aPVOC-GA

Posted By Kate on February 14, 2010

Farm-City Day for 4th Grade Students

A long article, but a memory refresher of some of the major events that occurred in August.

MONTH OF AUGUST 2009

Saturday, August 1, 2009
August Recess for Congress. The House has passed a bill on Health Care Reform which when the details become clear to the American people, they will not accept. The Senate has not written their bill yet. All congressmen will be met by opposition to the health care bill at scheduled Town Hall meetings in their respective districts and states. There are at least

30 Senators who are up for reelection in November 2010. The only power the people have is the ballot box.

Saturday, August 1, 2009
Revenues at Federal Level Lowest Ever. From the Associated Press – In today’s dollar value, the US Treasurer is the lowest it’s been since the 1932 depression. Revenue is expected to drop 18% this year. Revenues from individual income tax is down 22% from last year; revenues from corporate income taxes is down 57% compared to last year. The Democratic Congress is bailing out big banks with big bucks and car manufactures with another BILLION. The deficit is already $1.8 BILLION and climbing. The Obama health care program is calculated to cost $1 TRILLION by the end of a decade. And the national debt is already $11 TRILLION and some in Congress want to lift the debt ceiling so that they can borrow more for new programs. Are the Democrats trying to bankrupt and destroy the US?

Sunday, August 2, 2009
Former Commission Chairman Endorses Board’s Restructure. The former Chairman, Wendell Dawson was known for his tough management style. He was a part time Chair for a short time, but soon found that the job required full time presence. He was also known for micro-managing which many of the county department heads and employees resented. He loved the authority given to him legislatively so it is with some ironic assessment that he posted a news release in which he stated that he very much agreed with the restructuring – the reduction of the Chairman’s authority and power when that is exactly what he enjoyed when he was in the same position as the current Chairman. It is also well known since Dawson left the position of Chairman in 2000 that he has continued to severely criticize the management style of Chairman Davis almost always on a personal level by way of his AVOC Web site. Could this be a tinge of jealously or resentment or a hidden agenda to route out the total Board and put his own preference in power? Do Oconee citizens want a shadow government? He still exerts much power and influence in county politics.

Monday, August 3, 2009
Shortfall in School Budget. Randy Morrison, Finance Officer of the Oconee County School System, at tonight ‘s meeting, said that to make up the loss in the school budget as a result of the Governor’s request to cut another %5, reductions will be made in travel, professional development, no fill for 2 positions, a small percentage cut (3%) in each school’s budget to amount to about $93,000, a hiring freeze on all non-critical positions to save about $55,000 and some redirection of funds all amounting to $1.3 million without a furloughing of any teachers. However, Dr Jackson said that if the revenues do not improve during the next year at the state level from which a portion of school money comes, furloughs may be a possibility in the future. He also encouraged teachers to be fugal in their use of electricity and supplies. “If all 1000 of us practice conservative measures, we can get through this low period without sacrificing student learning.”

Monday, August 3, 2009
School System Continues Expansion. The Oconee taxpayers pay a 1 cent sales tax to fund school construction, repair, renovation, land and new school buildings. It is called the Education Local Option Sales Tax – E-LOST. At present it is funding land in Bishop for a new school, a practice gym at Oconee County High, new technology for classrooms, a band/chorus room at Oconee Middle, additions to Rocky Branch Elementary and Malcom Bridge Elementary and the new High Shoals Elementary School. These funds cannot be used for salaries.

Monday, August 3, 2009
Phyllis Hughes – Highest Bid for Kay Novel. Terry Kay, local author and publisher offered his unpublished novel to the Oconee County Arts Foundation (OCAF) as a way to raise funds for the organization. Bids came in over a period of a month and reached crescendo last week. Hughes is delighted to have the only copy (other than the original that in still in the procession of Mr Kay) on the market with a personal signature by the author. She likes the idea of passing it down to her family as a piece of significant history for OCAF and Oconee County.

Monday, August 3, 2009
Local North Georgia Bank Holds Shareholder Meeting. Bank President Chuck Williams told the room full of shareholders and visitors that the bank had been under some regulatory changes – not to paint a serious problem, but not to relate a rosy picture either. He said, so far, the bank is not in trouble of failing but profits are the lowest they have been since the bank was created 10 years ago. The Georgia Department of Banking and Finance issued an order to make some changes. Looking closely at the items in the order, Williams said that the bank had already made most of the changes. “We had already identified the issues and made appropriate modifications.” Now, left to do is the increase reporting that they require. The bank had not met with drastic financial problems although they have been affected by the economic slump and the shock of the deflated development economy. Financial records show that the bank has lost a quarter million so far this year, compared to a gain of $185,000 during the entire 2008 year. Williams gave the impression that they were “pretty much” on solid ground now but a rebound is possible if the economy turns around even the slightest in the next 6 months.

Tuesday, August 4, 2009
New Tool for Sheriff’s Office and Jail Department. Funds that are seized in the regular enforcement of the law are put to good use. The amount seized was over $37,000 for the year 2009 so far. Tonight at the BOC meeting, Sheriff Berry demonstrated a thermal imaging device that will aid their night time searches for evidence. It will also assist them in the hunt for escapees. It works well in rain, fog and snow to image body heat or heat coming from any source. The device sells for $9,000 but they were able to purchase it for $3,000. He called it a “steal”, no pun intended.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009 Athens Cats & Dogs Move to Oconee Shelter. There was no more space to place animals which were already over crowded at the building that the Athens Area Humane Society on Beaverdam Road occupied. The facility will become the no-kill shelter, housing adoptable dogs and cats only. There are some 10,000 wild cats in Clarke County currently which cannot be left at the Beaverdam facility. Families living in Clarke County wishing to adopt animals must now go to the Watkinsville Facility on U S 441 near Heritage Park.

Tuesday, August 4, 2009 Oconee Government Reorganized. Tonight, the 4 Commissioners reduced the authority of the Chairman’s position by reorganizing the structure giving day-to-day activity of running the county to the County Administrator rather than the Chairman who is the CEO of the County. The somewhat unrelated reason for the restructuring was the complaint of poor communication from the Chairman to the 4 Commissioners. Sounds like a personal conflict rather than a move that will improve the county’s effectiveness of running the government.

Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Restructuring Bypassed Legislative Approval. County Commission Chairman Melvin Davis said in an interview with the Athens Banner Herald (August 5, 2009) after the vote that the 4 Commissioners essentially changed the form of Oconee’s county government by giving the bulk of the Chairman’s job responsibilities to the Administrator. He said to do this, the ordinance for change should have gone through the proper process at the state level since a county’s mandate for governance is given by that body. Although, he has stated that he does not plan to sue, a group of unhappy citizens may do so. The 4 Commissioners have give the opponents a legitimate issue for the upcoming election of 2 of them, Commissioner Hale and Commissioner Daniel. Some citizens have stated that it is “time to move”, the next elected Chairman or 2 new Commissioners on the Board may choose to work toward reversing the vote.

Tuesday, August 4, 2009
GEFA Funds Could Plug the Budget Holes. The Georgia Public Policy Foundation has announced that a fund known as the Georgia Environmental Facilities Association Fund – GEFA) amounts to the State’s 3rd largest bank. They contend that the monies in the fund amounts to $1.7 BILLION and is loaned with a low interest rate to Georgia communities to build infrastructure thereby preventing commercial banks from enjoying the business. They also claim that the state should not be in the business of loaning money and that should be left to the private sector. They also state the revenue loss in the State budget would vanish if the $1.7 BILLION were released to fill the deficit and have funds left over. State officials rebut by insisting that most banks would not make such loans and as a result, government operated loans were created. The loan interest goes back into the fund to keep it solvent. Oconee County government has rec’d many GEFA loans in the past 20 years.

Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Barrow County To Cut Law Enforcement Budget. Commission Chair of Barrow County, elected in 2008, is facing a shortfall so large that the Board is looking at slashing the Sheriff’s Department. Usually when budgets have to be cut at the county level, it is “hands off” the law enforcement because citizens feel their safety net should not be on the chopping block. However, the Barrow County budget including all departments has been slashed so severely already ($4 million) that the only expenditures left to plug the hole are aimed at law enforcement. The budget committee asked for an additional $2 million or raise the millage rate or a combination of both. The committee cut $2 million from the Sheriff’s office by eliminating the request for 18 new employees, pay raises that were not given in the last year, a portion of their travel budget and educational training and other items. Sheriff Jud Smith said that he would be back for next year’s budget asking for more. No mention was made of an increase in the millage rate. Barrow county’s budget has gone from $40 million at the height of their development boom to less than $32 million at the low point of the recession.

Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Tech Schools See Surge In Enrollment. In Georgia, over 10,000 people enrolled in Technical Schools during the past Fiscal Year amounting to a 7% increase. Athens Tech enrolled 4% more as well as Augusta Tech. Savannah Tech rose 13%, twice the state increase. The biggest increase (20%) occurred at West Central Tech which has branches in Newnan, LaGrange, Carrollton and Douglasville. The smallest gain was at Middle Georgia Tech at Macon.

Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Gas Switch for Some Oconee Customers. About 500 residents will have to switch to a different natural gas company because their former distributor, the City of Monroe has been legally pushed out of the market for these customers by the Atlanta Gas Company. A dispute was settled in court in which the Atlanta company accused the Monroe company of serving customers that were located in the Atlanta company’s territory. The Atlanta company won the case and so now these former Monroe customers must contract with someone on a list of available gas companies or with Atlanta Gas. A rep from the Georgia Extension Service is conducting workshops to work with these customers to help them choose a reliable gas company.

Thursday, August 6, 2009
Cash for Clunkers. Today, the US Senate sent a bill to Obama to sign that will extend the Cash for Clunkers program with another $2 BILLION. He is expected to sign the bill immediately. Where does the money come from? No one at the white house nor Congress is saying. Borrowed from another country’s treasurer no doubt for our children and grand-children to pay back through heavy taxation?

Thursday, August 6, 2009
Judge Sonia Sotomayor Confirmed. After much debate in the media from both Republicans and Democrats, Sotomayor was confirmed today as the first Hispanic to the US Supreme Court. The controversy swirled around her published statements that a Judge should show apathy in decisions made at the high court rather than or in addition to the law – a position that will be a “first” in decisions coming from the highest court in the U S.

Thursday, August 6, 2009
Governor Talking Water Woes to Georgians. Governor Perdue travels to Albany in south Georgia today to convince them that the water dispute with the states of Florida and Alabama and a federal Judge’s ruling will not adversely affect the southern part of Georgia as many in that area have come to believe. The south Georgia residents see the Atlanta area as sapping up more than their share of Georgia’s limited water supply. He told them that Atlanta needed to exercise conservation to the extent that other counties in Georgia had answered the call to conserve water during the latest 4-year drought. But even so, more has got to be done to find water resources for all of Georgia’s residents. Perdue is also charged with finding a solution to the age old problem of sharing water from Lake Lanier that flows into the Chattahoochee River with the 2 adjacent states from which all 3 states get their drinking water. Perdue is expected to have a solution before he leaves office in December of 2010.

Thursday, August 6, 2009
USDA Grant to Restore Theater. Kinda of unusual for the Department of Agriculture to award a $100,000 grant to restore an old building in the small town of Union Point, GA in Greene County. The grant comes from the section of the Department that issues grants called the Rural Business Enterprise Grant. Lee Nelson of the Better Hometown initiative is responsible for submitting the grant to USDA. To fully restore the century old building that has been the home of several entities – a furniture store, a saddle supply store, a flea market and a theater – it will take at least $400,000 (more than received in grant money) to install air conditioning, install audio and video equipment and rebuild the original movie marquee. Earlier renovations amounted to about $100,000 and was paid for by the volunteers which included a new roof and installation of a heating system. The building will be used mainly for concerts, community gatherings, etc. which can bring in as many as 200 to 250 people per venue who might meander around the town and spend more money. The old dilapidated building was purchased by their Development Authority to re-vitalize the town after the huge Chipman Union sock factory closed its doors in 2001.

Thursday, August 6, 2009
Homeless Clinic For Athens Area. If the federal government closes a military facility, such as the Navy School in Athens, it is bound by law to benefit the homeless. UGA satisfied the requirement by agreeing in 2007 to pay a coalition of non-profit organizations $7.8 million to buy land and build a clinic or a shelter or other facility off base and the HUD must sign off on the transaction. Today, the HUD signed off on the agreement to build a clinic for social services. Laura Bailey with Advantage Behavioral Health Systems, a partner and Chairman of the coalition says they need such a clinic badly and that 3 years ago it was just a dream. The purchase of the land and the actual building will not be completed until 2011, but she will be busy drawing up plans in the meantime.

Friday, August 7, 2009
Cash for Clunkers Extended. Obama signed into law, the second round of cash for clunkers at $2 BILLION to be extended into Labor Day. The additional tax payer monies is not so much to help individual citizens, although that is not to be denied, it is done mostly to prop up the auto industry, especially GM which has now been bought by the Federal Government (US Treasury) who owns 60.3% of its stock. If that’s the case, its really the tax payer who owns GM. But how does that help us as individuals?

Friday, August 7, 2009
Swine Flu Preparation. Schools are being advised not to panic if an outbreak of swine flu emerges in the fall. Instead schools should be preparing for school-wide vaccinations beginning in mid-October. In preparation for preventing the spread of the bug, a few precautions are advised: see that students wash hands often, cough into their sleeve or toward their bodies, stay home if sick, and take child home if gets sick at school. The swine flu shot is available at various locations: Health Department, Pharmacy, Hospitals, health clinic, workplace or Doctor’s Office.

Friday, August 7, 2009
Protests Are Not Artificial. In a letter to the editor of the Athens Banner Herald August 7, 2009 issue written by Bob White – he gets it right. In the face of the White House and Obama supporters (think Union members) who have tried to suppress the critics voicing their concerns of the House bill for health care reform (think nationalized medicine) at Town Hall meetings, White confirms that these Town Hall meeting participants are ordinary citizens (the silent majority) who have every right to speak freely against the Democratic Health Care Plan. More and more just ordinary citizens are taking days off work to travel to the nearest Town Hall meeting to voice their protest. More and more citizens are writing letters to the editors of their hometown paper voicing legitimate opposition. Most conservative radio talk shows are hearing from listeners who protest the Plan. The movement is catching on nation-wide and getting stronger. A September 12 Rally is being planned for a gathering on the Mall in front of the Capitol in DC. Thousands of participants are expected from all across the nation maybe as many as a million will attend.

Saturday, August 8, 2009
Saturday Stroll. The Saturday Stroll in downtown and Watkinsville neighborhood is a fundraiser created and sponsored by the Oconee Democrats. A prominent citizen, preferable one who knows some history of the location of the stroll, serves as the guide for the 1-hour walk beginning at 9 am. The cost is $5 per person and the proceeds go to the charity of choice of the citizen conducting the stroll. Today, Deacon Marvin Nunnally from Bethel Baptist Church located on US 441 Main Street across from Chicken Express led the stroll and the proceeds will go to Relay For Life – 2010. The Stroll takes place each Saturday and is an excellent way to learn more about the community in which we live.

Saturday, August 8, 2009
Antioch Annual B-B-Q. Over 1000 people, 147 lbs of chopped pork, a lot of hard work and over $7,000 later, the b-b-q was a success. It always is. People from all over the county and from many surrounding counties look forward each year to the annual fellowship and a good meal under the permanent shelter across the road from the 200 year old Church on Antioch Road in the southern part of the county. This year, there more take-outs at $8 per plate than at any other.

Sunday, August 9, 2009
New GI Bill for Military Personnel.. After 9/11, a bill floated through the process and was signed by Pres Bush to approve $75 BILLION for the education of servicemen and women who return and a college education for any children of service personnel that lost their lives as a result of the War on Terror. Although the amount of funds may not cover all service personnel, it will most likely be renewed. Many in the Athens Area are taking advantage of the opportunity.

Sunday, August 9, 2009
U S Chamber Announces Against Obama Health Care Plan. Not only is the organization of local Chambers of Commerce a strong critic of the Plan, they are also adamantly opposed to the banking overhaul. The organization is a strong defender of the private sector (naturally) and while the Congressmen and women are home for the August recess, they are making their objections known. They have spent at least $2 million in a campaign opposed to Obama’s proposals to make the government a competitor in the health insurance community. The US Chamber has over 3 million Chamber Chapter members. Has our local Chamber announced against it?

Monday, August 10, 2009
Fewer Babies Born in US in 2008. The birth rate for the United States fell almost 2% in 2008 as compared to 2007. A downward trend has been observed for several years by the National Center for Health Statistics as stated in their recent report. The 2% rate is teetering on the brink of reducing the total population of the US in one generation and at a point at which the number of those that die is out-numbering the number of births. Elsewhere, especially in Europe, the population of native citizens is decreasing rapidly. For instance, in France the required fertility rate to maintain its culture is 2.11. It is now 1.8. At the rate of 1.3, it will be impossible to reverse, that is have more babies being born of French parents than the number of French citizens dying. Immigration of other cultures is the problem. The Muslim population, no matter where they live, is increasing at the rate of 8.1%. In France, 50% of all newborns are Muslim. In 39 years, France will be a Muslin State. Including all of Europe, for people 20 years and younger, 30% of them were born Muslim. By 2050, Germany will be a Muslim State. In 30 years there will be 50 million Muslims living in American. In 10 years, Islam will be the world-wide dominate religion surpassing Catholicism and all other religions. How does this affect Oconee County? Some of our very young citizens will live to see the above come to pass – unless we, today, take action.

Monday, August 10, 2009
Linder Says ObamaCare is Falling Apart. U S Rep John Linder from Norcross, in his Town Hall teleconference said that votes to pass the bill is diminishing because the Blue Dog Dems will not vote for a bill that includes a government health care plan and the far left liberal Dems will not vote for one does include it. Catch 22. Linder also said that the criticism from the citizens attending Town Hall meetings across the country are a bit “over the top”. Seems like an arrogant statement coming from a deep south Republican representative. He may see a change in the rhetoric from the White House because of the strong opposition at these meetings from many of his constitutions here and elsewhere nationwide.

Monday, August 10, 2009
High School Students Could Pay Less. High Schoolers who take advanced college courses in the State University System will be billed for the number of hours taken while in high school rather than a flat fee, the Board of Reagents announced today. Students taking one or more advanced college courses have been billed asa flat fee. Now, based on the number of hours, it will be cheaper for some, but more expensive for others.

Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Former Governor Zell Miller Recovering. Today Gov Miller was hospitalized for shingles, a painful skin rash. The condition is not life threatening, but very painful. Miller is 77 – born February 25, 1932.

Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Severe Storms Bring Much Rain. Tonight, before midnight, a storm system came up suddenly from the west, dumped rain in Atlanta and showered the Athens Area with about 1 inch of rain, in some areas, more than an inch. Storms also replenished the Oconee River, Sinclair Lake and Bear Creek Reservoir. In Oconee County, some large old trees were downed, a few wrecked homes and many light limbs fell, but no one died as a result.

Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Rep Paul Broun Blasts ObamaCare. Now most citizens across the nation are calling the US House Health Care Plan as “ObamaCare” and a large majority do not like it. Ditto for Rep Broun – in a Town Hall meeting of over 600 angry citizens in Clarkesville, GA Technical College today. He called it a “stinking fish” that the Democrats want to “shove it down your throats and make you eat it before you smell how stinky it is.” The issue in the plan in which most seniors disagree is a counselor who will visit seniors every 5 years to help them determine how they wish to die. They see this as a method to speed up the end of life which is essentially euphemism. The plan states this as voluntary, but citizens say “why is it written in the plan if it is optional.” The plan is about 3 large binders in size and Broun claims that the authors nor Obama know exactly what the plan includes. He said that he has read it and the comments from audience participants indicate they have read it also. He makes no bones about stating that the path that Obama is leading the country is dangerous and Marxist – the democrats are moving toward a socialists run government without opposition. He encouraged all citizens to advocate against the plan in other town hall meetings. He plans more such meetings later this month while the House and Senate members are home on leave from DC. The crowd gave him a standing ovation. Broun is a medical doctor, general practice.

Tuesday, August 11, 2009
US Rep David Scott (D-Smyrna) Labeled a Nazi. Scott has an office in downtown Smyrna, GA with a sign outside that reads: Congressman David Scott-Service Office. Upon arriving at the location today, he found a swastika sign painted over his name. Scott is a mild mannered, black politician who represents a predominately white constituency. He responded that the opposition to the health care plan should tone down their rhetoric and participate with each other rather than “over” each other. He hopes the security camera recorded the culprit after an investigation by the FBI, the Capitol Police and the Smyrna Police Dept.

Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Mars Hill Road Widening. MACORTS (Madison, Oconee and Clarke Transportation Needs) met tonight prior to the Land Use and Transportation Advisory Committee to inform citizens of their plans for road improvement in the future. The GA DOT gave authority to Oconee officials to begin the purchase of 150 rights of way on different individual properties along Mars Hill Road. This is part of the widening but must be done first in Phase I. It will include purchase of properties from the Oconee Connector at SR 316 all the way to Butlers Crossing (Hog Mountain Road), a 3-mile distance. GA DOT will give up to $9.8 million to complete Phase I. The actual widening, a $20 million project) has been moved to later to be completed by 2035.

Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Georgia Charter Schools. Some Charter Schools are short on funds as printed in the ABH according to a report done by Georgia State University. The financial problems seem to be chronic and could lead to some schools closing. One of 25 schools facing insufficient funds closed at the end of school year 2007. By law, the Department of Education is mandated to monitor these schools for financial stability and meeting state academic and curriculum standards, but has failed to do so because of lack of personnel. Recently the department created and issued a new regulation that requires charter schools to report their finances before the doors are opened and then on a regular basis – a mechanism to have them, in essence, monitor themselves. If shown to be lacking, their charters will not re-authorized at the end of the school year. Charter Schools pride themselves on “not worrying about meeting certain financial criteria and state regulations so that they can more easily concentrate on teaching, but is this becoming their downfall?

Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Congress Gets Ear Full. The U S Congress, home for their summer break, is hearing from angry protestors about the public option heath care bill being considered in Congress. Many such meetings across the nation are letting their representatives know how they feel. Although supporters are present at most of these Town Hall meetings, they are not as vocal. Rumors are circulating that opponents are organizing bus trips to Washington on the day after 9/11 (September 12) to let the powerful politicians know that they oppose run-away spending on health care and all the Trillion-dollar bailouts that have occurred. The grassroots folks have been awakened.

Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Oconee Advisory Committee Studies Space for New Court House. The current court house is too small for the space needed to conduct the county’s business. The BOC chairman, Melvin Davis suggested that the issue be given to the 12 members of the Land Use and Transportation Advisory Committee to make a complete and thorough study of the crowded conditions at the court house and explore ways to double the space needed 10 years into the future and report back to the BOC in 6 months. The Committee invited the officials at the Jail and the Sheriff’s Office to attend the meeting last month and describe their future needs. Tonight, MACORTS was invited to present their plans for road construction and repair for the next 25 years. The next meeting will hear Finance Officer, Jeff Benko present what his department will need in the next 10 to 20 years and the options for funding a new building if the Committee decides the County is in need of one. County Administrator, Alan Theriault will describe the space needed for the administrative portion of the space presently occupied at the court house. The Committee is leaning toward a new building that will house only the court proceedings and leave the space left for expansion of the administrative segment. Law enforcement desires a building for court hearings near the Jail so that prisoners can be transported to court sessions without injection into the normal traffic in the city. Discussion of various locations for a new building has not been approached yet.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Clean-Up Slowed. Hazardous waste sites abound all over the US. Each State’s environmental protection department is responsible for clean-up, but they, like other government departments are suffering a drastic decrease in revenues. As a result, law makers are sponsoring a bill that would let a property owner pay a fine of $5,000 to get their name on the list for sooner clean-ups so that they can use or develop the land again. There are over 600 sites in Georgia, 9 of them are in Clarke County. None are in Oconee County.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Area Water Needs NEED Immediate Action. Georgia Senator Chip Pearson has published what he says are immediate needs to supply water for 3 million citizens in the North Georgia area. He proposes to
1- Increase water storage by building more reservoirs now
2- Provide funding to increase number of reservoirs
3-Shorten permitting time for construction of reservoirs reservoirs
4- Increase capacity of Lake Lanier.
The Georgia General Assembly will take up the issue in January 2010.

Thursday, August 13, 2009
Oconee Foreclosures. Courthouse records show that 39 foreclosures were filed during first half of this month. In June 2009, 37 were filed – 2 less than the August number which is the most since the beginning of the housing market fall. Land and homes ranged in valued from $150,000 to $6,000,000. The most costly was for Willow Creek subdivision on Greensboro Hwy – 116 lots. Oconee State Bank was the lender. Other properties that were filed can be found in the August 13, 2009 issue of the Oconee Enterprise.

Thursday, August 13, 2009
Health Care Reform – Not This Time. Obama announced today that he may not insist that a government-run (called public health) health care plan be in the final bill. Congressmen in the U S House who were elected by swing votes (called centrists) are leery of a health care bill that will put the government in charge of the nation’s health care and the Dems in the Senate (called blue dog Democrats) who are leery of a bill that DOES include a government-run health care plan. The majority of citizens have until September 7 to convince their Congressional Representatives (home for the August Recess) to drop the whole idea of government-run health care. It is being predicted that the voters who could oust these representatives in next November’s election are being heard. A politician cares more about his political career than a health plan of any sort.

Saturday, August 15, 2009
Cotton Not King This Year.    Doug Dickens, 58, an Oconee County cotton farmer of many years has witness something in his cotton crop this year that he has never seen before – germination of the cotton seed with tiny green leaf foliage growing out of the fluffy cotton. He attributes it to the frequency of rainfall this year. He attributes the germination to the abundance of rain and warm weather this summer that created conditions for seed germination before the bolls fully opened for cotton harvesting which must be done when the cotton is dry. He said in a 2-week time period, if it wasn’t raining, it was overcast and never gave the fluffy cotton cluster time to dry. He said “if we get another extended spell of rain, what didn’t sprout last time will sprout this time around.” If that happens, he says the “whole crop may be a failure.”

Saturday, August 15, 2009
Democratic Meetings to Dispel ObamaCare Critics. Local groups that call themselves Organizing for America (Obama activists) announced yesterday, in response to Rep Paul Broun’s comments at a Town Hall Meeting Tuesday, for volunteers to come together and create advocacy material to promote the national health care plan in an effort to counteract any affect the opposition may garner at their Town Hall Meetings.

Saturday, August 15, 2009
Saturday Stroll. This week the Saturday Stroll is led by Georgia Rep Bob Smith who lived on Main Street South for most of his childhood. The stroll begins in front of the Court House at 9 am. Smith has been in real estate for many years before and after being elected to the Georgia House 6 years ago. Smith is an original member of the Oconee Relay for Life. He is also a member of the Oconee Rotary Club. Smith can claim 3 generations of history in Watkinsville starting with his great grandfather. The recipient charity has not been named yet.

Saturday, August 15, 2009
Swine or H1N1 Flu Reaches Athens Area. Last week, 2 students became sick with the flu, one at a Jackson County Middle School and one at the Hilsman Middle School (Clarke County). Both were under a doctor’s care and are recovering. Today, the CDC reported 7,500 cases that required hospitalization and over 400 deaths in the US. It is spread much like the regular seasonal flu through coughs and handling an object that is covered with the virus after a patient has handled it.

Sunday, August 16, 2009
Obama Health Care Opposition Growing. Listening to TV and checking the Web, the Town Hall meetings are multiplying. One is now being planned at the Veteran Park in Oconee on Saturday, August 29 at 10:30 am.

Sunday, August 16, 2009
Mars Hill Baptist 210th Anniversary Celebration. Today, church members and visitors heard Dr David Smith, president of the Brewton-Parker College at the 8 am and 11 am services – a celebration of 210 years of service of God’s message to the community. Lunch in the gym followed the 11 am service.

Sunday, August 16, 2009
Courtney Gale Relates Near-Death Experience. Oconee resident, Courtney Gale was the guest speaker at the Athens/Clarke Chamber of Commerce meeting last week. Courtney was attacked by a big black man with a knife at the Kroger Grocery Store on College Station Road last year while she was serving as night watchman for the store. A nurse shopping in the store at the time rushed to her side and kept Courtney from bleeding to death. She was rushed to emergency and stayed in the hospital for several weeks under intensive care before being released to the Shepherd Center in Atlanta for rehab. Today she still limps a bit but is recovering fine and enjoying her classes since she enrolled as a UGA undergrad studying public administration and health. Her goal is to one day be the chief of police in a small community.

Monday, August 17, 2009
Classes Began Today at UGA. Today marks the day that local residents must make room on the streets and roads for more than 34,000 students who have entered Athens and started classes today. About 6,000 of those were freshmen. Some 2,300 started classes at the Oconee Campus of the Gainesville State College off Experiment Station Road. Share the road and watch out for aggressive student drivers. More accidents occur when students are back in town than any other time of the year. And yes they spill over into Oconee County.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Stimulus Funds for Athens Area. A Georgia Weatherization Assistance Program of $5.1 million was received at the ACTION, Inc headquarters for the immediate 10 counties surrounding Athens. The grant is intended to reduce energy use and help lower income residents pay their bills. Clarke County will get $1.4 million; Walton will get $577,000; Jackson will get $512,000; Barrow will get $419,000. Other counties will get lesser amounts. ACTION, Inc is a non-profit corporation that uses federal, state and local grants in anti-poverty programs to help the economically challenged.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009
New Fire Truck for Barber Creek Station. The Oconee Fire Department received a new fire truck that will be stationed at the Barber Creek fire station near the Oconee Connector. The truck was purchased from the Stuphen Corporation for $377,342 from a SPLOST fund. It has a 1,500 gallon per minute pump and carries 1,000 gallons of water. It will also carry 8 fire fighters. This is the 3rd truck purchased in an effort to replace all old fire engines in the county.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Oconee Republican Party Dinner. The local party will meet tomorrow night at the Watkinsville Community Center on VFW Drive at 6:30 pm for a Lasagna Dinner followed by the meeting at 7 pm. Brian Miller, grandson of former U S Senator and Georgia Governor Zell Miller from the Miller Leadership Resources Group, Inc. is the scheduled guest speaker. Miller will encourage leadership to emerge in the conservative part of the Republican Party. The meeting will last about 2 hours.

Thursday, August 20, 2009
Unemployment Rate Up Again. The Labor Department announced today that the number of people without and seeking jobs reached 10.3%. The labor department spokesman stated that the rate seems to be stabilizing, but he fears that many unemployed are just tired of looking and have not applied again for unemployment insurance which would give a false reading of just how many are out of work. Is it expected to go beyond the 10.3% by the end of 2009? Most analysts hope the answer is “no” but most economists predict the answer to be “yes” because all indicators point to a long hard recovery – perhaps 5 or more years.

Thursday, August 20, 2009
Oconee Republican Party Hears Motivational Speaker, Bryan Miller. The dinner-meeting will take place tonight at 6:30 pm for a Lasagna dinner and business meeting at 7:00 pm to hear Bryan Miller, grandson of former Governor Zell Miller. No charge for dinner, but reservations were required and donations were welcome. About 45 people attended. Miller is the founder of Miller Leadership Resources, Inc in Young Harris, GA. He spoke on “common sense in government.”

Thursday, August 20, 2009
Swiss Bank Reveals Names of Tax Dodgers. The Swiss government will turn over names of suspected U.S. tax dodgers who have held 4,450 secret accounts at banking giant UBS — accounts that at one point together contained as much as $18 billion, U.S. officials said Wednesday. Further, the Swiss government promised to assist the United States in similar investigations at other Swiss banks, the IRS said. The announcement follows a long-running effort by the U.S. government to penetrate Swiss bank secrecy, focusing first on UBS. The United States had been seeking a federal court order demanding that UBS identify the holders of 52,000 accounts. The Swiss government had promised to block such a disclosure, leading to weeks of negotiations, a settlement and then Wednesday’s announcement. The U.S.-Swiss deal is a blow to rich Americans who have availed themselves of Switzerland’s legendary banking secrecy. Some UBS customers have participated in a leniency program, which began in March and expires Sept. 23, that allows them to come forward to the IRS in exchange for reduced penalties.

Thursday, August 20, 2009
Obama Appoints Czars. Obama has appointed 36 Czars so far, without congressional approval, accountable only to him, not to the voters, who have control over a wide range of US policy decisions. Some of them are Stimulus Accountability Czar, an Urban Czar, a Compensation Czar, an Iran Czar, an Auto Industry Czar, a Cyber Security Czar, an Energy Czar, a Bank Bailout Czar and more than a dozen other government bureaucrats with unchecked regulatory powers over US domestic and foreign policy. We’re going to get a health care plan shoved down our throats that is written by a committee whose head says he doesn’t understand it, passed by a Congress that hasn’t read it but exempts themselves from it, signed by a president that also hasn’t read it, with funding administered by a treasury chief who didn’t pay his taxes, overseen by a surgeon general who is obese, and financed by a country that’s nearly broke. What could possibly go wrong? Now PJTV has put together a helpful video detailing all 36 of Obama’s czars. (http://blog.heritage.org/2009/08/24/do-you-know-your-obama-czars/)

Friday, August 21, 2009
Taking Our Social Security Money. In 1975, the calculated cost of living adjustment (COLA) due to inflation was adopted, the addition (raise) to be automatic for Social Security payments, but voluntary for other organizations. This year, 2010, there will be NO COLA. By law, social security benefits cannot decrease, but there are tricky ways that it can be made to do so. If a COLA raise in not included in the SS check and the cost of prescriptions goes up, then the SS check is less to make up for the increased cost of the meds. Any time the cost of health care goes up, it takes more out of a senior’s SS check. About 50 million retired and disabled Americans receive monthly SS checks. The average benefit is about $1,153. More than 32 million seniors are in the prescription drug program. Average monthly premiums will be increased from $28 to $30 beginning this year under ObamaCare. Social Security is still facing a long term financial crisis (the number of people going on SS is increasing while the number of workers paying into SS is decreasing = unsustainable).

Monday, August 24, 2009
North Oconee High Not Ready For Rivals. Principal John Osborn stated that after this season, his coaches have been instructed not to engage in any regular season competition with the other high school (OCHS Warriors) until 4 years hence – apparently to give his school, coaches and players time to adequately prepare his school for equal and fair competition with the other long established high school. He published his reason for the decision in a blog for all to see. The tone of his expressed document seem to be that his school was Not yet up to par and he wanted to get it in shape before competing. What could be so wrong with that? But it’s a policy question that may not be the principal’s choice to make.

Tuesday , August 25, 2009
Town Hall Meeting Cancelled. Rep John Linder (US Rep for Gwinnett, Barrow and Walton Counties) cancelled the meeting because of fear that it would be too rowdy to handle and be overwhelmed with questions about the Obama Health Care Plan rather than the issues that individuals had planned to discuss with him. Instead, citizens can listen in on a conference call from his office today by calling 1-800-857-6263. W hat does this mean? Those county citizens have been denied the chance to express their opinions as the Constitution permits on the proposed national health care plan. What a shame.

Thursday, August 27, 2009
Cash for Clunkers Update. The government has released facts on it’s “Cash for Clunkers” program. This program was positioned as a way to assist an industry in trouble and reduce the carbon impact of cars by improving fuel economy. While it’s too early to determine the true impact of the program, the initial facts do illustrate some interesting findings. Here are the facts that were released by the government:* Participation: 690,114 “clunker” claims. * Cost of Cash for Clunkers Program: $2.88 billion * Average MPG for Trade-ins: 15.8 mpg * Average MPG for New Cars: 24.9 mpg The automakers that most benefited from the program were Toyota, Honda and Nissan, with 41 percent of the new automobile sales. The “Big 3″, GM, Ford and Chrysler, accounted for 39 percent. Toyota alone had 19.4 percent of the overall sales. Initial indicators suggest this will contribute 0.3 to 0.4 percent for Q3 economic growth. If we assume the average person drives 15,000 miles per year, and an average cost of $2.628 per gallon of gasoline, we can derive the following facts:

Clunkers 655 M (gas required), $1.7 B (total spent)

New 415 M (gas required), $1.0 B (total spent)

Savings 213 M (gallons saved), $629 M (total spent)

If the average purchase of gas is 15 gallons, this means 15,933,333 fewer fill-ups per year, or 23 less fill-ups per person per year.

Thursday, August 27, 2009
Oconee County Senior Center Fund Raiser. The Waffle House on US 441 across the road from the Race Track station teamed up with the Oconee County Senior Center to serve breakfast at $2.50 from 8 to 10 am today at the Center located at the Veterans Park on SR 53. 10% of the proceeds will go to the Senior Center for their variety of projects for Seniors.

Friday, August 28, 2009
Perspective 2009 – OCAF. The 7th Annual Perspective event of the Oconee County Arts Foundation started today at 6 pm to run until 10 pm – the opening reception. It would run from August 28 through September 16. Admission to the viewing of art is $5. As always, a large number of customers from all of Georgia and out-of-state are expected. The average proceed amount collected has been somewhere between $20,000 and $40,000. It remains a very popular venue for the county.

Saturday, August 29, 2009
Oconee County Healthcare Reform Protest. Citizens gathered today at the Veterans Park near the Community Center to voice their opposition to the Obama Nationalized Healthcare Plan. About 175 people gathered at the Veterans Park Saturday to express their objection to the Obama Nationalized Health Care Plan. All in all, it was a civil event – no pushing, hitting, injuries or police arrests as has occurred at many of the mixed Town Hall meetings across the nation. That’s not to say that anger, frustration and fear was shown at the words of the speakers. Quote: “I’m a single mother and have no insurance, but I don’t want the government controlling my needs for health care.,” a speaker at the mike. How did the idea originate? The wife of a young couple, Michelle Smith, mother of 4 boys had heard about all she could endure about the different features of the health care plan proposed by the US House and approved by Obama, when she decided she had to do something to express her frustrations. An Oconee resident, she wanted to sponsor a gathering to allow others to express their frustrations as well, so she purchased a full page ad in a local weekly announcing a scheduled rally for her fellow citizens, coordinated the location, date and time and invited elected politicians to speak. It was initially planned as a conservative event. But the Democrats invited themselves and their opposing signs, so what is left to do but be polite.

Sunday, August 30, 2009
Lake Lanier Ruling Aftermath. After the federal judge ordered the state of Georgia to find a way to settle the tri-State dispute of sharing water among the 3 states, the Georgia Legislature came up with a lot of different ways to conserve water. The ruling indicated that Georgia has very little legal rights to water in Lake Lanier. Water withdrawals could slow to a small fraction. Conservation alone will not solve the problem so says the Governor. Another suggestion was to offer a rebate on low-flow toilets that are water efficient; encourage developers to use drought-tolerant plants in new subdivisions; and install a water meter on each unit in a multi-family complex. Perdue has vowed to appeal the ruling, but has not done so yet. Legislatures are mostly of the opinion that Atlanta must take drastic steps to reduce the amount of water used by the city each day before asking the rest of Georgia to make extreme sacrifices to conserve. Now that the effects of a severe drought has eased, Legislators may let the issue slide again at the upcoming Session.

Sunday, August 30, 2009
Housing Supply Unchanged. Since July of 2007, this was the highest number of houses sold (7%), but the number of houses put on the market also increased about the same amount. The market is glutted with homes and more are coming on the market every day, but will the price of home steadily decrease so that about the same number of homes will be purchased – holding the housing market at a steady rate? It is definitely a “buyer’s market,” but as long as so many people are out of work, the buying may not hold up. In the overall picture of the worst economy in 50 years, the bottom line is “jobs, jobs and more jobs.”

The End.

NOTE: The “What Happened” for the Month is a collection of short descriptions for the events that took place within the most recent month, but may not be inclusive. Information listed is from various sources: personal attendance at events, paraphrasing, Washington Post, Associated Press, various Web sites, Fox News TV, George Will and other writers, the Atlanta Constitution, Association of County Commissioners of Georgia, the Oconee Enterprise, the Athens Banner Herald, the Augusta Chronicle, the Bainbridge Searchlight News, NewsMax, USA Today, the Patriot and Talk Radio (1340). For details on any item, go to the long write-up under the heading ARTICLE. However, some items on this page may not have a corresponding longer Article.

Categories: August 2009, General
Tags: