Russ Page, Whose Contributions To Oconee County Were Numerous, Passes

***He Was A Farmer–And Much More***

Russ Page, business entrepreneur, farmer, and dedicated civic activist in Oconee County, died peacefully at his home in Wilmington, N.C., on Saturday (Oct. 25) after a long battle with cancer. He was 80.

Page was instrumental in creating Oconee County’s farmland protection program, was one of the founders of the county’s farmers market, and was the key advocate for including designated funding for historic preservation in the county’s budget.

Turnout In Early Voting Very Low In Oconee County, Somewhat Higher For Races In Bishop And Watkinsville

***ESPLOST Renewal Only County-Wide Ballot Item***

With only five days of early voting remaining before the Nov. 4 election, only 4.7 percent of the eligible voters in Oconee County have turned out to cast a ballot that features a county referendum on continuation of the Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (ESPLOST).

In Bishop, 43 of the 267 eligible voters, or 16.1 percent, have cast a ballot in city races that include the mayor and all four council races.