Local News

Hairy Dawg greets members of the Oglethorpe County Senior Center at their UGA tailgate party on Friday. The center also welcomed the UGA Dance Dawgs and cheerleaders. (Hannah Freeman/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Hairy Dawg greets members of the Oglethorpe County Senior Center at their UGA tailgate party on Friday. The center also welcomed the UGA Dance Dawgs and cheerleaders. (Hannah Freeman/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Hairy Dawg helps fire up seniors at center

Hannah Freeman
Wednesday, August 27, 2025
The Oglethorpe County Senior Center has no shortage of Georgia Bulldogs fans — as Hairy Dawg himself can testify.  About 60 seniors showed out in a sea of red and black to celebrate the upcoming football season with a special tailgate party on Aug. 22.
Claudia Reit was appointed to the Oglethorpe County Board of Assessors earlier this month. She said she hopes to bring experience in engineering and community leadership to help guide property valuations and support the county’s growth. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

Claudia Reit was appointed to the Oglethorpe County Board of Assessors earlier this month. She said she hopes to bring experience in engineering and community leadership to help guide property valuations and support the county’s growth. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

Reit, in new role, hopes to help guide county’s growth

Kimberly Thomas
Wednesday, August 27, 2025
After being a structural engineer and earning a master’s degree in applied statistics, Claudia Reit is now channeling her expertise into a different role, serving as the newest member of the Oglethorpe County Board of Assessors.
Beef products on sale at B&T grocery store in Lexington, GA on Aug. 23, 2025. Oglethorpe County is feeling the affects of rising beef prices nationwide (Photo/Jacob Harper).

Beef products on sale at B&T grocery store in Lexington, GA on Aug. 23, 2025. Oglethorpe County is feeling the affects of rising beef prices nationwide (Photo/Jacob Harper).

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Escalating costs pinch beef consumers, suppliers

Jacob Harper
Wednesday, August 27, 2025
Oglethorpe County shoppers and cattle farmers have noticed as beef prices in the U.S. have hit an all-time high.  The average price of ground beef rose to $6.12 in July, more than 12% higher than in 2024.
Pine Grove Road's street sign stands in Arnoldsville, Ga, on Aug. 21, 2025. The city council unanimously approved adding waterline upgrades to the road's proposed paving plan. (Photo/Mia Fishman)

Pine Grove Road's street sign stands in Arnoldsville, Ga, on Aug. 21, 2025. The city council unanimously approved adding waterline upgrades to the road's proposed paving plan. (Photo/Mia Fishman)

Pine Grove Road paving plan sparks debate in Arnoldsville

Mia Fishman
Wednesday, August 27, 2025
Pine Grove Road in Arnoldsville may be paved, but it might also need waterline work. Arnoldsville council member Blake Arnold introduced a motion last Thursday to explore adding waterline upgrades and a new fire hydrant to the Pine Grove Road paving project.
Teachers attend the first meeting of Oglethorpe County School System’s AI Cohort on Aug. 21. The cohort brings together teachers across grade levels for hands-on training with Google’s new Gemini tools in Classroom. (Submitted Photo)

Teachers attend the first meeting of Oglethorpe County School System’s AI Cohort on Aug. 21. The cohort brings together teachers across grade levels for hands-on training with Google’s new Gemini tools in Classroom. (Submitted Photo)

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Teachers learn AI to explore emerging classroom technology

Ella Jones
Wednesday, August 27, 2025
Oglethorpe County Schools is moving artificial intelligence from talk to teaching with a new learning group for educators.
Jennifer Yauck (left) receives a $500 check from Dr. A. Alam Gul of Lexington Primary Care for Oglethorpe County’s Dolly Parton Imagination Library. (Submitted Photo)

Jennifer Yauck (left) receives a $500 check from Dr. A. Alam Gul of Lexington Primary Care for Oglethorpe County’s Dolly Parton Imagination Library. (Submitted Photo)

Local Dolly Parton library aims to be self-sustaining

Anna Izquierdo
Thursday, August 21, 2025
Jennifer Yauck has a goal to raise awareness for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library in hopes the county’s partnership with the library will sustain and grow registration numbers.
(Graphic/Anna Izquierdo)

(Graphic/Anna Izquierdo)

Cellphone ban won’t change much for schools

Anna Izquierdo
Thursday, August 21, 2025
The Oglethorpe County Middle School will not see “too much of a change” in regard to cellphone and personal electronic device policies next school year.  “(The school doesn’t) allow (cellphones) and they never have,” Superintendent Beverley Levine said.

ESPLOST renewal on ballot

Zach Leggio
Thursday, August 21, 2025
The Oglethorpe County Board of Education has approved a resolution to put the Education Special Local Option Sales (ESPOLST) on the ballot this November.
John Fortuna has been digging his own grave for the past year at his property in Lexington. He said he has only a few more inches to go until he reaches 6 feet deep. (Photo/Alex Perri)

John Fortuna has been digging his own grave for the past year at his property in Lexington. He said he has only a few more inches to go until he reaches 6 feet deep. (Photo/Alex Perri)

Digging his own grave

Alex Perri
Thursday, August 21, 2025
Lexington artist John Fortuna’s property is sprinkled with his handiwork.  His home, a 1,200-square-foot geodesic dome, he hand-built with his brother’s help.  Inside, the space is covered with his award-winning artwork. In his yard are two more domes he’s built to house his peacocks and chickens.