Local News

The Classic City Band performs at a Memorial Day concert in Jefferson. CCB is the oldest continuously performing community band in Georgia. (Submitted Photo)

The Classic City Band performs at a Memorial Day concert in Jefferson. CCB is the oldest continuously performing community band in Georgia. (Submitted Photo)

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OCHS grad spreads music, inspiration to Athens area

Shannon Moran
Friday, April 22, 2022
Michael Brewer joined the Classic City Band, the oldest continuously functioning community band in Georgia, as a trombone player in 1984. Nearly three decades later, Brewer returned to CCB as a conductor, and has been performing for communities across Northeast Georgia ever since.
Oglethorpe County seniors gather at Oglethorpe County Senior Center for an Easter celebration. The celebration consisted of a singalong, a potluck lunch, Easter egg decorations, prizes and an egg hunt. (Darden Hearn/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Oglethorpe County seniors gather at Oglethorpe County Senior Center for an Easter celebration. The celebration consisted of a singalong, a potluck lunch, Easter egg decorations, prizes and an egg hunt. (Darden Hearn/The Oglethorpe Echo)

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Seniors find sense of community at center

Darden Hearn
Friday, April 22, 2022
The Oglethorpe Senior Center was buzzing during the Easter celebration, but the real excitement began when the outdoor egg hunt commenced.    More than 40 folks shuffled outside in search of colorful eggs scattered around the property.
A $4,000 grant helped restore the stained glass windows in Beth Salem Presbyterian Church in downtown Lexington. (File/The Oglethorpe Echo)

A $4,000 grant helped restore the stained glass windows in Beth Salem Presbyterian Church in downtown Lexington. (File/The Oglethorpe Echo)

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Lexington church receives $4,000 grant

Sydney Fordice
Friday, April 22, 2022
Lexington’s Historic Preservation Commission was recently awarded a $4,000 Callahan Incentive Grant from the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation, which reimburses the city for restoring about half of the windows at Beth Salem Presbyterian Church several months ago.
Taylor Eidson is 19, but has been a 911 dispatcher for six months. (Submitted Photo)

Taylor Eidson is 19, but has been a 911 dispatcher for six months. (Submitted Photo)

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County’s 911 dispatchers are close-knit group

Eloise McNair
Friday, April 22, 2022
Angela Jackson knows the importance of providing mental health resources to 911 dispatchers.    Jackson has been the assistant 911 director at the Oglethorpe County Sheriff’s Office for two years, and worked as a dispatcher many previous years.
Nikki Hughes, founder of Camp Critter Wildlife Rescue, receives a visit from Persephone the Possum. Persephone was a non-release case and now is the ambassador possum at Chattahoochee Nature Center in Roswell. (Submitted Photo)

Nikki Hughes, founder of Camp Critter Wildlife Rescue, receives a visit from Persephone the Possum. Persephone was a non-release case and now is the ambassador possum at Chattahoochee Nature Center in Roswell. (Submitted Photo)

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Not so tiny challenges

Elena Westbury
Friday, April 22, 2022
Camp Critter Wildlife Rescue is the only licensed wildlife rehabilitation center in Oglethorpe County.    Nikki Hughes, former veterinary technician, runs the rescue center with her husband, Marc Hughes, on 300 acres of wooded property in Crawford.
Liset Cruz/The Oglethorpe Echo

Liset Cruz/The Oglethorpe Echo

County to resurface, restripe roads

Liset Cruz
Thursday, April 21, 2022
Oglethorpe County is preparing to resurface five county roads and restripe three roads, starting next week.   Sections of roads to be resurfaced: 3.9 miles of Centerville Road, from Wesley Chapel Road to Wilkes County line (Dry Fork Creek) 2.8 miles of Dunlap Road 1.
Watson Mill State Park features Georgia’s longest covered bridge, which was built in 1885 and ex- tends 229 feet. (MACKENZIE TANNER/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Watson Mill State Park features Georgia’s longest covered bridge, which was built in 1885 and ex- tends 229 feet. (MACKENZIE TANNER/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

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Rangers have many duties in parks

Mackenzie Tanner
Friday, April 15, 2022
“Have you always wanted to be a park ranger?”   This question was posed to Oglethorpe County and surrounding counties in a Facebook post when Watson Mill Bridge State Park posted a hiring ad a few weeks ago for a park ranger position.