Local News

Renee McCannon, a mentor at the Oglethorpe County Foothills, poses with graduation robes. McCannon also is a mentor coordinator and REACH scholarship coordinator for Madison County Schools. (Bridget Goodman/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Renee McCannon, a mentor at the Oglethorpe County Foothills, poses with graduation robes. McCannon also is a mentor coordinator and REACH scholarship coordinator for Madison County Schools. (Bridget Goodman/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Foothills offers opportunity outside traditional classroom

Bridget Goodman
Tuesday, January 14, 2025
During the day, Chuck Palmer teaches social studies at Oglethorpe County Middle School. But Tuesday and Thursday nights, Palmer catches up with students at the Oglethorpe Foothills site. “I’d call it a hidden gem,” said Palmer, a site director at Oglethorpe Foothills.
Virginia Sanders, far right, crochets as she engages in conversation with others at a Covered with Love meeting at Lexington Baptist Church in 2023. The members, who create and donate afghans, plan on giving their work to the Oglethorpe County EMTs on Saturday. (Elizabeth Rymarev/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Virginia Sanders, far right, crochets as she engages in conversation with others at a Covered with Love meeting at Lexington Baptist Church in 2023. The members, who create and donate afghans, plan on giving their work to the Oglethorpe County EMTs on Saturday. (Elizabeth Rymarev/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Covered with Love’s next delivery going to EMTs

Alex Perri
Tuesday, January 14, 2025
Virginia Sanders and her little army of yarn artists are about to make Oglethorpe County EMT workers feel all warm and fuzzy on Saturday.

BOE starts process to opt out of HB 581

Kendall Kelly
Wednesday, January 8, 2025
The Oglethorpe County Board of Education plans to opt out of Georgia House Bill 581, which was approved by the state’s voters in November. The BOE will hold three public hearings this month before it can hold an official vote. The first one is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan.
The Oglethorpe County Senior Center provides a place for Cindy Lou Phelps (left) and Patsy Cruce, among other seniors, for activities and lunch. (Sidney Chansamone/The Oglethorpe Echo)

The Oglethorpe County Senior Center provides a place for Cindy Lou Phelps (left) and Patsy Cruce, among other seniors, for activities and lunch. (Sidney Chansamone/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Oglethorpe County Resource Guide

News Staff
Wednesday, January 8, 2025
An array of nonprofits, government organizations, churches and other institutions offer assistance throughout the year to individuals and families in need in Oglethorpe County. About 11.
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)

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)

Firefly looks to add Lexington spur

Hank Tatum
Wednesday, January 8, 2025
Firefly Trail Inc. is exploring the possibility of adding a spur from Crawford to Lexington.
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)

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)

Plenty of love to go around

Dakota Meeks
Wednesday, January 8, 2025
April Moore has learned to become creative with Oglethorpe County Family Connection. About a month ago, she started to lead an early literacy program in the school system to encourage the educational growth of kindergartners.
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)

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)

Students get first glimpse at new school

Sarah Coyne
Tuesday, January 7, 2025
The first round of students and parents walked through the new Oglethorpe County Elementary School at an open house on Tuesday.
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)

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)

New Year’s Day hike draws crowd to Watson Mill

Dakota Meeks
Tuesday, January 7, 2025
Kicking off the new year outside, Watson Mill Bridge State Park welcomed visitors for its annual First Day Hike, joining state parks in a nationwide tradition on Jan. 1. About 92 people of all ages, including several with their kids and pets, came out to hike the trails in the park.
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)

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)

A different kind of art

Makenzy Wolford
Monday, December 30, 2024
Downtown Lexington will add an art gallery early next year that matches the style of the town’s newest resident.   Kristan Ryan is the owner and founder of ArtGirl’s Out Loud Art Gallery located at 104 Main St., across from the courthouse.
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)

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)

Letters to Santa from OCPS second-graders

News Staff
Thursday, December 26, 2024
Twenty-two second-grade students at Oglethorpe County Primary School took time earlier this month to continue the time-honored tradition of writing letters to Santa Claus. Here are the letters.