Local News

Superintendent Beverley Levine chats with a student at Oglethorpe County Primary School on the first day of the school year. (LANDEN TODD/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Superintendent Beverley Levine chats with a student at Oglethorpe County Primary School on the first day of the school year. (LANDEN TODD/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

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New year starts strong: Teachers, staff welcome students as the school year gets under way

McCain Bracewell
Wednesday, August 9, 2023
Teachers in matching T-shirts and smiles lined the decorated halls. Parents arranged their students for pictures before walking them to their classes. Buses and cars eased through the wait to drop off students, armed with supplies and backpacks.
Mayor Craig Snow (top) and members of the Lexington (clockwise, from left) Cindy Haynes, Greg Reece, Ronnie Boggs and Cory Crayton are up for re-election this year, as is councilwoman Jill Severn (not pictured). (ANDY JOHNSTON/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Mayor Craig Snow (top) and members of the Lexington (clockwise, from left) Cindy Haynes, Greg Reece, Ronnie Boggs and Cory Crayton are up for re-election this year, as is councilwoman Jill Severn (not pictured). (ANDY JOHNSTON/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

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Qualifying for municipal elections set for this month

Julianne Akers
Wednesday, August 9, 2023
Arnoldsville   Arnoldsville will hold a special election on Nov. 7 to fill the vacant seat for mayor and finish a four-year term ending Dec. 31. Qualifying for the special election will take place at Arnoldsville City Hall on Aug. 21-23.    All five city council seats are also open for election.
Sheriff David Gabriel proposed the idea of adding one to two more 911 dispatchers during discussion at the Board of Commissioners meeting on Monday night. (GARRETT KICKLIGHTER/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Sheriff David Gabriel proposed the idea of adding one to two more 911 dispatchers during discussion at the Board of Commissioners meeting on Monday night. (GARRETT KICKLIGHTER/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

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BOC approves vehicle for senior center

Garrett Kicklighter
Wednesday, August 9, 2023
The Oglethorpe County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a new vehicle to be purchased for the Oglethorpe County Senior Citizens Center with a 3-0 vote during Monday’s meeting.  District 1 Commissioner Howard Sanders and District 2 Commissioner Andy Saxon were absent.
Carol Eidson, commander of Post 123, and Rick Baugh, 10th District commander, hold the membership award at the 104th annual convention. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

Carol Eidson, commander of Post 123, and Rick Baugh, 10th District commander, hold the membership award at the 104th annual convention. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

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Post 123 gears up for membership drive

Jesse Wood
Wednesday, August 9, 2023
August is Post 123’s membership drive month, giving the community an opportunity to interact, connect and join the American Legion, just as Debbie Furbish did.   Furbish was on active duty in the Army from 1977-81 and also is a retired nurse.
Robert and Lani Kline hold signs on Highway 78 to let folks know about the Wesley Chapel Volunteer Fire Department’s car wash fundraiser at Lexington Auto Parts last Saturday. The donations help the department purchase and maintain its equipment. (LANDEN TODD/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Robert and Lani Kline hold signs on Highway 78 to let folks know about the Wesley Chapel Volunteer Fire Department’s car wash fundraiser at Lexington Auto Parts last Saturday. The donations help the department purchase and maintain its equipment. (LANDEN TODD/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

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Wesley Chapel firefighters put water to different use

Avni Trivedi
Thursday, August 3, 2023
Robert Kline, dressed in full firefighter gear, holds a “Car Wash” sign above his head standing on the side of Athens Road.
Community donations helped the Devil’s Pond Volunteer Fire Department purchase a JAWS Combi Tool last year. The tool is used to help free accident victims from vehicles. (ELOISE MCNAIR/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Community donations helped the Devil’s Pond Volunteer Fire Department purchase a JAWS Combi Tool last year. The tool is used to help free accident victims from vehicles. (ELOISE MCNAIR/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

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County fire departments prioritize new equipment

Julianne Akers
Thursday, August 3, 2023
Equipment used by fire departments goes through extensive wear and tear, which has become an issue at several Oglethorpe County volunteer fire departments.    “Anything within the fire service has a lifespan,” said Cody Gibbs, assistant chief of the Beaverdam Volunteer Fire Department.
The new leadership group for the Ace Hardware in Crawford includes Jeff Strickland (from left), the vice president of operations, Chuck Gabriel, the store manager, and store owners George and Tripp Strickland. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

The new leadership group for the Ace Hardware in Crawford includes Jeff Strickland (from left), the vice president of operations, Chuck Gabriel, the store manager, and store owners George and Tripp Strickland. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

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Stricklands take over Ace Hardware

Julianne Akers
Thursday, August 3, 2023
The Ace Hardware Stores in Crawford and Colbert will transition to new owners Tripp Strickland and his father George Strickland, who live in Danielsville.    The current owners, Leisa and Tony Coyne, were ready to sell the business, Strickland said. The Coynes couldn’t be reached for comment.
Members of the Board of Education (from left) Susan Robinson, Tim Poole, Superintendent Beverley Levine, BOE Chair Becky Soto, Jake Willcox and Guillermo Camacho discuss matters at the BOE meeting on Tuesday night. (JULIANNE AKERS/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Members of the Board of Education (from left) Susan Robinson, Tim Poole, Superintendent Beverley Levine, BOE Chair Becky Soto, Jake Willcox and Guillermo Camacho discuss matters at the BOE meeting on Tuesday night. (JULIANNE AKERS/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

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Computer science options presented

Julianne Akers
Thursday, August 3, 2023
Oglethorpe County Board of Education members were excited at Tuesday’s meeting to hear what several school leaders gathered from a conference they attended earlier this summer with the International Society for Technology in Education.
Cpl. Neil Frankel with the Georgia State Patrol points his laser at drivers in downtown Lexington earlier this week. He and other troopers will patrol the school zones in both the morning and afternoon when schools start next week. (TANYA EIDSON/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Cpl. Neil Frankel with the Georgia State Patrol points his laser at drivers in downtown Lexington earlier this week. He and other troopers will patrol the school zones in both the morning and afternoon when schools start next week. (TANYA EIDSON/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

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Georgia State Patrol to focus on school zones next week

News Staff
Thursday, August 3, 2023
The Georgia State Patrol will have a presence in Oglethorpe County’s two school zones when students return next week.   Cpl.