About The Eatonton messenger. (Eatonton, Ga.) 18??-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 6, 2025)
A2 | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2025 The Eatonton Messenger www.msgrnews.com ROCKS CONTINUED FROM » A1 terroristic act when ... he or she shoots at or throws an object at a conveyance which is being operated or which is occupied by passengers. Instead of being hit by rocks, the fifth vehicle ran into a log lying on the road. “We think it was inten tionally placed there because the tree had already been fallen, and it was out in the road blocking both lanes,” Blenk explained. “A good Samaritan moved the logs from the roadway before we got there.” All of the incidents took place in an approximate 30-minute window on the 1200 block of Monticello Road, Blenk noted. “The rocks and logs were all in the same area,” he added. “The deputy could see bark from the tree smushed into the pavement, and also saw rocks and gravel on the road.” Several of the inci dents were captured on video by the damaged vehicles’ dashcams. Tuesday, Blenk said no other incidents had been reported, but they are still searching for the rock-wielding perpetrator. “We are taking this serious, of course,” Blenk said. “If anybody knows anything, please call the sheriff’s office, 706-485- 8557. “ ...LAKE Every Saturday • 9 AM to 1 PM Now through December 13th located in the greenspace in Harmony Medical Center @ Hwy 44 & Harmony Rd. FB/IG: @LakeOconeeFarmersMarket www.vharmonycrossing.com/farmersmarket THREATS CONTINUED FROM » A1 Business Bureau Vice President Jason Blanken ship opened the session with a blunt warning about a recent rise in widespread scams. “Ever since COVID, scamming is a definite thing,” he declared. “It has increased by 400 percent.” To help people iden tify fraud Blankenship outlined an acronym — BINGO — representing Beware, Identification, No, Gifts, and Others. “Beware of any big checks that come to you unexpectedly, any big winnings,” he said. “Can you win the lottery without playing? No.” He cautioned against high-pressure tactics that make people feel they must act immediately or somehow lose out. He stressed that good, legit imate deals or offers may have limitations but not within a single phone call or sales pitch. In those cases, “No” should be the strongest word in your vocabulary, Blankenship suggested. He also noted that oversharing online feeds another common form of fraud. “Those Facebook quizzes asking about your mother’s maiden name or your first pet’s name? They’re not for fun; they’re after your Information.” He also warned against so-called free “Gifts” that lure people into scams. “What in this world is free?” he asked. “Nothing.” When asked how to identify fake websites, Blankenship suggested looking for grammatical errors, missing contact information, and stock photos. There are also IAN TOCHER/Staff Dr. John Wheeler of Pathfinders Counseling Service makes a point about pursuing good mental health last Tuesday during a community safety forum presented by the Eatonton-Putnam Chamber of Commerce. reverse lookup tools for phone numbers or email addresses, reverse image search for profile photos, and searches for user- names across platforms. Following Blankenship was former Georgia State Patrol officer and Gover nor’s Security Detail member Alan Hardwick with a sobering talk on physical security and personal vigilance. “We live in a very dangerous world,” Hard wick declared. “People are coming unhinged. It’s happening everywhere, suburban, rural, and urban.” Hardwick shared his own acronym involving what he called “the Four Ps:” Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Security. “If you prepare properly, you can prevent poor outcomes,” he said, urging everyone to cultivate situ ational awareness. “How many of you came in today and sat down without thinking about where the exits are?” he asked before describing three types of people in a crisis. “Heroes run to the violence, survivors have a plan, and victims panic,” Hardwick said. “Which are you going to be?” He advised being mindful in everyday life, whether in restaurants, stores, parking lots, or behind the wheel, claiming distraction is one of the biggest dangers everyone faces daily. “You have to have your head on a swivel,” Hard wick said. “Always know who’s behind you, who’s beside you. It drives my REYNOLDS LAKE OCONEE $3,595,000 REYNOLDS LAKE OCONEE $3,595,000 wife crazy, but I tell her, ‘Sweetheart, I’m just trying to take care of us.’ “We’re so distracted,” he continued. “You sit in a restaurant and everyone’s on their phone, and that’s exactly what predators look for, that moment when you’re not paying attention.” The final speaker, Dr. John Wheeler, a former Navy SEAL and founder of Pathfinders Counseling Service in Eatonton, shifted the focus inward — to the mind. “We talk about external threats all the time, but one of the greatest threats we face is how we think about control,” Wheeler said. He introduced the psychological concept of ocus of control, related to belief about where control over one’s life resides. “If it’s external, you’re letting the world — poli tics, your boss, even your spouse — dictate how you feel. But that’s irrational, you can’t control them,” Wheeler said. Cultivating an internal locus of control would be better and healthier, he suggested. “When I have a strong internal locus of control, I see external problems as things I can manage, not control. I can pivot, I can adapt, and I can move forward,” Wheeler said. Drawing from his counseling work with veterans and first responders, Wheeler discussed trauma, PTSD, and what he called “moral injury,” typically involving guilt from witnessing or causing harm. “Moral injury is guilt and shame-based,” Wheeler stated. “It’s different from PTSD, which is fear-based. But both can destroy you if you don’t address them.” Addressing the lingering stigma around mental health in the military, Wheeler said the warrior ethos tells soldiers to be strong, to not show weakness. However, Wheeler added, when people follow that path and ignore their feelings, it often becomes self-destructive. “The best way to heal is to externalize things, to talk,” he said. Each speaker, from scam prevention to street safety to psychological resilience, essentially echoed the same theme: awareness. Whether online, in public, or in the mind, the greatest defense is attentiveness. King summed things up for the assembled business owners and leaders by reminding them, “The next time something sounds too good to be true, or when the world feels over whelming, remember BINGO, remember the Four Ps, and remember that self-control begins with you.” er BRIAN QUINN GLOBAL LUXURY® SPECIALIST COLDWELL BANKER LAKE OCONEE REALTY| m 706.347.2368 o 706.467.3181 1030 BRICKYARD LANE - Greensboro 5 Bedroom/ 5 Full 1 Half Bath Waterfront Estate. Amazing Privacy and Beautiful Lake Views. Effortless Access by Boat or Car to World-Class Amenities REYNOLDS LAKE OCONEE $3,295,000 1101 TIMOTHY ROAD ■ Greensboro 4 Bedroom / 4.5 Bath Lakefront Estate. 5,000+ sq ft and 160+ feet of Water Frontage. Huge Lake Views, Amazing Southwestern Exposure. Ideal Setting. 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Max Dock BRIANAQUINNREALTOR@GMAIL.COM | REYNOLDSLAKEOCONEERESALES.COM MCDADE CONTINUED FROM » A1 there, and repeatedly told her to put down the gun. “In order to de-escalate the situation, I didn’t pull out my pistol immediately, but sought cover behind an SUV that was in the driveway,” he said. After notifying the dispatcher via his radio of the situation and requesting backup depu ties, Barbee said he drew his firearm out of its holster and aimed it at McDade. “But she still wouldn’t put her gun down, even after I repeatedly told her to put it down,” he said. Barbee said that after exhausting all of his options, he decided he would have to shoot the 29-year-old woman pointing her gun at him and yelling. “I put my finger on the trigger and started to apply pressure, but as soon as I did that, she put down her gun and stood up and put her hands in the air,” Barbee said. bo • ^~ ATI Barbee instructed McDade to come down from the roof with nothing in her hands, and when she did, he hand cuffed her and placed her in the backseat of his patrol vehicle. “And then I had to walk around a bit to pray and thank God that I didn’t have to shoot anyone or that I didn’t get shot, because I depend on my faith,” he said. “And by then, backup had arrived and Detective J.D. Turk climbed up on the roof and got the gun.” Amber Nicole McDade, 29, of Bradley Road, Eatonton, was booked into Putnam County Jail and charged with aggra vated assault against a law enforcement officer when engaged on official duty. She was released on a $5,000 bond. PCSO Chief of Staff Russell Blenk said Barbee has been with the sheriff’s office since 2001. “So he’s probably the most seasoned deputy we’ve got out there, and he knows what to do,” Blenk said. “Thankfully it turned out well.” PUBLIC NOTICE FROM THE PUTNAM COUNTY PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT SWIMMING POOL SAFETY REQUIREMENTS The Putnam County Planning & Development Department has determined that noncompliance with swimming pool safety barrier requirements has become a serious public safety concern. To protect children and the general public from accidental injury or drowning, all residential and commercial swimming pools in Putnam County and the City of Eatonton must meet the safety standards established under Section AG105.2 of the International Residential Code (IRC) as adopted by Putnam County. Property owners in both the city and the county are hereby advised that all swimming pools must be equipped with a compliant safety barrier, gate, and/or alarm system as required by law. Failure to comply will result in a misdemeanor citation and/or fines up to 2 $500 per day, in accordance with Putnam County Code of Ordinances Sec. 18-95. For further information or compliance assistance, please contact the Putnam County Code Enforcement at (706) 485- 1895 or visit our office at 117 Putnam Drive, Suite D, Eatonton, GA. Putnam County Planning & Development Lisa Jackson, MPA - Director
