About The Eatonton messenger. (Eatonton, Ga.) 18??-current | View Entire Issue (June 26, 2025)
PUBLISHED CONTINUOUSLY SINCE 1861 ("bwww.msgrnews.com The fatonton dessenuer )x Official organ of Putnam County and City of Eatonton V Locally Owned by Smith Communications Inc. 4. SCELLEV GIA • of G to Z 0 6 PCIPTA GNEWS VOLUME 164 • NO. 26 THURSDAY, JUNE 26, 2025 Indictments include vehicular homicide, obstruction Lynn Hobbs lynn@msgrnews.com A Putnam County Grand Jury returned indictments on 21 people June 16. An indictment does not mean the person is guilty. It means the jurors, after reviewing the evidence presented by the prosecutor, thought there was enough evidence to proceed with a trial. The indictments include: Sean Cameron Barrett was indicted on five counts of homicide by vehicle in the first degree. On Labor Day weekend, a Chevrolet Tahoe crashed into a utility pole, causing a loss of life for the passenger in the SUV and loss of electrical power for area residents and businesses that lasted about four hours. Keandrea “Dre” Linorris Briscoe, 24, of Union Chapel Road, was killed in the crash. He was not wearing a seatbelt, Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills said at the time, according to The Eatonton Messen ger’s archives. The driver of the Tahoe, Barrett, was wearing a seatbelt. He was taken to Putnam General Hospital, Sean C. I MORE CHARGES » A3 ] Barrett IAN TOCHER/Staff Last Tuesday, Eatonton's historic Putnam County Courthouse was the site of the first of three scheduled community meetings to address local opioid and other addictive drug problems. Panelists gave opinions and also listened to comments from members of the public. Leaders convene to address community opioid issues Ian Tocher ian@msgrnews.com Several community leaders and officials turned out June 17 at the Putnam County Court- house in Eatonton to discuss and address the county’s serious opioid use and addiction issues, and what resources are available to combat seemingly endless problems related to opioid abuse. Hosted by Beyond the Bell Executive Director Sandra Dean, the Tuesday evening discussion in the main court room included, among others, Eatonton Mayor John Reid with City Councilmember Janie Reid, Eatonton Police Chief Howell Cardwell, Putnam County Sheriff’s Lt. Harry Luke, Eatonton Fire Chief Jamey Williamson, Acting U.S. Attorney Shanelle Booker, and Middle Georgia DEA Special Agent Tyler Vandenburg. Dean opened the meeting by encouraging anyone with outdated prescription drugs, MORE OPIOID » A3 City agrees to project list proposal for SPLOST 10 Ian Tocher ian@msgrnews.com Eatonton City Council held a brief scheduled meeting June 16 with all seven council members and Mayor John Reid present. The first order of official busi ness delivered unanimous council approval to dispose of a 25-year-old, former Public Works Ford F-150 that City Administrator Gary Sanders described as worth only “scrap metal” at this point. Next, the council was asked to authorize the mayor to apply for an annual safety and liability manage ment grant offered by the Georgia Municipal Association. “We use this as a way to fund certain purchases of safety, such as cones and barrels, safety vests, hardhats, and various other safety equipment that will be approved through this program,” Sanders explained. Authorization to apply for the annual GMA grant was unani mously approved. Likewise, authorization was sought for the mayor to execute a Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA, a U.S. DOT agency) agreement regarding exposed natural gas MORE CITY » A2 Smith Communications receives 21 GPA awards Staff report Awards were presented June 20 during the Georgia Press Association (GPA) convention at Jekyll Island to celebrate outstanding achievements in community journalism. In this year’s editorial contest, 482 awards were presented in 42 categories to 74 newspapers from 2,213 total entries. Eaton- ton-based Smith Communi cations — publisher of The Eatonton Messenger, Lake Oconee News, The Baldwin Bulletin, and The Jones County News, among several other titles — received 21 top-three recognitions. The Eatonton Messenger earned a GPA first-place award for Layout and Design, attributed to Managing Editor Josh Lurie. Lurie also received a second-place award for Page One Design for The Messenger. The Baldwin Bulletin placed first for Layout and Design under Editor Bailey McCully, and The Jones County News staff placed third in the same category. The Eatonton Messenger Editor Ian Tocher and sports reporter Lance McCurley won second place for sports section or pages. Lake Oconee News Associate Editor Hannah Barron placed first in Lifestyle Coverage, with Messenger Editor Tocher taking second place in the same category. The Jones County News Editor Debbie Lurie-Smith took home third-place awards in Lifestyle Coverage and Busi ness Writing. She also earned a first-place award in Local News Coverage for The Jones County News. McCully won first- and MORE AWARDS » A6 094922 87854 For breaking news or to subscribe, visit www.msgrnews.comor call 706-485-3501 WEATHER 09 Thursday 79 X&d Partly • wad HIGH Cloudy LOW Detailed forecast / B4 SMITH COMMUNICATIONS! Newspapers • Magazines • Printing Gators’ roster sees offseason turnover »PAGE Bl INSIDE THIS WEEK G Classifieds D1 Public Record A7 Community C1 Opinions A4 Crossword Puzzle C5 Obituaries A6 Legal Notices D3 Sports B1 OUBEMG LUES BEAT Lu
