BOC

Tracy Norman (left) is the incumbent for the Board of Commissioners District 5 Republican primary, while Randy Gordon (right) is the challenger. (Submitted Photo (left), Photo/Felix Scheyer (right))

Tracy Norman (left) is the incumbent for the Board of Commissioners District 5 Republican primary, while Randy Gordon (right) is the challenger. (Submitted Photo (left), Photo/Felix Scheyer (right))

Election Q&A: Growth key topic for District 5 candidates

Nick Hasnain
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
Incumbent Tracy Norman and challenger Randy Gordon are on the Republican primary ballot for the District 5 seat for the Oglethorpe County Board of Commissioners. They also ran against each other for this position in the 2018 general primary.
Tammy and David Owens (right) point out details about their rezoning request to Commissioner Tracy Norman as county attorney Chip Ferguson looks on at the BOC meeting on Monday. The commissioners voted 4-1 to waive paving requirements for a Yancey Road property. (ANDY JOHNSTON/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Tammy and David Owens (right) point out details about their rezoning request to Commissioner Tracy Norman as county attorney Chip Ferguson looks on at the BOC meeting on Monday. The commissioners voted 4-1 to waive paving requirements for a Yancey Road property. (ANDY JOHNSTON/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

BOC approves withdrawal of Bowen Farm cell tower request

Bridget Goodman
Tuesday, April 7, 2026
The Oglethorpe County Board of Commissioners unanimously accepted APC Towers LLC’s withdrawal of a request Monday night to put a 259-foot communications tower on Bowen Farm Road.
Howard Sanders (left) is the incumbent for the Board of Commissioners District 1 Republican primary, while Britt Brooks (right) is the challenger. (Submitted Photos)

Howard Sanders (left) is the incumbent for the Board of Commissioners District 1 Republican primary, while Britt Brooks (right) is the challenger. (Submitted Photos)

Election Q&A: Taxes, property rights focus for District 1 candidates

Nick Hasnain
Wednesday, April 1, 2026
Incumbent Howard Sanders and challenger Britt Brooks are on the Republican primary ballot for the District 1 seat on the Oglethorpe County Board of Commissioners.
David Clark (District 3), Howard Sanders (District 1) and the other three commissioners will return to the BOC meeting room for the April 6 meeting. This month’s meeting was held at the courthouse. (File/The Oglethorpe Echo)

David Clark (District 3), Howard Sanders (District 1) and the other three commissioners will return to the BOC meeting room for the April 6 meeting. This month’s meeting was held at the courthouse. (File/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Commission heads back to room for next meeting

News Staff
Wednesday, March 11, 2026
The Board of Commissioners will return to its meeting room for the meeting scheduled for Monday, April 6, Chairman Jay Paul confirmed Tuesday.
County administrator Jason Lewis (left) and Jeff Sharp, the county’s director of planning, zoning and compliance, discuss a road repair project last year. Lewis said county officials are working to make the government more transparent for residents. (ZACH LEGGIO/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

County administrator Jason Lewis (left) and Jeff Sharp, the county’s director of planning, zoning and compliance, discuss a road repair project last year. Lewis said county officials are working to make the government more transparent for residents. (ZACH LEGGIO/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Officials aim to overcome mistrust with accessibility

Bridget Goodman
Wednesday, February 25, 2026
Oglethorpe County officials say they are taking steps to increase transparency and build trust with residents.  “All governments need that ability for citizens to engage with them,” said Jason Lewis, county administrator.
Oglethorpe County commissioners are (from left): Andy Saxon, David Clark, Howard Sanders, Will Brown and Tracy Norman. They unanimously voted to pass the new rules of decorum on Jan. 5. (Photo/Andy Johnston)

Oglethorpe County commissioners are (from left): Andy Saxon, David Clark, Howard Sanders, Will Brown and Tracy Norman. They unanimously voted to pass the new rules of decorum on Jan. 5. (Photo/Andy Johnston)

Commissioners set new rules for meeting behavior

Grace Burnett
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
The rules of decorum unanimously approved at last week’s Board of Commissioners meeting were passed to help establish “orderly, respectful and efficient conduct of all public meetings.”  The rules were posted to Oglethorpe County’s website after two edits, requested by commissioners, were made.
Commissioners David Clarke and Howard Sanders at the BOC meeting on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. (Photo/Andy Johnston)

Commissioners David Clarke and Howard Sanders at the BOC meeting on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. (Photo/Andy Johnston)

Proposed ordinance silenced in meeting

Grace Burnett
Wednesday, January 7, 2026
The proposed noise ordinance that led residents to pack the Board of Commissioners meeting on Monday went quietly away.
This photo of the construction of the bridge on Crawford-Smithonia Road was taken by one of Oglethorpe County’s drones. The bridge is on schedule and is projected to reopen by February. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

This photo of the construction of the bridge on Crawford-Smithonia Road was taken by one of Oglethorpe County’s drones. The bridge is on schedule and is projected to reopen by February. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

BOC votes to change juvenile prosecutor

Kimberly Thomas
Friday, December 5, 2025
The Oglethorpe County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a motion Monday night to replace current juvenile prosecutor Kevin McFarlin with representatives from Dyal Jenkins, an Elberton-based law firm.   Approximately 35 people attended the meeting, including all commissioners.