Putnam County

Kaden Keiser (13) holds the ball at the top of the key looking for a teammate to pass to. CONTRIBUTED

Kaden Keiser (13) holds the ball at the top of the key looking for a teammate to pass to. CONTRIBUTED

BASKETBALL: Hot start for Gators under Keiser

The Gatewood boys’ basketball team is playing well for head coach Don Keiser so far this season. The Gators are currently 3-1 and have only four more games before the end of the year. They will then face a tough stretch following the winter break.
Putnam County head coach Shaun Pope talks to his players after a Region 4-AAA win over Josey earlier this season. LANCE MCCURLEY/Staff

Putnam County head coach Shaun Pope talks to his players after a Region 4-AAA win over Josey earlier this season. LANCE MCCURLEY/Staff

'It's just time': Pope announces his retirement from coaching

Putnam County head football coach Shaun Pope announced his retirement from coaching on Monday.  He informed the Eatonton Messenger of his plans only a few hours after letting his players and staff know the news.
Eatonton native Melissia Rusk said she was “surprised” and “excited” upon receiving the 2022 GLGPA Professional Achievement Award. CONTRIBUTED

Eatonton native Melissia Rusk said she was “surprised” and “excited” upon receiving the 2022 GLGPA Professional Achievement Award. CONTRIBUTED

Eatonton native receives HR industry recognition

Eatonton native and Lake Country resident Melissia Rusk received the 2022 Georgia Local Government Personnel Association (GLGPA) Professional Achievement Award on Nov. 4, during an industry conference at Callaway Gardens, near Columbus.
Road construction continues on U.S. Highway 441, Ga. 44.

Road construction continues on U.S. Highway 441, Ga. 44.

Road construction continues on U.S. Highway 441, Ga. 44

Two of the three major Georgia Department of Transportation projects in or around Putnam County are slightly ahead of schedule but with completion dates still far off in the future, according to a November DOT briefing given to Chamber of Commerce members. The three projects include the 9.
L-R: Chuck Haley, president of The Peoples Bank, Linda Moore and Amy McElhaney, both of Farmers & Merchants Bank, and Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Maggie Milner celebrate Farmers & Merchants Bank being named 2022 Business of the Year for Eatonton-Putnam County. IAN TOCHER/Staff

L-R: Chuck Haley, president of The Peoples Bank, Linda Moore and Amy McElhaney, both of Farmers & Merchants Bank, and Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Maggie Milner celebrate Farmers & Merchants Bank being named 2022 Business of the Year for Eatonton-Putnam County. IAN TOCHER/Staff

Chamber of Commerce honors award recipients

The Eatonton-Putnam Chamber of Commerce (EPCC) held its 43rd annual Awards Banquet on Monday night at Rock Eagle Pavilion, north of Eatonton.
Eatonton Messenger/Graphic

Eatonton Messenger/Graphic

Sharp to be next chairman, Jones keeps seat on school board

In what appears to have been straight party-line voting in Tuesday’s general election, Putnam County went solidly for Republican candidates by a 3-1 margin. The total turnout – 10,242 ballots cast – among the three voting methods (advance, absentee and in-person) came to 64.
Larry Moore is the 2022 inductee into the J. Whitney Bunting College of Business and Technology Hall of Fame. COURTESY OF GCSU

Larry Moore is the 2022 inductee into the J. Whitney Bunting College of Business and Technology Hall of Fame. COURTESY OF GCSU

Moore inducted into GCSU Business College Hall of Fame

Larry Moore was inducted on Nov. 4, into the Georgia College and State University (GCSU) 2022 J. Whitney Bunting College of Business and Technology Hall of Fame. Dr. Michael T.
Leslye Arriola (9) with dig in region match vs Laney.

Leslye Arriola (9) with dig in region match vs Laney.

VOLLEYBALL: PCHS qualifies for post-season play

After two seasons under the direction of coach Francisco Aguirre Arancibia, the Putnam County High School volleyball program has achieved its goal of qualifying— for the first time in the history of the program—for a first-round berth in the state playoffs.
Robert Huckaby

Robert Huckaby

Putnam County adds brand-new firefighters

James “Jay” Barbee is not a big man. But at just 19 years old, he has taken on a big job as one of Putnam County’s newest firefighters upon graduating a few weeks ago from the Georgia Public Safety Training Center (GPSTC) in Forsyth.