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It’s only a drill: the Oconee County School District says Oconee Middle School will be on lockdown starting around 9:45 this morning in the first in a series of tests of first responders that will take place at all Oconee County schools over the next two weeks. From the Oconee Co School District… WHAT: Oconee County Middle School is holding a lockdown drill to test its new Crisis Alert System and this drill is open to local media. All schools in OCS will be holding lockdown drills over the next two weeks. This new Crisis Alert System provides an opportunity for any OCS employee to activate their Centegix badge to alert local law enforcement immediately. With the press of a button, the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office, school administrators, and district administrators will be notified of the exact location and the specific person that activated the alert. After a button on the badge has been pressed, beacon lights will flash in classrooms and hallways. Students will hear an intercom message to “Avoid. Deny. Defend.” Desktop computers will be taken over with the alert. Law enforcement will be en route. For a short video on the Centegix Crisis Alert System, please visit www.oconeeschools.org/alert. WHO: At the OCMS lockdown drill, school and district administrators, local law enforcement, and Centegix staff will be present. WHEN: Fri., Aug. 16 at 9:45 a.m. WHERE: Oconee County Middle School 1101 Mars Hill Rd. Watkinsville, GA 30677

DA hopeful to hold campaign kickoff rally

Democrat Deborah Gonzalez kicks off her campaign for District Attorney with a weekend rally at Little King’s on West Hancock Avenue in Athens: State Rep Scott Holcomb is the featured speaker for the event that is set for 4 o’clock Saturday. Gonzalez, who served a year in the Georgia House, is so far the only announced candidate in the race to replace Ken Mauldin, who says he is not running for another as DA in Clarke and Oconee counties. From Deborah Gonzalez’ Facebook page… We are so excited to kickoff my DA campaign and celebrate my birthday at one of my favorite places with many of my special friends and supporters. Together we will bring fair and just prosecution to Athens and Oconee. Guest Speaker: Rep Scott Holcomb

Man killed in motorcycle crash in Athens, suspects sought in Hall Co

A 22 year-old Bogart man was killed in a Thursday evening car vs motorcycle crash on Jefferson Road: Christopher Kurian’s motorcycle collided with a car near Jefferson River Road. Athens-Clarke County Police are investigating. He was arrested for obstructing traffic while riding a bicycle: the Elbert County Sheriff’s Office says Chance Wade was caught with marijuana and methamphetamine. There are misdemeanor marijuana charges and felony counts for the meth possession for the 45 year-old man from Elberton, who was also caught with what deputies say was counterfeit cash. The investigation into a fire and a death in Stephens County continues, with firefighters saying it looks like the blaze that burned a house was intentionally set, apparently by the man whose body was found in the charred remains of the home in Toccoa. Police say the death of the 60 year-old man appears to have been a suicide. A Braselton man was, at last report, still on the run after a traffic stop in Gainesville: Gainesville Police say they pulled over 26 year-old Khalil Washington when they spotted him using his cell phone in violation of Georgia’s hands-free law; they say he ran away after they found marijuana and other drugs in his car. State Corrections officials were, at last report, still trying to track down an inmate in Hall County: David Johnson is on a work-release program; he did not return to a transition center from his place of employment in Lula.

Bulldog News

Jamie Dupree's Washington Insider

Democrats set action after Labor Day on series of gun bills In the aftermath of the mass shootings this month in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee will meet in early September to act on a series of gun control measures, including ten round limits on ammunition magazines, red flag laws, and adding new reasons for blocking someone from buying a firearm. 'For far too long, politicians in Washington have only offered thoughts and prayers in the wake of gun violence tragedies,' said Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY), the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. 'Democrats in the House will continue to make good on our promise to work to keep our communities safe,' Nadler added, trying to put more pressure on Senate Republicans to act on gun bills approved by the House. 'House Democrats are serious about protecting our communities from the epidemic of gun violence,' said Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV). 'All of these gun violence prevention bills would save lives, and it’s really important that the House is taking action,' said Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA). 'We must act now to end the epidemic of gun violence in our country and keep our kids safe,' said freshman Rep. Joe Negeuse (D-CO). Democrats also tried to turn up the heat on GOP leaders in the Senate, where a bill to expand background checks to all private gun sales has been languishing for months. 'The Majority Leader should call the Senate back to Washington to debate and vote on gun violence legislation,' said Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA). Some Democrats also want to force a vote on banning certain assault weapons - Congress approved such a measure back in 1994, but the expired after ten years. While the Congress isn't back for votes until the week of September 9, the announcement by the House Judiciary Committee will bring lawmakers back just after Labor Day for committee work - with the goal of votes on the various gun bills in the House later that month. 'Our community is relying on us to pass gun safety legislation, which is why we need a federal red flag policy to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people,' said Rep. Lucy McBath (D-GA). Some Republicans quickly made clear their opposition to some of the gun plans from Democrats. 'The problem with Red Flag laws is you’re guilty until proven innocent,' said Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH). President Donald Trump has held talks with some Democrats on the issue of expanding background checks, but his language at a campaign rally on Thursday night in Manchester, New Hampshire did not signal any compromise on guns, as he focused more on the issue of mental health. “It's not the gun that pulls the trigger. It's the person holding the gun,” the President said. The bills on the schedule in September before the House Judiciary Committee include: + H.R. 1186, the Keep Americans Safe Act. This bill would ban high capacity ammunition magazines. + H.R. 1236, the Extreme Risk Protector Order Act, designed to help states formulate 'Red Flag' laws. + H.R. 3076, the Federal Extreme Risk Protection Order Act, which would allow people to go into federal court to take a firearm away from a mentally unstable person. H.R. 2708, the Disarm Hate Act, which would add misdemeanor hate crimes to the list of items disqualifying someone from buying a weapon, under the current background check system. H.R. 1112, the Enhanced Background Checks Act, which stems from the mass shooting at a black church in Charleston, South Carolina. In that case, the shooter was able to buy his firearms - even though he would have failed the background check - because the feds did not conduct a check within three business days. = Click here to read more stories from Jamie Dupree.

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