Third man takes plea in Nichols murder

A third man pleaded guilty Thursday to charges stemming from the 2009 murder of 38-year-old Andrew "Drew" Nichols.

Lowest gas price - April 26

The lowest price for regular fuel is $3.29 at Kroger, located at 5341 Ga. Highway 20 S near Brown Bridge Road.

NCSS wants to expand epidemiology

Newton County School System officials are working to find a way to offer its pioneering epidemiology course, now offered at Newton High School, to more students in the school system. But there are still some kinks that need to be ironed out before that can happen.

Community mourns loss of Moore

James Stanley Moore Sr. was heading to work at SRG Global Wednesday morning, just like the quality control engineer had for almost 40 years, when another vehicle crossed into his lane, ending the 59-year-old's life.

Unemployment drops again

Newton County's unemployment rate of 9.4 percent in March is the lowest since November 2008, - before the housing market crash fully hit Newton County - according to the labor department.

Driver faces homicide charges

The woman who is accused of striking and killing 12-year-old Lynneah Browning with her car in late 2012 has been charged with homicide by vehicle and improper lane usage.

Newborn’s hosts Horneyhead Festival

Newborn's annual Horneyhead Festival takes place Saturday, and the unique event is a fitting choice for a place that labels itself "A Town with Characters."

Concert luncheons to return

The square will once again be filled with the sound of music during the month of May as the Newton County Arts Association hosts its Luncheon Concerts series on square park, starting Thursday.

Local woman celebrates 101st birthday

Nell Nixon celebrated her 101 birthday with friends April 22 at her home in Covington. Attending were Lula V. Smith, Kathy Brown, Pamela Vaughn and caregiver Julie. Smith and Nixon have been friends for more than 50 years, sharing many memories of traveling and spending quality time together.

Georgia Service Guild of Covington wins GFWC Silver Cup

The Georgia Federated Woman's Club Georgia Service Guild of Covington has won the GFWC Silver Cup, the organization's highest honor, for the second year in a row.

Sensational 'Sister Act'

It is always fun to attend a play or a concert at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, and the award-winning, direct-from-Broadway "Sister Act" is no exception to that stance.

Crime briefs: I think I love you

A woman whose vehicle had been vandalized on previous occasions finally became fed up enough to contact police Wednesday afternoon.

County unveils tourism website

Phase one of Newton County's push to turn into a filming mecca has been completed with the creation and recent unveiling of gocovington.com, the county's new tourism website.

Unemployment drops again to 9.4 %

Newton County's unemployment rate of 9.4 percent in March is the lowest since November 2008, according to the labor department, before the housing market crash fully hit Newton County.

Lowest gas price - April 25

The lowest price for regular fuel is $3.24 at Chevron, located at 11230 Ga. Highway 36 and Ga. Highway 213.

Job workshop to take place Saturday

By Gabriel Khouli District 2 Commissioner Earnest Simmons is sponsoring a free job workshop tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Newton County Historic Courthouse to assist residents looking for work. The workshop is for any jobless or underemployed workers above the age of 16 and will teach residents how to search for jobs and prepare for job interviews. Simmons said he and eight other Newton County residents, including ...

I-20 wreck kills 2 Thursday morning

Two people were killed on Interstate 20 Thursday morning when one car travelled across the median into the

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.