Local News

(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.
(Darden Hearn/The Oglethorpe Echo)

(Darden Hearn/The Oglethorpe Echo)

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Free N95 masks available locally; tests by mail

Darden Hearn
Thursday, January 27, 2022
Oglethorpe County residents should be able to pick up free N95 masks at retail pharmacies in Athens this week as part of the Biden Administration’s nationwide COVID-19 response plan.    According to the pharmacies, the Kroger Marketplace on U.S.
The historic building that housed the A.J. Gillen Department Store in Maxeys recently had a water meter installed for the first time in its history. (Sydney Fordice/The Oglethorpe Echo)

The historic building that housed the A.J. Gillen Department Store in Maxeys recently had a water meter installed for the first time in its history. (Sydney Fordice/The Oglethorpe Echo)

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Cities make decisions on pricing, signage and renovations

Sydney Fordice
Thursday, January 27, 2022
Household trash pickup rates in Lexington will increase after a unanimous vote by the Lexington City Council at its Jan. 13 meeting. The price per can will go from $5 to $8, and extra cans from $9 to $12, after AAA Sanitation increased its rate from $11 to $13 for the city.
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)

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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)

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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)

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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.

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Lexington DDA votes to keep current chair, vice president

Maddie Brechtel
Thursday, January 20, 2022
The Lexington Downtown Development Authority voted to keep Kathleen deMarrais as the current chair and Linda Parish as vice chair at its monthly meeting on Jan. 10. In other news: The November minutes and treasurer’s report were approved.

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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.