Local News

Heather Pillsbury, who has “always wanted to play Audrey,” rehearses for “Little Shop of Horrors,” a musical presented by Arts!Oglethorpe this month. Audrey is the love interest of Seymour, played by Tyler Spears (left), a fourth-year UGA student. (Sarah Coyne/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Heather Pillsbury, who has “always wanted to play Audrey,” rehearses for “Little Shop of Horrors,” a musical presented by Arts!Oglethorpe this month. Audrey is the love interest of Seymour, played by Tyler Spears (left), a fourth-year UGA student. (Sarah Coyne/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Plant puppet could steal the show

Sarah Coyne
Wednesday, June 12, 2024
Arts!Oglethorpe’s summer production of “Little Shop of Horrors” will feature more than just actors. Plants will also make their debut. Puppeteer Cedwan Hooks was able to bring to life a “special” puppet that will be on display during the show.
The Historic Crawford School, which opened in 1911, has been owned by Arts!Oglethorpe since 2011. It has been renovated, including the installation of 68 windows, bathrooms, staircases and replica doors. (Sarah Coyne/The Oglethorpe Echo))

The Historic Crawford School, which opened in 1911, has been owned by Arts!Oglethorpe since 2011. It has been renovated, including the installation of 68 windows, bathrooms, staircases and replica doors. (Sarah Coyne/The Oglethorpe Echo))

Theater group makes its home in Crawford School

Sarah Coyne
Wednesday, June 12, 2024
The Historic Crawford School, which opened in 1911, now houses Arts!Oglethorpe, the county’s community theater group.  The organization has owned and used the building as a rehearsal space, storage and theater since 2011, thanks to support from donors.

Black heritage expo set for Juneteenth

Zeke Palermo
Wednesday, June 12, 2024
The Joynt Production Network (JPN) will celebrate Juneteenth with a Black Youth Heritage Expo from noon to 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 19, at Oak Tree Plaza in Lexington. The expo will feature 15-20 exhibits created by Black students across Georgia.
Andy Johnston (left), editor of The Oglethorpe Echo, and Dink NeSmith, chairman of The Oglethorpe Echo Legacy Inc., display the awards won at this year’s Georgia Press Association convention on June 7. The Echo has won 18 GPA awards in its two full years partnering with UGA’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication. (Lori Johnston/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Andy Johnston (left), editor of The Oglethorpe Echo, and Dink NeSmith, chairman of The Oglethorpe Echo Legacy Inc., display the awards won at this year’s Georgia Press Association convention on June 7. The Echo has won 18 GPA awards in its two full years partnering with UGA’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication. (Lori Johnston/The Oglethorpe Echo)

The Echo receives 9 awards in state newspaper contest

Echo Staff
Wednesday, June 12, 2024
The Oglethorpe Echo earned nine section and individual awards in the Georgia Press Association’s annual Better Newspaper Contest for the second consecutive year.
President of the Concerned Men of Oglethorpe County Reverend Reginald Hunter (top left) is pictured alongside fellow members of the organization. The coalition of religious leaders was founded over 25 years ago, awarding annual scholarships to OCHS graduating students in need. (Submitted Photo)

President of the Concerned Men of Oglethorpe County Reverend Reginald Hunter (top left) is pictured alongside fellow members of the organization. The coalition of religious leaders was founded over 25 years ago, awarding annual scholarships to OCHS graduating students in need. (Submitted Photo)

Concerned Men remain committed to county’s youth

Jack Keys
Wednesday, June 12, 2024
Just over 25 years ago, approximately 40 Black students enrolled at Oglethorpe County High School. Only 11 of them graduated.  The Rev. Reginald Hunter of New Springhill Baptist Church knew something needed to change. “We knew then we had to do something to help the community,” he said.
Longtime Oglethorpe County resident Forrest Neely celebrates his 100th birthday, which is on June 6, with a party at the Winterville United Methodist Church on June 8. Neely was the owner of Farmer’s Hardware in Athens for several years. (Wyatt Meyer/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Longtime Oglethorpe County resident Forrest Neely celebrates his 100th birthday, which is on June 6, with a party at the Winterville United Methodist Church on June 8. Neely was the owner of Farmer’s Hardware in Athens for several years. (Wyatt Meyer/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Friends, family honor Forrest Neely’s 100th birthday

Wyatt Meyer
Wednesday, June 12, 2024
Though his birth certificate says otherwise, longtime Oglethorpe County resident Forrest Neely didn’t turn 100 on June 6. He turned 36,525.  That’s because throughout Neely’s century on the planet, he’s rejected thinking about life in terms of years. Instead, he takes it day by day.
Oglethorpe County Superintendent Beverley Levine (left) and BOE Chair Becky Soto discuss items at the meeting on Tuesday night. The BOE voted to add two weeklong breaks for students in the 2025-26 school calendar. (Zeke Palermo/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Oglethorpe County Superintendent Beverley Levine (left) and BOE Chair Becky Soto discuss items at the meeting on Tuesday night. The BOE voted to add two weeklong breaks for students in the 2025-26 school calendar. (Zeke Palermo/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Oglethorpe schools to add breaks

Zeke Palermo
Wednesday, June 12, 2024
The Oglethorpe County Board of Education unanimously voted to approve the 2025-2026 school calendar, which adds two weeklong breaks for students, at its meeting on Tuesday night. The breaks, in October and February, will not reduce the number of school days, Superintendent Beverley Levine said.
Oglethorpe County Emergency Medical Services Deputy Director Josh Robinson stands outside the new ambulance, M4, which was certified by the state last week and is scheduled to go into service. EMS tries to buy a new ambulance every other year. (Wyatt Meyer/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Oglethorpe County Emergency Medical Services Deputy Director Josh Robinson stands outside the new ambulance, M4, which was certified by the state last week and is scheduled to go into service. EMS tries to buy a new ambulance every other year. (Wyatt Meyer/The Oglethorpe Echo)

New ambulance ready to go into service

Wyatt Meyer
Wednesday, June 5, 2024
Oglethorpe County Emergency Medical Services recently received its new ambulance, which was to go online this week. Med 4 is a Type 1 Trauma Hawk built by custom ambulance manufacturer American Emergency Vehicles in Jefferson, North Carolina.

Judge assignment is next step in the writ process

Zeke Palermo
Wednesday, June 5, 2024
The petition for mandamus filed against the Oglethorpe County Board of Commissioners calls for the BOC to fund and construct a dog impoundment facility, among other things. Fern Williams, an Oglethorpe County resident, filed the petition on May 17.

Proposed school budget on next week’s agenda

Jack Keys
Wednesday, June 5, 2024
The Oglethorpe County School System’s proposed 2025 fiscal year budget is set to increase by more than $3.4 million from 2024. Instructional costs represent the “majority” of the rise in expenses compared to this past year’s budget, Board of Education Chair Becky Soto said.