NCSO deputy arrested for DUI

A Newton County Sheriff's Office deputy was arrested and charged with DUI Thursday evening.

Porterdale will hold called meeting and work session tonight

The City of Porterdale has a called meeting tonight and work session beginning at 6:30 p.m., and the council will hold a public hearing for the 2012 final budget amendments, before entering into executive session on real estate matters.

Lowest gas price - June 11

The lowest price for regular fuel is $3.44 at Marathon, located at 10260 Ga. Highway 36 and Eagle Drive.

Local schools seek votes in 'Lots2Give'

You can help three of Newton County's schools win up to $20,000 by voting for their video entry in the Big Lots "Lots2Give" program, or by donating money while shopping at Big Lots.

Lowest gas price - June 10

The lowest price for regular fuel is $3.54 at BP, located at 2083 Crowell Road and Frontage Road.

Mathews plans active retirement

Gone Fishing.

Cities negotiate over future gas profits

While Baxter International builds its $1 billion pharmaceutical manufacturing plant at Stanton Springs industrial park, other companies and governments are working to ensure the company will have the water, sewer service, electricity and gas it needs to operate. It's the last one that's proving to be a little complicated.

Press Association honors Covington News

The Covington News captured five first-place awards and won second place in general excellence, an overall quality award, in its division in the 2012 Georgia Press Association awards contest. The newspaper won a total of 13 awards.

Builders: Home rebound will take time

Atlanta-based Kerley Family Homes wanted to buy 32 vacant lots in the Covington Place subdivision near Ashton Hills Golf Club and build out the remainder of the subdivision, but the homes they wanted to sell for $225,000 only appraised for $205,000 pre-construction. The company has pulled its plans for now, but owner Joe Kerley said he'll keep an eye on the area and check back in six months.

Rep. Johnson to provide constituent services

U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04) has announced that he is partnering with local city governments to provide better constituent services to Fourth District residents.

Rain fails to dampen jazz benefit

Cloudy skies and rain didn't stop the third annual Washington Street Community Center's "Home Grown Jazz by the River Benefit Show" in Porterdale on Friday evening.

Chairman invites public input on county budget

Newton County Chairman Keith Ellis expects to spend next week scouring the budget, looking for areas to cut and trying to get his five commissioners to come to a consensus. He said he welcomes any input from the public.

One-tank trips: World of Coca-Cola

Coke or Pepsi?

Eye doctor conducts new cataract procedure

Abbott, a global health care company, recently announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved launching a new treatment for cataract patients in the United States, and a local optical facility has already conducted the procedure.

Health facility adds midwife suite

A private practice focused on the care of women and bringing healthy babies into the world, Covington Women's Health Specialists now has a specific area in its facility devoted to midwifery care and has added two new midwives to care for its patients.

Woman knew burglar who broke into home

A Covington woman had her home broken into by two men on Oct. 16.

Newborn Council Briefs

 Newborn City Council held a meeting on Oct. 5.

NMC’s Wound Care Center receives 2 state-of-the-art hyperbaric chambers

 A large 18-wheeler truck will pull up to The BirthCare Center entrance at Newton Medical Center on Oct. 15 loaded with two new Sechrist hyperbaric oxygen chambers.

A tasty donation

Pasta for police: Covington Elks Lodge No. 1806 recently sponsored a Spaghetti Dinner to raise funds to purchase much-needed Level III bullet-proof vests for the Newton County Sheriff's Department. Shown left to right are Captain Doug Kitchens, Elks State President Larry Capes, Exalted Ruler Butch Woodruff and Sheriff Ezell Brown. To donate contact the NCSO at (678) 625-1400.

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.