Local News

John Kissane, the development coordinator for the Firefly Trail, said trail organizers are exploring the idea of a spur that would connect Crawford with Lexington at the commission meeting on Monday. It wouldn’t affect the plan to build the trail from Winterville to Greene County. (Andy Johnston/The Oglethorpe Echo)

April Moore, the Oglethorpe County Family Connection coordinator, works with several organizations throughout the county. She donated literacy learning toys and Smart Sacks filled with books, handwriting tools and other items to students last year. (Submitted Photo)

Grady Deaton, 6, and first-grade teacher Katie Cook are all smiles during the first open house at Oglethorpe County Elementary School on Tuesday. The new school is scheduled to open on Friday. (Sarah Coyne/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Folks snap photos of each other at Watson Mill Bridge State Park on New Year’s Day. About 92 people showed up for the park’s annual First Day Hike, three times more than last year. (Dakota Meeks/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Artist Kristan Ryan often paints celebrities, musicians and animals, such as Tina Turner, an angry mother cougar, Tyler, The Creator and Kaitlin Butts. She said the painting of the cougar recently was stolen from the gallery she plans to open in downtown Lexington. (Submitted Photo)

The second-graders who wrote letters include (back, from left): Jude Lutz, Connor Green, Kimarie Bonds, Antonio Johnson, Copelan Williams, Brianna Hercules Monroy, Walter Brown and Claire Kirk; (middle, from left): SJ Noltensmeier, Emma Autry, Cloudy Soe, Valeria Teran-Jaramillo, Adalea Martin, Aiden Patton, Karissa Whitley and Lakelyn Kotch; (front, from left): Savannah Jones, Lorelei Nunn, Peter Lay, Laila Bostic and Hudson Shealy. Not pictured: Lawson Busbin. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

Rural Georgia's long road health care access (Caroline Kostuch/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Alice Hughes moved to Oglethorpe County 18 years ago and became heavily involved in the community and recognizing its history. She died from cancer on Dec. 15 at age 84. (Submitted Photo)

Michael White, Oglethorpe County rec department director, recently spoke to the Board of Commissioners about a promotion to athletic director and a raise for a department employee. There is high demand for the rec department’s teams and leagues. (Andy Johnston/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Kane Dieball stands with part of his collection of Native American artifacts on display at the Oglethorpe County Library. Dieball said he often finds arrowheads and other artifacts when he’s hunting. (Dakota Meeks/The Oglethorpe Echo)