Local News

Linda Russell and Bob Gadd are among the residents who oppose the construction of a T-Mobile cell tower off Melton Road. Many of the attendees at the zoning board meeting on Oct. 23 wore red shirts with the phrase: “Vote no! Don’t let them tower over us!”

Linda Russell and Bob Gadd are among the residents who oppose the construction of a T-Mobile cell tower off Melton Road. Many of the attendees at the zoning board meeting on Oct. 23 wore red shirts with the phrase: “Vote no! Don’t let them tower over us!”

Zoning board tables cell tower request

Emily Adams
Wednesday, October 29, 2025
Every seat in the Oglethorpe County Zoning Board meeting room was filled with more residents spilling out into the lobby, all wearing red shirts displaying a cell tower that read, “Vote no! Don’t let them tower over us!
Robert “Black Eagle” Costa addresses his congregation during a recent Seventh Generation Native American Church service at No. 3 Railroad St. This Sunday spiritual centered on leaves as a symbol of hope. (Photo/Molly Moore)

Robert “Black Eagle” Costa addresses his congregation during a recent Seventh Generation Native American Church service at No. 3 Railroad St. This Sunday spiritual centered on leaves as a symbol of hope. (Photo/Molly Moore)

Spiritual connection focus of Native American church

Molly Moore
Wednesday, October 29, 2025
Robert “Black Eagle” Costa speaks softly but with conviction starting at 11:11 a.m. each Sunday at No. 3 Railroad St.  The founder and principal elder of Seventh Generation Native American Church doesn’t shout his sermons.
Oglethorpe County High School teacher of the year Jennifer Yauck poses outside the board of education building on Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025. (Photo / Drew Bearden)

Oglethorpe County High School teacher of the year Jennifer Yauck poses outside the board of education building on Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025. (Photo / Drew Bearden)

Local Roundup: District selects Yauck as teacher of the year

News Staff
Friday, October 24, 2025
Jennifer Yauck is the Oglethorpe County School System’s teacher of the year.  Yauck, who is a science instructional coach and teacher at OCHS, also advises the National Honor Society and the Science Olympiad team.
Oglethorpe County senior Ansley Paul stands outside the Turner Soccer Complex, where she shadows soccer associate athletic trainer Kelly Cich. Paul is the first student from Oglethorpe County to be selected for UGA’s Young Dawgs program (Drew Bearden/Oglethorpe Echo)

Oglethorpe County senior Ansley Paul stands outside the Turner Soccer Complex, where she shadows soccer associate athletic trainer Kelly Cich. Paul is the first student from Oglethorpe County to be selected for UGA’s Young Dawgs program (Drew Bearden/Oglethorpe Echo)

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Young Dawgs opens doors for students

Drew Bearden
Thursday, October 23, 2025
When she first heard about the University of Georgia’s Young Dawgs program, Oglethorpe County High School senior Ansley Paul wasn't sure what profession to shadow. “I didn’t really know what I wanted to do,” Paul said.
Oglethorpe County EMS director Josh Robinson (left) and Emergency Management Agency director Douglas Spencer send the Teledyne FLIR SIRAS drone up for a flight in Lexington last week. They are the county’s two licensed drone pilots. (Katherine Davis/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Oglethorpe County EMS director Josh Robinson (left) and Emergency Management Agency director Douglas Spencer send the Teledyne FLIR SIRAS drone up for a flight in Lexington last week. They are the county’s two licensed drone pilots. (Katherine Davis/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Drone fleet takes to the skies

Katherine Davis
Thursday, October 23, 2025
The full fleet of three drones purchased by the Oglethorpe County Board of Commissioners has arrived and is being put to use. “Drones are becoming a part of everyday life,” Emergency Management Agency director Douglas Spencer said.
The Southern Poverty Law Center and Georgia Association of Educators have filed a lawsuit on behalf of Michelle Mickens (left) against the Oglethorpe County School System and Superintendent Beverley Levine (right)..

The Southern Poverty Law Center and Georgia Association of Educators have filed a lawsuit on behalf of Michelle Mickens (left) against the Oglethorpe County School System and Superintendent Beverley Levine (right)..

Teacher files lawsuit against Oglethorpe County School System

Mia Fishman
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
The Southern Poverty Law Center and Georgia Association of Educators have filed a lawsuit on behalf of Michelle Mickens against the Oglethorpe County School System and Superintendent Beverley Levine.

Teacher remains on leave

News Staff
Thursday, October 16, 2025
An Oglethorpe County High School teacher remains on administrative leave and out of the classroom, Superintendent Beverley Levine confirmed in an email on Tuesday.
Early 20th century postcards of a school building in Maxeys sit in a display case at the Oglethorpe County Library. Several of the postcards feature images that were not used for any other purpose other than the postcard. (Photo/Susanna Johnson)

Early 20th century postcards of a school building in Maxeys sit in a display case at the Oglethorpe County Library. Several of the postcards feature images that were not used for any other purpose other than the postcard. (Photo/Susanna Johnson)

Oglethorpe County Library displays part of Gary Doster’s historical postcard collection

Susanna Johnson
Thursday, October 16, 2025
Gary Doster has more than 11,000 postcards in his possession. But not just any postcards.  “I have the largest collection of pre-1920 Georgia picture postcards ever,” he said. “There’s no way in the world anybody could duplicate or outdo this collection I’ve got here.
The sales tax rate in Oglethorpe County is 8%, with half going toward various local option sales taxes. If FLOST passes Nov. 4, the county's sales tax rate will rise to 9%. (Kimberly Thomas/The Oglethorpe Echo)

The sales tax rate in Oglethorpe County is 8%, with half going toward various local option sales taxes. If FLOST passes Nov. 4, the county's sales tax rate will rise to 9%. (Kimberly Thomas/The Oglethorpe Echo)

What to know about FLOST and ESPLOST

Sophia Eppley and Kimberly Thomas
Thursday, October 16, 2025
What is FLOST? The Floating Local Option Sales Tax is a 1% sales tax to help generate revenue for reducing property taxes. The tax is a portion of House Bill 581 that was passed in March 2024 and approved in last November’s general election.   “We’re expecting it to bring in about $1.