Local News

Thomas Gresham, a local historian, tells stories about the history of the Oglethorpe County Jail. He helped turn the jail into a museum. (Jack Casey/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Thomas Gresham, a local historian, tells stories about the history of the Oglethorpe County Jail. He helped turn the jail into a museum. (Jack Casey/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Lexington faced with choices about historic jail

News Staff
Thursday, February 6, 2025
Oglethorpe County’s historic jail has stood witness to 146 years of Southern history in downtown Lexington. Now, as the city continues to evolve around it, it’s looking for options for the jail property.
The Historic Crawford Depot has become a resource for Oglethorpe County, but more renovations are needed, Oglethorpe County Chamber of Commerce tourism and hospitality director Linda Parish said. The Depot was built in 1848. (Olivia Wilson/The Oglethorpe Echo)

The Historic Crawford Depot has become a resource for Oglethorpe County, but more renovations are needed, Oglethorpe County Chamber of Commerce tourism and hospitality director Linda Parish said. The Depot was built in 1848. (Olivia Wilson/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Crawford Depot keeps 177 years of history alive with renovations

News Staff
Thursday, February 6, 2025
Granite-block walls, a kitchen, bathrooms, open community room and electrical work. The Historic Crawford Depot has undergone a transformation in recent years, and it’s not done yet.
Walter McCannon Jr. is checked out at the new cash register by assistant store manager Michele Roberts at the B&T’s Food Fresh Market in Lexington last week. The location expects several renovations this year, including paint, aisle markers and lighting. (Photo/Adriana Cascio)

Walter McCannon Jr. is checked out at the new cash register by assistant store manager Michele Roberts at the B&T’s Food Fresh Market in Lexington last week. The location expects several renovations this year, including paint, aisle markers and lighting. (Photo/Adriana Cascio)

New registers, renovations coming to B&T’s

Adriana Cascio
Thursday, February 6, 2025
B&T’s Food Fresh Market in Lexington continues to be the best-selling store in the chain, said co-owner John Triplett, who anticipates renovations despite the closure of its Watkinsville location.
(Jet Rawls/ The Oglethorpe Echo) The entrance sign for Sandy Cross Grocery, Hardware, and Cafe.

(Jet Rawls/ The Oglethorpe Echo) The entrance sign for Sandy Cross Grocery, Hardware, and Cafe.

Community comfort: Sandy Cross store provides food, fellowship and friends

Jet Rawls
Wednesday, February 5, 2025
Derek Paul started going to Sandy Cross Grocery, Hardware and Cafe as a child. “When I grew up, my daddy would take me to the store and there would be four or five old guys sitting around drinking coffee or playing checkers,” Paul said.
(Jet Rawls/The Oglethorpe Echo) Executive Director Derek Paul teaches the Personal Spiritual Life class at WorldReach. Classes meet from 6:30-9 p.m. on Mondays at Living Water Baptist Church in Arnoldsville

(Jet Rawls/The Oglethorpe Echo) Executive Director Derek Paul teaches the Personal Spiritual Life class at WorldReach. Classes meet from 6:30-9 p.m. on Mondays at Living Water Baptist Church in Arnoldsville

Arnoldsville Abroad: WorldReach Bible Institute Lives up to its name

Jet Rawls
Wednesday, February 5, 2025
Living Water Baptist Church may look like other churches in Oglethorpe County, but within is WorldReach Bible Institute, a school that gives its students the opportunity to delve deeper into the Bible at campuses in nine countries.
Officers Kevin Wright, left, and Robert Kline, right, are the new Oglethorpe County Schools resource officers. Wright, the officer for Oglethorpe County High School, said his role is to make sure students get “to go home every day.” He previously worked the night shift at the Sheriff’s Office. Kline is the officer for both Oglethorpe County Elementary and Middle schools. He also worked at the Sheriff’s Office, as part of the jail staff, before his new role. (Photo/Lucy Grey Shields)

Officers Kevin Wright, left, and Robert Kline, right, are the new Oglethorpe County Schools resource officers. Wright, the officer for Oglethorpe County High School, said his role is to make sure students get “to go home every day.” He previously worked the night shift at the Sheriff’s Office. Kline is the officer for both Oglethorpe County Elementary and Middle schools. He also worked at the Sheriff’s Office, as part of the jail staff, before his new role. (Photo/Lucy Grey Shields)

SROs make their presence known

Lucy Grey Shields
Wednesday, February 5, 2025
Robert Kline said some students at Oglethorpe Elementary School call him Mr. Clean because of his "bald head," but Kline isn’t there to tidy the school.  “Our job is basically to make sure the kids are safe and secure,” Kline said. “That’s what our primary job is.
Jeff Sharp gives an update on the runoff issues from the Timberland Solar site during the Oglethorpe County Board of Commissioners meeting on Monday. Sharp, the county’s director of planning, zoning and compliance, is working with RWE to resolve the problem. (Felix Scheyer/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Jeff Sharp gives an update on the runoff issues from the Timberland Solar site during the Oglethorpe County Board of Commissioners meeting on Monday. Sharp, the county’s director of planning, zoning and compliance, is working with RWE to resolve the problem. (Felix Scheyer/The Oglethorpe Echo)

RWE to fix runoff at Timberland

Emery Pikel
Wednesday, February 5, 2025
Jeff Sharp told the Oglethorpe County Board of Commissioners that RWE Clean Energy, the owner of the Timberland Solar Project, “has acknowledged” stormwater runoff issues and agrees to redesign the site to protect residents who have been affected by flooding for years.

Local man pardoned by Trump executive order

Leighton Dancy
Thursday, January 30, 2025
Nolan Kidd, of Crawford, is one of more than 1,500 people who have been pardoned by President Donald Trump for their actions during the riot in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021.  Kidd initially faced four charges, but pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of illegally demonstrating in the Capitol.
Raegan Poulnott, 17, a senior at Oglethorpe County High School, raises pigs and competes in livestock shows around the state. Poulnott started at just 3 years old, has grown up around livestock and works daily with her animals to prepare for competitions. (Photo/Lilly Stone)

Raegan Poulnott, 17, a senior at Oglethorpe County High School, raises pigs and competes in livestock shows around the state. Poulnott started at just 3 years old, has grown up around livestock and works daily with her animals to prepare for competitions. (Photo/Lilly Stone)

Pride in her Pigs: Poulnott finds success in the arena

Lilly Stone
Thursday, January 30, 2025
While her peers spend their weekends catching up on sleep, Oglethorpe County High School senior Raegan Poulnott is up early, painting pigs and preparing them for competition. Yes, painting pigs.
Hanna Burdette (left) and April Nation (right) share a smile six weeks after their successful kidney transplant. Nation donated a kidney to her daughter after Burdette went into kidney failure in May of 2024. (Photo/Jennifer Xia)

Hanna Burdette (left) and April Nation (right) share a smile six weeks after their successful kidney transplant. Nation donated a kidney to her daughter after Burdette went into kidney failure in May of 2024. (Photo/Jennifer Xia)

A mother’s gift of life: Kidney for daughter

Jennifer Xia
Thursday, January 30, 2025
This past Christmas, an Oglethorpe County mother gave her daughter a second gift of life.  April Nation, 44, and Hanna Burdette, 26, underwent a kidney transplant on Dec. 13 at Emory University Hospital.