Community

Ronda Rich/Columnist

Ronda Rich/Columnist

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.“Miss Ronda, you’re the only person who ever wants the room nearest the...
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

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.
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

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.
Sean and Sara Tintle (center, behind bow) with Eatonton-Putnam Chamber of Commerce CEO Robbie King (sunglasses) celebrate the official ribbon cutting for Set the Stage, their new business venture off Scott Road in eastern Putnam County.

Sean and Sara Tintle (center, behind bow) with Eatonton-Putnam Chamber of Commerce CEO Robbie King (sunglasses) celebrate the official ribbon cutting for Set the Stage, their new business venture off Scott Road in eastern Putnam County.

Set the Stage here to help sell Lake Country

Story And Photos By Ian Tocher
Wednesday, June 25, 2025
Another new business has opened in Putnam County, officially marked by an Eatonton-Putnam Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 12 for Set the Stage at 108 Scott Oak Dr., Eatonton.Owned by Sara and Sean Tintle, Set the Stage provides a reliable source of high-end furniture destined to...
A wide range of Corvettes and other specialty cars were on display during the 2025 Lake Oconee BBQ & Music Fest. LEIGH LOFGREN/Staff

A wide range of Corvettes and other specialty cars were on display during the 2025 Lake Oconee BBQ & Music Fest. LEIGH LOFGREN/Staff

BBQ & Music Fest a summer success

Leigh Lofgren
Wednesday, June 25, 2025
The third annual Lake Oconee BBQ & Music Fest was held at the Pecan Grove at the Farm on Oconee.
Plans are in progress to restore the historical Wards Chapel AME Church on Wards Chapel Road. LYNN HOBBS/Staff

Plans are in progress to restore the historical Wards Chapel AME Church on Wards Chapel Road. LYNN HOBBS/Staff

Preservation efforts of historic church resumes

Lynn Hobbs
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
If walls could talk, the ones of the historical Wards Chapel AME Church in northeastern Putnam County would probably tell great stories of struggles and victories, faith and hope, tears and laughter, prayer and song. These days, those walls would also be asking for help.
Dr. Willie Oliver congratulated (l-r) Putnam County High School graduates Regina Aspen, Makayla Todd, and Lauren Oliver as recipients of his $1,000 Most Valuable Smiles scholarships, as each will begin attending various universities this year. IAN TOCHER/Staff

Dr. Willie Oliver congratulated (l-r) Putnam County High School graduates Regina Aspen, Makayla Todd, and Lauren Oliver as recipients of his $1,000 Most Valuable Smiles scholarships, as each will begin attending various universities this year. IAN TOCHER/Staff

MVS provides scholarships to PCHS grads

Ian Tocher
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
Dr. Willie Oliver of Most Valuable Smiles in downtown Eatonton said he was inspired in 2023 to begin awarding $1,000 scholarships to Putnam County High School students interested in pursuing careers in the medical or dental field.“What motivates me to do this is trying to get people from Eatonton...
Dr. Greg DeLoach and his class “Dementia, Disabilities and Differences” of Mercer University’s McAfee School of Theology in Atlanta toured the local Central State Hospital Museum and discussed mental health history and present-day care with Seeking Asylum founder and museum curator Jessica Whitehead (red shirt, front row). CONTRIBUTED

Dr. Greg DeLoach and his class “Dementia, Disabilities and Differences” of Mercer University’s McAfee School of Theology in Atlanta toured the local Central State Hospital Museum and discussed mental health history and present-day care with Seeking Asylum founder and museum curator Jessica Whitehead (red shirt, front row). CONTRIBUTED

Former local teaches students about mental health

Bailey Ballard
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
During the spring semester, Dr. Greg DeLoach and his class, “Dementia, Disabilities and Differences,” from Mercer University’s McAfee School of Theology in Atlanta, visited Milledgeville’s Central State Hospital Museum.Jessica Whitehead is a local photographer and author who began teaching the...
Neighbors Helping Neighbors has helped repair more than 250 homes among other projects. CONTRIBUTED

Neighbors Helping Neighbors has helped repair more than 250 homes among other projects. CONTRIBUTED

Neighbors Helping Neighbors turns five

News Staff
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
Neighbors Helping Neighbors, a 501(C)3 non-profit serving Greene and Putnam counties, celebrated its fifth anniversary June 4 with a ‘Picnic With Purpose.’
Executive Director Bryce Trotter received the 2025 Dairy Award on behalf of Georgia Milk Producers Inc. IAN TOCHER/Staff

Executive Director Bryce Trotter received the 2025 Dairy Award on behalf of Georgia Milk Producers Inc. IAN TOCHER/Staff

Dairy Festival delivers again for Eatonton

Ian Tocher
Thursday, June 12, 2025
Since the inaugural event in 1953, the Pilot Club of Eatonton has been presenting the annual Dairy Festival, held each June to officially commemorate Dairy Month.This year’s event was kicked off Friday night by a live performance by pop-rock cover band GridRocked before a sizable crowd on The...
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