Covington's Crooner

Not only is Covington known as the Hollywood of the South, and as the filming location of many popular TV shows and movies, but it is gaining traction in the music department as well.

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.

Woman arrested for baby shoes theft

A woman was arrested Friday afternoon after allegedly stealing baby shoes.

Lowest gas price - April 4

The lowest price for regular fuel is $3.39 at the Marathon station, located at Ga. Highway 142 and Dixie Road.

County employee arrested for child molestation

A Newton County Public Works employee has been arrested and charged with molesting a 4-year-old girl.

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NCSO Explorers participate in Winterfest

The Newton County Sheriff's Office Explorer Post 2010 participated in the 2013 Winterfest located in Gatlinburg, Tenn. Over 3,600 participants gathered from 13 states to experience what Venturing and Exploring is all about. The NCSO Explorers competed in four events: report writing, trouble unknown, felony traffic stop and DUI traffic stop. There were over 60 Explorer Agency Posts that competed in each event and the NCSO post placed 13th in felony traffic stops and 11th ...

Lowest gas price - April 3

The lowest price for regular fuel is $3.37 at Kroger, located at 5341 Ga. Highway 20 S. near Brown Bridge Road.

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.

Two homes burn Tuesday

Two Newton County homes were severely damaged by fires Tuesday and ruled "complete losses" by fire officials, but no one was hurt in the blazes.

U.S. Rep. Johnson to host Sat. meeting

State and federal officials will be in town Saturday to talk with the public and answer questions, including Congressman Hank Johnson.

Deadly intersection to get safer

The busy four-way stop intersection of Flat Shoals and Covington Bypass roads has seen two fatalities already in 2013, so Georgia State Patrol officials asked Newton County to make the intersection safer.

Theme school accepting 8th grade applicants

Parents of upcoming eighth graders who are looking to enroll their child at the Newton County Theme School should gather up their information, as applications will soon be accepted.

Dancer dreams for freedom in China

During the 2008 presidential election, Sen. Barack Obama voiced his concern over the human rights violations in China.

Iwo Jima, 25 years after battle

The oldest continuous seagoing service, the United States Coast Guard, was the brainchild of Alexander Hamilton. Founded Aug. 8, 1790, the Coast Guard has served in 17 conflicts, from the Quasi-War of 1798 to present day anti-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia.

Army Briefs May 14

Army Pvt. Marcus S. Barton has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. Barton is the son of Kimberly Whedbee of Covington.Army Pvt. C. Forsythe has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Sill, Lawton, Okla. Forsythe earned distinction as an honor graduate of the course. He is the son of Lana Forsythe of Covington.Army Reserve Pvt. Marquice S. Geter has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Sill, Lawton, Okla. Geter ...

Farm Day 2009

County discusses layoffs

The Newton County Board of Commissioners is considering two budget-cutting options to lay off either approximately 45 or 62 county employees in order to balance the fiscal year 2010 budget. At the May 5 budget work session, the BOC agreed that it did not want to raise the millage rate from 9.73 to 10.308, which means that supply and personnel costs will have to be cut to reduce the entire initial $8.6 million budget deficit.

Manhunt

Two Newton County schools were placed on lockdown for students' safety Tuesday morning after robbery suspects fled their vehicle in the area of Fairview Road.

4-H'ers honored at awards night

In a red-carpet-themed ceremony Monday night at Newton High School, Newton County 4-H'ers received recognition for competitions they participated in this school year as well as service projects they completed.

DeKalb Tech LEA graduates

Class act: The innaugural class of DeKalb Technical College's new Law Enforcement Academy recently graduated. They are (front, left to right): William Presley, Sean O'Brien, Linda Mallett (Rockdale Sheriff's Office), Lisa Brown, Gregory Hughes, Jonathan Bruce (Conyers Police Department). Standing are (left to right) Andy Stamatellos (RSO), Stephen McGinnis (CPD), Nicole Harris, Bobby Ledbetter (RSO) and Samantha Rose. <p ...

Local schools no longer on lockdown

Fairview Elementary School and Clements Middle School are no longer on lockdown according to Newton County School System Public Relations Director Sherri Viniard.

Local schools on lockdown

According to the Newton County School System Public Relations Director Sherri Viniard, both Fairview Elementary School and Clements Middle School are on lockdown.

Con man caught in act of running scam on victim

When Covington Police Detective Steve Fowler noticed a man speaking with a woman in the parking lot of Kroger on Tuesday he just had a feeling that something wasn't quite right. His gut instinct paid off and an Atlanta man is now in jail for a crime committed April 16 that he was attempting to repeat on Tuesday.

City, county to finalize plans for using foreclosure aid funds

Covington will likely purchase its first foreclosed and bank-owned residential properties in June as part of the Neighborhood Stabilization Program. The county is also finalizing its NSP project and both the city and county are holding public hearings to give updates and receive feedback on the NSP.

Training at Camp Shelby

I heard an explosion behind me and turned in time to see smoke issuing from a pickup truck that had been crashed into the National Guard headquarters in this small Afghan village. Soldiers and Afghan villagers were running and yelling and a handful of wounded people were strewn around the blast radius. Luckily no U.S. soldiers were injured, but they were busy attending to Afghan soldiers and villagers who had been standing nearby when ...

Man arrested for armed robbery of Long John Silver’s

Covington Police Department detectives have made an arrest in the armed robbery of Long John Silver's restaurant on April 14.

Crime Briefs

Officers from the Covington Police Department were called to the Hong Kong King restaurant after a couple who went there for an afternoon meal ate more food than they paid for.

Fallen tree blocking lanes on Interstate 20

A tree in the road is blocking two right lanes on Interstate 20 near Exit 80, bringing traffic to a near stand-still. Drivers are encouraged to use an alternate route.

Car crashes into Bank of North Georgia

An elderly woman crashed her vehicle into the back of another driver who was sitting in the drive-thru lane at Bank of North Georgia Friday morning.