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Putnam County Sheriff’s Deputies Chris Donovan and Holly Collins are inseparable from their K-9 partners Nix (left) and Cora. IAN TOCHER/Staff

Putnam County Sheriff’s Deputies Chris Donovan and Holly Collins are inseparable from their K-9 partners Nix (left) and Cora. IAN TOCHER/Staff

PUTNAM A to Z: K is for K-9

Ian Tocher
Wednesday, June 7, 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 police officers, fire department personnel and Putnam County Sheriff's deputies at the Shell Food Mart on Sumter Street where a shooting happened Sunday. (Contributed photo)

Eatonton police officers, fire department personnel and Putnam County Sheriff's deputies at the Shell Food Mart on Sumter Street where a shooting happened Sunday. (Contributed photo)

Man shot, killed at gas station in Eatonton

Lynn Hobbs
Sunday, June 4, 2023
Updated at 6:54 p.m. Monday The suspect in a murder in Eatonton yesterday is now in custody, authorities say.  Lajuan Peire Evans, 24, turned himself in to Putnam County Sheriff’s Office about 5 p.m. Monday, Sheriff Howard Sills said.
Eatonton Messenger/Graphic

Eatonton Messenger/Graphic

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Tax assessments show Putnam as residential county

Rufus Adair
Thursday, June 1, 2023
If there is any doubt about the nature of Putnam County’s tax base, this year’s preliminary figures in the county tax assessor’s office should settle it. Putnam has become a residential county. The county’s wealth rests in residential properties. Agriculture? Not so much.
Eatonton Messenger/Graphic

Eatonton Messenger/Graphic

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Teen arrested at primary school; mother sought

Lynn Hobbs
Thursday, June 1, 2023
Eatonton Police Department was called to Putnam County Primary School May 24 regarding an alleged fight around 11 a.m. As it turned out, the dispute was between a 15-year-old boy and his mother, according to a report by Sgt. Harold “Buddy” Bowman and officer Alex Rickey.
Eatonton Messenger/Graphic

Eatonton Messenger/Graphic

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Tourism industry predicts strong summer

Dave Williams
Thursday, June 1, 2023
After taking some hits during the pandemic, Georgia tourism is poised for a record summer. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport expects to handle about 2.1 million passengers during the Memorial Day holiday period, which began Thursday and extends through next Wednesday.
Throwing the first shovelfuls of dirt were (l-r): Bill Gower of Farmers and Merchants Bank, Habitat for Humanity’s Bucky Kahl, soon-to-be homeowner Camille Hyman with baby Carmoni, Habitat’s Jennifer Ishee, Eatonton Mayor John Reed and electrician Clay Lloyd. Hyman’s parents’ home is shown on the right. IAN TOCHER/Staff

Throwing the first shovelfuls of dirt were (l-r): Bill Gower of Farmers and Merchants Bank, Habitat for Humanity’s Bucky Kahl, soon-to-be homeowner Camille Hyman with baby Carmoni, Habitat’s Jennifer Ishee, Eatonton Mayor John Reed and electrician Clay Lloyd. Hyman’s parents’ home is shown on the right. IAN TOCHER/Staff

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Putnam Habitat breaks ground on new home

Ian Tocher
Thursday, June 1, 2023
Putnam County Habitat for Humanity (HFH) held a groundbreaking ceremony last Wednesday at 109 Nicks Way, near the Ingles grocery store in Eatonton.
Their latest job consisted of intricate beautiful hardwood stairs, risers and floors. CONTRIBUTED

Their latest job consisted of intricate beautiful hardwood stairs, risers and floors. CONTRIBUTED

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Payless Floors provides quality flooring at affordable prices

Bailey Ballard
Thursday, June 1, 2023
Payless Floors has provided carpet, vinyl, and hardwood for customers for 30 years. Owner Charles Price grew up in the flooring industry. He created Payless Floors to provide quality installations, repairs, and sales.
This year’s Dairy Festival will begin at 7:30 a.m. Fun Run, followed by the 8 a.m. start of the Dairy Festival 5K Road Race (map, p. 7). By 9 a.m., arts, crafts, and food vendors will be open all around the courthouse square, and at 10 a.m. the Dairy Festival Parade through downtown Eatonton will begin.

This year’s Dairy Festival will begin at 7:30 a.m. Fun Run, followed by the 8 a.m. start of the Dairy Festival 5K Road Race (map, p. 7). By 9 a.m., arts, crafts, and food vendors will be open all around the courthouse square, and at 10 a.m. the Dairy Festival Parade through downtown Eatonton will begin.

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Dairy Festival enjoys long, proud history

Ian Tocher
Thursday, June 1, 2023
Initially held in 1953, Putnam County’s Dairy Festival continues today in recognition of the local dairy industry, as well as honoring contributions by dairy farmers and their families to the county.
Georgia Dairy Youth Foundation/CONTRIBUTED

Georgia Dairy Youth Foundation/CONTRIBUTED

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GDYF promotes youth in dairy

Ian Tocher
Thursday, June 1, 2023
Also featured in the Putnam County Dairy Festival this year is the Georgia Dairy Youth Foundation (gadyf.com), based in nearby Madison. GDYF is a nonprofit group that raises funding for youth dairy activities in the state for Future Farmers of America (FFA), 4-H, and college-level dairy farmers.
KATIE WILLIAMS/Contributed

KATIE WILLIAMS/Contributed

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Dairy farmers focus nationwide on climate-smart future

News Staff
Thursday, June 1, 2023
Last November at the Dairy Sustainability Alliance meeting in Glendale, Ariz., nearly 300 dairy industry leaders met to discuss how USDA Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities projects can help secure a climate-smart and profitable future for dairy farmers.
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