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Dep. Lt. Brandon Towe gets ready to go back out in the water to continue the search. (Photo by Lynn Hobbs)

Dep. Lt. Brandon Towe gets ready to go back out in the water to continue the search. (Photo by Lynn Hobbs)

Dive teams searching for man who fell into Lake Sinclair

Lynn Hobbs
Friday, July 4, 2025
UPDATED AT 3 P.M. SATURDAYThe search for the man who fell off of the jet ski on Lake Sinclair July 4 continued Saturday, and authorities are saying the man is from the Dekalb County area. Around 9 a.m.
Eatonton Messenger/File Photo

Eatonton Messenger/File Photo

Transgender athletes law among those taking effect July 1

Ty Tagami
Wednesday, July 2, 2025
Beginning Tuesday this week, Georgians will reap what their state lawmakers sowed when a slew of new laws take effect, from divisive limits on transgender student athletes to a broadly popular guarantee to keep in vitro fertilization (IVF) legal.
‘F1’ delivers tried-and-true movie experience

‘F1’ delivers tried-and-true movie experience

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‘F1’ delivers tried-and-true movie experience

Gordon Columbine
Wednesday, July 2, 2025
Any fan of car movies — auto racing movies, in particular — has already seen “F1,” the summer blockbuster that opened last Friday, even if they haven’t yet sat through its two-and-a-half-hour runtime.
Noted Georgia conservationist and world-class musician Chuck Leavell will present a unique show for the Madison-Morgan Conservancy Sept. 13 at the Madison-Morgan Cultural Center. CONTRIBUTED

Noted Georgia conservationist and world-class musician Chuck Leavell will present a unique show for the Madison-Morgan Conservancy Sept. 13 at the Madison-Morgan Cultural Center. CONTRIBUTED

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Rolling Stones’ music director to play at MMCC

News Staff
Wednesday, July 2, 2025
The Madison-Morgan Conservancy (MMC) will present “An Evening with Chuck Leavell” Sept. 13 at the Madison-Morgan Cultural Center (MMCC) Auditorium following the Conservancy’s annual Membership Supper and inaugural Conservation/ Preservation Awards show.
Shaifer Partners hosted a groundbreaking ceremony on June 26 to mark the beginning of construction for Lake Country Village in Putnam County. CONTRIBUTED

Shaifer Partners hosted a groundbreaking ceremony on June 26 to mark the beginning of construction for Lake Country Village in Putnam County. CONTRIBUTED

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Ground broken for Lake Country Village development

Skyla Morris
Wednesday, July 2, 2025
Georgia real estate development company Shaifer Partners hosted a groundbreaking ceremony June 26 at Lake Country Village, the mixed-use development it is building across Hwy. 44 from Harmony Crossing.
Eatonton Mayor John Reid (left, in black) and citizen Don Sadler exchange words following last Tuesday’s Putnam County Commission meeting, with County Manager Paul Van Haute (far left), citizen Karen Garrett, and Putnam County Fire Chief Thomas McClain looking on. IAN TOCHER/Staff

Eatonton Mayor John Reid (left, in black) and citizen Don Sadler exchange words following last Tuesday’s Putnam County Commission meeting, with County Manager Paul Van Haute (far left), citizen Karen Garrett, and Putnam County Fire Chief Thomas McClain looking on. IAN TOCHER/Staff

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Reid remains at center of JDP controversy

Ian Tocher
Wednesday, July 2, 2025
Just like July 4th, the fireworks intensified as the night wore on last Tuesday at the second of two routinely scheduled monthly Putnam County Commission meetings.
T.M. Brown sits in the driver seat of Fred and Kay Wallace’s bus that serves as the inspiration to the next installment in his Shiloh mystery series. CONTRIBUTED

T.M. Brown sits in the driver seat of Fred and Kay Wallace’s bus that serves as the inspiration to the next installment in his Shiloh mystery series. CONTRIBUTED

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Writers museum author honored for historical fiction novel; sequel to highlight Joel Chandler Harris

Bailey Ballard
Wednesday, June 25, 2025
Local author Mike Brown, also known as T. M. Brown, was recently awarded certificates for the best historical fiction novel, best fiction cover, and Spotlight on Georgia Fiction by the Georgia Independent Author Association for his novel The Last Laird of Sapelo.
Sean C. Barrett

Sean C. Barrett

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Putnam County Grand Jury returns indictments

Lynn Hobbs
Wednesday, June 25, 2025
A Putnam County Grand Jury returned indictments on 21 people on June 16. An indictment does not mean the person is guilty. It means that the jurors, after reviewing the evidence presented by the prosecutor, believed there was sufficient evidence to proceed with a trial.
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