Local News

(DINK NESMITH/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO) Brian Angel speaks against a rezoning request to build new poultry houses on Bethesda Church Road. The Board of Commissioners unanimously denied the request in Monday’s meeting.

(DINK NESMITH/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO) Brian Angel speaks against a rezoning request to build new poultry houses on Bethesda Church Road. The Board of Commissioners unanimously denied the request in Monday’s meeting.

BOC votes against Bethesda Church Road rezone

Wade Cheek
Thursday, April 6, 2023
The Oglethorpe County Board of Commissioners unanimously denied a rezone request from Robert Strother at Monday’s meeting. The request, which was tabled at the March meeting, was for the construction of eight poultry houses on Bethesda Church Road off Highway 78.
Lena Smith Wise is pictured in her book, “The Story of Oglethorpe County.” Wise began her teaching career at Crawford High School and was later principal of Oglethorpe County Elementary School, spending most of her 42 years in education serving Oglethorpe County. (Photo/Scott Thaxton)

Lena Smith Wise is pictured in her book, “The Story of Oglethorpe County.” Wise began her teaching career at Crawford High School and was later principal of Oglethorpe County Elementary School, spending most of her 42 years in education serving Oglethorpe County. (Photo/Scott Thaxton)

The county’s storyteller: How Lena Wise became central to history

Maddie Daniel
Thursday, April 6, 2023
The Lena Wise Community Center in Crawford, which celebrates its sixth anniversary this year, offers free high school equivalency classes as preparation for the GED.    Vicki Ussery teaches these classes, but her connection to the namesake of the community center doesn’t end there.
Bella Guerrero/The Oglethorpe Echo

Bella Guerrero/The Oglethorpe Echo

County continues search for bus drivers, monitors

Bella Guerrero
Wednesday, April 5, 2023
The Oglethorpe County School System’s bus driver shortage continues.     Olivet James-Robinson, who became the acting director of transportation when Phillip Todd recently retired, said there are 23 full-time bus drivers, two substitute drivers and one maintenance driver who fills in as needed.
Recent graduates of the Leadership Oglethorpe program include: Dylan Minthorn, Ashby Booth, Lyla Casper, Maggie Barnes, Leanna Newton, Amarion Alexander, Brodie Layne, Pricila Salas Lopez, Jeffrey Molina, Ava Nimmons, Ashlin Warren, Venus LaParr, Za'Rekyi Walker, Jack Baldwin, Margarita Rodriguez-Valdez, Gloria Hgay, Diego Meza Treto, Jackson Turbeville and Carter Autry (Heli Patel wasn’t in attendance). (Photo/Viktoria Kangas)

Recent graduates of the Leadership Oglethorpe program include: Dylan Minthorn, Ashby Booth, Lyla Casper, Maggie Barnes, Leanna Newton, Amarion Alexander, Brodie Layne, Pricila Salas Lopez, Jeffrey Molina, Ava Nimmons, Ashlin Warren, Venus LaParr, Za'Rekyi Walker, Jack Baldwin, Margarita Rodriguez-Valdez, Gloria Hgay, Diego Meza Treto, Jackson Turbeville and Carter Autry (Heli Patel wasn’t in attendance). (Photo/Viktoria Kangas)

Second group graduates from leadership program

Viktoria Kangas
Wednesday, April 5, 2023
Twenty students from Oglethorpe County Middle School walked one by one through the tall glass door, only to emerge from the same door hours later as official leaders of the community.
Hiroya Tsukamoto sings an original song during his concert at No. 3 Railroad Street last Friday. Tsukamoto told stories about his life between songs, adding a level of soulfulness and intimacy to the performance. SOPHIE MCLEOD/OGLETHORPE ECHO

Hiroya Tsukamoto sings an original song during his concert at No. 3 Railroad Street last Friday. Tsukamoto told stories about his life between songs, adding a level of soulfulness and intimacy to the performance. SOPHIE MCLEOD/OGLETHORPE ECHO

Concert transports audience to tranquility

Sophie McLeod
Wednesday, April 5, 2023
As golden-hour light bled through the front door of No. 3 Railroad Street late Friday afternoon, owner Mary Nouri and friends hurried to put the finishing touches on the refreshment table. Hiroya Tsukamoto tuned his guitar in preparation for the intimate concert.
The Oglethorpe Echo

The Oglethorpe Echo

Schools, business help feed the hungry

News Staff
Sunday, April 2, 2023
The Oglethorpe County School System and Nature's Harvest have teamed to provide free meat to families in need.    Superintendent Beverly Levine said the cooperative campaign started at the outset of COVID-19.
Cyclists participating in the Ticket to Ride fundraiser approach the first stop on the Firefly Trail in Winterville. Firefly Trail Inc. uses the annual event to raise money to complete the 39-mile path from Athens to Union Point. (Photo/Gray Jones)

Cyclists participating in the Ticket to Ride fundraiser approach the first stop on the Firefly Trail in Winterville. Firefly Trail Inc. uses the annual event to raise money to complete the 39-mile path from Athens to Union Point. (Photo/Gray Jones)

Annual Firefly Trail fundraiser brings in $15,000

Gray Jones
Thursday, March 30, 2023
  Specks of color appeared over the horizon as the jackets of the first wave of cyclists inched closer to a stop on the trail in Winterville. Bicycle tires cut through puddles left by the storm that delayed the event’s start time by an hour, unimpeded by Saturday’s gloomy weather.
SUBMITTED PHOTO Large corral-style traps have been identified as the most effective tool to manage the population of feral swine in Oglethorpe County, as opposed to other methods of shooting and hunting the animals.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Large corral-style traps have been identified as the most effective tool to manage the population of feral swine in Oglethorpe County, as opposed to other methods of shooting and hunting the animals.

Experts: Trap, don’t shoot, feral swine

Morgan Quinn and Jack Rhodes
Thursday, March 30, 2023
Kendall Strickland has known about feral swine since 2015. Yet, it wasn’t until connecting with local communities through his business in Lexington, Strickland Pride Produce, that he understood their devastating effect on local farmers and landowners.
Jacob Dake, right, and mother Rhonda Pilgrim are returning to a new normal after Dake's motorcycle accident in October. EMILY DOZIER/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO

Jacob Dake, right, and mother Rhonda Pilgrim are returning to a new normal after Dake's motorcycle accident in October. EMILY DOZIER/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO

Back On His Feet

Ryland Goede
Thursday, March 30, 2023
Jacob Dake is grateful for support from the community after an accident last fall changed his life.    “I’m just glad I can be a part of a community like this,” he said.   Last Sept.