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Southern A&E architect Sara Honeycutt shows materials and decor examples to Superintendent Beverley Levine and Board of Education members at the meeting on Tuesday. Honeycutt explained the color choices and how they will be applied. (Photo/Viktoria Kangas)

Southern A&E architect Sara Honeycutt shows materials and decor examples to Superintendent Beverley Levine and Board of Education members at the meeting on Tuesday. Honeycutt explained the color choices and how they will be applied. (Photo/Viktoria Kangas)

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School construction to begin in June

Viktoria Kangas
Wednesday, February 8, 2023
Construction on Oglethorpe County’s new elementary school is scheduled to start in June.    Southern A&E, an architectural and engineering firm, presented the design and materials of the new school to Superintendent Beverley Levine and the Board of Education on Tuesday night.
A sign on South Broad Street in downtown Crawford states "NO THRU TRUCKS," but truckers sometime disregard the signs, which can lead to damaged roads throughout Oglethorpe County. (Photo/Sydney Bishop)

A sign on South Broad Street in downtown Crawford states "NO THRU TRUCKS," but truckers sometime disregard the signs, which can lead to damaged roads throughout Oglethorpe County. (Photo/Sydney Bishop)

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Trucks, county roads sometimes don’t mix

Sydney Bishop
Wednesday, February 8, 2023
The “No Thru Trucks” sign people encounter while driving through Oglethorpe County has been interpreted to mean trucks aren’t allowed on those roads, under any circumstances.  That’s not always the case.  Oglethorpe County Sheriff David Gabriel said there’s caveats.
Tamita Brown, who owns and runs Caribe United Farm in Crawford, said she likes to keep her egg prices low, but the cost of “organic feed has gone up tremendously,” so she might have to increase her prices. Basil Terhune/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO

Tamita Brown, who owns and runs Caribe United Farm in Crawford, said she likes to keep her egg prices low, but the cost of “organic feed has gone up tremendously,” so she might have to increase her prices. Basil Terhune/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO

Shelling out big bucks: Avian flu drives price spikes in eggs

Morgan Quinn
Wednesday, February 8, 2023
Howard and Cindy Abbey have been raising chickens since 2006 after purchasing 50 acres of land in Lexington. Cindy grew up on a farm, so she enjoys having animals around and the fresh eggs are a bonus.
(Graphic/ Gianna Rodriguez)

(Graphic/ Gianna Rodriguez)

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Mental health at focus of new Instagram page

Gianna Rodriguez
Wednesday, February 8, 2023
The most rewarding phrases that wellness counselors Tonia Willis and Mollie Cole hear at the end of one-on-one sessions with their students are “Thank you,” and “I feel proud of myself.”    Those simple words push them to find more ways to help their students.
The Lexington Downtown Development Authority has set a goal of $200,000 to turn the Macon Coil building into a community center. It had raised $25,000 as of Jan. 30.\(Photo/DeAnthony Moore)

The Lexington Downtown Development Authority has set a goal of $200,000 to turn the Macon Coil building into a community center. It had raised $25,000 as of Jan. 30.\(Photo/DeAnthony Moore)

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Macon Coil building to become community center

DeAnthony Moore
Wednesday, February 1, 2023
Lexington’s Macon Coil building is being transformed into a community center.   The warehouse at 303 E. Church St., was given to the Lexington Downtown Development Authority from Myles “Jerry” Titus.
(Submitted Photo) Gina Holloway, standing on top of an abandoned vehicle in the Green Zone in Baghdad in 2011, managed a sign shop in Iraq even though she didn’t speak Arabic.

(Submitted Photo) Gina Holloway, standing on top of an abandoned vehicle in the Green Zone in Baghdad in 2011, managed a sign shop in Iraq even though she didn’t speak Arabic.

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Signs of the times: Holloway puts skills to work

Alex Bavosa
Wednesday, February 1, 2023
Driving through Oglethorpe County, Gina Holloway’s work seems to be on every corner.    She’s responsible for the signage presented by Duncan’s Auto Shop, Shear Elegance, Strickland’s Produce, Lexington Antiques and even the “Welcome to Maxeys GA” sign.
Delbra Kendrick sings as fellow performers look on 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. (Photo/Gray Jones)

Delbra Kendrick sings as fellow performers look on 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. (Photo/Gray Jones)

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First concert of series features local singers

Gray Jones
Wednesday, February 1, 2023
Attendees swayed in their pews and sang along to a particularly powerful rendition of “Amazing Grace,” turning performer and audience into a single voice that flowed triumphantly throughout historic Beth-Salem Presbyterian Church’s great hall.
This image shows the participating counties in the Feral Swine District Initiative. The initiative was implemented to help reduce feral swine population through the state of Georgia. (Georgia Association of Conservation Districts/The Oglethorpe Echo)

This image shows the participating counties in the Feral Swine District Initiative. The initiative was implemented to help reduce feral swine population through the state of Georgia. (Georgia Association of Conservation Districts/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Be careful processing feral swine

Jack Rhodes
Wednesday, February 1, 2023
Deer season ended Jan. 8, causing some in Oglethorpe County to turn toward alternate sources of meat — like feral swine.    Nature’s Harvest Meat Co., which processed more than 3,000 deer this past season, has seen an uptick in demand for feral swine.
Assistant chief Cody Gibbs (left) gives a Firefighter of the Year award to Crawford assistant chief Ryan Martin at the Oglethorpe County Fire Rescue Banquet on Saturday. Martin also serves as a firefighter for Athens-Clarke County. (Submitted photo/Cody Gibbs)

Assistant chief Cody Gibbs (left) gives a Firefighter of the Year award to Crawford assistant chief Ryan Martin at the Oglethorpe County Fire Rescue Banquet on Saturday. Martin also serves as a firefighter for Athens-Clarke County. (Submitted photo/Cody Gibbs)

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First-responders recognized for service at annual banquet

Brooke Stewart
Wednesday, February 1, 2023
Assistant Chief Cody Gibbs knows first-hand that being a first-responder is difficult.   And in a year with more emergency calls than normal, Gibbs said emergency personnel are “spending time away from their families or spending time away from friends.