Porterdale Bar & Grill to reopen

Update, May 22: Porterdale Bar and Grill owner Linda Crawford told city officials that all issues will be resolved prior to the restaurant reopening.

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

School district honors retirees

The Newton County Board of Education held a retirement dinner on Thursday for employees. The event honored the many years of service of 54 retirees, who included teachers, administrators and personnel at a number of schools and departments in the county.

Montessori School plans open house

The Montessori School of Covington, which is now enrolling ages 3 through high school, will hold two open house sessions May 21.

Ombudsman transportation may be cut

Student transportation to Ombudsman, Newton's alternative school, is one of the items being considered as a possible cut from the 2013-14 school budget as Newton County School System officials reviewed the tentative budget.

Police chief: No secrecy to seized funds

Georgia's forfeiture laws have come under scrutiny lately, following an investigation into reports of alleged abuse in some counties across the state.

It's not cool to keep silent

I remember the first time I ran away from home. I was in sixth grade and I had been wronged in some way. I was sure my parents loved my sister more or denied me some privilege, and I was having none of that. I stayed home when my parents left for work, skipped school, packed a bag and took my bike to this little secluded spot by the river, thinking that was an awesome place to live. I was home before my parents.

Credit report coding trips up buyers

Are large numbers of homeowners who have negotiated short sales with lenders at risk because of a startling omission in the American credit system? Do their credit reports and scores indicate that they were foreclosed upon, rather than having negotiated a mutually agreeable resolution with their lenders?

Sometimes, perspective changes things

Single and lonely in a new neighborhood, a guy invites his neighbors to a drop-in party. With ample food and drink, he sits alone as party time comes and goes.

Who's teaching students to hate U.S.?

Brothers Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, who are accused of setting the bombs that exploded at the Boston Marathon, attended the University of Massachusetts. Maybe they hated our nation before college, but if you want lessons on hating America, college attendance might be a good start. Let's look at it.

NCSS finds testing issues at Alcovy

"Miscommunication and human error" caused 170 students not to complete the coordinate algebra portion of the End Of Course Test - a state test taken by ninth through 12th-graders - at Alcovy High School, and other testing problems were reportedly found when the Newton County School System investigated concerns after receiving an anonymous email.

Gun ordinance on Tuesday's agenda

The newly-created gun-firing ordinance could be voted on by the Newton County Board of Commissioners Tuesday as county officials seek a resolution to the issue of recreational shooting, which has stirred strong emotions on both sides.

Where am I? Brain isn't playing fair

Last week, while out of town and staying in a hotel, I had a most exasperating experience.

Graduates

Nonprofit holds Clay Shoot and BBQ

The Georgia Natural Resources Foundation is hosting a Clay Shoot and BBQ Saturday and invites the public to come out and shoot flying targets and enjoy some BBQ this weekend in Social Circle.

Joe Hoyt Brewer

Mr. Joe Hoyt Brewer, age 64, of Mansfield passed away March 22, 2013 at Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta. He was born in Atlanta, Georgia to James Hoyt and Mae Pitts Brewer on September 3, 1948. Mr. Brewer enjoyed working with his hands and could build anything. He loved spending time with his family and working in his garden.

Woman fired after tweeting pic of men making sexist jokes

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) - A female developer was fired after tweeting about a group of men she said were making sexual comments at a computer programming conference, fueling an already vigorous debate about gender equality and culture in Silicon Valley.

Out and about!

Even if Mother Nature doesn't know it is Spring! Just ask Elgin Childress of Covington he who says "spring means golf." Elgin dressed in a long sleeve shirt topped with a flees hoodie ignores the brisk wind and below fifty degree temps to practice his swing at The Oaks Golf Course located on Brown Bridge Rd in Covington.

Police arrest 2 teens in Ga. baby killing

BRUNSWICK, Ga. (AP) - Police have arrested two teenagers suspected in the shooting death of a baby in a stroller and the wounding of the baby's mother. Brunswick Police Chief Tobe Green said Friday that 17-year-old Demarquis Elkins is charged with first-degree murder as an adult. The 14-year-old is also charged with murder, but he was not identified because he is a juvenile. The chief said police were still investigating the motive and ...

Pa. caretaker charged with drinking old whiskey

GREENSBURG, Pa. (AP) - The live-in caretaker of a western Pennsylvania mansion is facing criminal charges for allegedly drinking more than $100,000 worth of the owner's whiskey.

Ga. Senate passes competing bill on lobbying rules

ATLANTA (AP) - The Georgia Senate has upped the ante on the House as the two chambers attempt to overhaul lobbying rules at the Capitol.

Soccer players suspended over drinking allegations

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) - Authorities say 18 players on a high school soccer team in east Georgia have been suspended and removed from the team after they were accused of drinking alcohol while on a school-sponsored trip.

Senate Democrats on track to pass budget

WASHINGTON (AP) - Democrats controlling the Senate moved on Friday toward approving their first budget in four years, promising another, almost $1 trillion round of tax increases on top of more than $600 billion in higher taxes on the wealthy enacted in January.

Punxsutawney Phil 'indicted' over spring forecast

CINCINNATI (AP) - Famed groundhog Punxsutawney Phil might want to go back into hibernation. Authorities in still-frigid Ohio have issued an "indictment" of the furry rodent, who predicted an early spring when he didn't see his shadow after emerging from his western Pennsylvania lair on Feb. 2. "Punxsutawney Phil did purposely, and with prior calculation and design, cause the people to believe that spring would come early," Mike Gmoser, the prosecutor in southwestern Ohio's ...

Police: Ga. infant killed while pushed in stroller

BRUNSWICK, Ga. (AP) - A Georgia mother says a young gunman opened fire on her baby as she pushed him in a stroller, wounding her and killing the 1-year-old boy.

UGA student reports attack by mime

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) - A University of Georgia student told police she was attacked by a woman who appeared dressed as a mime.

Lowest gas price - March 22

The lowest price for regular fuel in Covington is $3.44 at the RaceWay, located at 5148 U.S. Highway 278 NW near Piper Street.

Tolls on Georgia 400 to end before Thanksgiving

ATLANTA (AP) - Transportation officials say the tolls on Georgia 400, a busy commuter route on the north side of Atlanta, will end later this year.

UGA student reports attack by mime

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) - A University of Georgia student told police she was attacked by a woman who appeared dressed as a mime.