Opinion

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Opinion Column: Gold Dome’s elephant in the room is no pachyderm

Dink NeSmith
Friday, April 8, 2022
You’ve heard the reference to the invisible elephant that lurks in a room when decisions are being made. Georgia’s Gold Dome has a mammoth animal that is a permanent fixture when the General Assembly is in session and when it’s not.   But it’s not a pachyderm.
Chris Thomas, a resident and parent who lives on Bunker Hill Road, urged county commissioners to investigate the possibility of a traffic light at the intersection with Highway 68. (Dink NeSmith/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Chris Thomas, a resident and parent who lives on Bunker Hill Road, urged county commissioners to investigate the possibility of a traffic light at the intersection with Highway 68. (Dink NeSmith/The Oglethorpe Echo)

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Editorial: A second traffic light?

News Staff
Friday, April 8, 2022
Oglethorpe County has 442 square miles within its boundaries. If you have lived here long, you know our community of approximately 15,000 residents has many unique features.   One of its most prized attributes is the rural atmosphere.

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Opinion Column: New clue more than likely solves family mystery

News Staff
Wednesday, March 30, 2022
Big Dink went to his grave never knowing the names of two Georgia state patrolmen who came to his aid. That bothered me for more than 60 years. A pair of telephone calls — 14 years apart — have solved the mysteries.    One for certain. The other, most likely.   Go back to Sept. 27, 1958.
The Oglethorpe Echo

The Oglethorpe Echo

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Editorial: Get ready to vote

News Staff
Wednesday, March 30, 2022
Spring is here.     So is election season.    Are you a registered voter?   If not, you have until April 25 to sign up and be eligible to vote in the May 24 general primary.    Where do you register to vote in Oglethorpe County? It’s easy.

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Opinion Column: Animals know it’s five o’clock somewhere

Dink NeSmith
Thursday, March 17, 2022
Margaritaville’s Jimmy Buffett — as wildly popular as he is — never had a chart-topping record until he collaborated with country star Alan Jackson. The mix of sand-in-his-sandals Buffett and 10-gallon-hat Jackson teamed for “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere,” which became a monster hit for both.

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Editorial: Make your voices heard

News Staff
Thursday, March 17, 2022
In every edition, we do our best to let you know when governmental meetings are scheduled in Oglethorpe County. You should know that your elected officials can meet in private for four legal reasons: the purchase of real estate, personnel matters, litigation and cyber security.
Gas prices surpassed $4 at the Golden Pantry in Lexington on Monday. (Dink NeSmith/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Gas prices surpassed $4 at the Golden Pantry in Lexington on Monday. (Dink NeSmith/The Oglethorpe Echo)

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Editorial: Pray for Ukraine

News Staff
Thursday, March 10, 2022
Ukraine is halfway around the globe from Oglethorpe County, but the impact of Russia’s attack on its neighbor is being felt here.   Pull up to a gasoline pump, and you’ll fume. Gas prices have spiked to levels last seen in 2008, during the hurricane season.
(Source/White House.gov)

(Source/White House.gov)

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Opinion Column: Preserving nature — What would Teddy Roosevelt say?

Dink NeSmith
Thursday, March 10, 2022
A plush, stuffed bear got its name from him, but Teddy Roosevelt was no softy to be toyed with when he wanted to get something done. T.R. wasn’t a giant in stature, but our youngest-ever American president stood tall, ever ready to stiffen his backbone for a fight.
The Oglethorpe Echo website

The Oglethorpe Echo website

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Editorial: Digital, just for you

News Staff
Thursday, March 10, 2022
The Oglethorpe Echo, founded in 1874, has come a long way since the handset, hot-type days. And since the launch of the 148-year-old newspaper’s “new era,” you can take advantage of a variety of digital platforms.

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Opinion Column: What’s with all this road rage?

Dink NeSmith
Thursday, March 3, 2022
One minute I was driving, and the next minute, all hell broke loose. The silence wasn’t broken by a beep, beep, but by a nonstop horn blast. My immediate thought was “Whattttttttt?”   That’s when I saw the Dodge Charger aiming at me.