About The Eatonton messenger. (Eatonton, Ga.) 18??-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 21, 2025)
» Your hometown newspaper since 1861 The Eatonton Alessenger THURSDAY, AUGUST 21, 2025 | A3 Man falls off lawn mower into lake Lynn Hobbs lynn@msgrnews.com An investigation is underway to determine how a 70-year-old man died in Lake Sinclair Saturday, authorities say. The man, Norman Harrell, apparently was mowing grass on Daylight Drive, according to Putnam County Coroner Hollis Harrison. “He went down an embankment on the lawn mower, made a sharp turn and fell off the mower and into the lake,” Harrison said. Harrison and Deputy Coroner Michael Reagan responded to the scene, and Harrison pronounced Harrell dead at 5 p.m. Harrison said Harrell’s body is being sent to the GBI Crime Lab in Decatur to deter mine the cause of death. “I don’t consider it a drowning; it doesn’t make sense, so maybe it was some sort of medical episode,” Harrison explained. Gaines to campaign for U.S. Congress CITY CONTINUED FROM » A1 city-owned and maintained street, the Georgia Department of Trans- portation (GDOT) does not need to be involved. Mayor Reid said he recently drove down Edwards Street to experience it firsthand and confirmed that though it’s a paved city road, “it really is just one lane,” and agreed with the motion to make it one-way only. Council also agreed and unani mously approved the change, with signage and public announcements to follow. In other business, the council unanimously approved a request, with the blessing of its Historic Preservation Commission, to install a wrought iron safety rail on the north side of the front steps at 400 N. Madison Ave., otherwise known as Panola Hall or where Sylvia the Ghost lives. Also, a change order worth $13,216 regarding ongoing sewer main construction on East IAN TOCHER/Staff Councilmember at Large, Mayor Pro Tem Chip Walker introduced the City of Eatonton's Fiscal Year 2026 budget for approval Aug. 18, during a routinely scheduled council meeting. Marion Street was unanimously approved after Sanders explained it was needed to replace filler dirt following excavation. He added, however, that the amount would be reimbursed to the council by the contractor since it was not in the originally accepted bid. “When they were trying to reach compaction, I think there was too much saturation and water and they could not reach compaction without dry dirt,” Sanders told the council. “This is pretty much a formality to execute the change order, but the holdup right now is the approval of the railroad permit,” Sanders added, referring to a recent slowdown in the project’s progression. “So again, the project has been going well; it’s just got to get through the railroad permitting, but this (the replace ment dirt) will have no impact on the timeline.” Additionally, unanimous approval was given to Eatonton Main Street to apply for a T-Mobile hometown grant worth up to $35,000 by the Sept. 30 deadline for downtown signage pending design and GDOT approval. All city council meetings are open to the public, with the next scheduled for Sept. 2 at 7 p.m. in Room 203 of the county’s admin istrative building (117 Putnam Dr., Eatonton). Republican State Representative Houston Gaines (R-Athens) announced July 31 that he will run for the 10th Congressional District as present Congressman Mike Collins runs for the U.S. Senate. Gaines has served in the State House since 2019. In his tenure, he has authored over 20 bills that have become law, including legislation to stop local govern ments from defunding the police and curb the use of cashless bail in Georgia. Born and raised in Athens and a graduate of UGA, Gaines is an 8th-generation northeast Georgian. His grand father, Judge Joseph Gaines, served as a State Rep. Houston Gaines Superior Court judge in Clarke and Oconee coun ties. The rest of his family remains in the Athens area. For more on Gaines and his campaign visit houstongaines.com, — Contributed The Eatonton Allessenger Support local journalism msgrnews.com — 706-485-3501 LOCAL MATTERS The Oconee Cellar hosts 27th anniversary sale The Oconee Cellar celebrated its 27th year of providing wine, spirits, beer, and cigars to Geor gia’s Lake Country Aug. 15. “It seems like just yesterday, The Oconee Cellar was born in a small, quaint wine shop in Salem Walk. There was no Publix, Ritz-Carlton, hospital, Lake Oconee Academy; not much of anything out here,” said owner and operator Matt Garofalo. “This area has really grown up, and we feel so lucky to continue to provide our customers with convenience, customer service, value, and an easy informative shopping • 99 experience. To share the celebration, The Oconee Cellar will hold its annual Anniver sary Sale Aug. 21-24, with Garofalo promising “big discounts on some of our most popular liquors along with al5% discount on purchases of 12 or more bottles of wine.” “This annual Anni versary Sale is a way to give back to all our loyal customers who support us through-out the year,” he said. Looking to get your hands on some hard-to-get bourbons? The Oconee Cellar is also holding its annual allocated drawing Aug. 23 for those hard-to- find bourbons.A number will be drawn from a hat at 8 a.m. Saturday, with the first-place winner able to go first andpurchase up to two bottles of bourbon from the highly allocated selection. Selections to choose from will include Pappy Van Winkle 10-year, Pappy Van Winkle 12-year, Pappy Van Winkle 15-year, W.L. Weller, E.H. Taylor, Michter’s Single Barrel 10-year rye, Blanton’s, and more. Each person in the draw will get five minutes to make selections before the next person may enter the store. Those who purchase a bottle of one of The Oconee Cellar’s store picks will be rewarded with a third pick. This will give everyone an equal chance to get their hands on a bottle they wouldn’t normally see on a retailer’s shelf. The Oconee Cellar provides its customers with outstanding customer service, a wide variety of products, a location second to none, a successful monthly wine club, and the best customer loyalty program in the area. It also keeps up with industry trends and consistently brings in new products.Customers also have the ability to text special orders or requests, using the store number as a special-order hotline. For larger orders, customers can also take advantage of Lake Coun try’s only alcohol delivery service. “Now that the State of Georgia has made it legal to deliver alcohol, we purchased our own delivery vehicle,” Garofalo said.‘We found that people still like the shopping experience we provide in the store, but customers with larger purchases are thrilled that we can deliver their order right to their door.” For more information, visittheoconeecellar.com; find The Oconee Cellar on Facebook or Instagram; visit the store at 6350 Lake Oconee Pkwy., Ste. 108, Greensboro; or call 706-453-0420. — Contributed GATE WOOD i A private K2-12th grade college-prep Christian School. 706-485-8231 x1300 lrainey@gatewoodschool.com 139 Phillips Dr. Eatonton Georgia gatewoodschool.com SAIS ACCREDITED 50 AdvancED Gatewood offers fine and performing arts for K-12th grade. Music is taught k-5th grade, and vocal and music electives are offered to middle and high school students. Some students qualify to compete in regional and state competitions. Contact Libby Rainey for information: ANNIVERSARY SALE GOING ON THIS WEEKEND! Thursday, August 21 - Sunday, August 24, 2025 SHOP EARLY AND SHOP OFTEN! COME IN AND SEE OUR DAILY SPECIALS I SMIRNOFF VODKA 1.75ml $18.99 SAVE $1.00 Tito’s, • TITO’S HAND CRAFTED VODKA 1.75ml $29.99 SAVE $4.00 CAYMU$ A NAPA • CABERNET 750ML $69.99 • SAVE $5.00 ( 7 $ m 1 1 CROWN ROYAL 1.75ml $55.99 SAVE $3.00 I % i 17 - 1792 • SMALL BATCH [ ■ BOURBON B 750ML $26.99 # SAVE $3.00 * zee HIGH NOON 12 PACKS $29.99 SAVE $2.00 I JACK DANIEL’$ = WHI$KEY 1.75ml $49.99 SAVE $2.00 Maker’s 4 Mark w. MAKER’$ MARK 1.75ml $53.99 SAVE $3.00 ENJOY 15% OFF ALL WINE PURCHASES OF 12 BOTTLES OR MORE SALE ENDS 8/24/25! ALLOCATED BOURBON DRAWING AT THE OCONEE CELLAR! On Saturday, August 23rd, at exactly 8:00 AM customers will line up by the front doors and draw a number. #1 has 5 minutes to purchase two bottles from our allocated bourbon collection as well as the opportunity to purchase a third bottle if they purchase the Oconee Cellar “store picks”. There are over 150 bottles to choose from including an Old Rip Van Winkle 10 year, a Pappy Van Winkle 12 year, and a Pappy Van Winkle 15 year. Pricing will be announced the morning of, so please don’t ask ahead of time. • iGZOBP2 We Deliver! Ask for complete details! Next to Publix 706-453-0420 Mon. - Thurs. 10am - 7pm Fri. - Sat. 10am - 8pm Sunday 12:30 - 6pm www.theoconeecellar.com You can see all the great sales they are having this weekend OR to find out more about our delivery service locate us online at www.theoconeecellar.com facebook at|www.facebook.com/theoconeecellar| Instagram at oconee_cellar. 0© @GatewoodSchool
