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Sonja Armour, owner of the Chicken Coop Bed ’n Breakfast in Crawford, said most of her visitors come for University of Georgia football games. She opened the bed and breakfast in 2011. (Grace Mains/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Sonja Armour, owner of the Chicken Coop Bed ’n Breakfast in Crawford, said most of her visitors come for University of Georgia football games. She opened the bed and breakfast in 2011. (Grace Mains/The Oglethorpe Echo)

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Guests often leave Chicken Coop as Armour’s friend

Grace Mains
Wednesday, September 6, 2023
For the Armours, a historic, chicken-themed cottage in the middle of Oglethorpe County sounded like a great idea when they opened it in 2011.   Not everyone agreed.   “People thought we were crazy to do it. They said who would ever come to Crawford, Georgia,” Sonja Armour said.
Receivers, lanyards and speakers are components of the Listen EVERYWHERE receivers that are available at the Oglethorpe County Library. The library’s staff is available to assist visitors with the new technology. (Sidney Chansamone/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Receivers, lanyards and speakers are components of the Listen EVERYWHERE receivers that are available at the Oglethorpe County Library. The library’s staff is available to assist visitors with the new technology. (Sidney Chansamone/The Oglethorpe Echo)

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Library implements new assistive hearing technology

Sidney Chansamone and Caleb Rollins
Wednesday, September 6, 2023
The Oglethorpe County Library is offering new assistive hearing technology through the installation of a Listen EVERYWHERE hearing loop, making events and presentations more accessible to those who may experience difficulty hearing.
Data chart represent the amount of deer that have annually been harvested in the state of Georgia.

Data chart represent the amount of deer that have annually been harvested in the state of Georgia.

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Deer are bigger, just in time for bow season

Christian Kirby II
Wednesday, September 6, 2023
Hunters who head into the woods for the start of bow season this weekend might notice a trend. While deer harvest totals have remained consistent the past few seasons, hunters have noticed that the size of deer are on the rise.
Home prices by Jay Reece

Home prices by Jay Reece

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Home prices continue to rise in county

Jay Reece
Wednesday, September 6, 2023
Home values increased by around 22 percent this year, according to a preliminary estimate by Oglethorpe County Tax Assessor Kem Caldwell.
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)

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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

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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)

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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.