Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Candidate For Watkinsville City Council Race Withdraws From Campaign

***Leaving Two For Post 2***

Jennifer Gude, one of three candidates who qualified to run for Post 2 on the Watkinsville City Council, turned in paperwork on Tuesday withdrawing from the contest.

Gude had announced at a Meet and Greet for Watkinsville city candidates on Sunday that she had decided not to continue her campaign for family reasons.

Monday, September 25, 2017

Four Applicants Seeking Appointment To Oconee County Industrial Development Authority

***On BOC Agenda***

Oconee County Commissioners tomorrow (Tuesday) night will consider four applicants for two positions on the Oconee County Industrial Development Authority–clearly the most powerful committee a citizen can be appointed to in the county.

Chuck Williams, selected by Gov. Nathan Deal as the director of the Georgia Forestry Commission, is not seeking reappointment to the Industrial Development Authority.

Friday, September 22, 2017

Oconee County Republicans Featuring Party’s House Candidates In A Meeting This Week

***Democrats Hosting Meet And Greet***

Three–and possibly four–of the Republicans running for the Georgia House of Representatives in the Special Elections on Nov. 7 are to be guest speakers at the Oconee County Republican Party meeting on Sept. 28, Party Chair Tammy Gilland announced on Thursday evening.

Houston Gaines, running in the 117th House District race, and Tom Lord and Marcus Wiedower, running in the 119th House District race, have confirmed they will attend, Gilland said in an email message she sent out late last evening.

Thursday, September 21, 2017

Citizens Shaping Oconee County Comprehensive Plan Update Told Their Work Is 60 Percent Complete

Public Meeting In December

Work on the 2018 update for the Oconee County Comprehensive Plan is about 60 percent complete, Justin Crighton, a planner with the Northeast Georgia Regional Commission, told members of the citizen committee involved in the update at its meeting on Tuesday night.

Crighton, who is leading the work on the update, said he has been drafting two key parts of the final document, one dealing with community needs and opportunities and the other with visions, goals and policies.

Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Oconee County School System Releases Proposed Redistricting Maps To Accommodate New Elementary School

***Two Districts Affected***

Parents living northwest of U.S. 78 will be sending their elementary school children to the new Dove Creek Elementary School starting on Aug. 1 if the preliminary redistricting plans presented to the Oconee County Board of Education on Monday are adopted.

The School System is now taking public input on the proposed redistricting map, and the Board of Education has scheduled a Public Forum on the proposal for 6 p.m. on Oct. 10 at North Oconee High School.

Monday, September 18, 2017

Democratic Party Resurgent In Oconee County, With Candidates Running In Both Georgia House Districts

**Two Republican Groups**

The Democratic Party in Oconee County is experiencing a resurgence, with a candidate running in each of the Nov. 7 special elections to fill vacancies in the 117th and 119th Districts of the Georgia House of Representatives.

This is at the same time that the Republican Party in the county is split, with a new group, calling itself the Oconee County Area Republicans, having formed earlier this year.

Sunday, September 17, 2017

Oconee County Approves Plans For Bank At Daniells Bridge Road And Mars Hill Road; Possible Restaurant And Hotel Nearby Under Review

Planning Commission Meeting

The Oconee County Development Review Committee on Friday morning approved the preliminary site plans for a bank on the southeastern corner of Daniells Bridge Road and Mars Hill Road, opposite QuikTrip.

Tomorrow (Monday) night, the Oconee County Planning Commission will consider a rezone request for 4.5 acres at the southeast corner of the Oconee Connector and SR 316, just north of the site for the bank.

Friday, September 15, 2017

Six Qualify For Special Election On Nov. 7 For House Districts 117 And 119

**2 Democrats, 4 Republicans**

Georgia House District 117, made up of parts of Barrow, Clarke, Jackson and Oconee counties, will continue to be represented by someone from Clarke County following the special election on Nov. 7.

Georgia House District 119, made up of Clarke and Oconee counties, will continue to be represented by someone from Oconee County following the Nov. 7 special election.

Thursday, September 14, 2017

Two More Qualify For Special Elections On Nov. 7 For Georgia House Districts 117 and 119

**Forum Announced**

Houston Gaines qualified today (Thursday) for the special election on Nov. 7 to fill the open seat for Georgia House District 117, while Marcus Wiedower qualified for the special election on Nov. 7 to fill the open seat for Georgia House District 119.

Gaines, running as a Republican, joins Deborah Gonzalez, who qualified to run as a Democrat on Wednesday.

Wednesday, September 13, 2017

On First Day of Qualifying, Four Candidates File Paperwork To Run In Special Elections For Oconee County House Seats

**Two Democrats, Two Republicans**

Three candidates qualified today (Wednesday) to run in the Georgia House District 119 Special Election on Nov. 7, two as Republicans and one as a Democrat.

Deborah Gonzalez was the only candidate to qualify in House District 117. Gonzalez is running as a Democrat.

Sunday, September 10, 2017

Volunteers Take Little Time To Plant 2,977 Flags At North Oconee High School In 9/11 Memorial Event

**Student Organized**

It took the roughly 100 people assembled for the 9/11 Memorial Event less than a half hour Sunday evening to plant the 2,977 small flags on the front lawn of North Oconee High School.

Each flag was to represent an individual who lost her or his life in the terrorist attacks on the United States on Sept. 11, 2001.

Oconee County Library Friends Has Mystery/Thrillers, Children’s Book, And More At Fall Book Sale

**28,350 Books Sorted For Sale**

Community members will have a chance starting on Thursday to participate in the Oconee County Library Friends Fall Book Sale and buy back books donated from the community to help support the library in Watkinsville.

Volunteers have organized an estimated 28,350 books, sorted into 37 categories, to be offered for sale at the Civic Center, 2661 Hog Mountain Road west of Butler’s Crossing.

Friday, September 08, 2017

Oconee County Political Parties Supporting North Oconee High School 9/11 Memorial Project

**YAF Student Chapter**

NOTE: As of 2 p.m. on Sept. 10, this event is to be held as planned. Oconee County Schools, however, are closed on Sept. 11 due to anticipated severe weather.

Oconee County’s Democratic and Republican parties have sent notices to their members asking them to join in Sunday’s 9/11 Never Forget Project at North Oconee High School.

Organized by the North Oconee High School Young Americans for Freedom chapter, the event is centered around placing 2,977 flags on the front lawn of North Oconee High School to honor the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the U.S.

Wednesday, September 06, 2017

Oconee County Commissioners Grant Appeal To Briarwood Baptist, Move Forward On Old Jail Demolition

**$15 Million Bond Sale Discussed**

The Oconee County Board of Commissioners last (Tuesday) night approved the appeal by Briarwood Baptist Church of a construction moratorium imposed by the county, allowing the church to go forward with expansion plans at its Hog Mountain Road location.

The Commissioners also agreed to go forward with plans for demolition of the Old Jail at the rear of the Courthouse in Watkinsville to allow for expansion of the Courthouse.

Secretary Of State Kemp Announces Special Elections For Oconee County House Districts

**Nov. 7 Election**

NOTE: Secretary of State Brian Kemp announced on Sept. 8 that qualifying for the Special Election on Nov. 7 will be held from from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 13 and 14 and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sept. 15 in the Secretary of State’s Office. Gov. Nathan Deal announced just after noon on Sept. 10 that all Georgia government offices will be closed on Sept. 11 and 12. As of 2:45 p.m. on Sept. 10, Oconee County government offices remain open on Sept. 11. UPDATE: Oconee County Offices will be closed on Sept. 11.

Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp today announced special elections on Nov. 7 for both of Oconee County’s state House of Representatives districts.

Qualifying will be held Sept. 11 to Sept. 13 at the Elections Division Office of the Secretary of State in Atlanta. Qualifying fee is $400.

Tuesday, September 05, 2017

North High Shoals Businessman Strickland Announces Plans To Run In 119th House District

**Joins Two Others**

A third Oconee County businessman has announced that he plans to run for what will be an open seat in the Georgia General Assembly representing Oconee and Clarke counties.

Steven Strickland, 1061 Arborwood Ridge in North High Shoals, said he wants to bring his 17 years of business experience in the communications and software industries to the Georgia House of Representatives.

Monday, September 04, 2017

Oconee County Commissioners To Decide On Future Of Old Jail And Funding For Calls Creek Sewage Plant Expansion

**Horse Barn And Church Also On Agenda**

The Old Jail, a horse barn turned reception hall, funding for the Calls Creek sewage treatment plant, and Briarwood Baptist Church are all on the agenda of the Board of Commissioners for tomorrow (Tuesday) night.

Commissioners will decide if they want to go forward with demolition of the abandoned Jail at a rear corner of the Courthouse in Watkinsville and if they are willing to spend an additional $57,080 for design work for an expansion of the Courthouse into the space freed up by the demolition.