Local News

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.
Students, parents, teachers and administration members work together to come up with ideas on how to improve for the next school year. (Sarah Coyne/The Oglethorpe Echo))

Students, parents, teachers and administration members work together to come up with ideas on how to improve for the next school year. (Sarah Coyne/The Oglethorpe Echo))

Oglethorpe County Schools accredited through end of decade

Sarah Coyne
Wednesday, June 5, 2024
Oglethorpe County schools received their accreditation from Cognia this spring and will be qualified until 2029. Cognia is a nationally recognized accreditation agency.
Kristina Turner, the Oglethorpe County School System’s director of nursing, said it’s a “golden opportunity” to have a school-based health center. Turner, Sara Hughes and Superintendent Beverley Levine co-wrote the school system’s grant application that resulted in the nearly million-dollar grant. (Cassidy Hettesheimer/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Kristina Turner, the Oglethorpe County School System’s director of nursing, said it’s a “golden opportunity” to have a school-based health center. Turner, Sara Hughes and Superintendent Beverley Levine co-wrote the school system’s grant application that resulted in the nearly million-dollar grant. (Cassidy Hettesheimer/The Oglethorpe Echo)

School-based health center to serve students, could fill community need

Caleb Baldwin and Kayla Lopez and Cassidy Hettesheimer
Wednesday, June 5, 2024
Oglethorpe County High School graduate Harley Hayes had been traveling to Athens long before she was a University of Georgia student. She said she made the half-hour drive whenever she had to visit the doctor.
Marcia Connolly, who lives on Lexington-Carlton Road, is concerned about several aspects of the proposed dimension stone quarry. The vote was tabled again at Monday’s meeting. (Andy Johnston/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Marcia Connolly, who lives on Lexington-Carlton Road, is concerned about several aspects of the proposed dimension stone quarry. The vote was tabled again at Monday’s meeting. (Andy Johnston/The Oglethorpe Echo)

BOC again tables its quarry vote

Zeke Palermo
Wednesday, June 5, 2024
The Oglethorpe County Board of Commissioners again postponed a vote on the rezone request for the proposed dimension stone quarry on Lexington-Carlton Road.
Keith Hardman’s family attended the ceremony in which the flagpole at the Arnoldsville Volunteer Fire Department was dedicated to the former firefighter. Family members include (back row, from left) niece Ashley Escoe, niece Erin Bunch, sister Susan Robinson and nephew Josh Robinson; (front row, from left) granddaughter Caitlyn Ponder, daughter Brittany Ponder, wife Colleen and son-in-law Brian Ponder. (Torin Smith/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Keith Hardman’s family attended the ceremony in which the flagpole at the Arnoldsville Volunteer Fire Department was dedicated to the former firefighter. Family members include (back row, from left) niece Ashley Escoe, niece Erin Bunch, sister Susan Robinson and nephew Josh Robinson; (front row, from left) granddaughter Caitlyn Ponder, daughter Brittany Ponder, wife Colleen and son-in-law Brian Ponder. (Torin Smith/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Arnoldsville FD honors recently deceased firefighters in ceremony

Torin Smith
Wednesday, June 5, 2024
Arnoldsville Fire Chief Heath Baker remembers Keith Hardman’s attention to detail when the department first thought about getting a flagpole for the fire station. A retired Navy pilot, Hardman always made sure the Stars and Stripes flew true.
Historic Smithonia Farm (clockwise from top left), Countryside Manor, the Platt Brooks Estate and the Grove at Bailey’s Farm are among the wedding venues in Oglethorpe County. The trend in rural, country and barn weddings have led to a recent increase in the number of wedding venues in the county. (Submitted Photos)

Historic Smithonia Farm (clockwise from top left), Countryside Manor, the Platt Brooks Estate and the Grove at Bailey’s Farm are among the wedding venues in Oglethorpe County. The trend in rural, country and barn weddings have led to a recent increase in the number of wedding venues in the county. (Submitted Photos)

Gettin’ hitched in the country

Margaux Binder and Sarah Myers
Wednesday, June 5, 2024
Wedding bells are ringing in Oglethorpe County.  Venue options have increased in the county as more couples seek rural and barn weddings, according to a 2023 global wedding report.
Chandler has kept the car in working condition by using "basic knowledge", like keeping it sheltered from outdoor conditions. (Sarah Coyne/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Chandler has kept the car in working condition by using "basic knowledge", like keeping it sheltered from outdoor conditions. (Sarah Coyne/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Donald Chandler’s 1971 Pinto shines during parade

Sarah Coyne
Wednesday, June 5, 2024
Donald Chandler was faced with a daily commute from Athens to Lawrenceville and rising gas prices in 1973. So he traded in his 1970 Ford LTD and bought a Ford Pinto Runabout for $3,466.59.