Local News

Mayor Edward Toledano (center) and city councilman Danny Gorman have a chat during a recent meeting at the Salem Volunteer Fire Department. City officials are looking into improving the water system. (Ansley Gavlak/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Mayor Edward Toledano (center) and city councilman Danny Gorman have a chat during a recent meeting at the Salem Volunteer Fire Department. City officials are looking into improving the water system. (Ansley Gavlak/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Exclusive Subscriber Content

Maxeys explores agency funding for water system repairs, upgrades

Ansley Gavlak
Wednesday, December 3, 2025
Maxeys plans to work with the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority to determine its loan eligibility for water system repairs and upgrades.
Realtor Martii Moats and her mentor Melisa McCue host an open house for the historic Arnold Cotton Gin on Railroad Street in Arnoldsville. Moats envisions someone could turn the property into a microbrewery or event venue. (Alex Perri/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Realtor Martii Moats and her mentor Melisa McCue host an open house for the historic Arnold Cotton Gin on Railroad Street in Arnoldsville. Moats envisions someone could turn the property into a microbrewery or event venue. (Alex Perri/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Historic Arnold Cotton Gin Hits Market in Rural Georgia

Alex Perri
Wednesday, December 3, 2025
It’s golden hour on a warm fall evening, and realtor Martii Moats is standing inside what used to be the Arnold Cotton Gin.  Once owned by Nathaniel Dowdy Arnold, the gin was a hub for commerce and trade along the railroad in Arnoldsville (Arnold’s namesake).

Staff Report: No ID on body discovered over weekend

News Staff
Wednesday, December 3, 2025
The GBI is investigating the discovery of a body on Lower Wirebridge Road in a secluded part of Oglethorpe County near Maxeys. A GBI spokeswoman said Monday afternoon that the body, which was found Saturday night, is at the crime lab, but a positive ID hasn’t been made.
County residents and representatives gather on Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025, to hear the county's 5-year comprehensive plan update. There will be two more opportunities for public input before the plan is finalized. (Photo/Sophia Eppley)

County residents and representatives gather on Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025, to hear the county's 5-year comprehensive plan update. There will be two more opportunities for public input before the plan is finalized. (Photo/Sophia Eppley)

County seeks public input for new comprehensive plan

Sophia Eppley
Monday, December 1, 2025
Representatives from Arnoldsville, Crawford, Lexington and Maxeys gathered with county officials for the first county comprehensive plan public hearing on Nov. 18.  A comprehensive plan is a 20-year guide to growth and development for Georgia's local governments.
A parade route map for the Maxeys Christmas Parade shows the streets affected during the event on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. No parking is allowed along the parade route, and parts of Laurel Lane, Sunset Drive and Forest Circle may be blocked beginning at 9 a.m. A section of Highway 77 will close at 11 a.m. for the parade and is expected to reopen by about 11:40 a.m. Side roads will reopen once the parade clears. (Map/Carrie Hayes)

A parade route map for the Maxeys Christmas Parade shows the streets affected during the event on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. No parking is allowed along the parade route, and parts of Laurel Lane, Sunset Drive and Forest Circle may be blocked beginning at 9 a.m. A section of Highway 77 will close at 11 a.m. for the parade and is expected to reopen by about 11:40 a.m. Side roads will reopen once the parade clears. (Map/Carrie Hayes)

Maxeys Christmas parade returns for seventh year

Sophia Eppley
Monday, December 1, 2025
The Maxeys Christmas parade will bring holiday spirit to Maxeys for its seventh consecutive year on Saturday, Dec. 6.  This is Heather Parham’s fourth year organizing the parade, and this year, she’s doing things a little differently.  The marketplace and food trucks will open promptly at 10 a.m.
Pricila Salas-Lopez, a junior at OCHS, hands out bags of onions to families at the high school food pantry on Nov. 20. Salas-Lopez began volunteering for the pantry because she loves helping people. (Hannah Freeman/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Pricila Salas-Lopez, a junior at OCHS, hands out bags of onions to families at the high school food pantry on Nov. 20. Salas-Lopez began volunteering for the pantry because she loves helping people. (Hannah Freeman/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Students help power high school food pantry

Hannah Freeman
Wednesday, November 26, 2025
For some local families, the monthly food pantry at Oglethorpe County High School means groceries for the next few weeks and momentary relief from tough budget decisions. This pantry is vital to the community, but it requires many helping hands.
Debbie Winsett wraps a holiday-themed, hand-painted glass bottle she made and sold at her booth — Light Up Your Life — at the Christmas Marketplace at the Craw- ford Depot on Sunday. Winsett also sold hand-painted University of Georgia pieces that were sold out by the last day of the marketplace. “I call myself ‘Light Up Your Life,’ because most of the things that I do — all of my bottles — light up,” Winsett said. “I started painting lamp shades, and they all light up.” (Photo/Emily Adams)

Debbie Winsett wraps a holiday-themed, hand-painted glass bottle she made and sold at her booth — Light Up Your Life — at the Christmas Marketplace at the Craw- ford Depot on Sunday. Winsett also sold hand-painted University of Georgia pieces that were sold out by the last day of the marketplace. “I call myself ‘Light Up Your Life,’ because most of the things that I do — all of my bottles — light up,” Winsett said. “I started painting lamp shades, and they all light up.” (Photo/Emily Adams)

PHOTOS: The Christmas Marketplace

Emily Adams
Wednesday, November 26, 2025
Beverley Levine

Beverley Levine

Levine to retire at the end of school year

News Staff
Tuesday, November 25, 2025
Beverley Levine, superintendent of the Oglethorpe County School System, plans to finish the school year and then retire, she stated in a letter to faculty and staff last Friday.
All five REACH Georgia scholars (Silas Judson, Nevaeh Perry, Elizabeth Randolph, Eh Way, Haleigh York) sit at the signing table before finalizing their contracts on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. The ceremony represents the culmination of a months-long selection process. (Photo / Drew Bearden)

All five REACH Georgia scholars (Silas Judson, Nevaeh Perry, Elizabeth Randolph, Eh Way, Haleigh York) sit at the signing table before finalizing their contracts on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. The ceremony represents the culmination of a months-long selection process. (Photo / Drew Bearden)

REACH, big checks ‘really cool’ for OCMS students

Drew Bearden
Thursday, November 20, 2025
Five Oglethorpe County Middle School eighth-graders took an important step toward the future on Friday morning as they became the newest recipients of the REACH Georgia Scholarship.