Oglethorpe Echo

The Oglethorpe Echo

The Oglethorpe Echo

Obituary: Jessie M. Cox

News Staff
Wednesday, August 16, 2023
Jessie M. Cox, 87, of Athens, formerly of Oglethorpe County, died Aug. 5, 2023. The funeral service was at 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 12, at New Bethlehem Baptist Church, with Pastor O'Marr Curry, eulogist. Interment was in the church cemetery.
Ted Hughes

Ted Hughes

Obituary: Ted Hughes

News Staff
Wednesday, August 16, 2023
Ted Hughes was the sixth child of Marvin and Viola Hughes.    He was born on July 31, 1943, in Frederick, Maryland. His family moved to Georgia when he was 6 years old.
The Oglethorpe Echo

The Oglethorpe Echo

Harrison pleased with early success

Owen Warden
Wednesday, August 16, 2023
The Oglethorpe County volleyball team has started strong.   The Patriots are 6-2 through three tournaments, including winning both matches at their first home meet.
The Oglethorpe Echo

The Oglethorpe Echo

720 pounds of trash found

Garrett Kicklighter
Wednesday, August 16, 2023
Jeff Sharp, Oglethorpe County’s code compliance officer, said about 50 bags of trash weighing around 720 pounds were illegally dumped on Black Snake Road in Moss Creek sometime around Aug. 5.   The trash mostly consisted of diapers, Sharp said.
For dress-up day at Orange Street Elementary School in 1979, Alan chose to be a newspaper reporter. The choice proved to be prophetic. Today he is chairman of the board of Community Newspapers Inc., headquartered in Athens.

For dress-up day at Orange Street Elementary School in 1979, Alan chose to be a newspaper reporter. The choice proved to be prophetic. Today he is chairman of the board of Community Newspapers Inc., headquartered in Athens.

Opinion Column: Happy 50th birthday, Alan!

Dink NeSmith
Wednesday, August 9, 2023
Dear Alan:   Do you remember our bouncing down a dirt road in a tiny Nissan truck, and we were having a father-son conversation?    You were 10, and I asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”   “Ummm, I can tell you what I don’t want to be.”   “OK, what?
Brianne Harrison leads practice earlier this week in her first season as Oglethorpe County’s volleyball coach. She previously coached at the middle school. (LANDEN TODD/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Brianne Harrison leads practice earlier this week in her first season as Oglethorpe County’s volleyball coach. She previously coached at the middle school. (LANDEN TODD/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Harrison eager to start first season as volleyball coach

Owen Warden
Thursday, August 3, 2023
Oglethorpe County volleyball has entered a new era.   And new coach Brianne Harrison has already found her starting six: Seniors Madi Kelley and Avery Kort, juniors Sofia Horsley and Kenzie Henderson, and sophomores Elizabeth Cook and Aryana Knight.
Sydnie Henderson is back to lead the Oglethorpe County girls cross country team after finishing fifth in the Class A Division I state meet last year as a sophomore. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

Sydnie Henderson is back to lead the Oglethorpe County girls cross country team after finishing fifth in the Class A Division I state meet last year as a sophomore. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

Youth movement takes over cross country program

Owen Warden
Thursday, August 3, 2023
Oglethorpe County’s cross country program is facing a youth movement. And that’s one of the reasons why participation in summer runs has been sparse.
Robert and Lani Kline hold signs on Highway 78 to let folks know about the Wesley Chapel Volunteer Fire Department’s car wash fundraiser at Lexington Auto Parts last Saturday. The donations help the department purchase and maintain its equipment. (LANDEN TODD/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Robert and Lani Kline hold signs on Highway 78 to let folks know about the Wesley Chapel Volunteer Fire Department’s car wash fundraiser at Lexington Auto Parts last Saturday. The donations help the department purchase and maintain its equipment. (LANDEN TODD/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Wesley Chapel firefighters put water to different use

Avni Trivedi
Thursday, August 3, 2023
Robert Kline, dressed in full firefighter gear, holds a “Car Wash” sign above his head standing on the side of Athens Road.
Community donations helped the Devil’s Pond Volunteer Fire Department purchase a JAWS Combi Tool last year. The tool is used to help free accident victims from vehicles. (ELOISE MCNAIR/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Community donations helped the Devil’s Pond Volunteer Fire Department purchase a JAWS Combi Tool last year. The tool is used to help free accident victims from vehicles. (ELOISE MCNAIR/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

County fire departments prioritize new equipment

Julianne Akers
Thursday, August 3, 2023
Equipment used by fire departments goes through extensive wear and tear, which has become an issue at several Oglethorpe County volunteer fire departments.    “Anything within the fire service has a lifespan,” said Cody Gibbs, assistant chief of the Beaverdam Volunteer Fire Department.
The new leadership group for the Ace Hardware in Crawford includes Jeff Strickland (from left), the vice president of operations, Chuck Gabriel, the store manager, and store owners George and Tripp Strickland. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

The new leadership group for the Ace Hardware in Crawford includes Jeff Strickland (from left), the vice president of operations, Chuck Gabriel, the store manager, and store owners George and Tripp Strickland. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

Stricklands take over Ace Hardware

Julianne Akers
Thursday, August 3, 2023
The Ace Hardware Stores in Crawford and Colbert will transition to new owners Tripp Strickland and his father George Strickland, who live in Danielsville.    The current owners, Leisa and Tony Coyne, were ready to sell the business, Strickland said. The Coynes couldn’t be reached for comment.