Amber Tiller was recognized as valedictorian of Oglethorpe County High School’s graduating class at Senior Honors Night in the cafeteria on Tuesday.
She will attend Georgia Tech in the fall, pursuing studies in aerospace engineering. She credits her family to much of her success and said they always encouraged her and supported her in her studies.
Kayden Watkins was recognized as salutatorian and Callie Bridges was recognized as honorarian. In a surprise announcement, Superintendent Beverley Levine was honored with a scholarship established in her name from the Board of Education.
Read more on our website.
🔗: /local-news/tiller-selected-valedictorian-levine-honored
✍️&📸: Ellie English
“I think that the girls came out and performed to their potential,” said Michael Holland, who co-coaches the girls' team. “I do think there were some events that had a much stronger field this year.”
The Patriots, who won three state titles between 2021 and 2024, and placed ninth in 2025, arrived at the University of Georgia’s Spec Towns Track with nine athletes across 10 events.
They scored 25 points, highlighted by an impressive display in the 100-meter hurdles.
Senior Elin Turner and sophomore Zharia Burgess placed third and fifth, respectively, bringing in 10 team points. However, the pair wasn’t aware of their finishing position until the announcer called their names.
Read more on our website.
🔗: /sports/turner-burgess-shine-girls-are-14th-boys-23rd
✍️&📸: Ethan Greene
Jay Paul remembers watching Ralph Maxwell Jr. try to climb a 10-foot platform to find a better angle for a photo at a high school baseball game several years ago.
This was after Maxwell had begun to struggle with his health, which included a stroke in 2017.
“I approached him and asked, ‘Are you crazy?’” said Paul, chair of the Oglethorpe County Board of Commissioners. “He said ‘Yeah. A little. Now hold the ladder.’”
For those who knew Maxwell — and just about everybody in Oglethorpe County did — this story isn’t surprising. He went to great lengths to chronicle everything about the county, especially OCHS athletics, during his four decades as the owner and publisher of The Oglethorpe Echo.
Maxwell died at his Lexington home on May 7. He was 74 years old.
Read more on our website.
Please share some of your favorite memories of Ralph Maxwell Jr.
🔗: /local-news/ralph-maxwell-jr-longtime-publisher-echo-was-county-icon-friend-many
✍️: Andy Johnston
📸: Sarah White & Submitted
Two accidents shut down parts of U.S. Highway 78 in the past week.
On Monday afternoon, a utility truck carrying oxygen and acetylene tanks was fully engulfed by flames at the intersection of 78 and Crawfordville Road, just east of Lexington.
Chief Justin Sanders wrote in a text that a tire also rolled off the truck and set the “side of the road on fire prior to the fire department arriving, basically creating two scenes.”
Both 78 and Crawfordville Road were shut down while firefighters extinguished the flames in about 30 minutes, Oglethorpe County 911 director Angela Jackson wrote in a text on Tuesday.
Read more on our website.
🔗: /local-news/local-roundup-truck-fire-shuts-down-78-near-lexington
✍️: Staff Report
📸: Submitted
The 8th Annual Maxeys Model 5k will take place on May 16, 2026. It will have the following events: an in person 5k, a virtual 5k and a phantom registration.
The race will start and finish along the Firefly Trail.
Click the link to learn more information.
🔗: /Race/GA/Maxeys/MaxeysModelMile
A muti-generational workday at the Oglethorpe County Senior Center Tuesday resulted in 10 raised garden boxes for visitors to use and enjoy.
“We have young high school students all the way up to very mature Rotary members,” said Sara Hughes, Oglethorpe County High School work-based learning coordinator and organizer of the event. “Some of them are in their 80s. I don't think that they would mind me telling you that, because they’re proud that they can still contribute, even physically.”
Read more on our website.
🔗: /local-news/students-seniors-cultivate-community-through-garden-boxes
✍️&📸: Emilie Sullivan
Ralph Maxwell Jr., the former owner and publisher of The Oglethorpe Echo, died Thursday afternoon at his home, his brother Scott Maxwell said. He was 74 years old.
Maxwell led the Echo for four decades, continuing his family's legacy in Oglethorpe County. After a stroke in 2017, he retired from the industry and later helped transition the paper to a nonprofit ownership through the Oglethorpe Echo Legacy Foundation, in partnership with the University of Georgia.
There will be more details in next week’s edition of The Oglethorpe Echo.
🔗: /ralph-maxwell-jr-former-owner-echo-dies
✍️: Staff Report
📸: Sarah White
Small-town style thrives at Oglethorpe Barbershop
Oglethorpe Barbershop has become a place where relationships matter as much as the cuts themselves for owner Mandi Kirk, and barbers Lucy Misenhamer and Ron Whitehead.
“Everyone's so friendly,” Misenhamer said. “We have the sweetest clients. I don't think I've liked working anywhere as much as I like working there.”
To read the full story visit the Echo’s website
✍️📷: Emilie Sullivan
