Local News

The Arnoldsville Volunteer Fire Department, which has 15 firefighters and covers approximately 25 miles of Oglethorpe County, received a grant for $261,904 to buy a new fire truck. It will be delivered next year. (Evan Smoak/The Oglethorpe Echo)

The Arnoldsville Volunteer Fire Department, which has 15 firefighters and covers approximately 25 miles of Oglethorpe County, received a grant for $261,904 to buy a new fire truck. It will be delivered next year. (Evan Smoak/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Arnoldsville VFD awarded grant, buys new truck

Evan Smoak
Wednesday, September 6, 2023
The Arnoldsville Volunteer Fire Department has purchased a 2024 fire engine, which will serve as the rescue and brush truck for the station when it is delivered next year.   The station was awarded $261,904 from an Assistance to Firefighters Grant in July.
Members of the Piney Grove Baptist Church pray during homecoming service on the 151st anniversary on Aug. 20. (Meadow Barrow/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Members of the Piney Grove Baptist Church pray during homecoming service on the 151st anniversary on Aug. 20. (Meadow Barrow/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Piney Grove Baptist Church going strong after 151 years

Meadow Barrow
Friday, September 1, 2023
In the fall of 1872, the Black members of Cloud’s Creek Baptist Church, who were former slaves, petitioned to create a separate church.
(Caleb Rollins/The Oglethorpe Echo)

(Caleb Rollins/The Oglethorpe Echo)

COVID-19 cases increase in Oglethorpe

Caleb Rollins and Sidney Chansamone
Thursday, August 31, 2023
COVID-19 cases have been on the rise in Georgia in August, coinciding with the emergence of the highly transmissible EG.5 “Eris” variant. Oglethorpe County has been no exception to that trend.   The county reported 11 positive cases from Aug.
Katie Hammond climbs on a tractor during her class at the UGA Extension’s Southern Women in Agriculture workshop on Aug. 25. Hammond has served as a research superintendent for UGA's College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences since 2018. (John James/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Katie Hammond climbs on a tractor during her class at the UGA Extension’s Southern Women in Agriculture workshop on Aug. 25. Hammond has served as a research superintendent for UGA's College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences since 2018. (John James/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Women lead, learn at farming workshop

John James
Thursday, August 31, 2023
Amanda Walter returned to Georgia one year ago with a background in computer science and virtually no experience in agriculture.   Walter, 41, had become desensitized with the hustle and bustle of the cybersecurity industry in Utah, and she wanted a fresh start for her and her family.
Graphic/Elena Acosta

Graphic/Elena Acosta

Newest Crawford wells hit with quality issues

Elena Acosta
Thursday, August 31, 2023
Two wells drilled in Crawford in May of 2022 have yielded no clean water for residents.   The water at the well near the Red Rabbit Convenience Store on Highway 78 was found to contain too much iron and manganese and now feeds the wastewater plant.
Oglethorpe County Elementary School ESOL teacher Leslie Johnson hikes in Mexico this summer while wearing a Fund for Teachers T-shirt. Johnson spent five weeks in Oaxaca, Mexico, to improve her Spanish and cultural knowledge, thanks to a grant from the organization. (Submitted Photo)

Oglethorpe County Elementary School ESOL teacher Leslie Johnson hikes in Mexico this summer while wearing a Fund for Teachers T-shirt. Johnson spent five weeks in Oaxaca, Mexico, to improve her Spanish and cultural knowledge, thanks to a grant from the organization. (Submitted Photo)

OCES teacher returns with lessons from Mexico

Cassidy Hettesheimer
Thursday, August 31, 2023
Thanks to five weeks of educational immersion in Mexico, Oglethorpe County Elementary School teacher Leslie Johnson has new knowledge, and increased empathy, to share with her English-learning students this year.
Kelli Paradise Smith, the Superior Court Clerk of Oglethorpe County, said the Filing Activity Notification System (FANS) could help a property owner avoid scams that could cost them their home. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

Kelli Paradise Smith, the Superior Court Clerk of Oglethorpe County, said the Filing Activity Notification System (FANS) could help a property owner avoid scams that could cost them their home. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

New alert system designed to protect property owners

Emily Lupo
Wednesday, August 30, 2023
The Oglethorpe County Superior Court Clerk’s office is promoting a new system to help protect local property owners from deed theft — a system even the clerk is using herself.
(CAITLIN DOWNING/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO) Zoning Board Chair Janet Hill and board member JF Hansford review the amended ordinance on solar farms at the zoning board meeting on Monday.

(CAITLIN DOWNING/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO) Zoning Board Chair Janet Hill and board member JF Hansford review the amended ordinance on solar farms at the zoning board meeting on Monday.

Solar farm ordinance reworked

Caitlin Downing
Wednesday, August 30, 2023
Solar farms may have more strict limitations if county commissioners accept an amendment unanimously recommended by the Oglethorpe County Zoning Board on Monday.
The oglethorpe Echo

The oglethorpe Echo

Area men selected as Angus delegates

News Staff
Wednesday, August 23, 2023
Staff Report   Lexington’s Chris Throne and Arnoldsville’s Andrew McPeake recently were selected as delegates to the 140th American Angus Association Convention of Delegates, scheduled for Nov. 6 in Orlando, Florida.
The Oglethorpe Echo

The Oglethorpe Echo

County budget increases for 2024

Garrett Kicklighter
Wednesday, August 23, 2023
The Oglethorpe County Board of Commissioners approved the county’s 2024 operating budget of $9.55 million at Monday’s called meeting.    The total is $755,000 more than this year’s operating budget of nearly $8.8 million, an 8.6% increase from 2023.