Local News

Seven couples engage in an activity about maintaining strong connections in an Elevate class last month. Elevate is an eight-week program focused on reconnecting couples. (Gianna Rodriguez/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Seven couples engage in an activity about maintaining strong connections in an Elevate class last month. Elevate is an eight-week program focused on reconnecting couples. (Gianna Rodriguez/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Free relationship education program reconnects couples

Gianna Rodriguez and Shelby Wingate
Wednesday, April 12, 2023
Seven couples fill the small space that will be their classroom for the next hour and a half. Everyone is used to the routine: they sign in, grab dinner for the whole family and the couple then takes a seat at the large, square table while kids go to child care.
Ruth Wilson is pictured leading the 2022 Winterville Marigold Festival Parade. She is on her parade horse, "Major." (Photo/ Ruth Wilson)

Ruth Wilson is pictured leading the 2022 Winterville Marigold Festival Parade. She is on her parade horse, "Major." (Photo/ Ruth Wilson)

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Q&A: Wilson balances teaching, farming, battling sludge

Garrett Kicklighter
Wednesday, April 12, 2023
Lexington resident Ruth Wilson is an ES paraprofessional at Oglethorpe County Elementary School, where she teaches third through fifth grades. She also owns Echo Hill Farm on Duck Pond Road and is a voice against sludge dumping in the county.   Comments edited for length and clarity.
(Dink Nesmith/The Oglethorpe Echo) A stretch of sidewalk and parking along West Main Street in Lexington has been closed because the adjacent buildings have been determined to be unsafe.

(Dink Nesmith/The Oglethorpe Echo) A stretch of sidewalk and parking along West Main Street in Lexington has been closed because the adjacent buildings have been determined to be unsafe.

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Local News Roundup: Lexington sidewalk closed and more

News Staff
Thursday, April 6, 2023
Lexington officials have closed the sidewalk and on-street parking in front of a stretch of buildings along West Main Street.   Mayor Craig Snow said Tuesday that the city has determined the buildings along that portion of downtown Lexington are unsafe and could collapse.
James Wettstaed shows pictures of a Stephens County excavation site he worked on during his presentation at the Historic Oglethorpe County meeting on March 28. Volunteer excavations that spanned from 2014 to 2018 unearthed two distinct hearths, proving that one house had been there in the early 1500s, and another in the late 1500s. (Photo/Maddie Daniel)

James Wettstaed shows pictures of a Stephens County excavation site he worked on during his presentation at the Historic Oglethorpe County meeting on March 28. Volunteer excavations that spanned from 2014 to 2018 unearthed two distinct hearths, proving that one house had been there in the early 1500s, and another in the late 1500s. (Photo/Maddie Daniel)

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Archaeologist draws packed house

Maddie Daniel
Thursday, April 6, 2023
The meeting was standing-room only, with nearly 70 attendees gathered in the Oglethorpe County Library.    “I think we’re gonna have to expand the parking lot out there!” Historic Oglethorpe president Kathleen deMarrais joked.   The reason for the unprecedented turnout?
(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.

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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)

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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

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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)

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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

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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

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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.