Local News

Rebecca Wood's yard, located outside of Lexington, Georgia, was destroyed by feral hogs. (Photo/Jesse Wood)

Rebecca Wood's yard, located outside of Lexington, Georgia, was destroyed by feral hogs. (Photo/Jesse Wood)

Feral hogs impact county yards, land

Jesse Wood
Thursday, March 13, 2025
Rebecca Wood trudged through her yard late last month to inspect her uprooted grass. She pointed to her beloved flower bed, home to tall, blooming perennials and annuals, and let out an aggravated sigh.“It’s just like a rototiller went through there,” Wood said. “I’m super pissed off about that.
Practice manager Hillary Whiddon (right) assists surgery and pharmacy manager Kameron Brownlee at the Oglethorpe Animal Clinic in 2022. Whiddon helped come up with the idea for the clinic’s new overnight emergency care.

Practice manager Hillary Whiddon (right) assists surgery and pharmacy manager Kameron Brownlee at the Oglethorpe Animal Clinic in 2022. Whiddon helped come up with the idea for the clinic’s new overnight emergency care.

Animal clinic offers new overnight service to pets

Lux Corrona
Thursday, March 13, 2025
There is no need to fear if your pet needs local emergency medical care, even in the middle of the night.  Oglethorpe Animal Clinic started offering overnight support through tele-triage service to clients and patients on Feb. 17.
School system employees and residents gather at Oglethorpe County High School for a community listening session. Beverley Levine started the sessions after she became the superintendent 10 years ago. Paige Clarke/The Oglethorpe Echo

School system employees and residents gather at Oglethorpe County High School for a community listening session. Beverley Levine started the sessions after she became the superintendent 10 years ago. Paige Clarke/The Oglethorpe Echo

Listening to residents helps school system adapt

Paige Jeneane Clarke
Thursday, March 13, 2025
Morale was low and trust in the central office was waning when Beverley Levine took over as superintendent of the Oglethorpe County School System in 2015.
The 2025 Miss Oglethorpe contestants are (top, from left): Taya Cochran, RaeLynn Bowman, Brooklyn Litz and Harper Hasson; (second row, from left) AvaGrace Hammond, Sadie Sammons, Scarlett Mathe and Amelia Mauldin; (third row, from left) Laura Spearing, Maggie Hulse and Ava Colquitt; (bottom, from left) Riley Sisk, Neveah Calhoun, London Young and Abby Irwin. (Submitted Photos)

The 2025 Miss Oglethorpe contestants are (top, from left): Taya Cochran, RaeLynn Bowman, Brooklyn Litz and Harper Hasson; (second row, from left) AvaGrace Hammond, Sadie Sammons, Scarlett Mathe and Amelia Mauldin; (third row, from left) Laura Spearing, Maggie Hulse and Ava Colquitt; (bottom, from left) Riley Sisk, Neveah Calhoun, London Young and Abby Irwin. (Submitted Photos)

Miss Oglethorpe 2025 under new leadership for this year

Jennifer Xia
Thursday, March 13, 2025
Fifteen contestants will take the stage this Saturday at the eighth Miss Oglethorpe Scholarship Pageant. Although it was canceled in 2024 due to a lack of participation, the pageant is under new leadership this year.
Volunteers with the CAYA House pack donation bins and refrigerator bags ahead of the nonprofit's February delivery. The organization delivers to an average of 10 families a month around Oglethorpe County. (Photo/Jennifer Xia)

Volunteers with the CAYA House pack donation bins and refrigerator bags ahead of the nonprofit's February delivery. The organization delivers to an average of 10 families a month around Oglethorpe County. (Photo/Jennifer Xia)

Come as you are: CAYA House offers tailored aid to families

Jennifer Xia
Thursday, March 13, 2025
There’s a small blue shed filled with shelves of donated goods from piles of toiletries to a freezer full of locally sourced meat behind Mt. Pleasant Community Church in Crawford.
Vintage and antique items are displayed during the First Friday event in downtown Lexington on Feb. 7.Gina Holloway, Linda Parish’s partner, said they’ve received positive feedback. (Photo/Libby Hobbs)

Vintage and antique items are displayed during the First Friday event in downtown Lexington on Feb. 7.Gina Holloway, Linda Parish’s partner, said they’ve received positive feedback. (Photo/Libby Hobbs)

Parish plans to bring antique, art businesses to Lexington

Libby Hobbs
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
Linda Parish plans to bring new art and antique businesses to the buildings next to The Oglethorpe Echo in downtown Lexington. “There's a lot of talent in this county,” Parish said. “The art colony that we have out here is, I think, really important to the county.
Oglethorpe Echo social logo

Oglethorpe Echo social logo

BOE approves literacy coach, personnel for new school year

Lucy Grey Shields
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
The Oglethorpe County Board of Education approved personnel recommendations for the 2025-2026 school year during its Tuesday meeting, including a new literacy coach for the elementary school.Rebecca Crook will take the role of instructional literacy coach at OCES.
Crawford Mayor Seavy O'Neal discusses updates to Crawford’s procurement policy during the city council meeting on Tuesday. The council approved streamlining the approval process for contracts valued between $500 and $5,000. (Photo/Luis Vaquero)

Crawford Mayor Seavy O'Neal discusses updates to Crawford’s procurement policy during the city council meeting on Tuesday. The council approved streamlining the approval process for contracts valued between $500 and $5,000. (Photo/Luis Vaquero)

Crawford’s City Council revises procurement policy

Luis Vaquero
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
 The Crawford City Council unanimously approved changes to its procurement policy during Tuesday night’s council meeting, aiming to clarify bidding requirements and strengthen oversight on city contracts.
Jodie Zeuke oversees the distribution operations as volunteers assist families in selecting the groceries they need during the mobile food pantry event on Thursday, Feb. 20. (Photo/Luis Vaquero)

Jodie Zeuke oversees the distribution operations as volunteers assist families in selecting the groceries they need during the mobile food pantry event on Thursday, Feb. 20. (Photo/Luis Vaquero)

Mobile food pantry aims to meet demand

Luis Vaquero
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
Turley Howard, a social worker and long-time organizer of the Oglethorpe County Mobile Food Pantry, said the initiative has deep roots. “It’s been years, probably close to 10,” said Howard, who works for the Oglethorpe County School System.
Co-owner Willie Torres shakes hands with Branson McDonald, a first-timer at Town and Country Kafe, on Feb. 26. Many customers aren’t familiar with the cafe and find it in online searches, Torres said. (ADRIANA CASCIO/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Co-owner Willie Torres shakes hands with Branson McDonald, a first-timer at Town and Country Kafe, on Feb. 26. Many customers aren’t familiar with the cafe and find it in online searches, Torres said. (ADRIANA CASCIO/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Cooking up events: Town and Country Kafe marks one year

Adriana Cascio
Wednesday, March 5, 2025
Co-owner Willie Torres said Town and Country Kafe has found success in its first year despite challenges since its grand opening.  Torres and his wife Amy Delfin-Torres opened the Crawford restaurant, also known as TCK, on Feb. 29, 2024.