Local News

School buses sit outside the Oglethorpe County transportation office on Oct. 22, 2022. (Photo/Megan Fitzgerald)

School buses sit outside the Oglethorpe County transportation office on Oct. 22, 2022. (Photo/Megan Fitzgerald)

School closings are group decisions

Zeke Palermo
Wednesday, January 24, 2024
When Oglethorpe County experienced recent freezing temperatures, students across the county held their breath each morning hoping for school closures or delays.
Will Eberhart (left) and Douglas Cosby move and organize boxes of food before they load cars at the Lexington Baptist Church’s monthly food pantry in December. Cars wind around the block in downtown Lexington waiting to receive the food. (Samantha Hurley/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Will Eberhart (left) and Douglas Cosby move and organize boxes of food before they load cars at the Lexington Baptist Church’s monthly food pantry in December. Cars wind around the block in downtown Lexington waiting to receive the food. (Samantha Hurley/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Here to help

Samantha Hurley and Riley Kehoe
Wednesday, January 17, 2024
Douglas and Linda Cosby receive, sort and organize volunteers to help them distribute the food during the mobile food pantry, which is scheduled for the second Monday of every month, rain or shine.
The Emergency Medical Services office on Athens Road flooded last Tuesday when the stormwater ditch behind the building overflowed. (Submitted Photo)

The Emergency Medical Services office on Athens Road flooded last Tuesday when the stormwater ditch behind the building overflowed. (Submitted Photo)

Storm repairs almost finished

John James
Wednesday, January 17, 2024
The Oglethorpe County Public Works department is nearly finished with repairs after the heavy rains last week.    Adam Nation, the public works director, said 15 trees were down throughout the county after the storm on Jan. 9.

News roundup: Royston’s Jordan will run for DA

News Staff
Wednesday, January 17, 2024
David Jordan, an attorney in Royston and a professor of business at Emmanuel University, will run for District Attorney of the Northern Judicial Circuit, which includes Franklin, Hart, Madison, Elbert and Oglethorpe counties.   D.
Charleen Foott, chief of the Wolfskin Volunteer Fire Department, is the only female fire chief in Oglethorpe County. She was appointed chief two years ago. (Lily Reid Aldrich/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Charleen Foott, chief of the Wolfskin Volunteer Fire Department, is the only female fire chief in Oglethorpe County. She was appointed chief two years ago. (Lily Reid Aldrich/The Oglethorpe Echo)

As chief, Foott casts a vision for Wolfskin VFD

Lily Reid Aldrich
Wednesday, January 10, 2024
Charleen Foott felt lost in life.    She found herself again through working with the Wolfskin Volunteer Fire Department. Foott is now the only female fire chief in the county.    Foott began working with the department after losing her job at a call center 20 years ago.
Workers pour concrete for the accessible parking lot at Lexington's new City Hall, which is on the other side of the old jail from the previous City Hall. (Dink Nesmith/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Workers pour concrete for the accessible parking lot at Lexington's new City Hall, which is on the other side of the old jail from the previous City Hall. (Dink Nesmith/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Lexington’s new City Hall ready for use

John James
Wednesday, January 10, 2024
Lexington’s new City Hall is ready.   City Clerk Kim Bradford said the final steps were completed last week, when the accessible parking lot was finished.   Bradford said the lot’s construction was a two-day process and cost $3,600.
Community member Brent Howsmon gives an update on his involvement with the Future Business Leaders of America at the Board of Education meeting on Tuesday night. The BOE approved a security system for OCMS and OCHS. (Dawn Sawyer/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Community member Brent Howsmon gives an update on his involvement with the Future Business Leaders of America at the Board of Education meeting on Tuesday night. The BOE approved a security system for OCMS and OCHS. (Dawn Sawyer/The Oglethorpe Echo)

BOE approves security system for schools

Dawn Sawyer
Wednesday, January 10, 2024
The Oglethorpe County Board of Education approved Superintendent Beverley Levine’s recommendation to install a new security and crisis alert system at both the middle and high schools at its regular session on Tuesday night.
County administrator Josh Hawkins provides additional information to the Oglethorpe County Board of Commissioners during a meeting on Monday night. (Andy Johnston/The Oglethorpe Echo)

County administrator Josh Hawkins provides additional information to the Oglethorpe County Board of Commissioners during a meeting on Monday night. (Andy Johnston/The Oglethorpe Echo)

County hires company to evaluate cell towers

John James
Wednesday, January 10, 2024
The Oglethorpe County Board of Commissioners approved the hiring of Cell Tower Solutions to evaluate all cell towers in Oglethorpe County at its meeting on Monday.
A tractor-trailer truck is stuck in flood waters on Saxon Mattox Road in the northeastern Part of Oglethorpe County. Some parts of the county received more than 3 inches of rain on Monday night and Tuesday. (Submitted Photo)

A tractor-trailer truck is stuck in flood waters on Saxon Mattox Road in the northeastern Part of Oglethorpe County. Some parts of the county received more than 3 inches of rain on Monday night and Tuesday. (Submitted Photo)

Storms flood roads, strand trucks

News Staff
Wednesday, January 10, 2024
Heavy rain and wind washed out roads and played havoc with trucks and school buses throughout Oglethorpe County on Tuesday.   At least three tractor-trailer trucks were stuck on both paved and dirt roads near the Timberland Solar Farm in the northeastern part of the county.

Levine gets three-year extension

Dawn Sawyer
Wednesday, January 10, 2024
Beverley Levine will remain superintendent of Oglethorpe County School System through 2026 after her contract was renewed at a called meeting of the Board of Education on Jan. 3.   Levine, who has been superintendent since 2015, received a three-year contract.