Local News

Former Oglethorpe County commissioner Marilyn Stone has hosted her own show, called “The Marilyn Show: Church Tea” on WSGC 105.3 in Elberton since last May. She served on the BOC from 2000-2012. (Submitted Photo)

Spared for a purpose: Stone turns survival into spiritual service

Sean King

Wednesday, May 13, 2026

Marilyn Stone didn’t take her relationship with God seriously until she survived a near-death experience. Stone, an Oglethorpe County native, was driving on a rainy Saturday in Athens in 1986, when her Audi hydroplaned, sending her down a 25-foot embankment.

Emily Williams, an extension agent for Oglethorpe County, and other instructors work with students while they prepare ingredients to make quesadillas last week. Williams said other dishes have included turkey wraps and pumpkin pancakes. (Sarah Nanos/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Special education program promotes independent living

Sarah Nanos

Wednesday, May 13, 2026

Emily Williams placed packets of shredded cheese, mixing bowls, knives and more on tables in an agricultural barn next to a livestock show ring at the Oglethorpe County UGA Extension Office. She then plugged in a handheld blender and heated a griddle in the back kitchen.

Catie Young, who lives in Smithonia, is shown with Jason Carter, a grandson of former President Jimmy Carter. Young is one of two Democrats running in the general primary to face state Sen. Lee Anderson in November. (Submitted Photo)

Oglethorpe’s Young has eyes on state Senate

Lexie Shadix

Wednesday, May 13, 2026

Catie Young realized she wanted to run for office after being involved with the United Campus Workers of Georgia (UCW-GA), a labor union fighting for all University System of Georgia (USG) employees, at the University of Georgia.

Ralph Maxwell Jr., who owned and published The Oglethorpe Echo for 40 years, died Thursday. He was 74 years old. (Sarah White/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Ralph Maxwell Jr., former owner of The Echo, dies

News Staff

Thursday, May 7, 2026

Ralph Maxwell Jr., the former owner and publisher of The Oglethorpe Echo, died Thursday afternoon at his home, his brother Scott Maxwell said. He was 74 years old. Maxwell Jr. owned the newspaper for 40 years, continuing his family’s legacy as publishers of Oglethorpe County’s newspaper.

Students who finished in the top three in the Science Olympiad were recognized at the Oglethorpe County BOE meeting on Tuesday night. (Ellie English/The Oglethorpe Echo)

BOE explores outsourcing school landscaping

Ellie English

Thursday, May 7, 2026

The Oglethorpe County Board of Education continued a discussion of outsourcing landscaping services during its Tuesday meeting. “Each year, we do community input surveys,” Board Chair Becky Soto said. “We get some feedback that says, ‘Hey, the grass is always tall, or hey, this looks unkept.

Oglethorpe County BOE Chair Becky Soto, shown during a meeting in 2023, said Georgia Senate Bill 33 would cap revenue for the school district. Gov. Brian Kemp has until Tuesday to veto the bill. (Cassidy Hettesheimer/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Senate bill could drastically change school district, county funding

Bridget Goodman and Nick Hasnain

Thursday, May 7, 2026

Georgia Senate Bill 33, a bill aimed at capping property tax, could threaten funds for Oglethorpe County’s public schools and reduce county services. Unless vetoed by Gov. Brian Kemp by Tuesday, the bill will become law. “Property taxes are not fun,” BOE chair Becky Soto said.

Photos from Shaking Rock Park in Lexington on, Wednesday March 25, 2026. Shaking Rock Park has been a historic spot in the Oglethorpe County landscape for over 200 years. (Photo/Sydney Shankman)

Shaking Rock stands the test of time

Sydney Shankman

Thursday, May 7, 2026

The real, more modern history starts with Judge Hamilton McWhorter, who deeded Shaking Rock to his family, which then donated the land to the Lexington Woman’s Club in 1968. The club cleaned up the property with the intention of it becoming an area for picnics and other outdoor family activities.

Firefighters from Salem Fire & Rescue extinguish a fire that engulfed a truck at the intersection of U.S. Highway 78 and Crawfordville Road on Monday. Both roads were temporarily shut down while the fire was put out. (Submitted Photo)

LOCAL ROUNDUP: Truck fire shuts down 78 near Lexington

Echo Staff

Thursday, May 7, 2026

Two accidents shut down parts of U.S. Highway 78 in the past week. On Monday afternoon, a utility truck carrying oxygen and acetylene tanks was fully engulfed by flames at the intersection of 78 and Crawfordville Road, just east of Lexington.

Patti Paradise Escoe, left, and her daughter Marci are shown in a recent photo. Marci has created a scholarship in her mom’s name that will be given to a HOSA student at OCHS this spring. (Submitted Photo)

Family establishes HOSA scholarship in honor of Escoe

Sarah Owens

Thursday, May 7, 2026

For decades, Patti Paradise Escoe was more than a teacher. She was a mentor, problem-solver, and for many students, a steady source of support. Now, her family is ensuring that impact continues.

The Oglethorpe County Board of Commissioners approved funds to allow EMS to operate its quick-response vehicle (QRV) 24 hours a day, an increase from 12 hours a day. The QRV has been in service in the county since 2021. (Submitted Photo)

BOC approves increased use of EMS vehicle

Bridget Goodman

Thursday, May 7, 2026

The Oglethorpe County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the expansion of the county’s one quick-response vehicle (QRV) to 24/7 operations on Monday night. The QRV helps EMS deliver care to patients on-site, but it doesn’t allow for patient transport, like an ambulance.