Local News

Charleen Foott, chief of the Wolfskin Volunteer Fire Department, is the only female fire chief in Oglethorpe County. She was appointed chief two years ago. (Lily Reid Aldrich/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Charleen Foott, chief of the Wolfskin Volunteer Fire Department, is the only female fire chief in Oglethorpe County. She was appointed chief two years ago. (Lily Reid Aldrich/The Oglethorpe Echo)

As chief, Foott casts a vision for Wolfskin VFD

Lily Reid Aldrich
Wednesday, January 10, 2024
Charleen Foott felt lost in life.    She found herself again through working with the Wolfskin Volunteer Fire Department. Foott is now the only female fire chief in the county.    Foott began working with the department after losing her job at a call center 20 years ago.
Workers pour concrete for the accessible parking lot at Lexington's new City Hall, which is on the other side of the old jail from the previous City Hall. (Dink Nesmith/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Workers pour concrete for the accessible parking lot at Lexington's new City Hall, which is on the other side of the old jail from the previous City Hall. (Dink Nesmith/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Lexington’s new City Hall ready for use

John James
Wednesday, January 10, 2024
Lexington’s new City Hall is ready.   City Clerk Kim Bradford said the final steps were completed last week, when the accessible parking lot was finished.   Bradford said the lot’s construction was a two-day process and cost $3,600.
Community member Brent Howsmon gives an update on his involvement with the Future Business Leaders of America at the Board of Education meeting on Tuesday night. The BOE approved a security system for OCMS and OCHS. (Dawn Sawyer/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Community member Brent Howsmon gives an update on his involvement with the Future Business Leaders of America at the Board of Education meeting on Tuesday night. The BOE approved a security system for OCMS and OCHS. (Dawn Sawyer/The Oglethorpe Echo)

BOE approves security system for schools

Dawn Sawyer
Wednesday, January 10, 2024
The Oglethorpe County Board of Education approved Superintendent Beverley Levine’s recommendation to install a new security and crisis alert system at both the middle and high schools at its regular session on Tuesday night.
County administrator Josh Hawkins provides additional information to the Oglethorpe County Board of Commissioners during a meeting on Monday night. (Andy Johnston/The Oglethorpe Echo)

County administrator Josh Hawkins provides additional information to the Oglethorpe County Board of Commissioners during a meeting on Monday night. (Andy Johnston/The Oglethorpe Echo)

County hires company to evaluate cell towers

John James
Wednesday, January 10, 2024
The Oglethorpe County Board of Commissioners approved the hiring of Cell Tower Solutions to evaluate all cell towers in Oglethorpe County at its meeting on Monday.
A tractor-trailer truck is stuck in flood waters on Saxon Mattox Road in the northeastern Part of Oglethorpe County. Some parts of the county received more than 3 inches of rain on Monday night and Tuesday. (Submitted Photo)

A tractor-trailer truck is stuck in flood waters on Saxon Mattox Road in the northeastern Part of Oglethorpe County. Some parts of the county received more than 3 inches of rain on Monday night and Tuesday. (Submitted Photo)

Storms flood roads, strand trucks

News Staff
Wednesday, January 10, 2024
Heavy rain and wind washed out roads and played havoc with trucks and school buses throughout Oglethorpe County on Tuesday.   At least three tractor-trailer trucks were stuck on both paved and dirt roads near the Timberland Solar Farm in the northeastern part of the county.

Levine gets three-year extension

Dawn Sawyer
Wednesday, January 10, 2024
Beverley Levine will remain superintendent of Oglethorpe County School System through 2026 after her contract was renewed at a called meeting of the Board of Education on Jan. 3.   Levine, who has been superintendent since 2015, received a three-year contract.
Oglethorpe County Sheriff David Gabriel (from left), Comer Police Department Chief Dennis Bell and Deputy Tommy Epps look for evidence in the pickup truck. Bell is a former investigator with the State Insurance Commission. (Submitted Photo)

Oglethorpe County Sheriff David Gabriel (from left), Comer Police Department Chief Dennis Bell and Deputy Tommy Epps look for evidence in the pickup truck. Bell is a former investigator with the State Insurance Commission. (Submitted Photo)

Officials search stolen pickup found in quarry

McCain Bracewell
Wednesday, January 10, 2024
Comer Police Chief Dennis Bell said he has a strong lead for the suspect who stole and dumped a pickup truck that was found in a flooded quarry in Oglethorpe County.   The stolen truck was recovered from the quarry on Allgood Road on Jan.

Man arrested for burglary of grocery store

News Staff
Wednesday, January 10, 2024
The Oglethorpe County Sheriff’s Office arrested a man suspected of breaking into Sandy Cross Grocery in the early morning hours of Jan. 8.   Jeffery O’Neal Bugg, 35, of the Glade Community, was arrested Tuesday morning after a short foot chase in the rain, Sheriff David Gabriel said.
Susan Flores (from left), Jeanne Jones, Monica Patrick and Faith Dynarski-Hughes prepare the food for the Oglethorpe County High School marching band's pancake breakfast fundraiser last month. The band’s booster club holds fundraisers throughout the year to help with the costs of instruments, uniforms and other items. (Submitted Photo)

Susan Flores (from left), Jeanne Jones, Monica Patrick and Faith Dynarski-Hughes prepare the food for the Oglethorpe County High School marching band's pancake breakfast fundraiser last month. The band’s booster club holds fundraisers throughout the year to help with the costs of instruments, uniforms and other items. (Submitted Photo)

Band booster club hits the right notes on fundraising

Dawn Sawyer
Wednesday, January 3, 2024
Members of the Oglethorpe County High School marching band’s booster club spend a lot of time at the rec department. They don’t get to see much of the action because they’re manning the concession stands.   The money earned there is just one part of the booster club’s fundraising efforts.
Members of last year’s Leadership Oglethorpe program for middle school students display their certificates during the graduation ceremony. This year’s program begins next month. (Submitted Photo)

Members of last year’s Leadership Oglethorpe program for middle school students display their certificates during the graduation ceremony. This year’s program begins next month. (Submitted Photo)

Leadership program ready for new year

Dawn Sawyer
Wednesday, January 3, 2024
This year marks the fifth iteration of Leadership Oglethorpe, a program dedicated to growing a new generation of career-minded individuals with leadership capabilities.