Lowest gas price - March 28

The lowest price for regular fuel is $3.43 at the QuikTrip, located at 11124 Ga. Highway 142 near I-20 exit 93.

Lowest gas price - March 27

The lowest price for regular fuel is $3.43 at Kroger, located at 5341 Ga. Highway 20 S near Brown Bridge Road.

BOC OKs Salem Overlay with changes

The Salem Road Overlay has been approved with amendments by the Newton County Board of Commissioners, after several months of planning and development meetings were held on the proposed project, which prolonged a vote from the board.

Residents against gun firing restrictions

Residents packed into the Historic Courthouse Monday to listen to discussion about potentially changing county laws governing where, when and how guns can be fired, and 25 of the 26 people who signed up to speak were against making local laws more restrictive.

Local author releases her 10th book

Covington resident Dorothy Myers wrote her 10th book, "One Way," and published it March 9. It's the 10th book she has written and the second that she has had published.

Antiques home show

I really enjoy looking back at yesteryear. This is the reason you will find me poking around at various antique stores on the weekends.

Wanted man caught at Quiktrip

A stolen car was recovered early Saturday morning when an officer on patrol happened to run the plate on the vehicle as it passed him.

Soldier recalls fighting in rice paddies, jungles

Born in the old Porterdale Hospital, Doug Garner and his family moved to Conyers before settling into Covington. He attended Newton County High School before working at the Bibb Plant in Porterdale, but instead of waiting for the inevitable draft notice, Garner chose to enlist in the U.S. Army. The year was 1966. Garner was 18.

Kennesaw State hires football coach

KENNESAW, Ga. (AP) - Brian Bohannon has formally taken over as Kennesaw State's first football coach.

Lowest gas price - March 26

The lowest price for regular fuel in Covington is $3.43 at the RaceWay, located at 5148 U.S. Highway 278 NW near Piper Street.

Elderly woman struck and killed ID'd

An elderly Covington woman was killed Monday when she was struck by a vehicle while crossing the street.

NCSS announces early release day

All Newton County public schools will release students early on Friday, March 29 for teacher professional learning activities.

Lowest gas price - March 25

The lowest price for regular fuel is $3.40 at the Marathon station, location at Ga. Highway 11 and Ga. Highway 142.

Town Hall Tues. to discuss ZIP change

As county officials try to rally public support for a ZIP code change to accommodate mega medical industry Baxter International, they're a hoping a town hall will be able to turn the tide.

Shooting laws up for discussion

Discussion has raged in the wake of Sheriff Ezell Brown's proposal to restrict where guns can be fired in Newton County, but Brown emphasized Friday that the proposal is preliminary and that he and the Board of Commissioners are actively seeking input.

Man sentenced to life for murder of his girlfriend

Harristown to get senior living facility

 The Harristown Neighborhood will be getting a $9 million affordable senior housing facility in late 2010 or early 2011.

Walton County Sheriff's Office employee dies at DeKalb Tech

A Walton County Sheriff's employee died Friday during training at the DeKalb Technical College's law enforcement academy.

Breedlove found guilty on all charges

A jury found Rick Ray Breedlove guilty of murder in the 2007 death of his then-girlfriend Pamela Spencer. Judge John Ott sentenced him to life in prison plus five years on the charges of malice murder and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

Vioces from the past

On a damp, dreary mid October evening, visitors to the Historic Covington Cemetery were treated to more than tombstones and flowers. At nine selected graves around the cemetery, voices from the past told the story of each site's occupant. From preachers to gypsies, they told a variety of stories that all ended in death.

Sen. Douglas seeks funding for recent Crowell Road damage

Sen. John Douglas recently began talks with state and federal Department of Transportation (DOT) officials in order to receive vital funds needed to repair the damage to Crowell Road in Newton County. A section of the essential access road to Interstate 20 at exit 88 was washed out in the recent flooding which devastated many communities in Georgia. Like many areas in Georgia that are facing significant budget shortfalls, Newton County was not ...

Benson found guilty

A jury found Franklin Elliott Benson guilty of murder Saturday evening and Judge Horace J. Johnson, Jr. sentenced the 49-year-old to life plus 11 years, as family members of both Benson, and the victim, cried.

Benson takes the stand in murder trial

Franklin Elliott Benson took the stand Friday afternoon to defend himself against charges that he murdered Leslyan Williams nearly two years ago, and the inconsistencies jurors had been hearing throughout the prosecutions case were explained away by Benson who admitted to lying to anyone who asked about his whereabouts on Oct. 29, 2007.

Trial begins for Franklin Benson

It was like a macabre Halloween prank when Brandy Snellgrove came home to her secluded house at around 2:45 a.m. Oct. 30, 2007, and found that her dog Foxy had brought a human foot on her porch. But within the hour she would find out that what she thought may be a joke was anything but funny. After several weeks of investigation, DeKalb County resident Franklin ...

Prosecution calls witnesses in Benson case

The last time Leslyan Williams was heard from was Oct. 29, 2007, according to Franklin Benson when she called him with a flat tire in Tennessee. More than a week later it was her son Charles who reported her missing to DeKalb County police - not the man who witnesses say lived with her at least part time.

H1N1 vaccine available Saturday at health center

Newton County's Health Center, located at 8203 Hazelbrand Road, will be open Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. to offer the nasal spray H1N1 vaccine. No appointment is necessary and the vaccine is free of charge.

Porterdale to hold public hearing on preliminary comprehensive plan

At Tuesday night's Porterdale work session, consultant Chris McGahee presented council members with an outline of a 25-year comprehensive plan.

The state of the county

The top leaders of the county and cities within it met at the Newton County Library Wednesday to give an overview of their jurisdictions at the annual State of the County address. The Chamber of Commerce sponsored the event and moderator Danny Stone asked leaders about their biggest opportunities and challenges, other top issues and how the business community can help.

FBO decision still not reached

The Covington City Council had an airport work session Thursday, but an hour and a half later no consensus had been reached on the airport's future.

Short list out for fifth Alcovy judge

The Judicial Nominating Commission has chosen three finalists for the newly created fifth judgeship for the Alcovy Judicial Circuit: