Local News

A new pavilion stands by the Community Center in Brightwell Park in Maxeys. The project was funded by donations from the community. (Photo/Jessie Isaacs)

A new pavilion stands by the Community Center in Brightwell Park in Maxeys. The project was funded by donations from the community. (Photo/Jessie Isaacs)

Cities learn to stretch dollars to make most of limited funds

Jessie Isaacs
Wednesday, February 4, 2026
Oglethorpe County’s cities often operate on limited budgets, which officials say force them to be creative and make hard decisions about stretching available funds. “We mainly just try to keep things going, keep things moving,” said Kim Bradford, Lexington’s city clerk.
The Oglethorpe County Board of Education discuss the executive session on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2025. They unanimously agreed on renewing contracts while tabling two others. (Photo/Jasmine Milbourne)

The Oglethorpe County Board of Education discuss the executive session on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2025. They unanimously agreed on renewing contracts while tabling two others. (Photo/Jasmine Milbourne)

BOE searches for best method to sell primary school surplus

Jasmine Milbourne
Wednesday, February 4, 2026
The Oglethorpe County Board of Education struggled to come to a decision during its Tuesday meeting about whether to use a new government website to sell surplus items from the former primary school.
Ice covers South Point Peter Road in Sandy Cross earlier this week. Icy roads were the primary concerns caused by Winter Storm Fern in Oglethorpe County. (Submitted Photo)

Ice covers South Point Peter Road in Sandy Cross earlier this week. Icy roads were the primary concerns caused by Winter Storm Fern in Oglethorpe County. (Submitted Photo)

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County is relatively unscathed

Sarah Owens
Thursday, January 29, 2026
Oglethorpe County avoided the worst of this week’s winter storm, as ice accumulation and road conditions fell short of projections.
Arnoldsville Mayor Danny Morcom (right), shown with council members Joel Kriner (middle) and Blake Arnold, would like to create plaques to recognize each of the city’s previous mayors. (Luis Vaquero/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Arnoldsville Mayor Danny Morcom (right), shown with council members Joel Kriner (middle) and Blake Arnold, would like to create plaques to recognize each of the city’s previous mayors. (Luis Vaquero/The Oglethorpe Echo)

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City Roundup: Crawford continues with water plant upgrades

Ansley Gavlak
Thursday, January 29, 2026
Crawford is continuing upgrades to its water plant while ensuring the system remains in compliance with the correct number of operators.  Mayor Alan Erwin said a major focus has been making sure the equipment is functioning properly and maintained on a regular schedule.
Kristen Moore, a K-9 handler, dog trainer, owner of the Georgia K-9 Athens location and vice president of Central Georgia K-9 Search and Rescue, holds her Belgian Malinois named Carerra at Pittard Park in Winterville this fall. The pair work together in human remains detection and trailing exercises. (Gabrielle Gruszynski/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Kristen Moore, a K-9 handler, dog trainer, owner of the Georgia K-9 Athens location and vice president of Central Georgia K-9 Search and Rescue, holds her Belgian Malinois named Carerra at Pittard Park in Winterville this fall. The pair work together in human remains detection and trailing exercises. (Gabrielle Gruszynski/The Oglethorpe Echo)

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Paws on patrol: Dogs are integral part of police work

Gabrielle Gruszynski
Thursday, January 29, 2026
For the Oglethorpe County Sheriff’s Office, teamwork on patrol can take many forms. Sometimes, it’s an officer and their four-legged partner. The county’s one active K-9 team is a German shepherd named Roni handled by Sgt. AJ Wiles.
Jonathan Scott, Winterville’s cultural heritage director, holds a metal artifact earlier this month. The city plans a nearly year-long celebration of the country’s 250th anniversary. (Neva Drane/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Jonathan Scott, Winterville’s cultural heritage director, holds a metal artifact earlier this month. The city plans a nearly year-long celebration of the country’s 250th anniversary. (Neva Drane/The Oglethorpe Echo)

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From coal to commemoration

Neva Drane
Thursday, January 29, 2026
Several Winterville locals opted for coal in their stockings this Christmas. Only the pieces were around 200 years old, uncovered by Cultural Heritage director Jonathan Scott during his archaeological digs of the town.  They were packaged and sold for $3 by the Winterville Heritage Foundation.
Bar graph showing deer harvest numbers from 2024 and 2025

Bar graph showing deer harvest numbers from 2024 and 2025

Harvested deer numbers drop this season

Sydney Shankman
Thursday, January 29, 2026
Oglethorpe County wasn’t among the top counties in Georgia for total deer harvested for the first time in five years. Game warden Phillip Nelson has experienced 24 deer seasons in Oglethorpe County, but hasn’t seen a year quite like 2025.
Houston Gaines (left), a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives, chats with Vernon Jones, former state representative and candidate for Georgia Secretary of State, on Saturday. They took part in the GOP rally held at the Historic Crawford Depot. (Photo/Riley Baugh)

Houston Gaines (left), a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives, chats with Vernon Jones, former state representative and candidate for Georgia Secretary of State, on Saturday. They took part in the GOP rally held at the Historic Crawford Depot. (Photo/Riley Baugh)

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Republican rally brings candidates, voters together

Riley Baugh
Wednesday, January 28, 2026
More than 100 people cycled in and out of the Historic Crawford Depot on Saturday as Oglethorpe County hosted a multi-county Republican rally focused on voter engagement ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Mitchell McArthur, site manager at the RWE Timberland Solar facility, gives a presentation to first responders and county leaders at the Oglethorpe County Sheriff's Office on Jan. 21. RWE and emergency services are working to develop response plans.(Dakota Meeks/ Oglethorpe Echo)

Mitchell McArthur, site manager at the RWE Timberland Solar facility, gives a presentation to first responders and county leaders at the Oglethorpe County Sheriff's Office on Jan. 21. RWE and emergency services are working to develop response plans.(Dakota Meeks/ Oglethorpe Echo)

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First responders, leaders tour Timberland

Kira Doppel
Wednesday, January 28, 2026
In an effort to build trust, improve emergency preparedness and increase transparency, first responders and community leaders toured RWE Clean Energy’s Timberland Solar site on Jan.
The Governor's Honors Program nominees from Oglethorpe County High School include Maeve Haydock (from left), Riley Henderson, Eli Austin, Lilah Hall, Victor Ross and Kassie Mathews. Jeffrey Molina, Landon Howard and Bayleigh McElhannon are not pictured. (CHARLOTTE COCHRAN/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

The Governor's Honors Program nominees from Oglethorpe County High School include Maeve Haydock (from left), Riley Henderson, Eli Austin, Lilah Hall, Victor Ross and Kassie Mathews. Jeffrey Molina, Landon Howard and Bayleigh McElhannon are not pictured. (CHARLOTTE COCHRAN/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Nine OCHS students prepare for Governor’s Honors Program

Charlotte Cochran
Wednesday, January 28, 2026
Oglethorpe County High School nominated nine students in six areas of study for the Governor’s Honors Program this year.  For Jennifer Yauck, a science instructional coach and gifted coordinator at OCHS, the varied nomination areas sets this group apart from previous years.