Blog Topic: Oconee Observations

In the Loop: Oconee County Newspaper Shuts Down

By Lee Becker | May 20, 2015 11:38am

Photo Credit: Lee Becker

Oconee County lost another local news and information site on Friday with the closing of The Oconee Leader, the county’s largely free circulation weekly newspaper.

Publisher Rob Peecher announced the decision to close the newspaper in a front-page “note of thanks to our readers and advertisers” in Friday’s paper.

Peecher cited continued financial problems going back several years as the reason for the decision to close the paper. Friday’s was the last edition of the paper.

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In the Loop: Oconee County Employees Forbidden From Speaking to the Press

By Lee Becker | April 24, 2015 11:26am

Photo Credit: Lee Becker

Oconee County Administrative Officer Jeff Benko has issued a directive to county department heads telling them not to make statements to “the press” without clearing those statements in advance with him.

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In the Loop: Athens Reps Split on Plastic Bag Ban Ban

By Lee Becker | March 31, 2015 2:23pm

Rep. Chuck Williams (R-Watkinsville) was the only one of three Athens legislators to vote in favor of SB 139 on Friday.

Clarke and Oconee counties' three members of the Georgia House of Representatives cast opposing votes again Friday, this time on plastic bags.

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In the Loop: An Athens Representative Asked GDOT for Documents, and They Wanted to Charge Her $100,000

By Lee Becker | March 27, 2015 11:48am

The Georgia Department of Transportation has told Rep. Regina Quick (R-Athens) that it will respond to her open records request for documents about the operation of the department, but only if she pays more than $100,000 in advance.

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In the Loop: GDOT Rep: My Clients Will Benefit from Road Project

By Lee Becker | March 25, 2015 4:21pm

Jamie Boswell, commercial real estate broker and area representative to the Georgia Transportation Board, readily admits that his clients will benefit from the proposed Daniells Bridge Road extension and flyover of Loop 10.

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Grub Notes: Seafood Restaurant Coming to Epps Bridge Centre

By Lee Becker | March 23, 2015 1:19pm

Photo Credit: Lee Becker

Bone Island Grillhouse will be built here.

Bone Island Grillhouse Restaurants has submitted a preliminary site development plan to the Oconee County Planning Department for construction of a restaurant at the Epps Bridge Parkway entrance to the Epps Bridge Centre.

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In the Loop: Confusion Reigns on Georgia Gas Tax Hike

By Lee Becker | March 16, 2015 11:23am

Photo Credit: Lee Becker

Gas prices on Mar. 6.

Athens and Oconee County’s two Republican representatives cast conflicting votes on House Bill 170, which overhauls the state’s motor fuel tax, with Regina Quick joining the 43 Republicans in opposition and Chuck Williams voting as part of the 72 Republicans in favor.

The bill, approved by the House on Mar. 5, would have major impact on both local and state taxes on motor fuel if approved by the Senate in its present form.

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In the Loop: Oconee DA: Development Leads to More Crime

By Lee Becker | March 1, 2015 11:43am

Photo Credit: Lee Becker

Commercial development has its downside, District Attorney Ken Mauldin told the Oconee County Board of Commissioners during a recent work session.

“The more stores you have out there, you’re going to have more shop lifting,” Mauldin said.

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In the Loop: Oconee Official: Move Bishop and Widen 441

By Lee Becker | February 13, 2015 11:05am

Photo Credit: Lee Becker

The Madison Athens-Clarke Oconee Regional Transportation Study (MACORTS) Policy Committee took the first step on Wednesday toward reactivating the construction of a bypass of Bishop and the four-laning of U.S. 441 from Watkinsville to the Apalachee River.

The project now goes to the public comment stage, with a key meeting to be held from 5–7 p.m. on Feb. 24 in the Community Center at Oconee Veterans Park.

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In the Loop: Caterpillar Has Created 932 Jobs

By Lee Becker | February 10, 2015 2:03pm

Photo Credit: Lee Becker

Caterpillar has created 932 of the 1,300 jobs it has promised to generate at its local plant, according to a report filed on Jan. 29 by Rick Waller, chairman of the Oconee County Industrial Development Authority, with the state agency that is overseeing the project.

The 932 jobs are more than double the 364 that Waller reported Caterpillar had created in a similar report a year ago.

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