The Oglethorpe Echo

Bar graph showing deer harvest numbers from 2024 and 2025 Bar graph showing deer harvest numbers from 2024 and 2025 Oglethorpe County wasn’t among the top counties in Georgia for total deer harvested for the first time in five years. Game warden Phillip Nelson has experienced 24 deer seasons in Oglet...

Subhead A small group practicing Native American spiritual traditions meets each week at No. 3 Railroad St. Body Robert “Black Eagle” Costa speaks softly but with conviction starting at 11:11 a.m. each Sunday at No. 3 Railroad St. The founder and principal elder of Seventh Generation Native American Church doesn’t shout his sermons. Instead, he encourages members to engage in dialogue and spiritual connection during the services, which started on Sept. 7.

The Sanders family, which has been running Oglethorpe Feed and Hardware Supply since 1998, introduced a towering addition to their business this summer: a 125-foot-tall grain elevator. The system, which became operational in mid-July, cost an estimated $400,000-$500,000 to complete, but has since delivered promising results. “It’s done everything we wanted it to do,” Stewart Sanders said.

Subhead Lexington native dreamed of performing in NYC while at OCHS Body Moving to New York City from her hometown of Lexington was nothing short of a culture shock for actress Jimmica Collins, but after graduating from Oglethorpe County High School in 2009, she had her heart set on it. “I had only grown up with certain types of people,” Collins said.

Mayor Craig Snow stepped down at the Lexington City Council meeting earlier this month, citing a large workload for his business and not enough time to serve the city constructively. “I stepped down for mayor because I had some opportunities at work that’s gonna require a lot more of my time and that’s the reason I stepped down,” said Snow, who had been mayor since July 2021 and ran unopposed in November 2023.

The Oglethorpe County Historic Jail recently opened its doors for its first-ever art exhibit. Local artist and retired actor Tom Thon launched this potentially ongoing series of art shows, turning the 1879 jailhouse into a pop-up gallery space. “It's kind of like a no-brainer,” said Thon, a Lexington resident.

The Cronic family had barely been in the county for a month when tragedy struck in the early hours of Aug. 27. William Cronic woke up in the middle of the night to the sound of his doorbell ringing nonstop. Then he heard the fire alarm. Thanks to the doorbell, William and his wife Cody evacuated their kids from their home just east of Lexington before the structure went up in flames.

When county administrator Josh Hawkins headed to Athens for his new job as Athens-Clarke County’s capital projects administrator, three Oglethorpe County employees — county clerk Amy Forrester, code officer Jeff Sharp and EMS director Jason Lewis — stepped up to perform his duties in his absence. As county administrator, Hawkins’ duties touched every department.

Body You are having a health emergency. You call 911. The nearest hospital is an hour away. You are diagnosed with cancer, but it took you months to find out because you don’t have transportation to see the one primary care physician in your county. You finally get an appointment with a specialty doctor you need to see, but the closest office is two counties over, and you cannot afford it.

Oglethorpe County Emergency Medical Services plans to return to the Target in Athens for two more days of Fill the Ambulance on Nov. 26 and 27. The donations help support children in foster care. (Photo/Julianna Russ) Oglethorpe County Emergency Medical Services plans to return to the Target in Athens for two more days of Fill the Ambulance on Nov. 26 and 27. The donations help support children in foster care.