Local News

(The Oglethorpe Echo File Photos & Submitted Photos)

(The Oglethorpe Echo File Photos & Submitted Photos)

Arts!Oglethorpe celebrates three decades on the stage

Jennifer Xia
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
  In 1995, Sonja Roach stood behind a curtain in the Oglethorpe County High School cafeteria, waiting to take the stage as an Irish mother in Meredith Willson’s “The Music Man” with Oglethorpe Community Theater.
Andrew Majsztrik stands next to his welcome sign at Andrew’s Farm & Nursery in Arnoldsville. The sign, designed by Letter It in Lexington, leads to the 65 acres of land Majsztrik uses for his businesses. (Photo/Jennifer Xia)

Andrew Majsztrik stands next to his welcome sign at Andrew’s Farm & Nursery in Arnoldsville. The sign, designed by Letter It in Lexington, leads to the 65 acres of land Majsztrik uses for his businesses. (Photo/Jennifer Xia)

Majsztrik hopes nursery will become ‘destination’

Jennifer Xia
Wednesday, June 11, 2025
Andrew Majsztrik’s first word wasn’t “mom” or “dad” — it was “lawn mower.” By the age of 9, he began knocking on doors in his New Jersey neighborhood, asking to mow lawns.  “One person was crazy enough to say yes to a 9-year-old, so I ran and got my push mower,” Majsztrik said.
Danny Gorman retired last week after 41 years working for Conwed Plastics in Athens. He also serves on the Maxeys City Council. (Submitted Photo)

Danny Gorman retired last week after 41 years working for Conwed Plastics in Athens. He also serves on the Maxeys City Council. (Submitted Photo)

‘Old school’ is out: Gorman retires after 41 years at Conwed

Elizabeth Kim
Wednesday, June 11, 2025
Danny Gorman describes himself as someone who dislikes change. This can be seen in multiple decades-long commitments in his life.  He’s lived in Maxeys for 35 years, married to his high school sweetheart for over 46 years and, until last Monday, he had worked at the same company for 41 years.
A crew from the Oglethorpe County Public Works Department clears a large oak that blocked Crawford Smithonia Road after storms knocked down more than 50 trees throughout the county on Saturday evening. The crew included Dwayne Fowler, Christian Moon, Logan Gabriel and Kayla Gravely. (Submitted Photo)

A crew from the Oglethorpe County Public Works Department clears a large oak that blocked Crawford Smithonia Road after storms knocked down more than 50 trees throughout the county on Saturday evening. The crew included Dwayne Fowler, Christian Moon, Logan Gabriel and Kayla Gravely. (Submitted Photo)

More than 50 trees go down in storm

News Staff
Wednesday, June 11, 2025
Saturday’s storm knocked down more than 50 trees throughout Oglethorpe County, public works director Adam Nation said. The storms produced winds up to 30 mph and gusts up to 50 mph in the Athens area, according to the National Weather Service.
Employees from Atlanta-based architecture firm Perkins & Will help to unload an MRI machine during construction and design of the University of Georgia Veterinary Teaching Hospital, which opened in 2015. Susan Sharp said the process often came with “learning curves,” like determining the amount of space the machines needed. (Submitted Photo)

Employees from Atlanta-based architecture firm Perkins & Will help to unload an MRI machine during construction and design of the University of Georgia Veterinary Teaching Hospital, which opened in 2015. Susan Sharp said the process often came with “learning curves,” like determining the amount of space the machines needed. (Submitted Photo)

Sharp shines as vet hospital architect

Anna Izquierdo
Wednesday, June 11, 2025
A college chemistry class that “kicked (her) on the tail” and an architecture school project sponsored by Hill’s Pet Nutrition were starting factors to Susan Sharp’s career and passion.
Cory Tillman (left) and library branch manager Nicole Hensley stand with the handcrafted patio set that he helped build as part of his Eagle Scout project. The chairs are an addition to plans to expand the library's patio area. (Photo/Elizabeth Kim)

Cory Tillman (left) and library branch manager Nicole Hensley stand with the handcrafted patio set that he helped build as part of his Eagle Scout project. The chairs are an addition to plans to expand the library's patio area. (Photo/Elizabeth Kim)

Boy Scout’s new chairs help kick off library expansion

Elizabeth Kim
Wednesday, June 11, 2025
Oglethorpe County Library has added two handcrafted chairs and a table as part of its patio expansion.  Cory Tillman, a rising senior at Oglethorpe County High School, completed the chairs with the help of Boy Scout Troop 22 of Athens as part of his Eagle Scout service project.
Superintendent Beverley Levine attends the BOE meeting via Zoom while she’s visiting family in South Africa. The BOE approved the 2026 budget on Tuesday. (Photo/Zach Leggio)

Superintendent Beverley Levine attends the BOE meeting via Zoom while she’s visiting family in South Africa. The BOE approved the 2026 budget on Tuesday. (Photo/Zach Leggio)

BOE approves deficit budget at $30.8 million

Zach Leggio
Wednesday, June 11, 2025
The Oglethorpe County Board of Education unanimously approved the budget for the 2026 fiscal year at its meeting on Tuesday. The total revenue is projected at $30.8 million and the total expenses at $33.7 million, resulting in a nearly $3 million deficit.
First responders pull volunteer students and a bus driver from a flipped school bus during the EMA’s mass casualty exercise on Saturday. The volunteers stood in for injured students and their parents. (Photo/Emma Greene)

First responders pull volunteer students and a bus driver from a flipped school bus during the EMA’s mass casualty exercise on Saturday. The volunteers stood in for injured students and their parents. (Photo/Emma Greene)

Fake accident prepares EMA for the worst

Emma Greene
Wednesday, June 11, 2025
First responders pulled three students in critical condition and a deceased bus driver from a flipped school bus and put them on stretchers to be carried to nearby ambulances.  Three other students were treated for mild injuries as their parents stood near the scene.