Monday, August 31, 2020

Northeast Health District Adds 123 COVID-19 Cases on Monday, With 74 In Clarke County

***Two Clarke County Nursing Home Deaths Reported***

The Northeast Health District added 123 new COVID-19 cases in the Department of Public Health Daily Status Report on Monday, with Clarke County accounting for the vast majority.

The seven-day rolling average of added cases increased to 148.9 on Monday from 137.1 on Sunday. The 10-county Northeast Health District is bucking the statewide trend of decreasing cases.

Sunday, August 30, 2020

Oconee County Commissioners Told To Expect Contract Next Month On Broadband Expansion Project

***County Administrator Outlines Project***

County Administrator Justin Kirouac told Oconee County commissioners at their meeting last week that he expects to have a contract to bring before them next month to move forward on broadband expansion in the county.

The county will partner with Smart City Capital of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to create a new company, Kirouac said, that will build out 540 miles of fiber throughout the county, including an 80 mile fiber ring.

Clarke County Adds 53 COVID-19 Cases On Sunday, And Northeast Health District Seven-Day Rolling Average Of Added Cases Increases

***No New Deaths From Disease In Daily Status Report***

Led by Clarke County, the Northeast Health District added 102 confirmed COVID-19 cases on Sunday, pushing the seven-day rolling average of added cases to 137.1, up from 129.0 on Saturday.

The Department of Public Health listed no new deaths from COVID-19 in the Northeast Health District on Sunday, the first day since Aug. 13 that no deaths have been added with release of its Daily Status Report.

Saturday, August 29, 2020

Department Of Public Health Lists One New Death Attributed To COVID-19 In Northeast Health District And 146 New COVID-19 Cases

***Unemployment Rate Remains Largely Unchanged***

The Department of Public Health listed another COVID-19 Death in the Northeast Health District with release of the Daily Status Report on Saturday. The Report also listed 146 new confirmed cases of the disease.

It was the 16th day in a row the Daily Status Report included a death in the 10-county Northeast Health District, bringing the total number of deaths from the disease in the District to 191.

Friday, August 28, 2020

Northeast Health District Has Three COVID-19 Deaths Listed In Separate State Health Reports On Friday

***Oconee County Schools Report 117 Active Quarantines***

The state Department of Public Health Listed Two Deaths Attributed to COVID-19 in the 10-county Northeast Health District on Friday, and the Georgia Department of Community Health listed another in a nursing home in the District. The nursing home death was in Athens-Clarke County.

The two deaths listed in the Department of Public Health Daily Status Report were of a 58-year-old male with a chronic condition in Madison County and of a 70-year-old female without a known chronic condition in Walton County.

Thursday, August 27, 2020

Northeast Health District Added Five Deaths Attributed To COVID-19 In Thursday Daily Status Report And 160 New Confirmed Cases

***Additional Death In Clarke County Listed In Nursing Home Report***

The Northeast Health District added five deaths attributed to COVID-19 with the release of the Department of Public Health’s Daily Status Report on Thursday. It was the 14th consecutive day in which the Daily Status Report listed a death from the disease in the District.

Three of the five added deaths were in Jackson County: a 48-year-old male with a chronic condition, a 76-year-old female without a known chronic condition, and a male aged 90 plus with a chronic condition.

Wednesday, August 26, 2020

Daily Status Report Adds Two COVID-19 Deaths In Northeast Health District, Running String Of Daily Reports Of Deaths From Disease To 13

***Rolling Average Of Added Cases Increased***

The Northeast Health District added two COVID-19 deaths with the release of the Department of Public Health Daily Status Report on Wednesday, the 13th day in a row the District has added deaths from the novel coronavirus.

Both of the deaths were in Barrow County–of a 64-year female and of a female aged 90 plus, both with chronic conditions.

Oconee County School Board Sends Letter To County Commission Opposing Further Changes To Malcom Bridge School Entrances

***Board Of Education Candidates Agree To Virtual Candidate Forum***

The Oconee County Board of Education has sent a strongly worded letter to the County Commission complaining about the changes made to the staff and bus entrance to its Malcom Bridge Road school complex and rejecting all proposed changes for the parent entrance to Malcom Bridge Middle School.

The three-page letter, dated Aug. 21 but released to the public on Tuesday by Oconee County School Superintendent Jason Branch, is signed by all five members of the Board.

Tuesday, August 25, 2020

Seven-Day Rolling Averages Of COVID-19 Deaths And Cases Increase In Northeast Health District With Release Of Public Health Report

***Clarke County Records Two Deaths From Disease***

The Department of Public Health on Tuesday reported five deaths from COVID-19 in the Northeast Health District and 219 confirmed cases of the disease, pushing up the seven-day rolling averages of added deaths and of added cases.

The seven-day rolling average of added deaths, two of which were in Clarke County, increased from 2.4 on Monday to 3.0 on Tuesday, its highest point ever.

Monday, August 24, 2020

Northeast Health District Records COVID-19 Death For 11th Day In A Row

***Rolling Average Of Added Deaths Drops Slightly***

The Department of Public Health Daily Status Report listed a death from COVID-19 in Jackson County on Monday, the 11th day in a row that a death from the disease has been recorded for the 10-county Northeast Health District.

The Jackson County death, of a 62-year-old female with a chronic condition, was the third in three days for the county.

Oconee County Commissioners Refuse To Reappoint Chair of County Planning Commission

***No Explanation For Action Given***

When the Oconee County Planning Commission meets in September, it will have to start strategizing for selection of a new chair, as the Oconee County Board of Commissioners has turned down current Chair Maria Caudill’s request for reappointment to the Planning body.

At its regular meeting on Aug. 4, the Board of Commissioners selected incumbent Planning Commission Member Chuck Hunt for reappointment, but selected Nathan Byrd, a minister, over Caudill.

Sunday, August 23, 2020

Clarke County Adds COVID-19 Death For Fourth Day In A Row

***District Adds Two COVID-19 Deaths, 45 Cases***

Clarke County recorded another COVID-19 death with the release of the Department of Public Health Daily Status Report on Sunday, the fourth in four days.

Jackson County, which reported a COVID-19 death on Saturday, also recorded one on Sunday, and, with the addition of these two deaths, the seven-day rolling average of added deaths in the 10-county Northeast Health District increased from 2.6 on Saturday to 2.7 on Sunday.

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Oconee And Clarke Counties Add COVID-19 Deaths For Third Day In A Row; Northeast Health District Adds 147 Confirmed Cases

***COVID-19 Patients At Area Hospitals Declines***

For the third day in a row, both Oconee and Clarke counties recorded a death attributed to COVID-19 with the release of the Department of Public Health Daily Status Report on Saturday.

The Oconee County death was of a 60-year old male with a chronic condition, while the Clarke County death was of a 74-year-old female without a chronic condition.

Friday, August 21, 2020

Oconee And Clarke Counties Again Add COVID-19 Deaths As District Reports Four New Deaths From Disease

***Oconee County Schools Report Increase In Active COVID-19 Cases***

For the second day in a row, the Daily Status Report of the Department of Public Health on Friday listed a death in both Oconee and Clarke counties, and, for the second day in a row, listed four deaths in the 10-county Northeast Health District that includes those two counties.

Also on Friday, Oconee County Schools listed 13 Active COVID-19 Cases among students and staff at the schools, up from four Active Cases a week earlier, and 100 Active Quarantines Due To Close Contact, up from eight on Friday of last week.

Thursday, August 20, 2020

Northeast Health District Has Four COVID-19 Deaths In Thursday Daily Status Report

***Barrow, Clarke And Oconee Counties List Deaths***

The Department of Public Health listed four new Northeast Health District deaths attributed to COVID-19 with the release of the Daily Status Report on Thursday, bringing to 18 the number of deaths in the last week in the District and pushing the seven-day rolling average to 2.6.

Two of the deaths were in Barrow County, and the other two were in Oconee and Clarke counties.

Wednesday, August 19, 2020

Democrat Files In Special Election For Oconee County Commission Post; Two File For Watkinsville City Council Seats

***Qualifying Now Complete***

Jacob Douylliez, a minister from the west of the county, stepped forward in the final day of qualifying Wednesday to run as a Democrat in the special election to fill the vacant Post 3 on the Oconee County Board of Commissioners.

Douylliez joins two other candidates, Amrey Harden and Aaron Nowak, both of whom qualified as Republicans on Monday, in the non-primaried special election on Nov. 3 to fill the seat formerly held by William “Bubber” Wilkes, who passed away earlier this year.

Daily Status Report Includes Three New COVID-19 Deaths In Northeast Health District

One Death Attributed To COVID-19 In Oconee County***

The Department of Public Health on Wednesday listed three additional deaths attributed to COVID-19 in the Northeast Health District, including one in Oconee County, with the release of the Daily Status Report.

The Oconee County death was of male without a known chronic condition who was 90 or more years of age. Total deaths in the county from COVID-19 now stands at 17.

Tuesday, August 18, 2020

Seven-Day Rolling Averages Of COVID-19 Cases And Deaths Decline In Northeast Health District

***COVID-19 Hospitalizations And Ventilator Use Also Drop***

The Department of Public Health Daily Status Report on Tuesday reported 164 confirmed COVID-19 cases and one death attributed to the disease in the 10-county Northeast Health District.

The Daily Status Report a week ago had added 179 COVID-19 cases and two deaths, so the seven-day rolling average of added cases in the District dropped from 122.1 on Monday to 120.0 on Tuesday and the seven-day rolling average of deaths dropped from 2.1 on Monday to 2.0.

Chris Greer’s Georgia Discovered Has Gone Into Second Printing

***Zoom Interview On Book’s Genesis***

In just two short months, Chris Greer’s book, Georgia Discovered, Exploring The Best Of The Peach State, has sold out all of the 2,000 copies of the first printing.

The second printing is now available, and Greer is off to a good start toward meeting the goal of selling 5,000 copies in the first year of publication.

The book is a combination of travel tips and beautiful pictures.

Monday, August 17, 2020

Two Candidates File For Oconee County Commission Slot; Four File For Watkinsville Council

***District Attorney Race Has Three Candidates***

Two candidates filed on Monday as Republicans in the first day of qualifying for the special election on Nov. 3 to fill Post 3 on the Oconee County Board of Commissioners.

Amrey Harden, who had announced his plans to run for the open spot, filed, as did Aaron Nowak, a newcomer who had not previously indicated his plans to seek the open slot in the non-primaried special election on Nov. 3.

Three More COVID-19 Deaths Reported By Department Of Public Health In Northeast Health District On Monday

***15 Deaths Reported In Last Week***

The Northeast Health District added three deaths attributed to COVID-19 in the Monday release of the Department of Public Health’s Daily Status Report.

The deaths were of 74-year-old female in Barrow County, an 81-year-old male in Oglethorpe County, and an 80-year-old male in Walton County. All three had known chronic conditions.

Sunday, August 16, 2020

Northeast Health District Adds 75 COVID-19 Cases And One Death From Disease

***Seven-Day Rolling Averages Increase***

The Northeast Health District added 75 COVID-19 cases and a death attributed to the disease with the release of the Daily Status Report by the Department of Public Health on Sunday.

Both numbers were higher than the numbers for Sunday of last week, and the seven-day rolling average of added cases increased to 125.5 on Sunday from 123.3 on Saturday and the seven-day rolling average of added deaths increased to 1.7 on Sunday from 1.6 on Saturday

Saturday, August 15, 2020

Northeast Health District Again Adds Three New COVID-19 Deaths, One In Oconee County

***Morgan County Reports First COVID-19 Death***

For the second day in a row, the Northeast Health District of the Department of Public Health added three deaths attributed to COVID-19, one of them in Oconee County, bringing to 16 the total number of deaths in Oconee County attributed to the disease.

The 10-county Northeast Health District has added 11 deaths in the last week, and the seven-day rolling average of added deaths on Saturday was 1.6, the same as the day before. The District had added three deaths last Saturday as well.

Friday, August 14, 2020

Public Health Reports Two COVID-19 Deaths In Clarke County; Community Health Reports Clarke County COVID-19 Death As Well

***Oconee County Schools Report Four “Active COVID-19 Cases”***

The Department of Public Health reported three COVID-19 Deaths in the 10-County Northeast Health District in its Daily Status Report on Friday, including two in Clarke County.

The Department of Community Health also reported a death attributed to COVID-19 at an Athens-Clarke County Nursing Home.

The Daily Status Report has included 11 deaths in the Northeast Health District attributed to COVID-19 in the last week, and the seven-day rolling average of added deaths increased to 1.6 on Friday from 1.4 on Thursday.

Thursday, August 13, 2020

Northeast Health District Added 85 Confirmed COVID-19 Cases on Thursday; Seven-Day Rolling Average Of Added Cases Dropped

***Oconee Schools Report No New COVID-19 Diagnoses***

The Northeast Health District added 85 confirmed COVID-19 cases on Thursday, and the seven-day rolling average of added cases dropped to its lowest level going back to July 27.

The District added one death, of an 85-year-old male in Walton County, but the Department of Public Health removed a death listed on Wednesday in Barrow County.

Wednesday, August 12, 2020

Department Of Public Health Lists Three New COVID-19 Deaths In Northeast Health District

***Oconee County Schools Reports First COVID-19 Confirmed Case***

The Department of Public Health reported three deaths attributed to COVID-19 in the Northeast Health District on Wednesday, and the District has now reported at least one death from the disease in seven of the last 10 days.

The seven-day rolling average of added deaths remained unchanged from Tuesday at 1.9. The 10-county District added three deaths last Wednesday.

Consultants Tell Oconee County School Board Members They Do Not Like Changes County Has Made Or Proposed For Malcom Bridge Road

***Board Hired Firm To Evaluate County Road Plans***

Matt Tanner from Breedlove Land Planning Inc. of Bishop and Atlanta does not like any of the options being considered by the Oconee County Board of Commissioners for a redesigned parent entrance to Malcom Bridge Middle School.

He also does not like the roundabout the Board has built at the bus entrance to Malcom Bridge Middle School and Malcom Bridge Elementary School.

Tuesday, August 11, 2020

Northeast Heath District Joins The State In Reporting Large Numbers of COVID-19 Cases And Deaths

***Rolling Averages Of Cases And Deaths Increase In Region***

The 10-county Northeast Health District does not always reflect the general patterns of the state when the Department of Public Health releases its Daily Status Report on COVID-19 each day, but it did so on Tuesday.

The day the state recorded a record 137 deaths, the Northeast Health District recorded two–not a record number, but enough to push the seven-day rolling average of added deaths to 1.9, a level last reached on July 16.

Monday, August 10, 2020

Northeast Health District Adds 82 COVID-19 Cases But No Deaths; Seven-Day Rolling Averages Stable

***Schools Report No COVID-19 Cases After Opening***

The Northeast Health District added 82 confirmed COVID-19 cases on Monday with the release of the Daily Status Report of the Department of Public Health, resulting in a seven-day rolling average of added cases basically unchanged from Sunday.

The 10-county District did not add any deaths, as had been the case a week ago, and the seven-day rolling average of added deaths remained unchanged at 1.7.

Sunday, August 09, 2020

Voters In Five Of Oconee County’s 12 Precincts Will Have A Different Polling Place On Nov. 3

***Heavy Turnout Is Expected***

Voters in five of Oconee County’s 12 precincts will be voting in a different location on Nov. 3 than in the past as a result of action taken by the Oconee County Board of Elections and Registration last week.

Voters in Farmington and Bishop precincts will vote at Bishop Baptist Church, 1110 Old Bishop Road, rather than at the community centers of the two cities, as has been the case in the past.

Northeast Health District Reports 59 Confirmed COVID-19 Cases On Sunday, The Smallest Number In Nearly A Month

***No New COVID-19 Deaths Reported***

The Northeast Health District added 59 confirmed COVID-19 cases on Sunday, the smallest number it has added going back to July 12, and the seven-day rolling average of added cases dropped to 151.0 from 156.4 on Saturday.

The Department of Public Health reported that Oconee County added five cases and Clarke County added 20. Two counties–Greene and Oglethorpe–did not add any cases.

Saturday, August 08, 2020

Three COVID-19 Deaths And 190 Confirmed COVID-19 Cases Added In Northeast Health District

***Eight Recent Deaths Of Persons Under 60 Years Of Age***

The seven-day rolling averages of COVID-19 cases and of deaths increased on Saturday in the 10-county Northeast Health District of the Georgia Department of Public Health with the addition of 190 new confirmed cases and of three deaths attributed to the disease.

The three deaths were of a 52-year male in Jackson County with a chronic condition, a 73-year-old male in Jackson County without a chronic condition, and a 65-year-old female in Madison County without a known chronic condition.

Friday, August 07, 2020

Northeast Health District Added 217 COVID-19 Confirmed Cases On Friday, The Second Largest Single Day Increase

***Two New Death From COVID-19 Reported***

The Georgia Department of Public Health reported on Friday that the Northeast Health District added 217 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, the second largest number of added cases in any single day.

Every county in the 10-county District added at least four cases. Oconee County added 11 cases and Clarke County added 74.

Thursday, August 06, 2020

Department Of Public Health Reports Three COVID-19 Deaths In Northeast District, Including One In Clarke County

***COVID-19 Cases Increased By 136***

The Northeast Health District of the Department of Public Health added three COVID-19 deaths and 136 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on Thursday with the release of the Daily Status Report.

Clarke County had its 18th COVID-19 death, of a 62-year-old male without a known chronic condition.

Walton County, which had added two deaths on Wednesday, added two more on Thursday, bringing its total to 39, the most of any of the 10 counties in the District.

Wednesday, August 05, 2020

Northeast Health District Added A Record 229 New COVID-19 Cases On Wednesday And Three Deaths Attributed To The Disease

***Critical Care Bed Use Dropped By One***

The Northeast Health District added a record 229 new confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Department of Public Health Death Status Report on Wednesday, and the seven-day rolling average of added cases was 158.9, just slightly above the record set two days ago of 158.6.

Clarke County led the 10-county region with 69 new cases, but every county in the district added cases. Oconee County added 12 cases.

Oconee County Schools Has Some Late Shift To Distance Learning Option As In-Person Instruction Begins

***School Board Briefed On Opening Plans***

The number of students selecting the distance learning/digital option rather than in-person instruction increased by 165 in last two weeks before school started on Wednesday, Meri Blackburn told the members of Oconee County School Board earlier this week.

Blackburn said that the final figures were 1,111 students (13.4 percent) deciding not to attend in-person classes while 7,167 chose the in-person option.

Tuesday, August 04, 2020

Seven-Day Rolling Average Of Added COVID-19 Cases In Northeast Health District Drops Again; Critical Care Bed Use Increases

***Death In Walton County Attributed To Disease***

For the second day in a row, the Northeast Health District added fewer confirmed COVID-19 cases than it had on the same day a week earlier, and the seven-day rolling average of added cases dropped to 150.7 on Tuesday from 158.6 on Monday. The average had been 160.4 on Sunday.

Across the state, the number of added cases of COVID-19 seems to have plateaued, and the 10-county Northeast Health District now may be following suit.

Monday, August 03, 2020

Oconee County Taxpayers Have A Second Chance To Comment On Proposed County Tax Rate

***No One Spoke At Hearing Last Week***

Oconee County taxpayers will get a second chance to voice their opinions on the county’s plans to approve a property tax rate for 2020 when the Board of Commissioners holds a public hearing before its regular meeting on Tuesday

The proposed property tax rate, or millage rate, will be the same in 2020 as it was in 2019, and the county budget, which went into effect with the beginning of the 2021 Fiscal Year on July 1, has been approved based on that rate.

Northeast Health District Adds 85 New Confirmed COVID-19 Cases, And Seven-Day Rolling Average Declines

***No New Deaths Reported; Critical Care Bed Use Up***

The Northeast Health District added 85 confirmed COVID-19 cases on Monday, the fewest it has added per day in more than a week, and the seven-day rolling average of added cases dropped to 158.6 from 160.4 on Sunday.

Mondays usually are light days in reporting cases to the Department of Public Health for its Daily Status Report, but the 85 cases compared with 98 a week earlier.

Sunday, August 02, 2020

Added Confirmed Cases Of COVID-19 Set New Record Again In Northeast Health District

***No New Deaths Reported, And Rolling Average Unchanged***

The Northeast Health District added 97 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on Sunday, and the seven-day rolling average of added cases increased to a new record of 160.4.

Oconee County added seven cases, and Clarke County added 23. All of the remaining eight counties in the District except for Elbert County added one or more cases in the Department of Public Health Daily Status Report on Sunday.

Saturday, August 01, 2020

Department Of Public Health Reports 180 Confirmed COVID-19 Cases In Northeast Health District, Setting New Record

***No Deaths From Disease In Saturday Report***

The Department of Public Health on Saturday reported 180 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the 10-county Northeast Health District, pushing the seven-day rolling average of added cases to 155.7, a new record.

Oconee County added nine cases and Clarke County added 29. Each of the other eight counties in the District also added cases.

The seven-day rolling average of added cases had been 153.1 on Friday, also a record.