tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714015Sat, 26 Sep 2026 19:12:31 +0000Calls Creek wastewater plantMars Hill RoadAnimal ControlBishop BypassRocky Branch LASEpps Bridge CentreDaniells Bridge RoadHard Labor Creek Regional ReservoirJamie BoswellFalls Of OconeeCaterpillarJimmy Daniell RoadOconee County BudgetNews and comments about developments in Oconee County, Georgiahttp://www.oconeecountyobservations.org/noreply@blogger.com (Lee Becker)Blogger3127125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714015.post-1289572632487377417Sat, 26 Sep 2026 06:27:02 +00002026-09-26T01:39:59.700-05:00***Gaines Does Not Participate*** The seven candidates seeking to represent Oconee County in the General Assembly in Atlanta and in Congress in Washington interacted cordially in a Candidate Forum on Thursday, sometimes agreeing in response to questions from an audience of more than 90. At many times in each of the four sessions in the Forum, however, the candidates took very different http://www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2026/09/differences-among-candidates-seeking-to.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lee Becker)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714015.post-4786727283867821279Thu, 24 Sep 2026 04:54:31 +00002026-09-24T20:39:00.812-05:00***Report: $7.8 More In Revenue In FY 2026 Than Budgeted*** Discussion of Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) and of the Peach Education Tax Credit program dominated the Oconee County Board of Education meeting last week. Superintendent Melissa Butler, in her report to the Board, said she had recently toured both of the system’s high schools to explore options for growth in http://www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2026/09/oconee-county-school-board-updated-on.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lee Becker)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714015.post-8048468043184343455Tue, 22 Sep 2026 01:19:17 +00002026-09-22T10:25:42.747-05:00***States Position On Abortion, Vaccines, Other Issues*** In response to the first question at his Town Hall meeting last week, Republican House District 121 candidate Mack “Dutch” Guest IV said he is opposed to current plans for the truck bypass connecting SR 15 south of Watkinsville to U.S. 441. Guest also said he was opposed to the state incentivizing data centers, wants the state to help http://www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2026/09/republican-state-house-district-121.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lee Becker)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714015.post-7809401307639565725Mon, 21 Sep 2026 00:44:44 +00002026-09-20T19:53:38.562-05:00***Gaines Only Candidate Not Attending*** Citizens will have a chance on Thursday to pose their questions directly to candidates seeking to represent Oconee County in State House District 120, State House District 121, State Senate District 46, and U.S. Congressional District 10. Moderators at a candidate Forum sponsored by The Oconee Enterprise and Oconee County Observations will ask citizens http://www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2026/09/thursday-forum-will-allow-citizens-to.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lee Becker)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714015.post-1597064834092005230Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:25:35 +00002026-09-22T05:35:11.507-05:00***Hears Report Mandating New List Of Persons Who Vote*** The Oconee County Board of Elections and Registration agreed on Monday (9/14/2026) to add an extra hour at the end of the day in the final week of early voting for the Nov. 3 elections. The Board took the action on the recommendation of Sharon Gregg, Director of Elections and Registration for the county, who said extending the voting dayhttp://www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2026/09/oconee-county-election-board-votes-to.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lee Becker)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714015.post-3163932728891855766Fri, 18 Sep 2026 22:02:52 +00002026-09-19T16:15:21.688-05:00***No End Date Given For Disruption*** Traffic on the Oconee Connector will be greatly restricted beginning at 7 p.m. today (9/18/2026) as Archer Western Construction begins work on mid-span vertical supports for the two bridges that will carry SR 316 over the Connector. The current four lanes of traffic now moving through the intersection in each direction will be cut to two lanes, one for http://www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2026/09/construction-at-sr-316-will-cut-in-half.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lee Becker)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714015.post-2606953058968963926Fri, 18 Sep 2026 05:44:49 +00002026-09-18T09:13:13.252-05:00***Lisa And Bill Douglas Continue To Own Farm*** Lisa and Bill Douglas have granted a conservation easement deed to Madison-Morgan Conservancy that will prohibit the development of almost all of their 332-acre historic Hedgerow Farm on Price Mill Road west of Bishop. The easement allows the Douglases to continue to own and farm the property and to sell it, but the easement prevents the http://www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2026/09/madison-morgan-conservancy-accepts.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lee Becker)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714015.post-7189215304902979448Thu, 17 Sep 2026 06:18:39 +00002026-09-17T07:48:53.007-05:00***Large Crowd Turns Out For Called Town Hall Meeting*** All five of Oconee County’s commissioners on Tuesday night said they were opposed to the close-in route for a truck bypass linking SR 15 with U.S. 441 south of Watkinsville that consultants for the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) said they are considering as the recommended route. The commissioners were joined in that http://www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2026/09/oconee-county-commissioners-say-they.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lee Becker)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714015.post-2766022219903416096Mon, 14 Sep 2026 03:29:57 +00002026-09-14T21:06:32.130-05:00***Farm Bureau, Enterprise, Observations Are Hosts*** Forums scheduled two nights in a row in Oconee County next week will give voters a chance to hear candidates for state House District 120, state House District 121, and state Senate District 46 answer questions on issues in the Nov. 3 election. On Sept. 23 candidates will be asked to respond to questions from directors of the Oconee County http://www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2026/09/forums-scheduled-at-two-oconee-county.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lee Becker)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714015.post-8184853530254870961Sun, 13 Sep 2026 21:59:19 +00002026-09-13T16:59:19.013-05:00***Also Note Adverse Affects On Renters, Businesses*** Democrats in the Georgia House of Representatives, in a meeting at the Bogart Library last month, argued that their opposition to legislation in the General Assembly earlier this year that would have eliminated the property tax for homeowners was based on opposition to the resultant increase in sales taxes. They also said elimination of http://www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2026/09/democrats-defend-opposition-to.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lee Becker)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714015.post-394740613071949351Fri, 11 Sep 2026 02:53:47 +00002026-09-10T22:58:05.267-05:00***Goal Of $1 Million Set*** Oconee County Schools has received approval of its application to the Georgia Foundation for Public Education (GFPE) allowing it to raise money through the PEACH Education Tax Credit program for upgrades to its Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) programs. The money Oconee County Schools is able to raise from donors will be used for development of “http://www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2026/09/oconee-county-schools-granted-approval.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lee Becker)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714015.post-3021153430512753098Tue, 08 Sep 2026 04:36:10 +00002026-09-08T07:41:02.362-05:00***Blow-Up For Meriweather Road Closure Included*** The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) has released a new detour map for the closure of Jimmy Daniell Road at SR 316 scheduled for Sept. 14, underscoring that travel along that major artery in the county is about to get much more difficult. The very busy intersection of the Oconee Connector with SR 316 now also has a flashing sign http://www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2026/09/georgia-transportation-department.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lee Becker)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714015.post-4036994196721561522Tue, 08 Sep 2026 03:07:16 +00002026-09-08T00:02:40.719-05:00***Bluestein Says Decision Will Be Affected By November Election*** During his one hour and 15 minute meeting with Oconee County Democrats last week, veteran political journalist Greg Bluestein told inside stories, laughed about the tactics of U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, speculated on career paths for Ossoff and others politicians, discussed the current campaigns, and predicted plans of the Georgia http://www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2026/09/in-meeting-with-oconee-county-democrats.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lee Becker)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714015.post-6727999038394966706Mon, 07 Sep 2026 05:19:42 +00002026-09-08T14:15:41.944-05:00***Plan Fell Through When Center Moved To Different Site*** Walton County Board of Commissioners Chair David Thompson reported to the Hard Labor Creek Reservoir Management Board last week that his efforts to obtain $7.5 million from a company wanting water from the reservoir for an additional data center in Social Circle have been unsuccessful. Thompson said the approach from the data center http://www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2026/09/walton-county-chair-reported-plans-to.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lee Becker)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714015.post-4065057416573848180Sun, 06 Sep 2026 04:41:27 +00002026-09-06T15:46:02.913-05:00***Drops In Enrollments For Three Straight Years*** Oconee County Schools had 130 fewer students as the school year began on Aug. 3 than it had at the beginning of last school year, according to First Day Counts released by system Human Resources Officer Justin Cofer on Thursday. Last year, based on those same counts, enrollment had dropped by 259 students, and the year before the drop had beenhttp://www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2026/09/first-day-count-for-oconee-county.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lee Becker)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714015.post-1305676844883063288Fri, 04 Sep 2026 01:42:28 +00002026-09-03T20:42:28.713-05:00***State Senate Candidate Smith Joins Gisler*** Georgia House District 121 Rep. Eric Gisler began his ninth Town Hall Meeting at the Bishop Community Center last week saying it would be a little different from the others he had held. Gisler said “he decided to blur the lines a little bit” between receiving feedback as a representative and receiving feedback as a candidate running for reelectionhttp://www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2026/09/oconee-countys-state-rep-gisler-covers.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lee Becker)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714015.post-5166487252573500016Thu, 03 Sep 2026 04:35:22 +00002026-09-02T23:44:20.094-05:00***Commission Affirms Decision Of Planning Staff*** The Oconee County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday night turned down a request by Celebration Village Athens that would have allowed it to build and occupy self-standing housing units before it completed the assisted living and memory care components of the Assisted Living Community. Active Senior Concepts, developer of the 61.7-acre complex http://www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2026/09/oconee-county-commissioners-tell.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lee Becker)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714015.post-5713572852476290514Wed, 02 Sep 2026 00:47:33 +00002026-09-11T07:57:22.857-05:00***Largest Number Of Posts During COVID Year 2020*** Today marks the 20th anniversary of my first post to Oconee County Observations. I posted only 15 stories in those final four months of 2006, and that number grew only to 26 in all of 2007. I published more than 100 stories (119) for the first time in 2010 and have posted more than 100 stories every year since 2013. The largest number of http://www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2026/09/oconee-county-observations-turns-20.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lee Becker)21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714015.post-2649474923070464601Mon, 31 Aug 2026 04:30:49 +00002026-09-04T22:49:14.858-05:00***Urges Turnout To Prevent Democratic Gains*** Houston Gaines, the only candidate with opposition in November speaking at the Oconee County Republican Party meeting on Monday (8/24/2026), devoted most of his opening comments to attacks on Democrats running for office in New Jersey and Michigan, across the state, and for Georgia House Districts 120 and 121. “These folks are radical,” he said ofhttp://www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2026/08/republican-candidate-for-us-house.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lee Becker)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714015.post-3563463101685242275Sat, 29 Aug 2026 04:29:54 +00002026-08-29T07:49:44.823-05:00***Local Office Coordinating State Campaigns*** Vikram Bharadwaj, Democratic Party field organizer for Athens-Clarke and Oconee counties, in a meeting with Oconee County Democrats earlier this month, emphasized the importance of making personal contact with voters leading up to the Nov. 3 election. Democrats Eric Gisler, Susanna Karatassos, and Ray Smith, seeking to represent Oconee County in http://www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2026/08/casvassing-phonebanking-key-to.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lee Becker)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714015.post-1103728361674652082Fri, 28 Aug 2026 04:25:10 +00002026-08-28T15:36:22.309-05:00***Commissioners Also Set Millage Rates For 2026*** Jeff Wilkes, speaking on behalf of the citizen group Save South Oconee, asked Oconee County commissioners on Tuesday night to help with a series of questions Wilkes said have not been answered about the proposed truck bypass to link SR 15 with U.S. 441 south of Watkinsville. Even after the hour-long meeting the Georgia Department of http://www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2026/08/citizens-ask-oconee-county.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lee Becker)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714015.post-2307718327497229425Thu, 27 Aug 2026 02:43:04 +00002026-08-26T21:43:04.146-05:00Changes Made After Public Information Open House The previously announced closure of access to SR 316 at Jimmy Daniell Road and resulting detour is scheduled to begin on Sept. 14 and remain in place for approximately six months, the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) has announced. The intersection of Meriweather Drive and Jimmy Daniell Road also will be closed, GDOT has said. Previoushttp://www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2026/08/state-transportation-department.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lee Becker)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714015.post-1913182415281041045Mon, 24 Aug 2026 04:49:30 +00002026-09-16T12:44:01.180-05:00***Details To Be Released At Future Public Information Open House*** The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) is considering a route just south of the city limits of Watkinsville as the recommended alternative for a truck bypass linking SR 15 with U.S. 441 to reduce traffic along Main Street inside the city. Consultants for GDOT have considered and rejected a route inside the limits. http://www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2026/08/georgia-transportation-department-posed.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lee Becker)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714015.post-3239316413214572561Fri, 21 Aug 2026 07:40:59 +00002026-08-21T12:08:05.213-05:00***Democrats Get More Of Funding From Individuals*** The three Republicans seeking to represent Oconee County in the Georgia General Assembly in January begin the fall campaign season with a significant financial advantage over the three Democrats seeking those same seats. In the Senate District 46 contest, Republican Marc McMain reported in his July 31 Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report http://www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2026/08/republicans-lead-democrats-in-funding.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lee Becker)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714015.post-6038698602137633520Mon, 17 Aug 2026 04:37:17 +00002026-08-18T23:50:14.034-05:00***Called Meeting Of Commission Announced*** The Oconee County Board of Commissioners is treating the previously scheduled stakeholders meeting with Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) representatives to discuss a proposed truck bypass of SR 15 as a called meeting of the Commission. That means at least a quorum of the commissioners--three members–is expected to attend and discuss http://www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2026/08/oconee-county-provides-virtual-link-to.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lee Becker)1