Blog Topic: Government

In the Loop: Commission Chairman Melvin Davis Suggests Allowing Bars in Oconee County

By Lee Becker | December 18, 2014 11:35am

The Oconee County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday agreed to consider over the next three weeks changes in the draft ordinance presented to it that will allow for the sale of liquor by the drink in county restaurants.

Commission Chairman Melvin Davis recommended that the board review the requirement in the draft ordinance that no more than 25 percent of the gross income at the restaurant be from the sale of alcoholic beverages.

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In the Loop: Phil Lanoue Is a Finalist for Superintendent of the Year as Clarke School Scores Fall

By Blake Aued | December 17, 2014 3:12pm

Clarke County School Superintendent Philip Lanoue, Georgia's superintendent of the year, is one of four finalists for national superintendent of the year.

The district's announcement came today—one day after the state's College and Career Ready Performance Index figures showed that the majority of local schools are doing worse, not better.

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In the Loop: Does Downtown Athens Have Too Many Bars?

By John Huie | December 11, 2014 12:09pm

The Athens Downtown Development Authority, at its next meeting Jan. 20, will discuss limiting the number of bars downtown.

Coming in the wake of a Chronicle of Higher Education article that paints Athens as a poster-city for student drinking, it will be the first official discussion of a subject that's been unofficially discussed here for years.

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In the Loop: Paul Broun Wants to Start a Tea Party Group

By Blake Aued | December 10, 2014 3:23pm

Because of course he does.

He did not mention this to me when we ran into each other in the Kroger checkout line last weekend, but U.S. Rep. Paul Broun, who lost a Senate bid in the May primary, is looking for work once his term is up at the end of the year.

He was a doctor before he was elected to Congress in 2007 but plans to stay in politics,telling the AJC:

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In the Loop: Oconee Hosts Meetings on Mars Hill Widening and New Courthouse

By Lee Becker | December 1, 2014 4:52pm

Oconee County will hold three meetings between now and Dec. 11 that will provide an overview of the Mars Hill Road widening, a discussion of space needs for the county in coming years, and the expectations of the county’s representatives to the General Assembly as that body gets ready to meet in January.

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In the Loop: UGA Pays Tribute to Gov. Carl Sanders

By Blake Aued | November 17, 2014 3:56pm

Former Georgia Gov. Carl Sanders, a staunch supporter of UGA's School of Law, speaks during the 2003 rededication of the Alexander Campbell King Law School Library. Photo courtesy of UGA.

Carl Sanders, Georgia's governor from 1963–1967, died Sunday at the age of 89. The University of Georgia issued a news release highlighting the Double Dawg's impact on UGA.

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In the Loop: A Faulty Road for Caterpillar Cost Taxpayers $220,000

By Lee Becker | November 14, 2014 1:30pm

Oconee County is paying nearly $110,000 as the county’s share of the cost of repairing Orkin Drive, the main entranceway to the Caterpillar plant on the east side of Bogart.

The roadway failed shortly after the two counties accepted responsibility for it in August and September of 2013, and it was partially closed and rebuilt at the end of last year. Total cost of repair was just less than $220,000, with Athens-Clarke County and Oconee County splitting the expenses.

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In the Loop: Georgia Voters Are Having a Tough Time Voting

By Blake Aued | November 4, 2014 1:17pm

Photo Credit: Photo via Georgetown Public Policy Review

As voters head out to elect—or try to elect—a governor, senator and a host of other state and federal officials, Georgia's polls are starting to look more and more like the Bulldogs' special teams.

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In the Loop: Athens-Clarke County Might Reroute the Greenway

By John Huie | October 9, 2014 11:16am

Photo Credit: Blake Aued

The North Oconee River Greenway near College Avenue.

Members of the Oconee Rivers Greenway Commission voted unanimously Tuesday not to build a planned greenway trail thru the River Oaks neighborhood, near the University of Georgia golf course off College Station Road.

A long-planned extension of the present greenway from Oconee Street southward was slated to follow the river only part of the way anyway toward Whitehall Road, departing from the river to eventually become a roadside path along Milledge Avenue. But a branch of the trail would have continued through the River Oaks subdivision. That plan has upset some residents over the years.

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In the Loop: You Can Vote on a Sunday in Athens Now

By Blake Aued | October 7, 2014 3:34pm

Photo Credit: Blake Aued

The Athens-Clarke County Board of Elections unanimously approved this afternoon an additional day of early voting on Sunday, Oct. 26

Voters will be able to cast ballots from 1–5 p.m. that day at the Board of Elections office at 155 E. Washington St.

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