Local teen still missing

Jordan Marie Aaron has been missing for two weeks, and although investigators are sure the seventh-grader is alive and left on her own accord, they are still pushing to find her and bring her home to a mother who dreads leaving the house, fearing she'll miss her daughter's phone call.

Triple Play to aid Special Olympics

The American Competitive Trail Horse Association (ACTHA) will host the Triple Play at Hard Labor Creek - a two-day trail competition - June 22-23 at Hard Labor Creek State Park.

Tandem Bike Rally rolls in this week

The 15th annual Georgia Tandem Rally is returning to Covington this week, and 133 tandem teams of cyclists will be putting their mettle to the pedals while also giving a boost to the Newton County economy.

NCSO command staffers gets training

Five members of the Newton County Sheriff's Office command staff received advanced training through a Governor's Office of Highway Safety grant earlier this month.

Choir guild offers 2 concerts this week

The 75-voice Covington-Conyers Choral Guild will present its 28th Spring Concert in two performances this week.

Jazzercise for kids offered

Children ages 4-8 can get fit while having fun with Junior Jazzercise at Jazzercise Covington Fitness Center. A six-week program of Monday morning classes begins June 3.

Spanish class offered

Georgia Piedmont Technical College is offering a 4-week class, Workplace Spanish for Travelers and Tourists. Designed for both business and leisure travelers, the course teaches key terms and phrases to assist those traveling to Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America and South America. Twice-a-week sessions will be offered from 6-8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, May 21-June 13 and 10 a.m.-noon Mondays and Wednesdays, May 20-June 12. The $189 fee includes a course book and CD.

Board mulls recycling center fee

One of the most significant discussions so far this budget year has been whether to institute a new fee for residents to use the county's recycling centers.

County faces tough budget decisions

Newton County commissioners have a lot of work left to do for next fiscal year's budget, including decisions on whether to raise the property tax rate, fund any of the $5.4 million in additional department requests or institute a fee to use recycling centers.

Jailer charged with sexually assaulting inmate

A Newton County Detention Officer has been arrested and charged with sexually assaulting a female inmate.

Lowest gas price - May 14

The lowest price for regular fuel is $3.38 at Flash Foods, located at 4175 Salem Road and Brown Bridge Road.

Local teen still missing

Jordan Marie Aaron has been missing for two weeks, and although investigators are sure the seventh-grader is alive and left on her own accord, they are still desperate to find her and bring her home to a mother who dreads leaving the house, fearing she'll miss her daughter's phone call.

Lowest gas price - May 13

The lowest price for regular fuel is $3.39 at QuikTrip, located at 3214 U.S. Highway 278 NW and Emory Street.

Newton County Jail Log, May 12

Derran Donovan Marlow, 24, Villa Rica, May 1. Probation violation.

Christian writers group honors poets

At its annual Poetry Forum, the East Metro Atlanta Christian Writers group recently presented its People's Choice Award to poet Carol Whitmire of Covington.

GSP: accidents high on Memorial Day

Memorial Day weekend is considered the official kickoff for summer and celebrations are a common occurrence in Newton County, but law enforcement officials are warning residents to celebrate safely because they will be out in force to make sure citizens are safe. According to a press release from the Georgia State Patrol, troopers will be watching not only for unsafe drivers but also for those not wearing their safety belts. Estimates from the GSP say ...

Necklace theft leads to drug charge

A couple was arrested on marijuana charges Friday afternoon after a woman came to a local jewelry store to return a necklace she stole two days prior.

Residents receive mysterious automated call condemning millage rate increases

Newton County residents have been receiving automated phone calls opposing any millage rate increases and accusing Board of Commissioners Chairman Kathy Morgan and commissioners J.C. Henderson, Nancy Schulz and Earnest Simmons of wasting money on selfish, special interest projects. The phone call goes on to support the stands of commissioners Mort Ewing and Tim Fleming and urges residents to call all of the commissioners to make their views known.

Morning wreck snarls traffic on Hwy 278

Two cars wrecked on U.S. Hwy 278 early Thursday morning east of Martin's Crossing causing major delays in traffic.

BOC at impasse over budget

After a four and a half-hour budget work session on Monday night, the Board of Commissioners remained divided over how best to cut the remaining $4.8 million fiscal year 2010 budget deficit.

Celebrating the Great Outdoors

More than 100 attendees, from the young and the young at heart, turned out for the 13th annual J.A.K.E.S. (Juniors Acquiring Knowledge, Ethics and Sportsmanship) Day and Outdoor Festival at the Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center on Saturday. The festival, sponsored by the Georgia Wildlife Federation and Beaver Manufacturing, was designed to turn kids on to the wonders of the great outdoors and featured snake and birds of prey shows, face painting and a free ...

Local GM, Chrysler car dealerships safe from cuts

Covington Car Dealer Billy Fortson received good news for the second day in a row when he did not receive a letter from General Motors Friday. Fortson's Ginn Motor Company is not one of the 1,100 GM dealerships whose contract will not be renewed by GM in 2010.

John Miles Chevrolet not among dealers cut

The John Miles Chevrolet in Conyers announced that it was not among the GM dealerships notified today that their contracts were not being renewed. "We have not received a letter so we are not among the 1,100 that re going to receive the letter today," said owner Kim Miles.

Local legislators discuss recent session's 'winners, losers'

The Georgia Legislative Assembly ended its 2009 session on April 3, and according to Sen. John Douglas (R – Social Circle) the state budget was a winner because the state didn't have to raise taxes. However, he said the state's transportation system was a loser because no bills were passed.

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.