Be part of the ‘American Dream’ tonight

Local church collects food to pack pantries

Eastridge Community Church had a mission to pack the food pantries of Newton County, and its members went out and bought enough food to fill 232 boxes.

Newton County Jail Log, May 10

Paul Frazier Allen, 22, 235 Mountainview Drive, Covington, May 2. Hijacking a motor vehicle, aggravated assault, possession of firearm or knife while trying to commit crimes, armed robbery, intimidation, taking control of substance.

Synthetic high

A concerned driver called authorities for help Sunday night after seeing a vehicle driving erratically.

Temporary burn ban now in effect

The Georgia Environmental Protection Division has imposed an Open Burning Ban for 54 Georgia counties, including Newton County, that will begin May 1 and last through Sept. 30.

JAKES Day brings outdoor activities

Put down the remote, power down the iPad, and get the whole family outdoors this weekend as the Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center presents JAKES Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday at the center's Discovery Area.

Brown Bridge Road blocked for accident

Brown Bridge Road, at Fieldstone Lane, is blocked off from both directions because of an accident, and drivers should seek an alternate route, according to the Covington-Newton County 911 Center.

Theme school CCRPI scores released

The Newton County School System has released the College and Career Readiness Performance Index score – the state's new accountability system – for the middle school grades at the Newton County Theme School at Ficquett, after an oversight left the school off the initial report.

BOE to vote on new superintendent

The Newton County Board of Education is expected to choose a new superintendent next week and will also vote on a new director of research, testing and evaluation.

Lowest gas price - May 9

The lowest price for regular fuel is $3.37 at Shell, located at 14656 Brown Bridge Road and Magnet Road.

Lowest gas price - May 8

The lowest price for regular fuel is $3.41 at Kroger, located at 3700 Salem Road near Kirkland Road.

Mental Health Month community events

In observance of Mental Health Month, View Point Health's New Rock Day Services Program, at 101 Kirkland Road, Covington, plans the following outreach events:

Chattahoochee event kicks off series

Georgia River Network is continuing its Unveiling Paddling Series this year with four different opportunities for residents to rediscover some hidden gems among Georgia's waterways.

Make-A-Wish seeks airline miles

In celebration of the 33rd anniversary of the first wish ever granted by Make-A-Wish, Make-A-Wish Georgia granted 44 wishes for children with life-threatening illnesses throughout April.

Animal control donates to NCSO

The Newton County Humane Society donated a check to the Newton County Sheriff's Office to help with the purchase of a vest for one of the four K-9 officers at the NCSO.

Expert: Tough task to lure quality jobs

Remember the days when Northeast factories and businesses laid off their union wage workers to move to the South where salaries were lower? Those days are gone, economic development expert Mark Lautman told a Covington workforce summit Tuesday. To coax big employers into Newton County, towns will need better amenities and a talented, educated workforce.

Man accidentally shoots self

A 75-year-old Covington man accidentally shot himself early Thursday morning, while getting ready for work.

Crime Briefs: Pants in the trunk

A man driving without his pants was arrested late Saturday night for DUI. Officers noticed a car being driven by Tyler Ryan Campbell driving erratically and stopped the driver. When the officer approached the vehicle, he noticed that Campbell was wearing only his underwear. When questioned, Campbell reportedly told the officer, "Yeah, I know, I pulled out in front of that car, and I know I must look silly, but I fell into the lake ...

Should you send that text?

Did you know that the number one killer of teenagers is car accidents? While there are a multitude of reasons that contribute to the leading cause of death among teens, one of the most prevalent reasons is texting while driving.

Helping nonprofits thrive

Food and fellowship kicked off the fifth annual Newton Fund's grantee reception Tuesday night at Twelve Oaks Bed and Breakfast in Covington.

Freeze warning overnight

There is a freeze warning in effect from midnight to about 9 a.m. Friday morning for most of north and central Georgia, including Rockdale and Newton counties. Temperatures may dip to the lower 30s. Gardeners and farmers are warned to take precautions for sensitive or newly budded plants.

$2.7M in furniture approved for new NHS

Furniture and equipment will soon be on the way for the new replacement Newton High School as the Newton County Board of Education unanimously approved at its Tuesday board meeting purchasing items for the school, which is currently under construction.

Lowest gas price - Feb. 28

The lowest gas prices for regular gas in Covington is $3.54 at the BP station at Ga. Highway 162 and Ga. Highway 212.

Rain causes flooding, could end drought

Some slight flooding occurred in Newton County Wednesday as the recent plentiful rainfall has raised the Yellow River and other creeks up to their banks.

Couple’s fight leads to kitchen fire

A fight between a couple led to a kitchen fire Tuesday morning at a home at the intersection of Newton Drive and Adams Street.

BOC votes to re-bid lawn contract

The Newton County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday night not to renew the county's lawn care contract, instead choosing to issue a request for proposals to reopen the contract for bid.

The News hosts bridal fair Sunday

Brides and their wedding entourage are invited to walk down the aisle to find perfect vendors for their big day, win a number of blissful prizes and finalize the details of their wedding during a bridal fair in Conyers this weekend.

Covington through the camera: Ann Wildmon

Editor's note: We're kicking off a new photo series today, courtesy of our photographer about town, Darrell Everidge. He'll be taking photos of local people wherever he finds them, at the park, in shops or strolling through their neighborhoods. His goal is to capture all the slices of life that make up Covington. So if you see him around, wave and chat him up for a minute.

Costa goes from Ecuador to Oxford

The small, tight-knit community of Oxford College is nothing new for freshman Mario Costa. In his hometown of Guayaquil, Ecuador, Costa enjoyed a very close community between his family and friends.

Masked man with gun scares children

Investigators are looking for a man who reportedly spooked and threatened three small children Saturday afternoon.