Local News

Commission chair Jay Paul

Commission chair Jay Paul

Candidates to address questions at forum

News Staff
Saturday, April 20, 2024
Commission Chair Jay Paul, Sheriff David Gabriel and state representative Trey Rhodes are among the elected officials and candidates who have committed to participate in the candidate forum at the Historic Crawford Depot on Thursday, April 18.   A meet and greet will start at 5:30 p.m.
Sarah Rutherford, who said her previous flock of more than 30 chickens was nearly wiped out by a neighborhood dog, has a new flock with 42 birds, thanks to donations from folks throughout Oglethorpe County. The Lexington resident holds the only chicken to survive the recent attacks. (Dink NeSmith/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Sarah Rutherford, who said her previous flock of more than 30 chickens was nearly wiped out by a neighborhood dog, has a new flock with 42 birds, thanks to donations from folks throughout Oglethorpe County. The Lexington resident holds the only chicken to survive the recent attacks. (Dink NeSmith/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Residents express dog concerns

Zeke Palermo
Thursday, April 18, 2024
Read more about the laws about dogs here. Sarah Rutherford woke up to the sound of her dog barking on the morning of March 24. Grimm, a blue heeler mix, wanted to go outside.  “I thought maybe there was a possum or something on my front porch,” she said. “So, I let him out to go chase it.
Screenshot of the Oglethorpe County Code of Ordinances, available online.

Screenshot of the Oglethorpe County Code of Ordinances, available online.

Explainer: What laws say about dangerous dogs

Zeke Palermo
Thursday, April 18, 2024
Concerns from residents about the county’s responsibility for stray or dangerous dogs have been expressed both at Board of Commissioners meetings and through letters to The Oglethorpe Echo, including in last week’s edition.  The Echo took a look at the Official Code of Georgia (O.C.G.A.
Will Brown (right) chats with fellow Oglethorpe County Commissioner Howard Sanders during a meeting. Brown is running unopposed for his second term from District 4. (ASHLEY BALSAVIAS/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Will Brown (right) chats with fellow Oglethorpe County Commissioner Howard Sanders during a meeting. Brown is running unopposed for his second term from District 4. (ASHLEY BALSAVIAS/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Q&A: Broadband access important for Brown

News Staff
Thursday, April 18, 2024
William Brown, who is in his first term, is running unopposed for reelection to the District 4 Commissioner seat. The Oglethorpe Echo spoke with Brown to learn more about his plans for his next term.    Comments have been edited for length and clarity.
Andy Barrs proposes a mixed-use development project in Arnoldsville at the Oglethorpe County Economic Development Authority meeting last month. The Arnoldsville City Council voted to turn down the project. (Photo/Margaux Binder)

Andy Barrs proposes a mixed-use development project in Arnoldsville at the Oglethorpe County Economic Development Authority meeting last month. The Arnoldsville City Council voted to turn down the project. (Photo/Margaux Binder)

Arnoldsville turns down development project

Tyler Lary
Thursday, April 18, 2024
The Arnoldsville City Council voted not to annex Andy Barrs’ commercial and residential development plan in March, leading Barrs to say he’s ending the project.    Arnoldsville Mayor Danny Morcom said the city is too small for a project of that size, and it doesn’t have the funds for it.
Oglethorpe County zoning board members Janet Hill (from left), Robert Drew, Jimmy Shealy and county planner McKenzie Spooner call the April zoning board meeting to order. The board approved two rezoning requests and discussed the 90-day moratorium on minor subdivisions. (Sarah Myers/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Oglethorpe County zoning board members Janet Hill (from left), Robert Drew, Jimmy Shealy and county planner McKenzie Spooner call the April zoning board meeting to order. The board approved two rezoning requests and discussed the 90-day moratorium on minor subdivisions. (Sarah Myers/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Zoning Board OKs rezone for quarry

Sarah Myers
Wednesday, April 17, 2024
The Oglethorpe County Zoning Board unanimously approved the rezoning of land along Lexington-Carlton Road to reopen a quarry to mine dimension stone and granite at Monday’s meeting.    The board approved the zoning change from general agriculture to heavy industrial for the 70.93-acre plot.
Anthony Tambling (left) and his son Graysen Tambling attended the viewing event at the Oglethorpe County Library. The two stood on a nearby boulder to get a clear view of the sun. (Photo/Izzy Wagner)

Anthony Tambling (left) and his son Graysen Tambling attended the viewing event at the Oglethorpe County Library. The two stood on a nearby boulder to get a clear view of the sun. (Photo/Izzy Wagner)

Library draws crowd to watch the eclipse

Izzy Wagner
Wednesday, April 10, 2024
The sky was clear and vast outside the Oglethorpe County Library on Monday afternoon, which provided an unimpeded view of the sun — at least for a moment.   A rare astrological event soon cast a large shadow as a partial solar eclipse moved through the sky, peaking at approximately 3:06 p.m.
Sara Micale/The Oglethorpe Echo

Sara Micale/The Oglethorpe Echo

Ag census: Number of county farms on the rise

Sara Micale
Wednesday, April 10, 2024
Farming in Oglethorpe County has grown in the past five years despite a national and statewide decrease in the number of farms.  Oglethorpe County’s 2022 Census of Agriculture County Profile saw significant increases in number and average size of farms and net cash income.
Ora Nation stands on the steel framework of a building while working for Rain- water Construction in 1959. Nation has worked at the company for 67 years, holding various roles from steel erector to building consultant over the course of his career. (Submitted Photo)

Ora Nation stands on the steel framework of a building while working for Rain- water Construction in 1959. Nation has worked at the company for 67 years, holding various roles from steel erector to building consultant over the course of his career. (Submitted Photo)

Man of steel: Nation celebrates 67 years with same company

Margaux Binder
Wednesday, April 10, 2024
Ora Nation left Oglethorpe County at age 18 to find a job in Atlanta and “strike it rich.”    There, he began his first job at Rainwater Construction as a steel erector, assembling the framework of steel buildings. Nation was excited to receive a wage of 75 cents an hour, a fair rate in 1957.
Two Republican candidates seek the next term as Oglethorpe County sheriff on May 21.

Two Republican candidates seek the next term as Oglethorpe County sheriff on May 21.

Q&A: Sheriff candidates on key issues, policies

Kayla Lopez
Wednesday, April 10, 2024
Q: What do you think are the top three priorities of the office and how the deputies' time is being allocated?    Jackson: I’d say, the top priority for me is to protect and serve the citizens and maintain the jail.