Howard Sills

Danny Rodriguez Rivera, 37, of Lena Lane, Eatonton, was arrested on April 8 and charged with one count of making false statements (felony) – Greene County, one count of making false statements (felony) – Putnam County, and one count of driving without a license (misdemeanor), according to jail reports.

Danny Rodriguez Rivera, 37, of Lena Lane, Eatonton, was arrested on April 8 and charged with one count of making false statements (felony) – Greene County, one count of making false statements (felony) – Putnam County, and one count of driving without a license (misdemeanor), according to jail reports.

Man arrested in connection with shooting on Highway 44

An arrest has been made in connection with an early February shooting in Putnam County, but no one has been charged for the shooting itself, Putnam County Sheriff Howard R. Sills said. The victim, 67-year-old Ralph Rella, was a night manager at the Ritz-Carlton, Reynolds Lake Oconee.
Locust Grove Police Chief Derrick Austin, right, talks with LGPD Lt. Brandon Morris outside of the Putnam County Coroner’s Office Sunday afternoon. LYNN HOBBS/ Staff

Locust Grove Police Chief Derrick Austin, right, talks with LGPD Lt. Brandon Morris outside of the Putnam County Coroner’s Office Sunday afternoon. LYNN HOBBS/ Staff

Body found in Cedar Creek; suspect in custody

Traffic on U.S. 129/Gray Highway slowed considerably as drivers crossed the bridge over Cedar Creek Sunday afternoon and noticed many blue lights flashing along the roadside and under the bridge.
Lake Oconee News/File Graphic

Lake Oconee News/File Graphic

Road closure, power outages follow crash on bridge

The bridge over Lake Oconee on Old Phoenix Road was completely closed for a brief time Saturday night and then again on Monday morning. In both instances, surrounding residences were without electricity because a pickup truck had crashed into a utility pole, Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills said.
Photo provided by LawAndCrime.com. CONTRIBUTED

Photo provided by LawAndCrime.com. CONTRIBUTED

Putnam County case airs Saturday on 48 Hours

Scenes Saturday night on television network CBS will look familiar to local residents as the show 48 Hours will feature a case from Eatonton and Putnam County.
Sheriff Howard Sills/File Photo

Sheriff Howard Sills/File Photo

Sills invited back into Georgia Sheriffs’ Association

Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills is back in the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association. Almost five years since he tendered his resignation to the association, the members of the GSA Board of Directors sent Putnam’s longest-recorded serving sheriff a letter inviting him back into their membership.
Putnam County Sheriff's Photo/File Photo

Putnam County Sheriff's Photo/File Photo

Hunter dies after fall from tree stand near Buckhead

A Stockbridge man was killed Saturday morning, apparently from falling from his tree stand while deer hunting, Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills said. Glenn Lamar Coker, 45, was hunting off Hickory Lane in northeast Putnam County.
Jimmy Franklin Willis, 72, of Ato Road, Milledgeville, was arrested on Oct. 21 on multiple charges of negotiating or executing fictitious checks, felony theft by conversion, felony theft by taking, and felony racketeering, according to Sills. FILE PHOTO

Jimmy Franklin Willis, 72, of Ato Road, Milledgeville, was arrested on Oct. 21 on multiple charges of negotiating or executing fictitious checks, felony theft by conversion, felony theft by taking, and felony racketeering, according to Sills. FILE PHOTO

Local businessman charged with stealing from VFW, veterans wall

A prominent Eatonton businessman and veterans advocate was arrested last week on various racketeering and fraud charges, with theft amounts totaling more than $48,000, according to Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills.