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
Company to build huge film studio
Covington's been a filming mecca for years, but plans to build a huge studio complex could have the town landing Hollywood blockbusters a year from now.
Council supports new fueling station
Covington is moving ahead with plans to build a compressed natural gas fueling facility, and now city officials must decide how big of a station to build, how to pay for it and who's going to build it.
Library needs major repairs
The 16-year-old Covington Branch Library is in need of some major repairs, including a new roof and new heating and air condition units, which cost more than $1 million, money official say the library system simply doesn't have.
Washington St. gets new computers
The Washington Street Community Center received some much needed new computers, courtesy of a monetary donation from local industry H.B. Fuller.
Man crashes into Rite Aid pharmacy
A 79-year-old Covington man accidentally crashed his car into the front entrance of the Rite Aid pharmacy at the corner of Emory Street and U.S. Highway 278 Monday afternoon, but no one sustained significant injuries and the store remained open through the crash.
Mental health court will help inmates
Some people with schizophrenia, depression and bipolar and anxiety disorders see the world in a fundamentally different way and when they lose touch with reality and experience delusions, they can act out in ways that results in them ending up in jail.
Nelson Heights changes management
The Nelson Heights Community Center is set to get another change in management after an up-and-down existence during which it has consistently faced questions about its purpose, operation and funding.
Teen work program needs local employers
Alcovy High School senior DeMichael Reid wants to one day own and manage his own auto repair shop, and he's getting a jump start on his dream by interning at a local business, a trend that's becoming ever more popular for high school students.
Water, sewer tap fees to increase
The Newton County Water and Sewerage Authority is raising its fees May 1 on the most common residential water and sewer taps, a move executive director Mike Hopkins said accurately reflects real costs in today's market.
BOC to re-apply for two grants
The Newton County Juvenile Court received permission from the Board of Commissioners to reapply for two grants.
County taking bids for lawn contract
Newton County is finally bidding out its lawn care contract, which became a source of controversy this year when it was discovered the current contractor had operated without an up-to-date county business license.
Gun-firing discussion gets reboot
The county's gun-firing ordinance discussion got a reboot at Tuesday night's Board of Commissioners work session as the citizen committee looking at the ordinance gave some preliminary findings which appear to address many people's concerns.
County to get new, updated website
Newton County's website is set to get a complete makeover, a move county officials agreed was long overdue.
Watch the BOC work session as the gun ordinance discussion gets reboot
The county's gun-firing ordinance discussion got a reboot at Tuesday night's Board of Commissioners work session as the citizen committee looking at the ordinance gave some preliminary findings which appear to address many people's concerns.
Gun ordinance discussion gets reboot
The gun-firing ordinance discussion got a reboot at Tuesday night's county work session as the citizen committee looking at the ordinance gave some preliminary findings which appear to address many people's concerns.
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