Local News

Lexington budget rises $118K, but is balanced

Zach Leggio
Thursday, July 17, 2025
Lexington approved its budget for the 2025 fiscal year at $646,740, which includes a $118,803 increase. A large portion of the budget is dedicated to water services, which cost the city roughly $389,000. The budget, however, remains balanced.
Kayla Gravely said she’s learning to drive heavy equipment, like an excavator. Gravely is the first woman to be hired to work for Oglethorpe County’s road maintenance crew. (Submitted Photo)

Kayla Gravely said she’s learning to drive heavy equipment, like an excavator. Gravely is the first woman to be hired to work for Oglethorpe County’s road maintenance crew. (Submitted Photo)

First woman on road crew part of family

Elizabeth Kim
Thursday, July 17, 2025
Although she’s a newer addition to the Oglethorpe County road maintenance crew, Kayla Gravely said she never worried about fitting in with the team.  “I guess it’s just the way my daddy raised me. I don’t mind working,” she said.
Ty Graham poses with a fish caught during the Napaaqtugmiut School’s annual ice fishing trip. He’s preparing to teach in Alaska for the third consecutive year. (Submitted Photo)

Ty Graham poses with a fish caught during the Napaaqtugmiut School’s annual ice fishing trip. He’s preparing to teach in Alaska for the third consecutive year. (Submitted Photo)

Lessons learned in county prepares teacher for Alaska

Jennifer Xia
Thursday, July 17, 2025
Two years ago, Ty Graham had never stepped into a classroom as a full-time teacher.  This August, he is preparing to make his third trek to teach middle and high school students in a remote Alaskan village north of the Arctic Circle. “It was a huge learning curve,” Graham said.
Courtney Corbin moved into her role as the school resource officer for Oglethorpe County Elementary School and Oglethorpe County Middle School in March, prioritizing safety of the students and staff. “My main motivation was a desire to work with the kids,” she said. (Submitted Photo)

Courtney Corbin moved into her role as the school resource officer for Oglethorpe County Elementary School and Oglethorpe County Middle School in March, prioritizing safety of the students and staff. “My main motivation was a desire to work with the kids,” she said. (Submitted Photo)

New SRO prioritizes safety, relationships

Anna Izquierdo
Thursday, July 17, 2025
Courtney Corbin prioritizes safety in the Oglethorpe County School System and hopes to be a positive influence in students’ lives.  “My goal is to be seen more as a trusted partner instead of just someone in a law enforcement uniform,” Corbin said.
Tom Gresham holds one of the maps detailing Native American sites in Oglethorpe County at UGA’s Archaeological Laboratory this spring. He said the Native Americans in the region lived on farmsteads, which include houses for the extended family. (Photo/Emily Slepsky)

Tom Gresham holds one of the maps detailing Native American sites in Oglethorpe County at UGA’s Archaeological Laboratory this spring. He said the Native Americans in the region lived on farmsteads, which include houses for the extended family. (Photo/Emily Slepsky)

Uncovering Oglethorpe’s Native American past

Jet Rawls and Emily Slepsky
Thursday, July 17, 2025
The Native American history of Oglethorpe County has remained largely unexplored, with its presence faintly echoed in local landmarks and scattered archaeological finds.

Seemingly, there’s no end to hitting deer

Elizabeth Kim
Wednesday, July 16, 2025
Nikki Hughes started caring for and rehabilitating deer fawn in 2020. During that first year, she released three fawns into the wild.  In 2021, Hughes became licensed as a wildlife rehabilitator and opened Camp Critter Wildlife Rescue in Crawford.
Fireworks provided by the American Legion explode over the pond at Bryan Park during the Fourth of July celebration hosted by the Oglethorpe County Recreation Department. Event organizer Tina White said she and her husband Michael White started the celebration six years ago because they were tired of driving to other counties for fireworks. (Elizabeth Kim)

Fireworks provided by the American Legion explode over the pond at Bryan Park during the Fourth of July celebration hosted by the Oglethorpe County Recreation Department. Event organizer Tina White said she and her husband Michael White started the celebration six years ago because they were tired of driving to other counties for fireworks. (Elizabeth Kim)

Photos: July Fourth Celebration

Elizabeth Kim
Thursday, July 10, 2025
People walk, run and bike on the Model Mile of the Firefly Trail in Maxeys, the only completed portion of the trail in Oglethorpe County. The county recently received a grant for $2.9 million to extend the trail to the Greene County line. (Photo/Gianna Rodriguez)

People walk, run and bike on the Model Mile of the Firefly Trail in Maxeys, the only completed portion of the trail in Oglethorpe County. The county recently received a grant for $2.9 million to extend the trail to the Greene County line. (Photo/Gianna Rodriguez)

County receives $2.9 million to extend Firefly Trail to Greene

Elizabeth Kim
Thursday, July 10, 2025
Residents have put the Model Mile of the Firefly Trail to use since its completion in 2021.  “As soon as the mile went down in Maxeys, all the neighbors started getting out and walking and walking their dogs and riding their bicycles,” said Mary Cook, president of Firefly Trail Inc.

Local Roundup: Early PSC runoff voting continues through Friday

News Staff
Thursday, July 10, 2025
Early voting for the Democratic primary runoff for the Public Service Commission continues through Friday, July 11 at the Oglethorpe County Board of Elections. Only those who cast a Democratic ballot or didn’t vote in the primary election on June 17 are eligible to vote in the runoff election.