Putnam County Sheriff's Office

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.
A Georgia DNR aviation crew searches Lake Oconee for missing boater Gary Jones last week. CONTRIBUTED/Casey Brady

A Georgia DNR aviation crew searches Lake Oconee for missing boater Gary Jones last week. CONTRIBUTED/Casey Brady

Missing boater search continues: Sheriff investigates phone data, sighting tips, dam area

Lynn Hobbs
Wednesday, February 26, 2025
The cell phone records of the late Joycelyn Nicole Wilson of Atlanta are being investigated in hopes of gaining new insight into her death and her fiancé’s disappearance.Wilson and her betrothed, Gary Laron Jones, were boating on Lake Oconee Saturday, Feb.
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