We hear you

A few years ago, we made a decision to stop the Sunday comics and cease publishing an evening TV guide.

Impressive improvement

It is gratifying to see the 2012 graduation rate in Newton County schools grow so rapidly from the low point it dropped to just three short years ago.

Defective government

"Hold on, my friends, to the Constitution and to the Republic for which it stands. Miracles do not cluster, and what has happened once in 6,000 years, may not happen again. Hold on to the Constitution, for if the American Constitution should fail, there will be anarchy throughout the world."

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.

Our thoughts...Thoughts and things

 The city of Porterdale is to be commended for creating an ordinance on dealing with pets. To read the whole ordinance, please go to www.covnews.com.  This ordinance is designed to protect pets and the residents of Porterdale. Unfortunately, ordinances such as this are already obeyed by responsible pet owners.

Economic development

One of the strengths of a prosperous and stable community is whether that community has a strong Chamber of Commerce. Covington, Newton County is one such community.

Blog all about it

Blog: a Web site regularly maintained by posting entries of commentary and personal experiences. Are you a blogger already or have you always wanted to blog but never have known how to start one? Well, the community section of CovNews.com is perfect for you.

Holiday thanks

The buildup up for Santa Claus and the commercialism of Christmas is over. In a way, it is a relief. We pray though, that the true spirit of Christmas is not over for you. We hope that you can keep the holiday's spirit kindled in your life throughout the coming year. During the last few weeks we have encouraged each of you to remember your neighbor this season. Many of you have. Sometimes we forget ...

Our thoughts...Irresponsible, inexcusable

This past week we ran a story about a woman who shot in her yard a dog that she allegedly felt was a threat to her.

Our thoughts...Protection from predators

 Sen. John Douglas, true to his word, has introduced pre-legislation that would make it illegal for a registered sex offender to run for office on local school boards.

Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus

DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, 'If you see it in THE SUN it's so.' Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?

Our thoughts...Trash on our minds

If you've ever spent time in Western states like Arizona and California, then you've probably had a hard time becoming accustomed to the trash strewn along the byways and highways by people who apparently had no respect or concern for the beauty of the land they were defacing. We have been more than pleased by the pride and concern that Georgia residents and government have for keeping our state pristine and beautiful.

Our thoughts...Defiant governor

 If it wasn't enough for Ill. Gov. Rob Blagojevich to have been accused of trying to sell President-elect Obama's open senate seat to the highest bidder - apparently tapes exist of his using foul-mouthed language implicating himself - and not stepping down, then his actions this week certainly earn him the description of "defiant."

Our thoughts...Happy holidays

 Charles Dickens once said this about Christmas: "I have always thought Christmas time, when it has come around, as a good time; a kind forgivable, charitable time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and woman are seemingly of one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow passengers to the grave, and ...

Our thoughts...A gift from God

 In our Christmas Eve edition, we will be reprinting the most famous Christmas editorial of all time -- "Yes, Virginia There is a Santa Claus."

Don't drink and drive

Tonight is generally considered a night of fun and revelry as people gather to celebrate the end of one year and the start of another. It's a night that sane people sometimes do unsafe things. It's also a night when people sometimes have a few more toasts of the toddy than they usually do.

Blank pages

"We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day." - Edith Lovejoy Pier Tomorrow is the beginning of a new year, nature doesn't recognize it, and the world still goes spinning merrily along.

Fast track to nowhere

Last week I saw firsthand just how backwards and impoverished our passenger rail system in this country is when I took an Amtrak train from Atlanta to Charlottesville, Va., to attend a conference on climate change.

A lean Christmas?

I was amazed at the Wall Street Journal story about children selling toys "to some people who don't have much ..." to raise money so they can have $100 dolls for Christmas in "lean" financial times.