Local News

OCREA President Leslie Jones hugs Bill Sloan, who is with the Georgia Retired Educators Association, at OCREA’s 50th anniversary celebration at Countryside Catering. OCREA held its first meeting in 1975. Paige Clarke/The Oglethorpe Echo

OCREA President Leslie Jones hugs Bill Sloan, who is with the Georgia Retired Educators Association, at OCREA’s 50th anniversary celebration at Countryside Catering. OCREA held its first meeting in 1975. Paige Clarke/The Oglethorpe Echo

OCREA marks half a century of service

Paige Jeneane Clarke
Thursday, April 17, 2025
At its first gathering in 1975, the Oglethorpe County Retired Educators Association (OCREA) had $2 annual dues and discussed advocacy via telegram to then-Gov. George Busbee.
Jadie Fleming (2) picks up eggs during the Easter egg hunt hosted by Quiet Oaks Nursing Home in Crawford, Ga on April 13, 2025. All eggs were filled with candy donated by family members of Quiet Oaks residents and staff. Two of those contained $5 bills and three held $1 bills. (Photo / Lux Corrona)

Jadie Fleming (2) picks up eggs during the Easter egg hunt hosted by Quiet Oaks Nursing Home in Crawford, Ga on April 13, 2025. All eggs were filled with candy donated by family members of Quiet Oaks residents and staff. Two of those contained $5 bills and three held $1 bills. (Photo / Lux Corrona)

PHOTOS: Quiet Oaks hosts annual Easter egg hunt

Lux Corrona
Wednesday, April 16, 2025
Quiet Oaks Health Care in Crawford hosted its annual Easter egg hunt on Sunday, April 13. All the eggs were filled with candy donated by family members of Quiet Oaks residents and staff. Families, residents, and Cub Scout Pack 377 of Comer, Ga attended the event. 
Judith Paul, 85, poses for a portrait at her home located in the community of Sandy Cross in Oglethorpe County, Georgia on March 27, 2025. She holds a 2002 print copy of The Oglethorpe Echo that recognizes her 25 years of service as the first secretary of Oglethorpe Primary Health Care Center, the first ever healthcare facility to open in Crawford, Georgia in 1979. Above her is a sign that reads "I'm The Queen," made for her by her two sons, Jay and Lee Paul, in honor of her nickname at the Medical Center,

Judith Paul, 85, poses for a portrait at her home located in the community of Sandy Cross in Oglethorpe County, Georgia on March 27, 2025. She holds a 2002 print copy of The Oglethorpe Echo that recognizes her 25 years of service as the first secretary of Oglethorpe Primary Health Care Center, the first ever healthcare facility to open in Crawford, Georgia in 1979. Above her is a sign that reads "I'm The Queen," made for her by her two sons, Jay and Lee Paul, in honor of her nickname at the Medical Center,

Paul, Cummings recall the origin of county’s first clinic

Lux Corrona
Wednesday, April 16, 2025
Visiting a doctor’s office in Oglethorpe County wasn’t always possible.  Before the late 1970s, receiving health care often meant waiting on a doctor to travel from a neighboring county.
Map/Kayda Hammock

Map/Kayda Hammock

Barrs needs rezone for development

Adriana Cascio
Wednesday, April 16, 2025
Barrs Industries CEO Andy Barrs wants to rezone a strip of property to build three warehouses, six self-storage buildings and a parking lot near Highway 78 in Arnoldsville. The 3.
Beth Akins and Eliza O’Tuel, 2, shape Play-Doh during storytime at the Oglethorpe County Library on April 9. Akins started working as the library’s new children’s program specialist earlier this month. (Photo/Julianna Duennes Russ)

Beth Akins and Eliza O’Tuel, 2, shape Play-Doh during storytime at the Oglethorpe County Library on April 9. Akins started working as the library’s new children’s program specialist earlier this month. (Photo/Julianna Duennes Russ)

New beginnings: Ratcliffe leaves as Akins starts job

Leighton Dancy and Julianna Duennes Russ
Wednesday, April 16, 2025
Oglethorpe County Library’s four-person staff is in flux. As Beth Akins begins her job as children’s program specialist at the Oglethorpe County Library, current branch manager Katherine Ratcliffe is moving on to become branch manager at the Bogart Library.
Mya Jewell and Maggie Barnes talk before the 2025 Oglethorpe County High School Prom at Historic Smithonia Farm in Colbert, Georgia on Saturday, April 12, 2025. Jewell and Barnes are both sophomores who helped plan and set up prom. (Photo/Libby Hobbs)

Mya Jewell and Maggie Barnes talk before the 2025 Oglethorpe County High School Prom at Historic Smithonia Farm in Colbert, Georgia on Saturday, April 12, 2025. Jewell and Barnes are both sophomores who helped plan and set up prom. (Photo/Libby Hobbs)

PHOTOS: OCHS Prom returns to Historic Smithonia Farm

Libby Hobbs
Wednesday, April 16, 2025
The 2025 Oglethorpe County High School Prom returned to Historic Smithonia Farm on Saturday, April 12, 2025. Su Moo was crowned Prom Queen, and Aidan Carlan was crowned Prom King.
Saxophonist Bill Oglesby and guitarist Marcelo Buril open their set at Meson Park. The Original Screw Tops recently played at Number 3 Railroad St. in Arnoldsville. (Jet Rawls/ The Oglethorpe Echo)

Saxophonist Bill Oglesby and guitarist Marcelo Buril open their set at Meson Park. The Original Screw Tops recently played at Number 3 Railroad St. in Arnoldsville. (Jet Rawls/ The Oglethorpe Echo)

Screw Tops kick off spring concert series

Jet Rawls
Friday, April 11, 2025
Dozens gathered at Meson Park in downtown Lexington on Saturday for the first of three concerts benefitting the renovation of the Lexington Community Center.

Ratcliffe to leave library; pledge drive continues

News Staff
Thursday, April 10, 2025
Katherine Ratcliffe is leaving as branch manager of the Oglethorpe County Library to take a similar position at the Bogart Library.  Ratcliffe has been in the role for nearly two years, taking over for Austin Jenkins in June 2023.
Lucas (from left), Stetson and Brooke Holcombe stand with their two catahoula leopard dogs, Delta Dawn (left) and Boone (right), at the UGA Intramural Fields last month. The Holcombes, who live in Winterville, have started a hunting business around their dogs. (Photo/Jesse Wood)

Lucas (from left), Stetson and Brooke Holcombe stand with their two catahoula leopard dogs, Delta Dawn (left) and Boone (right), at the UGA Intramural Fields last month. The Holcombes, who live in Winterville, have started a hunting business around their dogs. (Photo/Jesse Wood)

Boone the one-of-a-kind dog: Family’s best friend provides legacy of hunting, love and entrepreneurship

Jesse Wood
Thursday, April 10, 2025
Deer blood in dog kibble is part of the process of turning a puppy into a tracking dog, but Boone, a catahoula leopard dog, didn’t need it. When Boone joined Brooke Holcombe’s life in 2019, he was meant to be a companion, at most a guard dog.