Rich: The friend I’ll always remember

Silently, Tink closed his laptop. He had been showing me a couple of videos.He observed me momentarily before asking, “You miss him, don’t you?” I nodded, my eyes pooling. “Very much.”“Does it make you sad to watch these?”I sighed. “Yeah. He was such a force. Charming, frustrating, funny.

Yarbrough: Twin Pines indifferent to Okefenokee backlash

As of this writing, the opportunity has passed to express your opinion to Georgia’s Environmental Protection Division about its decision to issue draft permits for Alabama-based Twin Pines Minerals to strip-mine the 582 acres of wetlands it owns adjacent to the Okefenokee Swamp.

Letter to the Editor: Words have meaning; money has costs

Dear Editor,The referendum approved by the voters in the March 20, 2024 election clearly stated that General Obligation bonds were to be issued “in the principal amount not to exceed $22,000,000.

Letter to the Editor: Past chair questions current county board behavior

Dear Editor,Last Thursday night, about the time most of you were sitting down to supper, the (Putnam County Board of Commissioners), in a hurriedly called meeting, was busy approving a resolution to issue General Obligation (GO) bonds that potentially could result in a Putnam County debt of $24.

Letter to the Editor: Burning questions for Putnam council

Dear Editor,This letter is in response to Commissioner Steve Hersey’s letter ( The Eatonton Messenger, April 11, 2024).I agree that the fire at Precision Outdoors is a public nuisance, according to my son who works in the area.

Rich: The magic of ‘The Waltons’

This story comes on good authority which assures us that this good story is true.One day, Tink and I were visiting his father, former television Executive Grant Tinker, when the conversation turned to Merv Adelson, a legend of iconic 1970s television shows.

Yarbrough: Sweet talk about Vidalia onions

Let’s face it. We’re a blessed people. Not only do we have the oldest state-chartered university in the nation with two recent National Football Championships, 27 Rhodes Scholars (but who’s counting?

Benjamin Smith: Old-fashioned church revivals

I absolutely look forward to attending old-fashioned church revivals every year.I like to attend various churches to hear the soul-stirring messages. Last week, I attended Tuesday to Thursday night at St. John AME Church, my church. The messages are still embedded in my mind and in my soul.

Letter to the Editor: The motion that wasn’t

I have received numerous calls, text messages, and emails complaining about the smoke from a fire at Precision Outdoors, located on Sammons Industrial Parkway. The fire started spontaneously in a large pile of chipped wood debris.

Rich: Fair and unbiased (or biased) sports reporting

Count me in as one who still enjoys holding a good, local newspaper and absorbing almost every word.From the front page to the obituaries to the sports to the legals. I even read the entire jury list.High school football season had just begun, and I was reading the town’s sports page.