Articles by Section - Our Thoughts
Unemployment
It was announced last week that Newton County's unemployment rate for March had dropped to 9.4 percent, the lowest it has been since the economic downturn started in 2008.
Getting things done
Andrea Smith, owner of Square Perk Cafe, had an idea, as many of us do from time to time. However, she did something different - she acted on it.
Salute
"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world."
Good kids
Unfortunately, in today's society, more attention is paid to the bad that our young people do than the good.
Tornado
The folks who live in Mansfield received a real shock Friday as an unexpected smack from Mother Nature rolled through a portion of their small town. For more details, you can go to CovNews.com to see pictures and a video of the storm.
Covington Council
At its annual retreat, city officials talked about turning the American Legion Field located behind the YMCA into a place that could be used for entertainment and other social events that would benefit local citizens.
Alcovy
Last week, Dr. Gary Mathews, superintendent of schools for Newton County, reopened the search for a new principal for Alcovy High School.
Superintendent
The BOE of Newton County soon will have a tough choice to make as they vote to hire a new superintendent to replace Dr. Gary Mathews.
BOC streaming
If you have not had a chance to catch the BOC show which appears bi-weekly on the CovNews.com website, you are missing a chance to see your government in action.
Great news
This past week, local company Triple Horse announced it was planning a 38 million dollar expansion here in Newton County.
Boston
"Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shatter steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve."
Chamber
Hunter Hall, president of the Covington/Newton Chamber of Commerce, announced this past week that current vice president for economic development Roger Harrison is leaving his position.
Superintendent choice
We are glad to see the Newton Board of Education has narrowed its choice to replace Dr. Gary Mathews.
Good sense
The Covington City Council, at a work session this past week, decided to move forward with the idea of building a natural gas fueling station.
Pay off
Prior to the Nelson Heights Community Center opening in 2010, there was a struggle for control between District 4 Commissioner J.C. Henderson and The Newton County Recreation Commission. Commissioner Henderson's attempts to be intimately involved in the operation of the center were ultimately rebuffed, however his aspirations to be the anointed leader never diminished.
Archive By Section - Our Thoughts
Springtime imagination
 The beautiful spring weather has made me reflect on the springtimes of my childhood.
The gift of books
We are always pleased when any organization takes on a major fund raising goal to help a child. That is why we are more than pleased with the actions of the Social Circle Rotary Club.
Look for the warning signs
In Sunday's paper, reporter Amber Pittman wrote an excellent but very scary story detailing activities some of our teens and adolescents are involved in right now in our community. The piece called "Deadly Games" explained what chocking, sexting and cyber-bullying mean to our young children.
Thank you for responding
As we have stated in the past, we are fortunate to have a well run library here in Newton County. We are fortunate, also, to have a very talented executive to run that library. We recognize the fact that the library, like the other agencies in our county, has had to tighten its belt to meet budget deficits. One of the cost-cutting measures proposed by Greg Heid, the director of the Newton County Library, was to close on Saturday.
Run or walk for the YMCA
The YMCA, which was founded in England in 1844 by a group of evangelicals who wanted to assist the families and children suffering because of the sprawl created by the Industrial Revolution, started in this country in 1851. Since then the Y has grown into an organization that assists families from babies to grandparents. Newton County is fortunate to have an active Y, which is located on Newton Drive in Covington. Our local Y provides ...
Honoring a city's past
The city of Social Circle has some beautiful older buildings and homes that reflect our Southern heritage. The city has been renovating one of these old homes, originally built in the 1840s, in order to establish a new city hall.
Surprise announcement
We got jolted out of our malaise as we received an announcement from Chris Smith, co-owner of Newton Electric Supply, telling us that he has thrown his hat into the ring for the position of Covington city councilman. After a brief breather from the longest national election campaign ever, we were taken aback by Mr. Smith's early announcement. For sure it's been cold enough the last few days to be election time, but the old calendar says it's Easter week.
Good shepherds
The citizens of Newton County never cease to amaze us. We have done editorials in the past encouraging people and groups to do what they can do during these economic time to help their neighbors.
Slow down Mustang Sally
Until recently, driving through the quaint town of Porterdale was the equivalent of driving in the Grand Prix to some drivers. It is fortunate no one has been killed.
Doing necessary work
This past week we carried a story on our front page that described how a step-father took a belt to his teenage daughter; this action was and is inexcusable. We believe that a parent has a right to discipline his or her child in a manner that works for the family, but this does not include belts and sticks or any other form of discipline that can cause bodily injury to a child.
Pick another day
We support the county's effort to tighten its belt during this current fiscal crisis. We appreciate the efforts of every manager and employee who has come up with cost-saving measures to help county employees keep their jobs or not have their earnings cut.
Leading future leaders
We are more than pleased to see that teacher Sara Vinson, of the Covington Montessori School, has taken the time to teach her students the value of not only learning about the great jobs that non-profits do in our community, but also about the added value of learning how to help support them. Mrs. Vinson's class spent time talking with Tamara Richardson, who is the director of the Newton Fund of the Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta.
Taxing those who tax us
Taxes and increased fines are highlights of last week's legislative talks in Congress as well as the Georgia General Assembly. Tobacco users across the country will now have to offer a few more silver coins for every pack or carton they buy as federal lawmakers are increasing tobacco taxes to help fund children's healthcare initiatives across the country.
Keeping his word, working with others
Sen. John Douglas promised last year that he would have legislation passed that would help protect school children from sexual predators. He sponsored Senate Bill No. 14, which would prohibit anyone who is on a national or state sex offender registry from serving on local school boards.
Unemployment still rising
Sadly Newton County's unemployment rate has jumped to 11.7 percent, up from 10.4 percent in December. In January, the last report from the Georgia Department of Labor showed that 1,195 people had applied for unemployment benefits in the county.
- LOCAL
- NIE
- Local Home
- Business
- Archives
- Education
- Covington
- Oxford
- Porterdale
- Social Circle
- Eyesore of the Week
- Newton County Jail Log
- Pets of the Week
- Restaurant scores
- BOC Media
- LEGALS
- SPORTS
- Alcovy
- Eastside
- Newton
- Social Circle
- YMCA
- Recreation
- Sports Columnists
- Oxford College
- OPINION
- Columnists
- Our Thoughts
- Letters
- RELIGION
- Columnists
- LIFE
- Birthdays
- Anniversaries
- Births
- Engagements
- Weddings
- Health
- Home & Garden
- Special Print Sections
- Academic Achievement
- BOC
- VIDEOS
- STATE
- OBITS
- PHOTOS
|
Powered By
|