Steve Hersey

Eatonton Messenger/File Photo

Eatonton Messenger/File Photo

Judge orders audit of $100M ‘phantom bond’

Staff Reports
Wednesday, January 21, 2026
After a Dec. 2 appearance in Putnam County Superior Court, where local citizens and Putnam County District 3 Commissioner Stephen Hersey voiced opposition to a proposed development deal, Superior Court Judge Stephen A. Bradley has ordered an independent auditor to investigate the project’s finances.
District 1 Commissioner Tom McElhenney introduced the “Gary McElhenney Resolution,” named after his father who passed away in May 2024 while holding the same commission seat, which would allow the board to appoint a replacement in a similar situation. IAN TOCHER/Staff

District 1 Commissioner Tom McElhenney introduced the “Gary McElhenney Resolution,” named after his father who passed away in May 2024 while holding the same commission seat, which would allow the board to appoint a replacement in a similar situation. IAN TOCHER/Staff

County approves New Phoenix gas station

Ian Tocher
Thursday, December 4, 2025
The Putnam County Commission met Nov. 18 to address a wide-ranging agenda, beginning with a rezoning request from Imperial Park Holdings LLC to convert three acres at 301 New Phoenix Road from agricultural (AG) to commercial (C-1).
Eatonton Messenger/File Photo

Eatonton Messenger/File Photo

C-PACE creates controversy for county commission

Ian Tocher
Tuesday, November 25, 2025
A relatively routine Putnam County Commission meeting turned unexpectedly contentious Nov. 18 when District 3 Commissioner Stephen Hersey sharply criticized county leadership over transparency related to a significant financing action involving the county’s development authority.According to a U.S.
With a video of the intersection of Twin Bridges and Dennis Station Roads playing on screens behind him, past county chairman Billy Webster addressed the current Putnam County Commission about the intersection’s safety issues. IAN TOCHER/Staff

With a video of the intersection of Twin Bridges and Dennis Station Roads playing on screens behind him, past county chairman Billy Webster addressed the current Putnam County Commission about the intersection’s safety issues. IAN TOCHER/Staff

BOC considers rezoning, rebates, rollback rates

Ian Tocher
Wednesday, October 29, 2025
The Putnam County Board of Commissioners met Oct. 21 for its second of two regularly scheduled monthly meetings.
Eatonton Messenger/File Photo

Eatonton Messenger/File Photo

One challenger wins in local elections

Rufus Adair
Wednesday, November 15, 2023
Challengers made a strong showing in Eatonton’s city elections on Nov. 7, but only one managed to break through as voters stuck with familiar leaders, both in Eatonton and in the four-way race for the vacant District 3 seat on the county commission.
Eatonton Messenger/File Photo

Eatonton Messenger/File Photo

BOC explains budget amendment

Rufus Adair
Wednesday, November 8, 2023
Sometimes items on a meeting agenda seem innocuous enough – until they aren’t. It happened three times at last Friday’s meeting of the Putnam County Board of Commissioners. The first involved “2023 Budget Amendment #2.
Eatonton Messenger/File Photo

Eatonton Messenger/File Photo

Putnam County 2023 Election Results

Rufus Adair
Tuesday, November 7, 2023
Challengers made a strong showing in Eatonton’s city elections Tuesday, but except for one breakthrough, voters stuck with familiar leaders both in Eatonton and in the four-way race for the vacant District 3 seat on the county commission.
A full house faced Putnam County District 3 commissioner candidates last Thursday at Lake Oconee Lutheran Church Community Center, where former candidate Charles Trumbo (at podium) served as emcee for the event.

A full house faced Putnam County District 3 commissioner candidates last Thursday at Lake Oconee Lutheran Church Community Center, where former candidate Charles Trumbo (at podium) served as emcee for the event.

STRs dominate Putnam County candidate forum

Story And Photos By Ian Tocher
Thursday, October 19, 2023
The Putnam County Republican Party presented a candidate forum on Oct. 12 at Lake Oconee Lutheran Church Community Center on Greensboro Road.
Shona Bales

Shona Bales

Four candidates qualify for District 3 BOC race

Rufus Adair
Thursday, September 28, 2023
This introduction to the four candidates competing to fill the unexpired term of abdicated District 3 commissioner Alan Foster begins with an air of quirky uniformity, but a closer look shows an interesting variety of life experiences and community involvement.
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