Howard Sills

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

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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.
Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills stands beside an image of Columbia County Deputy Sheriff Brandon Sikes, who was shot and killed April 26 while making a traffic stop on I-20, near Augusta. IAN TOCHER/Staff

Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills stands beside an image of Columbia County Deputy Sheriff Brandon Sikes, who was shot and killed April 26 while making a traffic stop on I-20, near Augusta. IAN TOCHER/Staff

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Sills reminds MAC crowd of law enforcement sacrifice

Ian Tocher
Thursday, May 22, 2025
Mothers Against Crime (MAC) held its annual banquet May 10 at the Eatonton Elks Lodge, where several speakers addressed an audience of about 50 members.
Three men died after the pickup truck they were in crashed into the left rear of a tractor-trailer stopped for a traffic light on Hwy. 441 at Twin Bridges Road in Putnam County. IAN TOCHER/Staff

Three men died after the pickup truck they were in crashed into the left rear of a tractor-trailer stopped for a traffic light on Hwy. 441 at Twin Bridges Road in Putnam County. IAN TOCHER/Staff

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Three men mourned after fatal crash

Lynn Hobbs
Wednesday, April 30, 2025
A vehicle crash on U.S. Hwy. 441 claimed the lives of three North Georgia men on Thursday, April 24.The three men each left families, including young children, to grieve them.According to Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills, the men were traveling southbound on U.S.
Eatonton Messenger/File Photo

Eatonton Messenger/File Photo

Single-car wreck claims life on Pea Ridge Road

Lynn Hobbs
Wednesday, April 9, 2025
A Putnam County man was killed in a single-vehicle crash Monday. Authorities say the cause of the crash is unknown.Ryan Ramey, 40, of Cold Branch Road, was found deceased in his pickup truck by a deputy, according to Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills. There were no other people in the vehicle.
Quirino V. Boles

Quirino V. Boles

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Voting fraud charge lands man in jail

Lynn Hobbs
Wednesday, April 9, 2025
An Eatonton man is in jail facing voter fraud charges, according to authorities.Quirino Voncell Boles, 44, of Hudson Drive, was arrested and held in Putnam County jail on Feb. 27 on the charges of false swearing, voting by an unqualified elector or giving false information, and probation violation.
County officials assess West Riverbend Drive conditions Monday afternoon. CONTRIBUTED

County officials assess West Riverbend Drive conditions Monday afternoon. CONTRIBUTED

Storms wash out roads

Lynn Hobbs
Wednesday, April 9, 2025
A deluge of rainfall on Monday created more than just an inconvenience for many in Putnam County.Downed trees were reported throughout the county, quite a few of them blocked roadways, according to reports.
200 block of West River Bend Drive (Contributed by Sheriff Howard Sills)

200 block of West River Bend Drive (Contributed by Sheriff Howard Sills)

Roads washed out in Putnam County

Lynn Hobbs
Monday, April 7, 2025
The deluge of rainfall that hit the state earlier today has washed out several roads in Putnam County, according to authorities. An alternate route has been created for residents of one of those roads, said Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills and Putnam County Manager Paul Van Haute.
Keith Cormican talks to news reporters Sunday after he found Gary Jones’s body. LYNN HOBBS/Staff

Keith Cormican talks to news reporters Sunday after he found Gary Jones’s body. LYNN HOBBS/Staff

Body of missing boater recovered

Lynn Hobbs
Sunday, March 9, 2025
The body of Gary Jones was recovered about noon Sunday, March 9, Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills said.Keith Cormican, of Bruce’s Legacy of Wisconsin, found Jones’s body on the 29th day of the search.
Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills pilots a patrol boat Saturday, while Detective J.D. Turk closely watches the water on Lake Oconee in search of presumed drowned victim Gary Jones. CONTRIBUTED

Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills pilots a patrol boat Saturday, while Detective J.D. Turk closely watches the water on Lake Oconee in search of presumed drowned victim Gary Jones. CONTRIBUTED

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Search efforts for Jones scaled back

Lynn Hobbs
Wednesday, March 5, 2025
Search efforts for the body of Gary Jones in Lake Oconee using dogs and divers have been suspended until further notice, Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills announced Sunday.“Georgia DNR game wardens and Putnam County Sheriff’s deputies will continue to conduct shoreline searches daily,” he added.
Eatonton Messenger/File Photo

Eatonton Messenger/File Photo

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Putnam residents lose $100K-plus to scammers

Lynn Hobbs
Wednesday, February 26, 2025
In less than two months, scammers have stolen more than $100,000 from people in Putnam County, according to Sheriff Howard Sills.“There has been an extraordinary increase in scam callers in our community over the last several weeks,” he said. “Since Jan.
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