Tea party delight for Mother's Day

If you're looking for a way to delight your mom for Mother's Day, the Phoenix Pass nonprofit for homeless women and children is offering a unique opportunity designed to make her feel like a queen.

Thief steals church’s history

Luther Hays Presbyterian Church had its history stolen recently, and the church's members are pleading for its safe return.

Mystic Grill plans move forward

Creating the real Mystic Grill restaurant - named after the popular restaurant from the TV series "The Vampire Diaries" - won't be cheap at a cost of $2.27 million, but the owners are hoping to get a low-interest loan from the state to cover at least a fraction of the cost.

Fire leaves family of five homeless

A Wednesday night fire that damaged part of an Oxford duplex and destroyed most of its contents left a family of five homeless, but the Red Cross and the family's home church is rallying to offer support.

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.

Remembering where we came from

About 30 city and county leaders and residents gathered on a beautiful Sunday afternoon to commemorate the 39th anniversary of the Black Easter march of 1970.

A TEA party unlike any other

Elizabeth Christian thinks state and federal politicians are wastefully spending taxpayers' money and she's going to give them a piece of her mind. Christian and a group of Newton County residents will join thousands of other protestors at the state capitol for a TEA (Taxed Enough Already) Party tonight at 7 p.m. "I have a 12-year-old son, and all of the spending will be on his shoulders and his kid's shoulders," Christian said. "We're against ...

Newton hopeful for stimulus funds from GDOT

Newton County didn't receive any federal stimulus money for road projects in the first round of money given out by Georgia Department of Transportation, but the county is hoping to receive federal funding soon.

Deadly games

They take their hands and place them around their throats, squeezing and breathing heavily until their blood vessels dilate. Their blood pressure falls causing their brains to become inadequately supplied with blood and oxygen. Sometimes a belt or scarf, a rope or bicycle chain is used to impede the flow of blood and oxygen to the brain, causing light-headiness before kids pass out. And the average age of the people participating in what ...

Drug mailing ring busted

The Covington-Newton County Special Investigations Unit recently put three people behind bars who were allegedly involved in a local drug smuggling ring that used the mail.

Bond denied to Kirkland Road shooter

A Riverdale man who was charged in the July shooting death of a 17-year-old Covington youth was denied bond by Superior Court Judge John Ott on March 31.

Good Eggs

Allen Memorial United Methodist Church More than 70 children combed long grass and thick leaves in search of 650 hidden Easter eggs at Saturday's hunt at Allen Memorial United Methodist Church in Oxford. Dwayne and Missy Gilmore, directors of the youth group at the church, organized the event with the help of their youth group members. There were two separate Easter egg hunts, one for children aged five and younger and one for those ages ...

Crime Briefs

A deputy from the Newton County Sheriff's Department arrested a local man after he reportedly copped an attitude and refused to cooperate when officers pulled him over for driving on the wrong side of the road.

Tornado watch issued for Newton until 10 p.m.

The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for our area until 10 p.m. A tornado watch means conditions are favorable for the formation of tornadoes.

Gresham turns himself in, bonds out

Newton County resident Don Gresham, recently indicted by a Newton County grand jury for lying about his past as a convicted sex offender in an unsuccessful bid for the District 2 seat on the Newton County Board of Education, turned himself into to authorities Thursday and immediately bonded out on a $5,000 bond. Gresham was charged with one felony count of false swearing and one felony count of false statement in filing a notice ...

Grant to help teach troubled students

The Newton County Juvenile Court received approval from the Board of Commissioners to apply for a grant to fund a day-time educational program to watch over, teach and help reform suspended students.

Youth arrested in armed robbery attempt

Officers from the Covington Police Department arrested 18-year-old Ulysses Tyrel Benton of Oxford after he allegedly attempted an armed robbery of a home on Geiger Street Sunday night.

Remembering the Black Easter March

Black Easter will be commemorated at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Covington square, as city and county leaders remember the 5,000 black men and women who marched in protest of racial segregation in Newton County in 1970.

Two roads named after Newton residents

Three Newton County residents - Jack Hays Morgan, Davis Morgan and Lamar B. Hays - were honored during the recently completed 2009 Georgia legislative session by having two roads named in their honor.

Pet of the Week

Puppy eyes: The Newton County Animal Shelter's pet of the week is a 10-12-month-old Chihuahua, beige. Also available for adoption are two terrier mix puppies, 7-weeks-old, black and white; a great Pyraneese, adult, white; a friendly collie mix, 3-4-months-old, red; a brown and black shepherd mix, 4-months-old, with John Deere Collar; a black and white Lab mix; a 9-month-old blue tick hound, gray merle with brown; ...