Articles By Author - Gabriel Khouli
Cities will cooperate on natural gas
Covington is building a pipeline to provide natural gas to Stanton Springs industrial park for Baxter International, and Social Circle won't – and never intended to – stand in the way, officials say.
Main Street board OKs ending pact
The planned reorganization of the Main Street Covington program took another step forward Tuesday, bringing Covington city officials' plan to move the program under the Covington-Newton County Chamber of Commerce close to fruition.
City mulls tougher grass, weed laws
Covington City Council members want a cleaner city, and putting more restrictions on the unruly growth of grass and weeds is up for discussion.
Main Street vision shared
Covington Mayor Ronnie Johnston has a big vision for Covington. He wants his city's downtown to be more popular than nearby Madison's, its Christmas displays to shine as brightly as Callaway Gardens,' its businesses to thrive, and its residents to be employed and entertained.
BOC plans tax increase
Newton County Chairman Keith Ellis heard residents' request for officials to find a way to balance next year's budget without raising the property tax rate, and he scrambled early last week to find an alternative.
Public safety officials plan blood drive
Working as a 911 center dispatcher for nearly six years, Stykes has heard tragedy in the voices of victims of accidents, crimes and fires, and he's done what he could to calm, reassure and aid them. When Stykes and his co-workers heard about the deaths of more than 20 people in the devastating May 31 tornadoes and storms in Oklahoma, they couldn't help directly but decided to host a blood drive to do their part.
BOC reaches consensus to up millage
County commissioners reached an informal consensus Thursday night to raise the millage rate to 11.59 next year to account for a projected decline in overall property values and spare what they felt were too deep of cuts to the budget.
Church's clothing ministry ready to help
Local ministry Mission 25 is jam-packed with clothes and ready to serve those in need, and its founders and supporters know there's no coincidence it's gotten this far.
Several road repairs scheduled for summer
Several roads in Newton County will be repaired or resurfaced this summer, and projects on Airport, Crowell, Jack Neely and Mote roads will require the most intense work.
Main Str not ready to OK mayor's idea
The board of directors of the Main Street Covington program expressed displeasure at being kept out of the loop, and its members are not yet ready to OK a proposal to move the program, which is responsible for downtown development and marketing, under the local Chamber of Commerce.
Commissioners OK Rx discount card
Residents without health insurance or those whose insurance doesn't cover certain prescriptions will now have access to a free discount prescription card that can be used at several area pharmacies.
Public weighs in on county budget
Chairman Keith Ellis asked for public feedback as officials seek ways to balance next year's budget, and residents responded, calling and stopping by his office Monday asking questions and offering their perspectives.
Cities negotiate over future gas profits
While Baxter International builds its $1 billion pharmaceutical manufacturing plant at Stanton Springs industrial park, other companies and governments are working to ensure the company will have the water, sewer service, electricity and gas it needs to operate. It's the last one that's proving to be a little complicated.
Builders: Home rebound will take time
Atlanta-based Kerley Family Homes wanted to buy 32 vacant lots in the Covington Place subdivision near Ashton Hills Golf Club and build out the remainder of the subdivision, but the homes they wanted to sell for $225,000 only appraised for $205,000 pre-construction. The company has pulled its plans for now, but owner Joe Kerley said he'll keep an eye on the area and check back in six months.
Chairman invites public input on county budget
Newton County Chairman Keith Ellis expects to spend next week scouring the budget, looking for areas to cut and trying to get his five commissioners to come to a consensus. He said he welcomes any input from the public.
Archive By Author - Gabriel Khouli
Restaurant owners discuss string of low grades
After months of complaints about failing restaurant inspection scores, several Newton County restaurant owners finally sat down with local health officials on June 18 to air their grievances and get some answers.
County cuts more than 14 jobs due to budget strains
A sense of melancholy loomed over the historic courthouse and county administrative building this week as 13 county employees cleared out their desks and said goodbye to co-workers, friends and buildings they had called home for years.
Program offers children meals during summer
A square meal is hard to come by for many poor families, especially in the current economy. Free and reduced-cost breakfasts and lunches help cover the gap in children's diets, but during the summer those resources aren't available and children go hungry.
A noble nomination
Judge Samuel Ozburn pauses in concentration as he works his way back through his years of memories as a lawyer and judge.
State further removes water restrictions
One week after Newton County's drought water restrictions were reduced, the state decided to remove the drought restrictions altogether. On June 10 Gov. Sonny Perdue declared Georgia was going to non-drought restrictions because of the state's abundant rainfall over the past few months.
City council divided over budget items
The Covington City Council approved the 2009-2010 budget, but Councilman Keith Dalton voted against approving the budget because he disagreed with pay raises to the mayor and council and the addition of two new city employees.
Restaurant owners speak out against low health grades
Several new and established restaurants in Newton County have been receiving failing restaurant inspection grades, and they say they're being unfairly treated by the local health inspectors.
Shelter up and running
The Covington homeless shelter at Turner Lake Circle is filled with residents and up and running.
Airport to close for repairs
The Covington Municipal Airport will close for two months, beginning in late July or early August, when the city begins rehabilitation of the 4,200 feet of older runway.
Breaking ground
General Mills broke ground in Social Circle Monday on what will be its largest distribution center in the United States, a 1.5-million-square foot, $42 million facility at 5239 E. Hightower Trail.
City of Oxford to use Newton fire departments
After disbanding its volunteer fire department in December, the City of Oxford is in the process of reaching a permanent 50-year agreement to pay Newton County to handle Oxford's fires.
New homeless shelter opens after final inspections
Covington now has a homeless shelter as Rainbow Covenant Ministries received its final certificates of occupation for the three homeless shelter buildings at Turner Lake Circle.
Republican candidates prepare for ‘10 elections
Sen. John Douglas (R-Social Circle) declared last Thursday's local Republican Party meeting a victory party, in the wake of the Board of Commissioners decision to not raise the millage rate.
With drought over, water restrictions eased
Newton County residents will be able to wash their cars and water their lawns Wednesday as the state lowered Newton County's watering restrictions to Level IV c.
911 dispute close to solution
Porterdale received answers to all of its 911 Center questions, but it still wasn't satisfied with the amount of money it had to pay for emergency dispatch services. However, Porterdale, Covington and Newton County accomplished more in Tuesday's 45-minute joint work session than they did in the previous few months of back and forth discussion. The only issue remaining between Porterdale and Covington and Newton County is how Porterdale's share of 911 dispatch ...
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