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Giant tortoise visits Hinesville
big turtle
Heather Akers of Midway rides Ben Franklin the tortoise near the intersection of Veterans Parkway and East Oglethorpe Highway on Friday afternoon. - photo by Lewis Levine

A 400-pound, 60-year-old-tortoise named Benjamin Franklin paid a visit to Hinesville on Friday afternoon. Randy Gallagher, the owner of the tortoise, was passing through on his way to various cities in Georgia as a way to raise awareness for turtle conservation. Benjamin drew a large crowd in the parking lot of Hinesville’s Walmart as children and adults rode the animal and curious onlookers snapped photos. Gallagher has had Ben for 45 years. "All he pretty much does is eat and sleep," said Gallagher, who is from North Carolina.

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