New superintendent

Graduates

County budget

The Newton County Board of Commissioners has a tough task in front of them as usual, deciding how to make expenses meet revenues, but we'll say what we've said for each of the past few years - this is still not the time to raise taxes.

Some thoughts

Last week, two young lives were snuffed out on Interstate 20. A 19-year-old and a 7-month-old baby will never know what it's like to grow old.

New superintendent

On Tuesday night, the Newton County Board of Education will choose Dr. Gary Mathews' successor as superintendent of the Newton County School System.

Mother’s Day

"The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother."

Making the grade

In Wednesday's paper, we ran a story explaining what the new state school assessment model means to students and other citizens of Newton County.

Good moves

The Covington City Council has made two practical decisions that could contribute to economic growth in the future.

The morning-after pill

According to the New England Journal of Medicine, 1.3 million babies a year are aborted in the U.S. That is a staggering number.

Social Circle

If you were driving through the main street in Social Circle and blinked twice, you might miss the physical heart of the city.

Rotary

A sure sign of spring here in Covington and Newton County is the sweet smell of Vidalia onions.

Development

There's no question we've had a successful run of economic development deals in Newton County over the past couple of years.

Special Olympics

"Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt."

Hometown Hero 2012

"I think a hero is an ordinary individual who finds strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles."

Music on the menu

One of the highlights of every spring in Covington is to hear the sound of music on the square at noon every Thursday in May.

Our Thoughts... Scam

In Sunday's paper there was a story about a Midwest company sending letters into our area, telling folks that they can get certified deeds to their property for only $59.60.

Our Thoughts... Proud of our judges

We are fortunate here in Newton County to have talented, caring and family-oriented people as our legal caretakers.

Our Thoughts... Gift of trees

"It is well that you should celebrate your Arbor Day thoughtfully, for within your lifetime the nation's need of trees will become serious. We of an older generation can get along with what we have, though with growing hardship; but in your full manhood and womanhood you will want what nature once so bountifully supplied and man so thoughtlessly destroyed; and because of that want you will reproach us, not for what we ...

Our Thoughts... Seconded motion

Dear Governor Perdue,  State Sen. John Douglas sent you a nomination for Judge Samuel D. Ozburn to fill the soon-to-be-vacant Georgia Supreme Court Justice seat.  Judge Ozburn was appointed as Judge of the Alcovy Judicial Circuit by Governor Zell Miller in 1995. Since that time the good citizens of our judicial circuit have reelected him four times, and he has yet to face opposition.  Judge Ozburn ...

Victims of the free market

Shirley Almer, an elderly Minnesota woman, had managed to live through lung cancer and a brain tumor before she died on Dec. 21. Cause of death: salmonella poisoning linked to food products from a Peanut Corporation of America plant in Blakely, Ga.

One down, 47 to go

I was a sophomore at what was then tiny Georgia Southern College down in Statesboro when a band known as The Who released a record, which still rocks today as the theme song for the popular "CSI" television series.

Our Thoughts... Look in the mirror

Recently appointed United States Attorney General Eric Holder said in his acceptance speech: "Though this nation has proudly thought of itself as an ethnic melting pot, in things racial we have always been and I believe continue to be, in too many ways, essentially a nation of cowards."

Our Thoughts... Good move

Covington Mayor Kim Carter and City Manager Steve Horton did the wise thing by pulling discussions of a raise for city council from Monday's agenda.

Our Thoughts... Disappointing turn

There is no question that our country and county are in the toughest of economic times.

When brains go bonkers

 If a toddler touches a hot stove, it's because they don't know any better. Sure, maybe your Mama or Daddy warned you, but sometimes those concepts don't sink in with the very young.

The right to know

 As citizens we should all be interested in local government all the time. As a matter of fact, most of us, myself included, only become interested when some event or report catches our attention.

A nose for the news

Before Fox News and other cable news stations, which today have overtaken the traditional news programs run by ABC, NBC and CBS, there was CNN. CNN out of Atlanta set the pace for what TV news has become today.

Perplexing package

For weeks we were bombarded on every TV station and in every major newspaper by the Obama administration's urgency on passing an economic stimulus package. We heard that if the bill wasn't rushed through Congress, we would doom the United States and our way of life.

A bold stance by a brave man

Again, we are proud this month to be highlighting the accomplishments and leadership of our local black residents, who through their perserverance, have helped make Newton County a place that we are proud to call home. One such person is Forrest Sawyer Jr.

Gone with the wind

During the last few months, we have on many occasions heard of the surplus the city of Covington currently has. We salute the efforts and leadership of past councils as well as the current administration, and City Manager Steve Horton and his staff on their efforts in fostering this surplus.