Downtown Baker Named to Statewide 40 Under 40

Perry, GA · October 3, 2026

Downtown is dressed in burlap and autumn colors this morning as more than two dozen handcrafted scarecrows settle along the sidewalks for October. Grab your market basket early and take a stroll before the afternoon crowds arrive.

The Lead

Baker and confectionery artist Cory Allen Jones, founder of Sweet Evelyn's at 910 Carroll Street, earned a spot on Georgia Trend magazine’s annual 40 Under 40 list this week, recognizing rising entrepreneurial leaders across the state.

Jones turned a childhood passion for decorating holiday cookies into a culinary venture that put local baking on national television, including runs on Food Network’s Holiday Wars and Halloween Baking Championship. After launching Sweet Evelyn's in 2023—naming the storefront in honor of his maternal grandmother—Jones quickly expanded the business from pop-ups into a full-scale artisanal bakery and gift shop that anchors Carroll Street.

For downtown regulars, the statewide recognition simply affirms what the Saturday morning pastry rush has shown for years. Next week, Jones and his crew fire up the ovens for their busiest stretch of the season as visitors begin arriving for fair week.

Local Pulse

Flock Cameras Assist in Scam Investigation Safety Investigators credited automated plate readers with helping track two suspects who scammed an older resident out of seventy thousand dollars.
Council Meets Monday for Work Session City Hall Council members convene at City Hall Monday evening to discuss upcoming municipal business ahead of Tuesday’s regular voting meeting.
Youth Ambassadors Prepare Livestock Barns Early Community High school ambassadors arrived at the fairgrounds this weekend to ready livestock facilities ahead of Thursday's opening ceremonies.

Today's Outlook

High 88°F · Low 72°F — Overcast (35% chance of precipitation)
- Keep a light rain layer handy for warm, muggy cloud cover this afternoon.

What's On Around Town

Today

Downtown Perry Farmers Market 1000 Ball St, 9:00 AM–1:00 PM · Free Stock up on local produce, handmade baked goods, and autumn crafts.
Survivor STEM Workshop Museum of Aviation (1942 Heritage Blvd), Warner Robins, 9:30 AM–12:00 PM · $30 Hands-on survival navigation and aerospace challenges for middle and high schoolers.
Cinderella by United European Ballet The Grand Opera House (651 Mulberry St), Macon, 7:00 PM · Paid Classic Prokofiev choreography and live storytelling in a historic theater setting.

Tomorrow

Historic Macon Fall Flea Market 357 Oglethorpe St, Macon, Noon–4:00 PM

Monday

Perry City Council Work Session Perry City Hall (808 Carroll St), 5:00 PM · Free

Spotlight & Story

Downtown Scarecrow Fest
- Every October, local merchants craft elaborate, themed figures along Carroll and Ball streets. What began over a decade ago as a friendly competition between a handful of shopkeepers now features more than two dozen custom entries, with residents casting ballots through Halloween.

Perry Daily Digest — compiled from local sources as of 6 AM. For breaking updates, follow your local newsrooms.

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