Local News

Oglethorpe County High School seniors (from left) Landon Quarles, Yanet Alvarez, Charlie Roberts, Michaela Watkins and Bryan Hernandez are part of Oglethorpe County's first graduating class of REACH scholars. (Photo/Cassidy Hettesheimer)

Oglethorpe County High School seniors (from left) Landon Quarles, Yanet Alvarez, Charlie Roberts, Michaela Watkins and Bryan Hernandez are part of Oglethorpe County's first graduating class of REACH scholars. (Photo/Cassidy Hettesheimer)

College application time for inaugural REACH scholars

Cassidy Hettesheimer
Thursday, September 28, 2023
Charlie Roberts and her family go out to eat every year on Oct. 18. However, it’s not to celebrate her birthday or another family event.    It’s the day in 2019 that Roberts, then an eighth-grader, received the news she was one of Oglethorpe County’s first REACH scholarship recipients.
(Submitted Photo) Williamson Sintyl, who survived a 2010 earthquake that devastated Haiti, his wife, Sharla, and their three children (Tevin, 6, Kai, 4, and Sidonie, 3) live in Lexington.

(Submitted Photo) Williamson Sintyl, who survived a 2010 earthquake that devastated Haiti, his wife, Sharla, and their three children (Tevin, 6, Kai, 4, and Sidonie, 3) live in Lexington.

County has become part of Sintyl's mission to serve others, give back

Jordan Long
Wednesday, September 27, 2023
Haiti was struck by a 7.0-magnitude earthquake in 2010 that buried Williamson Sintyl under the rubble of a three-story building for 28 hours. Sintyl, who lives in Oglethorpe County, said he spent those grueling hours trapped without food or water.
Dave Gossage (left), chairman of the Oglethorpe County Republican Party, takes a look at Colton Smith's new taxidermy buisness, called Smith Bros. e-Taxidermy. Smith uses advanced artificial intelligence prompts and Photoshop to visually recreate dead deer. (Photo/Elena Acosta)

Dave Gossage (left), chairman of the Oglethorpe County Republican Party, takes a look at Colton Smith's new taxidermy buisness, called Smith Bros. e-Taxidermy. Smith uses advanced artificial intelligence prompts and Photoshop to visually recreate dead deer. (Photo/Elena Acosta)

LexFest returns to showcase local artisans

Elena Acosta
Wednesday, September 27, 2023
Local artists and crafters gathered around the Oglethorpe County Courthouse in Lexington on Saturday for the first time since the pandemic — but they almost didn't have power.
The newly renovated Lexington City Hall is expected to be completed next month. The project will cost between $7,000-$8,000 and include new paint, carpet and a new HVAC system. (TYLER BLOUNT/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

The newly renovated Lexington City Hall is expected to be completed next month. The project will cost between $7,000-$8,000 and include new paint, carpet and a new HVAC system. (TYLER BLOUNT/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Lexington to move city hall to nearby building

Tyler Blount
Thursday, September 21, 2023
Editor’s note: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated the projected cost of the project. The correct projected cost for the project is between $7,000-$8,000. This version has been updated to include the correct cost of the project as provided by the Lexington City Council’s Office.
Morgan Robinson and Robert Drew prepare for their meeting. Each member is given zoning property maps to visualize each zoning request. (Grace Mains/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Morgan Robinson and Robert Drew prepare for their meeting. Each member is given zoning property maps to visualize each zoning request. (Grace Mains/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Zoning board approves three applications

Grace Mains
Thursday, September 21, 2023
The Oglethorpe County Zoning Board approved two rezoning topics and one variance at Monday’s meeting.   Kevin Ashe requested a rezone of 2238 Beaverdam Road from an agricultural residential to single family residential.
Cory Clements bails and wraps hay on John Robertson’s farm in the Smithonia Community in 2022. Oglethorpe County was the 10th largest hay producing county in the state in 2021. (Dink Nesmith/ The Oglethorpe Echo)

Cory Clements bails and wraps hay on John Robertson’s farm in the Smithonia Community in 2022. Oglethorpe County was the 10th largest hay producing county in the state in 2021. (Dink Nesmith/ The Oglethorpe Echo)

Hay fever: Rain leads to abundance of cash crop

John Henry Hammond
Thursday, September 21, 2023
Oglethorpe County’s unexpectedly wet hay season is coming to a close, bringing a bountiful harvest to farmers like Travis Legg.   “I’ve been doing this for a long time, and this is one of the wettest years I’ve seen,” said Legg, a third-generation farmer and owner of Windy Hill Ranch in Colbert.
Sonja Armour and Vivian Sparks listen for the question from NBA All Star Dwight Howard on Friday morning, Sept. 15, 2023. Howard hosted 'Family Feud' at the Oglethorpe Senior Center in Crawford, Georgia. (Photo/Sidney Chansamone)

Sonja Armour and Vivian Sparks listen for the question from NBA All Star Dwight Howard on Friday morning, Sept. 15, 2023. Howard hosted 'Family Feud' at the Oglethorpe Senior Center in Crawford, Georgia. (Photo/Sidney Chansamone)

‘Family Feud’ frenzy: NBA star Dwight Howard brings laughter to senior center

Sidney Chansamone and Caleb Rollins
Thursday, September 21, 2023
Longtime NBA star Dwight Howard, measuring 6 feet, 10 inches tall, had to duck beneath the door frame as he entered the Oglethorpe County Senior Center, which was packed with residents, music and cheers.
Board of Commissioners prepares to vote.

Board of Commissioners prepares to vote.

BOC votes to approve millage rate

Jay Reece
Thursday, September 21, 2023
The Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a new millage rate, part of which was previously approved by the Board of Education, in a called meeting on Monday that lasted less than 2 minutes.
Oglethorpe Board of Education members (from left) Guillermo Camacho, Tim Poole, Beverley Levine and Becky Soto discuss the approval of the new rate. The board voted 5-0 to approve the rate, while Susan Robinson had a planned absence. (Photo/Caleb Baldwin)

Oglethorpe Board of Education members (from left) Guillermo Camacho, Tim Poole, Beverley Levine and Becky Soto discuss the approval of the new rate. The board voted 5-0 to approve the rate, while Susan Robinson had a planned absence. (Photo/Caleb Baldwin)

After hearings, BOE goes with lower rate

Caleb Baldwin
Thursday, September 21, 2023
The Oglethorpe County Board of Education approved a lower millage rate of 15.824 for the 2024 fiscal year.    This is a 0.826-mill decrease from 16.650 in 2023. Though this is a decrease, residents will see a 9.