safety

Patricia Whatley, a licensed clinical social worker, has worked with MedLink since 2022 and serves Athens-Clarke and Oglethorpe County communities. She estimates that a quarter of her clients in Oglethorpe County discuss domestic violence or related crises on an annual basis. (Gabrielle Gruszynski/The Oglethoroe Echo)

Patricia Whatley, a licensed clinical social worker, has worked with MedLink since 2022 and serves Athens-Clarke and Oglethorpe County communities. She estimates that a quarter of her clients in Oglethorpe County discuss domestic violence or related crises on an annual basis. (Gabrielle Gruszynski/The Oglethoroe Echo)

County has few resources for domestic violence

Gabrielle Gruszynski
Wednesday, October 15, 2025
“It’s a big county, but it’s very spread out. There’s a lot of isolation,” said Patricia Whatley, a licensed clinical social worker for MedLink serving Oglethorpe and Athens-Clarke counties.  That isolation and lack of services show up in the numbers.
Kristin Gilliam sits inside an Oglethorpe County EMS truck on Thursday, Sept. 11, in Crawford, Georgia. Emergency medicine is her passion, and she loves being on the front lines helping her community. (Photo/Gabrielle Gruszynski)

Kristin Gilliam sits inside an Oglethorpe County EMS truck on Thursday, Sept. 11, in Crawford, Georgia. Emergency medicine is her passion, and she loves being on the front lines helping her community. (Photo/Gabrielle Gruszynski)

Learning to save lives

Gabrielle Gruszynski
Wednesday, September 17, 2025
When someone collapses from a heart attack or suffers a serious injury, the first few minutes are critical.  In Oglethorpe County, EMS is preparing residents to help make the difference.   Kristin Gilliam opens a bleeding control kit on Thursday, Sept. 11, in Crawford, Georgia.
Rayle EMC’s Richard Heard (left) presents a check to the Oglethorpe County Sheriff’s Office’s Courtney Corbin and Shae Peek for a car seat program. The money was used to purchase car seats for county residents. (Submitted Photo)

Rayle EMC’s Richard Heard (left) presents a check to the Oglethorpe County Sheriff’s Office’s Courtney Corbin and Shae Peek for a car seat program. The money was used to purchase car seats for county residents. (Submitted Photo)

Car seat technicians provide free service to residents

Frankie Hennessy
Wednesday, May 14, 2025
Dispatcher Shae Peek said an experience with her family led her to find more resources for car seats in Oglethorpe County.  “My sister has a daughter, and my sister could never (install a car seat) properly and correctly,” Peek said. “And she always had troubles with it.
EMILY LUPO/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO

EMILY LUPO/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO

Safety tips for children, adults

Emily Lupo
Wednesday, October 25, 2023
With Halloween approaching and many fall festivities already underway, emergency services officials in Oglethorpe County are offering tips and reminders to help keep your family safe this spooky season.
Melissa and Bud Godfriaux have pushed for improved bus stop safety in the county after the second near accident in front of their residence on Veribest Road in the past two years. Skid marks from a quarry truck are visible after it swerved to keep from hitting their children's school bus on the morning of Sept. 11. (Emily Lupo/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Melissa and Bud Godfriaux have pushed for improved bus stop safety in the county after the second near accident in front of their residence on Veribest Road in the past two years. Skid marks from a quarry truck are visible after it swerved to keep from hitting their children's school bus on the morning of Sept. 11. (Emily Lupo/The Oglethorpe Echo)

A mother’s concern

Emily Lupo
Saturday, October 14, 2023
Melissa Godfriaux watched from the front porch to make sure her children got on the school bus safely on the morning of Sept. 11. Just as the bus arrived, the screeching sound of brakes sent her sprinting down her driveway.
Oglethorpe County Sheriff David Gabriel speaks to residents concerning safety techniques in the event of an emergency Jan. 21 at St. John's Ame Church. Sheriff Gabriel has been in law enforcement since 1993. Sydney Bishop/The Oglethorpe Echo

Oglethorpe County Sheriff David Gabriel speaks to residents concerning safety techniques in the event of an emergency Jan. 21 at St. John's Ame Church. Sheriff Gabriel has been in law enforcement since 1993. Sydney Bishop/The Oglethorpe Echo

Sheriff gives safety tips at program

Sydney Bishop
Thursday, January 26, 2023
WATCH: Sheriff Gabriel's Safety Program at St. John AME Church    Nineteen residents gathered in St. John AME Church on Saturday to ask Oglethorpe County Sheriff David Gabriel about safety and crime, especially how it relates to a church setting.
(Infographic/Amanda Bright)

(Infographic/Amanda Bright)

State Route 77 closure to affect travel into Elbert County

Jalen Beckford
Thursday, October 13, 2022
State Route 77 in Elbert County will be closed from Oct. 13-17, according to the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT).   The closure will likely only affect Oglethorpe County residents heading into Elbert County, said Allen Long, highway maintenance foreman.
(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.
Oglethorpe County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Samantha Mathe, right, was part of a group that checked child booster seats at the primary school. (Submitted Photo)

Oglethorpe County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Samantha Mathe, right, was part of a group that checked child booster seats at the primary school. (Submitted Photo)

Groups, Sheriff’s Office provides car safety seats to OCPS parents

Caitlin Farmer
Thursday, August 25, 2022
Oglethorpe County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Samantha Mathe, members of the Department of Public Health and Safe Kids Athens conducted child safety seat checks at Oglethorpe County Primary School during the first week of school.