An OCES student high-fives OCHS football player Lance Ellefson as another OCES student guides him through the Patriot Pride drop-off line. “When it started, we figured, let’s just have this amount of players come out, this amount of cheerleaders come out. Now it’s more that they all want to be a part of it,” said athletic booster club president Janine Campbell about the growing popularity of the Patriot Pride Drop-off.

An OCES student high-fives OCHS football player Lance Ellefson as another OCES student guides him through the Patriot Pride drop-off line. “When it started, we figured, let’s just have this amount of players come out, this amount of cheerleaders come out. Now it’s more that they all want to be a part of it,” said athletic booster club president Janine Campbell about the growing popularity of the Patriot Pride Drop-off.

New tradition helps grow Patriot Pride

Wednesday, October 21, 2026

An early morning chill set the stage for the Patriot Pride Drop-off last Friday, a weekly event where the Oglethorpe County High School football players and cheerleaders greet elementary school students as they enter school. As the sun rose, the mood of the kids and teens lifted.

Local News

Mother and daughter paramedic duo Millie Evans (left) and Erin Singleton work together for the Oglethorpe County EMS. Evans joined the department as a high school senior in 1991, inspiring her daughter's eventual career path.

Mother and daughter paramedic duo Millie Evans (left) and Erin Singleton work together for the Oglethorpe County EMS. Evans joined the department as a high school senior in 1991, inspiring her daughter's eventual career path.

Like mother, like daughter

Isabella Pang
Thursday, October 22, 2026
Even though she grew up around Oglethorpe County emergency vehicles, Erin Singleton spent years...
All members of the zoning board: Janet Hill, Morgan Robinson, Sam Nash, JF Hansford, Jimmy Shealy and planning director Jeff Sharp sit at the meeting on Oct. 15, 2026. The meeting had three items on the agenda and lasted seven minutes in length. (Ren Grimsley/The Oglethorpe Echo)

All members of the zoning board: Janet Hill, Morgan Robinson, Sam Nash, JF Hansford, Jimmy Shealy and planning director Jeff Sharp sit at the meeting on Oct. 15, 2026. The meeting had three items on the agenda and lasted seven minutes in length. (Ren Grimsley/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Zoning board OKs new rules for dividing land

Ren Grimsley
Thursday, October 22, 2026
The Oglethorpe County Zoning Board voted 4-1 to approve revisions to the county’s subdivision...
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The Oglethorpe Echo e-Edition

Videos

The Echo: Amplified

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.

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Oglethorpe Echo
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Sports

OCHS volleyball players Leanna Newton (from left), Lannah Scarborough, Nora Turner and teammates show their excitement after winning a point against Fannin County on Tuesday. The Patriots advanced to the Class A/AA quarterfinals with a 3-0 victory (Photo/Will Hearn).

OCHS volleyball players Leanna Newton (from left), Lannah Scarborough, Nora Turner and teammates show their excitement after winning a point against Fannin County on Tuesday. The Patriots advanced to the Class A/AA quarterfinals with a 3-0 victory (Photo/Will Hearn).

Prep Roundup: OCHS sweeps Fannin, advances to Elite Eight

Will Hearn
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
Leanna Newton had 16 kills to lead the Oglethorpe County volleyball team to a 25-9, 25-14, 25-15...
Ansleigh, Carson and Caleb Epps spend time together as a family during Carson’s weekend go-kart races. He has five sponsorships under the name of Carson's Motorsports (Photo/Will Hearn).

Ansleigh, Carson and Caleb Epps spend time together as a family during Carson’s weekend go-kart races. He has five sponsorships under the name of Carson's Motorsports (Photo/Will Hearn).

Carson Epps, only 6, races go-karts, has NASCAR dreams

Will Hearn
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
Six-year-old Carson Epps started with a yard kart.
ETHAN GREENE/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO Oglethorpe County junior Leanna Newton practices with her teammates earlier this season. The Patriots, the defending Class A state champs, are 20-17 entering the Class A/AA tournament this week.

ETHAN GREENE/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO Oglethorpe County junior Leanna Newton practices with her teammates earlier this season. The Patriots, the defending Class A state champs, are 20-17 entering the Class A/AA tournament this week.

OCHS volleyball determined to defend state title

Sarah Owens
Wednesday, October 14, 2026
Oglethorpe County’s volleyball team hopes to add to its trophy collection as it enters Class A/AA...
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