Funding for the digitization of this title was provided by R.J. Taylor, Jr. Foundation.
About The Oglethorpe echo. (Crawford, Ga.) 1874-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 9, 2025)
THE OGLETHORPE Echo Volume 152, Number 2 October 9, 2025 ■ Oglethorpe County, Georgia $1 0 GRACE BURNETT/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO Chad Tracy, CEO of Patriot Construction, stands by Crawford Village's first phase of 26 two-bedroom and 2 1 /2-bath rental units. These units are expected to be complete in 2-3 weeks. Phase one of Crawford Village expected to be complete soon Development near 78, Bunker Hill Road, features two-bedroom rentals By Grace Burnett The Oglethorpe Echo Phase one of Crawford Village construction, including 26 two-bedroom and T^-bath rental units, is expected to be complete in approximately 2-3 weeks. All of Crawford Village, located near the intersection of Bunker Hill Road and Highway 78 and along Wheeler Cir cle, should be finished by 2030. “We don’t want to overbuild the market,” said Chad Tracy, CEO of Patriot Construction. “We're gonna build it in phases and as the county needs it.” The average price for each unit is $1,200 per month. The mixed-use development’s second phase will consist of 26 additional units — two-bedroom and 272-bath units and some three-bedroom, 31-bath units. While Tracy said it’s still too early to determine all spe cifics, Crawford Village is expected to contain duplexes, apartments, single-family homes and commercial spaces. “Our goal would be to get the first few phases of the res idential multifamily in place so that helps anchor some nice commercial on that corner at Bunker Hill and 78,” he said. The construction of Crawford Village began in 2022. Phase one broke ground this past June. In addition, houses have been completed and sold in The Pines at Grove Creek, along Bunker Hill Road. “Since the purchase of the property, the economy and the markets delayed the start of this first phase a little bit,” Tra cy said. “But, I think things are getting back on track now.” Crawford Village is what Oglethorpe County commission ers, zoning and development boards and the economic devel opment board refers to as a central, or development, corridor, meaning it’s a specific area identified for economic and res idential development. The corridor runs along Highway 78 from the Clarke County line to Lexington. “You hope that when you get residential growth, that it drives business growth within the county, that it provides a First phase of Crawford Village to have 26 new rental units Crawford Village 500 feet A aOpenStreetMap contributors Map: Grace Burnett • Created with Datawrapper GRACE BURNETT/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO larger business base to businesses and offers them a better chance for higher revenues and things as they move into the county,” District 5 Commissioner Tracy Norman said. Norman expects the corridor to add diversity in terms of property taxes and create opportunities for higher business revenues without changing the rural foundation of the county. “We want to see businesses come in, and we want to see residential growth over the years, but we want to see it in a very well-planned and organized manner,” he said. “We don't want to necessarily change the overall feel, the rural feel of the county.” Crawford Village A website with details about the development is ex pected to be online in the next two weeks. If interest ed in renting, contact crawfordvillagellc@gmail.com or 706-286-3429 to be directed to the leasing staff. Commission approves Al modifications By Kimberly Thomas The Oglethorpe Echo The Oglethorpe County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved revisions to the Al Zoning District ordinance following a recommended approv al from the zoning board at its Monday meeting. This makes changes to legacy setback standards for commercial fanns (mainly poultry operations) and al lows farms that were in operation before Sept. 8, 2015 to expand. The ordinance states: “For farms that wish to ex pand above 300,000 square feet of floor space, a 600- foot setback from all property lines shall be required. The total square feet of poultry house floor space shall not exceed 400,000 square feet unless additional setbacks are imposed. “For up to every 100,000 square feet of floor space that is added, an additional setback of 100 feet is re quired (i.e. up to 500,000 square feet of floor space shall require 700-foot setbacks). The maximum floor space allowable shall be 650,000 square feet.” About 16 people attended the meeting, which last ed 25 minutes. Jeff Sharp, the county’s director of zoning, planning and compliance, said any future modifications to farms require approval from the Board of Commissioners. See ZONING, Page 6 SPECIAL BUDGET MEETING The Board of Commissioners will meet at 9 a.m. Friday, Oct. 17 to finalize the 2026 budget and millage rate. MAURA RUTLEDGE/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO The logo for the new Patriots Health Hub fea tures both the MedLink logo and the Oglethorpe County High School athletic logo, showcasing a combined effort to keep the county healthy. The hub is located in the multipurpose complex. School health hub opens in old OCES By Maura Rutledge The Oglethorpe Echo Sanders says he’ll reopen restaurant By Alex Perri The Oglethorpe Echo Sanders’ Down Home Barbecue and Soul Food, the beloved restaurant in Ves ta, will reopen, family patriarch Carlton Sanders said Monday. Sanders, whose career in the barbecue industry dates to the 1950s, said he isn’t ready to release more details, but that he will notify the public when he has more information to share. Sanders participated in Historic Oglethorpe’s presentation about the coun ty’s Black one-room schoolhouses at the library on Sept. 23. Before the restaurant’s closure in 2024, Sanders’ Down Home Barbecue and Soul Food was open only on Fridays and Satur days. Despite its limited hours, the barbe cue joint attracted a dedicated following of soul food lovers from Oglethorpe and other area counties. Popular dishes included BBQ pork, ribs, fried chicken, Brunswick stew and pork skins. In a 2012 interview witli The Ogletho rpe Echo, Sanders said he took pride in making a product his customers enjoyed. “We welcome all people,” he said. “Come and taste our down-home barbe cue.” MOLLY MOORE/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO Carlton Sanders, who spoke at a recent Historic Oglethorpe presenta tion, said he plans to reopen his family barbecue restaurant in Vesta. It’s been closed for more than a year. MedLink Georgia has officially opened the Patri ot Health Hub. The healtli center offers a range of services, such as check-ups, pediatrics, women’s health, sports physi cals, immunizations and imaging. The clinic official ly opened on Sept. 29, and will have a formal ribbon cutting on Nov. 20. Due to its proximity to the new Oglethorpe County Elementary School, the Patriot Health Hub serves as an easily accessible clinic for students, staff and their family. It could open to Oglethorpe County residents, depending on demand. One of the first few patients from the healtli hub was Superintendent Beverley Levine, who received her annual flu shot at the clinic. “It was an excellent experience,” she said. “I was in and out in no time at all, and just, you know, can high ly recommend it to others who need a service like that, See HEALTH, Page 6 Index News 2,3,5,6,7 Obituaries 3 Around the County 3 Opinion 4 Classifieds 8 Calendar 9 Legals 10 Sheriff's Report 10 Sports 11,12 Area Champs Leanna Newton and the Oglethorpe County volleyball team captured the Area 8-A championship on Saturday ... Page 11 To start your subscription or to donate to The Oglethorpe Echo, see Page 2 Pasture Re Southern Select Properties HUNTING PROPERTIES
