Evelyn Reece

Alan Erwin is sworn in as the mayor of Crawford earlier this month. He took over Seavy O’Neal, who didn’t run for reelection last year. (Submitted Photo)

Alan Erwin is sworn in as the mayor of Crawford earlier this month. He took over Seavy O’Neal, who didn’t run for reelection last year. (Submitted Photo)

Oglethorpe County mayors prioritize clean cities for 2026

Ansley Gavlak
Wednesday, January 21, 2026
A clean city is the priority for Crawford Mayor Alan Erwin in 2026.  “We just want to get our city back up to par, cleaned up, and well maintained to where people that live in the city of Crawford are proud of their surroundings, as well as myself,” he said.
Maxeys leadership includes (from left) city council members Carrie Hayes, Carrie Hyatt, Danny Gorman, Mayor Edward Toledano, Shirley Callahan, Doug Miller and city clerk Jenny Yearwood-Parker. The city is adding online bill pay for water bills next month. (Photo/Ansley Gavlak)

Maxeys leadership includes (from left) city council members Carrie Hayes, Carrie Hyatt, Danny Gorman, Mayor Edward Toledano, Shirley Callahan, Doug Miller and city clerk Jenny Yearwood-Parker. The city is adding online bill pay for water bills next month. (Photo/Ansley Gavlak)

Lexington denied for rural zone designation

Ansley Gavlak
Tuesday, December 23, 2025
Lexington wasn’t one of the seven cities selected for rural zone designation. The Northeast Georgia Regional Commission reviewed and submitted the application on the city’s behalf.
Rebecca Smith (left), Lucille Endriss (middle) and Gail Spearing (right) volunteer as poll workers for the Lexington mayoral race between Cory Crayton and Evelyn Reece. There are 176 voters who are eligible to vote in this election. (Mia Fishman/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Rebecca Smith (left), Lucille Endriss (middle) and Gail Spearing (right) volunteer as poll workers for the Lexington mayoral race between Cory Crayton and Evelyn Reece. There are 176 voters who are eligible to vote in this election. (Mia Fishman/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Reece wins Lexington mayoral race

Mia Fishman
Wednesday, November 5, 2025
Evelyn Reece will be the next mayor of Lexington.  Reece defeated Cory Crayton, a member of the Lexington City Council and Historic Preservation Board, to win the nonpartisan mayoral race, garnering 58% of the vote on Tuesday.
Cory Crayton (left) and Evelyn Reece (right), the candidates in Lexington’s nonpartisan mayoral race, spoke to The Oglethorpe Echo about their views on key issues. (Submitted Photo)

Cory Crayton (left) and Evelyn Reece (right), the candidates in Lexington’s nonpartisan mayoral race, spoke to The Oglethorpe Echo about their views on key issues. (Submitted Photo)

Q&A: Lexington mayoral candidates speak about city’s issues

Mia Fishman
Wednesday, October 8, 2025
 Cory Crayton and Evelyn Reece, the candidates in Lexington’s nonpartisan mayoral race, spoke to The Oglethorpe Echo about their views on key issues, such as city utilities, economic development and historic preservation. Early voting for the Lexington mayoral race is from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct.
Evelyn Reece touches the interior of a stained glass window in the former Lexington Presbyterian Church earlier this month. The windows were recently restored with the help of funds received from a grant written by Reece. (Photo/Sarah White)

Evelyn Reece touches the interior of a stained glass window in the former Lexington Presbyterian Church earlier this month. The windows were recently restored with the help of funds received from a grant written by Reece. (Photo/Sarah White)

Grant helps kick-start restoration

Sarah White
Thursday, December 30, 2021
Evelyn Reece and the Historic Preservation Commission knew restorations were needed for the old Lexington Presbyterian Church when it closed in 2015 and the building was acquired by the city.   “The windows were an emergency situation,” she said.