Local News

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.
Bobby Teller works on a copper flower in his garage metalsmithing workshop in Crawford on Oct. 23. He works with a variety of metals, including copper, silver and iron in the workshop that he made by hand. (TY JOHNSTON/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Bobby Teller works on a copper flower in his garage metalsmithing workshop in Crawford on Oct. 23. He works with a variety of metals, including copper, silver and iron in the workshop that he made by hand. (TY JOHNSTON/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Hands-on experience: Teller’s lifelong passion plays out through his metal creations

Isabelle Farina
Wednesday, October 30, 2024
 Bobby Teller first discovered his creative side around age 7, when browsing the comics section of the newspaper.  Using colored pencils, his natural talent revealed itself as he recreated the characters in front of him.
Greg Yoder reports on the discovery of 42 water mills around the county at the Historic Oglethorpe County's September meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. Yoder and Tom Gresham's research is part of the Atlas Project. The slide on screen shows a map of Watson Mill Bridge State Park. (McCain Bracewell/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Greg Yoder reports on the discovery of 42 water mills around the county at the Historic Oglethorpe County's September meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. Yoder and Tom Gresham's research is part of the Atlas Project. The slide on screen shows a map of Watson Mill Bridge State Park. (McCain Bracewell/The Oglethorpe Echo)

From grist to glory: Historic group documents mills in OC

McCain Bracewell
Thursday, October 24, 2024
 Other than one wild goose chase in a 100-acre beaver swamp, Greg Yoder said he and Tom Gresham have had “darn good success for a couple of retired guys.
Samantha Mathe, a former deputy with the Oglethorpe County Sheriff’s Office, changed careers in 2023 and now co-teaches a first-grade special education class at Oglethorpe County Primary School. Mathe was with the Sheriff’s Office for nine years. (Avni Trivedi/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Samantha Mathe, a former deputy with the Oglethorpe County Sheriff’s Office, changed careers in 2023 and now co-teaches a first-grade special education class at Oglethorpe County Primary School. Mathe was with the Sheriff’s Office for nine years. (Avni Trivedi/The Oglethorpe Echo)

From police station to primary school: Mathe takes roundabout journey to the classroom

Avni Trivedi
Thursday, October 24, 2024
When Samantha Mathe was part of the Northeast Georgia drug task force, some of her most used skills were de-escalation and tact. Her ability to read people made her a better officer.
Mikhala Ogle pets 8-month-old Boone at Madison Oglethorpe Animal Shelter on Saturday, Oct. 19. Ogle brought her daughter to the event for the photo opportunity with costumed Disney princesses, but said she enjoyed seeing the dogs that volunteers were walking around the event. "Any chance to pet dogs, I will not pass up," Ogle said. (Ella Kroll/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Mikhala Ogle pets 8-month-old Boone at Madison Oglethorpe Animal Shelter on Saturday, Oct. 19. Ogle brought her daughter to the event for the photo opportunity with costumed Disney princesses, but said she enjoyed seeing the dogs that volunteers were walking around the event. "Any chance to pet dogs, I will not pass up," Ogle said. (Ella Kroll/The Oglethorpe Echo)

PHOTOS: MOAS Halloween

Ella Kroll
Thursday, October 24, 2024
Assistant Fire Chief Michael Moravek Sr. poses with the station's mascot, Fire Pup. The station, comprised entirely of volunteers, is very involved in engaging the community as well as saving it. (Submitted Photo/Jennifer King)

Assistant Fire Chief Michael Moravek Sr. poses with the station's mascot, Fire Pup. The station, comprised entirely of volunteers, is very involved in engaging the community as well as saving it. (Submitted Photo/Jennifer King)

Community rallies, helps save Vesta Volunteer Fire Department

Makenzy Wolford
Thursday, October 24, 2024
 Nearly four years ago, the Vesta Volunteer Fire Department sat silent. Down to three volunteers and battling new state regulations, the station faced the possibility of extinction.  “You assume a lot of things with public service,” Vesta Fire Chief Wayne King said.

Lexington gets funds for water upgrades

Sarah Coyne
Tuesday, October 22, 2024
Lexington’s water system will receive an upgrade, thanks to a recent grant. “We got it, so that’s the start,” city clerk Kim Bradford said. Lexington was one of five cities chosen to receive a total of more than $1.