Local News

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.
Community Day was a big draw in 2022, thanks to vendors, food trucks, bounce houses and free school supplies. This year’s event is planned for Saturday, Aug. 5. (JACK CASEY/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Community Day was a big draw in 2022, thanks to vendors, food trucks, bounce houses and free school supplies. This year’s event is planned for Saturday, Aug. 5. (JACK CASEY/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

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Emergency trucks, bookbag handouts among Community Day highlights

Jesse Wood
Wednesday, August 2, 2023
“Touch-a-Truck,” one of the main attractions of Community Day, allows kids — and adults — to interact with emergency vehicles and meet first responders.

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School’s back

News Staff
Wednesday, August 2, 2023
It’s that time of year again.    Oglethorpe County students head back to school next week, which means the roads will be busier in the mornings and afternoons while the buses are picking up and dropping off students.
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)

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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)

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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.