About The Eatonton messenger. (Eatonton, Ga.) 18??-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 4, 2025)
A4 | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2025 The Eatonton Alessenger www.msgrnews.com 00 Opinions All letters to the editor must be signed and include a phone number for verification purposes. Send letters to editor@msgrnews.com by noon Monday. September brings time of reflection September is a time of reflection for me. Most of the year is behind me with just a few months left to go. What have I accom plished thus far this year and what do I have left to do? Same with life. I am past the September of my years, with no idea how much time there is ahead. I can’t get back my yesterdays but, hopefully, I can learn from them and do a better job with my tomorrows. I talk to my brother, Bob, weekly in Gaines ville. I call them “no news” calls because we really have nothing much new to Dick Yarbrough Columnist say to each other. Instead, we talk about our aches and pains, our impending doctors’ appointments, and our kids, grandkids, and great grandkids. In truth, while we have always loved and admired each other, we were pretty competitive in our respec tive careers. Much of that was my fault. Everyone knew Bob was going to be a success. Me, they weren’t so sure about. So, I always felt like I had something to prove. After graduation from the University of Georgia, he began a career in magazine publishing. After graduation from UGA a decade later, I spent a few years in broadcasting before joining Southern Bell Telephone Company. Ironically, at a midpoint in our respective careers, we both moved — in the same month. He, to Chicago; me, to Washington. Brother Bob retired as president of his firm and came back home to family in Gainesville. I haven’t quite mastered the art of retirement. After retiring from Bell South as a corporate vice president, I went on to be a managing director of the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games. After that I began a new career as a newspaper columnist, where two decades later I remain. Rarely do we reflect on our respective careers in our weekly conversa tions, but when we do it is with mutual acknowl edgement of a work ethic bequeathed to us by our parents. But it was more than the long hours we put in. The actor Sam Elliott once said success is equal parts hard work and good luck. I think my brother would agree, we’ve experienced both. As for me, I will take credit for my hard work. But the good luck was just that. Luck. Being in the right place at the right time. Altogether, it made for a wonderful career. But there is more to life than making a living. There is a line in the song “My December,” by the rock band Linkin Park, that says, “And I just wish that I didn’t feel like there was something I missed.” Me, too. I missed a lot of sunrises and sunsets. Oh, I saw them, but it was on the way to the office or on the way home and I was too busy thinking about work to appreciate them. I will never take them for granted again. That goes for children’s laughter and for good health »Show up, speak up!« Public meeting schedule for Eatonton and Putnam County PUTNAM DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY 1 p.m. - 2 nd Tuesday 706-485-1884 PUTNAM COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION 6 p.m. - 2 nd & 3 rd Monday 706-485-5381 EATONTON PUTNAM WATER SEWER AUTHORITY 4:30 p.m. - 3 rd Wednesday 706-485-5252 EATONTON CITY COUNCIL 7 p.m. - 1 st Tuesday & 3 rd Monday 706-485-3311 PUTNAM COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS 6 p.m. - 3 rd Tuesday • 10 a.m. - 1st Friday 706-485-5826 PUTNAM PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION 6:30 p.m. - 1 st Thursday 706-485-2776 PUTNAM BD. OF ELECTIONS & REGISTRATION 4:30 p.m. - 1 st Tuesday 706-485-8683 * These dates and times are based on regular government meeting schedules. For any called or special meetings, please see our legal page. MORE REFLECT » A6 ON YOUR MARK @Ramireztoons michaelpramirez.com 2 Ve= The Eatonton Messenger A. Mark Smith President/Publisher amsmith@msgrnews.com Matt Smith General Manager matt@msgrnews.com Ian Tocher Editor ian@msgrnews.com Letters to the Editor Editor's note: Letters to the Editor from our readership are always encouraged; however, Smith Communications, Inc. (SCI) reserves the right to limit letters to no more than 500 words and adheres to a policy held by several newspapers nationwide to limit the number of letters on any particular subject, and to request that letter writers limit submitting comments on any one subject to once per month. Letters providing new information, ideas, commentaries, or opinions will always be welcome and considered. Putting Putnam General on a pedestal ESTABLISHED 1861 Vice President Michael Smith Vice President JoAnn Smith Managing Editor Josh Lurie Reporter T. Michael Stone Reporter Bailey Ballard Sports Reporter Lance McCurley Advertising Manager Heather Harris Advertising Representative Dianne Phillips Advertising Representative Amy Manville Classified Representative Haley Fowler Graphic Artist Victoria Anadenko Legal Advertising/Circulation Becky Meyer Business Manager Cassandra Fowler Lakelife Editor Lynn Hobbs Dedication Battle B. Smith, Editor and Publisher, 1956-1988 Micky Smith, Editor and Publisher, 1989-2003 Mark Smith Jr., Executive Editor, 2004-2019 The Eatonton Messenger (USPS 166-520) is published every Thursday by Smith Communications Inc., 100 N. Jefferson Ave., Eatonton, GA 31024-4027. It is the official organ of the County of Putnam and the City of Eatonton and is a member of the Georgia Press Association and the National Newspaper Association. All rights reserved. Reprints by permission of The Eatonton Messenger and individual writers only. Subscription Rates One Year Two Years Putnam, Morgan, Greene counties $37 $70 Other Georgia counties $50 $90 Out of Georgia $55 $99 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Eatonton Messenger, P.O. Box 4027, Eatonton, GA 31024 Periodicals Postage Paid at Eatonton, GA 31024 Dear Editor, After reading a recent article in The Eatonton Messenger concerning Putnam County General Hospital, I felt compelled to write this letter. In the recent past, I had experienced both Putnam County General, as well as Baldwin County hospitals by taking a friend who needed emergency assistance. On Aug. 1, 2025, I experienced an anaphylactic reaction to some type of insect. Because of my recent observations of other emergency rooms, I knew that I wanted my sister-in-law to take me to Putnam County Hospital. This is in no way saying anything negative about the care that my friend received at the other aforementioned emergency room. That being said, I cannot say enough about the quality of care and genuine concern that I received from the staff, nurses, and physicians at Putnam County. It is very distressing to think that a hospital of this caliber could possibly be closed. Letters to the editor are due by Monday morning for that week's paper. Letters may be emailed to editor@msgrnews.com or delivered to The Eatonton Messenger, 100 N. Jefferson Ave., Eatonton, GA 31024. Letters sent anonymously will not be printed. A phone number for verification must be included; the phone number will not be published. Eatonton City Council Members John Chip Mylle James A. Michael Janie B. Marie Teresa Reid Walker Mangum Gorley Smith Reid Rainey Doster Mayor Mayor Pro Tem Ward 1 Ward 2 Wards 2 & 3 Ward 3 Wards 1 & 4 Ward 4 706- 706- 706- 706- 706- 706- 478- 706- 485-3311 485-7804 485-7195 485-8984 485-0306 816-6800 288-3846 484-0693 Putnam County Commissioners B.W. “Bill” Sharp Tom McElhenney Chairman District! 706-752-8431 762-205-4731 Richard Garrett District 2 706-749-5573 Putnam County Board of Education Members Based on the pay that the medical staff receives, it is obvious that they have a sincere heart for what they do, and a love of medicine and helping patients in need. It certainly isn’t monetary motivation that keeps them there. It appears that they could go just about anywhere else and make more money, but that’s not where their heart is. It would be a travesty for this level of care and compassion to be taken away from the community. The staff that believes so much in the care of their patients should be compensated to the fullest and made to feel how grateful the community is to have them, their dedication, compassion, and as well the medical talents available to them. I feel that this contribution to our community should be protected. What has to happen to secure the future of this hospital and its staff? Thanks for considering my thoughts and concerns, Betsy K. Johns Steve Hersey District 3 706-485-0935 Jeff Wooten District 4 706-752-8432 Advertising, news and information: 706-485-3501 Fax: 706-485-4166 Advertising email: sales@msgrnews.com News email: editor@msgrnews.com Member, Georgia Press Association National Newspaper Association outhern Newspaper Publisher Association A prize-winning newspaper in Better Newspaper contests 1999-2016 ner of 23 top GPA awards in 2016 PLACE for GENERAL EXCELLENCE 2013, 2014 and 2015 Doris Clemons District 1 706-485-1142 Simone Jones District 2, Vice Chairman 706-473-0738 Georgia Legislators Steve Weiner District 3, Chairman 706-485-5087 Charles Trumbo District 4 478-216-7149 Carol Ann Guthrie District 5 706-766-6012 snpa / MEMBER SOUTHERN NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION Senate Dist. 25 Sen. Rick Williams (R) 327-B Coverdell LOB Atlanta, GA 30334 (404) 656-0082 rick.williams@senate.ga.gov House Dist. 124 Rep. Trey Rhodes (R) 228-A State Capitol Atlanta, GA 30334 404-656-5099 trey.rhodes@house.ga.gov House Dist. 144 Rep. Dale Washburn (R) 401-H Coverdell LOB Atlanta, GA 30334 Office: (404) 656-0152 dale.washburn@house.ga.gov
