Lowest gas price - May 7

The lowest price for regular fuel is $3.42 at QuikTrip, located at 11124 Ga. Highway 142 near I-20 exit 93.

Conyers nabs Vampire Diaries prequel

A new spin-off series of CW's popular "The Vampire Diaries" has been green-lighted and will likely be shooting in Conyers.

Newton County has minor flooding

Porterdale City Council to meet tonight

The City of Porterdale will hold its regular council meeting tonight at 6:30 p.m.

Covington City Council to meet tonight

The City of Covington will hold a work session at 6 p.m. tonight, followed by their council meeting at 6:30 p.m.

Lowest gas price - May 6

The lowest price for regular fuel is $3.42 at QuikTrip, located at 11124 Ga. Highway 142 near I-20 exit 93.

New gun-firing ordinance draft created

A citizens committee put a new gun-firing ordinance on the table this past week, and while it eliminates many issues residents had with the original proposal from earlier this year, some locals wonder if it will actually cut down on illegal firing.

Cycling into a dream

Learning how to ride a bike is a childhood rite of passage. Learning how to fix a bicycle as a child has turned into a lifelong business venture for Bill Adcock.

4-H alumnus to chair Relay for Life

Five years ago, an eighth grade 4-H'er came up to me at Relay for Life, excitedly telling me how 4-H should have a team.

Community rallies to help sick baby

With Jessica Wyatt's recent news that her son, 10-month-old Lucas Cronan, may be suffering from juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia - a rare form of leukemia found in children under 2 years of age - the community has stepped up and taken action.

Hailey bids farewell

After a month-long farewell tour, recreation director Tommy Hailey received his final send-off Friday in front of his family and dozens of close friends and supporters.

Newton County under flood watch

Newton County is under a flood watch until Sunday evening, according to the National Weather Service.

Third man sentenced in Atlanta man’s murder

The family of Alvin Hall has received justice for his 2009 murder, following the sentencing of the third man accused.

Investigators search for missing teen

Authorities are working to find a 13-year-old Covington teen that they believed ran away from home between the night of May 1 and the early morning hours of May 2.

Mansfield Spring Fling rescheduled

The Mansfield Spring Fling is being rescheduled because of expected rain and storms this weekend.

2 saved from house blaze

Fast thinking from a passerby likely saved the lives of two Newton County residents when their home caught fire and began burning without their knowledge Monday morning.

Newton County pummeled with snow Sunday

Around 3,000 Newton County residents remained without power Monday afternoon because of the widespread nature of the power outages from Sunday's winter storm.

Homestead tax exemption spared

Newton County property owners who received a homestead exemption last year won't have to give any of that money back thanks in part to the federal stimulus package. Stimulus money is allowing the state to reimburse Newton County entities for the $5.69 million in homestead exemptions they handed out in 2008.

Keeping the arts alive

When budgeting for fiscal year 2009, Arts Association in Newton County Executive Director Buncie Hay Lanners anticipated a $45,000 shortfall because of a decrease in corporate funding.

Mooner, drunk driver arrested

Newton County residents who happened to be at the area of U.S. Highway 278 and Turner Lake Road Thursday might have noticed an unusual sight - a full moon at around 5 p.m. when two women were driving around, one of them hanging her rear out of the window to moon those passing by.

General Mills donates more than $240,000 to local groups

Employees of General Mills' Covington plant donated about $240,000 to Newton and Rockdale nonprofit organizations at a reception Friday.

Snow predicted Sunday, 1-2 inches

On Sunday: Rain and snow in the morning, then snow likely in the afternoon. Windy, with a snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches. Highs are expected to be around 40 degrees Fahrenheit. North winds from 20 to 30 mph. The chance of precipitation is 80 percent.

General Mills donates more than $240K to local nonprofits

The Covington plant of General Mills donated more than $240,000 to 17 non-profit organizations in Newton and Rockdale counties at a reception Friday. Grants were awarded to organizations that encourage good nutrition and exercise, especially for children.

Zombie sighting

This past week the crew of H2 has been filming in and around Covington. Dozens turned out on the Covington square Thursday to see Director Rob Zombie and cast shoot scenes of the scary movie remake. Send your photos of the filming to news@covnews.com, and we'll post them on CovNews.com. Click here to post your photos to our community site.

Facebook for "adults"

If you're not on Facebook, you're part of an ever shrinking crowd these days.

Badge of Honor

Newton County Sheriff Ezell Brown currently holds one of the most powerful positions in the county, but before he decided to dedicate his life to serving and protecting others, he was just a little boy in Blakely with a predilection for uniforms.

Former Kiwanis president well remembered

Former Covington Kiwanis president and active community member Richard Rawlins quietly passed away Saturday morning while preparing to teach a Sunday school lesson the next day. He died holding his Bible, but lived following the principles within it.

Newton Medical Auxiliary raises funds for new equipment to detect cancer

The Auxiliary Board of Newton Medical Center held a general luncheon meeting Tuesday at First Baptist Church of Covington.

House set OK's Georgia Power plan to raise power bills

ATLANTA (AP) - Georgia Power customers could pay an average of $1.30 more per month on their electricity bills beginning in 2011 under a bill approved by the Legislature on Thursday.

County employees safe from furloughs, pay cuts until June 30

Newton County employees are safe from firings, furloughs and pay cuts until at least June 30. Five county departments made last-minute, non-personnel cuts totaling more than $1.1 million, to erase fully the previous $5 million budget deficit for Fiscal Year 2009.