University of Georgia

Macie McDaniel received a certificate for being named Oglethorpe County High’s STAR student at a Rotary Club meeting in February 2024. She was honored with 2024 STAR teacher Eric Schmidt (from left), Christan McDaniel and Phillip McDaniel, her mom and dad. (JIM BASS/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Macie McDaniel received a certificate for being named Oglethorpe County High’s STAR student at a Rotary Club meeting in February 2024. She was honored with 2024 STAR teacher Eric Schmidt (from left), Christan McDaniel and Phillip McDaniel, her mom and dad. (JIM BASS/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

McDaniel overcomes brain surgery on her way to UGA

Sean King
Friday, April 10, 2026
Trumpets and horns sound throughout the Oglethorpe County Middle School band room. Notes blend and provide a harmonious sound.  For one student, though, it wasn’t pleasant. Macie McDaniel, a 2024 OCHS alum from Lexington, said she had migraines almost every day in band class.
Kathleen deMarrais poses for a photo outside the Rowdy Rooster, which she owns with Jamie Lewis, in Lexington on Nov. 4, 2025. DeMarrais has won the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Educational Studies Association (AESA), a research organization for educators she has been involved in since the 1980s. (Photo/Susanna Johnson)

Kathleen deMarrais poses for a photo outside the Rowdy Rooster, which she owns with Jamie Lewis, in Lexington on Nov. 4, 2025. DeMarrais has won the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Educational Studies Association (AESA), a research organization for educators she has been involved in since the 1980s. (Photo/Susanna Johnson)

Rowdy Rooster owner honored for lifetime of teaching, research, service

Susanna Johnson
Wednesday, November 12, 2025
Some residents may have noticed the Rowdy Rooster was closed last weekend.  That’s because Kathleen deMarrais was heading home from New Mexico with a new honor —  the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Educational Studies Association (AESA).
Izzy (left) and Tania Marler enjoy bonding over baking for Three Dogs and a Girl Bakery. Izzy serves as CEO and Tania assists with tasks, such as posting on social media. (Emily Adams/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Izzy (left) and Tania Marler enjoy bonding over baking for Three Dogs and a Girl Bakery. Izzy serves as CEO and Tania assists with tasks, such as posting on social media. (Emily Adams/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Homemade happiness

Grace Burnett
Wednesday, November 12, 2025
Three Dogs and a Girl Bakery in Winterville embodies Izzy Marler’s mission of inclusion.  A graduate of the Destination Dawgs program at the University of Georgia, Izzy bakes and sells artisan, breads, treats and pastries alongside Tania Marler, her mother, from their Winterville home.
Hairy Dawg greets members of the Oglethorpe County Senior Center at their UGA tailgate party on Friday. The center also welcomed the UGA Dance Dawgs and cheerleaders. (Hannah Freeman/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Hairy Dawg greets members of the Oglethorpe County Senior Center at their UGA tailgate party on Friday. The center also welcomed the UGA Dance Dawgs and cheerleaders. (Hannah Freeman/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Hairy Dawg helps fire up seniors at center

Hannah Freeman
Wednesday, August 27, 2025
The Oglethorpe County Senior Center has no shortage of Georgia Bulldogs fans — as Hairy Dawg himself can testify.  About 60 seniors showed out in a sea of red and black to celebrate the upcoming football season with a special tailgate party on Aug. 22.
The Oglethorpe Echo

The Oglethorpe Echo

Editorial: Our Thanksgiving week thumbs

News Staff
Wednesday, November 23, 2022
As we gather with family and friends during this week of Thanksgiving, we have some thoughts. Most opinions are positive, and some are not so uplifting. However, we treasure Oglethorpe County’s rural quality of life.
Oglethorpe County High School grads Addie Dellinger (left) and Carrie Tweedell (center), and OCHS senior Emily Graham (right), were recently chosen for the UGA majorettes for this fall. (Submitted Photo)

Oglethorpe County High School grads Addie Dellinger (left) and Carrie Tweedell (center), and OCHS senior Emily Graham (right), were recently chosen for the UGA majorettes for this fall. (Submitted Photo)

News Roundup: Dellinger, Tweedell and Graham make UGA majorette line

News Staff
Thursday, May 12, 2022
Oglethorpe County’s Addie Dellinger, Carrie Tweedell and Emily Graham were recently chosen for the UGA majorettes.    Dellinger and Tweedell graduated from OCHS in 2021 and were UGA majorettes last year. Graham is scheduled to graduate from OCHS on May 28.
Quarterback Stetson Bennett and a tenacious defense led Georgia to an Orange Bowl victory over Michigan and berth in the CFP national title game. (Submitted Photo/ Tony Walsh, UGA Sports)

Quarterback Stetson Bennett and a tenacious defense led Georgia to an Orange Bowl victory over Michigan and berth in the CFP national title game. (Submitted Photo/ Tony Walsh, UGA Sports)

UGA fans celebrate Orange Bowl

Thomas Ehlers
Thursday, January 6, 2022
Anne Whitehead Garner, a University of Georgia football fan since she was just 2 years old, remembers watching Charley Trippi and Frank Sinkwich take the field decades ago.
Stetson Bennett IV never doubted where he wanted to be a college quarterback. Growing up in South Georgia, his heart was set on UGA, as family photos confirm. (Submitted Photo/Bennett Family)

Stetson Bennett IV never doubted where he wanted to be a college quarterback. Growing up in South Georgia, his heart was set on UGA, as family photos confirm. (Submitted Photo/Bennett Family)

Opinion Column: Stetson scores one for dreamers

Dink NeSmith
Thursday, January 6, 2022
Long before he could shake a red and black pompom, Stetson Bennett IV was destined to be a Georgia Bulldog.     Three days before the future quarterback was born in 1997, his mom was sitting in Sanford Stadium, shaking her red and black pompom. Both of No.
Len Hauss, center, enjoyed a reunion with his former quarterbacks Billy Kilmer, left, and Sonny Jurgensen at the last Redskins' game at Washington's RFK Stadium in 1996. Both quarterbacks attended Monday's memorial service for Hauss. Kilmer delivered a eulogy regaling their years in the NFL and fishing with Hauss on the Altamaha River. (Submitted Photo)

Len Hauss, center, enjoyed a reunion with his former quarterbacks Billy Kilmer, left, and Sonny Jurgensen at the last Redskins' game at Washington's RFK Stadium in 1996. Both quarterbacks attended Monday's memorial service for Hauss. Kilmer delivered a eulogy regaling their years in the NFL and fishing with Hauss on the Altamaha River. (Submitted Photo)

Opinion Column: Legend of former Bulldog, Redskin Len Hauss will live on

Dink NeSmith
Thursday, December 23, 2021
(Note: This eulogy was delivered on Dec. 20 in Jesup First Baptist Church.)   Len Hauss.   I can close my eyes and see the Yellow Jackets’ fullback, No. 41, pile driving Jesup to a 1959 state football championship.
Local farmer Andrew Gaines collects a hay sample for UGA laboratory analysis. Testing can determine various factors about the quality of hay. (Submitted Photo)

Local farmer Andrew Gaines collects a hay sample for UGA laboratory analysis. Testing can determine various factors about the quality of hay. (Submitted Photo)

When it comes to hay purchases, test, don't guess

Shanna Reynolds
Thursday, December 9, 2021
As we move through the hay feeding season, what considerations do you give to hay purchases? If shopping for a new tractor, a farmer wouldn’t just buy it because it looked nice. They would do research and ask questions.