Council pay raises

Where's the transparency?

Memorial Day

Many of us pay scant attention to international news.

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.

Who’s in charge?

Last week, under the direction of President Barack Obama, the government closed down tours of the White House supposedly because of budget cuts brought about by the sequester.

Downtown

For as long as we can remember, people have talked about having a first-class restaurant with a friendly, after-hours bar come to the square.

Research Diamond

In Wednesday's edition of The Covington News, Newton County Board of Commissioners Chairman Keith Ellis shared his vision to form a medical industry hub similar to the idea behind Research Triangle in North Carolina.

Community Meeting

If you've always wanted to give city officials a piece of your mind, praise them for their great work or, perhaps the most likely, simply ask them some burning questions, now's your chance.

Questionable ethics

In the November election, Georgians voted in a non-binding vote that our legislature establish rules that would rein in lobbyists giving gifts to legislators. This wasn't simply a few voters; rather it was the majority of voters across the state.

St. Patrick’s Day

We're pleased to see the little town of Porterdale gearing up to celebrate what those of us of the Irish persuasion feel is the grandest day of the year.

Fear

"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself…" ~ Franklin Delano Roosevelt's address at his first inauguration. If you're reading this, you woke up yesterday to find that the world as we know it did not end and the sky has not fallen. During the last month, we have been constantly reminded that because of the forced budget cuts that took place late Friday, major calamity was set to befall everyone in the ...

Bids

Recently, there has been much discussion on how the county has let out its bids for contracted services.

Our Thoughts: Change

In a special called meeting, the Newton County Board of Commissioners met and actually did the right thing Tuesday.

Our Thoughts: Award

We are pleased to see that Louise Adams, long-time teacher and community activist was honored by the Newton Fund with its coveted Pat Patrick Big Heart award.

Guns

With the shootings in Newtown, Conn., along with other tragedies throughout the country in recent months, the possibility of some type of gun control, and concern over such legislation seems at an all-time high.

Salem Overlay project

In last Sunday's edition, we ran an update of a community meeting held last week to discuss the future of the Salem Overlay project.

Honoring our heroes

"True heroism is remarkable sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost."

Applaud our schools

Our schools often get a bad rap, so we always make sure to praise them to the rooftops when they succeed. Despite what some might say, this happens more often than not. They succeed in small ways every day, they open their doors. When a child begins to recognize words for the first time and takes that leap into reading, when a student suddenly, with the help of a dedicated teacher, understands that tricky math problem - these are the small successes that are seldom lauded.

Our Thoughts: Chicken Little be gone

Chicken Little: A confirmed pessimist, particularly one who warns of impending disaster.