Local News

Caleb Epps, a new member of the Oglethorpe County Bee Club, listens to guest speaker Annette Kleiser explain a new honeybee vaccine. Epps, who has two hives, joined the club to gain knowledge and share ideas with other members. (Photo/Olivia Shapiro)

Caleb Epps, a new member of the Oglethorpe County Bee Club, listens to guest speaker Annette Kleiser explain a new honeybee vaccine. Epps, who has two hives, joined the club to gain knowledge and share ideas with other members. (Photo/Olivia Shapiro)

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Oglethorpe County Bee Club aims to educate, expand

Olivia Shapiro and Molly Linder
Wednesday, March 8, 2023
Veteran beekeepers and folks just starting in the beekeeping world are coming to Oglethorpe County Bee Club meetings to gain more knowledge.    Crawford’s Caleb Epps, a new member, has two bee hives, but joined to learn from others.
Commissioners Howard Sanders (from left), Will Brown and Tracy Norman discuss adding Hugh Culbreth Road to the truck traffic ordinance during Monday’s commission meeting. (Garrett Kicklighter/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Commissioners Howard Sanders (from left), Will Brown and Tracy Norman discuss adding Hugh Culbreth Road to the truck traffic ordinance during Monday’s commission meeting. (Garrett Kicklighter/The Oglethorpe Echo)

No new solar farms for now

Garrett Kicklighter
Wednesday, March 8, 2023
The Oglethorpe County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a six-month moratorium on solar projects during its monthly meeting on Monday.

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Person dies in two-vehicle accident on 78

DeAnthony Moore
Tuesday, March 7, 2023
One person is dead after a two-vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 78, just west of Crawford on Monday afternoon.  Emergency personnel responded to the accident at approximately 2:30 p.m. near Greater Georgia Printers. The victim has been identified, but the family hasn't been notified.
MORGAN QUINN/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO John Fortuna, a retired graphic designer, enjoys peace and quiet in his dome home off Crawfordville Road in Lexington. It’s the second one he’s built. The first one was in Orlando, Florida, in the 1970s.

MORGAN QUINN/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO John Fortuna, a retired graphic designer, enjoys peace and quiet in his dome home off Crawfordville Road in Lexington. It’s the second one he’s built. The first one was in Orlando, Florida, in the 1970s.

Home sweet Dome

Morgan Quinn
Thursday, March 2, 2023
WATCH: Tour John Fortuna's Geodesic Dome House in Lexington   Camouflaged down a dirt path off Crawfordville Road are three dome-shaped structures around an acre-wide pond.    One holds three chickens named Pancake, Sausage and Bacon. Another shelters two peacocks.
Mayor Warren Gilson

Mayor Warren Gilson

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Maxeys’ radiation filters to be replaced

DeAnthony Moore
Wednesday, March 1, 2023
Maxeys will have the radiation filters on their existing well replaced after the city council voted unanimously to approve a contract on Feb.14. The initial payment has been made and the contract totaled $29,817.50.  The radiation filters will be used to remove radiation from the water.
OCHS teacher Elaine Kitchens guides her ESOL students through their common literature questions. ESOL students make up 4% of the district’s student body. (Photo/Viktoria Kangas)

OCHS teacher Elaine Kitchens guides her ESOL students through their common literature questions. ESOL students make up 4% of the district’s student body. (Photo/Viktoria Kangas)

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Multilingual students equip themselves with ESOL program

Viktoria Kangas
Wednesday, March 1, 2023
Students' eyes are drawn to the board. They listen, internalize and interpret the lesson there — both in the language they hear and language they know fluently.
Tobacco offered by Community Cigar in downtown Lexington. (Photo/Alex Bavosa)

Tobacco offered by Community Cigar in downtown Lexington. (Photo/Alex Bavosa)

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Cigar lovers find community at Lexington shop

Alex Bavosa
Wednesday, March 1, 2023
Glynn Segars, president of Community Cigar and director of sales and marketing at Big Country Cigar Brokers, decided to start hosting events on the first Friday of every month to bring folks into his store and to build a community that shares the same simple passion — cigars.
Kathleen deMarrais (left) and Alice H. Hughes (right) moments after Hughes received an award from Historic Oglethorpe County. (RAMON ELORTONDO/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Kathleen deMarrais (left) and Alice H. Hughes (right) moments after Hughes received an award from Historic Oglethorpe County. (RAMON ELORTONDO/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

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Hughes honored for efforts to preserve history

Ramon Elortondo
Wednesday, March 1, 2023
Alice H. Hughes spent time serving the Georgia Historic Markers program. She contributed to three of the 10 historic markers in Oglethorpe County and has been a meticulous recorder of history and dedicated genealogist.
(Map/Gianna Rodriguez)

(Map/Gianna Rodriguez)

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Greater Athens Physicians looks to add staff by June

Gianna Rodriguez
Wednesday, March 1, 2023
Greater Athens Physicians is in the process of hiring medical professionals to start in June at its Oglethorpe County office at 774 Athens Road.    The hiring of at least two nurse practitioners this summer will allow Dr.
JACK RHODES/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO

JACK RHODES/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO

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HB 477 would assist counties in sludge battle

Jack Rhodes
Wednesday, March 1, 2023
  County leaders throughout Northeast Georgia, like those in Oglethorpe, are concerned about the lack of regulation for soil amendments and have pushed for more local control.