Adam Nation

DINK NESMITH/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO Tony DeMarco, who is an Athens ophthalmologist and avid hunter, wraps up the owl he found in a barbed-wire fence on the opening day of dove season on Saturday. He said the owl later died.

DINK NESMITH/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO Tony DeMarco, who is an Athens ophthalmologist and avid hunter, wraps up the owl he found in a barbed-wire fence on the opening day of dove season on Saturday. He said the owl later died.

Dove season opens with tradition, unexpected rescue

Sarah Owens
Wednesday, September 9, 2026
Opening weekend of dove season brought hundreds of hunters into fields across Oglethorpe County on Saturday, but for Tony DeMarco, the morning took an unexpected turn when his hunt became a rescue mission.
Dwaine Fowler and his daughter Deanna Lee Brooks Fowler share a moment together after he graduated from drug court on Dec. 11. Fowler spent 20 months in the program. (Photo/Submitted)

Dwaine Fowler and his daughter Deanna Lee Brooks Fowler share a moment together after he graduated from drug court on Dec. 11. Fowler spent 20 months in the program. (Photo/Submitted)

Road to redemption

Andy Mathis
Tuesday, December 23, 2025
For nearly two years, Dwaine Fowler has shown up before sunrise at the Oglethorpe County Public Works yard. He’s clocked in, grabbed tools and headed out with the road crew.  He’s displayed that level of dedication to another area of his life.
A crew from the Oglethorpe County Public Works Department clears a large oak that blocked Crawford Smithonia Road after storms knocked down more than 50 trees throughout the county on Saturday evening. The crew included Dwayne Fowler, Christian Moon, Logan Gabriel and Kayla Gravely. (Submitted Photo)

A crew from the Oglethorpe County Public Works Department clears a large oak that blocked Crawford Smithonia Road after storms knocked down more than 50 trees throughout the county on Saturday evening. The crew included Dwayne Fowler, Christian Moon, Logan Gabriel and Kayla Gravely. (Submitted Photo)

More than 50 trees go down in storm

News Staff
Wednesday, June 11, 2025
Saturday’s storm knocked down more than 50 trees throughout Oglethorpe County, public works director Adam Nation said. The storms produced winds up to 30 mph and gusts up to 50 mph in the Athens area, according to the National Weather Service.
Randy Gordon, a resident of Oglethorpe County’s Almond Drive, stands where the edge of Almond Drive once was on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. “When they come in and scrape [the road], they keep getting further and further to the center, and the cul de sacs where the ditches used to be are covered up,” Gordon said. (Photo/Felix Scheyer)

Randy Gordon, a resident of Oglethorpe County’s Almond Drive, stands where the edge of Almond Drive once was on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. “When they come in and scrape [the road], they keep getting further and further to the center, and the cul de sacs where the ditches used to be are covered up,” Gordon said. (Photo/Felix Scheyer)

Rough roads, tough choices

Julianna Duennes Russ
Wednesday, February 12, 2025
On a rainy afternoon, Randy Gordon carefully maneuvers his car down a familiar stretch of road. Potholes filled with water jolt the vehicle and thick mud threatens to trap the tires.  When Gordon moved to Almond Drive more than two decades ago, it was a gravel road.