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.

Second arrest made in Silos shooting

Investigators have made a second arrest in the Jan. 27 shooting at a birthday party in The Silos subdivision.

The Y prepares for Cheerios Challenge

This is just a friendly reminder about this Saturday's Cheerios Challenge to make sure everyone's ready for the big races. First of all, registration is ongoing and will be open through the morning of the race. Secondly, the events will be held at the Y on Newton Drive with the 10K race starting at 7:30 a.m., the 1-mile Fun Run/Walk following at 9 a.m. and the 5K anchoring the event at 9:30 a.m.

Actress Jasmine Guy to speak at GPC

She's been in Covington recently filming the TV series, "The Vampire Diaries," but actress Jasmine Guy will be speaking about real predators when she comes to Georgia Perimeter College Monday.

Volunteers brave rain to pick up litter

Volunteers endured the rain and gloomy weather in an effort to clean up the county Saturday morning, as Keep Covington/Newton Beautiful hosted the Great American Cleanup campaign, the nation's largest annual community improvement program.

Woman suffers head injuries

A Covington man was arrested for simple battery, after police noticed a woman walking down the street with a lump on her head and a bloody mouth Thursday afternoon.

Hall of Fame coming to Newton County

Ron Bradley, B.C. Crowell, Betty Faith Jaynes, Jake Reed and Dale Carter are just some of the athletes who became big names in the sports world after becoming great in Newton County.

Nonprofit holds Clay Shoot and BBQ

The Georgia Natural Resources Foundation is hosting a Clay Shoot and BBQ Saturday and invites the public to come out and shoot flying targets and enjoy some BBQ this weekend in Social Circle.

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.