Speakers At Democratic Party Meeting Say Local Media Play A Crucial Role In A Community

***Publisher, Reporter, Blogger On Program***

The three speakers, asked by Oconee County Democrats earlier this month to discuss the Role of Local Media, gave complementary responses.

Amanda Prochaska, co-publisher of The Oconee Enterprise and the first to speak, took a historical perspective.

Just More Than 6 Percent Of Watkinsville Voters Have Cast An Early Ballot For Nov. 7 Council Races

***Thirteen Used Advance Voting On Saturday

Only 156 of the 2,369 eligible voters in Watkinsville have cast a ballot in the first 12 days of early voting for the two Council seats to be decided in the Nov. 7 elections.

Only four persons have requested and been issued an absentee ballot, as of Saturday, and only one of those ballots had been received by the Oconee County Office of Elections and Registration.

Northeast Health District, Oconee, Clarke Report Uptick In COVID-19 Cases

***No New Confirmed COVID Deaths Reported***

The Georgia Department of Public Health reported that the Northeast Health District added 146 new cases of COVID-19 in the week ending on Oct. 25, based on the Department’s electronic tracking system.

The Department of Public Health reported the Northeast Health District had added 83 cases in the week ending on Oct. 18.

Hard Labor Creek Reservoir Governing Bodies Reduce Capacity Of Planned Water Treatment Plant After Receiving Cost Estimates

***Oconee County Contribution Fixed***

The Hard Labor Creek Reservoir Management Board and Walton County Water and Sewer Authority last week voted to revise the design capacity of their planned water treatment plant from 16 million gallons per day to 12 million gallons per day.

The two bodies took the action in a called joint meeting after learning that the projected cost of construction of the water treatment plant has increased by more than 62 percent--from $96 million to more than $155.8 million.

Oconee County Education Local Option Sales Tax Revenue Exceeds $1 Million For Two Months In A Row

***Oconee County Schools Has Collected $7.8 Million***

Oconee County Schools took in more than $1 million in revenue from the Educational Local Option Sales Tax (ELOST) in September, Dan Smith, Chief Financial Officer for Oconee County Schools, told the Board of Education at it meeting last week.

The September monthly receipt was the second in a row in which revenue exceeded the $1 million mark.

Early Voting In Watkinsville City Council Races Very Light After Six Days Of Voting

***Only Two Voters Cast A Ballot On Saturday

Only 89 of the 2,369 eligible voters have cast a ballot in the first six days of early voting for the two Council seats on the ballot for the Nov. 7 elections in Watkinsville.

Only three persons have requested an absentee ballot, and as of Saturday none of those ballots had been received by the Oconee County Office of Elections and Registration.

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.