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This Week: Sports
Issue 15
From the Oconee to the Apalachee
Volume 11
Thursday, April 14, 2016
North Oconee continues its winning ways
Story, page 4
Oconee County takes on Hart County Sports, page 5
In brief Business Expo a huge success
The 26th Annual Oconee Chamber of Commerce’s Business Expo, sponsored by Athens Ford, was the largest attended show yet. There were 74 local businesses who participated in the Expo sharing information with the community about their services and products. With 14 extra booths spaces added this year, and 29 new exhibitors, the Expo was a sellout. Those who attended made their way through the venue and spoke with the exhibitors, signing up for give-aways, enjoying food samples from several restaurants and caterers. They were also given free neck/back massages, eye screenings, hearing screenings, and enjoyed many more services that were demonstrated by the participating exhibitors.
Oconee Chamber golf tournament set for April 21
The 2016 Oconee Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament is at Lane Creek Golf Club on Thursday April 21. The competition is set up in teams of four in a scramble format, $500 per Team ($125 per player), which includes two mulligans and one raffle ticket. There will be prizes for first, second and third place as well as closest to the pin, straightest drive and longest drive. Registration starts at 9:30 a.m. with shotgun start at 11:30 a.m. Box lunch provided on carts and beverages available to purchase on the course during the tournament. For more information, visit www.oconeechamber.org.
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ROB PEECHER/Oconee Leader
Mary Gilbert (left) joined Joy People and her daughter Amelia for strawberry picking Saturday morning at Washington Farms. The berries are ripening earlier this year than they usually do.
Business picking up Strawberry picking begins early this year at Washington Farms By Rob Peecher
TheOconeeLeader.com
With the opening last week of strawberry picking season at Washington Farms, it’s the return of a favorite annual tradition in Oconee County, but this year the strawberry picking has started earlier than it typically does. Even with cooler temperatures and a breeze blowing on Saturday morning, there were dozens of people out picking strawberries. Brian and Micah Ballew were helping their mom Alyssa Ballew and their grandmother pick strawberries. “There’s nothing better than fresh strawberries,” Brian’s grandmother promised him. “If you help me get a bucketful, we can make strawberry jam on Monday.” Alyssa said she’d seen a posting about an event at Washington Farms and that was how she found out about the farm, and they drove from Cobb County Saturday morning to pick strawberries. The strawberry season typically begins in mid-April and lasts until early June, but Donna Washington – who owns the farm with her husband John – said this year the berries are
in earlier than usual. “We think it’s because of those days we had a few weeks ago that were 85 degrees,” Donna said. “We have a lot of berries in Watkinsville right now but not as many at our farm in Loganville. Every year is just a little different, and I’ve learned to just go with it. I’m just real thankful for all the berries we have now.” Mary Gilbert joined Joy People and Joy’s 2-year-old daughter Amelia at the farm, but it certainly wasn’t their first visit to Washington Farms, nor was it their first time picking strawberries. “We used to work at the farm,” Joy explained. “We were farm managers out here. But this is our first time picking for fun.” “We were just saying we were having a hard time not picking too quickly,” Mary said. “We used to do pre-picks when we worked here, and doing pre-picks you have to go fast.” Donna Washington said the warmer temperatures earlier in the spring probably sped up the ripening process, but cooler temperatures over the weekend had them worried. “It reached down to freezing last night, and so John was up all night,” Donna said. “Last night was tricky. We did frost protection and
Oconee Candidate Forum held today at Veterans Park By Staff Reports
TheOconeeLeader.com
Candidates for Oconee County offices who will meet in the May 24 Republican primary participate in a Candidate Forum from 6 to 9 p.m. today at the Community Center in Veterans Park, 3500 Hog Mountain Road. Included are the candidates for the two posts on the Board of Commissioners, the chairman position on the Board of Education, the office of coroner, and the office of sheriff. In addition, the candidates seeking the Republican party nomination for the state Senate from the 46th District, which includes Oconee County, are scheduled to appear. Citizens Russ Page and Lee Becker have organized the Candidate Forum. They have held similar forums in elections in the past. The format is simple. Page and Becker will recognize citizens, who will ask the questions themselves. Page and Becker will keep time so each candidate has an equal opportunity to speak,. Page and Becker are encouraging everyone to come to the forum and ask questions of the candidates.
stuff like that.” Strawberry picking at Washington Farms is not just a favorite annual event for folks in Oconee County. Mary Gilbert visited the farm from Athens, and Joy People brought her daughter from Madison County. And Sarah Bryan and Avery Moon were at the farm from Walton County. “We love picking strawberries,” Sara said. Strawberry picking is how the Washingtons got started at the farm. They planted their first plants in the spring of 1993 and the first year they were open for picking was in the spring of 1994. For three years, all they had were strawberries before eventually adding pumpkins and blackberries and blueberries and, later, the corn maze and other farm activities. If visitors pick their own strawberries, they cost $12 a gallon. If they buy pre-picked strawberries they are $14 a gallon. Donna said visitors to the farm have to use the Washington Farms picking buckets, and those cost $1 but can be reused with every visit to the farm. “We’re open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, but the one caveat is sometimes we have to close early or close for the day for ripening, so it’s always best to call before you drive out here to make sure we’re open,” she said.
School days in Oconee, page 3