Newton County Jail Log, May 8

Erica Madeline Adriance, 22, 30 Ashley Drive, Oxford, April 24. Contempt of court.

Sleepy suspect

A man wanted in Walton County was found sitting in a Newton County neighborhood early Tuesday morning.

Fantasy 5 winning ticket sold in Covington

Margaret Gregory-Smith of Covington won $256,865 in the May 3 Fantasy 5 drawing. She claimed her prize Monday. The jackpot ticket was purchased at Covington Raceway, 5148 Highway 278 NW, Covington.

Lowest gas price - May 7

The lowest price for regular fuel is $3.42 at QuikTrip, located at 11124 Ga. Highway 142 near I-20 exit 93.

Conyers nabs Vampire Diaries prequel

A new spin-off series of CW's popular "The Vampire Diaries" has been green-lighted and will likely be shooting in Conyers.

Newton County has minor flooding

Porterdale City Council to meet tonight

The City of Porterdale will hold its regular council meeting tonight at 6:30 p.m.

Covington City Council to meet tonight

The City of Covington will hold a work session at 6 p.m. tonight, followed by their council meeting at 6:30 p.m.

Lowest gas price - May 6

The lowest price for regular fuel is $3.42 at QuikTrip, located at 11124 Ga. Highway 142 near I-20 exit 93.

New gun-firing ordinance draft created

A citizens committee put a new gun-firing ordinance on the table this past week, and while it eliminates many issues residents had with the original proposal from earlier this year, some locals wonder if it will actually cut down on illegal firing.

Cycling into a dream

Learning how to ride a bike is a childhood rite of passage. Learning how to fix a bicycle as a child has turned into a lifelong business venture for Bill Adcock.

4-H alumnus to chair Relay for Life

Five years ago, an eighth grade 4-H'er came up to me at Relay for Life, excitedly telling me how 4-H should have a team.

Community rallies to help sick baby

With Jessica Wyatt's recent news that her son, 10-month-old Lucas Cronan, may be suffering from juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia - a rare form of leukemia found in children under 2 years of age - the community has stepped up and taken action.

Hailey bids farewell

After a month-long farewell tour, recreation director Tommy Hailey received his final send-off Friday in front of his family and dozens of close friends and supporters.

Newton County under flood watch

Newton County is under a flood watch until Sunday evening, according to the National Weather Service.

Newton could be hub for medical biz

Board of Commissioners Chairman Keith Ellis has a vision for Newton County and it comes in the form of a big map fastened to a 3x4-foot board. Thin purple lines form a huge diamond encompassing Newton, Jasper, Walton and Morgan counties. Ellis dreams that one day those counties will be what he calls a "Research Diamond," a hub for medical research, hospitals, medical device makers and bioscience giants like Baxter.

Comet offers rare opportunity at Varner

Although Halley's Comet won't be visible again until 2061, local residents will be able to see a newer comet later this month.

Education SPLOST voting starts

Early voting has started in the proposed education SPLOST referendum. If approved, the SPLOST will be a continuation of a current 1-cent sales tax that will go toward capital projects and help boost the Newton County School System's budget.

Newton Medical trains for disaster

"Ahh, my back," a Newton High School health care student shrieked as she was treated for her mock injury by staff at Newton Medical Center. Her pre-planned injury was the result of a phony tornado that was said to have touched down in Porterdale, injuring residents and destroying the blood lab at the hospital.

Woman chases roommate with spoons

A Covington woman was charged with disorderly conduct after reportedly chasing her roommate with a "bouquet of spoons wrapped with a rubber band."

Local man crashes into trees, gets DUI

A Covington man was charged with drunk driving after allegedly losing control of his car and crashing into several trees, which left him and his passenger injured.

Lowest gas price - March 5

The lowest price for regular fuel in Covington is $3.57 at the Marathon station located at 1814 Ga. Highway 11 S. near Ga. Highway 142.

Call for Vampire Diaries extras

The Vampire Diaries television show is looking for new blood for a shoot in Conyers on Thursday, March 7.

After 80 years, residents may get sewer

Bryant Thomas told the city council that his family first moved into their Robinson Street house 80 years ago. And today, "after paying our taxes on time all these years," they still are not connected to the city sewer line. Thomas explained at last night's meeting that his house is on a downslope. Decades ago, there was no way way to pump sewage uphill. Now, there is a pump, yet his home and about 27 nearby houses must rely on septic tanks that sometimes overflow.

I-20 west backed up near I-285

Traffic on Interstate 20 westbound is reportedly jammed approaching Interstate 285 between the Turner Hill Road exit and Panola Road Exit in DeKalb County. Drivers are advised to use alternate routes.

Lowest gas price - March 4

The lowest gas price for regular fuel in Covington is $3.59 at the Shell station on 10724 ByPass Road and Monticello Street.

Local youth take to skies with Civil Air Patrol

Six area teens experienced the thrill of aviation, through orientation flights with the Civil Air Patrol at Covington Municipal Airport last Thursday. The cadets flew a combined total of 6 hours in CAP's Cessna aircraft.

Durden’s Lawn Maintenance owner speaks out

William Durden keeps photos of the flower beds his small company tended for Newton County scrapbooked alongside recognition his landscaping company has received since 2001.

Man spits at officers, defiles car

A Covington man was arrested early Sunday morning, after reportedly hitting a parked car with his car, then physically fighting with officers when they approached him at The Depot.

Schools won’t be rezoned

Parents won't have to wonder about what school their children will attend next school year as schools will not be rezoned for the 2013-2014 academic year.