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This Week: Calendar WIB Breasts & Vests Safety Seminar: 6:30 to 8 a.m., Oconee State Bank Operations Center, 7920 Macon Highway, Watkinsville. Event to raise money to buy bulletproof vests designed for women for female officers in the sheriff’s office. Windows Basics: 2 to 4 p.m. Thursday, Oconee County Library, 1080 Experiment Station Road, Watkinsville. This Class is all about Windows. Topics include navigating Windows, working with files, finding files on your computer, common computer tasks, adjusting your settings, understanding user accounts, and keyboard shortcuts in Windows. Registration required. Free. For more information, please call (706) 769-3950 or visit www.athenslibrary.org/ oconee. Kids’ Crafternoon: 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Oconee County Library, 1080 Experiment Station Road, Watkinsville. Drop in for a fun, selfdirected “Make it and Take it” craft. Check our Facebook page on Wednesdays to find out what we’re doing. Free. Please call (706) 769-3950 or visit www. athenslibrary.org/ oconee. TOPS weight loss: 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Government Annex Building, Highway 15, Watkinsville. Meetings are held each Thursday. TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) is a nonprofit support group for weight loss. Members can share challenges, successes, or goals, hear a brief program and discuss plans for the week. (800) 932-8677 or www.tops.org. Oconee Farmers Market: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oconee County Courthouse, 23 N Main Street, Watkinsville. The market is open rainor-shine on Saturdays through the last Saturday in November. Located in front of the courthouse in downtown Watkinsville. Alanon: 7 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Watkinsville First Methodist Church, 1331 New High Shoals Road, Watkinsville. 12step recovery for people affected by someone’s alcohol use. Meets daily in the area in various locations. http://www. ga-al-anon.org/. D.I.Y. Craft Kits: 10 a.m. Monday, Oconee County Library, 1080 Experiment Station Road, Watkinsville. On the 15th of each month a new craft kit is released with an easy to complete do-it-yourself craft. Grants and Small Business Workshop: 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oconee County Civic Center, 2661 Hog Mountain Road, Watkinsville. The workshop is hosted by the Office of U.S. Rep. Jody Hice and is an opportunity for Please see EVENTS
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Issue 32
Volume 11
From the Oconee to the Apalachee
Voters to weigh in on school SPLOST By LEE SHEARER TheOconeeLeader.com
Oconee County voters will be asked to extend the county’s special 1 percent tax for school construction and other education-related infrastructure expenditures another five years when they go to the polls for the Nov. 8 general election. Oconee County Schools Superintendent Jason Branch estimates that
another five years of sales tax collections would bring in $45 million. That’s considerably higher than the estimate the Oconee County Board of Education made five years ago, when 71 percent of Oconee voters said yes to extending the tax. In the intervening years, retail sales have surged in the county, meaning that an extension Please see TAX
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Thursday, August 11, 2016
OCONEE SCHOOL ENROLLMENT Here are the enrollments of Oconee County schools at the beginning of the 2015-16 school year, according to Georgia Department of Education statistics, and how much enrollment changed from four years before, in 2011-12: School Rocky Branch Elementary North Oconee High School High Shoals Elementary Oconee Primary School Oconee Middle School Malcom Bridge Elementary Malcom Bridge Middle School Oconee County High School Oconee County Elementary Colham Ferry Elementary All Oconee schools
Enrollment Change 728 21.5% 1,186 1.3% 505 12.7% 453 5.8% 809 .7% 571 18.2% 918 23.2% 1,134 10.4% 442 -1.1% 507 4.5% 7,271 11.3%
Photos by JOHN ROARK/THE OCONEE LEADER A third-grader waits for other students to sit with him during the first day of school at Oconee County Elementary last Wednesday.
Back to school
Smooth start to a new year in Oconee County
By LEE SHEARER TheOconeeLeader.com
The first day of school started off smoothly for Oconee County students Wednesday, even with highway construction forcing changes in traffic patterns at three schools. At Oconee County Primary School, it was the first day not only for kindergarten students but also for new principal Jennifer Adams, she told kindergartners in one class when she popped in to introduce herself, along with assistant principal Jennifer Whitaker. “I wanted to give you a special welcome. It’s your first day and it’s my first day, too,” she said. Later, paraprofessional Anne Hardell explained to the children who’d just visited. “Those ladies were like the boss of our school,” she said. For the youngest students in the school system, some of the main things on the first day are simple, like getting them into the right classrooms, feeding them lunch, and getting them onto the right buses and home safely, said teacher Kay Hobbs. In Willis’ class, they also began to learn some of the basic rules of how to act in school, such as raising one’s hand before speaking and tidying up after themselves. They also learned they weren’t alone in their first-day fears. “Raise your hand if you were a little bit afraid today,” Willis said, and about half the class did. “Some do better than others,” said Hobbs as she helped greet parents during the first day’s “BooHoo Breakfast,” where parents
Veronica Jackson gives Lucas Howard, 5, a kiss goodbye as other first-graders move into their class at Oconee County Primary School. Left, Juan Carlos, 6, unpacks his backpack.
dropping off their children for the first time could meet others whose children were coming to school for the first time. Parents seemed to be
shedding tears more often than the children. But it was a happy day, too, as school began in what is regularly
one of the state’s top-rated school systems. “I’m ready for the kids to get back to a schedule,” Robbie McDaniel said as he and wife Samantha shared breakfast with son Jason, who was taking it all in stride. With two teenagers and a second-grader, it’s been a crazy summer juggling summer camps and family vacations, he said. Please see SCHOOL
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Thursday, August 11, 2016
Event will raise funds to fight childhood cancer STAFF REPORTS
The Oconee High School stadium will host an event Saturday to raise money to help children with cancer. “We expect about 300 people to be there,” said Ethan Andelman, the CMO of LendMark Financial, which is sponsoring the fundraiser. LendMark Financial Services along with its partners and volunteers have set a goal of $150,000, which will be donated to CURE Childhood Cancer, which funds research at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and other facilities across the country.
Those participating also plan to run or walk 1 million steps in the stadium by walking or running on the track or climbing the stadium steps. “I’ve had several brushes with this terrible disease during my life and decided that this was the year, LendMark’s 20th, that we do something about it,” said Bobby Aiken, CEO of LendMark. Aiken said that his close friend Ken Madren’s son, Chip, was diagnosed with Stage IV metastatic anaplastic medulloblastoma and given a very slim chance for survival. That was six years ago. But because of cutting edge treat-
School
SPECIAL PHOTOS North Oconee High senior Anna Jerald sits behind a weapon at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
North Oconee senior Jerald completes service programs By WAYNE FORD
TheOconeeLeader.com
North Oconee High School senior Anna Jerald accomplished a rare feat this summer. Jerald, who is active with clubs and athletics at her high school, completed two U.S. Service Academy leadership programs — the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in Connecticut and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in New York. Jerald is the first female in the area to have been selected for both programs and was named “best in squad” at the West Point program. U.S. Congressman Jody Hice’s office pointed out she is the first female in his Congressional District to successfully complete two service academy leadership programs. At West Point, Jerald was among 1,000 students selected from 5,000 applications across the country. The program has its students living in barracks, eating in mess halls and going through military workshops including virtual-reality war simulation and rigid physical fitness training. In addition to participating in the two service academy programs, she was also invited to the American Legion Auxiliary Georgia Girls State program held this summer in Statesboro. Students attending the five-day program are selected by American Legion Auxiliaries at VFW Posts across the state. Jerald was sponsored by the American Legion Post 20 in Athens. The program takes students through the state government process providing exercises on how government works, such as generating bills and how bills are vetoed and approved. Students also take on the responsibilities of various elected offices. Jerald is the daughter of Scott and Cristy Jerald of Bishop. She has two sisters.
At West Point, Jerald was among 1,000 students selected from 5,000 applications across the country.
where she has participated in the FFA, Rally Against Hunger Committee, Latin Club, Hero Club, Student Council and the Titan Ambassador program. She has two varsity letters on the trackand-field team, and participates in equestrian events, where she has earned awards. She also participates on the cheerleading squad and in rugby. Jerald was also selected to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. She has helped the community by volunteering at the Athens-Area Churches Together Serving Food Bank, the Our Daily Bread program in Athens, and the Appalachia Service Project. After high school, she plans to attend one of the service academies, her father said.
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For new principal Adams, a big part of the first day is simply beginning to build trust. “We will take good care of your children,” she told parents at breakfast, after PTO President Michaelyn Rozar recruited new members. “It’s a very, very sweet school,” said Rozar, whose daughter Mattie Kane is in the second grade here; older sibling Mary Kathryn, now in the seventh grade, was here a few years earlier. Some of the youngest children were understandably a little bit afraid coming in, but not Mattie Kane – teachers had given out goodie bags during an earlier meetthe-teacher day, and the second-grader had slept with it under her pillow Tuesday night. It’s usually Mom who wakes up the daughter, but on Wednesday morning, Mattie Kane woke her mother up early. “She said, ‘It’s the first of school,’” Rozar said. Next door at Oconee Elementary, the youngest children are in third grade, already used to the routines of school. “The kids here feel like the ‘big kids,” said principal Ashley Templeton. Fifth-grade science, social science and math teacher Greg Julian was embarking on something new for Oconee County on Wednesday – a 1-to-1 computer initiative, where each child in the classroom will have a Chromebook computer, all linked to Julian’s computer and to a big video screen. The pilot program is going to change both the way Julian teaches and the way his students learn, he said. As just one example, Julian is beginning a series
Tax of the tax likely will bring in more revenue. Oconee County’s school board approved putting the sales tax extension on the ballot last month. School officials haven’t yet set a formal plan for how the money would be spent, but state law allows school districts to use the proceeds for school renovation and new construction, as well as for technology, such as computers and computer
ments and Chip’s determination and strength, the youth beat his cancer and undergoes intense physical therapy every day. LendMark, headquartered in Covington, employs about 1,500 people across the country. “I’ve been running stadiums for 25 years and every time I run, I think about Chip and kids like him that are facing the challenges of cancer. The climb is representative of the challenge they face — it’s hard, it hurts and it takes determination,” Aiken said. For additional information, visit www.climbtoamillion.com
of math tutorials that students can watch on their computers at home. In a traditional way of doing things, students might get instruction in how to multiply double-digit numbers in the classroom, then do a series of calculations for homework, turning in their work the next day. But using technology, Julian can see what each student is doing as they work the problems in the classroom, allowing him to help right away if a student is struggling with something. “I’m there to bridge the gap,” he said. A few steps away, school was also beginning at Oconee County Middle School, where the youngest children are in sixth grade – experienced veterans, but some of the first-day goals were the same as for the younger children, said principal Keith Carter, in his first year at the 840-student school after five years as top administrator at Colham Ferry Elementary. “It’s the springboard to the rest of the year,” he said. For the newest middle school students, the first-day anxiety is probably similar to what kindergartners may feel as they begin to make new relationships, said Carter, who’s the parent of four children in the Oconee school system as well as an administrator. Many had participated in a special session, “Braves Camp,” on Saturday, learning the school layout, some of what will be expected of them, and meeting other classmates and parents. “They’re starting to find out what their real interests are, and thinking about ‘What do I want to do in life?’ ” Carter said.
Continued from page 1 infrastructure. One of the projects that will be on the list to be funded with an extension of the local sales tax, according to Branch, will be a new elementary school, at an estimated cost of $12 million to $13 million. The Oconee school board hasn’t designated a site for a new elementary school, but judging from growth patterns, a new school would most likely be located in the western part of the county. The fastest-growing schools in the county are in that area, toward Bogart. Oconee County public school enrollment grew by about 11.3 percent between 2012 and 2016, from 6,531 students to 7,271. Branch expects enrollment to grow
Events
by more than 1,000 students over the next four years, reaching about 8,370 students in 2020. Rocky Branch Elementary grew by 21.5 percent between 2012 and 2016; Malcom Bridge Elementary grew by 18.2 percent; and Malcom Bridge Middle School by 23.2 percent. Oconee County High School, where two portable classrooms are now located, is also at capacity, Branch said. To the east, one school actually had a slightly lower enrollment in 201516 than four years before, though the change was insignificant. At 437 students, Oconee County Elementary School’s enrollment was five students less than four years before.
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individuals to network with state and federal representatives and receive valuable information for their business or project. The following agencies will be at the event to provide information: The Georgia Chamber of Commerce, Georgia Department of Natural Resources Historic Preservation Division, Georgia Department of Community Affairs, Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center, The Foundation Center, Oconee County Economic Development Department, UGA Small Business Development Center, USDA Rural Development, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and more. No registration required. For more information, please call (770) 207-1776 or email Nick.Derajtys@mail.house.gov.
Thursday, August 11, 2016
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Grand opening bash for Thrive Assisted Living & Memory Care on the Oconee Connector
Photos by DONALD SHELNUTT
For hundreds of photos and updates about Oconee events and people, go to theoconeeleader.com
This Week: Spartans
WARRIORS l TITANS l SPARTANS l WOLVERINES l LIONS
August 11, 2016
Gearing up for 2016 volleyball season Volleyball
Practice Page 5
Online
Photo gallery
North Oconee softball theoconeeleader.com
Photos by MATTHEW CALDWELL/Oconee Leader
Oconee County’s volleyball team starts on Friday and Saturday at the Sequoyah Classic. The Lady Warriors play their first home matches of the season August 18 against Winder-Barrow and Clarke Central, both non-region matches. Their first Region 8-AAAA matches of the season are August 23 at home against Madison County and Jefferson. For more photos of practice, see theoconeeleader.com.
Photos by MATTHEW CALDWELL/Oconee Leader
Oconee County’s volleyball team starts on Friday and Saturday at the Sequoyah Classic. The Lady Warriors play their first home matches of the season August 18 against Winder-Barrow and Clarke Central, both non-region matches. Their first Region 8-AAAA matches of the season are August 23 at home against Madison County and Jefferson. For more photos of practice, see theoconeeleader.com.
Online
Photo gallery
Oconee County volleyball
Oconee all-star swim team wins state championship
theoconeeleader.com
Online
Contributed photo
Photo gallery
North Oconee volleyball theoconeeleader.com
The Oconee County all-star swim team won the 2016 GRPA Class B/C state championship in mid-July with a combined team score of 583 points, just nine points ahead of second-place Douglas. The Oconee girls had 321 points to finish first and the Oconee boys had 202 points to finish third. Ella Dillon finished first in the girls’ 7-8 year old 50-free and 25-backstroke. The girls’ 7-8 relay team (Ella Dillon, Walker Smith, Caiden Fowler, and Drew Martin) finished first. Eileen Brook finished first in the girls’ 9-10 year old 100-IM and 25-backstroke. She set a new state record in the 25-backstroke. Lauren Green won the girls’ 25-butterfly. The 9-10 girls’ medley and freestyle relay teams (Ansley Halbach, Eileen Brook, Lauren Green, and Amelia Beaver) finished first in their events. Simon Casey finished first in the 11-12 boys’ 100-freestyle and 50-butterfly. Madison Holland and Abigail Weimer finished first and second, respectively, in the girls’ 13-14 backstroke. Caroline Allen finished first in the 15-18 girls’ 50-backstroke. Emily Weimer finished first in the 15-18 girls’ 100-freestyle. The mixed 13-14 relay teams (Eli Searcy, Reese Graham, Garrett Land, Naomi Searcy, Kinsley Evans, Isabella Lyons) finished first in the medley and freestyle relays. The 15-18 girls’ medley and freestyle relay teams (Emily Weimer, Caroline Allen, Allie Dominicali, Erin Osborne) were first in both events.
Thursday, August 11, 2016
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Lady Titans scheduled to open season this week
Lady Spartans host Jefferson, Hart County on Tuesday
Photos by MATTHEW CALDWELL/Oconee Leader
Photos by MATTHEW CALDWELL/Oconee Leader
North Oconee’s softball team was scheduled to open the season earlier this week with a home game against Monroe Area. The Lady Titans travel Friday to play Walnut Grove at 7:30 p.m. and play at Monroe Area on August 16. They play their first Region 8-AAAA game of the season August 18 at home against Jefferson at 5:55 p.m. The Lady Titans are coming off a season that saw them finish fourth in the region but they reached the Elite Eight. For more photos of practice, see theoconeeleader.com.
Athens Academy opens the season on Saturday at Providence Christian in the area playdate. The Lady Spartans scrimmaged Oconee County earlier this week. They play their first home matches of the season on August 18 against Hart County and Jefferson at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. on August 20, the Lady Spartans play in the Class A/AA Top Ten Playdate and on August 23, the Lady Spartans will host North Oconee in a best-three-of-five match. For photos of practice, see theoconeeleader.com.
In series opener, Oconee’s Frazier knocks in two runs in 5-3 win for Pirates in Atlanta
AP Photo by John Bazemore
Oconee County graduate Adam Frazier was back in Georgia last week for the Pittsburgh Pirates’ three-game series against the Atlanta Braves. In the series opener last Tuesday, Frazier had two hits, two RBI and a stolen base in the Pirates’ 5-3 win. Frazier started each game of the series – the first two games were at second base and the series finale was in right field. The Braves won the second game 8-4. Frazier was 0-for-5 in that game. In the third game of the series, the Braves won 5-2. The Pirates led 1-0 thanks to an RBI-single by Frazier. For a full story on Frazier’s return to Georgia for the series, see theoconeeleader.com.
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Thursday, August 11, 2016
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