Howard Sills

Three Eatonton men remain hospitalized in serious and critical condition from injuries sustained in a head-on collision that involved this Mitsubishi Eclipse and Toyota Corolla Saturday. CONTRIBUTED/PCSO

Three Eatonton men remain hospitalized in serious and critical condition from injuries sustained in a head-on collision that involved this Mitsubishi Eclipse and Toyota Corolla Saturday. CONTRIBUTED/PCSO

UPDATE: Three seriously injured in head-on collision

Lynn Hobbs
Wednesday, August 6, 2025
A head-on collision caused by a driver passing another vehicle in a no-passing zone sent three Eatonton men to a hospital with serious injuries Saturday, according to authorities.Injured in the crash were Dazavius Little, 28, Sandy Brown, 46, and William Few, 26, all of Eatonton.
This grounddelivery service package at Mario Munoz' house contained 25 pounds of meth. CONTRIBUTED/ PCSO

This grounddelivery service package at Mario Munoz' house contained 25 pounds of meth. CONTRIBUTED/ PCSO

$2M in meth seized on Shady Dale Road

Lynn Hobbs
Wednesday, August 6, 2025
More than 50 kilos of methamphetamine will never make it to the streets after it was seized in Putnam County by Putnam, Jasper, and federal authorities.Putnam County Sheriff’s Lt. Harry Luke estimated the street value of the approximate 108 pounds of meth to be around $2 million.
Katie Reis

Katie Reis

Bride hopeful causes court disturbance

Lynn Hobbs
Wednesday, July 30, 2025
An Eatonton woman who reportedly had a tantrum in Putnam County Probate Court last week was arrested on misdemeanor charges.Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills said 51-year-old Katie Reis walked into the probate office on July 25 and said she was there to get married.
The overturned tritoon is eased to the shoreline by a Putnam County Sheriff’s patrol boat. CONTRIBUTED

The overturned tritoon is eased to the shoreline by a Putnam County Sheriff’s patrol boat. CONTRIBUTED

Holiday outing on lake turns into tragedy

Lynn Hobbs
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
A fun holiday on the lake with friends, family, and fireworks was literally turned upside down and left a mother grieving the loss of her young child.Four-year-old Tilly Roache, of Lithonia, died from delayed complications due to drowning, said Putnam County Coroner Hollis Harrison.
The capsized tritoon is being pushed by Putnam County Sheriff’s boats to the shore after a fireworks show on Lake Oconee July 4. (Contributed)

The capsized tritoon is being pushed by Putnam County Sheriff’s boats to the shore after a fireworks show on Lake Oconee July 4. (Contributed)

Pontoon capsizes; 4-year-old flown to hospital

Lynn Hobbs
Saturday, July 5, 2025
A 4-year-old girl is in the pediatric intensive care unit at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta following a boating accident on Lake Oconee on July 4th. “It’s a miracle that baby is alive,” Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills said Saturday at about 2:30 p.m.
BREAKING NEWS | THE EATONTON MESSENGER

BREAKING NEWS | THE EATONTON MESSENGER

Death of Eatonton man under investigation

Lynn Hobbs
Thursday, June 5, 2025
Authorities are investigating the death of an Eatonton man after his body was found in his pickup truck Tuesday night.Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills said 34-year-old Nicholas Justin Dempsey was found by deputies around 10 p.m. Tuesday, June 3.
L-R: Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills, Jones County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Earl Humphries, Capt. Travis Douglas and Investigator John Simmons at a May 16 press conference. DEBBIE LURIE-SMITH/Staff

L-R: Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills, Jones County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Earl Humphries, Capt. Travis Douglas and Investigator John Simmons at a May 16 press conference. DEBBIE LURIE-SMITH/Staff

Sills asked to investigate assailant’s death

Debbie Lurie-smith
Thursday, May 22, 2025
Jones County experienced an officer-involved shooting last week that resulted in the death of the offender and an investigation by a neighboring sheriff’s department.
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