Local News

MOAS director Juli Huth holds a $5,000 donation from Linda Kelly of The Kelly Family Foundation. The foundation gives an annual donation to the shelter. (Photo/Jennifer Xia)

MOAS director Juli Huth holds a $5,000 donation from Linda Kelly of The Kelly Family Foundation. The foundation gives an annual donation to the shelter. (Photo/Jennifer Xia)

Bark & Wine raises $25K for MOAS

Jennifer Xia
Wednesday, June 4, 2025
Sherrie Hines already has a plan for part of the $25,000 that MOAS raised at its 10th annual Bark & Wine on Saturday. An immediate need is replacing the air conditioning unit at MOAS’ main building.
Penny Miller (right), who is directing “Shrek the Musical,” works with Bradley Sullivan (left), who will play Shrek, and Killian Ross (center), who will play Fiona, in a rehearsal at the Historic Crawford School on Monday. The show will close Arts!Oglethorpe’s 30th season. (Photo/Emma Greene)

Penny Miller (right), who is directing “Shrek the Musical,” works with Bradley Sullivan (left), who will play Shrek, and Killian Ross (center), who will play Fiona, in a rehearsal at the Historic Crawford School on Monday. The show will close Arts!Oglethorpe’s 30th season. (Photo/Emma Greene)

Arts!Oglethorpe closes 30th season with ‘Shrek the Musical’

Emma Greene
Wednesday, June 4, 2025
Arts!Oglethorpe will wrap up its 30th season with a production of “Shrek the Musical,” set to open Friday, June 20 at the Historic Crawford School.  The show will run for two weekends, from June 20–22 and June 26–28.
Marianne Camacho (from left), Paul Thiel and Frank Eberhart discuss fiscal and operational responsibilities during the Oglethorpe County School System’s strategic planning meeting on Tuesday at OCMS. (Photo/Anna Izquierdo)

Marianne Camacho (from left), Paul Thiel and Frank Eberhart discuss fiscal and operational responsibilities during the Oglethorpe County School System’s strategic planning meeting on Tuesday at OCMS. (Photo/Anna Izquierdo)

School safety discussed at planning meeting

Anna Izquierdo
Wednesday, June 4, 2025
Overseeing school safety and maintenance is a “big responsibility” and “very high priority” for Paul Thiel, who said he has seen significant upgrades to the safety and appearance of the Oglethorpe County School System the past two years.

Officials warn of positive rabies case in Crawford

News Staff
Wednesday, June 4, 2025
The Georgia Department of Public Health confirmed a positive case of rabies in Oglethorpe County, according to a June 3 release.The fox spotted and killed on South Woodlawn Drive in Crawford on May 23 was sent to the State Public Health Laboratory on May 27.Read the full press release below.

Spencer hopes to gain info from exercise

Emma Greene
Wednesday, June 4, 2025
Douglas Spencer, Oglethorpe County’s administrator for the emergency management agency, has run two smaller mass casualty exercises in preparation for the larger simulation planned for Saturday.

Local Roundup: Rep from Lt. Governor’s office available on Friday

News Staff
Wednesday, May 28, 2025
A representative from Lt. Gov. Burt Jones’ office will be available to meet with the public from 9-11 a.m. Friday, May 30 at the Board of Commissioners office (105 Union Point Road, Lexington).  Luke Hetland, the North Georgia field director, will hold mobile office hours during that time.

Chamber sees personnel changes

Jennifer Xia
Wednesday, May 28, 2025
Ronnie Boggs stepped in as chairman of the Oglethorpe County Chamber of Commerce earlier this year following the resignation of former chairman Williamson Sintyl.
Rowdy Rooster co-owners Jamie Lewis (left) and Kathleen deMarrais stand next to Marisa Mustard’s hanging art display. The display is Mustard’s first exhibit inside the cafe. (Photo/Anna Izquierdo)

Rowdy Rooster co-owners Jamie Lewis (left) and Kathleen deMarrais stand next to Marisa Mustard’s hanging art display. The display is Mustard’s first exhibit inside the cafe. (Photo/Anna Izquierdo)

Local artist brings new art to Rowdy Rooster

Anna Izquierdo
Wednesday, May 28, 2025
Artist Marisa Mustard is no stranger to displaying her art at Rowdy Rooster since completing a mural in January for the bakery and deli.  Though Mustard said she normally paints murals, a decision to “(take) a few weeks off” from painting led to the creation of her first interior art display.
(Graphic/Jennifer Xia)

(Graphic/Jennifer Xia)

Oglethorpe population continues to increase

Lux Corrona and Jennifer Xia
Wednesday, May 28, 2025
For families like the Nations, generational ties to Oglethorpe County run deep — 93 years deep.  “My mother and father was Fred Duncan Nation and Bertha Mae Nation,” said Ora D. Nation, who is 86. “They moved out of North Carolina near Dillsboro in 1932.