News

Ian Tocher/Staff

Ian Tocher/Staff

Editorial: County commission concerns

Ian Tocher
Thursday, December 4, 2025
I’ve attended most Putnam County Board of Commissioners meetings over the last couple of years or so, providing me with a pretty good sample size to draw opinions from.
GBI Crime Scene Specialist Mikayla Hardman, foreground, and Eatonton Police Officer Christian Waldroup outside the Grease Monkey as they processed the burglary scene last Wednesday. CONTRIBUTED

GBI Crime Scene Specialist Mikayla Hardman, foreground, and Eatonton Police Officer Christian Waldroup outside the Grease Monkey as they processed the burglary scene last Wednesday. CONTRIBUTED

EPD investigates burglary

Lynn Hobbs
Thursday, December 4, 2025
Eatonton Police Department officers and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation crime scene specialists spent their day before Thanksgiving investigating the burglary of a local business.
District 1 Commissioner Tom McElhenney introduced the “Gary McElhenney Resolution,” named after his father who passed away in May 2024 while holding the same commission seat, which would allow the board to appoint a replacement in a similar situation. IAN TOCHER/Staff

District 1 Commissioner Tom McElhenney introduced the “Gary McElhenney Resolution,” named after his father who passed away in May 2024 while holding the same commission seat, which would allow the board to appoint a replacement in a similar situation. IAN TOCHER/Staff

County approves New Phoenix gas station

Ian Tocher
Thursday, December 4, 2025
The Putnam County Commission met Nov. 18 to address a wide-ranging agenda, beginning with a rezoning request from Imperial Park Holdings LLC to convert three acres at 301 New Phoenix Road from agricultural (AG) to commercial (C-1).
Shards of glass are scattered and piled around the back door of the Grease Monkey after burglars broke their way inside early Wednesday morning. CONTRIBUTED/EPD

Shards of glass are scattered and piled around the back door of the Grease Monkey after burglars broke their way inside early Wednesday morning. CONTRIBUTED/EPD

Grease Monkey burglarized overnight

Lynn Hobbs
Wednesday, November 26, 2025
Eatonton Police Department officers and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation crime scene processors are spending their day before Thanksgiving investigating a burglary of a local business.
Eatonton Messenger/File Photo

Eatonton Messenger/File Photo

Man lands in jail for suspected pine straw fraud

Lynn Hobbs
Tuesday, November 25, 2025
A Manchester man is in jail after an Eatonton woman went to police because she felt she’d been a victim of a pine straw scam.The woman, who lives in a neighborhood off Godfrey Road, went to the Eatonton Police Department on Nov. 18 and spoke with Officer Blaze Waldroup.
Bagged cocaine is seen in the cuff of Omar Andrews as he was being arrested for an active warrant. CONTRIBUTED/EPD

Bagged cocaine is seen in the cuff of Omar Andrews as he was being arrested for an active warrant. CONTRIBUTED/EPD

Cocaine found stashed in arrested man’s sock

Lynn Hobbs
Tuesday, November 25, 2025
During the routine pat-down search of a man they were arresting, Eatonton Police Department officers discovered a significant bulge in the top of his sock. Once identified, the package in his sock was added to the charges he was already being arrested for.On Monday, Nov.
Eatonton Messenger/File Photo

Eatonton Messenger/File Photo

C-PACE creates controversy for county commission

Ian Tocher
Tuesday, November 25, 2025
A relatively routine Putnam County Commission meeting turned unexpectedly contentious Nov. 18 when District 3 Commissioner Stephen Hersey sharply criticized county leadership over transparency related to a significant financing action involving the county’s development authority.According to a U.S.
A steady stream of cars rolled through the parking lot of Eatonton’s old Putnam County Elementary School on Saturday morning as volunteers handed out thousands of pounds of food to grateful recipients. IAN TOCHER/Staff

A steady stream of cars rolled through the parking lot of Eatonton’s old Putnam County Elementary School on Saturday morning as volunteers handed out thousands of pounds of food to grateful recipients. IAN TOCHER/Staff

Cooperation key to success of grassroots food drive

Ian Tocher
Tuesday, November 25, 2025
A fast-moving grassroots effort attracted hundreds of local citizens and families to the old Putnam County Elementary School grounds near downtown Eatonton Saturday morning.
The fire burns off the gas leaking from the propane tank. CONTRIBUTED

The fire burns off the gas leaking from the propane tank. CONTRIBUTED

Well house blaze causes propane tank fire

Lynn Hobbs
Tuesday, November 25, 2025
A propane tank fire was safely extinguished, with no explosion or injuries, thanks to the work of Putnam County Fire Department firefighters.The fire happened around 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 19, at a residence on South Harmony Court, according to Putnam County Fire Chief Thomas McClain.
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