Local News

Phillip Powell, superintendent of the Oglethorpe County School System, mentors Lewis (left) and Cooper Patterson (right), twins who attend kindergarten at Oglethorpe County Elementary School. He met them for the first time on Sept. 25. (Submitted Photo).

Phillip Powell, superintendent of the Oglethorpe County School System, mentors Lewis (left) and Cooper Patterson (right), twins who attend kindergarten at Oglethorpe County Elementary School. He met them for the first time on Sept. 25. (Submitted Photo).

STAND provides mentoring for students of every age

Sophia Bobo
Wednesday, September 30, 2026
Isaac Johnson said his bond with his mentor, Steve Farley, was key for him.  “I really think our relationship is really good because he’s one of the few people who actually understands me,” Johnson said.
Horticulture students care for plants in the OCHS greenhouse last year. The plants students grow during the year are sold in the spring to buy plants for future classes.

Horticulture students care for plants in the OCHS greenhouse last year. The plants students grow during the year are sold in the spring to buy plants for future classes.

Students in agriculture, FFA prepare for busy fall

Austin Lathrop
Wednesday, September 30, 2026
Oglethorpe County High School’s agriculture and FFA students have a busy fall semester ahead.  OCHS will host three FFA Career Development Events, or CDEs, Thursday, including events in environmental and natural resources, floral design and meat evaluation.
Lee Jones plays the piano as students practice a song in the Oglethorpe County High School music classroom last month. Jones has been the band and chorus director at OCHS for 13 years. (Sabrina Felix/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Lee Jones plays the piano as students practice a song in the Oglethorpe County High School music classroom last month. Jones has been the band and chorus director at OCHS for 13 years. (Sabrina Felix/The Oglethorpe Echo)

The sound of music: Students, Jones look to grow OCHS chorus

Sabrina Felix
Wednesday, September 30, 2026
Senior Mason Drewett said he joined the Oglethorpe County High School chorus to improve his performance skills. “I wanted to do that to get some actual vocal training,” Drewett said.  He started as a baritone, but now he sings the bass vocal part.
Jenny Liedberg with her horses Apache (left) and Ranger at Agape Farm on Sept. 25 in Colbert. Liedberg has been training youth to ride horses at Agape Farm since 2001. (Matthew Herren/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Jenny Liedberg with her horses Apache (left) and Ranger at Agape Farm on Sept. 25 in Colbert. Liedberg has been training youth to ride horses at Agape Farm since 2001. (Matthew Herren/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Agape Farm provides ministry through horseback for 25 years

Matthew Herren
Wednesday, September 30, 2026
Jenny Liedberg said her first word was “horse,” so it’s no surprise she ended up as a trainer at Agape Farm. Her family describes her role there as more of a calling than a job.
Mark Reinberger answers questions from members of the audience at the Historic Oglethorpe County meeting about his research into historic buildings in Oglethorpe County on Sept. 22 at the Oglethorpe County Library. Reinberger presented research conducted using dendrochronology and other methods.

Mark Reinberger answers questions from members of the audience at the Historic Oglethorpe County meeting about his research into historic buildings in Oglethorpe County on Sept. 22 at the Oglethorpe County Library. Reinberger presented research conducted using dendrochronology and other methods.

Researchers uncover details of county’s oldest buildings

Caroline Feagin
Wednesday, September 30, 2026
Researchers are narrowing down the details on Oglethorpe County’s earliest buildings, and they are using an unusual method to do it: tree rings.
EMS paramedics Dennis Weaver (left) and Kelly Huff showcase a battery-powered extrication tool in front of the 2025 Chevy Tahoe. The equipment is part of a high-tech medical kit stocked inside the county’s new SPLOST-funded Quick Response Vehicles. (ISABELLA PANG/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

EMS paramedics Dennis Weaver (left) and Kelly Huff showcase a battery-powered extrication tool in front of the 2025 Chevy Tahoe. The equipment is part of a high-tech medical kit stocked inside the county’s new SPLOST-funded Quick Response Vehicles. (ISABELLA PANG/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

SPLOST funds help EMS expand QRV fleet

Isabella Pang
Wednesday, September 30, 2026
Oglethorpe County has two new emergency quick response vehicles, thanks to purchases residents, or travelers, have made in Oglethorpe County. “All of our ambulances, and the quick response vehicles, were purchased with SPLOST money,” Oglethorpe County EMS director Josh Robinson said.
Open records data from Superintendent Phillip Powell shows each school's total number of vaping infractions and juvenile complaints during the 2025-2026 school year.

Open records data from Superintendent Phillip Powell shows each school's total number of vaping infractions and juvenile complaints during the 2025-2026 school year.

Schools balance vape discipline, addiction support

Isabella Pang
Wednesday, September 30, 2026
For Lexington resident Brandi Escoe, a parent and registered nurse, the casual appeal of e-cigarettes — or vaping — hit home through her teenage sons at school in Madison County.  “We were always hearing about it,” Escoe said.
Spectators of all ages enjoy the vehicles at the Firefly Cruise In on Sunday in Lexington. More than 40 cars, trucks, motorcycles and tractors participated in the event. (Maura Potvin/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Spectators of all ages enjoy the vehicles at the Firefly Cruise In on Sunday in Lexington. More than 40 cars, trucks, motorcycles and tractors participated in the event. (Maura Potvin/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Residents of all ages enjoy annual Firefly Cruise In

Maura Potvin
Wednesday, September 30, 2026
Seventh-grader Lantie Spencer stood next to the Lexington Volunteer Fire Department’s fire truck Sunday at the 15th annual Firefly Cruise In.  “I am 12 years old, and I have been working with this fire station, Lexington Fire Department, for about three years now,” she said.

Explainer: SPLOST tax funds public works, safety

Emma Greene
Wednesday, September 30, 2026
A special penny tax will be back on the Oglethorpe County ballot on Nov. 3.  The special-purpose local-option sales tax (SPLOST) is a 1% sales tax on any taxable product purchased in the county. It passed in the 2022 Georgia special election with 2,899 votes in favor (75%).
Kathleen deMarrais, president of Historic Oglethorpe County, shows the obituary database that was compiled from copies of The Oglethorpe Echo at the Oglethorpe County Library. The database is a publicly available resource for genealogists, researchers and community members. (Photo/Caroline Feagin)

Kathleen deMarrais, president of Historic Oglethorpe County, shows the obituary database that was compiled from copies of The Oglethorpe Echo at the Oglethorpe County Library. The database is a publicly available resource for genealogists, researchers and community members. (Photo/Caroline Feagin)

New library database puts more than 6,000 local obituaries online

Caroline Feagin
Wednesday, September 23, 2026
Decades of obituaries are just a search away at the Oglethorpe County Library. But few people know the information is there.