Local News

Sara Hughes, who taught agriculture for 15 years, moves into a new position as the federal programs coordinator and grant writer with the Oglethorpe County School System (MCCAIN BRACEWELL/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Sara Hughes, who taught agriculture for 15 years, moves into a new position as the federal programs coordinator and grant writer with the Oglethorpe County School System (MCCAIN BRACEWELL/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Hughes moves into new role

McCain Bracewell
Wednesday, August 2, 2023
Sara Hughes has been awarded over $14,800 on 14 grants the past seven years, ranging from $200 to $2,500 each. She put those to use to help students in her agriculture classes.
Linda Anglin (from left), Henry Anglin, Vickie Anglin and Kelly Hembrick pose with a photo of Jimmy Anglin at Bryan Park in Crawford last month. The family continues to look for his remains, nearly six years after he went missing in 2017. (LANDEN TODD/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Linda Anglin (from left), Henry Anglin, Vickie Anglin and Kelly Hembrick pose with a photo of Jimmy Anglin at Bryan Park in Crawford last month. The family continues to look for his remains, nearly six years after he went missing in 2017. (LANDEN TODD/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

No peace for the Anglins: Jimmy Anglin’s family won’t rest until they find his remains

Jamie Miller
Wednesday, August 2, 2023
Jimmy Anglin is never far from his family’s thoughts. Nearly six years after his death, the Anglins catch glimpses of him as they sit around the tree on Christmas mornings and as they continue to celebrate his birthday every year.
Pastor Ken Keely leads the congregation in worship as the church in Stephens celebrates its 210th anniversary on Sunday. The church, which was established in 1813, had a potluck lunch after the service and was scheduled to hold three nights of revival services this week. (LANDEN TODD/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Pastor Ken Keely leads the congregation in worship as the church in Stephens celebrates its 210th anniversary on Sunday. The church, which was established in 1813, had a potluck lunch after the service and was scheduled to hold three nights of revival services this week. (LANDEN TODD/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Antioch Anniversary

News Staff
Wednesday, July 26, 2023

School employees to receive raises

McCain Bracewell
Wednesday, July 26, 2023
All Oglethorpe County School System’s classified and certified staff will see a salary increase this year. The board of education approved the 2023-24 fiscal year budget at the board meeting on July 20.
A worker sizes up a large tree that fell near Thaxton Wynne Road during the storms last week. Several roads throughout the county, including Highway 78, were closed by downed trees and debris. (ADAM NATION/FOR THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

A worker sizes up a large tree that fell near Thaxton Wynne Road during the storms last week. Several roads throughout the county, including Highway 78, were closed by downed trees and debris. (ADAM NATION/FOR THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

County cleans up after thunderstorms

Garrett Kicklighter
Wednesday, July 26, 2023
The thunderstorms that hit Northeast Georgia last Thursday caused extensive damage, power outages and road closures throughout Oglethorpe County.   Dozens of county roads were closed by downed trees and power lines, Commission Chair Jay Paul said, and U.S.
Shirley Dillard (second from left) and Community Christmas volunteers make sure area families receive Christmas gifts every year. Dillard is the co-chair of the organization. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

Shirley Dillard (second from left) and Community Christmas volunteers make sure area families receive Christmas gifts every year. Dillard is the co-chair of the organization. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

A heart for service: Dillard constantly at work for those in need throughout Oglethorpe County

Dawn Sawyer
Wednesday, July 26, 2023
Shirley Dillard’s phone rings constantly.   Whether it’s calls with an appliance to donate, thank you texts from families she’s helped, or call requests for a stove, people know to reach out to Dillard because of her decades-long dedication to service.
Two 40-foot long shipping containers give Shirley Dillard the space to store items for people and families in need. They’re located behind the Sheriff’s Office. (ANDY JOHNSTON/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Two 40-foot long shipping containers give Shirley Dillard the space to store items for people and families in need. They’re located behind the Sheriff’s Office. (ANDY JOHNSTON/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Storage containers just what Dillard needed

Julianne Akers
Wednesday, July 26, 2023
Shirley Dillard was posting on Facebook about four years ago, looking for things like refrigerators and couches for families in need, when a member of the community reached out to coordinate donating a storage unit.
New Oglethorpe County Library Branch Manager Katherine Ratcliffe, who was born and raised in Oglethorpe County, has written six novels, five feature-length screenplays, numerous TV specs and pilots, and a self-improvement book. (LANDEN TODD/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

New Oglethorpe County Library Branch Manager Katherine Ratcliffe, who was born and raised in Oglethorpe County, has written six novels, five feature-length screenplays, numerous TV specs and pilots, and a self-improvement book. (LANDEN TODD/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Ratcliffe prioritizes outreach, education and support at library

Avni Trivedi
Wednesday, July 26, 2023
Katherine Ratcliffe, the new branch manager at the Oglethorpe County Library, said she believes the library isn’t just a place to read and check-out books. It can be a place for endless possibilities to foster education and creativity.
The Oglethorpe County Board of Education’s Susan Robinson (from left), Tim Poole, Beverley Levine, Becky Soto and Jake Willcox meet on July 20. They selected Guillermo Camacho to fill the vacated District 1 seat. (MCCAIN BRACEWELL/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

The Oglethorpe County Board of Education’s Susan Robinson (from left), Tim Poole, Beverley Levine, Becky Soto and Jake Willcox meet on July 20. They selected Guillermo Camacho to fill the vacated District 1 seat. (MCCAIN BRACEWELL/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Camacho selected to fill District 1 BOE seat

McCain Bracewell
Wednesday, July 26, 2023
Guillermo Camacho was selected to fill the District 1 seat on the Oglethorpe County Board of Education at its meeting on July 20.    He replaces Collin Cherry, who resigned from the position on May 23 to pursue the school system’s transportation director position.
Joe Holtzleiter, the outgoing Rotary Club president, hands the gavel to new club president Jean Westmacott earlier this summer. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

Joe Holtzleiter, the outgoing Rotary Club president, hands the gavel to new club president Jean Westmacott earlier this summer. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

Westmacott plans to expand Rotary’s reach beyond Oglethorpe County

Jesse Wood
Wednesday, July 26, 2023
Jean Westmacott has breathed life into clay countless times, and now plans to do the same with the Oglethorpe County Rotary Club.   Westmacott, a renowned portrait sculptor, was appointed as the Rotary Club’s newest president on July 7.