Local News

Cory Crayton and Great Gatsby, his American Akita, received an award of merit at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show last month. (Submitted Photo)

Cory Crayton and Great Gatsby, his American Akita, received an award of merit at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show last month. (Submitted Photo)

Lexington dog, breeder receive national recognition

Many dog owners believe their furry companion is the best dog in town. But Cory Crayton of Lexington has the awards to prove it.    Crayton’s Great Gatsby, which is an American Akita, received an award of merit at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show last month in Tarrytown, New York.
Oglethorpe County High School’s Keaton Gaines listens to an instructor during an archery class at the Natural Resources Conservation Workshop last month. (Submitted Photo)

Oglethorpe County High School’s Keaton Gaines listens to an instructor during an archery class at the Natural Resources Conservation Workshop last month. (Submitted Photo)

Students learn variety of skills at summer workshop

Whether it was learning to catch a fish or to safely shoot a shotgun, Oglethorpe County High School students Jaden Elder and Keaton Gaines learned many new outdoor skills at the Natural Resources Conservation Workshop in Tifton, Georgia.
Marcus Goolsby, Mary Ann Seagraves, Betsy Wheless and Frankie Brooks (Photos/Julia Walkup)

Marcus Goolsby, Mary Ann Seagraves, Betsy Wheless and Frankie Brooks (Photos/Julia Walkup)

Faces of Quiet Oaks

Residents of Quiet Oaks Health Care Center in Crawford spent time with former Oglethorpe Echo visual journalist Julia Walkup earlier this year.
Crawford’s Heather Stevens hands out watermelon while manning the Crawford Baptist Church’s table at the Fourth Annual Independence Day Celebration at Bryan Park on Monday. (Photo/Jack Casey)

Crawford’s Heather Stevens hands out watermelon while manning the Crawford Baptist Church’s table at the Fourth Annual Independence Day Celebration at Bryan Park on Monday. (Photo/Jack Casey)

Q&A: Sanders: Ready for new job

Howard Sanders won the District 1 runoff for the Oglethorpe County Commission last week. The 63-year-old poultry farmer and former county coroner has lived in Oglethorpe County most of his life and now resides in the Salem community. He’s married with four children and 10 grandchildren.
Fireworks explode in the night sky at Grove Chapel Church’s fireworks show on June 25. Sandy Cross Baptist Church will hold its third annual Independence Day celebration at 6 p.m. Saturday, July 2. (Photo/Morgan Quinn)

Fireworks explode in the night sky at Grove Chapel Church’s fireworks show on June 25. Sandy Cross Baptist Church will hold its third annual Independence Day celebration at 6 p.m. Saturday, July 2. (Photo/Morgan Quinn)

Food and fireworks

Picnics. Concerts. Fishing. Swimming. Grilling burgers and hot dogs. Water skiing. Golfing. Playing patriotic music.   And of course, plenty of fireworks.
Superintendent Beverley Levine (from left), Gamma Tau member Linda Banks, science instructional coach Jennifer Yauck, English-Language arts department head Elaine Kitchens and assistant superintendent Kanya Cornish celebrate the progress of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. (Submitted Photo)

Superintendent Beverley Levine (from left), Gamma Tau member Linda Banks, science instructional coach Jennifer Yauck, English-Language arts department head Elaine Kitchens and assistant superintendent Kanya Cornish celebrate the progress of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. (Submitted Photo)

Register with Imagination Library for free books

Jennifer Yauck's lifelong connection to Oglethorpe County inspired her to help give local children a head start on education.   Yauck teaches science at Oglethorpe County High School, where she graduated in 1997.

Motorcycle joins sheriff’s office, makes quick impact

The Oglethorpe County Sheriff’s Office’s new motorcycle helped make a traffic stop before it officially reported for duty.    Sheriff David Gabriel said he was driving the motorcycle back from being repainted and was behind a woman who was swerving into oncoming traffic.
Cafe Racer owner Chris Hart is expanding his restaurant to what will be a newly constructed building on West Broad Street in Athens. (Photo/Jack Casey)

Cafe Racer owner Chris Hart is expanding his restaurant to what will be a newly constructed building on West Broad Street in Athens. (Photo/Jack Casey)

Cafe Racer to open in Athens, but keep Crawford location

Cafe Racer is gearing up to open a location on West Broad Street in Athens by this fall. Four years of experimenting in its trailer facing Highway 78 in Crawford gave the cafe the opportunity to polish and form its identity before moving to a bigger, more established space.