Local News

Residents reported concerns about the smell from soil amendments near the intersection of Crawford-Smithonia and Suddeth roads in December. The odor has plagued the county for years. (Dakota Meeks/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Residents reported concerns about the smell from soil amendments near the intersection of Crawford-Smithonia and Suddeth roads in December. The odor has plagued the county for years. (Dakota Meeks/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Sludge still smelly issue for residents

Dakota Meeks
Wednesday, February 11, 2026
Living in the country means experiencing all sorts of smells. But last December, Lisa Stacy noticed an odor unlike any other. It permeated her nose and clothes. “Initially, I really thought a deer got hit by a car,” Stacy said.
Alan Smith, who lives on Washington Road, voiced his issues with a rezone request, which helped persuade the commissioners to table it until next month. It was one of two rezone requests on the agenda, both of which were pushed back. (ANDY JOHNSTON/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Alan Smith, who lives on Washington Road, voiced his issues with a rezone request, which helped persuade the commissioners to table it until next month. It was one of two rezone requests on the agenda, both of which were pushed back. (ANDY JOHNSTON/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

BOC accepts $1 million bid for road improvements

Bridget Goodman
Wednesday, February 11, 2026
The Oglethorpe County Board of Commissioners accepted a $1.04 million bid from Allied Paving Contractors in Pendergrass for road improvements on Monday night.
Tim LaFlam, owner of Night Owl Bakery - Cakes, Sweets & Treats, prepares desserts in his home in Winterville. LaFlam opened the bakery in 2013. (Submitted)

Tim LaFlam, owner of Night Owl Bakery - Cakes, Sweets & Treats, prepares desserts in his home in Winterville. LaFlam opened the bakery in 2013. (Submitted)

LaFlam finds sweet success with Night Owl Bakery

Finley Millwood
Wednesday, February 11, 2026
What started as the creation of a Facebook account by his adult daughter, Megan, turned into a thriving at-home business for Tim LaFlam of Winterville. “We just started a page, and then it was on fire,” LaFlam said.
Cherokee Corner Methodist Church is shown in a photo dated from around 1955. The Athens Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) meet at the church. (Submitted photo)

Cherokee Corner Methodist Church is shown in a photo dated from around 1955. The Athens Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) meet at the church. (Submitted photo)

Historic church spirit alive, well

Mia Tanner
Thursday, February 5, 2026
Churches weren’t just places of worship from a historical perspective.  They also gave neighbors a place to communicate, form relationships and build families. They were places to share news, find support and establish order in a largely rural landscape during early settlement periods.
Carlie Gabriel (right), pictured with sister Claire (left) and brother Trey, holds a banner she created for Trey’s all-star baseball team last July. She’s created more than 45 banners for her customers. (Submitted Photo)

Carlie Gabriel (right), pictured with sister Claire (left) and brother Trey, holds a banner she created for Trey’s all-star baseball team last July. She’s created more than 45 banners for her customers. (Submitted Photo)

Hobby with heart: Local teen turns banner painting into business

Emilie Sullivan
Thursday, February 5, 2026
What began as a handmade birthday gift for her younger brother has grown into a small business for 17-year-old Carlie Gabriel, an Oglethorpe County High School senior.
The Oglethorpe County Historic Jail in Lexington will be open from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 8 as part of the Georgia History Festival’s Super Museum Sunday. The jail was in use until 2007. (Emily Slepsky/The Oglethorpe Echo)

The Oglethorpe County Historic Jail in Lexington will be open from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 8 as part of the Georgia History Festival’s Super Museum Sunday. The jail was in use until 2007. (Emily Slepsky/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Historic jail open for state museum event

News Staff
Thursday, February 5, 2026
Historic Oglethorpe County Jail, which served the county from 1879-2007, will be open for tours from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 8 as part of the Georgia History Festival’s Super Museum Sunday.
Snow and ice from last weekend’s snowstorm covers Crawford-Smithonia Road on Monday. Oglethorpe County Public Works director Adam Nation said four main roads were still being treated with salt and sand through Monday. (Nick Hasnain/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Snow and ice from last weekend’s snowstorm covers Crawford-Smithonia Road on Monday. Oglethorpe County Public Works director Adam Nation said four main roads were still being treated with salt and sand through Monday. (Nick Hasnain/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Snow, ice disrupt county once again

Nick Hasnain
Wednesday, February 4, 2026
Several roads across Oglethorpe County remained slick throughout the days following a heavy snowstorm last Saturday. Road conditions disrupted travel as well as school and government operations through Tuesday. The average snowfall in the county was 4.
A new pavilion stands by the Community Center in Brightwell Park in Maxeys. The project was funded by donations from the community. (Photo/Jessie Isaacs)

A new pavilion stands by the Community Center in Brightwell Park in Maxeys. The project was funded by donations from the community. (Photo/Jessie Isaacs)

Cities learn to stretch dollars to make most of limited funds

Jessie Isaacs
Wednesday, February 4, 2026
Oglethorpe County’s cities often operate on limited budgets, which officials say force them to be creative and make hard decisions about stretching available funds. “We mainly just try to keep things going, keep things moving,” said Kim Bradford, Lexington’s city clerk.
The Oglethorpe County Board of Education discuss the executive session on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2025. They unanimously agreed on renewing contracts while tabling two others. (Photo/Jasmine Milbourne)

The Oglethorpe County Board of Education discuss the executive session on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2025. They unanimously agreed on renewing contracts while tabling two others. (Photo/Jasmine Milbourne)

BOE searches for best method to sell primary school surplus

Jasmine Milbourne
Wednesday, February 4, 2026
The Oglethorpe County Board of Education struggled to come to a decision during its Tuesday meeting about whether to use a new government website to sell surplus items from the former primary school.