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

Two fundraising efforts were created to help the survivors of the April 27 crash in which four University of Georgia students were killed on a two-lane road in Oconee County. A YouCaring page was created to help Agnes Kim , the UGA student who remains in critical condition at Athens Regional Medical Center, while a Teespring page was created to aid Abby Short , an emergency medical technician with National EMS who sustained injuries requiring surgery.  Kim’s YouCaring page has raised $42,360 as of Tuesday morning, with a goal of $50,000. “Right now, we may not have any control over her healing and recovery, but one thing we can do is help lighten the burden of hospital bills that are sure to come,” the page reads. “She is currently in critical condition, but even once she wakes up there will no doubt be more expenses and bills. At this moment, her parents and siblings are worried about her health, as are the rest of us, but let’s gather our resources and alleviate the forth

Bogart man accused of damaging car, fighting off officers

Citizen journalist to file federal lawsuit after she was roughed up at Georgia GOP rally | Political Insider blog

5 things to watch: Oconee County hosts Decatur in boys soccer semifinals

Go Oconee County Soccer Warriors in their battle against Decatur High School at Warrior Stadium this evening in the Georgia High School Association Class AAA State Soccer Semifinal. This is the fourth year in a row that the Warriors have made the Final Four, and the first time that Oconee County High School has played host to this event (and maybe the first time since the 1999 Football State title game?). Everybody in Oconee County, and every soccer fans from the surrounding area is strongly encouraged to turn out. It was $7.00 to get against Dawson County last week, and congratulations to Simon Hunt for kicking the match winner in a thrilling 1-0 win. Now defeat Decatur!

No one deserves to lose more than Renee Unterman CRISIS PREGNANCY CENTERS | Full Frontal with Samantha Bee

Yoga @ the Library: Introduction to Headstands Tuesday, May 10, 2016, 6:00pm Join yoga instructor, Stacie Burmesiter, for a yoga class at the library! If you have wanted to learn yoga, now is your chance to do it absolutely free. We will be learning introduction to headstands. Please bring a yoga mat or towel.  All programs and events are free and open to the public. For more information, please call 706-769-3950 Puppet Shows & Workshops Healthy Choices Tuesday, May 10, 2016, 4:00pm The Center for Puppetry Arts presents  interactive puppet shows and make-a-puppet workshops for kids of all ages at our library! Join us as we talk to puppeteers at the Center in Atlanta on “the big screen” in an interactive video chat, watch a show, and make your own puppet craft to take home! Funded by a grant from the Georgia Council of the Arts as part of our Oconee Inspirathon series of creative workshops for childre

The Hardigree Wildlife Sanctuary at 1110 Old Greensboro Highway in Watkinsville hosts a Family Wild Day from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. The event includes outdoor skills and activities from archery, fishing, BB guns and snakes. The event is free for members of the Sanctuary and $10 for non-members. There is no cost for children younger than 5. Registration is required by May 12 by calling (706) 310-0088 or emailing sharon@lgwoutdoors.com . The sanctuary’s executive director is Steve M. Scruggs. Hardigree Wildlife Sanctuary to host Family Wild Day in Watkinsville

North Oconee wins girls tennis state title