BREAKING NEWS | THE EATONTON MESSENGER

BREAKING NEWS | THE EATONTON MESSENGER

Two dead, two injured when tree falls on truck

News Staff
Two men lost their lives, and two others were injured when a tree fell on their pickup as they traveled Pea Ridge Road around 6:15 Friday morning.Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills said 24-year-old Logan Christopher Deal and 25-year-old Jakob Hogan Tapley, both of Ellabell, Georgia, had already…
Eatonton Messenger/File Photo

Eatonton Messenger/File Photo

Messenger places first for sports, photos, lifestyle coverage

Josh Lurie
Awards were presented during the Georgia Press Association's annual convention on June 12 on Jekyll Island. A total of 477 awards were presented in 44 categories to 73 newspapers across the state.Editor Ian Tocher earned first-place awards for Photo Essay, Sports Section — along with…
Juana Hernandez Arieto

Juana Hernandez Arieto

Mothers fight to defend their children at Dairy Festival

Lynn Hobbs
Instead of milk mustaches, several people left the annual Dairy Festival with scrapes and bruises on June 6 when a small fight broke out. One was taken to the hospital, and two women and two juveniles were arrested.“That group just had a bad day all the way around, but other than that, the…
Justin Peeples

Justin Peeples

GDNR patrolling Lake Sinclair issues BUIs

Lynn Hobbs
Four men who came from coastal Florida to enjoy a vacation on Lake Sinclair found lodging in Putnam County Jail last week.Justin Peoples, 18, of Yulee, Fla.; Peyton Casey, 18, of Fernandina Beach, Fla.; William Colby Crabtree, 19, of Jacksonville, Fla.; and Cody Kenneth Mooney, 20, also of…
The Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Power Plant is near Baxley in South Georgia. COURTESY OF GEORGIA POWER

The Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Power Plant is near Baxley in South Georgia. COURTESY OF GEORGIA POWER

Two aging nuclear reactors cleared to power another generation

Ty Tagami
A nuclear power plant in Georgia that predates Jimmy Carter's presidency has received a new lease on life, with federal regulators approving an additional 20 years of operation, Georgia Power announced Monday.The licenses for the two reactors at the Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant near Baxley were set…
Brer Rabbit, Joel Chandler Harris’ most famous character, stands watch over the unique Uncle Remus Museum in Eatonton. CONTRIBUTED

Brer Rabbit, Joel Chandler Harris’ most famous character, stands watch over the unique Uncle Remus Museum in Eatonton. CONTRIBUTED

Uncle Remus Museum to offer free admission

News Staff
Eatonton’s world-famous Uncle Remus Museum will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Declaration of Independence by offering free admission and storytelling on July 3.The museum dedicated to the life and times of Uncle Remus author Joel Chandler Harris, who grew up in Eatonton…
Landon Moreno drives the baseline past a defender during a game in the 2025-26 season. IAN TOCHER/Staff

Landon Moreno drives the baseline past a defender during a game in the 2025-26 season. IAN TOCHER/Staff

Gatewood boys embrace fresh start under new coach

Lance McCurley
The Gatewood boys basketball team is using the summer months to build a foundation for the next chapter of its program. After spending the past two seasons as an assistant coach, Scott Dennard has taken over as head coach following Don Keiser's retirement.As summer workouts get underway,…
Ronda Rich/Columnist

Ronda Rich/Columnist

Rich: No father on Father’s Day

Ronda Rich
There is a little boy, age 11, who will no doubt fall fitfully asleep on the eve of Father’s Day.Then, perhaps, he will awaken to a pillow wet with sadness. Many people will try valiantly to cheer him up. But in deep sorrow like his, there is no real cheer — only a faint smile, at best, and a quiet…
Elijah Dunn carries the ball for Putnam County during a padded camp in Eatonton ahead of the 2024 season. LANCE McCURLEY/ Staff

Elijah Dunn carries the ball for Putnam County during a padded camp in Eatonton ahead of the 2024 season. LANCE McCURLEY/ Staff

Dunn ready to set standard for War Eagles

Lance McCurley
Putnam County senior Elijah Dunn isn’t interested in talking about individual accolades until one thing changes.After finishing near the bottom of the region standings a year ago, the War Eagles enter the 2026 season with a renewed sense of purpose, and Dunn plans to be one of the leaders driving…
Lilith Cagle

Lilith Cagle

Teen charged with raping younger teen at camp

Lynn Hobbs
Formal charges were filed against a Monroe County teenage girl after she reported sexual encounters with a young teen.The incidents took place earlier this year at Rock Eagle 4-H Center in Putnam County, according to reports obtained by The Eatonton Messenger from the University of Georgia Police…
Lake Oconee News/File Photo

Lake Oconee News/File Photo

Letter to the Editor: Beyond the noise in Putnam County

News Staff
Dear Editor, Seven candidates vied for the Republican nomination for three seats on the Board of Commissioners.. The races were deeply contested, marked by unprecedented spending and outside political influence that, at times, threatened to polarize our otherwise peaceful community. In this…
The Eatonton Messenger e-Edition
Former major leaguer and now Gatewood baseball head coach Brandon Moss has turned his team into a perennial favorite once playoff time rolls around. TREY NORRIS/Staff

Former major leaguer and now Gatewood baseball head coach Brandon Moss has turned his team into a perennial favorite once playoff time rolls around. TREY NORRIS/Staff

Moss sets high standard for Gatewood baseball

Trey Norris
Wednesday, June 17, 2026
When Gatewood hired former Major League Baseball All-Star Brandon Moss in 2021, it generated plenty...
BREAKING NEWS | THE EATONTON MESSENGER

BREAKING NEWS | THE EATONTON MESSENGER

Two dead, two injured when tree falls on truck

Friday, June 19, 2026

Two men lost their lives, and two others were injured when a tree fell on their pickup as they traveled Pea Ridge Road around 6:15 Friday morning.

News 

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Sports 

Elijah Dunn carries the ball for Putnam County during a padded camp in Eatonton ahead of the 2024 season. LANCE McCURLEY/ Staff

Elijah Dunn carries the ball for Putnam County during a padded camp in Eatonton ahead of the 2024 season. LANCE McCURLEY/ Staff

Dunn ready to set standard for War Eagles

Lance McCurley
Wednesday, June 17, 2026
Putnam County senior Elijah Dunn isn’t interested in talking about individual accolades until one...
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Community 

Brer Rabbit, Joel Chandler Harris’ most famous character, stands watch over the unique Uncle Remus Museum in Eatonton. CONTRIBUTED

Brer Rabbit, Joel Chandler Harris’ most famous character, stands watch over the unique Uncle Remus Museum in Eatonton. CONTRIBUTED

Uncle Remus Museum to offer free admission

News Staff
Wednesday, June 17, 2026
Eatonton’s world-famous Uncle Remus Museum will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of...
Neighbors Helping Neighbors Executive Director Allyn Rippin (center) accepts a donation from Surcheros owner Kyle Cullars, with several Surcheros employees standing by in support. CONTRIBUTED

Neighbors Helping Neighbors Executive Director Allyn Rippin (center) accepts a donation from Surcheros owner Kyle Cullars, with several Surcheros employees standing by in support. CONTRIBUTED

Surcheros supports Neighbors Helping Neighbors

News Staff
Wednesday, June 17, 2026
Just weeks after opening its doors, Surcheros Fresh Mex at Lake Oconee is already making an impact...
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Obituaries 

Gerald Alvin Grimes

Gerald Alvin Grimes

Gerald Alvin Grimes

News Staff
Wednesday, June 17, 2026
Gerald Alvin Grimes, age 79, formerly of Milledgeville, Georgia, passed away peacefully on June 10,...
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