Local News

Izzy (left) and Tania Marler enjoy bonding over baking for Three Dogs and a Girl Bakery. Izzy serves as CEO and Tania assists with tasks, such as posting on social media. (Emily Adams/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Izzy (left) and Tania Marler enjoy bonding over baking for Three Dogs and a Girl Bakery. Izzy serves as CEO and Tania assists with tasks, such as posting on social media. (Emily Adams/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Homemade happiness

Grace Burnett
Wednesday, November 12, 2025
Three Dogs and a Girl Bakery in Winterville embodies Izzy Marler’s mission of inclusion.  A graduate of the Destination Dawgs program at the University of Georgia, Izzy bakes and sells artisan, breads, treats and pastries alongside Tania Marler, her mother, from their Winterville home.
Casey Marbutt, Project Manager at SPG Planners & Engineers, speaks to commissioners on behalf of Andy Barrs, CEO of Barrs Industries. Marbutt told commissioners about the details of the mixed-density residential development, including its aim to take developmental pressure off rural areas in the county. (Kimberly Thomas/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Casey Marbutt, Project Manager at SPG Planners & Engineers, speaks to commissioners on behalf of Andy Barrs, CEO of Barrs Industries. Marbutt told commissioners about the details of the mixed-density residential development, including its aim to take developmental pressure off rural areas in the county. (Kimberly Thomas/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Commission OKs subdivision, RV ordinance changes

Kimberly Thomas
Thursday, November 6, 2025
The Oglethorpe County Board of Commissioners approved revisions to the county’s subdivision and recreational vehicle ordinances at its meeting on Monday night, following a recommendation from the zoning board.  The commissioners approved the changes 4-0.
Eligible voters from Lexington visited the Oglethorpe County Board of Elections building on Nov. 4, 2025 to vote on FLOST, ESPLOST, homestead exemption tax and public service commissioners. (Ansley Gavlak/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Eligible voters from Lexington visited the Oglethorpe County Board of Elections building on Nov. 4, 2025 to vote on FLOST, ESPLOST, homestead exemption tax and public service commissioners. (Ansley Gavlak/The Oglethorpe Echo)

County voters approve FLOST and ESPLOST

Sophia Eppley
Thursday, November 6, 2025
Oglethorpe County voters approved a new Floating Local Option Sales Tax (FLOST) and the renewal of the Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (ESPLOST) on Tuesday.
Cole Faust, a senior at OCHS, won the State Tractor Operation and Maintenance CDE through the Georgia FFA at the Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition last month. He wants to attend Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College after graduation. (Submitted Photo)

Cole Faust, a senior at OCHS, won the State Tractor Operation and Maintenance CDE through the Georgia FFA at the Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition last month. He wants to attend Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College after graduation. (Submitted Photo)

Drive to win pushes Faust to tractor title

Jacob Harper
Thursday, November 6, 2025
Cole Faust made Oglethorpe County history last month. On a tractor.  The Oglethorpe County High School senior won the State Tractor Driving and Operations contest, the first time an FFA member from OCHS has won the event. Faust said his victory was a long time coming.
Kassie Mathews (from left), Alexis Brakhage and Madelyn Flores stand in front of the Eagle Scout project, sun shades for the Oglethorpe County marching band. Flores is the second female in the county to earn the prestigious honor. (Submitted Photo)

Kassie Mathews (from left), Alexis Brakhage and Madelyn Flores stand in front of the Eagle Scout project, sun shades for the Oglethorpe County marching band. Flores is the second female in the county to earn the prestigious honor. (Submitted Photo)

Flores soars: Second Oglethorpe County female earns Eagle Scout

Gabrielle Gruszynski
Wednesday, November 5, 2025
Now, after six years of service and dedication, Flores has achieved that goal with the help of her troop, community and family.  “They (family and friends) definitely pushed me to make sure that I have it done,” she said.
Debbie Furbish is shown in Polaroid photos being recognized by Maj. Gen. Paul M. Timmerberg during her time in the U.S. Army. During her service, she also met the Secretary of State during the Carter administration. (Photo/Molly Moore)

Debbie Furbish is shown in Polaroid photos being recognized by Maj. Gen. Paul M. Timmerberg during her time in the U.S. Army. During her service, she also met the Secretary of State during the Carter administration. (Photo/Molly Moore)

Four voices of service

Molly Moore and Susanna Johnson
Wednesday, November 5, 2025
Four Oglethorpe County veterans from different generations and branches said their pride didn’t end with their service. It evolved.
Rebecca Smith (left), Lucille Endriss (middle) and Gail Spearing (right) volunteer as poll workers for the Lexington mayoral race between Cory Crayton and Evelyn Reece. There are 176 voters who are eligible to vote in this election. (Mia Fishman/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Rebecca Smith (left), Lucille Endriss (middle) and Gail Spearing (right) volunteer as poll workers for the Lexington mayoral race between Cory Crayton and Evelyn Reece. There are 176 voters who are eligible to vote in this election. (Mia Fishman/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Reece wins Lexington mayoral race

Mia Fishman
Wednesday, November 5, 2025
Evelyn Reece will be the next mayor of Lexington.  Reece defeated Cory Crayton, a member of the Lexington City Council and Historic Preservation Board, to win the nonpartisan mayoral race, garnering 58% of the vote on Tuesday.
Oglethorpe County High School assistant principal Ean Sonnier discusses a grant worth $80,000 during the BOE meeting on Tuesday. The money has been earmarked for a new tractor, a welding cutter and other equipment for the agriculture program. (Drew Bearden/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Oglethorpe County High School assistant principal Ean Sonnier discusses a grant worth $80,000 during the BOE meeting on Tuesday. The money has been earmarked for a new tractor, a welding cutter and other equipment for the agriculture program. (Drew Bearden/The Oglethorpe Echo)

BOE purchases two new propane buses

Ella Jones
Wednesday, November 5, 2025
The Oglethorpe County Board of Education decided to purchase two propane-powered school buses to replace older models Tuesday, in order to keep the district’s transportation program running efficiently. Each bus will cost $155,033, with $88,110 in state bond funds applied to each purchase.
Authorities found a 73-year-old hunter about 5:15 p.m. Monday after more than 24 hours in the woods in the Walker Gresham Road area of Stephens.

Authorities found a 73-year-old hunter about 5:15 p.m. Monday after more than 24 hours in the woods in the Walker Gresham Road area of Stephens.

Local Roundup: Search effort finds hunter after about a day in woods

News Staff
Thursday, October 30, 2025
Authorities found a 73-year-old hunter about 5:15 p.m. Monday after more than 24 hours in the woods in the Walker Gresham Road area of Stephens. His wife reported the Jackson County resident missing about 8:30 a.m. Monday, Oglethorpe County EMS director Josh Robinson said. He left home around 1 p.m.