Blog Topic: Oconee Observations

In the Loop: Oconee Water, Sewer Rates to Rise

By Lee Becker | March 31, 2014 1:30pm

Water and sewer customers in Oconee County will pay about 3 percent more in fees starting July 1 if the Board of Commissioners approves the budget request presented by Utility Department Director Chris Thomas earlier this month.

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Grub Notes: Saucehouse Update; Hugh Acheson Book Signing Sunday

By Hillary Brown | March 28, 2014 4:11pm

Food roundup below:

Saucehouse Barbeque may not have broken ground yet on the spot that used to house Peaches and is now a dirt pit, but it should in the very near future, with hopes to open in August. In the meantime, the dudes who own it are focusing on catering, with a mobile smoker that can be brought to your event, should you want bbq, and a new business (Elegantly Southern Catering) that does more high-end events.

Hugh Acheson has a new book out. No, it's not the promised CSA-based cookbook that's still in the works (referred to informally as "what the heck do I do with kohlrabi?" and formally titled Eat Well) but a cute little packet of recipe cards titled Pick a Pickle. The man of style will be signing it at Five & Ten on Sunday from 2:30–4 p.m. His flagship restaurant also has a brand-new bar menu, with a burger, confit chicken wings, cookies and more.

More after the jump.

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In the Loop: Oconee SPLOST Vote Set for November

By Lee Becker | March 26, 2014 11:08am

Oconee County commissioners on Tuesday night agreed to a new schedule for the 2015 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax referendum, setting up public hearings in June and July that will lead up to a vote on Nov. 4.

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In the Loop: ACC Will Close Whitehall Road in 2015

By Lee Becker | March 24, 2014 10:33am

Athens-Clarke County plans to close Whitehall Road between the Middle Oconee River and Milledge Avenue for three–four months in the summer of 2015, altering the flow of traffic into and out of Oconee County via Simonton Bridge Road.

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In the Loop: Oconee Officials: Let People from Athens Pay

By Lee Becker | March 18, 2014 2:12pm

People from outside Oconee County, not the citizens of Oconee County, will pay the bulk of the 1 percent SPLOST tax, according to commission Chairman Melvin Davis (above), Sheriff Scott Berry and others.

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In the Loop: Oconee Issues Permit for Hog Mountain Business Park

By Lee Becker | March 14, 2014 10:41am

Oconee County late last month issued a building permit for the third of three permitted buildings in the long dormant Legacy Building Park on Hog Mountain Road east of Butler's Crossing.

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In the Loop: Caterpillar Overstates Jobs Created

By Lee Becker | March 10, 2014 10:58am

Caterpillar hired 364 full-time employees in 2013, including 60 contract service workers, allowing it to claim the 364 figure in the compliance report it filed with Oconee County on Feb. 26 as required by the memorandum of understanding it signed with the county.

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In the Loop: Oconee Commission Delays SPLOST Vote

By Lee Becker | March 5, 2014 12:31pm

The Oconee County Board of Commissioners voted 3-1 Tuesday night to postpone from May 20 until Nov. 4 the referendum on a new Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax.

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In the Loop: Oconee Commission Agrees on SPLOST Priorities

By Lee Becker | March 4, 2014 11:48am

The Oconee County Board of Commissioners agreed after a five-hour meeting last night to a tentative list of spending priorities for the planned 2015 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax.

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In the Loop: Called Meeting on Oconee SPLOST Monday

By Lee Becker | March 2, 2014 4:08pm

County Clerk Jane Greathouse and Commission Chairman Melvin Davis.

Oconee County commissioners have agreed to a called meeting on Monday to discuss funding priorities for the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax referendum they are scheduled to take up again at their regular meeting on Tuesday night.

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