OCHS

Lee Jones plays the piano as students practice a song in the Oglethorpe County High School music classroom last month. Jones has been the band and chorus director at OCHS for 13 years. (Sabrina Felix/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Lee Jones plays the piano as students practice a song in the Oglethorpe County High School music classroom last month. Jones has been the band and chorus director at OCHS for 13 years. (Sabrina Felix/The Oglethorpe Echo)

The sound of music: Students, Jones look to grow OCHS chorus

Sabrina Felix
Wednesday, September 30, 2026
Senior Mason Drewett said he joined the Oglethorpe County High School chorus to improve his performance skills. “I wanted to do that to get some actual vocal training,” Drewett said.  He started as a baritone, but now he sings the bass vocal part.
Travis Hill, owner of Hill Renovations, hangs up 'The Local Spot' sign outside. The restaurant is located at 1185 Athens Road, and planned to open late April. (Photo Submitted)

Travis Hill, owner of Hill Renovations, hangs up 'The Local Spot' sign outside. The restaurant is located at 1185 Athens Road, and planned to open late April. (Photo Submitted)

Nation aims to bring family fun to Crawford restaurant

Finley Millwood
Wednesday, April 8, 2026
Born and raised in Oglethorpe County, Stephanie Nation’s goal is to embody the saying “good laughs, good food, good people” with her new restaurant. “I really want it to just be somewhere fun that people can come, and if they're having a bad day, it will turn upside down,” Nation said.
The Oglethorpe Echo

The Oglethorpe Echo

Local Roundup: OCHS band to hold annual mattress sale

News Staff
Thursday, March 19, 2026
The Oglethorpe County High School band will host its annual mattress sale from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 21 at the high school. There will be more than 25 brand-name mattress floor models on display, including Purple, Southerland and Therapedic.
Landon Howard (from left) Cole Faust, Caden Berggren and Ledger Coley compete in the agriculture mechanics event at the FFA Area 2 CDEs on Feb. 10. They finished in second and advanced to the state competition on March 20. (DAKOTA MEEKS/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Landon Howard (from left) Cole Faust, Caden Berggren and Ledger Coley compete in the agriculture mechanics event at the FFA Area 2 CDEs on Feb. 10. They finished in second and advanced to the state competition on March 20. (DAKOTA MEEKS/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Dellinger, other OCHS students shine in FFA

Dakota Meeks
Thursday, February 19, 2026
For OCHS senior Andee Dellinger, middle school FFA is where she discovered that her future would be grounded in teaching agriculture.
Carlie Gabriel (right), pictured with sister Claire (left) and brother Trey, holds a banner she created for Trey’s all-star baseball team last July. She’s created more than 45 banners for her customers. (Submitted Photo)

Carlie Gabriel (right), pictured with sister Claire (left) and brother Trey, holds a banner she created for Trey’s all-star baseball team last July. She’s created more than 45 banners for her customers. (Submitted Photo)

Hobby with heart: Local teen turns banner painting into business

Emilie Sullivan
Thursday, February 5, 2026
What began as a handmade birthday gift for her younger brother has grown into a small business for 17-year-old Carlie Gabriel, an Oglethorpe County High School senior.

Compton, Mckie spark wrestlers to third place

News Staff
Wednesday, January 21, 2026
Walker Compton, a freshman, and Tanner Mckie, a senior, led the Oglethorpe County wrestling team to a third-place finish at the Campbell Spartan Duals on Saturday.  Compton and Mckie were both undefeated as the Patriots defeated Blessed Trinity 56-11, Wheeler 66-0 and Johns Creek 33-29.
Kassie Mathews, a sophomore at Oglethorpe County High School, conducted “Sleigh Ride” during the Classic City Band’s concert on Dec. 16. She was the OCHS marching band’s drum major this fall. (Photo/Submitted)

Kassie Mathews, a sophomore at Oglethorpe County High School, conducted “Sleigh Ride” during the Classic City Band’s concert on Dec. 16. She was the OCHS marching band’s drum major this fall. (Photo/Submitted)

Mathews conducts final song in concert

Neva Drane
Tuesday, December 30, 2025
Kassie Mathews delivered on her band director’s trust.  Michael Brewer, the director of the Classic City Band, an all-volunteer group, asked Mathews to conduct “Sleigh Ride,” the closing song for the band’s annual Holiday Concert on Dec. 16 at the University of Georgia’s Hodgson Concert Hall.
Zion Pass and Oglethorpe County upset state-ranked Rabun County in a Region 8-A Division I game in October. The schools will remain region foes in 8-AA the next two years. (Photo/Ashleigh Johnston)

Zion Pass and Oglethorpe County upset state-ranked Rabun County in a Region 8-A Division I game in October. The schools will remain region foes in 8-AA the next two years. (Photo/Ashleigh Johnston)

OCHS will face familiar foes in jump to 8-AA

Andy Mathis
Tuesday, December 23, 2025
Oglethorpe County High School athletics will enter the 2026-27 school year under a new Georgia High School Association region alignment and playoff structure, a shift that looks significant on paper but will feel familiar in practice for many of the school’s programs.
Members of the OCHS basketball cheer squad, including (from left) Shyanne Spade, Za’Nijha Carter, Zariah Johnson (partially hidden back row), Ambreia Kelley, Tori Clark, Kyra Edwards (partially hidden back row), Shayla Richardson and Krysten Jones encourage the Patriots during a game last week. Clark comes up with the cheers and helps teach the routines. (Photo/Ty Johnston)

Members of the OCHS basketball cheer squad, including (from left) Shyanne Spade, Za’Nijha Carter, Zariah Johnson (partially hidden back row), Ambreia Kelley, Tori Clark, Kyra Edwards (partially hidden back row), Shayla Richardson and Krysten Jones encourage the Patriots during a game last week. Clark comes up with the cheers and helps teach the routines. (Photo/Ty Johnston)

Clark shows leadership as coach on the court

Ansley Gavlak
Wednesday, December 17, 2025
While coaches typically take charge of their teams, the Oglethorpe County basketball cheerleading squad operates differently, with leadership coming from the athletes themselves.  “I'm really more of an administrator,” coach Ruth Wilson said.