Local News

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.
JULIANNA M. RUSS/FOR THE OGLETHORPE ECHO Kendall Strickland, the owner of Strickland Pride Produce in Lexington, said about 75% of his customers pay with cash, not Cash App or credit cards. Those who don’t are usually under 30 years old, he said.

JULIANNA M. RUSS/FOR THE OGLETHORPE ECHO Kendall Strickland, the owner of Strickland Pride Produce in Lexington, said about 75% of his customers pay with cash, not Cash App or credit cards. Those who don’t are usually under 30 years old, he said.

Pay with your phone

Isabelle Manders and Dawn Sawyer and Julianna Duennes Russ
Friday, January 26, 2024
Gene Bradford opens up his shop, West Main Auto Repair, each morning at 8 a.m in Lexington, Georgia. He’s lived in the small, close-knit community of Oglethorpe County for years now, and has come to know his customers’ personalities, mannerisms – and preferred forms of payment.
Mobile cranes and tow trucks were called in to remove the tractor-trailer that overturned and blocked Saxon Mattox Road on Monday morning. Another truck blocked Lexington-Carlton Road later that day.

Mobile cranes and tow trucks were called in to remove the tractor-trailer that overturned and blocked Saxon Mattox Road on Monday morning. Another truck blocked Lexington-Carlton Road later that day.

Truck accidents plague county

News Staff
Thursday, January 25, 2024
Tractor-trailers and their drivers are having a tough time in Oglethorpe County. Two 18-wheelers overturned on Monday — one of them on Saxon Mattox Road — and a third overturned at the same spot on Tuesday night.

Company helps county assess properties

John James
Thursday, January 25, 2024
The Oglethorpe County Board of Commissioners approved an extension with Georgia Mass Appraisal Services & Solutions, Inc. at its meeting on Jan. 9.  GMASS specializes in value assessments on real estate property, which is the cost of a piece of land if it went up for sale.
Corrine Thiel (from left), president of Oglethorpe County Lions Club, Virginia Sanders, founder of Covered with Love and Emma Walter, secretary of Oglethorpe County Lions Club display a blanket from Covered with Love to include in pajama packs. The club donates pajamas and other items to Piedmont Athens Regional for children with extended stays. (Submitted Photo).

Corrine Thiel (from left), president of Oglethorpe County Lions Club, Virginia Sanders, founder of Covered with Love and Emma Walter, secretary of Oglethorpe County Lions Club display a blanket from Covered with Love to include in pajama packs. The club donates pajamas and other items to Piedmont Athens Regional for children with extended stays. (Submitted Photo).

Lions Club helps sick kids with pajama packs

Lily Reid Aldrich
Thursday, January 25, 2024
The Oglethorpe County branch of Lions Club has been helping children and families in need by making pajama packs for kids with extended stays at Piedmont Athens Regional.    Corrine Thiel, president of Oglethorpe Lions Club, coordinates the creation of the packs with the club members and Piedmont.
Fester Hagood performs at the No. 3 Railroad on Jan. 14th with Pickled Holler and Julie Gribble. His next Mojo Confessional Songwriter Showcase is scheduled for Feb. 11. (Submitted Photo/Julie Gribble)

Fester Hagood performs at the No. 3 Railroad on Jan. 14th with Pickled Holler and Julie Gribble. His next Mojo Confessional Songwriter Showcase is scheduled for Feb. 11. (Submitted Photo/Julie Gribble)

No. 3’s monthly showcase celebrates local songwriters

Izzy Wagner
Thursday, January 25, 2024
The warm lights from the interior of No. 3 Railroad Street illuminate the empty street. Inside, a sizable crowd gathers to attend the first Mojo Confessional Songwriter Showcase of 2024, a night of original music by local artists.
Graph of data provided by the Georgia Department of Public Health of Oglethorpe County's COVID-19 levels in the past six months.

Graph of data provided by the Georgia Department of Public Health of Oglethorpe County's COVID-19 levels in the past six months.

COVID, flu slow after recent spike

Lily Murphy
Wednesday, January 24, 2024
COVID-19 and flu levels in Oglethorpe County have leveled off after a post-holiday spike.    There were six confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Oglethorpe County as of Jan. 11, but only two confirmed cases on Jan. 15, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health.
Danny Morcom (Submitted Photo)

Danny Morcom (Submitted Photo)

New mayor brings government experience to Arnoldsville

Jordan Howard
Wednesday, January 24, 2024
Arnoldsville Mayor Danny Morcom is ready to officially embrace the position in 2024 after serving as mayor pro tem for almost nine months.    Morcom and Arnoldsville City Council members began tackling issues facing the city in the first city council meeting of the year on Jan. 18.
A crane moves a beam to the roof of the new Oglethorpe Elementary School. The school is on track to have students enter by January 2025. (Photo/Jim Bass)

A crane moves a beam to the roof of the new Oglethorpe Elementary School. The school is on track to have students enter by January 2025. (Photo/Jim Bass)

Oglethorpe's new elementary school takes shape, on schedule

Jim Bass
Wednesday, January 24, 2024
Construction on the new Oglethorpe County Elementary School remains on schedule and on budget, as crews begin the brick-laying process.    Heavy rain and temperatures below freezing haven’t stopped progress for Parrish Construction Group, which is managing the project.