Local News

Jason Booth, owner and luthier of Deadwood Guitar Co., constructs a deadwood guitar at his shop in downtown Lexington. (Photo/Michael Johnson)

Jason Booth, owner and luthier of Deadwood Guitar Co., constructs a deadwood guitar at his shop in downtown Lexington. (Photo/Michael Johnson)

Deadwood guitars provide sweet sound for their fans

Michael Johnson
Wednesday, January 31, 2024
Jason Booth's guitars come to life from locally sourced pieces of dead wood, leading to a one-of-a-kind sound for each instrument.
(Submitted Photo) The Governor's Honors Program nominees from Oglethorpe County High School include Su Moo (from left), Imani Lawrence, Kayden Watkins, Elin Turner and Callie Bridges. Kendall McCurdy isn’t pictured.

(Submitted Photo) The Governor's Honors Program nominees from Oglethorpe County High School include Su Moo (from left), Imani Lawrence, Kayden Watkins, Elin Turner and Callie Bridges. Kendall McCurdy isn’t pictured.

Six OCHS students nominated for Governor’s Honors Program

Ellie Pool
Wednesday, January 31, 2024
Six Oglethorpe County High School students have been nominated for Georgia’s Governor’s Honors Program.   Imani Lawrence, Su Moo and Elin Turner were nominated in social studies, Callie Bridges was nominated for agriculture research, Kendall McCurdy for music and Kayden Watkins for mathematics.
John Gingerich recently visited the Lexington Post Office wearing a straw hat with “Roosevelt Reception Committee” printed on it. The lifetime col- lector said his most valuable piece is a silk ribbon that features pictures of former President Martin Van Buren and his running mate. (Dink Nesmith/The Oglethorpe Echo)

John Gingerich recently visited the Lexington Post Office wearing a straw hat with “Roosevelt Reception Committee” printed on it. The lifetime col- lector said his most valuable piece is a silk ribbon that features pictures of former President Martin Van Buren and his running mate. (Dink Nesmith/The Oglethorpe Echo)

A lifetime campaign

Avi Young
Wednesday, January 31, 2024
John Gingerich has been collecting political memorabilia since he was a fifth-grader in 1960, when Nixon and Kennedy were vying for the White House.   Since then, the Lexington resident has added thousands of items to his collection.   “It’s gotten beyond the point of counting,” Gingerich said.
A truck pulls into the Oglethorpe County Construction and Demolition Landfill, passing a sign indicating the tipping rates for disposal. The rates underscore measures being taken to ensure long-term waste capacity. (Abby Peacock/The Oglethorpe Echo)

A truck pulls into the Oglethorpe County Construction and Demolition Landfill, passing a sign indicating the tipping rates for disposal. The rates underscore measures being taken to ensure long-term waste capacity. (Abby Peacock/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Officials: New landfill regulations are working

Abby Peacock
Wednesday, January 31, 2024
Changes made to extend the capacity of the Oglethorpe County Construction and Demolition Landfill have been successful, as the Board of Commissioners continues to await state approval for expansion.   The regulations that went into effect on Oct.
A sign at the entrance of the Timberland Solar Project directs delivery trucks to stop and await instructions. Oglethorpe County issued a stop work order on Jan. 26 in an attempt to force RWE Clean Energy to address erosion control issues. (Abby Peacock/The Oglethorpe Echo)

A sign at the entrance of the Timberland Solar Project directs delivery trucks to stop and await instructions. Oglethorpe County issued a stop work order on Jan. 26 in an attempt to force RWE Clean Energy to address erosion control issues. (Abby Peacock/The Oglethorpe Echo)

County to solar farm: Stop work

Abby Peacock
Wednesday, January 31, 2024
Oglethorpe County officials issued a stop work order to Timberland Solar Project on Jan. 26.   The order requires an immediate stop to all project activities, except for fixing violations or maintaining erosion control.
Sally and Striker, sibiling emus, are always together. After being missing for several days, they are finally back on their family farm.

Sally and Striker, sibiling emus, are always together. After being missing for several days, they are finally back on their family farm.

Emus on the loose return home

Lesley Randall
Wednesday, January 31, 2024
Striker and Sally, a pair of emu siblings, escaped from a ranch in Lexington on Jan. 17 — and were nowhere to be found for four days — except on the phones of Facebook users in the Oglethorpe County Community group.
Josh Robayo, co-owner of Town and Country Kafe, stands on the grand staircase at the cafe and restaurant last week. (Margaux Binder/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Josh Robayo, co-owner of Town and Country Kafe, stands on the grand staircase at the cafe and restaurant last week. (Margaux Binder/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Town and Country Kafe reschedules opening until spring

Margaux Binder
Wednesday, January 31, 2024
WATCH: Town and Country Kafe tour   Construction on Town and Country Kafe is nearing completion, but its opening date is still pending, co-owner Josh Robayo said.
Eddie Smith, with his wife Jennifer Mathews-Smith, realized a vehicle had been dumped in a flooded quarry early Jan. 6. A search revealed a stolen pickup, which is being investigated by the Comer Police Department. (Submitted Photo/Jennifer Mathews-Smith)

Eddie Smith, with his wife Jennifer Mathews-Smith, realized a vehicle had been dumped in a flooded quarry early Jan. 6. A search revealed a stolen pickup, which is being investigated by the Comer Police Department. (Submitted Photo/Jennifer Mathews-Smith)

Quarry manager's response prompts stolen truck discovery

Kayla Lopez
Wednesday, January 31, 2024
Eddie Smith was traveling along Allgood Road at 9:30 a.m. Jan. 6 when he noticed an unusual scene.    “I was riding down the road, and I looked down, I saw tire tracks,” Smith said. “I'm like, somebody ran a truck off in the quarry.

Only few issues with sludge since ordinance

Sara Micale
Wednesday, January 31, 2024
Chairman Jay Paul said there have been minimal complaints about sludge since the Oglethorpe County Board of Commissioners passed a soil amendment ordinance last year.     “The sludge issue has been, relatively speaking, very quiet in the county,” he said.
Dolan O’Neal, along with her dog Tip, sits on one of the benches she made for her Eagle Scout project to become the first female Eagle Scout in Oglethorpe County. (Submitted Photo)

Dolan O’Neal, along with her dog Tip, sits on one of the benches she made for her Eagle Scout project to become the first female Eagle Scout in Oglethorpe County. (Submitted Photo)

O’Neal makes history as Eagle Scout

Jordyn Gershoni
Tuesday, January 30, 2024
Dolan O’Neal, 18, has made history by becoming the first female to earn the rank of Eagle Scout in Oglethorpe County. She said the accomplishment taught her the value of leadership and communication.