Local News

County lifts stop work order against solar farm

The stop work order issued against the Timberland Solar Project has been lifted, said Jeff Sharp, Oglethorpe County’s code compliance officer.   The order was issued to RWE Clean Energy on Jan.
(Submitted Photo)

(Submitted Photo)

Deputies find 111 pounds of meth in car

Oglethorpe County Sheriff David Gabriel said Tuesday his office continues to investigate the drug bust that led to the seizure of 111 pounds of crystal meth during a traffic stop last week.
Judge Tyler Arnold talks to Scarlett Harris about her breeding doe during the Oglethorpe Area Winter Livestock Show on Saturday. The event included a contest between six local "celebrities." (Photo/Sara Micale)

Judge Tyler Arnold talks to Scarlett Harris about her breeding doe during the Oglethorpe Area Winter Livestock Show on Saturday. The event included a contest between six local "celebrities." (Photo/Sara Micale)

Brubaker, students winners of livestock show

Oglethorpe County youth weren’t the only ones competing in the Oglethorpe Area Winter Livestock Show on Saturday — six Oglethorpe County celebrities also competed for the title of Champion Celebrity Showman.
New Bethlehem Baptist Church is located in Carlton, Georgia. It is surrounded by farmland and contains a small school behind the church building. (Photo/Izzy Wagner)

New Bethlehem Baptist Church is located in Carlton, Georgia. It is surrounded by farmland and contains a small school behind the church building. (Photo/Izzy Wagner)

Church’s Black history celebration lasts entire month

Cows grazed silently in the vast fields outside of New Bethlehem Baptist Church in Carlton on Sunday. But within the church walls, the pastor’s voice boomed, filling every corner of the sanctuary.    Despite feeling under the weather that morning, the Rev.
Nikki Hughes, the owner of Camp Critter Wildlife Rescue, pets two recently orphaned piglets. The baby pigs are believed to be the offspring of a domesticated pig and a wild boar. (Photo/Sara Micale)

Nikki Hughes, the owner of Camp Critter Wildlife Rescue, pets two recently orphaned piglets. The baby pigs are believed to be the offspring of a domesticated pig and a wild boar. (Photo/Sara Micale)

Camp Critter welcomes baby wild pigs into fold

  Camp Critter Wildlife Rescue, the only licensed wildlife rehabilitation center in Oglethorpe County, recently took in two baby wild pigs.     The piglets were found next to their deceased mother by a couple in Waynesboro, Georgia.
Debbie Winsett (right) and Rosanne Iturrian (left) make their way down the soul train line in a dance to Love Train by The O'Jays. This dance was a crowd favorite during the Valentine's Day event. (Lily Murphy/Oglethorpe Echo).

Debbie Winsett (right) and Rosanne Iturrian (left) make their way down the soul train line in a dance to Love Train by The O'Jays. This dance was a crowd favorite during the Valentine's Day event. (Lily Murphy/Oglethorpe Echo).

Seniors build bonds during annual Valentine’s Day dance

The Oglethorpe County Senior Center provides a community for seniors, especially during days like Valentine’s Day.    For some, it’s an opportunity to not be alone during a time of celebration.
Kassie Hodges, a real estate agent with Keller Williams Realty, stands in front of a model home at The Pines at Grove Creek in Crawford. This home isn’t in the 29-lot development, but homes in The Pines at Grove Creek will be built using this plan. (Margaux Binder/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Kassie Hodges, a real estate agent with Keller Williams Realty, stands in front of a model home at The Pines at Grove Creek in Crawford. This home isn’t in the 29-lot development, but homes in The Pines at Grove Creek will be built using this plan. (Margaux Binder/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Bunker Hill Road development opens to buyers

The Pines at Grove Creek, a 29-lot development off of Bunker Hill Road in Crawford, has homes ready for purchase.   Construction has started on the first of three stages, with 10 homes expected to be completed by early summer, said Alexander Purcell, the listing agent for the development.
Todd Smith (from left), Mark Atkins and Katie Armour welcome folks to Nature Harvest Meat Company’s grand opening celebration for its custom processing/in-store meat counter season on Feb. 10. Atkins, the owner of Second Chance BBQ, collaborated with Nature’s Harvest to cook meat for customers at the event. (Gianna Sandy/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Todd Smith (from left), Mark Atkins and Katie Armour welcome folks to Nature Harvest Meat Company’s grand opening celebration for its custom processing/in-store meat counter season on Feb. 10. Atkins, the owner of Second Chance BBQ, collaborated with Nature’s Harvest to cook meat for customers at the event. (Gianna Sandy/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Second Chance BBQ, Nature's Harvest team for grand re-opening

From the farm to the butcher to the barbeque, it takes a collaboration of local farmers and business owners to bring custom-processed meat to Oglethorpe County.
From left to right: Kelli Smith, Megan Coile and Kayla Grier. (Submitted Photos)

From left to right: Kelli Smith, Megan Coile and Kayla Grier. (Submitted Photos)

Incumbents Smith, Coile, Grier to run

Oglethorpe County’s judicial incumbents plan to defend their positions in this year’s election.   Kelli Paradise Smith, the clerk of superior clerk, Megan Coile, the chief magistrate judge, and Kayla Grier, the probate judge, all told The Oglethorpe Echo that they plan to run again.