Defective government

"Hold on, my friends, to the Constitution and to the Republic for which it stands. Miracles do not cluster, and what has happened once in 6,000 years, may not happen again. Hold on to the Constitution, for if the American Constitution should fail, there will be anarchy throughout the world."

Lloyd Madison Lyda Jr.

Mr. Lloyd Madison Lyda Jr., "Butch," 68, of Oxford, passed away May 19.

Barbara Mull Norman

Mrs. Barbara Mull Norman, 61, of Covington, passed away May 20. Mrs. Norman was preceded in death by her father Hoyt Mull.

Covington's Collegiates

Softball

NCSS graduation rates increase

Data released by the Georgia Department of Education Tuesday show that cohort graduation rates have increased across the board for Newton County Schools.

Newton County Jail Log, May 22

Jahmelia Latsia Arnold,

Legals, May 17, 2013

Lowest gas price - May 21

The lowest price for regular gas is $3.45 at Flash Foods, located at 4175 Salem Road and Brown Bridge Road.

Commissioners to talk budget tonight

The Newton County Board of Commissioners will talk next year's budget again at 7 p.m., tonight at the Historic Courthouse, and they could resume discussions about whether to increase the property tax rate and cut or enhance any specific services.

Mrs. Ollie Mae Grant Sams

Ollie Mae Grant Sams, age 86, passed Sunday, May 19, 2013. A visitation will be Thursday May, 23rd at J.C. Harwell and Son Funeral Home in Covington,Ga. from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30p.m. Graveside service will be held following the visitation at 2:00 p.m. in the Newborn Memorial Cemetery in Newborn, Ga.

NCSO holds west precinct grand opening

The West Side precinct of the Newton County Sheriff's Office will host its grand opening Tuesday at 10 a.m. The precinct is located at 3665 Salem Road, Suite C2. Although there is limited space, the grand opening is open to the public.

Lowest gas price - May 20

The lowest price for regular fuel is $3.49 at Shell, located at 10125 Alcovy Road and City Pond Road.

Sunday car show on square canceled

The car show planned for 10 a.m. tomorrow (Sunday, May 19) on the square has been canceled because of weather, according to an email from Main Street Covington Director Josephine Kelly.

Lora Pittman

Mrs. Lora Pittman 90, of Eatonton passed away on May 17. She was born in Covington Feb. 11, 1923 to Zack and Ethel Elliot Patterson.

New superintendent

Tykerria TyShae Gotel

Little Miss Tykerria TyShae Gotel died Aug. 22. The daughter of Mr. Marquez Dowdell and Ms. Lasharita Gotel, she was born Dec. 5, 2006. She was loved and know by several nicknames such as Ty, Nu-Nu, Chocolate and Sweet Pea. She was here for a short time but will be deeply missed. TyShae was preceded in death by her grandfather Mr. Christopher Dowdell.

Wendy Sherrell Lackey

Wendy Sherrell Lackey died Aug. 18. The daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Raymond (Annie Lois) Lackey, she was born in 1955 in Evanston, Ill. She attended Evanston public schools. She joined New Hope CME Church at an early age, and after moving to Covington, she joined Richard's Chapel United Methodist Church. She served as an usher at White's Chapel United Methodist Church, worked on the Pastor's Aid Committee at Springfield Baptist Church, ...

Making a joyful sound

At 15 years old, Drew Parker spends his free time virtually hanging out with friends on MySpace or riding four-wheelers and dirt bikes near his home in Newton County. The trouble for Drew is finding the free time for such pleasures. Drew has to balance not only classes at Alcovy High School, homework, and baseball practice, but also his budding career as a Christian singer.

Giving cubs a den

Members of the Boy Scouts of America Yellow River District recently awarded First Presbyterian Church of Covington with the district's Charter Organization of the Year Award.

Eye of the wiser Tiger

It's 9 p.m. on a warm and wet Friday evening. A storm has made its way onto the practice field at Alcovy High School.

Under nest of pressure

In 1981, "Under Pressure" was a big hit for Queen.

Looking for the right stuff

In 2006, the Newton Rams won 30 percent of their games, ending the season with an overall 3-7 record. In addition, the Rams won just one Region 2-AAAAA game in seven contests.

Views from the front

District 8 Congressman Jim Marshall (D-Macon) recently returned from a trip to Afghanistan where he was imbedded with a U.S. Army Special Forces A team on the border of Pakistan. The following is the second in a three-part series detailing his experiences and observations from the trip.

Colorful urine

There used to be a guy who would come to my office once a week, asking me for money.

Progress on new bank continues

Construction is speeding along on McIntosh Commercial Bank's Covington branch location with a grand opening set to take place in January.

Showing Covington how to cook

When sisters Wendy Harrington and Robyn Bowen started Covington Cooks last November, they thought their cooking supply store had everything amateur chiefs in the area could possibly want. But as business grew and the sisters started seeing repeat business, one request kept coming up again and again.

Prim & proper

Perhaps staying too close for true originality to the style and plot line of 2005's "Pride and Prejudice," director Julian Jarrold nevertheless strikes a chord with his prim and proper take on Jane Austen as a young woman trying to live up to the heavy expectations of Georgian society.

Taking it one day at a time

Even though all of Daphne Cofer's students are unable to speak, she does her best to give them a voice.

Taking it one day at a time

Even though all of Daphne Cofer's students are unable to speak, she does her best to give them a voice.

Man takes law into own hands over theft of pit bulls

A man took the law into his own hands Monday when he tracked down the men who stole his pit pull puppies and, with the help of a gun, demanded them back.