About The Eatonton messenger. (Eatonton, Ga.) 18??-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 7, 2025)
PUBLISHED CONTINUOUSLY SINCE 1861 G THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 2025 VOLUME 164 • NO. 32 $2M in meth seized on Shady Dale Road Other unrelated meth arrests on same road Lynn Hobbs lynn@msgrnews.com More than 50 kilos of meth amphetamine will never make it to the streets after it was seized in Putnam County by Putnam, Jasper and federal authorities. Putnam County Sheriff’s Lt. Harry Luke estimated the street value of the approximate 108 pounds of meth to be around $2 million. Luke said he and PCSO Detec tive J.D. Turk were contacted on July 24 by a Homeland Security Investigations agent informing them of a methamphetamine delivery coming to Eatonton from Mexico. The HSI agent asked if Turk and Luke, the two narcotics detectives at PCSO, would be interested in handling the case, and Turk readily agreed. Using the information from the Homeland Security agent, Turk organized a surveillance of the address on Shady Dale Road that MORE METH » A2 This ground- delivery service package at Mario Munoz' house contained 25 pounds of meth. CONTRIBUTED/ PCSO ", STATE CHAMPION CLASS C 1LU SOFTBALL 2025 CONTRIBUTED The 2025 GRPA 14U Girls Fastpitch Softball Class C State Champions include (back, 1-r) Abigail Roberts, Maddie Tintle, Gracynn Rios, Colbie Stolley, Coaches Bryan Arthur and Chris Huskins, Mea Thrift, Gracie Lowery, Abby Mashburn, Layla Moore, and Kaylee Collis; and (front, 1-r) Lily Arthur, Sylvie Huskins, and Alexis Thrift. SEE STORY IN SPORTS » PAGE B1 PGH makes pay pitch to BOC Ian Tocher ian@msgrnews.com Putnam General Hospital (PGH) made an impas sioned plea for financial help to increase staff pay last Friday afternoon during a work session for the Putnam County Commission. Stepping to the microphone in front of County Chairman Bill Sharp and Commis sioners Tom McElhenney (District 1), Richard Garrett (Dist. 2), Stephen Hersey (Dist. 3), and Jeff Wooten (Dist. 4), was Georgia Writers Museum President Lou Benjamin, also a member of the Putnam General Hospital (PGH) Authority Board. “One of the first things I learned about economic development is there are three things that any company coming into an area asks first. They ask about healthcare, they ask about education, and they ask about workforce availability,” Benjamin began. “We can only talk about one of those things today and that’s the healthcare situa tion. But I can tell you from an economic development standpoint, you don’t have any without healthcare. If you don’t have a hospital, it’s almost impossible to attract companies and industry to your area. And we on the hospital authority are aware that there’s probably some sentiment from people who think we give money to a losing deal every year.” Benjamin went on to describe an unorthodox way of thinking that actually would help bolster the PGH bottom line. “The first thing I want to talk to you about is that by increasing payroll and increasing salaries, we will save money,” he stated. “I know, that sounds stupid, but right now, we are signifi cantly underpaying the staff at our hospital relative to every standard you can • • » imagine. Qualified RNs pass over PGH for pay reasons alone, Benjamin said, forcing it instead to retain at least eight nursing positions through an employment broker at approximately $95/ hour. That creates a related problem, too, he added. Hiring someone at a higher MORE PGH »A3 0 94922 87854 WEATHER 83 HIGH Thursday Scattered T-storms 68 LOW Detailed forecast / D4 For breaking news or to subscribe, visit www.msgrnews.com or call 706-485-3501 SMITH COMMUNICATIONS1 Newspapers • Magazines • Printing Lady Gators dominate opener » PAGE Bl INSIDE THIS WEEK Classifieds D4 Public Record A7 Community C1 Opinions A4 Crossword Puzzle C5 Obituaries A6 Legal Notices D6 Sports B1 Know your Neighbor IAN TOCHER/Staff Coach Robert "Buster" Williams holds the trophy his Putnam County 10-and-under girls team received for placing runner-up in the 2002 All-State Championship Class C fastpitch tournament. 'Buster' Williams Ian Tocher ian@msgrnews.com For Eatonton native Robert “Buster” Williams, it’s all about the kids. The longtime Putnam County Recreation Department youth baseball coach insists he gets every bit as much enjoyment seeing his young players have fun on the field as he does by watching them win a game. But Williams knows plenty about winning, too. In 28 years of coaching 7-8, 9-10, and 11-12-years-old baseball and soft- ball teams, he’s tasted victory 363 MORE BUSTER » A5 If you are from Seattle, Portland, Alaska or British Columbia you should feel at home here PUTNAM in Georgia's Lake Country. DETE It is hard 1:0 believe it was X LIL 100 degrees last week and 67 on Monday. Zeke says he had a roaring fire going to knock the "chill" off. George says it feels good, like the weather in Michigan. Hot Dog stays under the house, out of the constant rain. Football Season is upon us and will capture the attention of many through the Fall and up until the National Championship. I think I will watch most of it on TV and read it in the newspapers. BEAT LU GAB EHLOB 0303 LUI 0E*0H3LS [09
