Local News

About 60 people packed the Board of Commissioners’ meeting room on Monday night. The BOC unanimously voted to reject the rezone for a dimension stone quarry on Lexington-Carlton Road after the vote was tabled in the May and June meetings. (Dink Nesmith/The Oglethorpe Echo)

About 60 people packed the Board of Commissioners’ meeting room on Monday night. The BOC unanimously voted to reject the rezone for a dimension stone quarry on Lexington-Carlton Road after the vote was tabled in the May and June meetings. (Dink Nesmith/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Board rejects quarry rezone

Zeke Palermo
Wednesday, July 3, 2024
The Oglethorpe County Board of Commissioners unanimously rejected the rezone request for the proposed dimension stone quarry on Lexington-Carlton Road on Monday night.
The American dog tick can carry Rocky Mountain spotted fever. (CDC/For the Oglethorpe Echo)

The American dog tick can carry Rocky Mountain spotted fever. (CDC/For the Oglethorpe Echo)

Check body for ticks after time outdoors

Jack Keys
Wednesday, June 26, 2024
As Georgia’s summer heat intensifies, tick activity in Oglethorpe County is on the rise.

Schools need proof of residency for students

Zeke Palermo
Wednesday, June 26, 2024
Oglethorpe County School System will begin conducting a regular residency audit on students this year. Students entering the third, sixth and ninth grades will need to provide proof of residency in the county before Aug.
Fireworks fill the night sky during a recent Fourth of July celebration at Bryan Park. The Oglethorpe Rec Department will hold its sixth annual celebration and fireworks display, starting at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 4. (Jack Casey/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Fireworks fill the night sky during a recent Fourth of July celebration at Bryan Park. The Oglethorpe Rec Department will hold its sixth annual celebration and fireworks display, starting at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 4. (Jack Casey/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Sixth annual fireworks celebration set for July 4

Echo Staff
Wednesday, June 26, 2024
The Oglethorpe County Rec Department’s sixth annual Fourth of July celebration and fireworks will be held at Bryan Park next week.  The event begins at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 4 with vendors and food trucks, and the fireworks will start around 9 p.m.
Jason Lewis

Jason Lewis

Dual roles: Lewis remains both EMS director, coroner

Zeke Palermo
Wednesday, June 26, 2024
Jason Lewis will continue to fill two important roles in Oglethorpe County. Lewis, who has been director of Oglethorpe County EMS since 2016, also took over the coroner position earlier this year after James Jackson resigned to run for sheriff.
(McCain Bracewell/The Oglethorpe Echo)

(McCain Bracewell/The Oglethorpe Echo)

GDOT plans to improve Crawford intersection

McCain Bracewell
Wednesday, June 26, 2024
The Georgia Department of Transportation is in the early stages of a project to improve the intersection at Highway 78 and North Street in downtown Crawford.  The proposed improvements will address upgrades to comply with GDOT standards and requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Bill Sampson said he received tremendous support from the faculty, staff and students during his first year as principal at OCHS. He served as the assistant principal and assistant athletic director at OCHS prior to taking over as principal last summer. (Dink Nesmith/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Bill Sampson said he received tremendous support from the faculty, staff and students during his first year as principal at OCHS. He served as the assistant principal and assistant athletic director at OCHS prior to taking over as principal last summer. (Dink Nesmith/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Sampson has successful start as principal

Torin Smith
Wednesday, June 26, 2024
Bill Sampson said he let out a “sigh of relief” when the last of the graduates made their way across the field at Patriot Stadium on May 24.