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More than 20 students from Oglethorpe County High School and Oglethorpe County Middle School came to volunteer at the workday event at the Oglethorpe County Senior Center on Tuesday. Event organizer Sara Hughes was excited to cultivate community with this project. "I just love that we all get to work together to serve the community, all of these different wonderful entities get to come together for a common goal. I love to see opportunities like that." (Photo/Emilie Sullivan)

More than 20 students from Oglethorpe County High School and Oglethorpe County Middle School came to volunteer at the workday event at the Oglethorpe County Senior Center on Tuesday. Event organizer Sara Hughes was excited to cultivate community with this project. "I just love that we all get to work together to serve the community, all of these different wonderful entities get to come together for a common goal. I love to see opportunities like that." (Photo/Emilie Sullivan)

Students, seniors cultivate community through garden boxes

Emilie Sullivan
Wednesday, May 6, 2026
A muti-generational workday at the Oglethorpe County Senior Center Tuesday resulted in 10 raised garden boxes for visitors to use and enjoy.
Lucy Misenhamer (from left), Mandi Kirk and Ron Whitehead stand in front of Oglethorpe Barbershop in Crawford this spring. Kirk opened the shop four years ago and cuts hair along with Misenhamer and Whitehead. (Photo/Emilie Sullivan)

Lucy Misenhamer (from left), Mandi Kirk and Ron Whitehead stand in front of Oglethorpe Barbershop in Crawford this spring. Kirk opened the shop four years ago and cuts hair along with Misenhamer and Whitehead. (Photo/Emilie Sullivan)

Small-town style thrives at Oglethorpe Barbershop

Emilie Sullivan
Friday, May 1, 2026
Oglethorpe Barbershop has become a place where relationships matter as much as the cuts themselves for owner Mandi Kirk, and barbers Lucy Misenhamer and Ron Whitehead. “Everyone's so friendly,” Misenhamer said. “We have the sweetest clients.
Gloria Hgay and Ellen Hgay, students at OCHS and members of the National Honor Society, throw blue and red colored powder at two race participants during the OCHS National Honor Society Color Fun Run on April 25. Students and members of the National Honor Society received service hours for participating in the race, counting toward the 18 hours required per semester to maintain membership. (CHARLOTTE COCHRAN/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Gloria Hgay and Ellen Hgay, students at OCHS and members of the National Honor Society, throw blue and red colored powder at two race participants during the OCHS National Honor Society Color Fun Run on April 25. Students and members of the National Honor Society received service hours for participating in the race, counting toward the 18 hours required per semester to maintain membership. (CHARLOTTE COCHRAN/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

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PHOTO GALLERY: Color Run Fun

Charlotte Cochran
Thursday, April 30, 2026
Georgia Municipal Association member services consultant Sherri Bailey speaks to Maxeys Mayor Edward Toledano (center) and the city council at Maxeys City Hall on April 14. She outlined the organization’s role in supporting cities in various ways. (Photo/Riley Baugh)

Georgia Municipal Association member services consultant Sherri Bailey speaks to Maxeys Mayor Edward Toledano (center) and the city council at Maxeys City Hall on April 14. She outlined the organization’s role in supporting cities in various ways. (Photo/Riley Baugh)

City Roundup: Spearing to help Lexington mayor with water issues

Jessie Isaacs and Riley Baugh
Thursday, April 30, 2026
The Lexington City Council addressed the recent “failure to test” notice regarding the city’s water at its April 9 meeting by adding help for the water department.
This year’s Winterville Marigold Festival parade is scheduled to start at 10 a.m., an hour after the vendors open for the festival on Saturday, May 9. Me’an Mills, Mayor Dodd Ferrelle’s band, will perform at 5:30 p.m. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

This year’s Winterville Marigold Festival parade is scheduled to start at 10 a.m., an hour after the vendors open for the festival on Saturday, May 9. Me’an Mills, Mayor Dodd Ferrelle’s band, will perform at 5:30 p.m. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

New Firefly Farmstop part of this year’s Marigold Festival

Dakota Meeks
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Visitors to this year’s Winterville Marigold Festival will have the opportunity to see something new in a familiar space. City officials are eager to show off the Firefly Farmstop, after it opened April 11 in what used to be a blacksmith shop.
Katie and Jon Armour have renamed Nature's Harvest to Full Draw Processing. The processor plans to open this upcoming deer season. (Photo Submitted)

Katie and Jon Armour have renamed Nature's Harvest to Full Draw Processing. The processor plans to open this upcoming deer season. (Photo Submitted)

Nature’s Harvest sold, to open for deer season

Finley Millwood
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Growing up hunting with her dad prepared Katie Armour for her new adventure: owning a processing business. Armour, 41, and her husband, Jon, who is 43, closed on Nature’s Harvest at the end of March.  The couple decided to rename the business to Full Draw Processing.
A trail walk will be held on the Firefly Trail in Maxeys (pictured) on Saturday. Another trail walk will be held on Smokey Road in Crawford. (Jessie Isaacs/The Oglethorpe Echo)

A trail walk will be held on the Firefly Trail in Maxeys (pictured) on Saturday. Another trail walk will be held on Smokey Road in Crawford. (Jessie Isaacs/The Oglethorpe Echo)

LOCAL ROUNDUP: Trail walks on Smokey Road, Maxeys planned for Saturday

Echo Staff
Friday, April 24, 2026
Firefly Trail Inc. has helped organize group walks for Smokey Road in Crawford and in Maxeys as part of Celebrate Trails Day on Saturday, April 25. The walk on Smokey Road will start at 9 a.m. and the one in Maxeys will begin at 11 a.m. Maxeys, where 1.
Sophia Marchette will play Charlie in “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” which will be presented at the Washington Little Theater next month. Marchette and her family live in Stephens. (Sarah Owens/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Sophia Marchette will play Charlie in “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” which will be presented at the Washington Little Theater next month. Marchette and her family live in Stephens. (Sarah Owens/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Oglethorpe residents have key roles in Little Theater production

Sarah Owens
Friday, April 24, 2026
Several Oglethorpe County residents will help bring “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” to life when the Washington Little Theater production opens next month.