Winterville

People walk, run and bike on the Model Mile of the Firefly Trail in Maxeys, the only completed portion of the trail in Oglethorpe County. The county recently received a grant for $2.9 million to extend the trail to the Greene County line. (Photo/Gianna Rodriguez)

People walk, run and bike on the Model Mile of the Firefly Trail in Maxeys, the only completed portion of the trail in Oglethorpe County. The county recently received a grant for $2.9 million to extend the trail to the Greene County line. (Photo/Gianna Rodriguez)

County receives $2.9 million to extend Firefly Trail to Greene

Elizabeth Kim
Thursday, July 10, 2025
Residents have put the Model Mile of the Firefly Trail to use since its completion in 2021.  “As soon as the mile went down in Maxeys, all the neighbors started getting out and walking and walking their dogs and riding their bicycles,” said Mary Cook, president of Firefly Trail Inc.
Oglethorpe County Elections Supervisor Marilyn Huff-Waller asks "Where are all the voters?" the morning of the special election at the county elections office on June 17. Though Election Day turnout was slow, Election Assistant Steve McCannon said the county was ahead of other parts of the state in early voting. (Photo/Dink NeSmith)

Oglethorpe County Elections Supervisor Marilyn Huff-Waller asks "Where are all the voters?" the morning of the special election at the county elections office on June 17. Though Election Day turnout was slow, Election Assistant Steve McCannon said the county was ahead of other parts of the state in early voting. (Photo/Dink NeSmith)

Turnout is low for special election

Zach Leggio
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
A special election Tuesday cemented primary choices for the Public Service Commission and an open seat on the Winterville City Council, despite low turnout. Tim Echols won the Republican primary for District 2 of the Public Service Commission statewide, with 85.
Ryan Sowell (from left), Chuck Thornton and James Thornton take a break from working on the Georgia Airsoft Inc. facility in Winterville last month. Thornton was one of the first to open a commercial airsoft facility. (Photo/Mitchell Stone)

Ryan Sowell (from left), Chuck Thornton and James Thornton take a break from working on the Georgia Airsoft Inc. facility in Winterville last month. Thornton was one of the first to open a commercial airsoft facility. (Photo/Mitchell Stone)

Georgia Airsoft survives through economic battles

Mitchell Stone
Wednesday, May 14, 2025
Commercial airsoft was virtually non-existent in the Southeast until Chuck Thornton, a Winterville resident and paintball/airsoft pro shop owner, decided to start his own business in his backyard.
Lucas (from left), Stetson and Brooke Holcombe stand with their two catahoula leopard dogs, Delta Dawn (left) and Boone (right), at the UGA Intramural Fields last month. The Holcombes, who live in Winterville, have started a hunting business around their dogs. (Photo/Jesse Wood)

Lucas (from left), Stetson and Brooke Holcombe stand with their two catahoula leopard dogs, Delta Dawn (left) and Boone (right), at the UGA Intramural Fields last month. The Holcombes, who live in Winterville, have started a hunting business around their dogs. (Photo/Jesse Wood)

Boone the one-of-a-kind dog: Family’s best friend provides legacy of hunting, love and entrepreneurship

Jesse Wood
Thursday, April 10, 2025
Deer blood in dog kibble is part of the process of turning a puppy into a tracking dog, but Boone, a catahoula leopard dog, didn’t need it. When Boone joined Brooke Holcombe’s life in 2019, he was meant to be a companion, at most a guard dog.
The Winterville Community Garden is a city-sponsored space for gardeners to rent soil beds and grow fresh produce. Four beds are dedicated to providing produce to local food banks. (Submitted Photo)

The Winterville Community Garden is a city-sponsored space for gardeners to rent soil beds and grow fresh produce. Four beds are dedicated to providing produce to local food banks. (Submitted Photo)

Winterville Community Garden cultivates produce, generosity

Sara Micale
Wednesday, March 20, 2024
Gardeners sow the seeds of plants, but also the spirit of generosity, at the Winterville Community Garden.      Founded in 2013 and located near Pittard Park in Winterville, the garden is a city-sponsored space for people to rent beds of compost and soil mix for growing produce.
MICAHYA COSTEN/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO Cason Dremann, who lives in Winterville, is the founder and coach of the 706 Baseball Club. The club, which includes six teams, practices at The Yard in Watkinsville.

MICAHYA COSTEN/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO Cason Dremann, who lives in Winterville, is the founder and coach of the 706 Baseball Club. The club, which includes six teams, practices at The Yard in Watkinsville.

Winterville’s Dremann runs baseball program

Micahya Costen
Wednesday, February 28, 2024
  Cason Dremann wants to grow young boys into men beyond the sport of baseball by instilling life lessons into the game, on and off the field. That’s one of the reasons he founded the 706 Baseball Club.

News Roundup: Troop 97 Boy Scout earns Eagle

News Staff
Thursday, February 1, 2024
Hayden Simpson of Troop 97 in Crawford will be awarded Eagle Scout in a ceremony at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Crawford Depot.   He’ll be the first Eagle Scout awarded in this troop since it was revived three years ago, said Scoutmaster Jeff Simpson, Hayden’s father.
Locator graphic

Locator graphic

Bobcat attacks two children in Winterville 

Evan Smoak
Monday, October 9, 2023
Two Oglethorpe County juveniles were attacked by a bobcat last Friday, according to local officials.   “We urge the public to be diligent and be aware of your children while they play outside,” said Cody Gibbs, the public information officer for Oglethorpe County Fire & Rescue.
(Submitted Photo/Oglethorpe County Sheriff's Office) GBI artist Kelly Lawson met with the victim of a reported home invasion in Winterville to produce this sketch of the suspect.

(Submitted Photo/Oglethorpe County Sheriff's Office) GBI artist Kelly Lawson met with the victim of a reported home invasion in Winterville to produce this sketch of the suspect.

GBI sketch leads to 4 suspects in Winterville home invasion

Emily Garcia
Friday, September 9, 2022
Three weeks after a reported home invasion in Winterville, the Oglethorpe County Sheriff’s Office is looking into the alibis of four potential suspects: a result of a recent forensic sketch.