Local News

Katie Pierce, who lives in Crawford, was selected as Oglethorpe County’s paramedic of the year at the Region 10 banquet last month. She’s been a paramedic for the past seven months. (Sarah Coyne/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Katie Pierce, who lives in Crawford, was selected as Oglethorpe County’s paramedic of the year at the Region 10 banquet last month. She’s been a paramedic for the past seven months. (Sarah Coyne/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Adrenaline rush key for Katie Pierce in EMS job

Sarah Coyne
Wednesday, May 15, 2024
Despite being a paramedic for only seven months at Oglethorpe County Emergency Medical Services, Katie Pierce was selected as the county’s paramedic of the year.    The accomplishment was a surprise.    “It’s amazing,” she said.   Pierce was recognized at the Region 10 banquet last month.
Grace Foland (from left), Ellen Hgay and Miley Christian show their silver medals after finishing in second in the Fashion Design category with their project called Fashion Forward. All three are sophomores at OCHS. (Submitted Photo)

Grace Foland (from left), Ellen Hgay and Miley Christian show their silver medals after finishing in second in the Fashion Design category with their project called Fashion Forward. All three are sophomores at OCHS. (Submitted Photo)

FCCLA students head to nationals in Seattle

Sarah Coyne
Wednesday, May 15, 2024
Five Oglethorpe County High School students will head to Seattle next month to compete in the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) national championship.

Backpacks searched during OCMS lockdown

Zeke Palermo
Wednesday, May 15, 2024
Oglethorpe County Middle School was under soft lockdown for about two hours Tuesday morning after a “possible threat” was found written on a stall in the seventh grade boys restroom.
Oglethorpe County residents George Gray (left) and Matt Chastain made a recruiting video for The American Legion’s Sons of The Legion that has been nationally distributed to other squadrons. The short lasts 2 minutes, 22 seconds. (Submitted Photo)

Oglethorpe County residents George Gray (left) and Matt Chastain made a recruiting video for The American Legion’s Sons of The Legion that has been nationally distributed to other squadrons. The short lasts 2 minutes, 22 seconds. (Submitted Photo)

Local men make nationally recognized American Legion video

Zeke Palermo
Wednesday, May 15, 2024
Sons of The American Legion - Matt's Story from The American Legion on Vimeo.   Two Oglethorpe County residents starred in a video produced for the Sons of The American Legion that has received national recognition.
Jef Whatley will perform his first solo concert in seven years when he plays at Oglethorpe Fresh on Saturday, May 18. Whatley moved to Oglethorpe County from Athens last August. (Torin Smith/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Jef Whatley will perform his first solo concert in seven years when he plays at Oglethorpe Fresh on Saturday, May 18. Whatley moved to Oglethorpe County from Athens last August. (Torin Smith/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Local musician Jef Whatley makes Oglethorpe debut

Torin Smith
Wednesday, May 15, 2024
After years of playing with different groups in Athens, local musician Jef Whatley will perform his first solo concert in seven years on Saturday, May 18 at Oglethorpe Fresh.    A new resident of Oglethorpe, the concert will be his first in the county.
Mary Foley poses in front of the television live-streaming her graduation ceremony on May 11. Foley is the fifth member of her nuclear family to graduate from the University of Missouri. (Jack Keys/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Mary Foley poses in front of the television live-streaming her graduation ceremony on May 11. Foley is the fifth member of her nuclear family to graduate from the University of Missouri. (Jack Keys/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Mary Foley: great-grandma graduate

Jack Keys
Wednesday, May 15, 2024
Mary Foley put on her cap and gown and settled in for her college graduation ceremony, which was live-streamed at her son’s home in Hull on Saturday.    She would’ve loved to have joined her classmates, but at 91 years old, it was best to watch on TV instead of traveling to Columbia, Missouri.
Honorarian Nathan Wilson (from left), salutatorian Allyson Kelley-Morris and valedictorian Macie McDaniel, with OCHS Principal Bill Sampson, were honored at Senior Honors Night on Tuesday. McDaniel and Kelley-Morris plan to attend UGA, and Wilson is heading to Georgia Tech.

Honorarian Nathan Wilson (from left), salutatorian Allyson Kelley-Morris and valedictorian Macie McDaniel, with OCHS Principal Bill Sampson, were honored at Senior Honors Night on Tuesday. McDaniel and Kelley-Morris plan to attend UGA, and Wilson is heading to Georgia Tech.

Macie McDaniel is valedictorian of 2024 class

Jack Keys
Wednesday, May 15, 2024
Macie McDaniel was named the valedictorian of Oglethorpe County High School's graduating class Tuesday at Senior Honors Night held in the school’s cafeteria.   McDaniel, who has a perfect 4.0 GPA, will attend the University of Georgia in the fall.
The Arnoldsville Fire Department purchased the new fire truck with a $261,904 grant. This 2023 model offers a significant upgrade in firefighting capabilities, chief Heath Baker said. (Photo/Kayla Lopez)

The Arnoldsville Fire Department purchased the new fire truck with a $261,904 grant. This 2023 model offers a significant upgrade in firefighting capabilities, chief Heath Baker said. (Photo/Kayla Lopez)

Arnoldsville Fire Department to raise funds with car washes

Tyler Lary
Wednesday, May 8, 2024
The Arnoldsville Fire Department has joined with Tidal Wave Auto Spa to raise funds for the department through discounted car wash vouchers.    “We are doing this (fundraiser) to build our money back up for the money we’ve spent in the last two months,” Chief Heath Baker said.
Ms. Atao's students enjoyed many activities such as laying in the hammocks on their trip to Sweetwater Creek State Park during the weekend of April 19. (Photo/Amy Atao)

Ms. Atao's students enjoyed many activities such as laying in the hammocks on their trip to Sweetwater Creek State Park during the weekend of April 19. (Photo/Amy Atao)

Camping trip pushes students out of comfort zones

Sarah Coyne
Wednesday, May 8, 2024
Amy Atao’s eighth-grade connections class went fishing, hiking and visited Civil War ruins during their camping trip to Sweetwater Creek State Park on the weekend of April 19.