Putnam County Sheriff's Department

Eatonton Messenger/File Photo

Exclusive Subscriber Content

SUV stolen in Putnam recovered in N.C.

Lynn Hobbs

Thursday, November 7, 2024

An Eatonton man’s SUV was stolen at a home he visited in Putnam County in September. The investigation that ensued seemed to follow twists and turns throughout the South before an arrest was made, and the accused is now in jail at Putnam County Sheriff’s Office.

John David Lewis

Exclusive Subscriber Content

Speeding fugitive talked out of woods

Lynn Hobbs

Wednesday, October 16, 2024

Eatonton Police Department continues its work to keep dangerous drivers off the city’s streets. Last week, with assistance from Putnam County Sheriff’s deputies, the Eatonton police captured one and thus stopped his “occupation of hoodlumism,” according to Sheriff Howard Sills.

Putnam County firefighters extinguish a fire inside a truck trailer Monday on U.S. Hwy. 441. CONTRIBUTED/ PCFD

Truck hauling batteries catches fire

Lynn Hobbs

Wednesday, October 16, 2024

Authorities said northbound traffic on U.S. Hwy. 441 was temporarily blocked Monday afternoon due to a fire in an 18-wheeler truck.

BREAKING NEWS | THE EATONTON MESSENGER

Couple dead after apparent murder-suicide

Lynn Hobbs

Wednesday, September 18, 2024

Tragedy struck a home on Harmony Road during the wee hours of Wednesday morning.Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills said a call came into the 911 Emergency Center at 4:23 a.m., and a man told them his address and said he had just shot his wife and was going to kill himself. Then he hung up.

School Superintendent Derick Austin gave a statement about the policy regarding cell phones at the last school board meeting. (File Photo)

Exclusive Subscriber Content

PCSO, EPD respond to local school threats

Lynn Hobbs

Wednesday, September 18, 2024

Putnam County school and law enforcement officials have joined countless other agencies around the state in investigating threats made in public schools since the tragic shooting at Apalachee High School on Sept. 4.

Eatonton Messenger/File Photo

Exclusive Subscriber Content

Passenger killed in single-vehicle wreck

Lynn Hobbs

Wednesday, September 4, 2024

The Labor Day holiday weekend was marred by tragedy Friday night when an Eatonton man lost his life in a single-vehicle crash.Residents along Scott Road reported hearing a loud boom and then losing their electrical power around 10:30 p.m.

Evan Taylor

Exclusive Subscriber Content

Burglars take more than $15,000 in goods

Lynn Hobbs

Wednesday, July 31, 2024

Three accused burglars helped themselves to the same house not once, but three times.“In their words, they ‘cleaned it out,’” Putnam County Sheriff’s Lt. Harry Luke said. “They got $15,000 to $20,000 worth of stuff out of that house.

Tommy Lee Kell barricaded himself in the attic of his house and threatened a shoot-out with the officers. (CONTRIBUTED)

Exclusive Subscriber Content

UPDATE: Teargas ends Sparta Hwy. standoff peacefully

Lynn Hobbs

Wednesday, July 17, 2024

A standoff between law enforcement authorities and a wanted man lasted about two hours Thursday, July 11, on the 200 block of Sparta Highway in Eatonton. The man, identified as 26-year-old Tommy Lee Kell, had barricaded himself in the attic of his house and threatened a shoot-out with the officers.

Eulalio De Leon Aldana

Exclusive Subscriber Content

Tip leads to possible trafficking victim

Lynn Hobbs

Wednesday, June 12, 2024

A young woman forced to stay in a hot car all day, every day, is suspected by local authorities of being a human trafficking victim, and a joint effort was made to get her to safety.

GSP Trooper Alan Rhodes holds the gun recovered from underneath the trailer after PCSO Col. Russell Blenk, EPD Chief Howell Cardwell, PCSO Sgt. Justin Brock and Cpl. Chris Donovan had gone under there and gotten the offenders out. CONTRIBUTED/EPD

Exclusive Subscriber Content

Chase, manhunt end with two suspects captured

Lynn Hobbs

Wednesday, May 22, 2024

Two men are in jail after a high-speed chase and manhunt that lasted more than eight hours ended under a residential trailer on May 16, authorities say.“It was one of those good days,” said Putnam County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Col. Russell Blenk. “We had everybody there, other agencies helping us.

Subscribe to