Tuesday, March 05, 2024

Only One Additional Candidate Qualified To Run For Office On Tuesday at Oconee County Election Office

***Rep. Houston Gaines Qualified In Atlanta***

Watkinsville Post 3 Council Member Brett Thomas was the only candidate to qualify at the Oconee County Office of Elections and Registration on Tuesday, the second day of qualifying.

Thomas joined Watkinsville Post 4 Council Member Christine Tucker, who qualified on Monday. Qualifying also is underway for Post 5, currently held by Jeff Campbell, but no one has qualified so far.

Monday, March 04, 2024

GDOT To Hold Virtual Public Information Open House On Dials Mill Extension Interchange With SR 316 On March 22

***No Intersection For Dials Mill Road Planned***

The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) will hold a virtual Public Information Open House on March 22 to get reaction to its plan for a multi-grade intersection of Dials Mill Extension at SR 316.

According to the GDOT Project manager, the concept layout for an interchange at Dials Mill Extension is the only one that will be presented to the public at the Public Information Open House.

Thirteen Oconee County Candidates Qualify For Election In First Day Of Qualifying

***Three Qualify For State Races***

Oconee County’s four incumbent Constitutional Officers, the current Coroner, and the three sitting members of the Board of Commissioners up for re-election all qualified on Monday for the May 21 Primary and Nonpartisan election–so far without opposition.

In addition, incumbent Post 5 Board of Education Member Michael Ransom qualified for the Post 1 (Chair) position on the Board, Brock Toole qualified for Post 5 on the Board, and both Andrew Pippin and Russell Toms qualified for Post 4. All are running as Republicans.

Sunday, March 03, 2024

Oconee County Early In-Person Voting In Presidential Primary Continues At Slow Pace

***Small Number of Mailed Ballots Received***

Turnout picked up just slightly in the second week of in-person voting for the March 12 Presidential Primary.

A total of 711 voters cast their ballots in person last week, up from 606 the week before.

To date, the Oconee County Board of Elections and Registration also has received and accepted 95 absentee ballots, up only by 33 from the 62 returned and accepted at the end of last week.

Saturday, March 02, 2024

Large Crowd Turns Out For Grand Opening Of New Oconee County Library At Wire Park

***State Librarian Praises Location Of Library***

More than 125 people put aside the cold and overcast weather on Saturday to turn out for the official opening of the new Oconee County Library at Wire Park in Watkinsville.

That official opening lasted only about 15 minutes–culminating in a ribbon cutting--and was followed by informal tours of the new facility and a full day of programming, with an uncounted number of participants.

Friday, March 01, 2024

COVID Cases In Northeast Health District Continue To Decline, Department Of Public Health Reports

***No Confirmed Deaths From Disease Reported***

The Georgia Department of Public Health reported that the Northeast Health District added 311 new cases of COVID-19 in the week ending on Feb. 28, based on the Department’s electronic tracking system.

The Department of Public Health reported the Northeast Health District had added 374 cases in the week ending on Feb. 21, 509 cases in the week ending on Feb. 14, and 485 cases in the week ending on Feb. 7.

Thursday, February 29, 2024

Oconee County Commissioners To Amend Agreement With Charter For Expansion Of Broadband Service In County

***Commissioners Receive Update On Program***

The Oconee County Board of Commissioners is set to approve an amendment to its 2021 agreement with Charter Communications that will extend Charter’s broadband service in the county to an additional 211 currently unserved addresses.

The agreement will increase the number of served addresses subsidized by the county to 1,927 and increase the amount of subsidy the county has agreed to provide Charter for expansion of broadband from $1.7 million to $2.2 million.