Rich: The mother who was but wasn’t

She loved me so much.Often, she’d tell stories of my childhood and always begin with, “You were the cutest little thing I've ever seen.”Her favorite story to tell happened when I was three. “Your Mama always dressed you like a little doll. I ain’t never saw nothin’ like it.”

Letter to the Editor: Habitat hoping for help from ‘better angels’

Dear Friends of Habitat for Humanity,At Habitat for Humanity of Putnam County, we’ve always believed in the power of community: neighbors joining forces, volunteers raising walls and hopes, and donors like you building a future where everyone has a decent place to live.But right now, we’re facing a...

Letter to the Editor: Fun at Songwriter’s Night

Dear editor,My husband and I purchased tickets to attend Briarpatch Farm’s Songwriter’s Night on Saturday. It was an unforgettable evening that benefited Atlas Ministries.

Letter to the Editor: The difference between truth and fiction

Dear editor,Ian Tocher’s opinion article in last week’s Eatonton Messenger, titled “Public media on the Trump chopping block,” raises an issue all citizens should be aware of and concerned about.Mr. Tocher supplies facts as to the amount the Corporation for Public Broadcasting currently receives...

Letter to the Editor: Thanks from Eatonton VFW Thrift Store

Dear editor,We appreciate The Eatonton Messenger running our story last week, where Eatonton Veterans Thrift Store awarded $40,000.00 to Honor Flight.This money allowed Middle Georgia Honor Flight the ability to send Mission No. 27, and Conyers Honor Flight the ability to send Mission No. 28.We...

Letter to the Editor: Putnam pastors rally behind ‘Rino’

Dear editor,We, the undersigned, as pastors in Putnam County and beyond, write in support of Commissioner Garrett’s Letter to the Editor (“Let the punishment fit the crime,” April 17).Law enforcement is vital to a safe and harmonious community, but enforcement that appears excessive or arbitrary...

Rich: High heels and dresses

Several years ago, I was returning from a speaking engagement at the historic Greenbrier Hotel, flying from Roanoke on a small Delta jet into the Atlanta airport.The jet stopped on the tarmac, requiring that we deplane down the steps, walk under the tenting, and into the gate, where we climbed...

Yarbrough: Why are Georgia’s teenagers so unhappy?

I just came across something called the Teen Happiness Index, published by Mission Prep (missionprephealthcare.com), an organization that works with adolescents and families struggling with mental health issues.

Tocher: Public media on the Trump chopping block

Public media is facing an imminent threat, if not extinction, at least of becoming an endangered species.The Trump administration intends to cut federal funds that support public media — predominantly National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) — threatening the survival of...

Rich: Rondarosa’s new boss

She wasn’t hired to be a boss. She wasn’t even hired. She was bought.It all started because I decided that our miniature donkey from Jerusalem needed a friend. There she was, a tiny thing, standing between two big horses that kept pushing her around — and she took it.Poor Sweet Tea.