Blog Topic: Oconee Observations

In the Loop: First Coronavirus Death Reported in Athens as Oconee Residents Press for Restrictions

By Blake Aued | March 24, 2020 2:06pm

The Northeast Health District reported the first COVID-19 death in Athens today.

The victim was a 67-year-old man who had an underlying medical condition, according to public health officials. The elderly and people with pre-existing heart or lung disease or diabetes are most likely to die from COVID-19.

Overall, positive coronavirus tests in Georgia jumped to 1,026 today, with 32 deaths. Sixteen of those cases were reported in Clarke County and three in Oconee County.

Medical professionals and others are pressuring Oconee County commissioners to pass a "shelter in place" ordinance similar to the one Athens-Clarke County approved last week.

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In the Loop: Acting DA Brian Patterson Outlines Plans

By Lee Becker | March 9, 2020 12:38pm

Brian Patterson speaks to Oconee County Democrats on Feb. 20.

Brian Patterson, acting district attorney for Oconee and Clarke counties, told Oconee County Democrats last month that, if he becomes district attorney on a permanent basis, he will resurrect a number of unsolved murder cases in the two counties.

He also said he will increase the investigation of organized criminal activity and gang activity, continue to prioritize crimes against women and children, and promote alternative court programs to keep people from having a criminal records for lesser offenses.

At the time he spoke, Patterson was chief assistant district attorney for the Western Judicial Circuit serving the two counties, but he moved up to acting district attorney on Mar. 1 when Ken Mauldin resigned rather than complete his term.

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In the Loop: Gun Group Wants Oconee County to Be 'Second Amendment Sanctuary'

By Lee Becker | February 28, 2020 10:45am

Photo Credit: Lee Becker

Ryan Anglin.

The Oconee County Gun Coalition is making plans to ask the Oconee County Board of Commissioners to pass a resolution declaring the county a Second Amendment Sanctuary County.

If the Board of Commissioners were to approve the resolution, the county would join at least 21 other counties in the state in supporting decisions by the sheriff “to not enforce any unconstitutional firearm restrictions.”

The resolution also calls on the commissioners to agree not to use government funds or resources to enforce any law “that unconstitutionally infringes on the right of the people to keep and bear arms.”

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In the Loop: Mayor Bob Smith Is at Odds With the Watkinsville City Council

By Lee Becker | February 24, 2020 11:55am

Photo Credit: Lee Becker

Watkinsville Mayor Bob Smith suggested delaying a decision on the development plan for the Wisteria Ridge apartment complex on 75 North Main St. at the Watkinsville Mayor and Council meeting last week.

The mayor votes only in the case of a tie, and the council approved the plan in a 3 to 1 vote.

Smith strongly opposed the site development plan submitted by Oconee State Bank for its new headquarters at 41 North Main St. Council approved the plan 3 to 0, with council member Brian Brodrick recusing himself from the discussion and vote. (Council member Christine Tucker was absent from the meeting.)

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In the Loop: Candidates for DA, Congress Speak to Oconee Dems

By Lee Becker | February 5, 2020 1:38pm

Photo Credit: Lee Becker

Deborah Gonzalez.

Deborah Gonzalez and Andrew Ferguson used the opportunity of the meeting of the Oconee County Democratic Party last month to introduce themselves to those in attendance.

For Gonzalez, it was a matter of a re-introduction, and she said she was going to respond to the “first question most people ask me.”

She said she was running for district attorney of the Western Circuit, which includes Oconee and Clarke counties, rather than to reclaim her seat as District 117 representative to the Georgia House because she thinks she will have “the biggest impact” as district attorney.

Andrew Ferguson was new to the group, so he spent more time talking about his background, his motivation for wanting to challenge U.S. Rep. Jody Hice, the incumbent Republican in District 10, and his stands on a number of issues.

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In the Loop: Live-Work-Play Development Planned in Watkinsville

By Lee Becker | January 20, 2020 2:15pm

Photo Credit: Lee Becker

The Watkinsville City Council on Wednesday authorized City Manager Sharyn Dickerson to move forward with creation of a development agreement for the 66.6-acre former Southwire property on Barnett Shoals Road.

The council took the action following a presentation by developer Duke Gibbs and planner Bob Smith for what they are calling Wire Park.

The project includes single-family detached housing units on both large and small lots, townhomes and condominium flats, and an adaptive reuse of the existing wire manufacturing building on the site.

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In the Loop: Michael Thurmond: Dems Can Flip Oconee County

By Lee Becker | October 29, 2019 10:04am

Photo Credit: Lee Becker

Michael Thurmond speaks to Oconee County Democrats.

Oconee County is an excellent opportunity for Democrats, DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond told a gathering of party members at the Bogart Library earlier this month, because of the demographics of the county.

The county has one of the highest educational levels in the state and in the Southeast, Thurmond said, and the college educated, and particularly college-educated women, are being targeted by Democrats nationally.

In the Atlanta suburbs, Thurmond said, college-educated white women were crucial in 2018 in turning areas that normally vote Republican to the Democrats.

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In the Loop: Watkinsville Republican Turns Mayor's Race Partisan

By Lee Becker | October 21, 2019 3:29pm

Photo Credit: Lee Becker

Bob Smith demonstrates how close the race could be.

Democrat Stacey Abrams, who ran unsuccessfully for governor a year ago, is watching the outcome of the mayoral race in Watkinsville, Bob Smith, one of the two candidates in that contest, told Oconee County Republicans last month.

The race is nonpartisan, but Smith made it clear he is running as a Republican and told those gathered they needed to make sure he wins to send a message back to Abrams.

Abrams “has these billionaire socialists pumping money” into her nonprofit voting rights organizations, Jason Thompson, Republican National Committeeman from Georgia, told the same gathering. He told them to take action to thwart her.

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In the Loop: Watkinsville Mayor Dave Shearon, Opponent Bob Smith Face Off in Debate

By Lee Becker | October 7, 2019 11:48am

Photo Credit: Lee Becker

Bob Smith (left) and Dave Shearon.

More than 100 people turned out on Thursday night for an election forum in Watkinville that featured a very respectful exchange between incumbent Mayor Dave Shearon and challenger Bob Smith.

Though Smith, a real estate agent and former state representative, has had open disagreements with the Watkinsville Council in recent months regarding development of his property, little of the tension was in evidence on Thursday night, until the very end.

In his closing comments, Smith implied that the city was not transparent and that citizens were not being treated with respect by the mayor.

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In the Loop: Oconee Roads Will Get Sidewalks and Bike Lanes

By Lee Becker | September 9, 2019 4:27pm

The regional long range transportation plan now before the public for review makes significant changes to the current document and provides for both pedestrian and bicycle travel on two key roadways in Oconee County.

Both bicycle and pedestrian facilities would be added to Hog Mountain Road from Mars Hill Road in Butler’s Crossing to U.S. 441, passing the Presbyterian Homes complex now under construction at the Hog Mountain Road intersection with U.S. 441.

Similarly, both bicycle and pedestrian facilities would be added to Daniells Bridge Road from its intersection with Mars Hill Road and the Oconee Connector to Hog Mountain Road.

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