Saturday, October 31, 2020

Northeast Health District Adds 131 New Cases Of COVID-19, Pushing Up Seven-Day Rolling Average Of Added Cases

***Sales Tax Revenues Down Again From Last Year***

The Northeast Health District of the Department of Public Health added one COVID-19 death with the release of the Daily Status Report on Saturday and 131 new confirmed cases of the disease.

The seven-day rolling average of added deaths dropped slightly, but the seven-day rolling average of added cases increased.

The death was of a 79-year-old male in Walton County without a known chronic condition. Walton County also reported a COVID-19 death on Friday and now has 70 deaths listed in the Department of Public Health's Daily Status Report, the most of any of the 10 counties in the Northeast Health District.

Friday, October 30, 2020

Oconee County Adds COVID-19 Deaths In Public Health and Community Health Reports; Clarke Adds Death In Public Health Report

***Oconee Schools Reports Increases In Active Cases, Quarantines***

Oconee and Clarke counties each added a death attributed to COVID-19 with the release of the Daily Status Report on Friday, two of four deaths from the disease in the Northeast Health District included in the Department of Public Health report.

The Department of Community Health also listed four deaths on Friday in the Northeast Health District in its Long-Term Care Facility Report, including one in Oconee County.

The Oconee County death listed in the Department of Public Health Daily Status report was of a 76-year-old female without a known chronic condition. She is the 31st death in the county attributed to the disease.

Thursday, October 29, 2020

Clarke And Jackson Counties Adds COVID-19 Deaths In Thursday Daily Status Report

***Unemployment Data Suggest Recovery Has Stalled***

Clarke and Jackson counties added deaths from COVID-19 with the release of the Department of Public Health Daily Status Report on Thursday. The 10-county Northeast Health District added 110 new confirmed cases of the disease.

The Clarke County death was of a 67-year-old female without a known chronic condition. Clarke County now has 49 deaths attributed to the disease.

The Jackson County death was of 90-plus-year-old female without a known chronic condition. Jackson County now has 42 deaths listed in the Daily Status Report.

Wednesday, October 28, 2020

Northeast Health District Adds COVID-19 Deaths In Elbert and Jackson Counties; 82 New Confirmed Cases Of Disease

***University of Georgia Reports Continued Drop In Positive Tests***

The Northeast Health District added two deaths from COVID-19 and 82 new confirmed cases of the disease with the release of the Daily Status Report of the Department of Public Health on Wednesday.

One of the deaths was in Elbert County and was of a male with no chronic condition who was listed as 90 plus in age. He is the ninth death in Elbert County listed in the Daily Status Report.

The other death was in Jackson County and was of a 34-year-old female without a known chronic condition. She is the 41st death from COVID-19 in that county.

U.S. Senate Candidate Collins Attacks Democrats And A Republican Opponent, Asks Oconee County Republicans For Support

***Burgess And Chafin Also Speak***

In a rapid-fire presentation to Oconee County Republicans on Monday evening, U.S. Senate candidate Doug Collins attacked former Democratic presidential candidates Beto O’Rourke and Bernie Sanders, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, and Democrats in general.

He also attacked Kelly Loeffler, his most prominent Republican rival in the special election to fill the unexpired seat of Johnny Isakson, saying “she has tried to smear me to make you think that I’m not a conservative.”

Tuesday, October 27, 2020

Department Of Public Health Lists COVID-19 Deaths In Clarke And Barrow Counties In Tuesday Daily Status Report

***Cases And Death Removed In Elbert County***

The Northeast Health District added a death from COVID-19 in both Clarke and Barrow counties on Tuesday with the Department of Public Health’s release of its Daily Status Report. The Report also added 64 newly confirmed cases of the disease.

The Clarke County death was of 76-year-old male with a chronic condition, and the Barrow County death was of a 59-year-old male, also with a chronic condition.

Monday, October 26, 2020

Seven-Day Rolling Averages Of COVID-19 Cases, Deaths In Northeast Health District Hold Steady With Release Of Monday Report

***One Death From Disease In Oglethorpe County***

The Northeast Health District added 43 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday and one death with the release of the Department of Public Health Daily Status Report. The seven-day rolling averages of cases and deaths remained unchanged from Sunday.

The death was of a 70-year-old male in Oglethorpe County without a chronic condition. Oglethorpe now has 13 deaths from the corona virus, and the Northeast Health District has 299.

Three U.S. Senate Democratic Candidates In Special Election Focus On Importance Of Vote In Comments To Oconee County Party Members

***Local Democrats–and Republicans–Promote Contenders***

Raphael Warnock, running as a Democrat in the special election for the U.S. Senate, told Oconee County Democrats earlier this month at the party’s virtual meeting that the country is facing a number of crises and the election underway is a particularly important one.

The country is being called on “to figure out how we navigate our way through this,” Warnock said. “And I think that on moral and practical grounds, we’ve got to see that the only way to do it is to do it together.”

Sunday, October 25, 2020

Northeast Health District Adds 77 Confirmed COVID-19 Cases; Seven-Day Rolling Average Of Added Cases Continues To Increase

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

The Northeast Health District added 77 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Department of Public Health Daily Status Report on Sunday, pushing up the seven-day rolling average of added cases for the eighth day in a row. The rolling average is the highest it has been since Sept. 21.

Every county except Morgan and Greene in the 10-county Northeast Health District added cases on Sunday, with Oconee County adding seven cases and Clarke County adding 21. The seven-day rolling average for both Oconee and Clarke counties increased slightly on Sunday over Saturday.

Saturday, October 24, 2020

Oconee County Board Of Education Decides Against Live Streaming Its Meetings

***Two Board Candidates Agree To Support Live Streaming If Elected***

The Oconee County Board of Education currently has no plans to live stream its meeting, according to Anisa Sullivan Jimenez, director of Communications for Oconee County Schools.

The Board of Education switched from virtual to in-person meetings for its July 20 meeting and live streamed that meeting, but Jimenez said on Aug. 3 that future Board meetings would not be live streamed.

Oconee County Adds 3rd COVID-19 Death In Two Days; Northeast Health District Rolling Average Of Added Cases Increases For 7th Day

***Oglethorpe And Walton Counties Also Report Deaths***

The Northeast Health District added 108 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday in the Department of Health Daily Status Report, pushing up the seven-day rolling average of added cases for the seventh day in a row.

The District added three deaths attributed to COVID-19, including one in Oconee County, which had added two deaths from the disease on Friday.

The Oconee County death was of an 83-year-old female without a chronic condition. The death on Saturday brings to 30 the number of deaths in the County attributed to the disease.

Friday, October 23, 2020

Daily Status Report Lists Five New Deaths From COVID-19, Two In Oconee County And One In Clarke County

***Oconee Schools Report Five Active Cases***

Oconee County added two deaths attributed to COVID-19 and Clarke County added one with the release of the Department of Public Health Daily Status Report on Friday.

Morgan and Walton counties each also added a death, and the 10-County Northeast Health District’s rolling average of added deaths from the disease increased from 1.3 on Thursday to 1.9 on Friday.

The Northeast Health District also added 147 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Friday Daily Status Report, pushing up the seven-day rolling average of added cases from 96.0 on Thursday to 99.4 on Friday. The rolling average has increased each of the last six days.

Thursday, October 22, 2020

Northeast Health District Adds 148 New COVID-19 Cases, Largest Number Added On Single Day For More Than A Month

***Death At Elbert County Nursing Home***

The Northeast Health District added 148 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, the largest number added in a single day since Sept. 16, and the seven-day rolling average of added cases is the highest it has been since Sept. 22. That rolling average has increased each of the last five days.

The regional trend mirrors that of the state, where the 1,824 new cases added on Thursday is the highest since Sept. 20, and the seven-day rolling average of added cases is the highest since Sept. 26. That rolling average has increased in each of the last three days.

Wednesday, October 21, 2020

Northeast Health District Adds 116 New COVID-19 Cases; Rolling Average Of Added Cases Increases Fourth Day In Row

***No New Deaths From Disease Reported***

The Northeast Health District added 116 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, pushing up the seven-day rolling average of added cases to 89.0 from 87.0 the day earlier. That rolling average has increased each of the last four days.

The Department of Public Health Daily Status Report listed no new deaths in the Northeast Health District, and the seven-day rolling average of added deaths dropped to 1.4 on Wednesday from 1.7 on Tuesday.

Three Democratic Candidates Seeking To Represent Oconee County In General Assembly Respond To 13 Questions In Virtual Candidate Forum

***Forum Marred by Bombing***

The three Democratic candidates seeking to represent Oconee County in the General Assembly in January gave mostly similar answers to a wide range of questions, from the impact of redistricting on the county to the COVID-19 pandemic, in a virtual candidate forum on Monday night.

The three Republican incumbents chose not to participate in the citizen-organized forum, so only Democratic candidates, Mokah Johnson for House District 117, Jonathan Wallace for House District 119, and Zachary Perry for Senate District 46, were in the session.

Tuesday, October 20, 2020

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

***Death Recorded In Elbert County***

The Northeast Health District added 102 COVID-19 cases and one death from the disease with the release of the Department of Public Health Daily Status Report on Tuesday.

The seven-day rolling average of both cases and deaths increased slightly on Tuesday from Monday.

Every county in the 10-county District added cases, with Oconee County adding three and Clarke County adding 18. In both counties, the seven-day rolling average of added cases dropped slightly on Tuesday from Monday.

Monday, October 19, 2020

Department of Public Health Lists 44 COVID-19 Cases, One Death; Department Of Community Health Lists Oconee County Death

***Rolling Average Of Cases Increases Slightly***

The Northeast Health District added 44 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Monday in the Daily Status Report and one death, pushing up the seven-day rolling average for added cases but producing no change in the seven-day rolling average for added deaths.

The 44 cases were not evenly spread around the 10-county District. Clarke, Morgan and Oglethorpe counties did not add any cases. Oconee County added four cases, and Walton County added the most cases, 19.

Sunday, October 18, 2020

Seven-Day Rolling Average Of Added COVID-19 Cases Increases Slightly On Sunday In Northeast Health District

***66 New Cases And Two Deaths Reported***

The Northeast Health District added 66 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and two deaths from the disease on Sunday. The seven-day rolling average of added cases increased to 83.0 on Sunday from 81.9 on Saturday.

Every county in the 10-county Northeast Health District added at least two new confirmed cases on Sunday.

Oconee County’s State Legislative Candidates Differ In Their Lists Of Needs In The Districts They Seek To Represent

***Also Differ In Legislative Priorities***

Adam Hammond, moderator at the candidate forum last week sponsored by the Oconee Chamber of Commerce and the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce, posed a common question to Oconee County’s statehouse candidates.

“What are the three biggest needs in your district?” the former network anchor asked.

Saturday, October 17, 2020

Northeast Health District Adds Four COVID-19 Deaths, 73 Confirmed Cases; Rolling Average For Deaths Unchanged, Drops For Cases

***Three Deaths In Barrow, One in Jackson ***

The Northeast Health District added four COVID-19 deaths and 73 confirmed cases of the disease with the release of the Daily Status Report by the Department of Public Health on Saturday.

The 10-county District had added four deaths on Saturday of last week, and the seven-day rolling average of added deaths remained unchanged at 1.7.

The 73 added cases compared with 108 on last Saturday, and the seven-day rolling average of added cases dropped to 81.9 on Saturday from 86.9 on Friday. The rolling average had increased the last three days before Saturday’s report.

Friday, October 16, 2020

Northeast Health District Adds 123 Confirmed COVID-19 Cases And One Death From Disease, Edging Up Rolling Average Of Added Cases

Oconee County Schools Report Six Active COVID-19 Cases***

The Northeast Health District added 123 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Friday, pushing up the seven-day rolling average of added cases to 86.9, the highest that figure has been since Sept. 24. The seven-day rolling average of added cases had been 85.6 on Thursday.

The 10-county Northeast Health District added one additional death, of a 79-year-old male in Greene County without a chronic condition. The death was the 25th in Greene County and the 282nd in the District as a whole.

Thursday, October 15, 2020

Northeast Health District Adds One New COVID-19 Death And 99 New Confirmed Cases of Disease

***Rolling Average Of Deaths Unchanged; Average Of Cases Increases***

The Northeast Health District added one death from COVID-19 with the release of the Daily Status Report by the Department of Public Health on Thursday and 99 newly confirmed cases of the disease.

The District has added at least one death every day but two going back to Sept. 25, and the seven day rolling average was 2.0 deaths per day. That average is unchanged from Wednesday.

Board Of Commissioners Candidates Call For More Communication To Solve Problems With School Board

***Candidates Respond To Citizen Questions***

The five Oconee County Board of Commissioners candidates participating in a virtual forum identified communication as the solution to the ongoing conflict between the Board of Commissioners and the Board of Education.

Aaron Nowak, running as a Republican in the special election to fill vacant Post 3 on the Board of Commissioners, put all of the blame for the current problem on the Commissioners and said he would “communicate properly” with the School Board if elected.

Wednesday, October 14, 2020

Northeast Health District Adds Two New COVID-19 Deaths, 102 New Cases; University of Georgia Reports Increase In Positive Tests

***Seven-Day Rolling Averages Of Deaths, Case Drop Slightly***

The Northeast Health District had two new deaths from COVID-19 listed in the Daily Status Report of the Department of Public Health on Wednesday and 102 new confirmed cases of the disease, resulting in small crops in the seven-day rolling averages of both deaths and cases.

The deaths were of a 64-year-old male in Jackson County with a chronic condition and of a 77-year-old female in Madison County without a known chronic condition.

Tuesday, October 13, 2020

Mirroring State Trends, Seven-Day Rolling Averages Of COVID-19 Cases, Deaths Remain Steady In Northeast Health District

***Declines No Longer In Evidence***

The Northeast Health District added 83 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday and, for the first time in a week, no new deaths attributed to the disease. The seven-day rolling averages of both cases and deaths were unchanged from Monday.

Every county in the 10-county Northeast Health District added at least one case with the release of the Department of Public Health Daily Status Report, with Oconee County adding five cases and Clarke County adding 24.

Monday, October 12, 2020

Rolling Averages Of COVID-19 Deaths, Cases in Northeast Health District Hold Steady With Release Of Monday Daily Status Report

***New Death Reported In Jackson County***

The seven-day rolling averages of added COVID-19 deaths and cases in the Northeast Health District held steady on Monday after three days of slight growth in both indicators.

The 10-county District added one new death–the same as on Monday a week ago--and 35 new cases, down from the 36 added a week ago, based on data released by the Department of Public Health in its Daily Status Report.

Republican Oconee Board of Commissioners Candidate Criticizes Current Board In Comments To Oconee County Republican Party

***Legislators, Mayor, Other Candidates Also Speak***

Aaron Nowak, running as a Republican in the special election for Post 3 on the Oconee County Board of Commissioners, introduced himself to Oconee County Republicans last month as a critic of the current Board of Commissioners and its policies and an advocate for conservative Republican values.

Nowak said his candidacy is based on three core ideas: thoughtful development, financial responsibility, and citizen engagement.

He said the current Board of Commissioners, made up entirely of Republicans, is failing on all three of these ideas.

Sunday, October 11, 2020

Seven-Day Rolling Averages Of COVID-19 Deaths, Cases Increase For Third Day In Row In Northeast Health District

***Clarke County Records 46th Death From Disease***

The Northeast Health District added three deaths attributed to COVID-19 with the release of the Department of Public Health Daily Status Report on Sunday, pushing up the seven-day rolling average of added deaths in the District for the third day in a row.

The District added 58 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, also pushing up the seven-day rolling average of added cases for the third day in a row.

Saturday, October 10, 2020

Elbert, Jackson, Morgan, Walton Counties All Add COVID-19 Deaths In Saturday Daily Status Report

***Seven-Day Rolling Averages Of COVID-19 Deaths, Cases, Increase***

The Northeast Health District added five deaths from COVID-19 spread across four of the District’s 10 counties on Saturday, and rolling averages of both deaths and new confirmed cases of the disease increased.

Two of the added deaths were in Elbert County, of a 72-year-old female with a chronic condition and of an 90 plus-year-old female with a chronic condition. These are the seventh and eighth deaths in the county listed in the Daily Status Report.

Virtual Candidate Forums For Oconee County Commission And State Legislative Candidates Offer Citizens Opportunities To Pose Questions

***Chambers Also Holding Forum***

Oconee County Board of Commissioner candidates will meet virtually in a forum on Monday night during which citizens will have the opportunity to direct their questions to the candidates.

The citizen-organized forum will begin at 8 p.m. on Zoom with County Commission Post 3 candidates Jacob Douylliez, Amrey Harden, and Aaron Nowak introducing themselves and then responding to questions from citizens.

Friday, October 09, 2020

Oconee, Elbert And Walton Counties Add COVID-19 Deaths; Northeast Health District Reports Increases in Rolling Averages of Deaths, Cases

***Oconee County Schools Report Fewer Active Cases, Quarantines***

The Northeast Health District added four COVID-19 deaths–including one in Oconee County--with the release of the Department of Public Health Daily Status Report on Friday.

The Daily Status Report also added 114 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, and the seven-day rolling averages of both deaths and cases increased on Friday.

The Oconee County death was of a male identified as 90 plus in age with a chronic condition. Oconee County now has 27 deaths from the disease.

Thursday, October 08, 2020

Northeast Health District Adds Three COVID-19 Deaths And 79 Confirmed Cases Of Disease With Release Of State Reports

***Seven-Day Rolling Average Cases Drops***

The Northeast Health District added three deaths attributed to COVID-19 with the release of state health department reports on Thursday and 79 new confirmed cases of the disease.

Two of the deaths–listed in the Department of Public Health Daily Status Report--were of a 77-year-old female in Greene County without a chronic condition and of an 81-year-old female in Walton County with a chronic condition.

Candidates In District Attorney Race Differentiate Themselves In Opening And Closing Comments At Election Forum

***Ballot Problems Surfaced***

During the nearly hour-long candidate forum last week organized by The Oconee Enterprise, the three candidates in the special election for District Attorney for the Western Judicial Circuit responded to questions about topics ranging from defunding police to leniency in sentencing.

It was during the opening and closing comments, however, that candidates James Chafin, Deborah Gonzalez and Brian Patterson differentiated themselves most clearly and gave a sense of their approaches to the work of the District Attorney Office.

Wednesday, October 07, 2020

Northeast Health District Adds Four COVID-19 Deaths And 106 Confirmed Cases, Pushing Up Seven-Day Rolling Averages

***UGA Reports Drop In Positive Tests***

The Northeast Health District added four deaths attributed to COVID-19 and 106 new confirmed cases of the disease with the release of the Daily Status Report on Wednesday, and the seven-day rolling average of both deaths and cases increased.

The deaths were of a 67-year-old male in Jackson County without a known chronic condition, a 76-year-old male in Madison County with a chronic condition, a 55-year-old female with a chronic condition in Walton County, and an 82-year-old male without a chronic condition in Walton County.

Tuesday, October 06, 2020

Rolling Averages Of COVID-19 Cases, Deaths Declines In Northeast Health District With Tuesday Release Of Daily Status Report

***No New Deaths From Disease Reported***

The Northeast Health District added 83 new COVID-19 cases with the release of the Daily Status Report on Tuesday and no deaths from the disease, and the seven-day rolling average of both added cases and deaths declined.

The 83 new positive tests included five in Oconee County and 16 in Clarke County, and each of the other eight counties in the Northeast Health District added at least one case.

Monday, October 05, 2020

Northeast Health Districts Adds Two COVID-19 Deaths On Monday, 36 New Cases

***Deaths In Jackson And Elbert Counties***

The Northeast Health District added two deaths from COVID-19 with the release of the Department of Public Health and the Department of Community Health reports on Monday and 36 new confirmed cases of the disease

The death listed in the Department of Public Health Daily Status Report was of a 56-year-old male in Jackson County with a chronic condition. It was 35th death in Jackson County and the 262nd death in the Northeast Health District listed in that report.

Oconee And Clarke Counties Enjoy Unexpected Increase In Sales Tax Revenue With September Distributions

***Audit Of Large Company Produces Surprise Revenue***

Oconee County, as well as Clarke County, got amazingly good news with the release of the sales tax distributions for August.

With the addition of revenue from an audit that spanned several years of an unidentified company, sales tax distributions for August increased by two-thirds over a year ago for Oconee County and for Oconee County Schools.

Sunday, October 04, 2020

Seven-Day Rolling Averages Of Added Cases, Deaths In Northeast Health District Increase Slightly

***Clarke County Adds Another Death From Disease***

With the addition of 39 new COVID-19 cases and two deaths from the disease in the Northeast Health District, the seven-day rolling averages of both measures increased slightly on Sunday.

The 39 cases listed in the Sunday Department of Public Health Daily Status Report pushed the seven-day rolling average from 79.1 on Saturday to 80.7 on Sunday.

Oconee County did not add any new cases on Sunday, but Clarke County added 14.

Saturday, October 03, 2020

Northeast Health District Adds 88 New COVID-19 Cases On Saturday; Drop In Seven-Day Rolling Average Of Added Cases Halted

***District Adds One New Death Attributed To COVID-19***

The Northeast Health District added 88 confirmed COVID-19 cases with the Saturday release of the Department of Public Health’s Daily Status Report, producing a seven-day rolling average of added cases that has been relatively unchanged for the last week.

Every county in the 10-county Northeast Health District added at least one case, and the seven-day rolling average of added cases was 79.1 on Saturday. That figure had been 79.0 on Friday.

Forums Announced For Legislative Candidates Representing Oconee County On November Ballot

***Virtual Forums On Oct. 14 And Oct. 19***

The Oconee Chamber of Commerce and the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce on Friday were working out details for the virtual candidate forum being organized for 6 to 8 p.m. on Oct. 14 for races on the Nov. 3 ballot overlapping Oconee and Clarke counties.

Courtney Bernardi, president of the Oconee Chamber of Commerce, said Friday she was waiting on confirmation from three of the 11 invited candidates and well as from the invited moderator.

Friday, October 02, 2020

State Reports List New COVID-19 Deaths In Walton And Elbert Counties And 91 New COVID-19 Cases In Northeast Health District

***Oconee County Schools Report Increases In Cases, Quarantines***

The Department of Public Health listed 91 new COVID-19 cases and one death from the disease in the Northeast Health District in the Daily Status Report on Friday, and the seven-day rolling averages of cases and deaths in the District remained largely unchanged.

The death was of a male in Walton County with a chronic condition aged 90 plus, and the seven-day rolling average of added deaths in the Status Report was 1.7, the same as on Thursday.

Thursday, October 01, 2020

Ormes, Parker Provide Written Responses To Question From Board Of Education Virtuall Candidate Forum

***Ormes Called For Mask Mandate In Schools***

Laura Ormes joined two of the three other candidates for Board of Education Posts 4 and 5 in calling for a mask mandate at Oconee County Schools.

Only incumbent Post 4 Board Member Tim Burgess, Ormes’ opponent in the Nov. 3 election, opposes the mandate. Mask wearing is encouraged but not required under current school policy.

Ormes also said Board members should respond to citizens who write to them, something Joan Parker also said, but neither Burgess nor Michael Ransom did.

Two COVID-19 Deaths In Elbert County Push Up Seven-Day Rolling Average Of Added Deaths From Disease In Northeast Health District

***Oconee Average Molecular Test Positivity Rate 7.9 Percent***

With the addition of two deaths from COVID-19 in the Department of Public Health Daily Status Report on Thursday, the Northeast Health District saw continued increases in the seven-day rolling average of added deaths.

The two deaths were in Elbert County. One was a 72-year-old male without a known chronic condition, and the other was of an 88-year-old female with a chronic condition.