Georgia Public Health Department Reports That COVID Case Count In Northeast Health District Dropped Sharply From Week Earlier

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

The Georgia Department of Public Health reported that the Northeast Health District added only 83 new cases of COVID-19 in the week ending on Oct. 18, based on the Department’s electronic tracking system.

The Department of Public Health reported the Northeast Health District had added 157 cases in the week ending on Oct. 11.

Oconee County Industrial Development Authority Changing Development Guidelines For Gateway Business Park

***Grants Tentative Approval Of New Plans***

The Oconee County Industrial Development Authority on Tuesday agreed to revise the Development Guidelines it created in 2000 to accommodate the two most recent firms that plan to locate to the Gateway Technology and Business Park on the edge of Bogart.

After nearly 50 minutes in executive session, the Authority, in its capacity as an Architectural Review Committee, also gave tentative approval to concept plans submitted by one of those companies, Technology Park Atlanta.

Oconee County Planning Commission Recommends Approval Of Bed And Breakfast For Historic House In Bishop

***New Owner Says Small Café May Be Added***

The Oconee County Planning Commission on Monday night recommended approval of a new plan for the historic Seymour D. Fambrough House in the center of Bishop.

Owner Ted Christensen told the Planning Commission he intends to convert what is often referred to as the Bishop House to a seven-room bed and breakfast.

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.