Local News

J.W. Fanning (left) and Dink NeSmith sit on a bench in front of the Classic Center that Athens 96 had installed to honor Fanning’s legacy to Athens. NeSmith was chairman of Athens 96. (Submitted Photo)

J.W. Fanning (left) and Dink NeSmith sit on a bench in front of the Classic Center that Athens 96 had installed to honor Fanning’s legacy to Athens. NeSmith was chairman of Athens 96. (Submitted Photo)

NeSmith wins state leadership award

News Staff
Friday, July 3, 2026
Dink NeSmith, chairman emeritus of The Oglethorpe Echo Legacy, Inc., is this year’s winner of Leadership Georgia’s J.W. Fanning Award. NeSmith, who lives in Smithonia, is also the co-owner of Community Newspapers Inc. Leadership Georgia announced five recipients of statewide awards last month.
MedLink’s Trish Whatley (left) and Desiree Davis (right) pass out goodie bags to families at Community Day at Oglethorpe County Middle School last August. This year’s Community Day will be held on Aug. 8. (Jennifer Xia/The Oglethorpe Echo)

MedLink’s Trish Whatley (left) and Desiree Davis (right) pass out goodie bags to families at Community Day at Oglethorpe County Middle School last August. This year’s Community Day will be held on Aug. 8. (Jennifer Xia/The Oglethorpe Echo)

LOCAL ROUNDUP: Community Day scheduled for Aug. 8

News Staff
Friday, July 3, 2026
Oglethorpe County’s annual Community Day will be held from 5-7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8 at Oglethorpe County Middle School. The event will feature free hot dogs and drinks, activities and games, community resources, touch a truck and a free tote from sponsors.

Levine new Family Connection coordinator

News Staff
Friday, July 3, 2026
Beverley Levine’s retirement didn’t last long. Levine, the Oglethorpe County School System’s former superintendent, has been hired as the coordinator of Oglethorpe County Family Connection after April Moore left for a new job after six years in the position.
Workers look to repair the gas leak on North Woodlawn Drive in Crawford on Tuesday. The leak forced the evacuation of residents, but no injuries were reported. (Submitted Photo)

Workers look to repair the gas leak on North Woodlawn Drive in Crawford on Tuesday. The leak forced the evacuation of residents, but no injuries were reported. (Submitted Photo)

No injuries reported from Crawford gas leak

News Staff
Friday, July 3, 2026
A natural gas leak near downtown Crawford forced the evacuation of residents on Tuesday afternoon. No injuries were reported, Oglethorpe County Fire & Rescue Chief Rocky Miller said.  The leak was caused when workers hit a high-pressure natural gas line on North Woodlawn Drive about 4 p.m. Tuesday.
The front of The Waypoint at 1147 is pictured in this rendering from developer Paul “Stags” Oristaglio. He plans for it to become a cafe-style restaurant and hospitality space. (Submitted Photo)

The front of The Waypoint at 1147 is pictured in this rendering from developer Paul “Stags” Oristaglio. He plans for it to become a cafe-style restaurant and hospitality space. (Submitted Photo)

Developer sees The Waypoint as ‘welcoming place’

Jessie Isaacs
Thursday, July 2, 2026
The building has “had a thousand lives,” said Paul “Stags” Oristaglio. If all goes well, he will add one more. Oristaglio has plans to open The Waypoint at 1147, a cafe-style restaurant and hospitality space in downtown Crawford.
The new bar top has been installed in the James T. Rayle American Legion Post 123. The top was constructed by legion member Bart Harper, and is one of several changes made to the space. (Sarah Nanos/The Oglethorpe Echo)

The new bar top has been installed in the James T. Rayle American Legion Post 123. The top was constructed by legion member Bart Harper, and is one of several changes made to the space. (Sarah Nanos/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Post 123 finishing its renovations to building

Sarah Nanos
Thursday, July 2, 2026
More than 70 years after James T. Rayle American Legion Post 123 opened its doors, veterans are giving the building a new life by volunteering to transform it into a more welcoming space for those who have served.
Tate Rodriguez demonstrates a QinFlow warmer device during a prehospital blood administration training course for Oglethorpe County EMS personnel on Tuesday. The training is required for the county’s whole blood program. (Ellie English/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Tate Rodriguez demonstrates a QinFlow warmer device during a prehospital blood administration training course for Oglethorpe County EMS personnel on Tuesday. The training is required for the county’s whole blood program. (Ellie English/The Oglethorpe Echo)

EMS completes training class for blood program

Ellie English
Thursday, June 25, 2026
Oglethorpe County EMS is one step closer to carrying and administering whole blood in the field after paramedics and EMTs completed a required training course on Tuesday.

BOE agrees to buy weapons detection system

Ellie English
Thursday, June 25, 2026
The Oglethorpe County Board of Education approved the purchase of a weapons detection system on Tuesday as district leaders look to enhance school safety ahead of the 2026-27 school year. Incoming Superintendent Phillip Powell recommended the purchase of the Athena Security Inc.
Becky Soto began her new job as business manager of The Oglethorpe Echo this week. Her previous jobs had been in the banking industry. (Trisha Bearden/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Becky Soto began her new job as business manager of The Oglethorpe Echo this week. Her previous jobs had been in the banking industry. (Trisha Bearden/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Soto is new business manager of The Echo

News Staff
Thursday, June 25, 2026
Becky Soto has been hired as the new business manager of The Oglethorpe Echo. Soto, an Oglethorpe County native and chairman of the Board of Education for the past 12 years, started Monday. “This is an exciting opportunity to take my passion for community advocacy to the next level,” Soto said.