Richard Garrett

Karen Garrett (right) organized a small but heartfelt demonstration Monday morning in Martin Luther King Jr.’s memory on the Putnam County Courthouse lawn in downtown Eatonton. IAN TOCHER/Staff

Karen Garrett (right) organized a small but heartfelt demonstration Monday morning in Martin Luther King Jr.’s memory on the Putnam County Courthouse lawn in downtown Eatonton. IAN TOCHER/Staff

Youthful voices energize Eatonton’s MLK Day ceremony

Ian Tocher
Wednesday, January 21, 2026
More than a commemoration of the past, Monday’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day ceremony at the decommissioned Butler-Baker School served as a sign of renewal for Eatonton’s NAACP chapter and a reminder that Dr. King’s dream, organizers said, remains unfinished work.Approximately 150 people gathered Jan.
On behalf of his fellow coaches and a roster 39 players, Alexander Banks, head coach of the 2025 Putnam County Middle School War Eagles football team, accepted a framed proclamation last Tuesday night recognizing the team’s 2025 state championship from (l-r) Commissioner Jeff Wooten, Chairman Bill Sharp, and Commissioner Tom McElhenney. IAN TOCHER/Staff

On behalf of his fellow coaches and a roster 39 players, Alexander Banks, head coach of the 2025 Putnam County Middle School War Eagles football team, accepted a framed proclamation last Tuesday night recognizing the team’s 2025 state championship from (l-r) Commissioner Jeff Wooten, Chairman Bill Sharp, and Commissioner Tom McElhenney. IAN TOCHER/Staff

Citizens raise concerns to county commission

Ian Tocher
Wednesday, December 24, 2025
The Putnam County Board of Commissioners met Dec. 16, opening with a ceremonial moment as Chairman Bill Sharp presented a proclamation honoring the 2025 Putnam County Middle School football team to head coach Alexander Banks.
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).
Richard Garrett (right) answered audience questions following his “Forgotten Music of Georgia and Beyond” presentation at The Plaza. CONTRIBUTED

Richard Garrett (right) answered audience questions following his “Forgotten Music of Georgia and Beyond” presentation at The Plaza. CONTRIBUTED

Garrett gives music history lesson at The Plaza

News Staff
Wednesday, March 5, 2025
Richard Garrett, co-owner of Dot-2-Dot Inn and recently elected as Putnam County’s District 2 Commissioner, presented “Forgotten Music of Georgia and Beyond” Sunday afternoon at The Plaza Arts Center in downtown Eatonton.
Commissioner-elect Richard Garrett

Commissioner-elect Richard Garrett

Garrett readies for county commission post

Ian Tocher
Thursday, November 14, 2024
By a margin of just 18 votes, Richard Garrett defeated incumbent Putnam County District 2 Commissioner Daniel Brown. His election last Tuesday also marked the lone county commission seat in Georgia to swap from Republican to Democratic representation this time around.
Putnam County District 2 Commissioner Daniel Brown (left) and challenger Richard Garrett spoke before interested voters last Thursday at the Butler-Baker school in Eatonton. A follow-up faceoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. this Thursday at The Plaza Arts Center. IAN TOCHER/Staff

Putnam County District 2 Commissioner Daniel Brown (left) and challenger Richard Garrett spoke before interested voters last Thursday at the Butler-Baker school in Eatonton. A follow-up faceoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. this Thursday at The Plaza Arts Center. IAN TOCHER/Staff

Putnam BOC candidates face voters in lively Q&A

Ian Tocher
Thursday, October 24, 2024
Incumbent Republican Putnam County District 2 Commissioner Daniel Brown and Democratic challenger Richard Garrett faced approximately two dozen engaged voters last Thursday from the stage at the decommissioned Butler-Baker school in Eatonton.
Republican incumbent Daniel Brown answers questions. (IAN TOCHER/Staff)

Republican incumbent Daniel Brown answers questions. (IAN TOCHER/Staff)

Putnam County District 2 contenders have Q&A

Ian Tocher
Thursday, October 10, 2024
On Nov. 5, voters in Putnam County District 2 will determine whether Republican incumbent Daniel Brown or Democratic candidate Richard Garrett will represent them on the next version of the Putnam County Board of Commissioners.
Perhaps in the 1940s, Black residents gather at H.H. Park’s Grocery on the corner of South Jefferson and Marion Street in Eatonton, current site of the Maggie Lane womenswear shop. This may have been on a weekend when local people traditionally dressed up for a trip into town. CONTRIBUTED

Perhaps in the 1940s, Black residents gather at H.H. Park’s Grocery on the corner of South Jefferson and Marion Street in Eatonton, current site of the Maggie Lane womenswear shop. This may have been on a weekend when local people traditionally dressed up for a trip into town. CONTRIBUTED

History celebrated in Eatonton

Ian Tocher
Wednesday, February 28, 2024
Two meetings were held in Eatonton last week, the first on Monday at the downtown Georgia Writers Museum and then on Saturday at historic Butler-Baker School on Alice Walker Drive, to remember and discuss Black life in Eatonton and Putnam County by those who lived it, primarily through the 1950s to...
Current Eatonton Mayor John Reid speaks to the public at an event earlier this year. FILE PHOTO

Current Eatonton Mayor John Reid speaks to the public at an event earlier this year. FILE PHOTO

Q&A with 2023 mayor, city council candidates

Compiled By Ian Tocher
Thursday, October 12, 2023
The Eatonton Messenger caught up with mayoral candidates John Reid, Fredrick Lowe, Chip Walker and Richard Garrett to ask about issues and their stance on certain problems within the city. John Reid Mayor (incumbent) Q: Why are you running for this position at this time?
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