Local News

Belle, the longest dog resident at the Madison Oglethorpe Animal Shelter, jumps on executive director Juli Huth. Recently hired, Huth has goals "to see (the shelter's) length of stay go down." (Photo/Jennifer Xia)

Belle, the longest dog resident at the Madison Oglethorpe Animal Shelter, jumps on executive director Juli Huth. Recently hired, Huth has goals "to see (the shelter's) length of stay go down." (Photo/Jennifer Xia)

Q&A: New MOAS director brings interim experience to role

Jennifer Xia
Thursday, April 10, 2025
Juli Huth stepped into her new role as executive director of the Madison Oglethorpe Animal Shelter (MOAS) this past March with quite a bit of experience. She served as interim director twice in the last two years.
District 1 Commissioners Howard Sanders (right) and District 3 Commissioner David Clark (left) examine a map of Dredrick Lane's property has he defended his variance request at the April Board of Commissioners meeting on April 7, 2025, in Lexington, Georgia. Lane was granted his request for an address on Hutchins Wolfskin Road. (Photo/Zach Leggio)

District 1 Commissioners Howard Sanders (right) and District 3 Commissioner David Clark (left) examine a map of Dredrick Lane's property has he defended his variance request at the April Board of Commissioners meeting on April 7, 2025, in Lexington, Georgia. Lane was granted his request for an address on Hutchins Wolfskin Road. (Photo/Zach Leggio)

BOC OKs new drone program

Zach Leggio
Wednesday, April 9, 2025
The Oglethorpe County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved moving forward in the process to buy three drones to use for search and rescue operations, terrain mapping, watershed inspections and even sludge tracking.
Anastasia Davis’s new home is in Maxeys on Sunday, March 30. The suspended bedroom and deck with joint fireplaces hang above the drive-through garage and barn. (Photo/Anastasia Davis)

Anastasia Davis’s new home is in Maxeys on Sunday, March 30. The suspended bedroom and deck with joint fireplaces hang above the drive-through garage and barn. (Photo/Anastasia Davis)

A showcase for Sanchez

Emily Slepsky
Wednesday, April 9, 2025
 Anastasia “Staz” Davis wanted a home suited to her lifestyle, one that could accommodate her motorcycles and horses.  So she met with local artist and architect Cynzia Sanchez at a clearing in the woods where the house would one day stand, describing her vision.
Gwendoline Browning answers questions asked by the fifth graders of Oglethorpe County Elementary School during her presentation on Friday, March 28, 2025 in Lexington, GA. Browning sat patiently and listened to these questions for thirty minutes after she had finished telling her story. (Photo/Frankie Hennessy)

Gwendoline Browning answers questions asked by the fifth graders of Oglethorpe County Elementary School during her presentation on Friday, March 28, 2025 in Lexington, GA. Browning sat patiently and listened to these questions for thirty minutes after she had finished telling her story. (Photo/Frankie Hennessy)

WWII survivor shares survival story with OCES fifth-graders

Frankie Hennessy
Thursday, April 3, 2025
It is not every day that a class at Oglethorpe County Elementary School gets to meet someone who lived through World War II, especially someone who escaped the German blitz of London by evacuation as a child.
A koi fish swims in the upper pond within the backyard of Sheriff David Gabriel on Monday, March 17, 2025. Koi are largely social and collective creatures, and some even develop distinct “personalities” within their school such as a leader or a loner. (Photo/Felix Scheyer)

A koi fish swims in the upper pond within the backyard of Sheriff David Gabriel on Monday, March 17, 2025. Koi are largely social and collective creatures, and some even develop distinct “personalities” within their school such as a leader or a loner. (Photo/Felix Scheyer)

Photos: At peace with his fish

Felix Scheyer
Thursday, April 3, 2025
In addition to being the sheriff of Oglethorpe County, David Gabriel is an avid koi enthusiast whose love for koi began nearly 30 years ago when he helped his father build a koi pond outside of his childhood home.
Voting for the Special Election will take place at the Athens-Clarke County Elections Office. “We've got a great council now and I hope they just round it out with a whole lot of energy and passion for the city.” (Photo/Olivia Wilson)

Voting for the Special Election will take place at the Athens-Clarke County Elections Office. “We've got a great council now and I hope they just round it out with a whole lot of energy and passion for the city.” (Photo/Olivia Wilson)

Winterville City Council to hold special election

Olivia Wilson
Thursday, April 3, 2025
Qualifying is this week for a vacant Winterville City Council seat after the resignation of council member Tina Mills. Winterville Mayor Dodd Ferrelle said he has high hopes for the resident who steps into this vacancy.

Oglethorpe opposes facility in Franklin

News Staff
Wednesday, April 2, 2025
Oglethorpe County plans to support Franklin County in its battle against a possible Pilgrim’s Pride chicken rendering plant on state Route 145 near the Broad River in Franklin Springs. Commission chair Jay Paul said he’s sent a resolution to county attorney Chip Ferguson.
Will Eberhart (right) hands the keys to his Oglethorpe County work truck to Board of Commission Chairman Jay Paul. On April 5, Eberhart will finish a 12-year-long career working for the Oglethorpe County government and a 45-year-long career serving the county. (Photo/Dink Nesmith)

Will Eberhart (right) hands the keys to his Oglethorpe County work truck to Board of Commission Chairman Jay Paul. On April 5, Eberhart will finish a 12-year-long career working for the Oglethorpe County government and a 45-year-long career serving the county. (Photo/Dink Nesmith)

Eberhart retires after 45 years

Zach Leggio
Wednesday, April 2, 2025
William Eberhart, better known around Oglethorpe County as Will, said he comes from a family of committed workers. His mother worked at St.
Ben Hill (from left) of the Georgia Falconry Association was joined by his sponsor Dennis Blanton and apprentice Joel Bearden at the Jefferson Public Library for a presentation on the art of falconry. Hill and Blanton showcased a sister pair of Harris’s hawks, known for their cooperative hunting, while Bearden held a red-tailed hawk.

Ben Hill (from left) of the Georgia Falconry Association was joined by his sponsor Dennis Blanton and apprentice Joel Bearden at the Jefferson Public Library for a presentation on the art of falconry. Hill and Blanton showcased a sister pair of Harris’s hawks, known for their cooperative hunting, while Bearden held a red-tailed hawk.

Arnoldsville falconer aims to protect raptors

Lilly Stone
Wednesday, April 2, 2025
 Three falconers stand before a packed room at the Jefferson Public Library.  Each has a hawk perched on a thick leather glove, designed to protect them from the weight of the birds alone, enough to pierce their skin without trying.