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Posted By Kate on April 1, 2010

What Happened in the MONTH OF JANUARY – 2010

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

Friday, January 1, 2010
Jobs in 2009.     20 Million Out of Work in 2009.    The numbers of unemployment just kept going up and up in the year 2009 with 5.8 million of the 20 million out of work for at least 6 months.  The rate finally reached a little over 10% by year’s end.  However, the data shows that for certain demographics (black male teens, for instance), the rates is as high as 26%.

Annual Tree Spraying

Bailouts, Climate Change and Healthcare means absolutely nothing to those who have no job – no income. Obama has missed the mark when attending to the issue that is the foundation of every other issue.

Friday, January 1, 2010
“Super Speeder” Law.     Sitting in your vehicle sailing down a 2-lane or 4-lane highway, you see that speedometer ease past the limit by about 9 miles (the accepted 10 above the limit) and you will most likely hear a traffic cop on your tail. Today, the state has activated a law passed early this year that states: for violators who speed over the stated mph (65 and 75 mph) will pay a fine of $200, in additional to the local fine. Drivers who don’t pay will have their licenses suspended and pay an additional fee of at least $50 to have them re-instated. Monies will go to the state trauma units scattered over the state. Citizens will no doubt slow down a bit this new year.

Friday, January 1, 2010
Rush Limbaugh in Hospital.   No Heat Attack for Rush as was first thought.    Rush Limbaugh announced on Friday from Honolulu, that after a thorough battery of tests, he did not have a heart problem. The pain in his chest 2 days earlier could not be attributed to anything explainable, so he called 911. He announced that his experience was proof that the US had the best health care system in the world. He is headed back home to appear on his radio talk show by Monday. The Conservative world in the U S is relieved.

Friday, January 1, 2010
Killed in Afghanistan.   7 CIA officers killed in Afghanistan.    The suicide bomber that killed 7 CIA operatives in the war was recruited by the CIA base Commander to help with intelligence gathering and as an interrupter several days before but had not been searched the day of the bombing. You can’t trust the enemy.

Friday, January 1, 2010
Harry Bissett Closed Today In Athens.    The popular Bissett’s restaurants closed today citing a refusal of the Clarke County Commission to renew the liquor license for both eateries. Why no renewal? The owner had failed to pay his business taxes on time. The Oyster Bar (279 E Broad Street) and the Bayou Grill (1155 Mitchell Bridge Road) both owned by Jim White who hopes to open at least one citing an effort to sell one or both to pay back taxes. About 57 people have shown interest in the purchase, but no takers yet. The eateries have been in business in the Athens community for 23 years. In this tattered economic situation, hard times will cull out those who are vulnerable.

Friday, January 1, 2010
Airline Terrorist on Christmas Day.    Obama Finally Speaks Out Days Later On Christmas Day Airline Terrorist. While Obama was vacationing in Hawaii, a terrorist with hidden explosives in his shorts tries to blow up a Detroit bound flight on Christmas Day. Obama responds 5 days later and then was hesitant to call the young Nigerian, a terrorist. He tipped-toed around the word as if told by some outside force to go easy on a Muslim.

Saturday, January 2, 2010
Bankruptcy Rate.   Georgia Bankruptcy Rate.    Over 66,945 filings of bankruptcy were filed in federal court in Georgia from January to November in 2009 – a 22% increase over last year according to the National Bankruptcy Research Center. Personal bankruptcy filings reached 1.3 million nationwide – a 32% increase over last year. Unemployment seems to be at the top of the list for reasons, but following close behind is the developer/contractor-clients who were just making so much money that they maxed out credit cards and when the bust hit, they were caught with no way to pay their debts.

Saturday, January 2, 2010
Guidelines for Storm Water Run-Off.   EPA’s New Guidelines for Storm water Run-Off.  Guidelines for storm water runoff were published in the FEDERAL REGISTER late last year for comment and will become law in 2 years. The limits on turbidity must not exceed 280 unites (nephelometric turbidity units – NTU) for 10 acres or more. Developers of sites covered must take water samples throughout the day. This will mean special equipment working on a daily basis and add tremendously to the cost of a development. Some systems may be able to comply without the use of special equipment using the traditional erosion control treatment, but few large developments are as small as 10 acres. These restrictions may be added to the permit or may be left to subcontractors as the choice is left to the state or local government. This is all done in an effort to prevent turbid run-off that diminishes water quality, but will it really enhance water quality balanced against the cost?

Saturday, January 2, 2010
Oconee Native Walter Pritchett Told All.    Veteran Walter Pritchett Tells All. Pritchett was a WWII Veteran. He was married to Kate McClain and they have 2 daughters, Mary Pritchett Bishop and Sue Pritchett Roach. Walter died last year at age 85 but before he left this world, he was interviewed by a Prince Avenue Christian School 8^th student by the name of Josiah Holt who is the nephew of Maj Chris Carter, an Iraqi Veteran (placed the UGA flag atop the base where Saddam Hussin’s statue was destroyed). Josiah was given a history class assignment to interview a Veteran and document the session. Walter had never talked about his war experiences not to his wife nor any of his family who now will cherish forever their father’s words. The interview was taped and a copy given to the Pritchett family and a copy was kept in the school library. Josiah said he did not realize the significance of his assignment – history captured from so long ago that had never been revealed, but he’s glad that the family can now appreciate fully the part their father played in protecting our country and our freedom for his family and all Americans.

Saturday, January 2, 2010
Oil and Gas Price at End of 2009.    The year ended with the price of crude oil at $79.38 a barrel – 71% more than the beginning of 2009. Prices got a boost at the end of December 2009 when temps fell to a record low and everybody used more to heart up their homes and businesses. Retail gas prices finished the year with an average of 1.6 cents higher per gallon to $2.64 per gallon according to AAA which is $1.02 higher than the beginning of the year price. Price of unleaded regular is now $2.58 in Oconee County.

Sunday, January 3, 2010
State Award for Oconee Schools.  Three (3) of the County’s schools, both high schools and Rocky Branch Elementary received the SSAS (Single Statewide Accountability System) Award for academic achievement. Both Oconee County HS and North Oconee HS were among only 23 in the state to earn the recognition. Rocky Branch was one of only 30 elementary schools to earn the award. The criteria is 2 consecutive years of making adequate progress and at least 25% of students meet the standards for all test subjects and have at least 96% of students meet or exceed state assessments of standards.

Monday, January 4, 2010
Home Loans – Risky Business.   The financial institution Fannie Mae was created in 1938 by the government after the Great Depression to buy housing mortgages. It was privatized in 1968 – 30 years later to limit budget deficits during the Vietnam War. After 2 years in 1970, the government created Freddie Mac. After the housing bust in 2006 and mortgage defaults increased dramatically and by summer of 2008, the companies were not able to raise money, profit losses at both companies soared. The Bush Administration was forced to take over Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae just before the collapse of the investment bank Lehman Brothers. With the first bailout of BILLIONS to FM&FM under the Bush Administration with the approval of Congress, the situation has not changed much. Today, under the Obama Administration and without the approval of Congress, the US Treasury has pledged unlimited financial aid to FM&FM to make sure the housing market does not take a turn for worse. Will it really help? The U S Treasury (our tax dollars in borrowed notes) will have to cover more than $111 BILLION already lost at FM&FM plus the $400 BILLION given today to last through 2012.  Instead of “too big to fail” FM&FM has become “too big to get smaller.”  FM&FM  finances more than ¾ of all housing mortgages in the U S. The 2 companies have sold more than $2.7 TRILLION of debt this year mostly to China. And which Senators were monitoring FM&FM? – Chris Dodd and Barney Frank, 2 powerful Democratic Senators. What a mess created for the taxpayer to pay back for many, many  years to come! Taxes of every shape, form or amount are about to come our way.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Sanitary Sewer Replacement.   The BOC will meet in a special called meeting today at 5:30 pm to provide an opportunity for public input on the proposed project to replace aging collection and pumping equipment delivering wastewater to the Calls Creek Wastewater Plant. The project includes the replacement and upsizing of about 9,300 linear feet of sanitary sewer lines within and adjacent to the city of Watkinsville between Government Station Road and Calls Creek Plant. It also includes the replacement of the existing influent pump station with a new one which will improve the plants ability to process wastewater flows transmitted to the plant by way of the Lumpkin Branch Sanitary Sewer. The meeting will last about 1 hour.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010
GA Business License Requires Proof of Citizenship.   As of January 1, 2010, a Georgia law went into affect that required all owners or managers of businesses who must have a permit to do business in Georgia must also have a document of proof (affidavit)  that they are citizens of the United States. The revised law was passed last year to go into affect beginning this year. Business managers are making many calls to the Secretary of State Department requiring an explanation of the new law. Were all the existing businesses grandfathered in, many want to know. April 1 is the deadline for compliance.

Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Shocking Security Report.   Obama’s ‘Shocking’ Security Report.  Officials knew extremist were on plane heading to Detroit. The Obama administration is warning that the nation will react with “a certain shock” when the president releases a report Thursday afternoon detailing the snafus and blunders that led to the near-bombing of a Detroit-bound Northwest Airlines flight on Christmas Day. Administration officials initially had tried to downplay the incident. But in the past week, a litany of errors emerged that enabled a 23-year-old Nigerian with known terrorist inclinations, who paid for his ticket with cash and checked no luggage on an international flight, and who had an explosive device hidden in his underwear. The president is correctly alarmed that authorities failed to act on the available information that should have signaled a potential threat. Early Thursday, the Department of Homeland Security will disclose that would-be bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab’s has potential ties to terrorism that were discovered on Christmas Day — as Northwest Flight 253 was en route to the United States. The department said a routine check flagged Abdulmutallab’s possible extremist connections while the plane was in the air. Officials determined that they would intercept him after the flight landed, and subject him to additional screening. There is no indication, however, that U.S. officials attempted to alert the CREW of Flight 253 that a potential security risk was abroad the aircraft. New information emerged late Wednesday that suggests the threat of al Qaida-linked suicide bombers may be greater than initially recognized. According to ABC News, various intelligence reports suggest there could be “more than a dozen other young men trained for suicide missions against U.S. aircraft.” Alarm over the possibility of a wave of airborne suicide bombers would explain the unusual reaction Wednesday of law enforcement officials who told ABC that the administration is facing a “race against time.” By David A. Patten (NewsMax)

Wednesday, January 6, 2010
GA Governor’s Race Gets Crowded.   If no one else decides to enter the race for Georgia Governor, there are 15 so far: 7 Republicans and 8 Democrats, all men with the exception of one woman – Karen Handel – the former Georgia Secretary of State.  
For GOVERNOR:
George “Sonny” Perdue (R)* – Term Limited in 2010
Republicans:
1)  Jeff Chapman (R) – State Sen., Ex-Glynn County Commissioner & Businessman
2)  Nathan Deal (R) – Congressman, Ex-State Sen., Ex-Juvenile Court Judge, Attorney & Army Veteran
3) Karen Handel (R) – Ex-Secretary of State, Ex-Fulton County Commission Chair & Ex-Gubernatorial Aide
4) Eric Johnson (R) – State Senate President & Architect
5) Ray McBerry (R) – Radio Station Owner, Confederate Heritage Activist & ’06 Candidate
6) John Oxendine (R) – State Insurance Commissioner
7) Austin Scott (R) – State Rep. & Insurance Agent

Democrats:
Thurbert Baker (D) – Attorney General & Ex-State Rep.
9) Roy Barnes (D) – Ex-Governor, Ex-State Sen., Ex-State Rep. & Attorney
10) Carl Camon (D) – Ray City Mayor, Educator & USAF Veteran
11) Vernon Jones (D) – Ex-DeKalb County Chief Executive Officer & ’08 US Sen. Candidate
12) DuBose Porter (D) – State House Minority Leader, Newspaper Editor & Attorney
13) David Poythress (D) – Ex-State Labor Commissioner, Ex-State Adjutant General, Retired USAF Lt. General & ’98 Candidate
14) John Monds (Libertarian) – Grady County Planning Commission Member & ’08 PSC Nominee
15) Sam Hay III (Write-In) – Environmental Activist, Retired Businessman & ’02 Candidate

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR:

Republican:
Casey Cagle R * – (Campaign Site)

Democrat:
1) Debbie Buckner (D) – State Rep.
2) Carl Camon (D) – Ray City Mayor, Educator & USAF Veteran
3) Tim Golden (D) – State Sen., Ex-State Rep. & Ex-Congressional Aide
4) Floyd Griffin Jr (D) – Ex-State Sen., Ex-Milledgeville Mayor & Vietnam War Veteran
5) Michael Meyer von Bremen (D) – Ex-State Sen., Attorney & ’08 State Court of Appeals Candidate
6) Mike Thurmond (D) – State Labor Commissioner, Ex-State Rep. & Attorney
7) Allen Buckley (Libertarian) – Attorney, Accountant , ’06 Nominee & ’04 US Senate Nominee
Mrs Dubose Porter

Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Perdue Appoints Kemp as Secretary of State.    Former Georgia Senator Brian Kemp was commanding a great campaign for the Secretary of State Office when Governor Perdue appointed Rep Jim Cole. Then suddenly, Cole announced he was declining the appointment for another prestigious position in education. Perdue looked at the 3 candidates (2 Republicans and 1 Democrat) running for the office and chose Kemp to appoint. It was great news for Kemp and his followers – less money for campaigning for the next 10 months. But was this fair? Kemp will definitely have the advantage of incumbency going into the November 2010 mid term election. The other 2 candidates are: Doug MacGinnitie, Republican and Gary Horlacher, Democrat.

Thursday, January 7, 2010
Need Jobs Stimulus.   The U S Labor Department reported today that slightly over 3 million people are out of work. As many as 85,000 lost their jobs today. Obama was scheduled to announce his Jobs Act today but did not, given the media’s overwhelming coverage on the security problem since the Christmas Day incident of the arrest of the “panty bomber” on the Delta flight to Detroit. Tonight, in London, 3 young drunken Englishmen were arrested and taken off an Emirates plane bound for Dubai at London’s Heathrow airport for having made some joke about plane bombings. Security is tightening – at least in Europe, but here in the U S ?????

Friday, January 8, 2010
U S Unemployment Steady at 10%.   The nation shed 85,000 jobs in December, worse than expected, , according to a government report released today that suggests the economic recovery still is too weak to lead employers to add to their payrolls. The unemployment rate was unchanged at 10 percent, the Labor Department said. Forecasters had expected zero net change in the number of jobs on U.S. payrolls, and some had had expected job growth to return. Those expectations were dashed by a report that — while not without bright spots — suggested that the long slog toward an improved labor market continued in December. But the general theme from the December report was that signs of stability in the job market have not yet turned into overall job growth. According to a wide range of data, employers are not slashing jobs the way they were earlier in the year–the pace of new jobless claims has been declining steadily in recent weeks. But neither are employers adding to their payrolls or creating jobs at a pace anywhere near what would be needed to get the U.S. economy out of its deep hole of joblessness. Part of the job losses may have been due to colder-than-usual weather; construction employment fell by 53,000 jobs, more than in recent months, and that sector is more sensitive than most to the weather. One positive sign is that the number of temporary jobs rose by 47,000 jobs. Employers, it would seem, are reluctant to add permanent workers, but — faced with higher demand for their products — have little choice but to bring on temps. That could presage broader job creation in the future. The unemployment rate remained high, as many forecasters expect it to for many months. Not only did the nation continue to shed jobs, but the labor force shrank as 661,000 people pulled out of the workforce entirely, neither working nor seeking a job. A broader measure of unemployment, which includes people who are working part time but would prefer a full-time job and those who have given up looking for work out of frustration, edged up to 17.3 percent, from 17.2 percent. By Nealee Washington, Staff Writer

Friday, January 8, 2010
Oconee Youth To Perform “Grease”.  Beginning today and running through the weekend and all next weekend, the Oconee Youth Playhouse will present the musical Grease at the Oconee County Civic Center. The play is taken from a 1972 smash hit on Broadway which later in 1978 was made into a movie. The story is set in the 1950s. It is being directed by Shane and Terra Hannon, owners of the Playhouse. The lead players are Jackie Raye, a sophomore from North Oconee and Nate Squires, a senior from North Oconee. It is sure to be a hit with the audience as it was in 2003 when a different group of students were featured. Tickets are $16 and $14 for adults and students (under 12).

Saturday, January 9, 2010
“SolesforSouls” Project.    Oconee Area Schools collected more than 9,000 pairs of shoes that will not find a home at the local landfill. Georgians were encouraged to collect at least 50,000 and the 9,000 came from this small area. No total yet for Georgia as a whole. The Program’s national leaders encouraged each state to collect at least 20,000 to reach a goal of 250,000 for the nation. They will be given to charities to distribute to needy families during this recession. Most shoes were slightly worn and some were even brand new. The project will probably continue on an ongoing basis throughout the year.

Sunday, January 10, 2010
Prince Avenue Occupies New Baptist Church Building.     How to describe such a magnificent worship place is difficult. It is located off Hwy 78, set back in a beautiful wooded area. The educational wing is equipped with a psychedelic floor, video game station projector with Wii,  LCD televisions with 2 Xbox systems and a play station 3; 2 computers with 2 IMAX screens, a music center, a stage for productions, a basketball goal, a ping-pong table, a snack bar and lots of seating. It was designed to be the teenager’s dream – all worldly items brought into the church to entice the young to do their thing in church in a controlled environment rather than on the streets and in the city. The pastor said all that “stuff” was a means to an end. If they can provide entertainment and at the same time give them the good news gospel, youngsters will avoid some of the pitfalls of peer pressure and growing into adulthood.

Sunday, January 10, 2010
Former Georgia Senator Brian Kemp Appointed to Secretary of State.     Republican Brian Kemp served in the Senate for 4 years representing Clarke and Oconee Counties and then resigned to run in a 3-way race for Commissioner of Agriculture against fellow Republican Gary Black and incumbent Democrat Tommy Irwin. After losing that race (Irwin won) he dropped out of politics for a short time and got back in again this year to run for the Secretary of State Office that Karen Handel occupied until she resigned to run for Governor of Georgia recently. He was recently appointed by the Governor to serve Handel’s unexpired term until November 2010. He will be running to win that office seat by the voting public in the November midterm election.

Monday, January 11, 2010
Georgia General Assembly 2010 Session Begins Today.  The most important business besides the opening ceremonies and greeting each other, was the election of a new House Speaker. Since the demise of former Speaker Glenn Richardson, David Ralston put himself up for election to the post and was unanimously voted in. He says the mood of the House will be quiet different under his leadership with less confrontation but with rigorous debate to accomplish the desires of the people each serves. Their most important focus will be the budget – revenues are down again from last year. Drastic cuts may be coming.

Monday, January 11, 2010
Woman Makes History in Georgia General Assembly.  As the new Speaker of the House, David Ralston made history by becoming the 2^nd Republican to be elected in that position, another person made history also. She is Jan Jones (R-Milton), the first woman to be elected as “speaker pro tem” the 2^nd highest ranking member of the House. In political contrast, an activists stood outside the Georgia Dome as the Legislators assembled for their first meeting, carrying a sign that read: “Career Politicians are Career Thieves: Stop Prosecuting Citizens for Doing What Politicians Do.”

Tuesday, January 12, 2010
 Mass. Senate Candidates Battle to the End.  Democrat Martha Coakley and Republican Scott Brown scoured the state for votes on the eve of the special election to succeed the late Edward M. Kennedy, with the Democrats’ 60-vote Senate supermajority at stake.  Brown is leading with 46% to 41% according to the latest Rasmussen Poll, a week before the special election. Associated Press.

Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Oconee Bd of Edu Purchased Land for Central Office.   “We are so fragmented,” said Superintendent John Jackson and he suggests that the present situation is marked with potential for inefficiency. That said, he believes a new building is needed to put all administrative activity in one location. That new building will set on 6.4 acres on N Main Street adjacent to Bethel Baptist Church about where the little Bonding Company building is now located. The land deal was sealed back in December from the Williams Brothers (Charles and David) for about $900,000 and was not made public right away. The land was assessed by the Oconee Property assessor’s department at $692,000. The new facility will do away with administrative work being done in trailers and other crowded arrangements said School Officials. They have also said that the construction of a building is very far in the future. How far?  Board member Kim Argo voted against (vote 3-1) the purchase because she said it was “not their top priority now.” Nearly a $million paid for land to build an expensive building during tough times and at the brink of the State taking another big slice of the local school budget! Is this board treading on risky ground? This appears to be up-side-down thinking or at best poor judgment. Is an increase in the millage rate about to hit the citizens at the local budget hearings in April, 2010?

Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Abandon 90-Minute Class for 52-Minute Class.    Georgia’s Madison County Bd of Edu is contemplating going back to the 52-minute class for the whole year rather than a 90-minute class for a semester commonly called “block scheduling”. The reason: At the end of the year, students may not have been given the opportunity to take a particular subject that year but will be tested on it anyway. The shorter class period allows a student to cover more subjects per year than the long class period. In an informal survey, 96% of the teachers would kike to replace block scheduling and believe that it will result in a higher graduation rate. One month has been set aside for all to review the idea after which students in Madison County schools could see a change.

Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Rector Scale 7.0 Earthquake Hits Haiti.  The strongest earthquake in more than 200 years rocked Haiti today, collapsing a hospital where people screamed for help and heavily damaging the National Palace, U.N. peacekeeper headquarters and other buildings. U.S. officials reported bodies in the streets and an aid official described “total disaster and chaos.”  United Nations officials said a large number of U.N. personnel staying in the local Hotel Montana were unaccounted for. Communications were widely disrupted, making it impossible to get a full picture of damage as powerful aftershocks shook a desperately poor country where many buildings are flimsy. Electricity was out in some places. At this early time, officials are predicting that thousands are dead as a result.  -   CBS Reporter.

Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Haiti Red Cross Responds.  “Groups of Haitian Red Cross youth volunteers will comb the worst-hit neighborhoods, street by street, promoting safe hygiene practices and encouraging people to come to the first aid posts,” said Winnie Romeril, a volunteer with the American Red Cross in Haiti. Haiti’s president said he feared thousands were dead after the presidential palace, schools, hospitals and hillside shanties collapsed, leaving the Caribbean nation appealing for international help. With massive amounts of aid promised but not yet delivered because of the difficulty of operating in the crippled country, amid what U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called “one of the most serious crises in decades,” the living banded together outdoors without shelter, sustenance or protection. The range of injuries vary from scrapes and scratches to deep gashes, open head wounds, and fractured arms and legs.  Families cramp onto buses to depart Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The number of refugees fleeing the capital city surged as thousands fought to get on buses leaving for the countryside.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010
GA State of the State Address By Gov Perdue.   Gov. Sonny Perdue used his final State of the State speech on Wednesday to issue a call to arms to Georgia legislators grappling with the most severe budget meltdown since the Great Depression. “This is our time to carry a heavy load, to do the hard thing now for the sake of our children and grandchildren,” The speech evoked sacrifice and struggles throughout history from the Revolutionary Era to the Great Depression. But it was short on specifics. With anxiety over the state budget mounting, Perdue broke with tradition and didn’t release his spending proposal on the same day as his address. The Republican governor – his voice sometimes choking with emotion – urged state legislators to remember government’s role shielding the most vulnerable residents. He pledged additional state cash – more than $70 million over two years – to Georgia’s struggling mental health system, which is being monitored by the U.S. Department of Justice. “We cannot retreat from our duty to protect those who cannot protect themselves.” Perdue is set to leave office when his second term expires at the end of the year. He entered the governor’s mansion in 2003 facing a budget crisis and seems set to leave office slashing Georgia’s budget yet again. Tax revenues in Georgia have plunged for 13 consecutive months and it’s expected that legislators will have to slash another $1 billion or so from the budget. Perdue received a warm reception from the packed chamber, which honored him with a resolution recognizing his “long and faithful” public service. Perdue became visibly teary-eyed and his voice cracked as he thanked his wife, Mary, for standing by him for three decades. He thanked legislators for indulging him as he took “this last lap around the track.”  Taken from article by Shannon McCaffrey, Associated Press Writer.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Bear Creek Buffer Zone Violators.   Starting now and giving residents around Bear Creek Lake about a month to comply, they are being told to clean up their act in the buffer Zone. The zone was set aside to protect the quality of the water and to do so, such activities as leaving paddle boats and canoes on the side of water’s edge, dumping white sand nearby to act as a beach for visitors, throwing trash along the water’s edge, leaving picnic paraphernalia in the area and others activities. One of the more serious problems is backing trailers from the buffer area straight in the lake and causing silt to accumulate. After 30 days and no compliance, residents can be fined $1,000 and privileges taken from them. Buffer restrictions will be enforced by the Upper Oconee Basin Water Authority. Most residents claimed that they did not know about the restrictions and are trying to clean up their areas. However, some lake land owners still aren’t sure any authority has the legal right to impose restrictions on what a landowner does on his own property.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Georgia’s Transportation Needs Up For Discussion Again.  During the last Legislative Session, an idea was proposed to allow regional areas (several counties)  to come together and impose a 1 cent sales tax on its population to fund a needed road improvement within the county paying the bill. Another idea was to impose a state-wide 1 cent sales tax to fund all of Georgia’s transportation needs. Both ideas are included in Governor’s Perdue proposed budget for his last year in office. One benefit from the regional idea would bypass the governmental bureaucrats in Atlanta and put the funding to use in the local area. The debate continues.

Thursday, January 14, 2010
Haiti – Help Finally Arriving.  Nearly two days after the earthquake in Haiti, there are a few signs of aid groups bringing assistance. People line up for water. The State Department said Friday that a Navy carrier arriving here was carrying 600,000 daily rations of food, and that an additional $48 million in food assistance would be made available, enough to last several months. An estimated 100,000 containers for water are being shipped in, along with four water-purification systems. Countries around the globe are pledging to send rescue and relief teams to the country. The American Red Cross is estimating that 50,000 people have perished after the 7.0 earthquake struck the nation.

Thursday, January 14, 2010
Update on Principal John Osborne.  Back in the Spring of this year (2009), John Osborne was found to have written about a 800 page comment published by the ABH, lamenting the inequalities of the 2 Oconee high schools, particularly in the sports. (Academically, North Oconee students have been recognized and place at the top in competition more than Oconee High since it’s opening in 2003). He was chastised by Superintendent John Jackson for in subordination and a few other less strong infractions. The 2 men met to come to an agreement about Osborn’s future at NOHS during the month of September 2009. They would apologize to each other in public and then await the Board’s decision to fire or keep on the payroll and Jackson promised to make that decision before the end of the year 2009. Osborne would be suspended and remain on the payroll during that time. The 2 men met off and on during October, November and would come to a decision before the end of the year. In a meeting in late December (18), Jackson read a statement about the situation stating that Osborne had decided to resign and gave some reasons why the Board accepted his resignation. Jackson said that Osborne had interviewed with another school system recently. He had also violated their agreement that Osborne was banned from attending any football games anywhere until a decision could be reached. Osborne then responded to Jackson’s statement saying that the 2 of them had agreed to say at the meeting that each had their way of looking at things and to leave it at that, but Osborne said that Jackson did not follow their agreement especially mentioning that he, Osborne, had delayed signing his contract last Spring because he had interviewed at another school. He said he came to the meeting prepared to resign with little said, and now the whole story with all the details will be forthcoming. He admitted that he and Jackson could not get along. The conditions of his termination are as follows:
* Osborne agrees not to sue the school system
* The District agrees not to sue.
* Osborne agrees that he has adequate legal council
* The District will provide a positive recommendation letter
* Osborne will receive regular paycheck for contract period
* District will pay him for an additional year if he does not find a job within a year
* Osborne will be allowed to speak to North Oconee students and faculty before Jan 29.

Thursday, January 14, 2010
Fair Tax Rally at Oconee Civic Center.    Georgia Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine, now a candidate for Georgia Governor will be the guest speaker for the rally.  He speaks to a group who call themselves Fair Tax Advocates who believe that a fair tax to replace state and national income taxes with a general sales tax would be fairer to Georgia citizens. Everybody pays their way under this tax. Gene Kay, former state director of Americans for Fair Taxation will be available for questions and answers. Meeting is expected to see 100 or more attend and will last about an hour starting at 5 pm.

Thursday, January 14, 2010
Parents Respond to Board’s Action to Terminate Osborne.  On January 11 of this year 2010 after the Termination date of December 18, 2009, a large group of parents met to plan their next step, one saying to Jackson, “You broke the trust when you fired John Osborne.”  Jackson then wrote to each parent that made a comment to explain his decision. (Note: By law, the Superintendent cannot fire an employee – he can only recommend to the Board that an employee be fired.)

Friday, January 15, 2010
”Chops & Hops” New Restaurant Opens at Town Center.  Richard Miley is not from Oconee County, but he has his hand on what kind of cuisine our citizens like – steak, steak and more steak.  He wanted to open his new eatery today on his 30^th birthday and folks are already flocking through the doors. Days open are Monday through Sunday. Hours for the week are 11:30 am to 10:30 pm and 11:00 am to 8:00 pm on Sunday. The location is in Watkinsville at the corner of Town Center South where Maison Bleu once had a thriving restaurant. 

Friday, January 15, 2010
Sales Tax For Regional Road Construction.    Governor Perdue has proposed an additional 1 cent sales tax on goods by regions for transportation projects that the region deems necessary to commit to. In other words, the proposal if it should become law would allow local regions to take responsibility of maintaining their own roads and highways, bridges and dams since they would pay for it. It seems a good idea rather than waiting for sometimes generations to get on the GA DOT’s priority list for transportation funding. He recommends that the question be put to a referendum by the voters at the 2012 general election to give local governments time to work out the details of how the 1 cent tax would be collected and how it would be used.

Friday, January 15, 2010
Furniture Store Yes – Flea Market No.    The Pottery, a massive pottery and outdoor decorating warehouse storage vendor closed the doors to its 120,000 sq ft building in 2007 after pleasing many customers for 30 years. The company that owns the property wants to move a furniture store and a flea market into the space. The Banks County Commissioners voted no for the flea market and yes for the furniture store. Reason given: a flea market is not a good fit for all the other retail stores in the vicinity who opposed the move.

Friday, January 15, 2010
Governor Perdue Announces His 2010 Budget.   Governor Perdue unveiled his amended budget proposal for FY2010 and the budget for next year – 2011. Today, he proposed a budget of $18.2 BILLION for the year beginning July 1, 2010 that would cut what he considers non-essential spending while preserving the State’s core services. He recommended that the General Assembly approve a $17.4 BILLION amended budget for the current fiscal year (Jan through June), $1.2 BILLION less than the legislators passed last year because the state had been receiving less and less in revenues. However, he said that he is confident that the tax collections during the coming fiscal year (2010) will reach 4.2% growth rate. He said that he believes the state is over the hump. He called for 3 additional furlough days for teachers and state employees for the period Jan 2010 to June 2010. He said eliminating state programs and contracts that the state no longer can afford would amount to $134 million. No call for new taxes but he will ask the legislators to approve $77 million collected by imposing a 1.6% fee on hospitals and nursing facilities to fill the gap in Medicaid. Hearings on the budget start next week on Monday.

Friday, January 15, 2010
Watkinsville’s Rep Bob Smith Looses Chairmanship.   Newly elected Georgia House Speaker David Ralston has changed the face of the Legislature by replacing chairmen of all stripes. Rep Bob Smith was Chairman of the subcommittee on Higher Education of the Appropriations Committee and was replaced by Rep Earl Ehrhart (R-Powder Springs). Nine (9) other chairmen were replaced also. Two (2) of the 10 chairmen who are both running for a state office, Austin Scott (R-Tifton) for Governor and Tom Knox (R-Cumming) running for state Insurance Commissioner were also replaced.

Friday, January 15, 2010
Georgia No. 3 State in Loss of Homes.   Georgia Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond announced the Georgia Jobs Summit to be held in Atlanta on Monday, January 18 in which participants aim to develop a strategy to increase private sector job creation and hiring. He announced also that more than 100,000 laid-off workers had filed for unemployment insurance just in December. The recession has not been good for Georgia – 1 in 50 households have filed for bankruptcy in 2009 between January and November making the state the 3^rd highest state in bankruptcy rate in the nation – a few steps up from the 6^th highest a few months ago. Thurmond also announced that the state will need $70 million in federal loans to make payments to more than 260,000 persons to receive unemployment insurance checks.

Friday, January 15, 2010
No of Employees State Lost in 2009.   As reported by the Georgia Human Resources Department, the number of state employees had decreased by 5,000 from 82,000 employees to 77,000 during the year. One area that will see more spending is mental health (by $70  million) which is being carefully watched by the U S Department of Justice for the sad conditions in our mental health hospitals.

Saturday, January 16, 2010
Graduation Age Change.   A Democrat, State Senator Lester Jackson from Savannah has introduced a bill (SB 301) that would mandate that all students of public, private or home schooled to stay in class until their 17^th birthday rather than 16^th to give them more time to mature and finish any studies that are needed to graduate. Jackson claims that it would decrease the dropout rate of high school students in Georgia. Others that agree with this idea are school superintendents across Georgia and the Georgia Association of Educators. 19 states already require students to stay in school until their 18^th birthday and 8 states require the age of 17. Georgia and 22 other states require the student stay in school only until the 16^th birthday is reached. This bill may pass easily.

Saturday, January 16, 2010
Retail Sales Unexpectedly Fall in December.   Sales at U.S. retailers unexpectedly fell in December as consumer spent less on vehicles and an array of other goods during the holiday shopping month. Data showed raising concerns about the durability of the economy’s recovery.

Saturday, January 16, 2010
Georgia Gun Law Confusing.   Oconee Sheriff Scott Berry told a reporter that he will not arrest someone for carrying a permitted concealed weapon in a public place because the law is so confusing on that point. How would you prosecute such a law? Scott is among many law enforcement officers and about 300,000 citizen-gun owners who would like to see some clarification. State Senator Mitch Seabaugh (R-Sharpsburg) has recently introduced a bill called the Common Sense Lawful Carry Act that he said would do just that. He says the “no guns at public gatherings place” part of the present law needs to add a definition of public gathering place to illicit compliance.

Saturday, January 16, 2010
Home Mortgage Gets Tougher.   Interest rates for a home loan are now at 5%, but other factors play into the transaction to buy a home: a down payment of 5% or more if the credit score is below 720 (down payment goes up as much as 20% if the credit score goes down to 500), lenders are then requiring 10% down; a loan without mortgage insurance will require 20% down. Minimum down payment requirements have dramatically gone upward since the housing market meltdown 2 years ago when people were buying homes with no down payment. These new requirements should screen out the possibility of default on new home loans for the extended future.

Saturday, January 16, 2010
Glenn Beck Audience Passes Rush Limbaugh.   Glenn Beck didn’t always believe in what he was doing. “When I was young, I used to hear people say, ‘He’s a golden boy. Look at that guy. Can you imagine what he’s going to be like when he grows up?’ Well, I unfortunately bought into that. And I hadn’t even found myself. Quite honestly, I was running from myself. But I knew how to work Top 40 radio.”  “Golden boy” was no exaggeration. “I was in Washington, D.C., on the morning show, by the time I was 18, programming a station by 19, No. 1 in the mornings. I think I was making, I don’t know, a quarter of a million dollars by the time I was 25,” he tells me in his midtown Manhattan office, a few blocks from the Fox News Channel studio where he now broadcasts his eponymous program every afternoon. A drinking problem helped plunge Mr. Beck into personal and professional crisis: “By the time I was 30,” he says, “nobody would work with me. I was friendless, I was hopeless, I was suicidal, lost my family—I mean, it was bad. Bottomed out, didn’t know what I was going to do. I actually thought I was going to be a chef—go to work in a kitchen someplace.” Instead he found a calling in talk radio. It was late in the 1990s: “I did one of my first shows at WABC [in New York]. I was filling in for somebody. . . . I used to have to write everything out and keep copious notes on everything. I over-prepped everything. And I got to the end of my first hour, and I looked down at all the notes, and I hadn’t touched the first piece of paper. It was all off the top of my head. It was me being me. That’s when I knew: This is what I have to do. “Mr. Beck, 45, has many detractors, but there’s no denying that he has made a success of himself. In addition to his Fox show, he hosts “The Glenn Beck Program,” syndicated on radio, publishes a magazine and a Web site, and has written seven books. “Somebody told me that our footprint in a month”—the number of people he reaches in all media—”is about 30 million,” he says.  Rush Limbaugh’s audience numbers about 22 million.  – by James Taranto

Sunday, January 17, 2010
USAgain Inc Clothes Recycling Company Moves Into Oconee.    The red bins that one sees as they visit Oconee’s 6 recycling centers belong to a company called USAgain. The company encourages donations of clothes and shoes which they then collect, brush off the dust and sell outside the county to the public. When they were discovered, many residents became irate because the donated items were being picked up and taken out of the county for sale. When in fact, many of Oconee residents depend on the ACTS (area churches working together) to support them with the same needed items during this recession when so many of our residents are out of a job. To be taken out of the county rips into the source for the ACTS. No solution has yet been found.

Sunday, January 17, 2010
Deaths, Injuries and Clean-up.  In Haiti, the living are banding together outdoors without shelter, sustenance or protection. Even as Navy and Coast Guard ships arrived offshore, a round-the-clock airlift intensified and additional dignitaries appeared, the frantic victims of last week’s 7.0-magnitude earthquake were growing more fearful as they pleaded for help and security in a lawless city. With the Supreme Court building burning, a woman walks past a dead body that lays in a street in Port-Au-Prince where relief workers have descended to help victims. It appears almost an impossible task to uncover the many bodies buried beneath the rubble.

Sunday, January 17, 2010
Google Censored in China.   The Chinese government censored Google’s search engine in China and has threatened removal of the giant company and Google has said, in essence that they will not go along. The Chinese need to have someone call their bluff or else they will see weakness and have their way. The company is taking a strong stand against censorship and human rights in China and that has to be good. Many American multinational companies doing business in China have acceded to China’s oppression just to do business, but not Google. This has stepped up the long standing debate over censorship in China.

Monday, January 18, 2010
Standards-Based Report Cards.  No more A, B, C, D nor Fs for Oconee Students. They were always very ambiguous anyway – couldn’t really tell if a B in math meant you understood the concept or that you could use the concept. Many skills are listed for each subject that gives the student and parent a better understanding of progress and comprehension. Each of these skills will have a letter (CA for instance) beside it which indicates Consistent Achievement or the letter P in English indicates the student is progressing toward comprehension and mastering the skill. The social subjects have their own set of skills – for instance – works and plays well with others – NW – needs work. The letters beside each skill that is feared most are NP – no progress toward mastering the skill, but it is a red flag to the parent that a consultation with teacher and student is needed.

Monday, January 18, 2010
Watkinsville’s New Mayor.    Former Mayor Jim Luken presided over the Watkinsville City Council for the last time in December 2009. Leaving office permanently he did a momentous job changing Watkinsville for the better and now the new Mayor Joe Walter has stepped into shoes that he hesitates to say he can fill – or at least as did Mayor Luken.  But he is off and running and enjoying the new challenges and the prospect of spending SPLOST money that Luken did not have although Luken was the one who convinced the County to release a percentage of the county SPLOST proceeds to each of the 4 cities in the county. Walter wants to revamp Harris Shoals Park with the money. He says the bath rooms are a disgrace and then there are a few more things he wants to do to the Park. He says he is a servant for the people, but his constituents look to him as a leader. He ran for the office when Mayor Luken announced that he was retiring. Nobody stepped up to challenge Walter in opposition so he won the Mayor’s seat by default.

Monday, January 18, 2010
Elder Bridge Park a Reality?    About 2 acres near the 103-year old Elder Bridge is for sale and the county can have their park if they pay the asking price -  $200,000. The bridge itself is not for sale; it already belongs to the county but in order for a park to be constructed for public enjoyment, land around the bridge must belong to the county. Nearby on an adjacent plat stands the old Elder Mill which is another piece of history which should be preserved  According to Grayson Realty, the listing company, many offers have been made but no official contract yet. And the likelihood of the county finding $200,000 is slim in this prevalent budget crunch. The bridge is the oldest and still functioning bridge without steel beam supports in existence in Georgia. 

Tuesday, January 19, 2010
GOP Gubernatorial Panel at UGA.    All the candidates for Georgia Governor showed at the fist debate for the Governor’s seat, but one – John Oxendine. He gave the standard excuse – a conflicting meeting. The others performed admirably with no heated disagreements among them. Questions were fairly unbiased and the answers were very similar. Sen Eric Johnson did stand out by saying that he is in favor of school vouchers. Ray McBerry made himself standout because he is a strict Constitutionalist believing that most of the state government programs are unconstitutional. The others were non-newsmakers. About 200 people attend the event sponsored by the Clarke County Republican Party.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Scott Brown Wins. Late Tuesday – The clear winner is Republican Scott Brown – 52% to 47%. The deciding element was that 50% of the independents that voted for Obama in 2008 voted for Brown this time – less than a year later, because they are unhappy with the Obama Agenda and the direction he is taking the country. This is good news for the Republicans and a historic event for a seat that was held by the Democrat Kennedys for over 40 years. The Kennedy dynasty (machine) is now dead.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Barrow County Commission Chair Should Know the Rules.    Danny Yearwood was elected as the Chairman of the Barrow County Board of Commissioners in 2008 when the county ws going through some tough times and it needed a strong leader to take hold of the financial mess and bring the county out of debt. He has made some hard choices having to fire county employees this creating strained relationships. He also had to put the ax to the law enforcement budget which is the portion of the county budget never touched for reducing in most counties. Most people have forgiven him knowing he is the one that must lead and make hard choices, but when he made confidential personnel information public to the media, the commission board members passed a resolution quoting his violations and made it public. “He crossed the line here, ” one commissioner said. “Our ability to have candid and open discussions has been marred.” The resolution stated that if the action continued, the board would be forced to take any and all necessary action against Chairman Yearwood.

Thursday, January 21, 2010
Willie Nelson In Athens.    Country artist Willie Nelson performed tonight at the Classic Center in downtown Athens. The attendance was fair, but the music was exceptional. The Center was packed.

Thursday, January 21, 2010
Big Rise in Demand For Social Services.    The Legislature is wrangling over the budget using Governor Perdue’s Plan to make up the expected 2 BILLION shortage in revenues for the 2011 budget. He has suggested a fee on hospitals, an increase on health premiums for state employees and $506 million needed to keep Medicaid viable. Because of the recession, more people are using Medicaid services such as food stamps and welfare. The enrollment has jumped 39% in just 2 years. Medicaid takes up 10% of the total state budget. Last year the shortage was made up with the federal stimulus money but that will most likely not be forthcoming this next year.

Thursday, January 21, 2010
Gas From Landfills Bring in Cash.     Members of the Athens-Clarke BOC want to sell natural gas generated from the decomposition of waste in the county landfill. Then they would spend more on public art at a new downtown parking deck. County officials have proposed building a facility to collect methane and carbon dioxide generated by decomposing trash at the Lexington Road landfill. Collecting the clean-burning Methane gases could bring in an estimated $4.9 million over 10 years from burning them in exchange for environmental tax credits and to generate electricity. The money would help prop up the self-funded Solid Waste Department. The department has been hit financially by a decline in the amount of trash buried at the landfill as recycling becomes more popular, as well as a decrease in the price recyclable materials fetch. The BOC placed a contract to build the facility and share revenue with Blue Source, a Utah-based company specializing in carbon offsets, on the consent agenda for its Feb. 2 meeting. It could be approved unanimously without discussion. The BOC also said they want to try to increase the amount of funding devoted to art decorating a 520-space parking deck slated for a surface lot near the Georgia Theatre.

Thursday, January 21, 2010
Reversal of EPA CO2 Regulation.    A bipartisan group of senators introduced legislation Thursday to block the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act, a move that could undercut one of the Obama administration’s top domestic priorities. As prospects fade that Congress will pass a comprehensive climate bill this year, the EPA has been moving forward to enact regulations that would put costly limits on power plant pollution, making the agency the target of influential industry representatives and some members of Congress. “We’re being presented with a false choice between unacceptable legislation and unacceptable regulations,” said Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), adding that it made no sense in the midst of an economic downturn. “Here in Washington, federal bureaucrats are contemplating regulations that will destroy jobs, while millions of Americans are doing everything they can just to find one.” Murkowski, joined by three Democrats and 35 other Republicans, said she is offering a “resolution of disapproval” that would prevent the EPA from taking action on emissions by reversing its recent finding that greenhouse gases endanger the public’s health and welfare. And how would EPA explain that the CO2 we exhale every moment, every second is no problem if it does indeed endanger our health?

Friday, January 22, 2010
U S Job Losses.     The third week of January shows a dismal picture for jobs, as around 40,000 more cuts were announced across multiple industries. The week got off to a slow start with the Monday holiday, but on Tuesday, Time Warner Inc.’s  Warner Bros. Entertainment said it would cut about 800 jobs, or 10% of its worldwide staff in the upcoming weeks. In addition, Chemical maker Rohm and Haas Co. said it would reduce another 900 positions. Wednesday was a particularly brutal day for the job market. A wide range of companies, including Ericsson, mining company BHP Billiton, Clear Channel Communications, Eaton, UAL Corp, Intel and Williams-Sonoma announced job cuts totaling over 27,000 positions. On Thursday, Microsoft unveiled its plan to cut up to 5,000 jobs in the next year and a half, or 5.5% of its global workforce, and chemical manufacturer Huntsman said it would cut 1,175 jobs worldwide. To wrap up the week, Harley-Davidson said Friday it will cut 1,100 jobs over two years because of a weak motorcycle market. Polaris Industries, which makes snowmobiles and motorcycles, also announced cuts on Friday. This follows a slew of bad news the previous week, when Circuit City alone eliminated about 30,000 jobs when the retailer announced it was closing its doors.

Friday, January 22, 2010
Obama Attacks Big Bank’s Profits.  Banks are in their glory. First, Obama bails them out with billions, then they turn around and buy Treasury bonds from the government at a guaranteed 4% interest rate and now he wants to curtail their profits. It just doesn’t compute. He is either stupid, doesn’t understand cause and effect or he’s on the take. What have we elected to lead this country! As a result, big investors pulled their money from the stock market and erased most of the gains made in the last 22 days. The DOW lost 215 points for today alone.

Friday, January 22, 2010
Move 400,000 Haitians.     The Haiti government announced they plan to move nearly ½ million people from the ravaged areas to new cleaner settlements on the outskirts of the capitol of Haiti to prevent disease outbreaks in the crowded and unsanitary conditions left by the earthquake. Buses are being prepared to start moving within a few days as soon as heavy equipment clears the land to set up “tent cities” where at least food and supplies can be distributed easily. This comes after search and rescue teams with dogs had all but ceased their efforts to find anybody else alive under the rubble after 11 days.

Friday, January 22, 2010
Abolish Freddie Mack & Fannie Mae?     Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, said on Friday that the government-backed mortgage finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are likely to be abolished and replaced with a new system for housing finance.  “The committee will be recommending abolishing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in their current form and coming up with a whole new system of housing finance,” said Frank, once a big proponent of the firms. “That’s the approach, rather than a piecemeal one.”  Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are two vital cogs in the nation’s mortgage market, buying loans from lenders, insuring them against default and supplying fresh cash to make more loans. The two companies are behind most home loans. Because of mounting losses on those loans that threatened their collapse, District-based Fannie Mae and McLean-based Freddie Mac were seized by the federal government in September 2008 and are now run by regulators. Frank said no decision has been made about what future model he will propose, and aides said no action is imminent. He has said it’s important for the government to continue to play a role in fostering housing affordability. Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner said Thursday that Congress likely won’t be able to take up housing finance reform this year. The administration will release principles for reform next month

Monday, January 25, 2009
Jobs Still Evaporating.     The final week of January began with a bloodbath for the job market, as over 65,400 more cuts were announced on Monday alone. At least six companies from manufacturing and service industries announced cost-cutting initiatives that included slashing thousands of jobs. About 200,000 job cuts have been announced so far this year, according to Department of Labor. Nearly 2.6 million jobs were lost over 2008, the highest yearly job-loss total since 1945. – Construction machinery manufacturer Caterpillar said it will cut 20,000 jobs amid a “very challenging global business environment.” The company had already planned to cut 15,000 workers since the fourth quarter of 2008, but added another 5,000, bringing the total to 20,000.
- Nationwide, cell phone Verizon dissolve 13,000 jobs.
Sprint Nextel Corp. will cut a total of about 8,000 thousands by March 31, the company said in a release;  the telecommunications company’s plan is to reduce internal and external labor costs by about $1.2 billion on an annual basis.
- Home Depot, the world’s largest home improvement retailer, announced Monday it will eliminate its EXPO design center business and cut 7,000 or about 2% of the company’s total workforce. The company blamed a lack of demand for big ticket design and decor projects.
- Texas Instruments said it will slash its workforce by 3,400 employees to cope with weak demand and the slowing economy. More than half of those cuts will be layoffs while “voluntary retirements and departures” will make up the rest.
- Dutch financial group ING said Monday it will take a 2008 loss of $1.3 billion and cut 7,000 jobs. The company could not comment on where the cuts would take place. ING employs around 130,000 people across 50 countries.
- Deere& Co. the world’s top farm-equipment maker, said it would cut nearly 700 jobs between factories in Brazil and Iowa.
- The services sector is shedding jobs at a horrific pace, because that’s where most of the jobs are, When the consumer is in tough shape it’s hard for business to do well, because it all depends on consumption or investments. About 40,000 cuts were announced across multiple industries.
- BHP Billiton, Clear Channel Communications, Intel, Rohm and Haas Co., UAL Corp. and Williams-Sonoma all announced job cuts totaling over 27,000 positions.
- Schlumberger said Friday that it will cut 5,000 jobs worldwide, with 1,000 of the cuts taking place in North America.
Time Warner Inc.’s Warner Bros. Entertainment said it would cut about 800 jobs, or 10% of its worldwide staff in the upcoming weeks.
- Microsoft unveiled its plan to cut up to 5,000 jobs – 5.5% of its global workforce.
U.S. companies slashed nearly 60,000 jobs Monday.  In the short term, the economy and the job market are in trouble. Nearly 2.6 million jobs were lost over 2008, the highest yearly job-loss total ever. The Obama administration’s efforts to reach agreement on a plan to pump $825 billion into the economy over a two-year period is unclear whether even that massive influx of funding and tax cuts would be enough to get companies hiring again in the near term.

Tuesday, January 26, 2009
ACTS Closing Today to Move.   The Area Churches Together Serving (ACTS) will close its door today and move everything to its new location in Bogart over the weekend. Many people needing a little help in this recession have visited the Greensboro Hwy location to find it very crowded with visitors and workers falling all over each other to carry on business. But yet they came. The new space is about 3 times larger in the empty Head Start Building on Thompson Street in Bogart and visitors will be delighted to find it spacious, clean, well organized with efficient service. Open House is scheduled for Sunday, January 31 at 2 to 5 pm and the public is invited.

Tuesday, January 26, 2009
Elder Bridge Property Sold.     Several people at the BOC meeting tonight expressed disappointment with the county for not buying the 2.5 acres of property (belonging to Al Cuming who wanted to donate it to the county) around the Bridge to construct a public park with a unique landmark. But the land was put on the market and sold within 2 weeks for $200,000. The area includes Rose Creek, one of the most picturesque scenes in Oconee County. The feeling was that it was too late to do anything about it now unless the new owner would consider a special arrangement for a park.

Tuesday, January 26, 2009
New Income for Oconee Cultural Arts & Tourism.   Cultural Arts & Tourism (CAT) received a boost in the last quarter (October, November and December – 2009) of $23,000 – hotel tax from the new Marriott SpringHill Suites. If the economy stays steady, CAT might expect about $100,000 for year 2010. A recommendation was honored at the January 26 BOC meeting to use the funds to hire an assistant for the Director of CAT, Peggy Holcomb. They are also contemplating moving the Tourism Office nearer Main Street for convenience of visitors.

Wednesday, January 27, 2009
GA General Assembly New Legislation For Banks.    Legislators are contemplating measures to tighten Georgia banks policy for loaning money. It is related mostly to sub-prime lending by banks: 1) verification of income and current debts; 2) brokers could not include any compensation for under what is called yield spread premiums; 3) and refinances so soon after the date of the loan would be tightened (only in an emergency). The detailed bill will come out later this Session.

Wednesday, January 27, 2009
Toyota Recalls For Sticking Accelerator.    Worried car owners have flooded Toyota dealerships, confused after a massive recall for a sticky gas pedal issue. Dealers are now starting to get the parts meant to fix the issue. Toyota’s January sales saw a 16 percent drop in the U.S. They hope to have the problem fixed by the end of February and put this in the past. Which models are involved in the sticking accelerator pedal recall/stop sale? Toyota’s accelerator pedal recall and suspension of sales is confined to the following Toyota Division vehicles:
• Certain 2009-2010 RAV4*,
• Certain 2009-2010 Corolla*,
• 2009-2010 Matrix,
• 2005-2010 Avalon,
• Certain 2007-2010 Camry*,
• Certain 2010 Highlander*,
• 2007-2010 Tundra,
• 2008-2010 Sequoia
Highlander hybrids and Camry hybrids are not involved in this action and will remain for sale.  Further, Camry, RAV 4, Corolla and Highlander vehicles with VINs that begin with “J” are not involved. What is the problem that could cause accelerators to stick and lead to the recall? The issue involves a friction device in the pedal designed to provide the proper “feel” by adding resistance and making the pedal steady and stable. This friction device includes a “shoe” that rubs against an adjoining surface during normal pedal operation.  Due to the materials used, wear and environmental conditions, these surfaces may, over time, begin to stick and release instead of operating smoothly. In some cases, friction could increase to a point that the pedal is slow to return to the idle position or, in rare cases, the pedal sticks, leaving the throttle partially open. What is the solution Toyota announced to fix sticking accelerator pedals? Toyota’s engineers have developed and rigorously tested a solution that is both effective and simple.   A precision-cut steel reinforcement bar will be installed into the accelerator pedal assembly, thereby eliminating the excess friction that has caused pedals to stick in rare instances.

Wednesday, January 27, 2009
Oconee’s Superintendent Goes to Haiti.     Oconee County School Superintendent John Jackson has spent a week now on a mission trip in Nicaragua as part of his Church Outreach, The Nations Church on old 441 Hwy. Jackson said the Church partnered with a church-planting organization in the poor country about as poor as Haiti in poverty. The team Of about 30 stayed a week abroad, spending time in several cities, including Nicaragua’s capital, Managua, La Salvia, El Rosario, Limon, Palanca, and La Modela. They included Oconee Countians Charlie Neely, Dwayne Wilkes, David Lewis, Mark Benson, Todd Strickland, Shane Daniel, Travis Marshall, Lisa Bramlett. The team built a simple stucco church for local citizens to gather for worship. From the Oconee Enterprise and reporter Jessica Rumely.

Thursday, January 28, 2009
Jobs, Opportunity and Business Success Act of 2010.   Today, State Representative Tom Graves (R-Ranger) announced that Georgia is open for business with the introduction of the Jobs, Opportunity, and Business Success Act of 2010 (JOBS Act of 2010). This legislation is designed to stimulate the state’s economy by providing tax credits, cuts and incentives to create, expand and attract new businesses in Georgia. Graves’ JOBS Act of 2010 contains eight initiatives that are designed to spur job creation in Georgia and recognize the private sector, not government, as the driving economic force to recovery. The act is comprised of two pieces of legislation, House Bill 1023 and House Bill 1024. House Bill 1023 contains:

• Creation of the “Year for Georgia Entrepreneurs”: Allowing Georgians the opportunity to start a new business with no state fees could remove the only hurdle many entrepreneurs need to begin.
• “Angel Investor” Tax Credit: An income tax credit of up to 50% of an investment made in small or start up Georgia businesses with 20 or fewer employees. The income tax credits would be available after 2 years of investment. The total “Angel Investor” tax credit pool would be limited to $10 Million per year (adjusted for inflation).
• Quarterly Credit Towards Unemployment Insurance Tax: For each eligible employee hired who is receiving State Unemployment benefits, a company will receive a quarterly credit towards their unemployment tax.
• $2,400 Tax Credit for the Hiring of the Most Difficult to Employ: Any Georgia company which hires a person who is difficult to employ and is currently receiving unemployment benefits and has been unemployed for at least four weeks, shall receive a tax credit of $2,400 after 24 months of consecutive employment.
• Elimination of the Net Worth Tax: The net worth or intangible tax is a hold over from a 1930’s law that taxes wealth accumulation. The Tax Foundation advocates the elimination of this tax as we are only 1 of a handful of states that still retain it.
• A Triggered 50 Percent Reduction of the Capital Gains Tax for all Georgia Taxpayers: Georgia currently has the 15th highest Capital Gains tax in the country and the 2nd highest in the Southeast, with two of our neighboring states at 0%.

             House Bill 1024 contains:

• Gradual Phase out of the Sales Tax Deposit on Small Businesses: Phases out an outdated tax deposit that is required for Georgia Businesses. Once implemented, this will return nearly $200 million of working capital to Georgia’s small business that is held on deposit with the state.

Thursday, January 28, 2009
OCAF’s Gigantic Yard Sale in Oconee.    Today begins the drop-off of items for the 16^th annual yard sale. Each year, the sale proceeds get larger except for year 2009. When the economy has hurt everybody’s generous contributions and the number of attendants, proceeds totaled about $13,000. In years past it has been as high as $25,000.

Thursday, January 28, 2009
Oconee Chamber Held 34^thAnnual Banquet.    Arrivals at 6:30 pm at the Oconee Civic Center were in anticipation of who would be named for the many awards and especially the Volunteer of the Year Award. The evening will feature a slide show of Chamber activities. Guest speaker is Dara Barwick, Director of Regional Recruitment for the Georgia Department of Economic Development. Tickets were $45 each or $320 for a table of 8.
* McCain Leadership Award – Denise Everson (family & consumer science agent)
* Risse Agribusiness Award – Brent Marable (V President of Select Trees)
* Johnson Volunteer Award – Former Watkinsville Mayor Jim Luken)
* Chamber Volunteer Award – Jonathan King

Friday, January 29, 2010
Federal Gov’t To Reduce Greenhouse Gases.   Obama sets greenhouse gas emissions targets for the federal government, announcing Friday that it would aim to reduce its (federal facilities) emissions by 28 percent in 2020. “As the largest energy consumer in the United States, we have a responsibility to American citizens to reduce our energy use and become more efficient,” said President Obama.  “Our goal is to lower costs, reduce pollution, and shift Federal energy expenses away from oil and towards local, clean energy.” The White House estimated a savings of $8-11 billion in energy costs.

Friday, January 29, 2010
Obama’s Budget.     Today, Obama accepted an invitation from House Republicans to speak and answer questions at the Republican House Issues Conference. During the Q&A period, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI)  pressed the President: The spending bills that you’ve signed into law, the domestic discretionary spending has been increased by 84 percent. You now want to freeze spending at this elevated level – why not start freezing spending now? President Obama replied: “The increase in the budget for this past year was actually predicted before I was even sworn into office. I am just listening to the consensus among people who know the economy best. And what they will say is that if you either increase taxes or significantly lowered spending when the economy remains somewhat fragile, that that would have a de-stimulative effect and potentially you’d see a lot of folks losing business, more folks potentially losing jobs. That would be a mistake when the economy has not fully taken off.” Note that the President never contradicted Rep. Ryan’s factual claim that discretionary spending under President Obama has increased 84%. But more importantly, notice how eagerly the President attempts to make it seem like he had no choice in the matter by shifting the blame for our nation’s deficits to other administrations. This is what President Obama’s policies would do:
* Permanently expand the federal government by nearly 3 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) over 2007 pre-recession levels;
* Raise taxes on all Americans by more than $2 trillion over the next decade (counting health care reform and cap and trade);
* Raise taxes for 3.2 million small businesses and upper-income taxpayers by an average of $300,000 over the next decade;
* Leave permanent deficits that top $1 trillion in as late as 2020; and
* Double the publicly held national debt to over $18 trillion.
“Before the recession, federal spending totaled $24,000 per U.S. household. Obama would hike it to $36,000 per household by 2020 — an inflation-adjusted $12,000-per-household expansion of government.” The deficit reduction measures proposed in Obama’s budget are all more rhetoric than action believes Brian M. Riedl, of the Heritage Foundation. Rep. Ryan tells National Review Online: “This is the issue of this election: Whether we believe in our capacity for self-government or whether we abandon the American revolution and confess that a little intellectual elite in a far-distant capitol can plan our lives for us better than we can plan them ourselves.”

Saturday, January 30, 2010
Bills Up for Passage in Georgia General Assembly So Far.    The Georgia House of Representatives Passes Legislation to help local school boards.  They passed a series of education-related measures to give local boards of education the tools they need to make the best decisions for students, teachers and schools.  Rep Amy Carter’s Legislation is one of the first bills to pass the House this year.  The Georgia House of Representatives unanimously passed House Bill 651, legislation introduced by Representative Amy Carter (D-Valdosta) to allow schools quicker access to the Georgia sex offender list. The bill was the second bill passed by the Georgia House of Representatives during the 2010 session. They overwhelmingly passed House Bill 926 that will allow state-chartered banks to more easily renew loans or lines of credit to customers in good standing. The measure passed 165-1. Plus the JOBS Act of 2010 introduced by the Representative Tom Graves (R-Ranger). 

“A Taste of Oconee” Fundraiser.  Music and food – satisfies the human soul, but something else for this enjoyable fundraiser: funds to support the music program for the Oconee Middle School students enrolled in band and chorus. Vendors (20 total) of a variety of tastes will set up temporary shop in the Oconee Civic Center for a few hours to serve a slice of their own special dish. By the time you have made the rounds to find your favorite taste while listening to talented students play their best, you will have gotten your money’s worth. A fun night that begins at 5 pm. Past proceeds have totaled as much as $11,000. They hope to make more this year. Tickets were $20 in advance and $25 at the door.

Saturday, January 30, 2010
Oconee Planning Department Not So Busy Now.   The planning commission, a joint panel of county and city representatives, reviews and recommends rezone and special use requests to the board of commissioners. The commission meets on the third Monday of the month at 7 p.m. at the courthouse. They will not meet in February; a meeting is set for March, 2010. The planning department’s purpose is to assist the Oconee County Board of Commissioners in planning orderly growth and development in the county by ensuring that development guidelines and regulations are followed in the establishment of subdivisions, commercial developments and zoning areas. With a decrease in construction and developments in the county due to the economic slump, the department is seeing fewer development plans and rezone and variance requests to review. Rezone and variance requests have decreased in the past four years.
In 2006 – 110 plans received
In 2007 – 97 plans received 
In 2008 – 62 plans received
In 2009 – only 31.
They are now busy mostly with reviewing all the ordinances. Planning Department Director B.R. White keeps busy reviewing land maps. Adapted from the Oconee Enterprise weekly.

Sunday, January 31, 2010
Idaho Baptists Arrested For Kidnapping Haitian Children.   A group of Idaho Baptists have been arrested in Haiti for abducting 33 children and attempting to smuggle them across the border into the Dominican Republic. Haitian Prime Minister Max Bellerive denounced the group’s “illegal trafficking of children.” The Prime Minister is right to be angry. Seizing children illegally and smuggling them over the border is child trafficking, plain and simple. No appeal to religion can change that fact. The Idaho missionaries claimed the children have no parents and were being taken to an orphanage in the Dominican Republic. Haitian aid workers say some of the children appear to have surviving relatives. As for the orphanage, there is no orphanage, only a collection of rented hotel rooms. The five men and five women arrested are members of the New Life Children’s Refuge. They had no government-issued paperwork of any kind as they attempted to take the children across the border. They claim they were only trying to provide a better life for the children; they deny doing anything wrong.

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, 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.

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