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Members of the Oglethorpe County Board of Education, representatives from Southern A&E and Parrish Construction Group, Superintendent Beverley Levine, Principal Katie Baldwin, and students throw dirt with their shovels. (LANDEN TODD/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Members of the Oglethorpe County Board of Education, representatives from Southern A&E and Parrish Construction Group, Superintendent Beverley Levine, Principal Katie Baldwin, and students throw dirt with their shovels. (LANDEN TODD/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

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Ceremonial start for new school

McCain Bracewell
Wednesday, May 31, 2023
Oglethorpe County Schools had more to celebrate than the last day of class on May 24.   The Board of Education, teachers, students, parents and elected officials gathered for the groundbreaking ceremony of the new K-5 elementary school.

BOE’s Cherry resigns

McCain Bracewell
Wednesday, May 31, 2023
Oglethorpe County District 1 Board of Education member Collin Cherry has resigned from his position, effective last week, to pursue the school system’s transportation director position.
Lexington’s Tom Thon has played a variety of roles in movies, TV and on the stage. He also has a photography business and sells photos at the Rowdy Rooster. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

Lexington’s Tom Thon has played a variety of roles in movies, TV and on the stage. He also has a photography business and sells photos at the Rowdy Rooster. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

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A role to play

Morgan Quinn
Wednesday, May 31, 2023
Tom Thon makes his way through Linda Parish’s backyard before settling into a wicker chair on the porch.    “People here become your friends instantly,” he said.

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Staff Report: Community Day set for Aug. 5

News Staff
Wednesday, May 24, 2023
The Oglethorpe County Com- munity Day and Family Movie Night has been set for Saturday, Aug. 5 at Bryan Park.   Community Day is scheduled for 6:30-8:30 p.m. and the fami- ly friendly movie night will start at sunset.   The event is free.

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Wilson’s new business focuses on rural land

Jesse Wood
Wednesday, May 24, 2023
Larry Willis and his family are avid deer hunters. He often leases deer hunting property to hunt on with his two sons and two grandchildren.   Last year, Willis decided it was time to purchase his own hunting property with the help of Phil Wilson, a realtor in Oglethorpe County.
Susie Johnson is retiring after eight years as the principal of Oglethorpe County High School, during which time the school’s graduation rate increased from a percentage in the mid-70s to 94.2%. (MCCAIN BRACEWELL/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Susie Johnson is retiring after eight years as the principal of Oglethorpe County High School, during which time the school’s graduation rate increased from a percentage in the mid-70s to 94.2%. (MCCAIN BRACEWELL/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

A fond farewell

McCain Bracewell
Wednesday, May 24, 2023
Susie Johnson has a trip planned to Costa Rica in June with church members and friends.    She wants to one day return to Paris, which she visited in 2019. In addition, she hopes to further explore her love for interior design and continue her work with her sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha.