YEAR IN REVIEW 2025

The beginning of July 2025 will be remembered by the community due to a July 3 vehicle accident fatality followed days later by a July 6 arson and suicide at a local body shop.

Looking back at 2025 spotlight subjects

(Author’s note: Most weeks I write a feature article spotlighting a different individual. This week I offer some unusual and/or interesting snips and tidbits from stories you may have read in the past.)Local prominent attorney Charlie Newberry once, among other many activities, played the violin.

The Jones County News salutes the local Veteran of the Week

Atwell Bell is the local veteran of the week. He was a storekeeper 3rd class in the U.S. Navy and served aboard the USS Vestal from 19351939. Bell was born July 18, 1917.Do you know a veteran we can feature? Email us at articles@ jcnews. com or call 478-986-3929.

Grease Monkey:

Grease Monkey, a locally owned automobile service, recently opened its doors at 101 Walmart Dr. in Eatonton.“We opened this location in 2023 built on customer service,” said James Painter, co-owner of Grease Monkey.

Inmates, including one awaiting trial for murder, back in custody after escape

A federal inmate awaiting trial for murder slipped from the DeKalb County Jail but was swiftly captured in South Florida with two other escapees, federal authorities said Friday.Stevenson Charles, 24, and Yusuf Minor, 31, made initial appearances in federal court in Fort Lauderdale Tuesday.

Real Life

–George Sheffield “Joseph…a just man“-Mt 1:19 Joseph, to me, is the unsung hero in the Christmas story. He’s gets left in the background, standing there quiet like a stage prop filling out the scenery. He never speaks. We learn about him through his actions, not his words.

The eyes of the Lord

Pastor & Mrs. Joe L. RidleyThe eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry. The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles.

Jail Report

DEC.

Real Estate Transactions

DEC. 22-23, 2025DEC. 22Win-Win Joycliff Realty, LLC to GA Choice Housing, LLC; 3320 Joycliff Rd.; parcel M04D00002; $210,000.00 DEC. 23Kayla Brown, Administrator of the Estate of Tabatha Carol Lawson to Caleb Shipp and Haley Shipp; 615 Lite N Tie Rd.; 22.5 acres; parcel J5200172; $275,000.

Crime Watch

The following information is gleaned from incident reports, which are public record, from the Jones County Sheriff’s Department and Gray Police Department Dec. 11-18, 2025.Dec. 11Suspended and expired registrationOfficer Meeks was patrolling the area of GA Hwy.