What happens when a public university partners with a community newspaper? A beautiful collaboration and a reminder of all the things local news is meant to be: personal, rewarding and impactful.

To those who serve The Echo.

To those who read The Echo.

To those who believe in local news.

This documentary was directed by Julianna Duennes Russ and produced by Leighton Dancy, in collaboration with the University of Georgia's Grady College of Journalism & Mass Communication and The Oglethorpe Echo Legacy, Inc. 

Special thank you to: Ralph Maxwell, Dink NeSmith, Amanda Bright, Andy Johnston, Lori Johnston, Trisha Bearden, Lourdes Tompkins, Blake Campbell, Kathleen deMarrais, Jamie Lewis, Barbara Cabaniss, Delbra Kendrick, Zachary Leggio, Adriana Cascio, Libby Hobbs, Jesse Wood. Copyright 2025. All rights reserved.

The 2025 Oglethorpe County High School Prom returned to Historic Smithonia Farm on Saturday, April 12, 2025. Su Moo was crowned Prom Queen, and Aidan Carlan was crowned Prom King. Students danced to songs like the “Cupid Shuffle,” “Cha Cha Slide” and “Wobble,” and seniors were honored at their walkout.

Cathy and Harold Kee give the Echo a tour of their historic Church St. home. The Kees say that while they are remodeling their new century old home, they will maintain its historic architecture. Read the story by Jet Rawls.
 

Jesse Wood discusses Rebecca Wood's struggles with wild hogs in her yard and Oglethorpe County game warden Phillip Nelson's proposed solution.

“It’s just like a rototiller went through there,” Rebecca Wood said. “I’m super pissed off about that.”

Wood’s yard in downtown Lexington had fallen victim to six wild hogs rooting for over a week, single-handedly causing hundreds of dollars in damage.

She doesn’t think it’ll stop there. 

Video and Article: Jesse Wood

Video Producer: Adriana Cascio

There’s a small blue shed filled with shelves of donated goods from piles of toiletries to a freezer full of locally sourced meat behind Mt. Pleasant Community Church in Crawford.

Led by Board of Education Chair Becky Soto and Jill Kort, the divisional business and finance manager with UGA’s Franklin College, a small cohort of volunteers spent a recent Saturday morning packing the donations into organized bins for The CAYA House’s February donation delivery.

The CAYA House, a local nonprofit providing families in Oglethorpe County with consistent fresh food and household essentials, is different because it offers monthly donation deliveries to families. These donations range from fresh produce and eggs to laundry detergent and toothpaste. They are also able to provide aid based on specific needs and dietary restrictions.

Article and Video: Jennifer Xia Video Producer: Adriana Cascio

Residents of the Quiet Oaks Nursing Home share their best pieces of relationship advice during their annual Valentine's Day celebration in Crawford, Ga. This year's event featured Elvis tribute artist E.J. Boyer who serenaded the crowd with classic Elvis tunes along with a Valentine’s Day court, in which a king and queen were announced. (Video/Lux Corrona)

Residents of the Quiet Oaks Nursing Home share their best pieces of relationship advice during their annual Valentine's Day celebration in Crawford. This year's event featured Elvis tribute artist E.J. Boyer who serenaded the crowd with classic Elvis tunes along with a Valentine’s Day court, in which a king and queen were announced.