Howard Sills

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

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.Dash and body camera videos of the May 16 shooting played an essential role in the investigation, according to Putnam County Sheriff...

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

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.According to Mothers Against Crime founder Georgia Benjamin- Smith, the nascent moment for the Eatonton-based organization came in 1992 with a...

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 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. 441 in a 2024 Dodge Ram pickup...

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

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...

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)

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.

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.Cormican said Jones’ body was about 45 feet underwater, hung up on a tree approximately 100 yards...

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

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...

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