Local News

Georgia Municipal Association member services consultant Sherri Bailey speaks to Maxeys Mayor Edward Toledano (center) and the city council at Maxeys City Hall on April 14. She outlined the organization’s role in supporting cities in various ways. (Photo/Riley Baugh)

Georgia Municipal Association member services consultant Sherri Bailey speaks to Maxeys Mayor Edward Toledano (center) and the city council at Maxeys City Hall on April 14. She outlined the organization’s role in supporting cities in various ways. (Photo/Riley Baugh)

City Roundup: Spearing to help Lexington mayor with water issues

Jessie Isaacs and Riley Baugh
Thursday, April 30, 2026
The Lexington City Council addressed the recent “failure to test” notice regarding the city’s water at its April 9 meeting by adding help for the water department.
This year’s Winterville Marigold Festival parade is scheduled to start at 10 a.m., an hour after the vendors open for the festival on Saturday, May 9. Me’an Mills, Mayor Dodd Ferrelle’s band, will perform at 5:30 p.m. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

This year’s Winterville Marigold Festival parade is scheduled to start at 10 a.m., an hour after the vendors open for the festival on Saturday, May 9. Me’an Mills, Mayor Dodd Ferrelle’s band, will perform at 5:30 p.m. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

New Firefly Farmstop part of this year’s Marigold Festival

Dakota Meeks
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Visitors to this year’s Winterville Marigold Festival will have the opportunity to see something new in a familiar space. City officials are eager to show off the Firefly Farmstop, after it opened April 11 in what used to be a blacksmith shop.
Katie and Jon Armour have renamed Nature's Harvest to Full Draw Processing. The processor plans to open this upcoming deer season. (Photo Submitted)

Katie and Jon Armour have renamed Nature's Harvest to Full Draw Processing. The processor plans to open this upcoming deer season. (Photo Submitted)

Nature’s Harvest sold, to open for deer season

Finley Millwood
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Growing up hunting with her dad prepared Katie Armour for her new adventure: owning a processing business. Armour, 41, and her husband, Jon, who is 43, closed on Nature’s Harvest at the end of March.  The couple decided to rename the business to Full Draw Processing.
A trail walk will be held on the Firefly Trail in Maxeys (pictured) on Saturday. Another trail walk will be held on Smokey Road in Crawford. (Jessie Isaacs/The Oglethorpe Echo)

A trail walk will be held on the Firefly Trail in Maxeys (pictured) on Saturday. Another trail walk will be held on Smokey Road in Crawford. (Jessie Isaacs/The Oglethorpe Echo)

LOCAL ROUNDUP: Trail walks on Smokey Road, Maxeys planned for Saturday

Echo Staff
Friday, April 24, 2026
Firefly Trail Inc. has helped organize group walks for Smokey Road in Crawford and in Maxeys as part of Celebrate Trails Day on Saturday, April 25. The walk on Smokey Road will start at 9 a.m. and the one in Maxeys will begin at 11 a.m. Maxeys, where 1.
Sophia Marchette will play Charlie in “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” which will be presented at the Washington Little Theater next month. Marchette and her family live in Stephens. (Sarah Owens/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Sophia Marchette will play Charlie in “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” which will be presented at the Washington Little Theater next month. Marchette and her family live in Stephens. (Sarah Owens/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Oglethorpe residents have key roles in Little Theater production

Sarah Owens
Friday, April 24, 2026
Several Oglethorpe County residents will help bring “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” to life when the Washington Little Theater production opens next month.
Students practice lifting and operating a stretcher during Ghost Out at Oglethorpe County High School on Friday. The activity introduced participants to emergency response techniques and the realities of crash scenes.(Photo/Kira Doppel)

Students practice lifting and operating a stretcher during Ghost Out at Oglethorpe County High School on Friday. The activity introduced participants to emergency response techniques and the realities of crash scenes.(Photo/Kira Doppel)

Ghost Out prepares teens for the road

Kira Doppel
Friday, April 24, 2026
Oglethorpe County High School students seemed to get the intended message from the annual Ghost Out, which was held Friday, a day before the prom.   The event is staged to show the real-life consequences of drunk driving and how to stay safe on the road.
A student talks to someone from WorkSource Atlanta at the Career and Connections Fair at the OCHS gym on Tuesday. Students are allowed to visit a variety of job booths that showcase possible future employment opportunities. (Photo/Ronnie Boggs)

A student talks to someone from WorkSource Atlanta at the Career and Connections Fair at the OCHS gym on Tuesday. Students are allowed to visit a variety of job booths that showcase possible future employment opportunities. (Photo/Ronnie Boggs)

Career fair brings jobs to focus

Emilie Sullivan
Thursday, April 23, 2026
Oglethorpe County is growing, which means the need for workers and jobs is growing, too. Businesses and other organizations had the opportunity to meet with students and others at a Career and Connections Fair on Tuesday, an event sponsored by the Oglethorpe County Chamber of Commerce.