About The Eatonton messenger. (Eatonton, Ga.) 18??-current | View Entire Issue (May 1, 2025)
A2 | THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2025 The Eatonton Messenger www.msgrnews.com Eatonton hosts municipal association at The Plaza Story and photos by Ian Tocher ian@msgrnews.com The Atlanta-based Georgia Municipal Association (GMA), an organization founded in 1933 to advise, advocate for, provide training to, and collectively repre sent municipal govern ments statewide, met last Wednesday evening at The Plaza Arts Center in Eatonton. Hosted by Eatonton City Councilmember and current GMA District 6 President Janie Reid, approximately 30 GMA D6 members attended, including GMA CEO and Executive Director Larry Hanson, plus several mayors and city managers or administrators. Repre senting Eatonton was Reid and her husband, Mayor John Reid, with City Administrator Gary Sanders. After initial welcomes and brief presentations by Janie Reid, the Eatonton mayor, and current GMA President Mayor Fred Perriman of Madison, GMA Governmental Relations Associate and Eatonton native DJ Waller addressed the crowd. “Welcome to my city; I was born and raised here,” Waller began, revealing the Reids as his grandparents. Eatonton Mayor John Reid with his wife, City Councilmember and Georgia Municipal Association District 6 President Janie Reid, at The Plaza last week. L. Madison Mayor and GMA President Fred Perriman spoke at the event. Waller went on to describe several statewide bills that GMA helped to get passed, and others “that didn’t pass that we’re grateful didn’t make it across the finish line.” He highlighted the state budget signed by Gov. Brian Kemp in March that allocated $265 million for local road assistance funds, which he said more than doubled the state’s previous contribution and does not require any local matching of funds. Waller next mentioned $266 million earmarked for wastewater and natural gas projects statewide, as well as $46 million in state money for munic ipal transportation projects and $28 million designated to support rural workforce housing projects. “These investments are a direct result of GMA’s persistent advocacy and our strong working rela tionships with both the legislator and the gover nor’s office this year,” Waller stated. Beyond funding, Waller cited several legislative wins for GMA the past year, but added the organi zation currently is focusing on House Bill 581,which deals with tort reform regarding municipal liabilities. “Currently, the state is protected with a liability cap of $1 million per person and $3 million per occurrence. Counties are completely shielded from lawsuits, but cities, however, have unlimited liability,” Waller explained to his audience. “So, it is not fair that an accident that happens on a county road or a state road, they’re treated different than a city road. So, we felt like we just want the same protections as a state, one and three.” He added, however, that GMA will not push the issue until it feels confident of the bill passing since if it failed, it could not be rein troduced for 10 years. Waller went on to describe several more GMA initiatives and actions before telling the GMA crowd that the recent legislative session was a success, “thanks to your leadership, your advo cacy, and your voice.” “Cities are the backbone of Georgia’s success,” he stressed. “And GMA will continue working to ensure that your voices are heard, respected, and reflected in public policy.” Following a buffet- style meal catered by Ms. Stella’s in Milledgeville, with dessert provided by Sips 31024 in Eatonton, Perriman opened the second half of the meeting. He emphasized cooper ation and working with the team of professionals each municipality employs or has access to, then closed with an appeal for personal caution in his mayoral peers. “Being a city official is sometimes not easy. The workload, the expecta tion, the constant pull on your attention, it all adds up when you go to the grocery store, when you go to church, when you go to your community, everybody is pulling on you because they feel like that you are the one who’s there to solve their problems,” he said. “But if you’re like many of us, you might put everyone else’s needs before your own. But here is the truth; if you don’t care about yourself, you won’t be able to take care of your city. Don’t ignore the signs of burn out. Prioritize your health. Give yourself permission to rest and recharge. You owe that to yourself. Leadership doesn’t mean running on empty, because when you run on empty, you give up and you give out.” The meeting concluded after each mayor or city administrator attending giving a brief report and summary on what their municipality is currently working on or recently accomplished. Mayor Reid spoke for Eatonton and highlighted the site of the meeting, The Plaza Arts Center and its 500-seat theatre, encour aging attendees to visit before departing. He also mentioned this weekend’s “Peg Leg” Howell BBQ& Blues Festival, the Butter flies & Blooms garden with the adjacent new dog park, ongoing hotel projects for downtown, the recent opening of Whataburger, and nearby construction of a Tractor Supply store as evidence of Eatonton’s activity and growth. Councilmember Reid ended the evening by thanking all participants for attending and sharing their updates. “We all can learn from each other. It’s vital for us to come together and take advantage of these oppor tunities to meet, share information and knowl edge, and to fellowship with each other,” she said. “Thank you.” GATEWOOD HIGH SCHOC 0© @GatewoodSchool Elevating Minds, Igniting Futures - Where Excellence Meets Community at Gatewood Schools.” Our campus is nestled in a historic small town with a population of 6307. Founded in 1970, with 453 students, 67 faculty/staff, and 1382 alumni living in 26 states and 5 countries. A private K2-12th grade college-prep Christian School. Contact Libby Rainey for information: 706-485-8231 xl300 lrainey@gatewoodschool.com 139 Phillips Dr. Eatonton Georgia |gatewoodschool.com| < S SAIS AdvancED ACENFOITTO Lit Read breaking news online and subscribe to your hometown newspaper at www.msgrnews.com CRASH CONTINUED FROM » A1 Putnam County Emer gency Medical Services responded to the scene. Another civilian who was passing by had already parked his vehicle across the roadway to block oncoming traffic from striking the wreckage. Witnesses said after the driver got out of his vehicle and checked the victims, he fell to his knees in the roadway beside the crash scene and prayed as the rescuers arrived. The driver of the pickup was Derek William Stevens, 35, of Alto; the passengers were Johna than Tyler Haney, 25, of Clermont, and Brystin David Lee Stevens, 18, of Flowery Branch. All three men died from injuries sustained in the accident, Sills said. The 18-wheeler was owned by Waste Eliminator, Inc. DBA Georgia Soil. The driver, IAN TOCHER/Staff The accident at Twin Bridges/Pea Ridge Roads significantly backed up traffic heading south on Hwy. 441 last Thursday. Christopher Lee Owens, 40, of Danielsville, was not injured, Sills said. It is unknown what caused the pickup to crash into the tractor-trailer, but the driver apparently did not apply the brakes of the pickup, Sills said, because there were no skid marks at the scene, and witnesses did not see any brake lights. According to Whitfield Funeral Home in Baldwin, Derek Stevens is survived by his wife, daughter and son, as well as his parents, grandparents, and many siblings. Stevens ran his own business, D&D Enterprises, and enjoyed duck hunting and fishing, but his greatest love was drifting. A GoFundMe account was set up for his family at www.gofundme. com/f/support-for-ste- vens-family-after-heart- his obituary by Memo rial Park South Funeral Home in Flowery Branch, Brystin Stevens enjoyed playing basketball, duck hunting with his uncle, and time with his son. “He is so sweet, pure and just full of smiles, happiness and laughs,” Brystin Stevens posted on social media about his son, Brantley. “The way of this world has tried to bring me down, but this REYNOLDS LAKE OCONEE At ‘' At IVE $4,295,000 ROCKY CREEK LAKEFRONT 5895,000 JIM LINNEY GLOBAL LUXURY SPECIALIST COLDWELL BANKER LAKE OCONEE REALTY m 706.817.0608 o 706.467.3181 1191 SUGA RUN • Greensboro 6 Bedroom / 6.5 Full Bathroom / 6,236 sq It Southern Luxury built Home Overlooking the 16th Hole of Oconee. Lake and Golf Course. WILKES COUNTY LAND 1120 TAL LEWIS ROAD . White Plains 3 Bedroom / 3.5 Bath Lakefront Home Private Single-Story Retreat New Max Dock and Seawall completed last year. DEL WEBB AT LAKE OCONEE 5349,000 $447,000 COLDWELL BANKER LAKE OCONEE REALTY/ LAKE COUNTRY SCAN QR CODE FOR MORE DETAILS! 0LUNDBURG ROAD . Washington 60.6 Acre Hunting Tract. Over 2100 ft. of Road Frontage, a Running Stream, Seller open to Subdivide into 30, 20, 15, or 10 Acre Parcels. REYNOLDS LAKE OCONEE $415,000 1060 DEJARNET PLACE • Greensboro 1.03 Acre Lot Close to the Preserve Clubhouse and Main Gate. Beautiful Pond Nearby. Large Building Site and Perfect for a Lower Level. 1300 CROOKED CREEK - Greensboro 2 Bedroom / 2 Full Bathroom / 1,650 sq ft Abbeyville Floor Plan, Move-In-Ready Home with Lots of Extras and in Excellent Condition. REYNOLDS GREAT WATERS $43,000 108 PORTERFIELD DRIVE. Eatonton Fabulous Interior Lot within Walking Distance to the Clubhouse and Lake. Very Nice 0.7 Acre Rectangular Building Lot breaking-loss. His wife, Devin, posted on social media a photo of a coffee mug that she discovered in the wrecked pickup when picking up her husband’s belongings. The mug was new and still packaged in what she described as “a perfect white box,” apparently left there by someone after the wreck. The mug was printed with a saying, ‘It is well with my soul” and the Bible verse Psalm 116:7- “And God spoke to me in the worst moment of my life and it was amazing,” she wrote, and tagged family members of the other victims. “I hope this brings peace to your heart. God has sent one joyful moment each day since my forever love Derek has been gone. Glory be to God, even in the worst moments and days to come. Brystin Stevens, who was the nephew of Derek Stevens, would’ve cele brated his 19 th birthday on April 29. He is survived by a 1-year-old son, his fiance, his parents, grandpar ents, great-grandparents, and many other family members. According to is my purpose and I know I will prevail for my boy and God. Psalm 127:3-4 says ‘Children are a heri tage from the Lord... Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth.’ I thank God for [him] every day.” A GoFundMe account also was set up for Brystin Stevens’son at www. gofundme.com/f/secure- brantleys-future-in-mem- ory-of-brystin Johnathen “Tyler” Haney is survived by his wife and their three chil dren, one only one month old, as well as his father and siblings, according to his obituary by Memorial Park Riverside Chapel in Gainesville. “Johnathen lived his life with heart and purpose, always putting his family first,” the obituary says. “He will be remembered for his warm spirit, his loyalty to those he loved, and the legacy he leaves behind as a husband, father, and friend.” A GoFundMe account has also been set up for the Haney family at www. |gofundme.com/f7hp34x-| support-tor-the-haney- family-after-a-tragic-loss. 3-COURT ORDERED AUCTIONS TAYLOR COUNTY GEORGIA #1-180.339 ACRES “SELLING AS A WHOLE”! #2-GUN AUCTION-VARIOUS MAKES & MODELS #3-2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO TRUCK JLINNEY@CBLAKEOCONEE.COM I JIMLINNEY.COM VISIT WWW.JDURHAMAUCTIONS.COM FOR COMPLETE DETAILS J.Durham & Assoc. 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