News

Lake Oconee News/File Photo

Lake Oconee News/File Photo

Hard hitting at softball game results in arrest

T. Michael Stone
Thursday, August 7, 2025
A Greensboro man wound up in the Greene County jail on July 28 after an altercation with an umpire during an adult softball game.Sidney Tripp, 42, of 105 Wilson St., Greensboro, has been charged with simple battery as a result.According to reports, Deputy Josh Corwin was dispatched to the Greene...
L-R: Putnam General Hospital Authority Board member Lou Benjamin, PGH Human Resources Director Rhonda Largo, and hospital CEO Alan Horton address county commissioners with detailed financial stats displayed on screens behind them. IAN TOCHER/Staff

L-R: Putnam General Hospital Authority Board member Lou Benjamin, PGH Human Resources Director Rhonda Largo, and hospital CEO Alan Horton address county commissioners with detailed financial stats displayed on screens behind them. IAN TOCHER/Staff

PGH makes pay pitch to Putnam commissioners

Ian Tocher
Thursday, August 7, 2025
Putnam General Hospital (PGH) made an impassioned plea for financial help to increase staff pay last Friday afternoon during a work session for the Putnam County Commission.Stepping to the microphone in front of County Chairman Bill Sharp and Commissioners Tom McElhenney (District 1), Richard...
Lake Oconee News/File Photo

Lake Oconee News/File Photo

Shoppers face charges after Sunflower fight in Morgan County

T. Michael Stone
Thursday, August 7, 2025
Warrants have been issued for the arrest of two Madison residents following a violent altercation that occurred Aug. 2.Jimquaves Cyve Hunter, 32, and Yquonna Scarebrook (no age listed) face battery charges following a pair of incidents at the Sunflower Store on Eatonton Road.According to reports,...
This grounddelivery service package at Mario Munoz’s house contained 25 pounds of meth. CONTRIBUTED/ PCSO

This grounddelivery service package at Mario Munoz’s house contained 25 pounds of meth. CONTRIBUTED/ PCSO

$2 million in meth seized on Shady Dale Road in Putnam County

Lynn Hobbs
Thursday, August 7, 2025
More than 50 kilos of methamphetamine will never make it to the streets after it was seized in Putnam County by Putnam, Jasper, and federal authorities.Putnam County Sheriff’s Lt. Harry Luke estimated the street value of the approximate 108 pounds of meth to be around $2 million.Luke said he and...
Lake Oconee News/File Photo

Lake Oconee News/File Photo

Georgia Power seeks new energy projects certification

Dave Williams
Thursday, August 7, 2025
Georgia Power asked state energy regulators last Thursday to certify 9,900 megawatts of new energy resources that would come from a variety of power-generating projects.In a filing with the Georgia Public Service Commission, the Atlanta-based utility proposed projects the PSC has already approved...
Investigator Clay Wiggins (right) and Ocmulgee Circuit District Attorney Wright Barksdale after the award was announced. CONTRIBUTED

Investigator Clay Wiggins (right) and Ocmulgee Circuit District Attorney Wright Barksdale after the award was announced. CONTRIBUTED

Ocmulgee DA investigator Wiggins earns statewide honor

Debbie Lurie-smith
Thursday, July 31, 2025
The only circuit-wide investigator for the Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit, which includes Putnam County, was honored last week with statewide recognition for his outstanding investigative work leading to convictions in homicide and death penalty cases.Ocmulgee Circuit District Attorney T. Wright...
Along with several Putnam County Elementary School students at the ribbon cutting, Putnam County Board of Education Superintendent Derick Austin (center, pink tie) was joined by BOE board members Charles Trumbo (left, back row), BOE Chair Dr. Steve Weiner (sunglasses), and (l-r, back row,) Doris Clemons, Carol Ann Guthrie, and Rev. Simone Jones. PCES Principal Whitney Smith is standing to Austin’s right. IAN TOCHER/Staff

Along with several Putnam County Elementary School students at the ribbon cutting, Putnam County Board of Education Superintendent Derick Austin (center, pink tie) was joined by BOE board members Charles Trumbo (left, back row), BOE Chair Dr. Steve Weiner (sunglasses), and (l-r, back row,) Doris Clemons, Carol Ann Guthrie, and Rev. Simone Jones. PCES Principal Whitney Smith is standing to Austin’s right. IAN TOCHER/Staff

‘Collaboration’ key to new Putnam elementary school

Ian Tocher
Thursday, July 31, 2025
Sixteen months since the groundbreaking last March, and only a year after construction began, the new Putnam County Elementary School officially opened with a late-afternoon ribbon cutting last Thursday, hosted by the Eatonton-Putnam Chamber of Commerce.“This school is a product of vision, hard...
Rep. Mike Collins

Rep. Mike Collins

Collins joins primary to challenge U.S. Sen. Ossoff next year

Ty Tagami
Thursday, July 31, 2025
A second Republican congressman has joined the race to unseat U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff next year.In a brief announcement on social media Monday, U.S. Rep. Mike Collins, R-Jackson, joined fellow GOP Rep. Buddy Carter, R-St.Simons, in the campaign to replace Democrat Ossoff with a Republican.Collins...
The Sinclair in downtown Madison reopened to the community on July 22, following a fire that claimed several of the building’s adjoining businesses. The cafe was affected by intense smoke and water damage as a result of the fire. CONTRIBUTED

The Sinclair in downtown Madison reopened to the community on July 22, following a fire that claimed several of the building’s adjoining businesses. The cafe was affected by intense smoke and water damage as a result of the fire. CONTRIBUTED

Downtown Madison businesses begin rebuilding following fires

Skyla Morris
Thursday, July 31, 2025
MAD Hospitality reopened The Sinclair in downtown Madison on July 22, less than two weeks after a devastating fire on July 13, which destroyed a majority of the building’s components.The company’s restaurant, Betty Gene’s, suffered significant damage from the fire and reopened as a “pop-up concept”...
Nichole Lewis

Nichole Lewis

Multi-county fugitive finally found hiding in dresser

Lynn Hobbs
Thursday, July 31, 2025
A Macon woman had been sought for a few years by authorities in several Middle Georgia counties until last week, when deputies found her hiding in a chest of drawers.Nichole Leigh Lewis was wanted by authorities in Putnam, Baldwin, Jones, Jasper, and Talliaferro counties, according to reports by...
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