Community

Members of the Athens-based John W. Hancock Memorial Chapter 531 of the Military Order of the Purple Heart pose with the daughter of Charlie Bonner Award for Advancing Education winner Richard “Ole” Olsen, holding a photo of her father. IAN TOCHER/Staff

Members of the Athens-based John W. Hancock Memorial Chapter 531 of the Military Order of the Purple Heart pose with the daughter of Charlie Bonner Award for Advancing Education winner Richard “Ole” Olsen, holding a photo of her father. IAN TOCHER/Staff

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STMA Bonner Award presented to UGA’s Olsen

Ian Tocher
Wednesday, July 16, 2025
The Steffen Thomas Museum of Art held its annual Founder’s Day Celebration on Saturday to honor the memory of Sara Douglass Thomas, who in 1997 opened the museum in rural Buckhead to showcase and honor her husband’s prodigious efforts in many varied art disciplines.
Ronda Rich/Columnist

Ronda Rich/Columnist

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Rich: The intelligence quotient

Ronda Rich
Wednesday, July 16, 2025
Tink was in his office, supposedly, working. We both have home offices because we are both writers and work from home. I am a serious writer who composes prose for books and this column.You would be surprised how much harder it is to write this column of 650 words than it is to write an entire book.
Mark the Magic Man’s daughter performs a trick from the magic wand that produces flowers. She learned this trick at his magic camp. LEIGH LOFGREN/Staff

Mark the Magic Man’s daughter performs a trick from the magic wand that produces flowers. She learned this trick at his magic camp. LEIGH LOFGREN/Staff

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Greensboro’s Festival Hall hosts magical night

Leigh Lofgren
Wednesday, July 16, 2025
Mark the Magic Man entertained a large audience on July 10 at Festival Hall, having the crowd laugh, have fun, and try to figure out how things magically appeared and disappeared.
Eatonton-Putnam Chamber of Commerce President Robbie King (second from left) and Putnam County Commission Chairman Bill Sharp flank Tractor Supply store manager April Smith after she cut the ribbon on Saturday to officially open the company’s new Eatonton location. IAN TOCHER/Staff

Eatonton-Putnam Chamber of Commerce President Robbie King (second from left) and Putnam County Commission Chairman Bill Sharp flank Tractor Supply store manager April Smith after she cut the ribbon on Saturday to officially open the company’s new Eatonton location. IAN TOCHER/Staff

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Tractor Supply opens in Eatonton

Ian Tocher
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
It took a few tries early Saturday morning, but store manager April Smith finally managed to cut the ribbon that officially signified Tractor Supply is open for business in Eatonton.
Eatonton Police Chief Howell Cardwell, left, accepts the award by Georgia Municipal Association from Eatonton Mayor John Reid. IAN TOCHER/Staff

Eatonton Police Chief Howell Cardwell, left, accepts the award by Georgia Municipal Association from Eatonton Mayor John Reid. IAN TOCHER/Staff

Excellence in Policing award goes to EPD

Ian Tocher
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
Near the conclusion of the July 1 Eatonton City Council meeting, Mayor John Reid announced the Eatonton Police Department, led by Police Chief Howell Cardwell, had received an Excellence in Policing award from the Georgia Municipal Association.
Ian Tocher/Staff

Ian Tocher/Staff

Lake Sinclair lights up for the 4th

Ian Tocher
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
The rockets’ red glare was on full display Friday night as hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of boats carrying even more thousands of boaters dispersed across the waters of Lakes Sinclair and Oconee, taking in dozens of shoreside fireworks shows in honor of our nation’s birthday.
Ronda Rich/Columnist

Ronda Rich/Columnist

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Rich: The Tinker diaries

Ronda Rich
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
In my office is a beige wicker suitcase with brown leather straps.Inside are 32 handwritten diaries produced by Charlie Tinker during his years working at the White House for his cherished friend, Abraham Lincoln.In another area, squirreled away by Tink, is a hand-duplicated set of those diaries.
Ronda Rich/Columnist

Ronda Rich/Columnist

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Rich: The magical romance of trains

Ronda Rich
Wednesday, July 2, 2025
Whenever Tink and I visit Greenwood, Mississippi, one of our favorite places, we stay at the small Alluvian Hotel.“Please, Denise,” I ask the front desk manager, “put us as close to the train as possible.”She laughs delightedly.
L-R: Art show chairperson Michele Hartung and co-chair Cathy McIntire congratulate The Artisans Village communications specialist Melanie Schneider after she won a Merit Award for “Golden Spiral,” a necklace she designed and created. IAN TOCHER/Staff

L-R: Art show chairperson Michele Hartung and co-chair Cathy McIntire congratulate The Artisans Village communications specialist Melanie Schneider after she won a Merit Award for “Golden Spiral,” a necklace she designed and created. IAN TOCHER/Staff

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Local artists celebrated at juried art show

Ian Tocher
Wednesday, June 25, 2025
The Artisans Village Guild held a reception for its 9th annual Lake Country Juried Art Show on June 19 at Barrel 118 in Eatonton. Several awards were presented to artists that night, including the prestigious People’s Choice award, which went to Dr. Edward Hubach for “Fury,” depicting a black horse.
Grace Caricofe, owner of Gracefully Baked Co., is in her second year selling sourdough products as a Lake Oconee Farmer’s Market vendor. She credits the market for helping her business’s rapid success. SKYLA MORRIS/Staff

Grace Caricofe, owner of Gracefully Baked Co., is in her second year selling sourdough products as a Lake Oconee Farmer’s Market vendor. She credits the market for helping her business’s rapid success. SKYLA MORRIS/Staff

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Farmer’s Market returns to Harmony Crossing

Skyla Morris
Wednesday, June 25, 2025
Since 2007, the Lake Oconee Farmer’s Market at Harmony Crossing has been an important part of Eatonton’s summer and fall seasons. It currently boasts more than 40 vendors who participate each week from May to December.During the summer, from 8 a.m. to noon each Saturday until Sept.
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