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Oglethorpe Board of Education members (from left) Guillermo Camacho, Tim Poole, Beverley Levine and Becky Soto discuss the approval of the new rate. The board voted 5-0 to approve the rate, while Susan Robinson had a planned absence. (Photo/Caleb Baldwin)

Oglethorpe Board of Education members (from left) Guillermo Camacho, Tim Poole, Beverley Levine and Becky Soto discuss the approval of the new rate. The board voted 5-0 to approve the rate, while Susan Robinson had a planned absence. (Photo/Caleb Baldwin)

After hearings, BOE goes with lower rate

Caleb Baldwin
Thursday, September 21, 2023
The Oglethorpe County Board of Education approved a lower millage rate of 15.824 for the 2024 fiscal year.    This is a 0.826-mill decrease from 16.650 in 2023.
Angela Jackson has served as assistant E911 Director since 2019. She will be promoted to lead E911 Director on September 25th. Evan Smoak/The Oglethorpe Echo.

Angela Jackson has served as assistant E911 Director since 2019. She will be promoted to lead E911 Director on September 25th. Evan Smoak/The Oglethorpe Echo.

Angela Jackson named new E911 director

Evan Smoak
Wednesday, September 20, 2023
James “Junior” Jackson will step down from his position as the E911 director of Oglethorpe County on Sept. 23. However, the role will stay in the Jackson family.   His wife, Angela, who has served as the assistant E911 director since 2019, will take over the position two days later.
The Oglethorpe Echo

The Oglethorpe Echo

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Diaper drive held to help diaper bank

News Staff
Monday, September 18, 2023
Oglethorpe County Family Connection will hold a diaper drive from Sept. 18-25 to support the Athens Area Diaper Bank, which supplies Oglethorpe County with approximately $10,000 worth of diapers per year.
The Oglethorpe Echo

The Oglethorpe Echo

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Events fill month in Lexington

News Staff
Monday, September 18, 2023
Lexington will host several events this month. They include: Elvis tribute artist EJ Boyer in concert at the American Legion at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16. Admission is $15 and the kitchen opens at 6:30 p.m.  LexFest in downtown Lexington from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23.
Front of Lexington Smokehouse, which is scheduled to open later this year, on Athens Road. (Submitted Photo/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Front of Lexington Smokehouse, which is scheduled to open later this year, on Athens Road. (Submitted Photo/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Lexington Smokehouse set to open in November

Meadow Barrow
Thursday, September 14, 2023
Oglethorpe County residents can anticipate the opening of a smokehouse in the coming months.   The Lexington Smokehouse will hold its grand opening at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 26, according to its website (lexsmokehouse.com).   “I've always enjoyed cooking and whatnot,” owner Paul Mazzone said.
Oglethorpe County commission Chair Jay Paul discussed the sludge issue at a panel in Elberton last week that also included a viewing of a documentary titled “Georgia’s Dirty Little Secret.” Photo/Dink Nesmith

Oglethorpe County commission Chair Jay Paul discussed the sludge issue at a panel in Elberton last week that also included a viewing of a documentary titled “Georgia’s Dirty Little Secret.” Photo/Dink Nesmith

Q&A: Paul joins sludge panel, shares updates on issue

John James
Thursday, September 14, 2023
Jay Paul, the chair of Oglethorpe County’s Board of Commissioners, participated in a soil amendment panel discussion in Elberton on Sept. 5 that included a showing of a documentary “Georgia's Dirty Little Secret” by the Rural Georgia Protection Alliance.
DINK NESMITH/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO Craig Livingston, a senior development manager with Leeward Renewable Energy, attempts to persuade the Board of Commissioners to postpone its vote on the revised solar farm ordinance. The ordinance passed 5-0.

DINK NESMITH/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO Craig Livingston, a senior development manager with Leeward Renewable Energy, attempts to persuade the Board of Commissioners to postpone its vote on the revised solar farm ordinance. The ordinance passed 5-0.

Solar farm ordinance approved

Caitlin Downing
Thursday, September 14, 2023
Solar farm companies may now think twice before moving to Oglethorpe County.   In addition, current solar projects need to adjust their operations after the Board of Commissioners unanimously accepted an amendment to the Zoning Ordinance of Solar Energy Systems at its monthly meeting on Monday.
Blinky, a Labrador retriever mix, stands in its pen at the Madison Oglethorpe Animal Shelter earlier this week. MOAS is already at capacity despite coming off a month in which 171 animals were adopted. (Sidney Chansamone/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Blinky, a Labrador retriever mix, stands in its pen at the Madison Oglethorpe Animal Shelter earlier this week. MOAS is already at capacity despite coming off a month in which 171 animals were adopted. (Sidney Chansamone/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Free pet adoptions skyrocket at MOAS

Caleb Rollins and Sidney Chansamone
Thursday, September 14, 2023
There were 171 pets adopted during the Madison Oglethorpe Animal Shelter’s month-long free adoption event that wrapped up on Sept. 8, an increase from 87 adoptions the previous month.   “The event was a great success, and many lives were saved,” MOAS Director Erica Hendrix said.
(EMILY LUPO/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

(EMILY LUPO/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Overdoses on track to surpass 2022 total

Emily Lupo
Wednesday, September 13, 2023
Oglethorpe County Emergency Medical Services is responding to a rise in overdoses, an issue county officials say can impact anyone.    There were three recorded overdoses and two deaths last week alone.    “It's becoming more and more prevalent,” EMS Director Jason Lewis said.
The data chart represents the percentage of third to eighth grade Oglethorpe County students scoring "proficient learner" or higher on Milestones tests, averaged across grade levels and subjects.

The data chart represents the percentage of third to eighth grade Oglethorpe County students scoring "proficient learner" or higher on Milestones tests, averaged across grade levels and subjects.

Schools look to bring Milestones scores back to pre-pandemic levels

Cassidy Hettesheimer
Wednesday, September 13, 2023
Three years after the start of the pandemic, Oglethorpe County students’ test scores remain below pre-pandemic levels on the Georgia Milestones.    “Prior to COVID, we were ahead of the state,” Superintendent Beverley Levine said. “Since then, we’re now sort of, as you say, on par with the state.