Local News

Also, only patients who have been seen in person by Oglethorpe Animal Clinic in the past year can make these appointments. (Graphic/Gianna Rodriguez)

Also, only patients who have been seen in person by Oglethorpe Animal Clinic in the past year can make these appointments. (Graphic/Gianna Rodriguez)

Telehealth offers pet owners affordability, convenience

Gianna Rodriguez
Wednesday, March 22, 2023
Zoom calls are not just for humans.    Telehealth appointments, introduced during the pandemic, also offer pets and their owners cheaper and quicker services at Oglethorpe Animal Clinic in Crawford. They are $10-25 cheaper than in-person, regular checkups for pets.
Donations fill tables at the eighth annual Bark & Wine fundraiser. The Madison Oglethorpe Animal Shelter's largest fundraiser of the year took place at the Historic Smithonia Farm March 11.

Donations fill tables at the eighth annual Bark & Wine fundraiser. The Madison Oglethorpe Animal Shelter's largest fundraiser of the year took place at the Historic Smithonia Farm March 11.

Animal shelter meets fundraising goal at Bark & Wine

Gianna Rodriguez
Wednesday, March 22, 2023
Donors, sponsors and local residents filled the venue at Madison Oglethorpe Animal Shelter’s eighth annual Bark & Wine, the shelter’s largest fundraiser of the year.
The Barrow Creek Bluegrass Band performed at the Platt-Brooks Estate Venue on Saturday, March 18th as a fundraising event for the Lexington GA Downtown Development Authority. The band played for hours, accepting requests from the audience and exploring genres. (Photo/Sophie McLeod)

The Barrow Creek Bluegrass Band performed at the Platt-Brooks Estate Venue on Saturday, March 18th as a fundraising event for the Lexington GA Downtown Development Authority. The band played for hours, accepting requests from the audience and exploring genres. (Photo/Sophie McLeod)

Sounds of bluegrass brighten Lexington

Sophie McLeod
Wednesday, March 22, 2023
Around 40 folks gathered under the soft lighting of the Platt Brooks Estate for a night of bluegrass music and barbeque on Saturday night.
JACK RHODES/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO

JACK RHODES/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO

House Bill 477 awaits hearing, but it could be ‘courtesy’

Jack Rhodes
Sunday, March 19, 2023
House Bill 477, which would regulate and provide more local control over the use of soil amendments, died recently in the House Natural Resources Committee.    However, a hearing for the bill is scheduled for the week of March 20, giving possible hope for its future.
The Oglethorpe County Library’s Tournament of Books is down to the Elite Eight, with the next winners being announced on Monday. The champ will be crowned on April 3. (Submitted Photo)

The Oglethorpe County Library’s Tournament of Books is down to the Elite Eight, with the next winners being announced on Monday. The champ will be crowned on April 3. (Submitted Photo)

Library creates March Madness of literature to encourage reading

Viktoria Kangas
Thursday, March 16, 2023
Test your competitive streak and book knowledge in the 2023 Tournament of Books at the Oglethorpe County Library.    By voting on the most read books of last year, the public gets the chance to guess what book they think will be on top.
Table members wrote their thoughts on a large paper that would be shared with the Oglethorpe County School Board and administration following the session. (Bella Guerrero/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Table members wrote their thoughts on a large paper that would be shared with the Oglethorpe County School Board and administration following the session. (Bella Guerrero/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Involvement, more rigor among session points

Bella Guerrero
Wednesday, March 15, 2023
The Oglethorpe County School System held a community listening session Monday to provide an opportunity for parents, teachers and community members to express thoughts and concerns to guide the school system's priorities in the coming years.
Shanna Reynolds holds the award for the 2022 "County Extension Agent of the Year" she received at the Georgia Cattlemen's Association conference in Columbus, Georgia on March 9, 2023. (Dink Nesmith/ The Oglethorpe Echo)

Shanna Reynolds holds the award for the 2022 "County Extension Agent of the Year" she received at the Georgia Cattlemen's Association conference in Columbus, Georgia on March 9, 2023. (Dink Nesmith/ The Oglethorpe Echo)

Reynolds selected top agent in Georgia

Alex Bavosa
Wednesday, March 15, 2023
Shanna Reynolds believes it is her beef program that led to her becoming the 2022 County Extension Agent of the Year.    “Oglethorpe’s Cattlemen’s Association is a really good opportunity for education for beef producers, but they only meet every other month,” Reynolds said.
Master gardener Lamara Martin examines a daffodil before handing them out to guests at the Seed Swap. Martin, who lives in Athens, was one of two master gardeners at the Seed Swap, which was held March 4 at No. 3 Railroad Street. (SHELBY WINGATE/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Master gardener Lamara Martin examines a daffodil before handing them out to guests at the Seed Swap. Martin, who lives in Athens, was one of two master gardeners at the Seed Swap, which was held March 4 at No. 3 Railroad Street. (SHELBY WINGATE/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Get growing

Shelby Wingate
Wednesday, March 15, 2023
Of all the seeds available at the Seed Swap, the Irish potatoes were the center of conversation.    With an early spring planting season, master gardener Lamara Martin took advantage of this growing interest, educating people on the benefits of homegrown produce.
Jessica Ellis (left), who works at the Oglethorpe County Library, and Emma Hernandez (right) chat while Hernandez builds the beginning stages of a treehouse. The library hosts the Lego Club once a month. (RAMON ELORTONDO/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Jessica Ellis (left), who works at the Oglethorpe County Library, and Emma Hernandez (right) chat while Hernandez builds the beginning stages of a treehouse. The library hosts the Lego Club once a month. (RAMON ELORTONDO/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Lego Club allows children to build, imagine at monthly meeting

Ramon Elortondo
Wednesday, March 15, 2023
Emma Hernandez, a young member of the Oglethorpe County Lego Club, carefully places a trap door Lego piece down on a bright green foundation square. She was in the beginning stages for what would eventually become a “big ol’ tree house.” “I love building secret rooms,” Hernandez said.