Democratic Public Service Commissioner Candidate Tells Oconee County Democrats She Is Waiting On Court Decision And Ready To Run

***District 10 Candidate Also Speaks At Party Meeting***

Patty Durand said she is ready to run as a Democrat and challenge Republican Incumbent Tim Echols as District 2 representative to the state Public Service Commission.

Durand said she was ready to run and challenge Echols in 2021, when she lived in Gwinnett County, then a part of District 2.

State Department Of Public Health Reports That COVID Case Count In Northeast Health District Unchanged From Week Earlier

***Oconee And Clarke Report Drops In Cases***

The Georgia Department of Public Health reported that the Northeast Health District added 157 new cases of COVID-19 in the week ending on Oct. 11, based on the Department’s electronic tracking system.

The Department of Public Health reported nearly the same number of new cases, 154, in the week ending on Oct. 4.

Oconee County Library Board Votes To Move To Adult Classification Two Books Citizens Said Were Objectionable Due To Sexual Content

***Board Also Sets Date For Closing Of Existing Library***

The Oconee County Library Board of Trustees on Monday granted two of five requests by citizens to reclassify books available through the Oconee County Library in Watkinsville.

The citizens said they objected to the explicit, sexual content of the books. Four of the five books deal with LGBTQ+ issues. The fifth is focused on issues of consent.

Oconee County Schools Releases SAT Scores For 2023 Showing Little Change From Year Earlier; School Retains Its Number 3 Ranking

***Gap Between Performance Of Two High Schools Expands***

Oconee County Schools on Monday released 2023 Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores for students at the system’s two high schools, showing little change from the year before.

Scores have improved from 2020 and 2021, when scores had dropped dramatically from the year before the COVID-19 pandemic. SAT scores have not returned to the highpoint from 2018, according to data released on Monday.

Georgia Department Of Public Health Report Shows COVID Case Count In Northeast Health District Declines Slightly

***Oconee, Clarke Counts Unchanged***

The Georgia Department of Public Health reported that the Northeast Health District added 154 new cases of COVID-19 in the week ending on Oct. 4, based on the Department’s electronic tracking system.

The Department of Public Health reported 193 new cases in the week ending on Sept. 27.

Oconee Commissioners Set To Respond To Long List Of Zoning Requests At Regular Meeting On Tuesday

***Planning Commission Approved Of Changes***

Two of the last remaining undeveloped parcels along the southeast side of Hog Mountain Road east of Butler’s Crossing will be converted to commercial use if the Board of Commissioners approves two separate rezone requests at its meeting on Tuesday.

UAL Holdings LLC is seeking to rezone a 2.7 acre parcel that currently has a residence on it at 1911 Hog Mountain Road to B-2 (Highway Business District) so it can build a four-building office complex.

COVID Case Count In Northeast Health District Continues To Decline

***Oconee, Clarke Again Report Decreases***

The Georgia Department of Public Health reported that the Northeast Health District added 193 new cases of COVID-19 in the week ending on Sept. 27, based on the Department’s electronic tracking system.

The Department of Public Health reported 231 new cases in the week ending on Sept. 20.