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From left: Deacon Edgar Alexander, Bishop Calvin Turner, Reverend Clarence Burgess, and Deacon L. M. Echols sit in the front row of Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Stephens, Georgia as Reverend Dr. R. A. Hunter gives acknowledgements at the annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Program sponsored by the Concerned Men of Oglethorpe County on Jan. 20, 2025. Reverend Dr. R. A. Hunter is the president of the Concerned Men of Oglethorpe County. (Photo / Lux Corrona)

From left: Deacon Edgar Alexander, Bishop Calvin Turner, Reverend Clarence Burgess, and Deacon L. M. Echols sit in the front row of Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Stephens, Georgia as Reverend Dr. R. A. Hunter gives acknowledgements at the annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Program sponsored by the Concerned Men of Oglethorpe County on Jan. 20, 2025. Reverend Dr. R. A. Hunter is the president of the Concerned Men of Oglethorpe County. (Photo / Lux Corrona)

MLK Day tribute: Concerned Men have dream to unite county, starting with youth

Lux Corrona
Wednesday, January 22, 2025
Elian Castellanos-Contreras believes Martin Luther King Jr. always fought for what was right. “Now more than ever, it is important for us to be like him,” the Oglethorpe County Middle School student said. “To be able to dream of better things and work for them.”
There's been a sharp increase in the number of birds infected with HPAI, or Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, since 2022. A positive case was detected in Elbert County Friday.

There's been a sharp increase in the number of birds infected with HPAI, or Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, since 2022. A positive case was detected in Elbert County Friday.

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Poultry owners are wary of bird flu

Jesse Wood
Wednesday, January 22, 2025
Oglethorpe County District 1 Commissioner Howard Sanders has worked in the poultry industry for 50 years, and he has never had to face the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, also known as the bird flu — until now.

BOE holds first hearing on HB 581

Kendall Kelly
Thursday, January 16, 2025
The Oglethorpe County Board of Education expressed frustration with state control over local education at its first meeting of 2025 on Tuesday night. The BOE held a public hearing to discuss its decision to opt out of HB 581 and then went into its meeting. Four residents were in attendance.
Harper Bondie (left) and Colton Hansford (right) with their new bikes that were purchased with the help of Leisha Shipp and Steve Fields. These bikes replaced Christmas presents that went missing on Dec. 26. (Submitted Photo)

Harper Bondie (left) and Colton Hansford (right) with their new bikes that were purchased with the help of Leisha Shipp and Steve Fields. These bikes replaced Christmas presents that went missing on Dec. 26. (Submitted Photo)

Presents replaced, thanks to strangers

Dakota Meeks
Tuesday, January 14, 2025
Social media and the kindness of strangers from outside the county brought happiness to two Crawford children when their bikes went missing the day after Christmas.
Steven King, Oglethorpe County Middle School gifted science teacher, said he hopes “Science in Action” will “give people ideas of how to structure things and to make it where science becomes more relevant.” (Bridget Goodman/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Steven King, Oglethorpe County Middle School gifted science teacher, said he hopes “Science in Action” will “give people ideas of how to structure things and to make it where science becomes more relevant.” (Bridget Goodman/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Teaching on TV

Bridget Goodman
Tuesday, January 14, 2025
Steven King is on a mission to show middle school students science isn’t so frightening. “People are sort of scared of science in some ways,” said King, Oglethorpe County Middle School gifted science teacher.
Snow covered Mt. Pleasant Community Church provides a picturesque setting in Crawford on Friday. The Athens area received about 1.5 inches of snow on Jan. 10, according to the National Weather Service. The weather forced businesses to close and the cancellation of schools and athletic events throughout the area. (Submitted Photo)

Snow covered Mt. Pleasant Community Church provides a picturesque setting in Crawford on Friday. The Athens area received about 1.5 inches of snow on Jan. 10, according to the National Weather Service. The weather forced businesses to close and the cancellation of schools and athletic events throughout the area. (Submitted Photo)

Photo Gallery: Snow in Oglethorpe County

News Staff
Tuesday, January 14, 2025
Artist Marisa Mustard adds the finishing touches to the mural that she painted on the side of Rowdy Rooster in Lexington. The mural includes pies, moon flowers, hummingbirds and a ladybug. (Dakota Meeks/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Artist Marisa Mustard adds the finishing touches to the mural that she painted on the side of Rowdy Rooster in Lexington. The mural includes pies, moon flowers, hummingbirds and a ladybug. (Dakota Meeks/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Rooster shows its colors

Dakota Meeks
Tuesday, January 14, 2025
A new mural has transformed the side of Rowdy Rooster.  Painted by mural artist Marisa Mustard, the mural features a colorful collage of hummingbirds, moon flowers and pies.
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.