About The Eatonton messenger. (Eatonton, Ga.) 18??-current | View Entire Issue (July 24, 2025)
» Your hometown newspaper since 1861 The Eatonton Alessenger THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2025 | A5 Ending a bad dye job Putnam Past Colorful candies and cereals, cheese slices brighter than the color of any real cheese, mac n’ cheese without any real dairy, these are the food staples of my childhood and adolescence. And now, though still standing, I’m also battling a highly aggressive form of colon cancer. I am a capi talist and want companies large and small to make a profit. So, I’m not blaming the artificial food coloring dyes or preservatives; however, the data on both has been troubling for decades. American food manu facturers began using food coloring and dyes in the early 1900s. The U.S. government first allowed food dyes for butter and cheese. Many of the earliest artificial colors and dyes were derived from coal tar, a toxic byproduct of burning coal to produce energy. Coal tar plants, which ran power stations, were subsequently taken out of service or banned, due to a variety of negative envi ronmental impacts and the food industry in large measure shifted to petro leum-based dyes. Due to health concerns and numerous studies linking these dyes to cancer, the European Union and Canada banned the use of most petroleum-based artificial dyes during the 20-teens. Yellow #5, Red #40, and six other dyes — used to FELLOWS CONTINUED FROM >: A4 Brant IV’s daddy, who I assume was Brant Frost III, but my daddy would have said a men’s Timex Easy Reader will tell time just as well and costs only $29.60. Brant IV is now full of regret. “I take full respon sibility for my actions and am resolved to spend the rest of my life trying to repay as much as I can to the many people I misled and let down. I will be cooperating with WILLIS CONTINUED FROM » A1 Assistant District Attor neys Allison Mauldin and Carter Harwell did because it was a very tedious process to get the outcome that we got.” Willis was arrested Oct. 21, 2022, on various racketeering and fraud charges stemming from a reported pattern of stealing from the local Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #6686 and from the Putnam County Veterans Wall of Honor Park. When he received a phone call from the sheriff, Willis turned himself in without incident. He was later released on property bonds. In addition to being Bill Crane One Man's Opinion enhance products from Froot Loops to Nutri- Grain cereal bars — are called the “rainbow of risk” by the Center for Science in the Public Interest. They were banned in Norway, Finland, France, Austria, and the U.K. on June 25, 2013. Gatorade is not sold in most Euro pean countries due to the use of Yellow dyes #5 and #6. There are of course natural alternatives, yet “Big Food” will repeatedly cite consumers — espe cially children — “prefer ring” brighter colored food and products. The most popular color additives are Red #40 (patent number), Yellow #5 and Yellow #6, making up almost 90 percent of all food dye used in the United States, according to Healthline. Artificial food dye consumption in the U.S. has increased by 500 percent over the past 50 years. Perhaps if the pack aging contained cancer the receiver and federal authorities.” He should. What he did was not only shameful; it was stupid. If I ever decide to give cheating a fling, it won’t involve the federal government. The odds are heavily stacked in their favor. Sooner or later, they are going to catch you, as Mr. Frost found out. Did he ever think they wouldn’t? As for the “Chris tians” and “patriots” to whom First Liberty’s efforts were targeted, they evidently were too trusting. Maybe gullible is a longtime insurance agent in Eatonton, Willis also was well-known as a veterans advocate and former commander of the VFW post as well as a co-founder of the veterans wall park. At the time of his arrest, he also was State Commander of the Department of Georgia Veterans of Foreign Wars. In the spring before his arrest, leaders with the VFW filed formal complaints at the sher iff’s office, which led to the investigation and subsequent arrest. The pending trial was delayed when Willis’ defense attorney, William H. Smith III, filed requests for his client to undergo mental evaluations by the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental warnings like cigarettes, those preferences would quickly wane. Thanks to food colorings, Froot Loops cereal in the U.S. remains much brighter colored (and possibly tastier) ... as well as has the real potential of being more deadly after long- term consumption. There is plenty of prec edent for prior banning of toxic dyes, including the earlier prohibition of use of Red #s 1,2,4 and 32, as well as Yellow #s 1,2,3 and 4, Violet #1, Orange #s 1 and 2, and my favorites (in terms of the name), Sudan #1 and Butter Yellow (banned in 1919). Longtime plaintiff attorney and now Secre tary of Health & Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. announced plans earlier this spring to ban all petroleum-based dyes and artificial food colorings from the U.S. food supply. He has been winning multi-million judgments for similar concerns with Big Food for decades. So, before those regu lations are even in draft form, Heinz/Kraft Foods, and General Mills, two of the larger players in the industry globally, have announced their proactive phase-out and removal of these dyes from all of their product lines by 2027. Within two years, though Kraft Singles still won’t actually be cheese and its Mac n’ Cheese will no longer contain petroleum a better term. Or greedy. “The promise of a high rate of return on an investment is a red flag that should make all potential investors think twice or maybe even three times before investing their money,” said Justin C. Jeffries, associate director of enforcement in the SEC’s Atlanta Regional Office. Now comes news that just days after Brant IV’s firm was shuttered, his son, Brant Frost V, filed paperwork with state regulators to create a new lending firm, Heartland Capital, Disabilities to determine his competency to stand trial, and then a different evaluation to determine the degree of criminal responsibility and sanity at the time of the thefts. Court records also reveal several court dates had to be rescheduled due to conflicts in Smith’s schedule. “Everybody thinks something might have been going on with this, but it wasn’t. It just took that long because of the evaluations,” Sills said. As required by special conditions of his sentence Follow us on facebook lfacebook.com/EatontonMessenger byproducts, healthier options like turmeric will become coloring staples for them. However, the cereal king, Kellogg’s, and M&M/Mars, one of the world’s largest candy and confection manufacturers are still clinging to the toxic dyes. M&M says its candies won’t look or preserve as well using natural/organic products. Thank you for making it easier for me to leave behind my beloved M&M Peanuts. And we can expect Froot Loops and Toucan Sam to continue sharing the same toxic rainbow for years to come. I, of course, routinely comment here when I think the Trump Admin istration has mis-stepped. So, this is instead a call for applause and tip of the hat for protecting Amer ican health by holding Big Food accountable, partic ularly for products aimed at children. We recognize good deeds here as well as the bad. So, start taking your readers with you when grocery shopping and read what’s actually in the food you’re buying. And feel safer knowing that soon there will only be actual organic tomato coloring inside Heinz Ketchup and other beloved brand staples. But also know that the phase out will take some time and is not yet universal. This is one bad dye job that really needs to go — completely. incorporating as a mort gage and non-mortgage loan broker. Give the kid points for chutzpah. I don’t know what life lessons, if any, Brant V learned from Brant IV, but what I learned from my dad is that right is right and wrong is wrong and there is no in-be tween. He would have no sympathy for anyone involved in the First Liberty Building and Loan fiasco. Neither do I. You can reach Dick Yarbrough atdick@dick- yarbrough.comor at P.O. Box 725373, Atlanta, Ga. 31139. LAST YEAR, JULY 25, 2024 Public art will soon be popping up all over Eatonton as the new sculpture trail backed by The Artisans Village and the Eatonton-Putnam Chamber of Commerce is almost ready for installation. The first piece is already in place, as "Rival Readers" by Georgia artist Gregory Johnson, featuring a bronze casting of a young boy and a girl reading a book while sitting on a stone bench was installed last week between Georgia Writers Museum and Sylvia's Coffee Shop on South Jefferson Avenue. FIVE YEARS AGO, JULY 23,2020 The Eatonton City Council at its July 7 meeting discussed requiring the wearing of masks throughout the city of Eatonton to prevent the spread of COVID-19. That was rejected because there was concern it would violate Gov. Brian Kemp's executive order restricting cities and counties from setting their own coronavirus policies. But the council did approve a ruling that required wearing masks inside City Hall for both employees and citizens, thinking that this would be allowed under the governor's mandate. 10 YEARS AGO, JULY 23, 2015 The Putnam County 12U All-Stars finished first place in the 2015 Dixie Youth "0" Zone Baseball Tournament July 17-19 at Riverside Park in Evans, capturing the state championship title. 25 YEARS AGO, JULY 27, 2000 An Eatonton native moved his political career a notch this month with a bid to become the first African-American Chief Executive Officer of Dekalb County. His bid in last week's Democratic primary was unsuccessful, but Porter Sanford III had already had a successful business career by the time he was elected six years ago to the Dekalb County Board of Commissioners, a body for whom he sat as presiding officer for two years and as chairman of its budget committee. 50 YEARS AGO, JULY 24, 1975 The City of Eatonton will receive a $100,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, according to Mayor James P. Marshall. A grant application filed by the city was developed by local citizens groups, the mayor of Eatonton and city council, Charles Hudson, and the Oconee Area Planning and Development staff. 75 YEARS AGO, JULY 27, 1950 The king of the king-sized catfish was caught this week by Emory V. Manley and his daughter Jane, popular Eatonton High School student. The anglers pulled in a 29.5-lb. cat Monday morning on a limb-set hook. The hook, baited with cutfish, had been dangling from a small limb into water about six feet deep, Mr. Manley said. 100 YEARS AGO, JULY 24, 1925 and probation, Willis immediately paid $25,274.74 to the VFW Post 6686; $4,020 to the Veterans Wall of Honor Park in Eatonton; and $2,400 to a private busi ness, according to Sills and court records. “He had already paid $8,600 from the time I opened the investiga tion until I arrested him because he knew what was coming,” Sills said. “So he went and got money from somewhere and paid that then; but all the rest was paid at the time he was sentenced.” At a recent meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Eatonton Public Schools, Professor Flowers, a well known educator from Tennessee, was elected superintendent of the Eatonton school to succeed Prof. Graham, who recently resigned to accept a more lucrative salary at Blakely. Talk about a sweet pup... This is Iris, a REALLY sweet girl around a year old. She's absolutely dog friendly and wants to make friends with every human she meets! Iris is very neat and clean, and really wants to meet you! Learn more about Rico and other great pets by calling us at 706-485-3970, or just stop by. We're in Eatonton next to the Putnam County Sheriff's Department. Winston Churchill and Donald Trump BY RANDALL HARMAN Winston Churchill was Prime Minister from 1940 to 1945 and was keenly integral to the end of World War II. In my comparison to Trump is that he was extreme ly disliked as his country’s leader, and also an alcoholic. However, was a leader in difficult times. For those that have a problem with Trump... Feel free to hate the man but as an American, you should appreciate his accom plishments. Accomplishments in 6 months: • Secured borders • Deporting illegals • The Laken Riley Act • Leveled playing field via tariffs • Billions in US investments • 10,000 New manufacturing jobs • Rescued American hostages • The Israel/Iran cease-fire • Reinstate serviceman (Covid discharges) • Regain energy independence • Terminated Green New Deal • Child protection from surgical mutilation • Eliminated transgenders in sports • DOGE saved $150 billion (so far) • Elimination of DEI • End antisemitism on college campuses • Education sent back to the states • One Big Beautiful Bill - 80% taxpayers increase in take home pay • Lowered inflation to 2.4% • Ended taxpayer funded bene fits for illegal immigrants • NATO required 5% GDP each country Letdeknow @LetDCknow • Nonprofit organization www.facebook.com/letDCknowl www.letdcknow.org PRESS RELEASE ANNOUNCING A PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX INCREASE The Putnam County Board of Education announces its intention to increase the property taxes it will levy this year by 20.03 percent above the rollback millage rate. Each year, the board of tax assessors is required to review the assessed value for property tax purposes of taxable property in the county. When the trend of prices on properties that have recently sold in the county indicate there has been an increase in the fair market value of any specific property, the board of tax assessors is required by law to re-determine the value of such property and adjust the assessment. This is called a reassessment. When the total digest of taxable property is prepared, Georgia law requires that a rollback millage rate must be computed that will produce the same total revenue on the current year's digest that last year's millage rate would have produced had no reassessments occurred. The budget tentatively adopted by the Putnam County Board of Education requires that a millage rate higher than the rollback millage rate, therefore, before the Putnam County Board of Education may finalize the tentative budget and set a final millage rate, Georgia law requires three public hearings to be held to allow the public an opportunity to express their opinions on the increase. All concerned citizens are invited to the public hearings on this tax increase to be held at the Putnam County Board of Education Office, 158 Old Glenwood Springs Road, Eatonton, Georgia on August 11, 2025 at 12:00 PM and 6:00 PM and on August 18, 2025 at 5:00 PM.
