Crawford

Cattle graze in the pastures at CAM Ranches in Crawford last week. The ranch, which is owned by Andrew McPeake, is home to 20 cows and 75 heifers. (Austin Lathrop/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Cattle graze in the pastures at CAM Ranches in Crawford last week. The ranch, which is owned by Andrew McPeake, is home to 20 cows and 75 heifers. (Austin Lathrop/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Experts, ranchers say beef prices likely to remain high for years

Austin Lathrop
Wednesday, October 7, 2026
Beef prices have reached a record high, and the people who breed and study cattle in Georgia say recovery could take years.“I think right now we’re not going to see a decrease in prices for three to four to five years,” said Andrew McPeake, owner of CAM Ranches in Crawford.
Nick Mathews, who graduated from OCHS in 2013, drops back while playing quarterback for the Patriots. He’s now a physical therapist in the San Francisco Giants organization.

Nick Mathews, who graduated from OCHS in 2013, drops back while playing quarterback for the Patriots. He’s now a physical therapist in the San Francisco Giants organization.

From Oglethorpe to MLB: Crawford native is physical therapist for Giants

Will Hearn
Wednesday, September 30, 2026
Nick Mathews grew up on a farm in Crawford, but his current role as a physical therapist in the San Francisco Giants organization has taken him far from the borders of Oglethorpe County.
There were no reported injuries from a car fire next to a hay field along Highway 78 across from the Farm Bureau in Crawford on Friday night. Firefighters soaked the edge of the field to prevent the fire from spreading beyond the vehicle. (Submitted Photo)

There were no reported injuries from a car fire next to a hay field along Highway 78 across from the Farm Bureau in Crawford on Friday night. Firefighters soaked the edge of the field to prevent the fire from spreading beyond the vehicle. (Submitted Photo)

Driver escapes vehicle fire uninjured on US 78

Mollie Beth Johnson
Wednesday, September 23, 2026
A 2014 Dodge Journey was engulfed in flames beside a Crawford hay field when firefighters reached the scene on Friday night.
Oglethorpe County EMS shift supervisor and paramedic Dylan Smith assembles a search-and-rescue drone at the EMS station in Crawford on Aug. 29. Smith and local emergency crews work alongside UGA disaster management researchers to integrate advanced aerial technology into rural operations. (ISABELLA PANG/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Oglethorpe County EMS shift supervisor and paramedic Dylan Smith assembles a search-and-rescue drone at the EMS station in Crawford on Aug. 29. Smith and local emergency crews work alongside UGA disaster management researchers to integrate advanced aerial technology into rural operations. (ISABELLA PANG/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Partnership with UGA gives boost to emergency services

Isabella Pang
Wednesday, September 2, 2026
Reaching the scene is often the largest hurdle for first responders when there’s an emergency somewhere across Oglethorpe County’s more than 400 square miles.
Attendees view a presentation on the Oglethorpe County Comprehensive Plan Update during a public hearing in the Oglethorpe County Commissioners meeting room on Monday. The hearing was the second and final public hearing before the draft plan moved to the regional and state review process. (Photo/Mollie Beth Johnson)

Attendees view a presentation on the Oglethorpe County Comprehensive Plan Update during a public hearing in the Oglethorpe County Commissioners meeting room on Monday. The hearing was the second and final public hearing before the draft plan moved to the regional and state review process. (Photo/Mollie Beth Johnson)

Comprehensive plan helps county anticipate growth

Mollie Beth Johnson
Wednesday, September 2, 2026
Oglethorpe County has one stoplight, but Emergency Management Agency director Douglas Spencer is already thinking about what happens when it has “two or three.”
Katie and Jon Armour have renamed Nature's Harvest to Full Draw Processing. The processor plans to open this upcoming deer season. (Photo Submitted)

Katie and Jon Armour have renamed Nature's Harvest to Full Draw Processing. The processor plans to open this upcoming deer season. (Photo Submitted)

Nature’s Harvest sold, to open for deer season

Finley Millwood
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Growing up hunting with her dad prepared Katie Armour for her new adventure: owning a processing business. Armour, 41, and her husband, Jon, who is 43, closed on Nature’s Harvest at the end of March.  The couple decided to rename the business to Full Draw Processing.
From left, zoning board members Morgan Robinson, Jimmy Shealy and Sam Nash, along with Planning Director Jeff Sharp, prepare for the April 16 zoning board meeting. Board member JF Hansford was absent. During the meeting, the board approved multiple zoning and land-use requests, including a proposal for a wedding venue and updates to county solar battery regulations, while denying one subdivision variance request. (Photo/Emilie Sullivan)

From left, zoning board members Morgan Robinson, Jimmy Shealy and Sam Nash, along with Planning Director Jeff Sharp, prepare for the April 16 zoning board meeting. Board member JF Hansford was absent. During the meeting, the board approved multiple zoning and land-use requests, including a proposal for a wedding venue and updates to county solar battery regulations, while denying one subdivision variance request. (Photo/Emilie Sullivan)

Zoning board says yes to wedding venue

Emilie Sullivan
Wednesday, April 22, 2026
A proposed wedding venue on Comer Road moved one step closer to reality after the Oglethorpe County Zoning Board approved a rezoning request at its April 16 meeting. Owners Nelida and Greg Serrano, who attended the meeting, requested the rezone from agricultural residential to highway business.
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.
Blazer's Hot Wings is located in Lexington at 640 Athens Road. The dine-in or drive-thru restaurant is known for its crispy wings and large menu. (Finley Millwood/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Blazer's Hot Wings is located in Lexington at 640 Athens Road. The dine-in or drive-thru restaurant is known for its crispy wings and large menu. (Finley Millwood/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Oglethorpe County Food Tour, Part II

Finley Millwood
Wednesday, April 8, 2026
From crispy wings to bold international flavors, this Oglethorpe County food tour highlights some of the county’s must-try spots.Starting with Blazer’s of Lexington, where crispy meets juicy hot wings.
Arnoldsville Mayor Danny Morcom (right), shown with council members Joel Kriner (middle) and Blake Arnold, would like to create plaques to recognize each of the city’s previous mayors. (Luis Vaquero/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Arnoldsville Mayor Danny Morcom (right), shown with council members Joel Kriner (middle) and Blake Arnold, would like to create plaques to recognize each of the city’s previous mayors. (Luis Vaquero/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Exclusive Subscriber Content

City Roundup: Crawford continues with water plant upgrades

Ansley Gavlak
Thursday, January 29, 2026
Crawford is continuing upgrades to its water plant while ensuring the system remains in compliance with the correct number of operators.  Mayor Alan Erwin said a major focus has been making sure the equipment is functioning properly and maintained on a regular schedule.