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About The Oglethorpe echo. (Crawford, Ga.) 1874-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 9, 2025)
Thursday, October 9, 2025 THE OGLETHORPE Echo Page 11 75 10 2 69 ,Freued PREP ROUNDUP Volleyball team captures 8-A title SUBMITTED PHOTO OCMS defensive players line up against Social Circle in the PAC-11 championship game last week. The Patriots held Social Circle to six points, one week after shutting out East Jackson 20-0. Staff Report The Oglethorpe County volley- ball team defeated top-seeded Prov idence Christian 25-19, 25-18 and 25-14 to clinch the Area 8-A cham pionship on Saturday. The Patriots (27-8, 8-2) have won 15 consecutive matches and ad vance to the first round of the Class A tournament on Oct. 15. In the championship match, Alex is Fleming had five aces and Nao mi McPeake had four aces to lead OCHS. Elizabeth Cook had 15 kills and Leanna Newton had 20 kills. The passing game was led by libero Aryana Knight, defensive specialist Carlie Gabriel and Newton. SUBMITTED PHOTO Members of the Oglethorpe County volleyball team gather for a photo around the Area 8-A trophy. The Patriots advanced to the state tournament, which begins Oct. 15. 2 SUBMITTED PHOTO Oglethorpe County Middle School players and cheerleaders cele brate after defeating Social Circle 12-6 to win the PAC-11 champion ship last week. The Patriots didn't allow more than six points in any of the final four games. OCMS football team wins league crown By Andy Mathis The Oglethorpe Echo After an undefeated season end ed in uncertainty last year, Ogletho rpe County Middle School finished the job this fall. The football team claimed the PAC-11 league champi onship with a 12-6 win over Social Circle last Wednesday. Last season, the Patriots were set to face Apalachee Middle School before a shooting at the high school left two students and two teachers dead. “We were going to be the first team to play on their field after the incident, but weather canceled the game on us,” head coach Steve Ir win said. “We were excited about the chance to play them, but we spent time during the week talking about how to support them the best way that we could. The players and coaches were disappointed we did not get to play, but understood the situation.” The 2024 season came to a 6-0 finish. But 2025 brought new chal lenges: a tougher league schedule and new players to develop. “We started the season with a loss, so yes, there was concern,” Ir win said. “But we refocused and prepared to play the next game. This group of players has been very fo cused and coachable.” Rather than reinvent the system, Irwin leaned on consistency. “We did not make any changes to the way we practiced or change the culture,” he said. “We just kept working hard each and every day. Our team culture is that we play with effort, attitude and toughness each snap, play, series and game.” That steadiness quickly got the season back on track. After the opening loss, OCMS rolled through the rest of its sched ule. The defense dominated, not giving up more than six points in Next Act Presents.... You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown October 8-11 7pm Marigold Auditorium 373 N. Church St. Winterville, GA wintervillecenter.com any of the last four games and shut out East Jackson 20-0 in the play- offs. “Our defensive coaches and play ers did an amazing job preparing for every opponent,” Irwin said. Cooper Davenport led the Pa triots with over 700 yards on the ground and 16 touchdowns this year. Irwin referred to him as the “offensive leader.” Leading Davenport was a bat tle-tested group up front. The eighth-grade line — Bro dy Anderson, Noah Evans, Robert Gunter, Braiden Walker, Kayden Smith and James Henderson — consistently opened lanes, clearing the way for more than 900 rushing yards this season. Irwin said the team is support ed by Principal Mack Baldwin and the teachers, who consistently back the program and ensure it has what it needs. “Anything I need, they make it happen,” he said. “I also have amaz ing parents who feed the team and provide funding to buy the equip ment we need to maintain this pro gram.” And through it all, Irwin said, the core of the program remains un changed. “The culture will never change here as long as I am coach,” he said. “We will play with passion, effort and toughness, and be more physi cal than the other team each and ev ery day.” NOTICE The Oglethorpe County Board of Commissioners does hereby announce that the millage rate will be set at a meeting to be held in the Admin Building located at 105 Union Point St Lexington GA on October 17, 2025 at 9 AM and pursuant to the requirements of O.C.G.A. § 48-5-32 does hereby publish the following presentation of the current year's tax digest and levy, along with the history of the tax digest and levy for the past five years. CURRENT 2025 PROPERTY TAX DIGEST AND 5 YEAR HISTORY OF LEVY U N I N C O R P O R A T E D A R E A UNINCORPORATED 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 V A L U E Real & Personal 487,975,842 496,409,455 578,120,121 691,588,106 721,506,847 822,864,653 Motor Vehicles 8,023,430 8,024,520 7,323,340 7,593,850 7,722,000 7,542,10C Mobile Homes 2,677,639 2,590,917 2,789,539 2,837,132 2,983,786 3,313,168 Timber - 100% 7,679,114 6,355,685 7,023,117 8,943,078 8,845,798 7,876,145 Heavy Duty Equipment Gross Digest 506,356,025 513,380,577 595,256,117 710,962,166 741,058,431 841,596,066 Less Exemptions 86,591,098 83,006,915 88,528,581 91,989,684 91,038,535 153,079,636 NET DIGEST VALUE 419,764,927 430,373,662 506,727,536 618,972,482 650,019,896 688,516,430 R A T E Gross Maintenance & Operation Millage 2.5340 10.1730 8.7340 7.5120 7.4006 7.0268 Less Rollbacks (Local Option Sales Tax & Insurance Premium) 2.5340 2.9530 2.3710 1.9960 1.9256 1.7778 NET M&O MILLAGE RATE 7.2200 6.3630 5.5160 5.4750 5.2490 TAX NET M&O TAXES LEVIED $3,107,298 $3,224,307 $3,414,252 $3,558,859 $3,614,023 I N C O R P O R A T E D A R E A INCORPORATED 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 V A L U E Real & Personal 29,571,033 29,478,629 42,589,436 52,153,171 55,687,932 62,749,359 Motor Vehicles 352,540 369,170 405,530 384,470 386,530 383,33C Mobile Homes 362,425 337,207 388,928 404,270 432,955 426,762 Timber - 100% Heavy Duty Equipment Gross Digest 30,285,998 30,185,006 43,383,894 52,941,911 56,507,417 63,559,451 Less Exemptions 1,187,890 1,185,402 1,937,760 2,172,011 2,264,175 5,982,186 NET DIGEST VALUE 29,098,108 28,999,604 41,446,134 50,769,900 54,243,242 57,577,265 R A T E Gross Maintenance & Operation Millage 2.8470 10.1730 8.7340 7.5120 7.4006 7.0268 Less Rollback (Local Option Sales Tax) 1.6400 1.7630 1.7050 1.6160 1.6396 1.6338 NET M&O MILLAGE RATE 1.2070 8.4100 7.0290 5.8960 5.7610 5.3930 TAX NET M&O TAXES LEVIED $35,121 $243,887 $291,325 $299,339 $312,495 $310,514 o, % TOTAL COUNTY 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 TOTAL DIGEST VALUE 448,863,035 459,373,266 548,173,670 669,742,382 704,263,138 746,093,695 TOTAL M&O TAXES LEVIED $35,121 $3,351,185 $3,515,632 $3,713,592 $3,871,354 $3,924,537 Net Tax $ Increase $3,316,063 $164,448 $197,959 $157,763 $53,183 Net Tax % Increase 9441.71% 4.91% 5.63% 4.25% 1.37% In the third round, OCHS defeat ed Banks County 25-23, 25-13 and 25-16 behind five aces and 10 kills from Cook. Fleming had four aces, Newton had 17 kills, and Knight and Haley Matthews passed well. On Oct. 1, the Patriots defeated Elbert County 25-19, 25-21 and 25- 16 in the second round. Cook had six aces and 15 kills, and Newton added 17 kills. Softball team clinches spot in state playoffs Lillie Anderson had three hits and three RBIs to lead the Ogletho rpe County softball team to an 11-3 win over Lincoln County on Tues day night. It was the final regular-season game for the Patriots, who are the third seed from Region 8-A Divi sion I, guaranteeing them a spot in the state playoffs, which begin on Wednesday, Oct. 15. OCHS (13-9, 8-4 in the region) will find out its first-round oppo nent this weekend. Anderson paced the Patriots’ 10-hit attack against Lincoln County. Kh- loe Eidson added two RBIs, and Re ese Campbell and Maebrynn Reeves added two hits and an RBI each. Campbell also was the winning pitcher with four strikeouts. Last Thursday, Banks County de feated OCHS 3-0 on senior night. The team’s seniors are Campbell, Carolyn Barner and Emilee Cutsail. Anderson led OCHS with two hits in that game. Reese Campbell (1 RBI), and Maebrynn Reeves (1 RBI) all added 2 hits each. Reese Campbell earned MADISON MOAS Fall Adoption Special begins Saturday, September 20th MOAS has dogs and cats, puppies and kittens, all looking for good homes. To help them find their way, we are reducing our adoption fees 50% - 75%. Dogs - $50 (reduced from $100) Puppies - $50 (reduced from $200) Cats & Kittens $25 (reduced from $75) This special promotion is sponsored by a grant from Roddy Sturdivant. All pets have been spayed or neutered, have been de-wormed, microchipped and given age-appropriate vaccinations - at no additional cost. MOAS is open for adoptions: Wed. through Sat.: 12pm to 5pm Sun.: 12pm to 4pm Closed Mon. - Tues. For more information, and to see available dogs and cats, visit moaspets.com/adoptionapp Madison-Oglethorpe Animal Shelter 1888 Colbert-Danielsville Road Danielsville, GA 30633 706-795-2868 the win pitching with 4 strikeouts. OCMS update The Oglethorpe County Mid dle School cross country team will compete in the middle school state meet on Oct. 11 in Cochran. PREP Schedule Thursday, Oct. 9 ■ OCHS cross country at Athens Academy ■ Madison County at OCHS JV football, 5:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10 ■ Rabun County at OCHS football, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11 ■ OCMS cross country at state championship Wednesday, Oct. 15 ■ OCHS volleyball at Class A playoffs, TBA Valerie Lynn Argo REALTOR* X 706-338-4991 - cell valerielynn@livingdownsouth.com - I Real Estate for Every Southern Lifestyle REALTY That will end the OCMS fall schedule. The next competition will be a home basketball game against East Jackson on Nov. 3. A home wrestling meet — called Tuesday Night Take- downs — is scheduled for Nov. 4. Thursday, Oct. 16 ■ OCHS JV football at East Jackson, 5:30 p.m. ■ OCHS softball at Class A playoffs, TBA Friday, Oct. 17 ■ OCHS football at Com merce, 7:30 p.m. ■ OCHS softball at Class A playoffs, TBA Saturday, Oct. 18 ■ OCHS cross country at North Oconee
