Sunday, September 17, 2023

COVID Case Count In Northeast Health District Up Slightly, State Department Of Public Health Reports

***Oconee Shows Increase; Clarke Decrease***

The Georgia Department of Public Health reported that the Northeast Health District added 411 new cases of COVID-19 in the week ending on Sept. 13, based on the Department’s electronic tracking system.

The Department of Public Health reported 345 new cases in the week ending on Sept. 6, 424 new cases in the week ending on Aug. 30, and 519 new cases in the week ending on Aug. 23.

Tuesday, September 12, 2023

Oconee County Schools Began The School Year With Fewer Students Than Last Year

***All 12 Schools Under Capacity***

Oconee County Schools experienced a slight drop in enrollments as the school year began, according to a report given the Board of Education at its work session on Monday.

Enrollment growth has been moderate for the last five years, according to the counts from the fourth Wednesday of the new school year.

Monday, September 11, 2023

State. Rep. Gaines Says Republicans Have To Reach Out–Even To Democrats–To Defeat District Attorney Gonzalez In 2024

***Gaines Identifies Three Ways To Remove Gonzalez***

State Representative Houston Gaines has told Oconee County Republicans that they have to reach out to people they don’t ordinarily talk to if they want to defeat Western Judicial Circuit District Attorney Deborah Gonzalez at the ballot box next year.

That outreach includes to people who never attend Republican party meetings, to Independents, to Democrats, to students at the University of Georgia, Gaines, a Republican, said.

Friday, September 08, 2023

Georgia Department Of Public Health Reports COVID Case Count In Northeast Health District Drops Again

***Both Oconee And Clarke Show Decreases***

The Georgia Department of Public Health reported that the Northeast Health District added 345 new cases of COVID-19 in the week ending on Sept. 6, based on the Department’s electronic tracking system.

The Department of Public Health reported 424 new cases in the week ending on Aug. 30, down from 519 new cases in the week ending on Aug. 23.

Monday, September 04, 2023

Oconee County Being Asked To Decide Whether To Set Up County Misdemeanor Probation System Or Join With Clarke County

***Judge Says He Will Not Renew Current Private Contract***

Western Judicial Circuit Superior Court Chief Judge Eric Norris wants Oconee County to create its own misdemeanor probation system or join with Athens-Clarke County to form a circuit wide misdemeanor probation system.

Norris told the Oconee County Board of Commissioners last week that he does not intend to allow the county to renew the contract it currently has with CSRA Probation Services Inc. for probation services.

Friday, September 01, 2023

COVID Case Count In NE Health District Declines In Department Of Public Health Data Report; Oconee, Clarke Cases Increase

***Clarke Rate Highest This Year***

The Georgia Department of Public Health reported that the Northeast Health District added 424 new cases of COVID-19 in the week ending on Aug. 30, based on the Department’s electronic tracking system.

The Department of Public Health reported 519 new cases in the week ending on Aug. 23, 266 new cases in the week ending on Aug. 16, and 230 new cases in the week ending on Aug. 9.

Wednesday, August 30, 2023

Oconee County’s Members Of General Assembly Sitting On Large Campaign Reserves Half Way Through Off Year In Election Cycle

***Watkinsville Will Have Two Contested November Races***

State Rep. Houston Gaines, half way through the 2023 non-election year, has $456,586 net balance on hand in his campaign account.

Half way through the 2022 election year, Gaines, who represents part of Oconee County in the General Assembly, had $251,041 net balance on hand.

On June 30 of 2021, which was not an election year, Gaines had $108,514 net cash balance on hand, or less than a quarter of what he has on hand at this time.