Wednesday, December 02, 2020

COVID-19 Cases Reported In Northeast Health District Highest Since Sept. 8; Most COVID-19 Patients At Area Hospitals Since Aug. 27

***Clarke, Elbert, Walton Counties Have Deaths From Disease***

The Department of Public Health on Wednesday reported 239 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 based on molecular tests and 79 based on antigen tests in the 10-county Northeast Health District plus three deaths attributed to the disease.

The 239 added confirmed cases based on the molecular test are the most added in the District since Sept. 8 and pushed the seven-day rolling average of added cases to 156.1, its highest level since Sept. 15.

Proposal For Large Shopping Center At Mars Hill Road And Oconee Connector On Planning Commission Agenda

***Developer Granted Corps Of Engineers Permit To Fill Wetlands***

Developers are moving forward with a planned $50 million commercial development at the intersection of the Oconee Connector and Mars Hill Road that would include a Publix, a gas station with convenience store, and a bank in its initial phase.

In a second phase, the project concept plan shows restaurants, hotels, retail outlets, and an auto dealership.

The primary access to the property will be off the Oconee Connector, but the concept plan also shows five entrances off Mars Hill Road, including a major one opposite the current DaAndra Drive intersection with Mars Hill Road.

Oconee County Voters Picked Chafin, But Gonzalez Wins In District Attorney Runoff Election

***Turnout Higher In Oconee Than Clarke***

Oconee County voters overwhelmingly picked James Chafin in Tuesday’s runoff election for District Attorney of the Western Judicial Circuit, but their votes were offset by votes in Clarke County, and Deborah Gonzalez won with 51.7 percent of the final vote.

Turnout was higher in Oconee County, with 30.5 percent of the county’s 30,071 voters casting a ballot compared with 22.0 percent of Clarke County’s 76,779 voters.