goal once again with the decision for this trio. Townsend worked as an Assistant Principal at a couple of local schools and Burnette bought corporate sponsorship for various Oconee County High School though his Tire Plus business.  Bagley is a land developer.  No women, nor members of any minority party, were selected. There were several equally qualified individuals who apparently did not say with the current Board of Education wanted to hear. Something tells me they are going to have the same fate as Mack Guest in the next election. Guest set a new standard for getting his ass kicked as an incumbent when losing by more than a 2-to-1 margin to Mark Thomas in th

Friend -- Right now, my job -- along with those of my colleagues -- could be in jeopardy. I'm a public school teacher in Philadelphia. And, like most states across the country, Pennsylvania is facing some bad budget shortfalls. Without federal help, a lot of teachers like me -- as well as other public servants like police officers and firefighters -- will lose their jobs. Maybe you know some of these people. Maybe it's you. Democrats in Congress are trying to do the right thing, proposing emergency assistance for states to preserve more than 100,000 jobs like mine. They're racing back to the Capitol for an emergency session this week to pass this bill and save these jobs. But Republicans are standing in the way. Minority Leader John Boehner is calling the bill a "payoff" to "special interests" and attacking every Democrat who is fighting for us. But I'm not a special interest. I'm a teacher. Can you join me in telling House Demo

Karen Handel finishes like she started &#8212; and Sarah Palin slams Georgia Right to Life

Democrats to open new headquarters || OnlineAthens.com

Handel leads Deal in tight governor's race | ajc.com

If you are a gay or gay-frinedly voter in Georgia who happened to pull the G.O.P. ballot in the primary, then you should vote for Karen Handel in the run-off Tuesday.  If you think any support of gay people is somehow immoral, then you should vote for Nathan Deal. So goes the common political wisdom in the Georgia Gubernatorial run off Tuesday. Or should it? I voted for Deal, but not because I think he is the better candidate. I think he is incredibly corrupt and intolerant, and I think he will be much easier for former Governor Roy Barnes to beat in Novermber because of this baggage. I think Republican women and many politically active women of all stripes will rally around Handel if she secures the nomination, and she would probably beat Barnes in the general election. I attended the Handel rally at the Oconee County Courthouse and was genuinely surprised at the amount of seemingly moderate white folks who attended this event. I did not attend the Deal event the following day at

Dink NeSmith cites Watkinsville's Eagle Tavern as a reason UGA is not a top party school Does the University of Georgia warrant label as top ‘party school’? | ajc.com

Handel leads in new poll, but Deal closing || OnlineAthens.com