News

IAN TOCHER/Staff

IAN TOCHER/Staff

Exclusive Subscriber Content

Putnam to A to Z: O is for Old School History Museum

Ian Tocher
Thursday, August 31, 2023
Editor’s note: The symmetry of 52 weeks in a year and 26 letters in our alphabet inspired us here at The Eatonton Messenger to embark on an alphabetical journey every other week in 2023, looking at something – or someone – unique, significant, unusual, or just plain interesting in Putnam County,...
Eatonton Messenger/Graphic

Eatonton Messenger/Graphic

Exclusive Subscriber Content

Handyman accused of stealing laptop from work site

Lynn Hobbs
Thursday, August 31, 2023
A handyman is in jail after reportedly helping himself to his clients’ belongings, authorities say. The man was working on a house on Angeline Circle installing exterior siding. The residents went out of town for a few days, according to Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills.
Eatonton Messenger/Graphic

Eatonton Messenger/Graphic

Exclusive Subscriber Content

BOE hears updates to safety, new school; approves budget

Bailey McCully
Wednesday, August 23, 2023
The Putnam County Board of Education heard updates on school safety and the new elementary school along with approving the FY24 budget and millage rate. Assistant Superintendent Derick Austin and Safety Director Ken Vance gave a report on school safety to begin the meeting.
Eatonton Messenger/Graphic

Eatonton Messenger/Graphic

Exclusive Subscriber Content

EPWSA continues to get the lead out

Rufus Adair
Wednesday, August 23, 2023
Little lead remains in Eatonton’s aging water and sewer lines, and steady progress is being made in replacing those older mains, valves, and hydrants.
Traffic on Pea Ridge Road was delayed as Putnam County’s emergency personnel handled the single-vehicle crash involving this 4-Runner Saturday. CONTRIBUTED/PCSO

Traffic on Pea Ridge Road was delayed as Putnam County’s emergency personnel handled the single-vehicle crash involving this 4-Runner Saturday. CONTRIBUTED/PCSO

Exclusive Subscriber Content

Single-car crash slows traffic on Pea Ridge

Lynn Hobbs
Wednesday, August 23, 2023
An Eatonton mother was flown by medical helicopter to an area trauma center following a single-car crash on Pea Ridge Road Saturday. According to Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills, a 16-year-old was driving south on Pea Ridge Road shortly after 1:30 p.m.
Masonic Home of Georgia Director of Home Life Chris Babcock (third from left) is surrounded by members of Eatonton's Rising Star Lodge #4 as they present a check destined to pay for things like extracurricular sports, prom clothes and transportation, or other school-related extras for the Home's current residents. IAN TOCHER/Staff

Masonic Home of Georgia Director of Home Life Chris Babcock (third from left) is surrounded by members of Eatonton's Rising Star Lodge #4 as they present a check destined to pay for things like extracurricular sports, prom clothes and transportation, or other school-related extras for the Home's current residents. IAN TOCHER/Staff

Exclusive Subscriber Content

Masonic Home promotes responsibility, hope

Ian Tocher
Wednesday, August 23, 2023
For nearly 40 years, residents of Macon’s Masonic Home of Georgia (MHG) have been visiting Lake Sinclair for a day of fun at the beach.
Eatonton Messenger/Graphic

Eatonton Messenger/Graphic

Exclusive Subscriber Content

Millage rate increase for county seems inevitable

Rufus Adair
Wednesday, August 23, 2023
With the Putnam County Board of Commissioners set to finalize its 2023-24 general fund budget a couple of weeks from now, at least one confounding question lingers: with the county’s tax digest up 20 percent, why do extra revenues from that growth not eliminate any need for an additional millage...
Fredrick Ward will host up to 200 people this weekend for a family reunion in MIlledgeville. IAN Tocher/Staff

Fredrick Ward will host up to 200 people this weekend for a family reunion in MIlledgeville. IAN Tocher/Staff

Exclusive Subscriber Content

Know your Neighbor: Frederick Ward

Ian Tocher
Wednesday, August 23, 2023
Over Labor Day weekend, Frederick Ward and his wife, Barbara, will host up to 200 people at a family reunion in a Milledgeville hotel. Near and distant relatives will arrive from as close as down the street to as far away as Arizona, Michigan, and New York State - and all points in between.
Sayers Timothy

Sayers Timothy

Exclusive Subscriber Content

Man jailed for third time in less than a month

Lynn Hobbs
Wednesday, August 23, 2023
After leading authorities on a high-speed chase into another county and back again, a Putnam man is in jail for the third time in less than a month. “This hasn’t happened in quite a while where we’ve arrested somebody three times in 25 days,” Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills said.
Putnam County Manager Paul Van Haute speaking during a Veteran’s Day event last November at Gatewood Schools in Eatonton. IAN TOCHER/Staff

Putnam County Manager Paul Van Haute speaking during a Veteran’s Day event last November at Gatewood Schools in Eatonton. IAN TOCHER/Staff

Exclusive Subscriber Content

County manager named vice chair of national committee

Ian Tocher
Wednesday, August 16, 2023
Beyond the safety of his own family, there’s probably nothing more important to Putnam County Manager Paul Van Haute than helping U.S. military veterans survive and thrive upon returning home.
Subscribe to