Local News

Owen Bullard, who was named the chairman of the Oglethorpe County Chamber of Commerce in February, has made it a priority to reinvigorate the organization. (LANDEN TODD/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Owen Bullard, who was named the chairman of the Oglethorpe County Chamber of Commerce in February, has made it a priority to reinvigorate the organization. (LANDEN TODD/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

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He’s all business

Jesse Wood
Wednesday, June 7, 2023
Owen Bullard, the new chairman of the Oglethorpe County Chamber of Commerce, has several ideas to revamp the chamber, including establishing a women’s networking group.
Papa’s Pizza To Go, which was in the space on the corner, closed in May. Noah Shealy and Blake Arnold bought the building with plans to turn it into Crawford Pizza. (DINK NESMITH/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Papa’s Pizza To Go, which was in the space on the corner, closed in May. Noah Shealy and Blake Arnold bought the building with plans to turn it into Crawford Pizza. (DINK NESMITH/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

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Crawford Pizza in the works

Jesse Wood
Wednesday, June 7, 2023
Noah Shealy and Blake Arnold, two local realtors, are business partners in many endeavors, such as their newest one, Crawford Pizza.
Delbra Kendrick sings at An Old-Fashioned Fifth Sunday Gospel Sing at the Beth-Salem Presbyterian Church on Sunday. The event was part of the Lexington Downtown Development Authority's 2023 Concert Series, which is raising funds for a community center in the Macon Coil building. (GRAY JONES/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Delbra Kendrick sings at An Old-Fashioned Fifth Sunday Gospel Sing at the Beth-Salem Presbyterian Church on Sunday. The event was part of the Lexington Downtown Development Authority's 2023 Concert Series, which is raising funds for a community center in the Macon Coil building. (GRAY JONES/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

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Concert series a pathway to new community center

Sophie McLeod and Ramon Elortondo
Wednesday, June 7, 2023
From the food to the music to the audience, everything about the event was grassroots.    A crowd of 40 sat in front of plates of pulled pork and fries from 2nd Chance BBQ in the barn of Platt Brooks’ Estate on March 18 for a performance by the Barrow Creek Bluegrass Band.
This is a rendering of the front of the new Oglethorpe County Elementary School, which is projected to be finished in January 2025. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

This is a rendering of the front of the new Oglethorpe County Elementary School, which is projected to be finished in January 2025. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

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New school projected to cost $44-45 million

News Staff
Wednesday, June 7, 2023
Staff Report   The Oglethorpe County Board of Education has up to $49 million to spend on construction of the new elementary school, but school board chair Becky Soto expects the final cost to be about $44-45 million.

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Bramlett sentenced to 20 years probation

Avni Trivedi
Wednesday, June 7, 2023
Angel Bramlett, a former Oglethorpe County Probate Court clerk, received 20 years of probation — the first year on house arrest — after entering into a negotiated plea deal last week.
Chris Dickens, the chief of the Wesley Chapel Volunteer Fire Department, speaks to the Oglethorpe County Board of Commissioners on Monday. The commission approved his request for the department to be independent. (DINK NESMITH/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Chris Dickens, the chief of the Wesley Chapel Volunteer Fire Department, speaks to the Oglethorpe County Board of Commissioners on Monday. The commission approved his request for the department to be independent. (DINK NESMITH/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

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Wesley Chapel separates from Fire and Rescue

Garrett Kicklighter
Wednesday, June 7, 2023
The Oglethorpe County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the separation of Wesley Chapel Volunteer Fire Department from Oglethorpe County Fire and Rescue at Monday’s meeting.
Members of the OCHS senior class rejoice on the football field after graduating on Friday at Patriot Stadium. (LANDEN TODD/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Members of the OCHS senior class rejoice on the football field after graduating on Friday at Patriot Stadium. (LANDEN TODD/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

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OCHS Graduation

News Staff
Wednesday, May 31, 2023
Josh Lee (right), business development manager for Select Trees, takes OCHS teachers Emily Williams ( left) and Kaitlyn Marchant on a tour of the facility as part of an externship through WorkSource NEGA. (GARRETT KICKLIGHTER/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Josh Lee (right), business development manager for Select Trees, takes OCHS teachers Emily Williams ( left) and Kaitlyn Marchant on a tour of the facility as part of an externship through WorkSource NEGA. (GARRETT KICKLIGHTER/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

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OCHS teachers have learning opportunity at Select Trees

Garrett Kicklighter
Wednesday, May 31, 2023
Select Trees hosts two Oglethorpe County High School teachers this week as a part of an externship that places local educators with local industries to learn about overlooked career opportunities in their communities.
Eric Schmidt (center) stands with four students from his first year of teaching last week. All four (from left): Wanda Colquitt, Brenda McCormack, Schmidt, Tim Poole and Andrea Ash work with Oglethorpe County Schools. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

Eric Schmidt (center) stands with four students from his first year of teaching last week. All four (from left): Wanda Colquitt, Brenda McCormack, Schmidt, Tim Poole and Andrea Ash work with Oglethorpe County Schools. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

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Schmidt retires after 38 years of teaching

McCain Bracewell
Wednesday, May 31, 2023
When Eric Schmidt’s father-in-law asked him years ago when he was going to be promoted to administration, Schmidt responded that he loved teaching and the classroom and could never give it up.   When Schmidt hit the 30-year retirement mark, he said he still wasn’t ready to leave the classroom.