Opinion

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Editorial: Tell us why you love Oglethorpe County

News Staff
Thursday, January 27, 2022
Here’s a question for you: “Why do you love Oglethorpe County?”    It’s one enormous land mass with multiple communities — The Glade to Cherokee Corner and Vesta to Stephens — sprinkled over 283,000 acres.
Two Bulldogs who helped Georgia win national championships in 1980 and 2021 have Jesup connections. Fred Bennett’s 1980 photo of Jesup’s Lindsay Scott, center, shows No. 24 racing to the Florida Gators’ end zone in Jacksonville. That play propelled the Dawgs into the national championship game against Notre Dame. Stetson Bennett IV, right, is the grandson of the late Buddy Bennett, left, who quarterbacked Jesup High School to a state championship in 1954. (Submitted Photos)

Two Bulldogs who helped Georgia win national championships in 1980 and 2021 have Jesup connections. Fred Bennett’s 1980 photo of Jesup’s Lindsay Scott, center, shows No. 24 racing to the Florida Gators’ end zone in Jacksonville. That play propelled the Dawgs into the national championship game against Notre Dame. Stetson Bennett IV, right, is the grandson of the late Buddy Bennett, left, who quarterbacked Jesup High School to a state championship in 1954. (Submitted Photos)

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Opinion Column: A championship connection you might overlook at UGA

Dink NeSmith
Thursday, January 20, 2022
The Bulldog Nation — almost 100,000 strong — was shivering on Saturday. Shivering from the icy winds. Shivering from the excitement of UGA beating Alabama 33-18 and bringing home the national championship trophy.   The 41-year wait to bark with this much joy is over.   Woof, woof!

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Opinion Column: Tribute to Rick Berry, our friend and colleague

News Staff
Wednesday, January 19, 2022
By Allan Armitage   Many years ago, I met an excited gardener who wanted to share her memories of a trip to a place called Goodness Grows Nursery. She spoke in almost reverential tones, as if she had returned from Machu Picchu or some other equally remarkable place.
Machines that detect the speed of vehicles could help reduce speeding in Oglethorpe County. (Dink NeSmith/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Machines that detect the speed of vehicles could help reduce speeding in Oglethorpe County. (Dink NeSmith/The Oglethorpe Echo)

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The Echo's Opinion: Time to slow down

News Staff
Thursday, January 13, 2022
The group Alabama sings, “I’m in a hurry, and I don’t know why.” That seems to be the theme song along U.S. Highway 78 through Oglethorpe County.   A good observation point to verify that is the east end of Main Street in Lexington.  Traffic roars in and out of town on 78.
Stetson Bennett IV never doubted where he wanted to be a college quarterback. Growing up in South Georgia, his heart was set on UGA, as family photos confirm. (Submitted Photo/Bennett Family)

Stetson Bennett IV never doubted where he wanted to be a college quarterback. Growing up in South Georgia, his heart was set on UGA, as family photos confirm. (Submitted Photo/Bennett Family)

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Opinion Column: Stetson scores one for dreamers

Dink NeSmith
Thursday, January 6, 2022
Long before he could shake a red and black pompom, Stetson Bennett IV was destined to be a Georgia Bulldog.     Three days before the future quarterback was born in 1997, his mom was sitting in Sanford Stadium, shaking her red and black pompom.

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Opinion Column: Thanks to you, The Echo will be 'heard' in 2022

Dink NeSmith
Thursday, December 30, 2021
When you get the urge to jump, a good idea is to have a notion of where you’re going to land. Most of the time, I heed my own advice. I repeat: most of the time. But on Sept. 10, as I drove toward 121 E. Main St., in Lexington, all I knew was that I was going to “jump.”
Len Hauss, center, enjoyed a reunion with his former quarterbacks Billy Kilmer, left, and Sonny Jurgensen at the last Redskins' game at Washington's RFK Stadium in 1996. Both quarterbacks attended Monday's memorial service for Hauss. Kilmer delivered a eulogy regaling their years in the NFL and fishing with Hauss on the Altamaha River. (Submitted Photo)

Len Hauss, center, enjoyed a reunion with his former quarterbacks Billy Kilmer, left, and Sonny Jurgensen at the last Redskins' game at Washington's RFK Stadium in 1996. Both quarterbacks attended Monday's memorial service for Hauss. Kilmer delivered a eulogy regaling their years in the NFL and fishing with Hauss on the Altamaha River. (Submitted Photo)

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Opinion Column: Legend of former Bulldog, Redskin Len Hauss will live on

Dink NeSmith
Thursday, December 23, 2021
(Note: This eulogy was delivered on Dec. 20 in Jesup First Baptist Church.)   Len Hauss.   I can close my eyes and see the Yellow Jackets’ fullback, No. 41, pile driving Jesup to a 1959 state football championship.