Lee Becker
@lbbecker.bsky.social
Retired journalism professor who does blog Oconee County Observations.
Oconee School Board Recognizes Contribution Of Interim Superintendent Harden During Change In School Leadership www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2025/11/ocon...
Oconee School Board Acknowledges Contribution Of Interim Superintendent Harden During Change In School Leadership
***Former Board Chair Argo Also Recognized*** The Oconee County Board of Education paused its regular meeting on Monday (Nov. 10) night to...
www.oconeecountyobservations.org
November 12, 2025 at 5:30 AM
Oconee School Board Recognizes Contribution Of Interim Superintendent Harden During Change In School Leadership www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2025/11/ocon...
Only Two Candidates Qualify For Dec. 9 House District 121 Special Election www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2025/11/ocon...
November 11, 2025 at 6:02 AM
Only Two Candidates Qualify For Dec. 9 House District 121 Special Election www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2025/11/ocon...
County Considering How To Raise $25 to $30 Million For Gym At Dawson Park www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2025/11/ocon...
Oconee County Industrial Development Authority Focuses Discussion of Sports Tourism On Cost Of Gym, Sports Fields At Dawson Park
***Rough Estimate Of Gym Cost: $25 To $30 Million*** When Oconee County Commission Chair John Daniell last week outlined spending proposal...
www.oconeecountyobservations.org
November 10, 2025 at 4:49 AM
County Considering How To Raise $25 to $30 Million For Gym At Dawson Park www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2025/11/ocon...
Oconee County Commissioners Review Project List For SPLOST Renewal Referendum www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2025/11/ocon...
Oconee County Commissioners Review Spending Categories For New SPLOST Planned For May 19 Ballot, With Parks Spending Topping List
***Plan Is To Pay Off Two Bonds*** Oconee County commissioners are projecting that renewal of the county’s Special Purpose Local Option Sa...
www.oconeecountyobservations.org
November 7, 2025 at 5:28 AM
Oconee County Commissioners Review Project List For SPLOST Renewal Referendum www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2025/11/ocon...
Oconee Voters Approve Education Sales Tax Renewal, Contribute To Democratic Victory In State Public Service Commission Races www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2025/11/ocon...
November 5, 2025 at 6:00 AM
Oconee Voters Approve Education Sales Tax Renewal, Contribute To Democratic Victory In State Public Service Commission Races www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2025/11/ocon...
Oconee Commissioners To Consider Rezone For County's Third QuikTrip--Second With Diesel Truck Pumps www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2025/11/ocon...
Oconee County Commissioners To Consider Rezone Request For Third QuikTrip In County At Hog Mountain Road And U.S.78
***To Include Diesel Pumps For Trucks*** Oconee County Commissioners on Tuesday evening are scheduled to take action on two rezone request...
www.oconeecountyobservations.org
November 4, 2025 at 3:30 AM
Oconee Commissioners To Consider Rezone For County's Third QuikTrip--Second With Diesel Truck Pumps www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2025/11/ocon...
Oconee Schools Finance Officer Explains Sales Tax Spending Prior To Referendum On Renewalhttp://www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2025/11/oconee-county-schools-financial-officer.html
November 2, 2025 at 4:15 AM
Oconee Schools Finance Officer Explains Sales Tax Spending Prior To Referendum On Renewalhttp://www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2025/11/oconee-county-schools-financial-officer.html
Gov. Kemp Calls Special Election For Dec. 9 For Oconee's State House District 121 www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2025/10/spec...
October 31, 2025 at 4:50 AM
Gov. Kemp Calls Special Election For Dec. 9 For Oconee's State House District 121 www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2025/10/spec...
County Initiates Rezone For Shopping Center At Mars Hill Road And Oconee Connector www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2025/10/ocon...
Oconee County Commissioners Put Forward A Rezone For Shopping Center At Oconee Connector And Mars Hill Road
***Response To Law Suit*** Oconee County Commissioners are initiating a rezone of 33 acres at the corner of the Oconee Connector and Mars ...
www.oconeecountyobservations.org
October 29, 2025 at 2:18 AM
County Initiates Rezone For Shopping Center At Mars Hill Road And Oconee Connector www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2025/10/ocon...
Advocate For Oconee County Farmers And Farmland Passes www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2025/10/russ...
Russ Page, Whose Contributions To Oconee County Were Numerous, Passes
***He Was A Farmer–And Much More*** Russ Page, business entrepreneur, farmer, and dedicated civic activist in Oconee County, died peaceful...
www.oconeecountyobservations.org
October 28, 2025 at 2:04 AM
Advocate For Oconee County Farmers And Farmland Passes www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2025/10/russ...
Early Voting Turnout Very Low In County, Slightly Better In Bishop, Watkinsville www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2025/10/turn...
Turnout In Early Voting Very Low In Oconee County, Somewhat Higher For Races In Bishop And Watkinsville
***ESPLOST Renewal Only County-Wide Ballot Item*** With only five days of early voting remaining before the Nov. 4 election, only 4.7 perc...
www.oconeecountyobservations.org
October 27, 2025 at 6:25 AM
Early Voting Turnout Very Low In County, Slightly Better In Bishop, Watkinsville www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2025/10/turn...
Oconee Library Board Votes Not To Move Challenged Book In Library In Watkinsville www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2025/10/ocon...
Oconee County Library Board Decides To Leave Challenged Book In Original Place In Library In Watkinsville
***Board Also Reopens Request For Art At Library*** The Oconee County Library Board on Tuesday, in split votes, decided to leave a challen...
www.oconeecountyobservations.org
October 26, 2025 at 5:24 AM
Oconee Library Board Votes Not To Move Challenged Book In Library In Watkinsville www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2025/10/ocon...
Renewal Of ESPLOST Will Fund Renovations Of Schools, Buses, Technology, School Leaders Say www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2025/10/nov-...
Nov. 4 Ballot Referendum Will Fund Improvements To Existing Infrastructure And Facilities At Oconee County Schools, Leaders Say
***Technology And Buses Also On Funding List*** The Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (ESPLOST) voters are being asked to a...
www.oconeecountyobservations.org
October 18, 2025 at 1:44 AM
Renewal Of ESPLOST Will Fund Renovations Of Schools, Buses, Technology, School Leaders Say www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2025/10/nov-...
Bishop Approves Rezone For Church, Rejects Access To Cemetery Road; Bishop Turnout In Early Voting Exceeds Level In County www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2025/10/bish...
Bishop Approves Rezone For St. Aelred Catholic Church But Turns Down Request For Church Access To Cemetery Road
***Follows Advice Of County Planners*** The Bishop Mayor and Town Council on Tuesday night voted 4 to 0 to approve a request by St. Aelred...
www.oconeecountyobservations.org
October 16, 2025 at 4:30 AM
Bishop Approves Rezone For Church, Rejects Access To Cemetery Road; Bishop Turnout In Early Voting Exceeds Level In County www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2025/10/bish...
Early Voting For Public Service Commission, ESPLOST Referendum, City Races Starts Tuesday www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2025/10/earl...
Early Voting Starts On Tuesday For State, County, And City Races, With Referendum On Renewal Of School Sales Tax On Ballot
***Tiny Bishop Has Fully Contested Races*** Early voting starts on Tuesday for an off-year election that contains two state-wide races, a ...
www.oconeecountyobservations.org
October 13, 2025 at 6:50 AM
Early Voting For Public Service Commission, ESPLOST Referendum, City Races Starts Tuesday www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2025/10/earl...
Oconee School Board Selected Superintendent From 6 Female, 12 Male Applicants www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2025/10/ocon...
Oconee County School Board Selected Melissa Butler As Superintendent From Six Female, 12 Male Applicants For The Job
***Butler Sworn In At Monday Board Meeting*** The Oconee County Board of Education received 18 applications in response to its announcemen...
www.oconeecountyobservations.org
October 7, 2025 at 2:57 AM
Oconee School Board Selected Superintendent From 6 Female, 12 Male Applicants www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2025/10/ocon...
Oconee Planning Commission Sends Recommendations To County Commission And To Bishop Town Council www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2025/10/ocon...
Oconee County Planning Commission Recommends Approval Of Four Rezone Requests, Including For St. Aelred In Bishop
***County Commissioners, Bishop Town Council To Decide*** The Oconee County Planning Commission quickly and unanimously approved four rezo...
www.oconeecountyobservations.org
October 6, 2025 at 3:30 AM
Oconee Planning Commission Sends Recommendations To County Commission And To Bishop Town Council www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2025/10/ocon...
Oconee Commissioners Move To Add 100 Plus Undeveloped Acres To Heritage Park www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2025/10/ocon...
Oconee County Commissioners Take First Steps To Add 100 Plus Undeveloped Acres To Heritage Park
***Seeking State Support For Project*** Oconee County commissioners on Tuesday night gave initial approval to spending $1.9 million to pur...
www.oconeecountyobservations.org
October 3, 2025 at 4:20 AM
Oconee Commissioners Move To Add 100 Plus Undeveloped Acres To Heritage Park www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2025/10/ocon...
Oconee County Schools Reports Sharp Drop In Enrollment Based On First Day Of School Counts www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2025/10/firs...
First Day Counts For Oconee County Schools Show Sharp Drop In Enrollment
***Report Released To Advisory Committees*** Oconee County Schools had 259 fewer students enrolled on the first day of classes this school...
www.oconeecountyobservations.org
October 2, 2025 at 3:22 AM
Oconee County Schools Reports Sharp Drop In Enrollment Based On First Day Of School Counts www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2025/10/firs...
Oconee Commissioners Release New Plans For Dawson Park, With Eight Basketball Courts www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2025/09/new-...
New Plans For Dawson Park, With Eight-Court Basketball Facility, Released At Oconee County Commissioners Town Hall Meeting
***Plans For May SPLOST Referendum Announced*** A new concept plan for the future Wendell and Betty Dawson Park on Rocky Branch Road show...
www.oconeecountyobservations.org
September 30, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Oconee Commissioners Release New Plans For Dawson Park, With Eight Basketball Courts www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2025/09/new-...
Oconee Connector Will Remain Open During SR 316 Interchange Construction, Without Detour, GDOT Spokesperson Says www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2025/09/ocon...
Oconee Connector Will Remain Open, Without Detours, During Construction of New Grade-Separated Intersection At SR 316
***New Detour Plan For Jimmy Daniell Road In Works*** Current Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) plans do not call for any closur...
www.oconeecountyobservations.org
September 29, 2025 at 4:24 AM
Oconee Connector Will Remain Open During SR 316 Interchange Construction, Without Detour, GDOT Spokesperson Says www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2025/09/ocon...
Oconee Schools Open Records Officer Says District Does Not Have Application Letters Of Rejected Candidates For Superintendent www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2025/09/open...
Open Records Officer Says Oconee County Schools/School Board Do Not Have Application Letters For Rejected Superintendent Candidates
***Also Says Not Required To Release Documents If They Existed*** Steven Colquitt, Open Records Officer for Oconee County School and for t...
www.oconeecountyobservations.org
September 28, 2025 at 2:27 AM
Oconee Schools Open Records Officer Says District Does Not Have Application Letters Of Rejected Candidates For Superintendent www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2025/09/open...
Oconee Schools Open Records Officer Says District Does Not Have Application Letters Of Rejected Candidates For Superintendent www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2025/09/open...
Open Records Officer Says Oconee County Schools/School Board Do Not Have Application Letters For Rejected Superintendent Candidates
***Also Says Not Required To Release Documents If They Existed*** Steven Colquitt, Open Records Officer for Oconee County School and for t...
www.oconeecountyobservations.org
September 28, 2025 at 2:27 AM
Oconee Schools Open Records Officer Says District Does Not Have Application Letters Of Rejected Candidates For Superintendent www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2025/09/open...
County Election Board Disqualifies Bishop Council Member From November Ballot, Rejecting Advice Of City Attorney www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2025/09/ocon...
Oconee County Elections Board Removes Bishop Council Member From November Ballot, Reversing Opinion Of City Attorney
***Post 3 Council Member Holder Also Removed From Bishop Voter Roll*** The Oconee County Board of Elections and Registration voted unanimo...
www.oconeecountyobservations.org
September 27, 2025 at 4:20 AM
County Election Board Disqualifies Bishop Council Member From November Ballot, Rejecting Advice Of City Attorney www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2025/09/ocon...
Oconee School Board Chair Pitches Sales Tax Renewal, Addresses Conflict With Oconee Enterprise; PSC Commissioner Addresses Party
www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2025/09/ocon...
www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2025/09/ocon...
Oconee County School Board Chair Promotes Referendum On Renewal Of Sales Tax, Discusses Relationship With Local Newspaper
***Public Service Commission Candidate Also Speaks*** Oconee County Board of Education Chair Michael Ransom got sidetracked on Monday ev...
www.oconeecountyobservations.org
September 25, 2025 at 3:56 AM
Oconee School Board Chair Pitches Sales Tax Renewal, Addresses Conflict With Oconee Enterprise; PSC Commissioner Addresses Party
www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2025/09/ocon...
www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2025/09/ocon...