Local News

The exterior of the Oglethorpe County Court House located on Lexington's Main Street. (Photo/Emily Garcia)

The exterior of the Oglethorpe County Court House located on Lexington's Main Street. (Photo/Emily Garcia)

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Courts chip away at case backlog

Emily Garcia
Thursday, September 22, 2022
Judge Jeffery S. Malcom likened the backlog of court cases in the Northern Judicial Circuit to an elephant that he and his fellow judges plan to eat one bite at a time.
Jacob Dake (Submitted Photo)

Jacob Dake (Submitted Photo)

OCHS senior in Macon hospital after accident

Aisha Schulz
Thursday, September 22, 2022
Friends and the community have rallied to support Jacob Dake and his family after the Oglethorpe County High School senior was severely injured in a traffic accident on Sept. 15.
Joe Conti, a retired Oglethorpe County High School biology teacher, oversaw the Environmental Awareness Club’s planting of the school’s Oglethorpe oak in 2005 (PHOTO/ERIN KENNEY)

Joe Conti, a retired Oglethorpe County High School biology teacher, oversaw the Environmental Awareness Club’s planting of the school’s Oglethorpe oak in 2005 (PHOTO/ERIN KENNEY)

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End of the Oglethorpe oak?

Erin Kenney
Wednesday, September 14, 2022
The ecological sun is setting on the Oglethorpe oak.
(KATIE TUCKER/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO) Commissioners Phil Sanders, left, and Will Brown, look over notes at the monthly commission meeting on Monday night.

(KATIE TUCKER/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO) Commissioners Phil Sanders, left, and Will Brown, look over notes at the monthly commission meeting on Monday night.

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Commission approves pay adjustments

ktucker
Wednesday, September 14, 2022
The Oglethorpe County Board of Commissioners voted to modify their earnings during their monthly meeting on Monday night. The change isn’t a direct increase in pay for the commissioners, but a fix for a compensation error.
Delbra Kendrick holds a weekly yard sale fundraiser at St. John AME Church in Crawford on Saturdays, one of her many commu- nity involvement efforts. (LILY BALDWIN/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Delbra Kendrick holds a weekly yard sale fundraiser at St. John AME Church in Crawford on Saturdays, one of her many commu- nity involvement efforts. (LILY BALDWIN/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Kendrick’s ‘War Room Show’ platform for praise

Lily Baldwin
Wednesday, September 14, 2022
Among the bad news and divisive political arguments on Facebook Live, local business owner and gospel recording artist Delbra Kendrick and her guests dance to gospel rock. Sending their thanks to God through song, the group starts every broadcast with an energetic five minutes of glee.
(PHOTO/OGLETHORPE ECHO)

(PHOTO/OGLETHORPE ECHO)

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EDA ends Paladin agreement, pivots to state funds

Jalen Beckford
Wednesday, September 14, 2022
The Oglethorpe County Economic Development Authority (EDA) voted last Tuesday to notify Paladin Wireless that it’s terminating the Performance and Accountability agreement with the service provider, according to county administrator Josh Hawkins.
(KENNEDY LEWIS/ THE OGLETHORPE ECHO) Fifth-grade students at Oglethorpe County Elementary School listen to Sgt. Samantha Mathe talk about internet safety as a part of the C.H.A.M.P.S. program.

(KENNEDY LEWIS/ THE OGLETHORPE ECHO) Fifth-grade students at Oglethorpe County Elementary School listen to Sgt. Samantha Mathe talk about internet safety as a part of the C.H.A.M.P.S. program.

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C.H.A.M.P.S. program finds success in class

Kennedy Lewis
Wednesday, September 14, 2022
Oglethorpe County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Samantha Mathe said students are even more engaged in the C.H.A.M.P.S. program this year, with its emphasis on smaller groups and more discussion about topics affecting youth.
(AISHA SCHULZ/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO) The first two duplexes were built by Patriot Construction at the Crawford Village development site in Crawford. Both duplexes are in the drywall stage and should be ready to rent by November.

(AISHA SCHULZ/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO) The first two duplexes were built by Patriot Construction at the Crawford Village development site in Crawford. Both duplexes are in the drywall stage and should be ready to rent by November.

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Crawford Village could see first residents in November

Aisha Schulz
Wednesday, September 14, 2022
With only demolition and ground clearing done on the Highway 78 side of the Crawford Village development site, progress might seem slow. However, six months after it first broke ground, Patriot Construction is nearly ready to put duplexes on the market.
(Andrea Gutierrez/The Oglethorpe Echo) Director Corie Robinson, left, plays a card game with Gary Armstrong, top, Roz Echols, right, and Gwen Kelley, bottom, at the Oglethorpe Senior Center last week. The center provides activities, meals and transportation for the county’s seniors.

(Andrea Gutierrez/The Oglethorpe Echo) Director Corie Robinson, left, plays a card game with Gary Armstrong, top, Roz Echols, right, and Gwen Kelley, bottom, at the Oglethorpe Senior Center last week. The center provides activities, meals and transportation for the county’s seniors.

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An essential service

Andrea Gutierrez
Friday, September 9, 2022
About six months ago, Dee Pelewski stepped down as the director of the Oglethorpe County Senior Center to serve the county’s senior citizen population more directly.    Her hands-on approach is mirrored by her successor Corie Robinson, who has lived in Oglethorpe County for 12 years.