Local News

Law enforcement officers surround Taran Allen, who was taken to a local hospital after a high-speed chase ended with him crashing in a Lexington yard. (Photo/Tom Thon)

Law enforcement officers surround Taran Allen, who was taken to a local hospital after a high-speed chase ended with him crashing in a Lexington yard. (Photo/Tom Thon)

High-speed chase ends in Oglethorpe County

Caitlin Farmer
Thursday, August 11, 2022
A high-speed chase through two counties ended when a car driven by an Elbert County resident flipped several times and crashed in a front yard in Lexington on Aug. 3.
Bryan Park is filled with families and others who took part in Community Day on Saturday. (Photo/Jack Casey)

Bryan Park is filled with families and others who took part in Community Day on Saturday. (Photo/Jack Casey)

Numbers up as folks participate in Community Day

Kate Hoffman
Thursday, August 11, 2022
Laughter and the sounds of kids playing could be heard above the live praise music being performed in the center of Bryan Park on Saturday as Oglethorpe County residents kicked off the start of a new school year with the annual Community Day Festival.
Sandra Wheeler, the bookkeeper and registrar at Oglethorpe County Primary School, hugs a student as children head back to school on Tuesday. (Photo/Jack Casey)

Sandra Wheeler, the bookkeeper and registrar at Oglethorpe County Primary School, hugs a student as children head back to school on Tuesday. (Photo/Jack Casey)

Back to class

Sarah Evans
Thursday, August 11, 2022
Many parents and caretakers felt a mix of nervousness and excitement this week as they sent their children to experience the first day of school on Monday.
Ted Hughes looks at the part of his land where a meteorite was thought to have crashed into the earth in the 1940s. The meteorite has been at the Field Museum in Chicago since the 1940s. (Photo/Jack Casey)

Ted Hughes looks at the part of his land where a meteorite was thought to have crashed into the earth in the 1940s. The meteorite has been at the Field Museum in Chicago since the 1940s. (Photo/Jack Casey)

Smithonia meteorite has history

Morgan Quinn
Thursday, August 11, 2022
(Submitted Photo) There’s a rare spectacle in Ted and Patsy Hughes’ backyard.    A scenic drive down Smithonia Road leads to a quaint house with geometric-shaped gardens pointing south to a 600-foot wide grassy depression where a meteorite was found in 1940.
Sweet Cheek Farm in Carlton has taken in llamas, alpacas and a variety of other animals since 2010. (Photo/Jack Casey)

Sweet Cheek Farm in Carlton has taken in llamas, alpacas and a variety of other animals since 2010. (Photo/Jack Casey)

Plenty of love to go around at Sweet Cheek Farm

Morgan Quinn
Thursday, August 11, 2022
Carrie and Mike Russell of Sweet Cheek Farm in Carlton have taken in llamas, alpacas and a variety of other animals since 2010. The two work through the Southeast Llama Rescue to adopt, foster and care for animals who need medical attention before being adopted by nearby farms.

BOE presents lower millage rate; vote set for Aug. 29

Sarah Evans
Thursday, August 4, 2022
The Board of Education presented a millage rate at 16.65, marking a 1.75-mill rollback from the 2022 rate and submitted a five-year property tax digest during its meeting on Tuesday.   The board will vote to approve a final millage rate at a called BOE meeting at 7:30 a.m. Aug. 29.

News Roundup: One dead in two-car accident

News Staff
Thursday, August 4, 2022
One person was killed in a two-car accident that occurred near Mile Marker 18 on Highway 22 around 7:15 a.m. Monday, Georgia State Patrol Cpl. Neil Franklin said.   The crash involved a Jeep Gladiator and a white work truck, Oglethorpe County Sheriff David Gabriel said.

Community Day more than just fun, games

Kate Hoffman
Thursday, August 4, 2022
Oglethorpe County schools received enough COVID-19 government funding last year to cover the cost of school supplies for public school students. In response, the Oglethorpe Community Day Committee decided to use the money it raised to provide approximately 300 students with free backpacks.
Alan Johnson, pictured, and his wife, Cindy, have lived in the Smithonia community for almost 30 years. When the new rumble strips were installed, he bought a decibel meter to measure the noise. (Photo/Dink NeSmith)

Alan Johnson, pictured, and his wife, Cindy, have lived in the Smithonia community for almost 30 years. When the new rumble strips were installed, he bought a decibel meter to measure the noise. (Photo/Dink NeSmith)

Rumble strips live up to their name

Wade Cheek
Thursday, August 4, 2022
Read more: Mistake leads to more rumble strip issues   Residents who live on and near Beaverdam Road have voiced their complaints to the Oglethorpe County Board of Commissioners due to rumble strips causing loud and disruptive noise at the intersection of Beaverdam and Crawford Smithonia Road.
Oglethorpe County Elementary School teachers Jan Kimbrell-Lee, from left, an EIP teacher, Courtney Wheless and Katie Bailey, who both teach fifth grade, show their school pride with matching OCES T-shirts. (Photo/Jack Casey)

Oglethorpe County Elementary School teachers Jan Kimbrell-Lee, from left, an EIP teacher, Courtney Wheless and Katie Bailey, who both teach fifth grade, show their school pride with matching OCES T-shirts. (Photo/Jack Casey)

Summer vacation nears end

Sarah Evans
Thursday, August 4, 2022
Macie Carter said she plans to provide an enriched educational experience for her Oglethorpe County Elementary School students this year.   “Last year — our team — we kind of revamped our English language arts curriculum,” Carter said.