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Members of the HOSA team include: (First row, left to right) Reagan Watkins, Kelsie Wolfe, Faith Dynarski; (second row) Harley Grace Hayes; (third row) Kenneth Goodin, Ashley Spearing, Reagyn Hamby; (fourth row) Ella Crowe, Elisse Griffiths; (fifth row): Kitzia Sandoval, Ally Morris, Kendall Hull (sixth row): Addison Febach, Marina Barrera; (seventh row) Gloria Ortiz, Olivia Davis, Sky Hand, Kate Spearing. Submitted photo

Members of the HOSA team include: (First row, left to right) Reagan Watkins, Kelsie Wolfe, Faith Dynarski; (second row) Harley Grace Hayes; (third row) Kenneth Goodin, Ashley Spearing, Reagyn Hamby; (fourth row) Ella Crowe, Elisse Griffiths; (fifth row): Kitzia Sandoval, Ally Morris, Kendall Hull (sixth row): Addison Febach, Marina Barrera; (seventh row) Gloria Ortiz, Olivia Davis, Sky Hand, Kate Spearing. Submitted photo

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Students take state-level awards at HOSA

Thomas Ehlers
Thursday, March 24, 2022
Several Oglethorpe County High School students came back with hardware from this year’s HOSA event — a conference that supports future health professionals.
Commissioner District Map

Commissioner District Map

Eight county residents run for offices

Katherine Lewis
Thursday, March 24, 2022
Eight Republican candidates have qualified for Oglethorpe County offices to be decided in the general primary election on May 24.   The Board of Commissioner Districts 1, 3 and 5 are up for re-election, and the Board of Education Districts 3 and 5 are open this year.
Tanya Eidson

Tanya Eidson

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Eidson joins Echo staff

News Staff
Thursday, March 24, 2022
Tanya Eidson is The Oglethorpe Echo’s new office manager.   Eidson, who grew up in Franklin County but moved to Oglethorpe County in 2002, recently retired after 30 years at UGA. She spent the last 21 at the College of Veterinary Medicine.   “Living in Oglethorpe is wonderful,” she said.
Fifty-one acres of land near the intersection of U.S. 78 and Bunker Hill Road have been zone for development including businesses, single family homes, duplexes and apartments. The project is estimated to be completed in five years. Submitted photo

Fifty-one acres of land near the intersection of U.S. 78 and Bunker Hill Road have been zone for development including businesses, single family homes, duplexes and apartments. The project is estimated to be completed in five years. Submitted photo

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Developers fill need for housing with new projects

Liset Cruz
Thursday, March 24, 2022
When Chad Tracy heard of a mud concern at his new development on Bunker Hill Road, he had a street sweeper come out to clean the area.    “We've been sweeping and trying to be courteous to our neighbors,” he said.
Nina Hayes poses with the organ that she played every Sunday for 59 years at the Salem Baptist Church. Eloise McNair/The Oglethorpe Echo

Nina Hayes poses with the organ that she played every Sunday for 59 years at the Salem Baptist Church. Eloise McNair/The Oglethorpe Echo

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Beloved organist retires after 59 years at church

Eloise McNair
Thursday, March 24, 2022
LISTEN: Hear Nina Hayes play the organ at the Salem Baptist Church.   Nina Hayes was first introduced to the piano through a lesson at her elementary school in Greene County when she was just 5 years old.
The reigning Miss Oglethorpe queens are (first row, from left) Amelia Liguoria, Patriot Ambassador, Lannah Scarborough, Spirit of Miss Oglethorpe, Adalyn Tanksley, Miss Oglethorpe Princess; (second row, from left) Riley Sisk, Miss OCPS, Larsin Faust, Miss OCES, Amber Watkins, Miss Red, White and Blue, Abigail Colquitt, Miss OCMS and Shelby Self, Miss OCHS. Submitted photo

The reigning Miss Oglethorpe queens are (first row, from left) Amelia Liguoria, Patriot Ambassador, Lannah Scarborough, Spirit of Miss Oglethorpe, Adalyn Tanksley, Miss Oglethorpe Princess; (second row, from left) Riley Sisk, Miss OCPS, Larsin Faust, Miss OCES, Amber Watkins, Miss Red, White and Blue, Abigail Colquitt, Miss OCMS and Shelby Self, Miss OCHS. Submitted photo

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Sixth annual Miss Oglethorpe pageant set for Saturday

Sydney Fordice
Thursday, March 24, 2022
Eight pageant queens will pass on their titles at the sixth annual Miss Oglethorpe Pageant, which will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Oglethorpe County High School.    The pageant was canceled in 2021 due to COVID-19, but 13 Oglethorpe County girls are participating this year.
The Hut, which was at the corner of Highway 78 and Bunker Hill Road, was a popular restaurant in its day. (Submitted Photo)

The Hut, which was at the corner of Highway 78 and Bunker Hill Road, was a popular restaurant in its day. (Submitted Photo)

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Mixed-use development underway in Crawford

News Staff
Thursday, March 17, 2022
The Crawford Village, at the intersection of Highway 78 and Bunker Hill Road, is off the drawing board and moving forward.    Arnoldsville developer Chad Tracy, president of Patriot Construction, said the 50-acre mixed-use development would move slowly through phases over an estimated five years.
(Dink NeSmith/The Oglethorpe Echo)

(Dink NeSmith/The Oglethorpe Echo)

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Furbish among eight who qualify for county seats

News Staff
Thursday, March 17, 2022
Debbie Furbish realized in January that she was going to run for the Board of Commissioners.    She had been approached by friends and neighbors over the past year and finally decided to do it.
Paula and Keith Wagnon stand behind the counter of Buds ‘n Bows Flower Shop in Crawford. The hus- band and wife team have been in the floral design business since 1978. (Shannon Moran/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Paula and Keith Wagnon stand behind the counter of Buds ‘n Bows Flower Shop in Crawford. The hus- band and wife team have been in the floral design business since 1978. (Shannon Moran/The Oglethorpe Echo)

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Oglethorpe’s oldest flower shop pivots with the times

Shannon Moran
Monday, March 14, 2022
Buds ‘n Bows Flower Shop is the oldest full-service flower business in Oglethorpe County. Over the years, owners Paula and Keith Wagnon have adapted their business practices to maintain a deep connection to the community.