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.

Residents help homeless in D.C.

Members of Rainbow Covenant Church and Ministries decided that helping the homeless in Newton County wasn't enough, so they traveled to Washington, D.C., to help the homeless there.

Barnes dies in prison

Lanny Perry Barnes, the man convicted of killing 2-year-old Avery Nicole King in 2006, died June 24 at Augusta State Medical Prison - nearly three years to the day when the attack on the Casola and King families took place outside the McDonald's restaurant on U.S, Highway 278.

Snapping Shoals EMC sends students to D.C.

Snapping Shoals EMC is sending two local students from its service area to Washington D.C., as part of the Washington Youth Tour. The two students for 2009's tour are Marilyn Dyess and Mack Parnell. SSEMC sends students to the U.S. capitol for the program annually.

Flying solo

Chris Waters 16, a local student at Eastside High School, just completed his first solo flight on Tuesday. Waters has been training and working for this day all year long with his instructor Bill Leppert from Ocean Isle, N.C.

NCSO official confirms Lanny Barnes has died

Please continue to check CovNews.com for updates on this story.

Ozburn makes short list for Supreme Court nominee

By Gabriel Khouli Alcovy Superior Court Judge Samuel Ozburn is one step closer to becoming a Georgia Supreme Court Justice, after he beat out 29 other candidates to become one of nine finalists. The Governor's Office released its short list Wednesday after the Judicial Nominating Commission finished interviewing the original 38 finalists. "I'm honored. I think this is a very important position and a lot of very qualified people are on the ...

5 shot at teen party

Five teens were shot at a party in the early morning hours of June 28. According to Newton County Sheriff's Office Lt. Tyrone Oliver, deputies received a call of a person shot on Trelawney Lane at approximately 12:01 a.m. When they arrived, the deputies found a large party, and when they entered the home ,they located the five teens who all appeared to be suffering from gunshot wounds. Four of the teens - three males ...

Signs of struggle

Shots rang out in a home in the Cedar Creek subdivision Monday morning, and when deputies arrived at the residence, they found three people shot - one of whom died later that day. Deputies from the Newton County Sheriff's Office were called to a home on Appia Way off Ga. Highway 36 at 9:43 a.m. from two separate people - a man and a woman - both inside the residence at the time.

CFD recognized for sprinkler education efforts

The national nonprofit Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition has named the Covington Fire Department a "Built for Life Fire Department" for its efforts to help Covington citizens understand the life-saving importance of installing fire sprinkler systems in homes. The HFSC established this new designation with federal Fire Prevention and Safety Grant funding, as part of a national campaign to increase the number of fire sprinkler systems in homes.

Crime briefs: Man arrested for exploitation of teen

A 26-year-old Jonesboro man was arrested and charged after chatting with an investigator that he believed was a 13-year-old girl. Walter Alexis Semidey was taken into custody by Newton County Sheriff's Office investigators Tuesday and charged with sexual exploitation of children and computer pornography. According to a statement released by the NCSO, Semidey reportedly began communicating with the "girl" via the internet and had been doing so over a two-month period.

"I've lived a good life"

With census workers beginning to creep into the county to gather information for the 2010 census, many wonder what demographics numbers will reveal about the county at present. However, few have as much insight into the history of our county as centenarians born and bred here do.

Man robs Walgreens, caught within minutes

An 18-year-old Ohio man was arrested Monday afternoon minutes after he reportedly robbed a drug store employee at gunpoint.

Extra officers on the road for July 4 holiday

Law enforcement officers have started an increase in patrol a little early this year in anticipation of a busy Fourth of July weekend.

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.

Woman arrested for forging prescription

Christina J. Gray was arrested Saturday at the Kroger Pharmacy on Ga. Highway 20 in Covington. Gray was charged with prescription fraud in reference to a forged prescription sent to the Kroger Pharmacy on June 13. Pharmacy Manager Amie Anderson contacted authorities around 10:30 a.m. on Saturday morning and explained to the officer that she had received a prescription for 10mg of the narcotic Loritab. Anderson also stated that the prescription was sent in by ...