COVID Case Count In Northeast Health District Increases Slightly, Georgia Department Of Public Health Reports

***One Of Two Confirmed Deaths In Clarke***

The Georgia Department of Public Health reported that the Northeast Health District added 509 new cases of COVID-19 in the week ending on Feb. 14, based on the Department’s electronic tracking system.

The Department of Public Health reported the Northeast Health District had added 485 cases in the week ending on Feb. 7, 544 cases in the week ending Jan. 31, 406 cases in the week ending Jan. 24, 481 cases in the week ending on Jan. 17, 403 new cases of COVID-19 in the week ending on Jan. 10, and 278 cases in the week ending on Jan. 3.

Independent Candidate For Oconee, Clarke District Attorney Has Active Drive Underway To Get Signatures To Put His Name On Ballot

***Western Judicial Circuit Race Is Targeted***

Kalki Yalamanchili on Thursday launched a new phase of his petition drive to get on the ballot in November as an Independent candidate for Western Judicial Circuit District Attorney.

Yalamanchili selected seven locations, four in Oconee County and three in Clarke County, where registered voters in either of the two counties could sign a petition asking that his name appear on the November ballot.

Oconee School Board Hears Financial Reports From Staff Followed By Criticism From Citizens Of Its Management Of School System Finances

***Sales Tax Revenues Decline***

Oconee County Schools took in a little more than $1.2 million in Education Local Option Sales Tax (ELOST) revenue in January, but the amount was nearly a percentage point lower than the system took in from the sales tax in January of 2023.

The decline, which actually was for taxes collected in December of 2023, compared with a 5.1 percent increase in December of 2023 over December of 2022 and was the first decline in ELOST collections going back to April of 2022.

Oconee County Commissioners Approve Rezone For Retail Building, Hear Citizen Requests For Stronger Role In Library Decisions

***Approve Contract For Heritage Park Design Work***

When he stood before the Oconee County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 6, Engineer Jeff Carter didn’t present an attractive picture of what’s on the property at the eastern intersection of Ruth Jackson Road and U.S. 78.

Carter, representing Rick Bradshaw’s Mulberry Property Investments LLC, told the Board the property owned by Mulberry Property Investments is “in bad shape,” and “the owner wants to revitalize that corner” by putting in a “general retail facility.”

Oconee School Board Asked To Approve $2.6 Million Bid For Construction At Rocky Branch Elementary School

***Last Of Planned ELOST Construction Projects***

Oconee County Schools Superintendent Jason Branch on Monday will ask the Oconee County Board of Education to award a $2.6 million contract to Amacher Bros. Construction Company of Atlanta for modifications and renovations to Rocky Branch Elementary School.

Branch also will ask the Board to spend $732,954 for purchase of five 48-passenger buses and one 72-passenger bus from Thomas Peach State Freightliner, based in Norcross.

Georgia Department Of Public Health Reports Five Confirmed Deaths From COVID IN NE Health District As Cases Decline

***One Of Deaths In Oconee***

The Georgia Department of Public Health reported that the Northeast Health District added 485 new cases of COVID-19 in the week ending on Feb. 7, based on the Department’s electronic tracking system.

The Department of Public Health reported the Northeast Health District had added 544 cases in the week ending Jan. 31, 406 cases in the week ending Jan. 24, 481 cases in the week ending on Jan. 17, 403 new cases of COVID-19 in the week ending on Jan. 10, and 278 cases in the week ending on Jan. 3.

Oconee County Elections Board Gets Report On Upcoming Presidential Primary, Hears Request From Citizens For Public Comment Opportunity

***Only 12 New Voters Added To Roll In Last Month***

Oconee County picked up only 12 new registered voters in the last month, with Monday (Feb. 12) being the final day of voter registration before the March 12 Presidential Primary.

As of Tuesday, when the Oconee County Board of Elections and Voter Registration met, the county had received only 77 absentee ballot applications for the Presidential Primary.