Howard Sills

Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills’ facial expression doesn’t hide his feelings on this holstered BB gun pistol and altered law enforcement badge used in several crimes in and around Putnam County. LYNN HOBBS/Staff

Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills’ facial expression doesn’t hide his feelings on this holstered BB gun pistol and altered law enforcement badge used in several crimes in and around Putnam County. LYNN HOBBS/Staff

Two arrested in investigation of burglaries, thefts, counterfeits

Lynn Hobbs
Wednesday, August 27, 2025
A four-month rash of burglaries, mail thefts, identity fraud, and shoplifting reportedly came to an end last week with the arrest of two men in Putnam County.
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.Luke said he and...
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.
Jim Willis

Jim Willis

Willis pleads guilty; VFW, Veterans Wall repaid

Lynn Hobbs
Wednesday, July 23, 2025
Almost three years after his arrest, the victims of a formerly prominent Eatonton businessman’s theft have finally received financial restitution.Jimmy “Jim” Franklin Willis pled guilty in Superior Court last week to four counts of executing fictitious checks, three counts of theft by conversion,...
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.
Allen Carlton McMichael

Allen Carlton McMichael

County commission addresses many, varied concerns

Ian Tocher
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
The Putnam County Commission met on June 6 for a wide-ranging meeting.Even before the agenda was approved, a 10-minute discussion ensued over whether the commission needed to approve the commissioner signing off on the Putnam Development Authority's agreement to provide tax abatements regarding the...
Eatonton Messenger/File Photo

Eatonton Messenger/File Photo

UPDATE: Death of Eatonton man ruled natural causes

Lynn Hobbs
Thursday, June 12, 2025
An Eatonton man whose body was discovered in his vehicle last week died of natural causes, authorities say.Around 10 p.m. Tuesday, June 3, a passerby along the 100 block of Crooked Creek Drive noticed a 2015 Nissan Titan down in the woods off the roadway and called the Putnam County Sheriff’s...
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