Local News

County millage rates could decrease again

Zeke Palermo
Wednesday, August 21, 2024
County millage rates will decrease for a third consecutive year, pending approval from the Board of Commissioners. The rate of 5.7596 mills for properties in incorporated areas (within city limits) is down 2.313% from last year. For unincorporated areas, the rate is at 5.475 mills, down 0.743%.
Crawford Pizza, one of two restaurants in Crawford, along with G Brand BBQ, can sell alcohol by the drink after the city passed an ordinance last week. (File/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Crawford Pizza, one of two restaurants in Crawford, along with G Brand BBQ, can sell alcohol by the drink after the city passed an ordinance last week. (File/The Oglethorpe Echo)

City OKs alcohol ordinance

Jack Keys
Wednesday, August 21, 2024
Crawford’s City Council passed a restaurant pouring license ordinance on Aug. 13 that enables restaurants within city limits to sell malt beverages and wine. This will be the first time in city history that restaurants are permitted to sell alcoholic beverages.

County: Writ costs might add up to $10K

Zeke Palermo
Wednesday, August 14, 2024
The writ of mandamus filed against the Oglethorpe County Board of Commissioners in May cost the county $8,274.40 in legal fees, but county officials are unsure how much it incurred in court fees. The $8,274.
Sludge trucks have been a common sight along Wolfskin Road this summer, residents said, leaving them to complain about the smell. Commission chair Jay Paul said “people are becoming more and more cautious” about using sludge. (Wingate Downs/For The Oglethorpe Echo)

Sludge trucks have been a common sight along Wolfskin Road this summer, residents said, leaving them to complain about the smell. Commission chair Jay Paul said “people are becoming more and more cautious” about using sludge. (Wingate Downs/For The Oglethorpe Echo)

Officials look into Wolfskin sludge site

Jack Keys
Wednesday, August 14, 2024
District 4 Commissioner Will Brown is investigating the contents of sludge that was spread on a farm in his district.
Vehicles from the Oglethorpe County Sheriff’s Office and the Athens-Clarke County Police Department responded to a hostage situation in Maxeys on Wednesday afternoon. (Torin Smith/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Vehicles from the Oglethorpe County Sheriff’s Office and the Athens-Clarke County Police Department responded to a hostage situation in Maxeys on Wednesday afternoon. (Torin Smith/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Wife: ‘Pyschotic break’ led to standoff

Echo Staff
Wednesday, August 14, 2024
Leigh Ann Dieball said her husband had a “psychotic break” and wasn’t a threat to anyone but himself during a standoff with law enforcement officials that lasted nearly five hours near Maxeys on Aug. 7.  Kane Quilliam Dieball, 33, was arrested about 6:30 p.m.
Brandon Smith drops off his son Leeland Smith at his kindergarten class at Oglethorpe County Primary School on Aug. 8. This is the final year for OCPS, which will close when the new elementary school opens in January. (Torin Smith/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Brandon Smith drops off his son Leeland Smith at his kindergarten class at Oglethorpe County Primary School on Aug. 8. This is the final year for OCPS, which will close when the new elementary school opens in January. (Torin Smith/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Schools welcome back children for new year

Sarah Coyne
Wednesday, August 14, 2024
The school year is in full swing as the Oglethorpe County School System welcomed back thousands of students for their first day of school on Aug. 8. Teachers and administrators, including 21 new teachers, welcomed their students into the classrooms ready to teach.

STAND mentorship program seeks more mentors

Torin Smith
Wednesday, August 7, 2024
Arnoldsville’s Leslie Jones remembers her grandmother teaching her how to draw flowers as a kid. A retired elementary school teacher and “grandmama” herself, Jones now mentors a first-grade girl as part of Students Taking a New Direction (STAND) program in the Oglethorpe County schools.

Squirrel season starts next week

Echo Staff
Wednesday, August 7, 2024
Squirrel season begins in Georgia on Thursday, Aug. 15.  Both gray and fox squirrels are in season and the maximum daily bag limit is 12 per hunter. The season will end Feb. 28, 2025.

MOAS director resigns; Huth selected interim

Echo Staff
Wednesday, August 7, 2024
Juli Huth will serve as the interim director of the Madison Oglethorpe Animal Shelter (MOAS) after Erica Hendrix resigned last month. Hendrix had been the director since February of 2023. “Erica has put her heart and soul into the care of the animals,” MOAS stated in a release.
James Bennett stands at the door of a historic log cabin his team is deconstructing. Lucas Stephens stands in the background. (MCCAIN BRACEWELL/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

James Bennett stands at the door of a historic log cabin his team is deconstructing. Lucas Stephens stands in the background. (MCCAIN BRACEWELL/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Saving history, a log at a time

McCain Bracewell
Wednesday, August 7, 2024
James Bennett’s latest project started with the deconstruction of an abandoned house from the mid-1800s on private property in the Sandy Cross area. Then he discovered an even older structure hidden in the woods right behind it.