Oconee County Fire Department proudly announces the completion of 155 hours of Firefighter I training by sixteen Oconee County Volunteer Firefighters.  The following men unselfishly dedicated many hours away from their families and friends to participate in this course in order to better serve their communities:

Mark Capobianco - Station 7, North Oconee

Dan Connor - Station 6, North High Shoals

Jay Fowler - Station 2, South Oconee

Matt Graham - Station 6, North High Shoals

Stuart Graham - Station 6, North High Shoals

Dane Grayson - Station 4, Dark Corner

Brad Hale - Station 2, South Oconee

Zach McCoy - Station 7, North Oconee

Edward McDuffie - Station 6, North High Shoals

Ben Mize - Station 8, Barber Creek

Clay Peck - Station 2, South Oconee

Josh Peyton - Station 5, East Oconee

Don Piela - Station 6, North High Shoals

Mike Tountasakis - Station 1, Watkinsville

John Turcotte - Station 4, Dark Corner

Jamie Wood - Station 1, Watkinsville

In order to become an Oconee County volunteer firefighter, all recruits had to pass a criminal background and driving history check, pass an assessment lab to ensure proper physical and mental condition, pass a drug test, and complete and pass the Firefighter I course.

The 155-hour course, equivalent to the same basic essentials of firefighting taught in paid fire departments, began January 8, 2008.  The instructor, Lt. David Smith, a Firefighter/EMT from Athens-Clarke County Fire Department, held training every third night and some Saturdays through April 12, 2008.  After extensive classroom and hands-on training, the volunteers participated in a 10-hour live burn at the Athens-Clarke County Fire Training Center. The course concluded with the National Professional Qualification (NPQ) written test and the NPQ skills test administered by the Georgia Fire Academy.

Oconee County Fire Department is one of the few volunteer fire departments in Georgia requiring volunteer firefighters to be tested using the National Standardized Test Format for firefighting.  This is the same test that paid departments require, and is a standard of training recognized throughout the country.

 
On May 1st, Chairman Melvin Davis proclaimed May 10th as "Give Burns the Boot" Day because "the Georgia Firefighters Burn Foundation is dedicated to helping educate Georgians on how to avoid burn injuries;" and "also focuses its efforts on helping burn survivors in Georgia return to normal life."  Chairman Davis urges "every citizen to be as supportive of this worthwhile fundraising campaign as possible." 

The Firefighters will be collecting money on May 10th so please give generously when you see them holding out their boots.

From left to right above:  Firefighter Mike Hook, Chairman Melvin Davis, Fire Chief Bruce Thaxton

Click here for full text of Give Burns the Boot proclamation.

 
On Tuesday, April 15, 2008, Department of Community Affairs (DCA) Commissioner Mike Beatty and members of his staff were in Oconee County to present the Oconee County Board of Commissioners and the Oconee County Utility Department with an award designating Oconee County as a WaterFirst Community for 2008.  Oconee County's award is one of only 13 such designations in Georgia given out by the DCA since the program began. 

The designation gives Oconee County public recognition as a responsible steward of water resources management.  Qualifying for the designation is a lengthy process with the following requirements:

S Watershed Assessment

S   Stormwater Master Planning

S   Water Supply Planning

S   Water Supply Protection

S   Water Conservation

S   Wastewater Treatment Systems and Management

S   Water Reclamation and Reuse

Oconee County is now eligible for a 1% interest rate reduction for GEFA state revolving water related loans; annual eligibility for DCA Community Block Development Grants for water related projects; and priority status for EPD 319 Grant funding.

• ssessmen

 
On March 31, 2008, Chairman Melvin Davis proclaimed April as Child Abuse Prevention Month.  He signed the proclamation in the presence of Family & Children Services Board members: 

 

As part of an awareness campaign for Child Abuse Prevention, blue ribbons have been displayed all around Oconee County.  According to the proclamation, "All Georgia citizens should be aware of the impact of child abuse and neglect, work for its prevention . . . and be involved in supporting parents to raise their children in safe nurturing environments."  In signing the proclamation, Chairman Davis urged "all citizens to protect Oconee's children, thereby strengthening our community." 
 

From left to right:  Chairman Melvin Davis,
 

Click here to read the full text of the proclamation.

The Oconee County Chamber of Commerce Youth Leadership Oconee participants teamed up with the Oconee County Department of Family and Children Services for their community group project.  The YLO participants distributed over 160 blue ribbons to businesses within Oconee County to promote awareness of child abuse within the county and Child Abuse Prevention Month.  A special thanks to Elizabeth Ann’s Florist and Publix for donating the ribbons.  The YLO leaders are Scott Beaver, Owner of Allstate Insurance Company and India Landrum, Marketing Officer for Oconee State Bank.

Left to right - back row:  Alex Hughes, Everett Young, Sam Cochran, Kyle Page, Stephanie Pendleton, Andrew Borda, and Dominic Giordano; Front row:  Krizel Roque, Natasha Patel, Erin Jackson, Kate Hammock, Bermet Nishanova, Lauren Slocumbe, Kena Vyas and Scott Thompson; Not pictured:  Collier Perno, Whitney Rice, and Taylor Giusti.

  
On February 7, 2008, because "the FFA promotes premier leadership, personal growth and career success among its members," Chairman Melvin Davis proclaimed February 17 through 23 as National FFA Week in Oconee County, Georgia and urged "the community's continuing support for this organization in its efforts to foster skills in our youth to enable them to become responsible adults."

   

 

Click here to read the full text of the proclamation.

 

For more information on National FFA Week please go to www.ffa.org.

 
At their meeting on Tuesday, January 29, 2008, Oconee County Chairman Melvin Davis read a proclamation of the Board of Commissioners proclaiming February 3, 2008 as Courtney Gale Day in Oconee County in recognition of Ms. Gale's service and contributions to our community and in honor of her courage during a recent confrontation.  The proclamation was presented to Ms. Gale's family at the benefit barbecue held on Sunday, February 3rd.
 

From left to right:  Commissioner Jim Luke, Commissioner Donald Norris,
Commissioner Margaret Hale, Chairman Melvin Davis, Commissioner Chuck Horton
 

For information about Sgt. Courtney Gale,
please visit www.getwellcourtney.com.

  
On December 10, 2007, the USS Georgia Return to Service Committee announced the USS Georgia Flag Project.  This project will "take the Georgia State Flag on a trip across the entire state and into all 159 Georgia counties.  This flag is to be presented by Governor Perdue to the Commanding Officer of the USS Georgia" at a ceremony to be held at Kings Bay when the USS Georgia returns to service March 28, 2008. 

 

At 10 a.m. Wednesday, January 9, 2008, Oconee County Chairman Melvin Davis signed a formal logbook acknowledge that the ceremonial Georgia State Flag visited Oconee County.
 

Pictured with the Georgia Flag (left to right):  Capt. Don Giles (US Navy Retired), CPO , Oconee County Chairman Melvin Davis, Mott Beck, Executive Assitant and Jim Dove, Executive Director of Northeast Georgia Regional Development Center.
 

For more information on the USS Georgia Return to Service,
please visit www.ussgeorgia.org.

  
At their meeting on November 6, 2007, the Oconee County Board of Commissioners commended Amrey Harden with a resolution "for his service to Oconee County as Chairman of the Oconee Development Authority." 

Left to Right:  Chairman Melvin Davis, Debra Harden, Amrey Harden, Commissioner Jim Luke, Commissioner Don Norris, Commissioner Chuck Horton, Commissioner Margaret Hale
    

Click here to read the full text of the resolution.

  
On October 10th, Chairman Davis signed the National 4-H Week Proclamation urging "the people of this community to take advantage of the opportunity to become more aware of this special program, which enhances our young people's interest in their future as part of Oconee County's 4-H Youth Development.

Chairman Davis (center) is pictured with (from left to right) Oconee County Extension Coordinator Henry Hibbs, 4-H members - Aaron Bristol, Kyle Beckett, Camille Odom,
Christine Odom and Oconee County 4-H Program Assistant Joey Bristol.

 

Click here to read the full text of the proclamation.

  
On October 4th, Chairman Davis designated October 7, 2007 as "AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Day in Oconee County in support of the efforts of the American Kennel Club and its local affiliate, the Oconee River Kennel Club, to educate the public in the care and training of purebred dogs."

Robert Schwable, President of the Oconee River Kennel Club with Chairman Davis.

For the entire text of the proclamation, please click here.