Local News

Jimmyka Gresham (front row, from left), Damarcuse Harper, Gloria Hgay, Jeffrey Molina and Zachary Wilson, eighth-graders at Oglethorpe County Middle School, are the newest class of REACH scholars. They must abide by the contract to receive a $10,000 scholarship when they graduate high school. Behind them are principals of Oglethorpe Schools: Katie Baldwin (from left), primary and elementary schools; Mack Baldwin, middle school; Bill Sampson, high school. (Caleb Baldwin/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Jimmyka Gresham (front row, from left), Damarcuse Harper, Gloria Hgay, Jeffrey Molina and Zachary Wilson, eighth-graders at Oglethorpe County Middle School, are the newest class of REACH scholars. They must abide by the contract to receive a $10,000 scholarship when they graduate high school. Behind them are principals of Oglethorpe Schools: Katie Baldwin (from left), primary and elementary schools; Mack Baldwin, middle school; Bill Sampson, high school. (Caleb Baldwin/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Class of 2028 REACH scholars sign contract

Caleb Baldwin
Thursday, November 16, 2023
The lives of five Oglethorpe County Middle School students were changed on Friday morning when they signed the REACH Georgia Scholarship Program contract, which will alter their next four years.
Oglethorpe County Recreation Department Director Mike White looks over the freshly resurfaced tennis courts. The repairs cost about $10,000, some of which was covered by original funding for the courts. (Christian Kirby II/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Oglethorpe County Recreation Department Director Mike White looks over the freshly resurfaced tennis courts. The repairs cost about $10,000, some of which was covered by original funding for the courts. (Christian Kirby II/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Rec center tennis courts get facelift

Christian Kirby II
Thursday, November 16, 2023
The tennis courts at the Oglethorpe County Recreation Center were resurfaced and repainted on Nov. 4.   This was the first renovation to the courts, which were installed in 2015.   “It was just time,” director Mike White said. “They were starting to crack in places, the surface was.
Oglethorpe County residents and Echo staff listen to instructions before beginning discussion about the county’s strengths and weaknesses, among other topics, at the Oglethorpe County Library on Nov. 2. (Meadow Barrow/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Oglethorpe County residents and Echo staff listen to instructions before beginning discussion about the county’s strengths and weaknesses, among other topics, at the Oglethorpe County Library on Nov. 2. (Meadow Barrow/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Residents voice thoughts, ideas at Echo community listening event

Meadow Barrow
Thursday, November 9, 2023
A recent community listening event by The Oglethorpe Echo, in partnership with WUGA, was the first of its kind, connecting Echo journalists with a diverse group of community members, including long-time readers, local business owners and educators.
Bret Williamson, co-owner of A&B Emporium in downtown Crawford, is a veteran after serving for four years. He and his wife Alice have a passion for serving their community. Grace Mains/The Oglethorpe Echo

Bret Williamson, co-owner of A&B Emporium in downtown Crawford, is a veteran after serving for four years. He and his wife Alice have a passion for serving their community. Grace Mains/The Oglethorpe Echo

Veterans helping others

Jordan Long and Grace Mains
Thursday, November 9, 2023
Enlisting in the military is a transformative commitment — yielding discipline, camaraderie and a profound sense of duty. Those who have served are often connected by a desire to serve their communities.   “It's a family place.

OCHS grad sworn in as assistant DA

News Staff
Thursday, November 9, 2023
Jonathan Ash, a 2016 graduate of Oglethorpe County High School, was admitted to the Texas Bar and sworn in as an assistant district attorney for Taylor County, Texas, on Oct. 4.  Ash attended Abilene Christian University for his undergraduate studies and received his law degree from Baylor.

Christmas Marketplace, other events scheduled

News Staff
Thursday, November 9, 2023
Holiday decor and unique gifts will be available at the Oglethorpe County Chamber of Commerce’s annual Christmas Marketplace, which will be held Nov. 18-20 at the Crawford Depot.    The marketplace will be open from 5-8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19 and noon to 5 p.m.
Oglethorpe County Primary and Elementary School principal Katie Baldwin hugs special education parapro Toni Evans after presenting her with the OCES Classified Employee of the Year award at the board of education meeting in Lexington, Georgia, on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. Three of the county's four Classified Employees of the Year were honored at the November Board of Education meeting. (Photo/Cassidy Hettesheimer)

Oglethorpe County Primary and Elementary School principal Katie Baldwin hugs special education parapro Toni Evans after presenting her with the OCES Classified Employee of the Year award at the board of education meeting in Lexington, Georgia, on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. Three of the county's four Classified Employees of the Year were honored at the November Board of Education meeting. (Photo/Cassidy Hettesheimer)

BOE approves purchase of three school buses

Caleb Baldwin and Cassidy Hettesheimer
Thursday, November 9, 2023
The Oglethorpe County Board of Education approved buying three new buses and discussed other structural improvements at its Tuesday meeting.
A tractor-trailer with 96 tires was needed to transport a transformer to the solar farm project on Goose Pond Road. The weight of the trailer and transformer was 300,000 pounds. The solar farm has expanded to include nearly 3,500 acres. (Submitted Photo)

A tractor-trailer with 96 tires was needed to transport a transformer to the solar farm project on Goose Pond Road. The weight of the trailer and transformer was 300,000 pounds. The solar farm has expanded to include nearly 3,500 acres. (Submitted Photo)

Massive transformer arrives at Timberland Solar Project

News Staff
Thursday, November 9, 2023
If you have a 190,000-pound, ultra-expensive item to deliver, what are your first objectives?    Go slowly and carefully.     That’s how the transport company, Guy M. Turner Inc. of Covington, approached its mission over the past weekend.
Bill Chandler said he encourages his wife Beverly to continue writing her devotional blog called “Morning with Beverly” because he wants her to continue studying the Bible. Beverly updates her blog on a near-daily basis.

Bill Chandler said he encourages his wife Beverly to continue writing her devotional blog called “Morning with Beverly” because he wants her to continue studying the Bible. Beverly updates her blog on a near-daily basis.

Chandler’s blog encourages readers, herself

Jared Smith
Thursday, November 9, 2023
Beverly Chandler helps readers use her experiences to develop their own relationships with God through short posts on her blog, called “Morning with Beverly.”    "The main thing I try to press upon them is that they need to be in the word," Chandler said.