Thursday, August 31, 2017

Oconee County Businessman Wiedower Announces Candidacy For 119th House District

Two In Race

Marcus Wiedower, 1081 Princeton Lane, just outside Watkinsville, announced this (Thursday) morning that he is a candidate for the 119th House District, consisting of Oconee and Clarke counties.

Wiedower joins Tom Lord, who announced on Monday that he will seek to replace Chuck Williams. Williams has been appointed by Gov. Nathan Deal as director of the state Forestry Commission.

Wednesday, August 30, 2017

Oconee County Commission Agrees To Put Demolition Of Old Jail On Next Week’s Agenda For Discussion And Possible Vote

Part Of Courthouse Expansion

Oconee County commissioners took two steps last night toward the possible demolition of the old and unused jail, which is at the rear of the Courthouse in Watkinsville.

At its agenda-setting meeting, the commissioners agreed to take up the future of the jail at its meeting next Tuesday night, with only Commissioner William “Bubber” Wilkes indicating opposition to the demolition plans.

Oconee County Resident Announces Plans To Run In 119th State House District, But No Election Date Has Been Set

No Date For 117th District Race Either

Thomas Lord, 1172 Bridlegate Drive, off Astondale Road in the south of Oconee County, has announced that he plans to run for the 119th House District seat that became vacant on Monday when Gov. Nathan Deal appointed Chuck Williams as director of the state Forestry Commission.

Lord is owner of Lord and Stephens Funeral Homes, with locations in Athens-Clarke County, Madison County and Oconee County.

Tuesday, August 29, 2017

Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tells Students At Oconee Republican Meeting About Career Prospects

Also Asks For Support

Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black had a simple message for the young people gathered at the meeting of the Oconee County Republic Party last week.

Agriculture offers lots of good career opportunities, Black told the Oconee County high school and middle school students.

Monday, August 28, 2017

Gov. Deal Appoints Rep. Chuck Williams To Head Forestry Commission, Opening Up Another Oconee County House Seat

Special Elections Needed

Gov. Nathan Deal today (Monday) appointed Rep. Chuck Williams director of the Georgia Forestry Commission, creating a second opening in Oconee County’s state legislative delegation.

Williams represents the 119th District in the Georgia House of Representatives, which consists of 10 of Oconee County’s 13 precincts and parts of southeastern Clarke County.

Sunday, August 27, 2017

Developers Of Epps Bridge Centre Postpone Work On Part Of Project Thought To Include Costco

Other Work Progressing

The developers of the expanded Epps Bridge Centre have postponed until some unspecified time in the future construction of the part of the project that was expected to include a Costco membership-only warehouse club.

In revised preliminary site plans submitted to the Oconee County Planning and Code Enforcement Department on July 31, Oconee 316 Associates LLC of Atlanta split development of Epps Bridge Centre II into two parts, labeled Phase 1 and 2.

Oconee County Experimenting With Autry Road Exit To Oconee Veterans Park

During Peak Times

Oconee County Parks and Recreation Department last week began using Autry Road as a second exit from Oconee Veterans Park on an experimental basis to see if it helps relieve traffic during peak periods at the park.

Traffic on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays during the 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. period will be allowed to exit the park via the back gate, which feeds onto Autry Road and then Hodges Mill Road.

Saturday, August 26, 2017

Hard Labor Creek Reservoir Board Asking Corps Of Engineers For Permit Extension For Apalachee River Intake Facility

Historic Concerns Raised

The Hard Labor Creek Regional Reservoir Management Board last week agreed to ask the United States Corp of Engineers for a permit extension for construction of an intake facility on the Apalachee River at High Shoals.

The Board had voted at its previous meeting in May to go forward with construction of the intake facility, which could be used to expand at some point in the future the capacity of the reservoir now filling in southeast Walton County.

Thursday, August 24, 2017

Special Election Likely For Oconee County Voters In Georgia House District 117; Special Election In District 119 Also Possible

Rep. Quick Named Judge

Voters in three of Oconee County’s 13 precincts likely will be participating in a special election on Nov. 7 to help determine who replaces Regina Quick in the Georgia House of Representatives.

Gov. Nathan Deal on Wednesday announced the appointment of Quick as Superior Court Judge of the Western Judicial Circuit, making it necessary for her to resign as representative of the 117th House District.

Sunday, August 20, 2017

Oconee County Issues Building Permits For Burger King West Of Butler’s Crossing And For Mama’s Boy At Falls Of Oconee

Reception Hall Request

The Oconee County Planning and Code Enforcement Department has issued a building permit for Burger King, the first of two fast food restaurants to be built on Hog Mountain Road opposite the three-school complex at the corner of at Hog Mountain Road and Mars Hill Road in Butler’s Crossing.

Construction is scheduled to be completed in early November, according to the permit application.

Thursday, August 17, 2017

Candidates For Local And Federal Offices Step Forward At Oconee County Democratic Party Meeting

Watkinsville And Congress

Jennifer Gude told Oconee County Democrats gathered in the Watkinsville Library on Tuesday night that she has decided to run for a seat on the Watkinsville Council to make a good city even better.

Richard Dien Winfield of Athens followed Gude to the front of the room, stating that he plans to announce in January that he is a candidate for U.S. House of Representatives from the 10th Congressional District to put forward what he called a “new social bill of rights.”

Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Watkinsville Swears In New Mayor To Replace Charles Ivie, Who Stepped Down On Monday For Health Reasons

Massey Takes Oath

Watkinsville got a new mayor tonight (Wednesday) as Connie Massey took the oath of office at the beginning of the City Council meeting.

Massey replaced Charles Ivie, who resigned as mayor on Monday morning because of health problems. Ivie had previously announced that he would not run for re-election.

Monday, August 14, 2017

Daniells Bridge Road Flyover Removed From Transportation Planning Documents For Oconee County, But It Could Reappear In The Future

Kittles Make Plea

The Policy Committee of the Madison Athens Clarke Oconee Regional Transportation Study (MACORTS) last week removed the proposed flyover connecting Daniells Bridge Road with the Oconee Connector from its 2040 Long Range Transportation Plan.

The Policy Committee also added five projects to its 2040 Long Range Transportation Plan to accommodate the Construction Work Program of the Georgia Department of Transportation.

Tuesday, August 08, 2017

Oconee County Citizen Committee Raises Concerns About Traffic At Oconee Veterans Park With Addition Of New Fields

Multi-Use Fields Planned

Members of the Oconee County Citizens Advisory Committee on Recreational Affairs were pleased last month with the county’s decision to begin construction of three multi-use fields at Oconee Veterans Park but expressed concern about the impact of the project on traffic at the park.

Lisa Davol, newly appointed director of the Parks and Recreation Department, updated the group on county plans for the fields, originally designated for adult softball but now being redesigned for multiple sports.

Wednesday, August 02, 2017

Oconee County Commissioners Approve Rezone In Preparation For Sale Of Barber Creek Fire Station Acreage

Warning On Alcohol Licenses

Oconee County commissioners last (Tuesday) night rezoned nearly two acres on the Oconee Connector and Daniells Bridge Road where the Barber Creek fire station sits in preparation for selling it for business development.

Although the property was donated to the county prior to 1997, the county owns the land outright and is preparing to sell it to the best bidder. The owners of the nearby SpringHill Suites by Marriott, 3500 Daniells Bridge Road, seem likely to be interested.