Local News

Oglethorpe County High School students Landon King (left) and Kayden Watkins have been selected to the Athens-Area chapter of the Watson Brown Foundation Junior Board of Trustees. King said he would like to become an archaeologist. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

Oglethorpe County High School students Landon King (left) and Kayden Watkins have been selected to the Athens-Area chapter of the Watson Brown Foundation Junior Board of Trustees. King said he would like to become an archaeologist. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

OCHS students chosen for area preservation committee

Ashby Booth
Wednesday, November 6, 2024
Oglethorpe County High School students Kayden Watkins and Landon King have been selected to the Athens-Area chapter of the Watson Brown Foundation Junior Board of Trustees.   The foundation is a group of high school students whose job is to make decisions on preserving local historic sights.

News Roundup: Maxeys parade will take place on Dec. 7

News Staff
Wednesday, November 6, 2024
 The sixth annual Maxeys Christmas Parade is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 7 in downtown Maxeys.  The Christmas Marketplace, featuring food trucks, vendors, music and more will start at 10 a.m. There will be a visit from Santa.

Trio teams up to take over administrative duties

Alex Perri
Wednesday, November 6, 2024
When county administrator Josh Hawkins headed to Athens for his new job as Athens-Clarke County’s capital projects administrator, three Oglethorpe County employees — county clerk Amy Forrester, code officer Jeff Sharp and EMS director Jason Lewis — stepped up to perform his duties in his absence.
Oglethorpe County elections supervisor Marilyn Huff-Waller (left) helps distribute and count votes at the Board of Elections in Lexington on Tuesday. Nationally, Donald Trump defeated Kamala Harris in the presi- dential race to return to the White House. (Mary Catherine Dodys / The Oglethorpe Echo)

Oglethorpe County elections supervisor Marilyn Huff-Waller (left) helps distribute and count votes at the Board of Elections in Lexington on Tuesday. Nationally, Donald Trump defeated Kamala Harris in the presi- dential race to return to the White House. (Mary Catherine Dodys / The Oglethorpe Echo)

Incumbents Paul, Saxon cruise to victory in heavy turnout

Mary Catherine Dodys
Wednesday, November 6, 2024
 Republican incumbents easily held onto their seats on Tuesday.  Commission chair Jay Paul and District 2 commissioner Andy Saxon defeated their Democratic challengers in the election.  Election assistant Steve McCannon said Oglethorpe County had a voter turnout of 78.
More than 44% of Oglethorpe County registered voters have cast an early or absentee ballot so far in the 2024 election. These totals show early voting numbers each day through Oct. 26.

More than 44% of Oglethorpe County registered voters have cast an early or absentee ballot so far in the 2024 election. These totals show early voting numbers each day through Oct. 26.

Early voting continues at steady pace

Sarah Coyne
Thursday, October 31, 2024
Georgia set an early voting record on Oct. 15 with 310,000, or nearly 4% of total registered voters in the state, casting a ballot. Oglethorpe County contributed 591 votes to that record-breaking total. But, the county isn’t surpassing its own record totals — yet.
Hannah Ramirez (left) and Jessica Holm Boguski stand near a line of rabbit pelts from the Harvest Day's harvest. This year’s Harvest Day was held at Ramirez’s Renaissance Farmstead in Sandy Cross. (ALEX PERRI/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Hannah Ramirez (left) and Jessica Holm Boguski stand near a line of rabbit pelts from the Harvest Day's harvest. This year’s Harvest Day was held at Ramirez’s Renaissance Farmstead in Sandy Cross. (ALEX PERRI/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Harvest Day helps folks become one with food

Alex Perri
Wednesday, October 30, 2024
 Harvest season is upon us.  Fields have been cut. Hay has been baled. Apples and squash are ripe for the picking.  And for many farmers and homesteaders, now is the time to slaughter their animals.

Pittard resigns position in White County

News Staff
Wednesday, October 30, 2024
 Billy Pittard said he wants more time to work his family’s farm in Smithonia and see his two grandsons, who attend Oglethorpe County Middle School.  With that in mind, he decided to step down from his position as the county manager in White County on Oct. 22.
Kathy Howell smiles in front of her stovetop where she makes her jams and jellies. All of her Moonflower Farm products are made out of her Lexington home. (Kendall Kelly/Oglethorpe Echo)

Kathy Howell smiles in front of her stovetop where she makes her jams and jellies. All of her Moonflower Farm products are made out of her Lexington home. (Kendall Kelly/Oglethorpe Echo)

Howell puts heart, flavor into her homemade jams

Kendall Kelly
Wednesday, October 30, 2024
 A stainless steel pot of water comes to a roaring boil on Kathy Howell’s stovetop. Homegrown figs sit in a colander rinsed in the sink, ready to be prepared into jars of homemade jam.  This is just the beginning of her jam-making process.
Double Bridges Road has been closed near its intersection with Wolfskin Road after a culvert was found to be damaged. County officials aren’t sure what caused the damage or how long the road will be closed. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

Double Bridges Road has been closed near its intersection with Wolfskin Road after a culvert was found to be damaged. County officials aren’t sure what caused the damage or how long the road will be closed. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

Culvert damage closes Double Bridges Road

News Staff
Wednesday, October 30, 2024
 Double Bridges Road near the intersection of Wolfskin Road will be closed for the foreseeable future after the Georgia Department of Transportation discovered a damaged four-barrel box culvert at Moss Creek.