Local News

This is the interior of the larger space that is under construction to become Lexington Public House in Lexington. The building is made up of two different spaces that owner Ben Pitts said will become a pub and a room for overflow, and more seating once the restaurant is complete.

This is the interior of the larger space that is under construction to become Lexington Public House in Lexington. The building is made up of two different spaces that owner Ben Pitts said will become a pub and a room for overflow, and more seating once the restaurant is complete.

Pitts would like to open restaurant in six months

Emily Adams
Wednesday, October 15, 2025
The transformation of the former Lexington Antique Mall into a Southern-style restaurant called the Lexington Public House is underway at 102 E. Main St.  The building has already received a new roof and plumbing. The next step for owner Ben Pitts is securing the necessary permits and applications.
Patricia Whatley, a licensed clinical social worker, has worked with MedLink since 2022 and serves Athens-Clarke and Oglethorpe County communities. She estimates that a quarter of her clients in Oglethorpe County discuss domestic violence or related crises on an annual basis. (Gabrielle Gruszynski/The Oglethoroe Echo)

Patricia Whatley, a licensed clinical social worker, has worked with MedLink since 2022 and serves Athens-Clarke and Oglethorpe County communities. She estimates that a quarter of her clients in Oglethorpe County discuss domestic violence or related crises on an annual basis. (Gabrielle Gruszynski/The Oglethoroe Echo)

County has few resources for domestic violence

Gabrielle Gruszynski
Wednesday, October 15, 2025
“It’s a big county, but it’s very spread out. There’s a lot of isolation,” said Patricia Whatley, a licensed clinical social worker for MedLink serving Oglethorpe and Athens-Clarke counties.  That isolation and lack of services show up in the numbers.
Oglethorpe County Board of Education members, teachers of the year and their families lead the pledge to kick off the BOE on Tuesday. The BOE approved a new millage rate. (Photo/Drew Bearden)

Oglethorpe County Board of Education members, teachers of the year and their families lead the pledge to kick off the BOE on Tuesday. The BOE approved a new millage rate. (Photo/Drew Bearden)

BOE approves millage rate decrease

Ella Jones
Wednesday, October 15, 2025
The Oglethorpe County Board of Education approved a millage rate of 14.962 mills, lower than last year’s 16.025, during its Tuesday night meeting. This 2025 rate determines how much residents will pay in school taxes, based on 40% of their property’s market value.
The logo for the new Patriots Health Hub features both the MedLink logo and the Oglethorpe patriots logo, showcasing a combined effort to keep the county healthy. The Hub is located in the multipurpose complex. (Maura Rutledge/ Oglethorpe Echo)

The logo for the new Patriots Health Hub features both the MedLink logo and the Oglethorpe patriots logo, showcasing a combined effort to keep the county healthy. The Hub is located in the multipurpose complex. (Maura Rutledge/ Oglethorpe Echo)

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School health hub opens in old OCES

Maura Rutledge
Monday, October 13, 2025
MedLink Georgia has officially opened the Patriot Health Hub. The health center offers a range of services, such as check-ups, pediatrics, women's health, sports physicals, immunizations and imaging. The clinic officially opened on Sept. 29, and will have a formal ribbon-cutting on Nov. 20.
Carlton Sanders, who spoke at a recent Historic Oglethorpe presentation, said he plans to reopen his family barbecue restaurant in Vesta. It’s been closed for more than a year. (Molly Moore/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Carlton Sanders, who spoke at a recent Historic Oglethorpe presentation, said he plans to reopen his family barbecue restaurant in Vesta. It’s been closed for more than a year. (Molly Moore/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Sanders says he’ll reopen BBQ restaurant

Alex Perri
Friday, October 10, 2025
Sanders’ Down Home Barbecue and Soul Food, the beloved restaurant in Vesta, will reopen, family patriarch Carlton Sanders said Monday.

Local Roundup: Early voting for election starts at 8 a.m. Tuesday

News Staff
Friday, October 10, 2025
Advance voting for this year’s general election begins at 8 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14 at the Oglethorpe County Board of Elections at 41 Fairground Road. Advance voting will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and on two Saturdays: Oct. 18 and 25 prior to the general election on Nov. 4.
Oglethorpe County commissioners (from left) Andy Saxon, David Clark, Howard Sanders, Will Brown and Tracy Norman listen to residents during the public portion of the BOC meeting on Monday. The meeting lasted 25 minutes. (Andy Johnston/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Oglethorpe County commissioners (from left) Andy Saxon, David Clark, Howard Sanders, Will Brown and Tracy Norman listen to residents during the public portion of the BOC meeting on Monday. The meeting lasted 25 minutes. (Andy Johnston/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Commission approves A1 modifications

Kimberly Thomas
Thursday, October 9, 2025
The Oglethorpe County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved revisions to the A1 Zoning District ordinance following a recommended approval from the zoning board at its Monday meeting.
Doug Griffin stands outside the tents that will host the Field of Worship event Oct. 10–12. All of the tents were donated. (Photo/Molly Moore)

Doug Griffin stands outside the tents that will host the Field of Worship event Oct. 10–12. All of the tents were donated. (Photo/Molly Moore)

Local ministry hosts worship services in tents

Molly Moore
Thursday, October 9, 2025
Upper Room Athens is providing a fresh approach to worship in Oglethorpe County this weekend.
The grain elevator at Oglethorpe Feed and Hardware Supply stretches 125 feet from the ground and provides efficient unloading and loading of feed. The Sanders have seen greater efficiency since its completion in July. (Elizabeth Kim/The Oglethorpe Echo)

The grain elevator at Oglethorpe Feed and Hardware Supply stretches 125 feet from the ground and provides efficient unloading and loading of feed. The Sanders have seen greater efficiency since its completion in July. (Elizabeth Kim/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Grain elevator boosts efficiency at feed store

Makenna Reavis
Thursday, October 9, 2025
The Sanders family, which has been running Oglethorpe Feed and Hardware Supply since 1998, introduced a towering addition to their business this summer: a 125-foot-tall grain elevator.
An adoptable house cat plays outside on the "catio" at Madison Oglethorpe Animal Shelter in Danielsville, GA. MOAS uses TNR procedures to limit the feral cat population in Madison and Oglethorpe counties so those cats don't end up in the shelter. (Hannah Freeman/The Oglethorpe Echo)

An adoptable house cat plays outside on the "catio" at Madison Oglethorpe Animal Shelter in Danielsville, GA. MOAS uses TNR procedures to limit the feral cat population in Madison and Oglethorpe counties so those cats don't end up in the shelter. (Hannah Freeman/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Shelter helps decrease feral cat population

Hannah Freeman
Wednesday, October 8, 2025
Each year, Madison Oglethorpe Animal Shelter takes in about 2,000 animals — most of them cats. With feral cat populations an ongoing issue, the shelter has turned to a process called trap-neuter-return (TNR) to stem the tide.  In 2024, the shelter performed about 190 TNR procedures on feral cats.