Newspaper Page Text
Index
News 2,3,5,7,9,10
Obituaries 3
Opinion 4
Around the County 6
Calendar 11
Sheriff's Report 12
Legals 12
Sports 13-15
Inside
Mylee Nimmons and the
OCHS cross country teams
are headed to the Class A
Division I championship
meet after the boys won the
region and the girls finished
second last week at Social
Circle. They will race on Fri
day, Nov. 3 in Carrollton.
... Page 15
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The Oglethorpe Echo
Volume 150, Number 5
November 2, 2023 ??? Oglethorpe County, Georgia
$1
Early voting continues in Arnoldsville
^ m i
ELENA ACOSTA/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO
Dana Player, Arnoldsville city clerk and elec
tions superintendent, waits to check in voters
at City Hall earlier this week. Early voting for the
general and special elections began on Oct. 16
and Election Day is Nov. 7.
By Elena Acosta
The Oglethorpe Echo
Early voting continues in Arnolds-
ville???s mayoral and city council elections.
As of Monday morning, 23 out of 297
qualifying voters had cast ballots.
Early voting is being held from 9 a.m.
to 5 p.m. through Saturday, Nov. 4 at
Arnoldsville City Hall. The polls will be
open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election
Day, which is Tuesday, Nov. 7.
As the only candidate running in the
special election, Danny Sniff will serve
as interim mayor until the end of the year.
Current Mayor Pro Tem Danny Morcom
and Sniff are both running for mayor for
the 2024-2028 term.
The winner will serve the term, start
ing next year.
???It???s good that people have a choice,???
Sniff said.
He said both he and Morcom make
strong candidates.
???I think they would be well served
with either myself as the mayor or Dan
ny Morcom as the mayor because he???s a
very dedicated person to public service,???
Sniff said.
Morcom moved to Arnoldsville in
2006 and became a council member sev
en years ago.
???I???ve always enjoyed serving my com
munity,??? Morcom said at a communi
ty meet and greet on Oct. 6. ???I???ve done it
every place I???ve lived.???
Three incumbents and three new can
didates are competing for five city coun
cil seats. Winning candidates will serve
four-year terms, starting in January.
Incumbent Norma Craddock has
served for approximately 30 years, Jack
Norman has been on the council for about
28 years and Nick Sanders joined the
council in the third quarter of 2022, ac
cording to city officials.
See VOTING, Page 5
HALLOWEEN TREATS
JORDYN GERSHONI/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO
Greg Glenn of Lexington (above) hands candy to
3-year-old Austin Fabrizio as he makes his way around
to the different stations at the seventh annual Trunk
orTreat at the Oglethorpe County Rec Department on
Tuesday. Glenn and his wife, Melanie, use the event to
connect with the community and market their lawn
service business. Folks (right) line up along the line of
decorated trunks to begin receiving candv.
For more photos of the event, turn to Page 2.
JORDYN GERSHONI/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO
Experts differ on sludge use, its benefits
By John James
and John Henry Hammond
The Oglethorpe Echo
More than 40,000 tons of sludge were
used for agricultural purposes in Georgia
in 2018, according to the National Bio-
solids Data Project.
That???s four times the weight of the Ei
ffel Tower.
Sludge ??? also called soil amendments
or biosolids ??? is fertilizer made of re
cycled goods. However, not everyone
agrees about the use of sludge, and its
use in Oglethorpe County has been a top
ic of debate for several years.
The U.S. Department of Energy said
the application of sludge to farming
land might reestablish microbial activity
in sterile soils. Microbes in the soil im
prove the soil???s quality and support plant
growth.
Todd Rasmussen, a hydrology profes
sor at the University of Georgia, agreed
with the U.S. Department of Energy???s as
sessment. While Rasmussen said he con
siders sludge a promising alternative to
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Runoff from a nearby dumping
ground was a problem on Johna
than Martin's property, which is on
Thaxton Road in Rayle, earlier this
year. Sludge remains a hot topic in
Oglethorpe County.
expensive synthetic fertilizers, he also
acknowledges the pressing concerns sur
rounding its use.
???We have a worry about pathogens,
toxic metals or other chemicals,??? he said.
???The state has rules to regulate what can
go on the soil, and these things are con
stantly being updated as we conduct
more studies on the toxicity of different
things.???
Rasmussen likens sludge application
to taking vitamins: beneficial when used
appropriately but harmful when applied
excessively.
For Rasmussen, the key is sustain
ability. He emphasized the need to re
produce soil fertility while advocat
ing for vigilance and careful manage
ment in the application of biosolids like
sludge.
???One of the things we like to do on
campus is to think long term, ???How can
we work with nature sustainably???? ??? Ras
mussen said. ???This whole sense of reus
ing (materials) adds very beneficial nu
trients to the landscape, but you know,
always be vigilant, be careful and make
sure you???re not putting too much on.???
See SLUDGE, Page 7
DINK NESMITH/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO
Tax Commissioner Sheila Arnold won't seek
reelection next year and plans to retire
when her term expires on Dec. 31, 2024. She
has held the office since she was originally
elected in 2008.
Arnold plans
to retire as tax
commissioner
By Jay Reece
The Oglethorpe Echo
Oglethorpe County Tax Commissioner Shei
la Arnold said Monday she won???t seek reelec
tion next year.
???You have to have it in your heart to run,??? she
said. ???I wanted to help the citizens of Oglethorpe
County.???
Arnold was elected to her current role in 2008
and previously worked for the Board of Commis
sioners office. Her term will end on Dec. 31,2024.
She said she plans to spend time with her
family. Her son, Blake Arnold, recently opened
Crawford Pizza, and she would like to help in
some capacity with the restaurant.
Arnold, who began working in public service
in 1989, said she feels grateful for the opportuni
ty she had to work for the county and hopes that
she made a positive impact on the community.
Linda McDaniel, the tax commissioner???s of
fice clerk, has been there for Arnold???s entire ca
reer and plans to retire when Arnold does.
???She exemplifies her office in the highest
ability,??? McDaniel said. ???She is very easy to
work for, she has been very accommodating for
my needs. She has just been an extraordinary
boss and serves the citizens very well.???
Oglethorpe County has changed since she
took office with people moving from other states
and counties. It???s made her job busier, whether
she has to deal with mailing, online payments or
other matters.
Arnold made it clear her efforts wouldn???t be
sufficient to keep things running smoothly.
See COMMISSIONER, Page 7
Enjoy this deer season on your
own property!
Contact United Country Southern
Select Properties to speak with a
realtor that specializes in hunting
and farm land.
706-424-2472