Local News

Patrick Burgess, who is from Sandy Cross, and his wife Shantisa lead worship on a recent Sunday at Mount Olive Baptist Church. (Shannon Moran/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Patrick Burgess, who is from Sandy Cross, and his wife Shantisa lead worship on a recent Sunday at Mount Olive Baptist Church. (Shannon Moran/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Mount Olive’s new senior pastor out to serve, energize community

Shannon Moran
Wednesday, January 26, 2022
  Click here to listen to the people and sounds of Mount Olive.   Music filled Mount Olive Baptist Church as the congregation welcomed its newest senior pastor, Clarence “Patrick” Burgess.    Parishioners clapped their hands and stomped their feet among sturdy oak pews.
Volunteers with Paws UnChained work together to install a chain-link fence enclosure for a family that needed assistance with a secure area for their dog. The organization’s services are free to those who need them and qualify. (Submitted Photo)

Volunteers with Paws UnChained work together to install a chain-link fence enclosure for a family that needed assistance with a secure area for their dog. The organization’s services are free to those who need them and qualify. (Submitted Photo)

Paws UnChained offers assistance, education to county's dog owners

Julianna Duennes Russ
Thursday, January 20, 2022
When his uncle died, Jacob Queen inherited the two pitbull mixes left behind. While Queen loved Harley and Smokey, he worried they would have to be taken to a shelter or adopted.
Georgia coach Kirby Smart, son, Andrew, and the Smart family, help fire up the thousands of UGA fans who packed the parade route on Saturday. (Photo/Julianna Russ)

Georgia coach Kirby Smart, son, Andrew, and the Smart family, help fire up the thousands of UGA fans who packed the parade route on Saturday. (Photo/Julianna Russ)

UGA celebration a 'once-in-a-lifetime opportunity'

Julianna Duennes Russ
Thursday, January 20, 2022
Oglethorpe County residents made their presence known as they participated in Georgia’s national championship victory parade and celebrated with almost 100,000 of their fellow fans in Sanford Stadium on Saturday.   “It was crowded.
Ashby Booth (from left), James Beach-Colton, Ledger Coley and Kayden Watkins, members of the Oglethorpe County Middle School academic bowl team, practice for the state championship, which is scheduled for Saturday. (Photo/Thomas Ehlers)

Ashby Booth (from left), James Beach-Colton, Ledger Coley and Kayden Watkins, members of the Oglethorpe County Middle School academic bowl team, practice for the state championship, which is scheduled for Saturday. (Photo/Thomas Ehlers)

OCMS academic team prepares for state competition

Thomas Ehlers
Thursday, January 20, 2022
“Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner” is just one of the mottos that James Beach-Colton and his peers came up with during the Oglethorpe County Middle School academic bowl practices.   This weekend, they have a chance to add bite to that phrase.

Absences begin to accumulate for county schools

Thomas Ehlers
Thursday, January 20, 2022
Oglethorpe County school board members considered the rise in COVID-19 cases and quarantines in students, faculty and staff during its work session on Jan. 18 at the central office building.   According to district data, 96 students — about 16.
Cynzia Sanchez, founder of the Women’s Fine Art Guild, works in her studio at The Gillen House Bed and Breakfast, which she co-owns and operates with Edward Toledano. For more information about the Women’s Fine Art Guild, go to its Facebook page (facebook.com/Womens-Fine-Art-Guild-113633270063562) or email womensfineartguild@gmail.com. (Submitted Photos)

Cynzia Sanchez, founder of the Women’s Fine Art Guild, works in her studio at The Gillen House Bed and Breakfast, which she co-owns and operates with Edward Toledano. For more information about the Women’s Fine Art Guild, go to its Facebook page (facebook.com/Womens-Fine-Art-Guild-113633270063562) or email womensfineartguild@gmail.com. (Submitted Photos)

Q&A: Founder of fine art guild creates platform for local female artists

Mackenzie Tanner
Thursday, January 20, 2022
Cynzia Sanchez is a local contemporary realist painter and founder of the Women’s Fine Art Guild. Sanchez was born and raised in Puerto Rico, but resides in Maxeys, where she is the co-owner of The Gillen House Bed and Breakfast.
Michael White, the director at the recreation department, recently oversaw the construction of a new facility. (Sarah White/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Michael White, the director at the recreation department, recently oversaw the construction of a new facility. (Sarah White/The Oglethorpe Echo)

New gym meets public's needs

Thomas Ehlers
Thursday, January 13, 2022
Allen Stewart understood that a new gym was needed. After watching his children play basketball through the years, he saw firsthand the struggles teams faced in scheduling gym time.   “We went to do all-stars, and we had to go to Rabun County because we didn’t have a gym,” Stewart said.

COVID-19 cases on rise across Oglethorpe County

Julianna Duennes Russ
Thursday, January 13, 2022
  COVID-19 numbers have jumped in Oglethorpe County since the start of 2022.   There have been 210 reported cases in the county since Dec. 31, tripling the number of 72 reported for the final two weeks of 2021, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health’s Daily Status Report.