Local News

Kelli Paradise Smith, Oglethorpe County’s Clerk of Superior Court since 2009, has helped guide the courthouse through a wave of modernization. (Submitted Photo)

Kelli Paradise Smith, Oglethorpe County’s Clerk of Superior Court since 2009, has helped guide the courthouse through a wave of modernization. (Submitted Photo)

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Smith, Clerk of Superior Court, brings updated technology to courtroom

Katherine Lewis
Wednesday, February 2, 2022
Kelli Paradise Smith, Oglethorpe County’s Clerk of Superior Court since 2009, has led the courthouse through a series of technological advancements, which has not only created modern practices, but also prepared the county to work through an unforeseen pandemic.
This map compares the number of mental health services in Oglethorpe County to the number of services found in Athens-Clarke County. (Aly Hertzog/The Oglethorpe Echo)

This map compares the number of mental health services in Oglethorpe County to the number of services found in Athens-Clarke County. (Aly Hertzog/The Oglethorpe Echo)

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Georgia House bill could increase state’s mental health services

Aly Hertzog
Wednesday, February 2, 2022
A new bill moving through the Georgia House may change the way mental health is addressed and accessed in rural areas of Georgia, like Oglethorpe County.   Speaker David Ralston introduced House Bill 1013 on Jan. 26.
(Jamie Miller/The Oglethorpe Echo)

(Jamie Miller/The Oglethorpe Echo)

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Flock cameras help spot crime, increase safety

Jamie Miller
Wednesday, February 2, 2022
Flock cameras have made an impact in Oglethorpe County.   The cameras, which were installed eight months ago, have assisted in 130 traffic tickets, seven arrests for suspended licenses and one arrest for a stolen vehicle in the past six months, 911 Director James Jackson said.
Laura Pallas and Cameron Phillips's daughter, Savannah, runs through the vast produce fields with the family's two dogs. (Kate Hoffman/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Laura Pallas and Cameron Phillips's daughter, Savannah, runs through the vast produce fields with the family's two dogs. (Kate Hoffman/The Oglethorpe Echo)

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Agritourism seeks new revenue

Kate Hoffman
Wednesday, February 2, 2022
District 4 Commissioner Will Brown anticipates that agritourism could be discussed at the Oglethorpe County Board of Commissioners meeting on Feb. 7.
Charlie Snelling was among a group of 12 men from Oglethorpe County and around Northeast Georgia who helped the tornado victims in Kentucky. (Submitted Photo)

Charlie Snelling was among a group of 12 men from Oglethorpe County and around Northeast Georgia who helped the tornado victims in Kentucky. (Submitted Photo)

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Tales from Sandy Cross: Charity — A Southern Tradition

Charlie Snelling
Thursday, January 27, 2022
Y’all have probably heard about the storms that went through Kentucky on the night of Dec. 10.   Unless you see it for yourself, there are no words to describe the devastation.
The traffic signal at the intersection of Athens Road, which is also U.S. Highway 78/state Route 10, and North Street in Crawford, is the only stoplight in the county. (Liset Cruz/The Oglethorpe Echo)

The traffic signal at the intersection of Athens Road, which is also U.S. Highway 78/state Route 10, and North Street in Crawford, is the only stoplight in the county. (Liset Cruz/The Oglethorpe Echo)

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Officials discuss traffic concerns, possible solutions for county

Liset Cruz
Thursday, January 27, 2022
There’s only one stoplight — at the intersection of U.S. Highway 78 and North Street in Crawford — within the 442 square miles of Oglethorpe County.   “I think some of these people like it being a one-light town,” Oglethorpe County Sheriff David Gabriel said.
(Thomas Ehlers/The Oglethorpe Echo)

(Thomas Ehlers/The Oglethorpe Echo)

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COVID-19 numbers on rise in schools

Thomas Ehlers
Thursday, January 27, 2022
An unwelcome guest entered the hallways when Oglethorpe County students returned to the classroom after break.   The district reported 59 new COVID-19 cases on the week of Jan. 10, with numbers trending higher last week.