About The Eatonton messenger. (Eatonton, Ga.) 18??-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 14, 2025)
PUBLISHED CONTINUOUSLY SINCE 1861 VOLUME 164 • NO. 33 Gatonton Messenger V . Official organ of Putnam County and City of Eatonton ' . Locally Owned by Smith Communications Inc. 4 THURSDAY, AUGUST 14, 2025 ("bwww.msgrnews.com G PA SPCIAIC GNEWS IAM COUNI GR 2025 Ch Baldwin Bulletin BALI JOHN HIGH SCHOOL PCCSS superintendent Austin addresses $54-million budget Ian Tocher ian@msgrnews.com The Putnam County Charter School System (PCCSS) Board of Education held a pair of public education meetings on Monday about its Fiscal Year 2026 budget, with about a dozen citizens attending each time. PCCSS Superintendent Derick Austin led each meeting at the PCCSS building on Old Glenwood Springs Road in Eatonton, with support from Finance Director Coretta Harris, and all board members in atten dance. He initially established that PCCSS is not a charter system in the sense of being separate from the traditional public-school model. “We’re a public school system that went charter [in 2010] for flexibility with some of the state laws so that we’re able to guarantee higher student achievement based on being able to waive some of the state laws that were in place to give you more flexi bility, more local autonomy to make decisions,” Austin said. “That’s the rationale behind that.” He began by explaining 90 percent of the Putnam school system’s approximate $54.65 million FY26 budget is dedicated to meeting staff MORE BUDGET » A2 .A Putnam County Charter School System Superintendent Derick Austin gave a detailed accounting of the organization's latest budget on Monday, with another similar meeting to come at 5 p.m., Aug. 18, at the Board of Ed building in Eatonton. IAN TOCHER/Staff IAN TOCHER/Staff Fans of all ages and backgrounds packed onto the lawn in front of City Center Stage in Eatonton for Downtown GetDown on Saturday night to hear Kasper and the 911 Band deliver their unique blend of R&B, funk, and soul tunes. SEE MORE PHOTOS » PAGE A6 | Speeding more than 100 adds cruelty charges for child, pet Lynn Hobbs lynn@msgrnews.com A homeless man is now sleeping and eating in jail after authorities caught him report edly driving 110 miles per hour in a 45-mph zone with Cory Jensen a young child and dog in the car, driving on the wrong side of the road, and quite a few other traffic and obstruction-related offenses. Sgt. Dillon Waldroup Waldroup promoted to sergeant Lynn Hobbs lynn@msgrnews.com Eatonton Police Chief Howell Cardwell proudly announced the promotion of officer Dillon Waldroup to sergeant at Eatonton Police Department on July 21. “This achievement reflects his dedication, discipline, and commitment to serving our community with professionalism and integrity,” Cardwell said. “I know Sgt. Waldroup will do a phenom enal job in fulfilling his job duties.” Waldroup grew up in Eatonton and is a graduate of Putnam County High School and Central Georgia Tech nical College. He earned his law enforcement certification from the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in Forsyth in 2017. After graduation, he served at Eatonton Police Department for a while, then transferred to another law enforcement agency in the state before returning to EPD. “It is good to be back serving in my hometown, and working at Eatonton Police Depart ment for Chief Cardwell,” Sgt. Waldroup said. “He runs an outstanding department, for which I am proud to serve.” Cory Jensen, 35, is being held without bond in jail at Putnam County Sheriff’s Office facing charges of cruelty to children - 2nd degree (felony), fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer (felony), cruelty to animals, willful obstruction of law enforcement officers (misdemeanor), driving on the wrong side of the road, driving without a valid license (misde meanor), failure to maintain lane, passing in a no-passing zone, reck less driving, speeding in a construc tion zone 110/45mph, and driving too fast for conditions, according to jail reports. The chase started a little before 1 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 3 when Eatonton Police Department Officer Nathan Crooks saw a red 2006 Cadillac SUV come off of U.S. Route 129 at the Walmart intersection and turn left onto U.S. 441/Eatonton Bypass. MORE JENSEN » A3 094922 87854 WEATHER 90 HIGH Thursday Chance T-storms 72 LOW Detailed forecast / D4 For breaking news or to subscribe, visit |www.msgrnews.com] or call 706-485-3501 SMITH COMMUNICATIONSa Newspapers • Magazines • Printing 7. 1 1.2 TABLES War Eagles learn from preseason » PAGE Bl INSIDE THIS WEEK Classifieds D1 Public Record A7 Community C1 Opinions A4 Crossword Puzzle C5 Obituaries A6 Legal Notices D2 Sports B1 LAKE OCONEE DENTISTRY Dr David Bradley Dr. Patti Bradley & Associates OCALLY OWNED & OPERATE SINCE 19 LAKE OCONEE’S DENTIST Hard to predict weather these days, but George read where the Farmer's Almanac says August will be cooler Tand wetter than usual.I can be- PUTNAM lieve it so far. Zeke says planting a XANT winter garden makes good sense as the hot weather wreaked havoc X on most summer gardens — rain came too late to help. Congratulations to the Putnam County U14 Girls All-Star Soft- ball Team for winning the 2025 Georgia Rec and Park Association title. Coaches Brian Authur and Chris Huskins have led this team for years. No one is quite sure why Putnam Gen eral Hospital has to beg our county commissioners for better fund ing. Many people have addressed the group with concerns. Seems like no real answer is ever forthcoming from our elected officials. Keeping PGH viable is key to attracting industry, growing our community, and providing much needed health services to our residents. It's a no brainer to me. .Looking for a Family Dentist? $29 New Patient Exam & X-Rays Add a Cleaning for Just $69 (save up to $288*) VOTED THE LAKE AREA’S BEST DENTIST FOR 12 YEARS RUNNING! Call 706-438-4444 today for your appointment Located off Hwy. 44 in Greensboro, between Publix and the movie theater *Cash only, or your insurance may cover at usual and customary fees. LAKE OCONEE DENTISTRYrc Personalized & Comfortable
