Legals, May 22, 2013

18 hurt in shuttle bus crash near Atlanta airport

COLLEGE PARK, Ga. (AP) - Eighteen people were taken to the hospital Friday, at least two in serious condition, after they were hurt in a crash between a hotel shuttle bus and a tractor-trailer near Atlanta's airport, officials said.

DeKalb moves commencements from religious settings

DECATUR, Ga. (AP) - None of the DeKalb County school system's commencement ceremonies will take place in places of worship this year in response to parent complaints.

Legal woes piling up for GA Democratic Party chair

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. (AP) - Legal woes are piling up for the leader of Georgia's Democratic Party.

Boy Scouts approve plan to accept openly gay boys

GRAPEVINE, Texas (AP) - After lengthy and wrenching debate, local leaders of the Boy Scouts of America have voted to open their ranks to openly gay boys for the first time, but heated reactions from the left and right made clear that the BSA's controversies are far from over.

Man dies after accident at Lake Jackson

A Conyers man died on the way to the hospital following a boating crash on Lake Jackson Tuesday. Authorities are still determining the cause of death.

Lowest gas price - May 24

The lowest price for regular fuel is $3.52 at Shell, located at 10700 Covington Road and Flat Shoals Road.

County OKs new landscaping firm

The county's lawn maintenance contract mini-saga ended Tuesday night when the Newton County Board of Commissioners approved a low bid from Conyers-based G & G Landscape Management Group.

BOE approves tentative budget

Members of the Newton County Board of Education approved a tentative budget for the 2013-14 school year, but did not vote to eliminate Ombudsman transportation, leaving that decision on the table.

School system to begin summer hours

Newton County School System's county offices (the Board of Education Building and Service Center) will begin summer hours next week.

Memorial Day event to honor the fallen

The annual Memorial Day service will take place on the square at 10 a.m. Monday, with keynote speaker Max Vincent, senior pastor at Allen Memorial United Methodist Church in Oxford.

Owens named Alcovy principal

Newton High School assistant principal Sandra Owens has been named principal of Alcovy High School, and the educator said she is honored to be named the school's new leader.

Several Covington events coming up

The city of Covington will have several road closures around the square this summer as the events schedules ramps up along with the heat.

Area grads at the top of their class

Social Circle High School

County official seeks budget priorities

Tasked with paring down an additional $5.47 million worth of budget requests in fiscal year 2014, County Manager John Middleton is leaning on department heads to tell him what they most need to move the county forward.

Arlene Peale Terrell

Arlene Peale Terrell, 68, of Social Circle, died March 1. The daughter of the late Elmer Earl Turner and Isabelle Pecor Turner, she was born in Colchester County, Va., in 1939.

Mary Sammons

Mary Sammons, 89, of Covington, died March 5 at Newton Medical Center. The daughter of the late James Walter and Mary (Boswell) Sammons, she was born in Newton County. Miss Sammons was a founding member of Calvary Baptist Church where over many years she taught The Joy Class Sunday school, served as church secretary was a member and officer of WMU and was very supportive of other churches and ministries. Miss Sammons was a ...

Raymond Davis Grant Jr.

Mr. Raymond Davis Grant Jr. died Feb. 26. The son of the late Mr. Raymond Davis Grant Sr. and Mrs. Rebecca Grant Williams, he was born in 1945 in Newton County. Mr. Larcellous Williams was his devoted stepfather. He joined Grace United Church at an early age and attended public schools in Newton County, graduating in 1964. Mr. Grant was a cement finisher. He loved feeding the birds in the morning.

Robert "Bob" Collier

Robert "Bob" Collier, 63, of Conyers, passed away March 4. Mr. Collier was a hairdresser in the DeKalb and Conyers area for over 40 years.

Tara Michelle Adair

Mrs. Tara Michelle Adair, 39, a lifelong resident of Covington, died March 3. Mrs. Adair attended Eastridge Community Church and Mansfield Baptist Church and High Point Baptist Church. She was a graduate of Newton County High School and enjoyed being involved with her children and all their activities.

Opportunities abound

Newton County Schools held its fifth Career Expo for high school students, hosted for the fourth year by DeKalb Technical College, Wednesday morning and afternoon.

Come, let us return to the Lord

Why did God take him from us? Why can't the doctors figure out what is wrong with me? Why didn't I get that opportunity I was so ready for? Why do I sometimes hurt ...inside? Do you understand the answer to all those questions? Do you know why bad stuff happens?

I am the way, the truth, and the life

Nearing the end of Christ's life before his crucifixion, he spoke to his disciples and told them he would not be with them much longer. In John 13:33-14:6 we read the story of how Jesus dealt with the questions of Peter as well as Thomas concerning his going away. He also brought comfort to the troubled hearts of his disciples.

Sacrificing babies on the alter of convenience

This is an anniversary year for the disastrous Roe vs.. Wade decision. Since it is also an election year, the rhetoric seems to be magnified. Even though our laws and common sense tell us that an unborn life is still a life, we continue to sacrifice doing the correct thing on the altar of convenience.

Would Jesus be in favor of Civil Unions?

In a town meeting last Sunday, Senator Barack Obama made an interesting religious statement. He said, "I believe in civil unions that allow a same-sex couple to visit each other in a hospital or transfer property to each other ... If people find that controversial, then I would just refer them to the Sermon on the Mount."

Positive change

The Youth and Young Adult Development Center has been promoting a positive change for youth and young adults ranging from 8 to 30 years old, since 2003.

Gone is the GREAT Plan

One of the issues I wrote about on Feb. 22 was House Speaker Glenn Richardson's ever evolving tax plan. The GREAT Plan, an acronym that stood for Georgia's Repeal of Every Ad Valorem Tax, originally started out as a proposal that eliminated every property tax, from the vehicle ad valorem tax to local property taxes, and would have also eliminated some sales tax exemptions on services. Schools systems and local governments would have received ...

Loganville Christian Academy victorious

The Loganville Christian Academy varsity baseball team won its home

Favre rules out a return to playing football again

By Chris Jenkins GREEN BAY, Wis. - Sitting by himself on an airplane ride up to Green Bay on Thursday morning, Brett Favre struggled to find a sincere and graceful way to say he was finished with football. In the end, his tears told the story. "I know I can play but I don't think I want to," Favre said, choking with emotion in a news conference at Lambeau Field two ...

Winder-Barrow hands Alcovy second straight loss

COVINGTON - On Wednesday, Winder-Barrow High handed the second-year Alcovy Tigers their second loss of the season after a 13-2 victory on the diamond.