Margaux Binder meets with Willie Torres and Josh Robayo, co-owners of Town and Country Kafe, to walk through the cafe and restaurant and explain the recent construction on Jan. 26, 2024.

Douglas and Linda Cosby receive, sort and organize volunteers to help them distribute the food during the mobile food pantry, which is scheduled for the second Monday of every month at Lexington Baptist Church, rain or shine.

Advertising by word of mouth for volunteers, the food pantry relies on community participation. The monthly distribution day begins when the Cosbys arrive at the church with pre-ordered U-Haul boxes that are later used to designate each household's food. Later a delivery truck arrives with the month's food supply sourced from the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia.

Volunteers help sort the food and hand out boxes until the food runs out or the line of people waiting disappears. “This is part of the church's mission to help the community and those in need,” Douglas said.

Josh Robayo, his mother Amy Delfin-Torres and stepfather Willie Torres are preparing to open Town and Country Kafe, a coffee shop that will serve Spanish-inspired cuisine. 

In the beginning, Town and Country Kafe was only a coffee shop. But Robayo and his family have escalated both the menu and their ideas for the Kafe. 

Take a tour with owners Josh Robayo and Willie Torres to hear about their future ideas for what they’re building at Town and Country Kafe, including movies on the lawn and weddings in the space.

The family has plans for a soft opening at the end of this month and a grand opening in early December at 9 Callaway Drive in Crawford. Regular hours will be 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

Story by: Grace Mains

Video Producer: Emily Lupo

By Julianna Russ
For The Oglethorpe Echo

Tammy Watkins, the manager at the Bell’s in Lexington, is hopeful about the connections the owners of B&T’s Food Fresh Market have made since buying the Athens-based chain last month.

“That was their No. 1 thing,” Watkins said. “They wanted to make sure that we were understanding that we were going to be good and safe, and our jobs would be established.”

Employee retention was an integral part of the deal, Ralph J. Costa Jr., corporate secretary and director of operations for Bell’s, told The Oglethorpe Echo after the sale on Oct. 13. 

B&T’s Food Fresh Market has retained 100% of Bell’s employees during the initial transition. 

“When this opportunity came, it wasn’t just buying a convenience store — it was buying a legacy,” said John Triplett, co-owner of B&T’s. “Given the opportunity to buy five stores that large, that have been around that long, it’s really appealing.”

On Wednesday Oct. 18, The Oglethorpe County High School varsity volleyball team won a home playoff match against Rabun County, from Tiger, GA, by a score of 3-0.

The match is a part of the Class 1A - 2023 GHSA Volleyball State Championships tournament.

The OCHS Volleyball team has played a strong season, with a 23-3 record.

OCHS will face off against Whitefield Academy this Saturday, Oct. 21, for the 2023 GHSA Volleyball State Championships.

Reporters: Lauren Hill and Trevyn Gray

Video Producer: Jordan Long

The Georgia High School Association passed an amendment on Monday, Oct. 2 that will allow high school athletes to make money off their depictions.

NIL, also known as Name, Image and Likeness, deals were previously only available to college athletes.

Oglethorpe County Football Head Coach Mike Holland gives his opinion on how the change will effect high school sports.

Story and Video by: Joe Kopsho

Video Producer: Caleb Rollins

Oglethorpe County’s defense might look a bit peculiar, but it’s by design. The Patriots run a 3-3 defense, which isn’t conventional. But using that scheme, the defense shut out Riverside Military Academy 57-0 in Friday night’s homecoming game to improve to 2-3 this season.

Read the story: https://www.theoglethorpeecho.com/spo...

Reporters: Lauren Hill and Trevyn Gray Photographer: Nathalee Simoneau Video Producer: Sidney Chansamone

Longtime NBA star Dwight Howard, measuring 6 feet, 10 inches tall, had to duck beneath the door frame as he entered the Oglethorpe County Senior Center, which was packed with residents, music and cheers.

Howard was a surprise celebrity guest at the center on Friday to host a game of “Family Feud.”

Video by Meadow Barrow

On Saturday, Sept. 9, Nothing Nu performed a benefit concert for the REACH college scholarship at the American Legion. Oglethorpe County School System raises $10,000 each year for five academically promising eighth graders demonstrating a financial need, which is matched by $40,000 from REACH Georgia. After four years of mentorship through high school, the students receive the $10,000 scholarship when they enroll in college. The concert— which also included food and a silent auction— raised $2,791, enough for almost one and a half full scholarships. Oglethorpe County Schools will continue to raise money for REACH throughout the year, and donations can be made directly at https://donate.reachgafoundation.org/.

Story by: Cassidy Hettesheimer

Video Producer: Jared Smith