Howard Sills

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

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Body found in Cedar Creek; suspect in custody

Lynn Hobbs

Thursday, March 9, 2023

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

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Road closure, power outages follow crash on bridge

Lynn Hobbs

Thursday, February 16, 2023

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.

Malik K. White

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Authorities called for gun in backpack

Lynn Hobbs

Thursday, February 2, 2023

A student took a handgun to Putnam County Middle School, but upon arrival, she immediately reported it to her teacher, and authorities were called. The girl discovered the small .22 Derringer in her backpack on her way to school Wednesday, Jan.

Photo provided by LawAndCrime.com. CONTRIBUTED

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Putnam County case airs Saturday on 48 Hours

Lynn Hobbs

Thursday, January 26, 2023

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. Promos that appeared on TV this week have included shots of Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit District Attorney T.

Sheriff Howard Sills/File Photo

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Sills invited back into Georgia Sheriffs’ Association

Lynn Hobbs

Thursday, January 19, 2023

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.

File Photo/Lake Oconee News

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Man walking, dancing in roadway struck, killed by vehicle

Lynn Hobbs

Thursday, December 15, 2022

An Eatonton man who reportedly was dancing in the street was struck and killed by a vehicle Friday evening. Jontrell Waller, 39, of Eatonton, was killed around 6:35 p.m. Dec. 9, said Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills.

Romario Garcia Mauricio/GoFundMe

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Greensboro man killed in Putnam County crash

Lynn Hobbs

Thursday, December 15, 2022

A Greensboro man lost his life on Dec. 12, in a single-vehicle crash in Putnam County. Romario Garcia Mauricio, 25, of Greensboro, was traveling alone in his 2006 Chevrolet Malibu, heading southbound on Pea Ridge Road near the Sparta Highway at about 2:20 p.m.

Putnam County Sheriff's Photo/File Photo

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Hunter dies after fall from tree stand near Buckhead

Lynn Hobbs

Thursday, November 3, 2022

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

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Local businessman charged with stealing from VFW, veterans wall

Lynn Hobbs

Thursday, November 3, 2022

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.

McIver and his wife, Diane. (File Photo)

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Tex McIver to be released Sept. 1, facing new trial

Lynn Hobbs

Friday, August 26, 2022

Two months after the Supreme Court of Georgia reversed his conviction in the shooting death of his wife, Claud “Tex” McIver will be back in Fulton County jail awaiting a new trial. McIver received notice from the Fulton County District Attorney’s office that D.A.

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