About The Eatonton messenger. (Eatonton, Ga.) 18??-current | View Entire Issue (May 1, 2025)
» Your hometown newspaper since 1861 The Eatonton Alessenger THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2025 | A3 Signs of the times reflect CCCA rejuvenation Ian Tocher ian@msgrnews.com For nearly 20 years, the Crooked Creek Commu nity Association (CCCA) has been active in the neighborhood along the north shore of Lake Sinclair. After living in the area only four years with his wife, Sandra, Don Jones is the recently installed CCCA president since the previous longtime presi dent had to withdraw due to health reasons. “She had been doing a fine job, but unfortu nately, she wasn’t able to continue, and they were looking for a new presi dent,” Jones explained. “And to be honest, it wasn’t like I had to run some kind of a campaign or anything. It was more like one of those things of raising your hand and saying, ‘Yeah, okay, I’ll do it.’” Regardless, Jones has focused now on raising the group’s profile not only within the immediate Crooked Creek area but within Putnam County. One of the first things he orchestrated was replacing an old, tired-looking sign in front of CCCA head- quarters near the marina and fire station at 160A Crooked Creek Dr., with a bright, new, blue-and- white sign declaring CCCA as “Caring for the LUKENS CONTINUED FROM » A1 Michael Taylor and Lt. Col. Frank Adkinson. Upon being introduced by PCHS Assistant Prin cipal Dr. Dexter Dawson, Collins stressed that getting accepted into any U.S. military academy is a daunting challenge, requiring not only a congressional nomination but excellent credentials on the candidate’s part. “There’s probably 15,000-plus people who fill out applications that want to go to these acade mies,” Collins said. “Well, they don’t take but on average around a thou sand each; and then when you get to the Merchant Marines, they won’t take even 300 and I think this year’s class is probably going to be around 250. That in itself tells you what kind of competition CITY CONTINUED FROM » A1 the use of a tornado warning siren that used to be routinely tested in Eatonton but has not been sounded in several years. The siren previously was tested on Thursday Community.” There’s also a spruced-up CCCA sign- board stationed at the corner of Crooked Creek and Scuffleboro Roads to announce meetings, building rental informa tion, programs, or other brief messages to local residents. “We hope the new and refurbished signs suggest a degree of growth, reju venation, and increased recognition of CCCA,” Jones said. "We have the nucleus of a strong and beneficial organization to our community in the form of engaging speakers and potential new programs such as fitness classes. “And we have the oppor tunity to provide greater assistance to charitable organizations in our community,” he added. “The strength of an orga nization is built upon the energy and commitment of its members.” The beneficiary of that effort will largely be Putnam Christian Outreach, which oper ates a popular thrift store at 151 Industrial Blvd, in Eatonton, but also provides a wide variety of services to residents in need, such as clothing, food, utilities, and prescription medicine assistance, a gas allowance for medical transport, and Tanner was up against.” Collins also mentioned Lukens’ role on the War Eagles baseball team and how he hopes to play for the Merchant Marine team next season, too. “[Tanner] wants to do the extra and go and be a part of the athletic program up there as well. But it’s not just about your grades, your physical fitness, your leadership,” Collins said, praising Lukens’ “core moral char acter” and hard work in all he attempts. “To see this young man and to read his bio and see his family, his moral character, he exudes that and that’s good. That’s what we’re looking for in these academies. And finally, just a willingness to want to serve your country and our military,” Collins concluded before turning the stage over to Lukens. The soon-to-be Putnam County grad began by nights, Gorley recalled, but Sanders added that if readopted it probably would be tested quarterly with advance notice given to the public each time. “That’s something we’ll have to do some public education about,” Sanders said. “We did do a quick on-and-off test just to make sure it works ... so, we will be getting the 'was CARINO FOR THE COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTED Retired corporate man Don Jones has turned his attention to helping Crooked Creek area residents thrive while supporting charitable organizations like Putnam Christian Outreach. local disaster relief when needed. Jones said the CCCA will be holding various events to help fund PCO’s efforts but also to simply sustain the organization so it can remain effective in helping the Crooked Creek community to thrive. “Our primary source of revenue has been a yard sale that we do at the end of June, and we will do that again this year,” he confirmed. “But I’m hoping to expand that yard sale by offering some raffles, some silent auction items, and to increase the thanking his mother and father, flanking him and Collins on each side, as well as Collins and then his JROTC leaders, Adkinson and Taylor. Lukens also thanked his baseball coaches, Mike Phiel and later Stephen Phillips, as well as all his PCHS teachers, “who have blessed me with their knowledge to succeed not only academ ically, but as a student with good moral char acter. This opportunity means so much to me and I couldn’t have wished for a better path for my future.” Following the cere mony, Collins said he considered it “an honor” to nominate graduating high school students in District 10 to poten tial military academy placements. “Look at how many young people in the 10th District go to our acade mies; I think we’re doing word out about testing. “I don’t know yet if we’d have citywide coverage, but part of the testing is we’ll have people out to see what kind of coverage we do have, the audible range,” he added. Again, the motion to reinstitute a tornado siren testing regime was unanimously approved by the council. CONTRIBUTED A brand-new sign welcomes local residents and visitors to the Crooked Creek Community Association building at 160A Crooked Creek Dr., Eatonton. revenue that we derive from that particular event, and then to do some other things for the organization that will be beneficial to the members. One of the things is we’ve started to promote a fitness program for members of the organization.” Jones mentioned the CCCA will host an AARP speaker this Monday evening, May 5, speaking about decluttering and downsizing at home, “which impacts a lot of the members in our orga nization,” he pointed out. “And AARP has speakers on various subjects that I think will appeal to our group, so perhaps we can expand that, too.” Regularly scheduled Bingo nights might be a possibility as well. “If our membership agrees, we could do it at 14 signing ceremonies this year,” said Collins, adding that attending these sign ings is among his favorite official duties, especially given the current political climate. “I look for these oppor tunities,” he said. “This is like a breath of fresh air some days. It’s really an honor just to be a part of this. And I’m just a small part; they do all the hard work, these students, this young man. I’m so proud of what he’s doing.” h&VO Wte qusstoums? We can help THE SHERIDAN GROUP 706-626-0143 1020 Parkside Commons 983 O’Kelly Street Greensboro, GA 30642 Conyers, GA 30012 our building,” Jones said. “I think we have plenty of people in the area that may very well be interested in participating and doing it would be a revenue gener ator. And again, it’s not just for the organization, it’s revenue that gives us the opportunity to give back to more people and more charities. So, that’s kind of in a nutshell what REAL JCOUNTRY Q92.3FM Home of Today's 1. my thoughts are about right now, I’m hoping to increase our membership and I’m hoping to increase our visibility within the community.” Jones sees CCCA serving not only as a local advocacy group, a social club, and a force for good and charitable works, but as an encouraging force to promote healthy living among its members. “I’m active, I teach a spin class at BodyPlex in Milledgeville,” the retired businessman said. “And my wife is the same way. She just started a Walk- and-Talk for our group and invited people to come to the CCCA building at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesdays to just walk and talk. So, I’m hopeful that we can shake things up a little bit and get more people involved in doing more active things while we help others, too.” NOTICE TO THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF PUTNAM COUNTY, GEORGIA Notice is hereby given that on Monday, May 12, 2025, logic and accuracy testing of the ballot marking device units (BMD), precinct scanner units (ICP), cen tral count unit (ICC), and poll pad voting systems will be conducted in the Board of Elections & Registration Conference Room, located at 117 Putnam Dr., Suite D, commencing at 10:00 AM and continuing day to day until all units have been tested and prepared for the June 17, 2025 Special Primary for Public Service Commissioner for Districts 2 and 3. This testing shall remain open for observation and members of the public are entitled to be present during the preparation and testing of the voting equipment. This notice is given in accordance with provisions of Official Code of Georgia Annotated and rules of the State Election Board of Georgia. Board of Elections & Registration Putnam County 05/01,05/08 • Medicare Supplemental Plans • Medicare Advantage Plans • Retirement Income Planning • Part D Drug Plans • Long Term Care Chris Sheridan Julie Mayzurk chris@thesheridangroupllc.com julie@thesheridangroupllc.com We do not offer plan available in your area. Any information we provide s limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.
