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.

The meter’s running

 A wise friend reminded me recently of an old saying: "Dogs don't bark at parked cars." It was my friend's way of telling me that criticism, while never pleasant, is a sign you are doing something and trying to get things done. No action pleases everyone. So, the only way to never be criticized is to never do anything. Leave the car parked, if you don't want to hear the barking.

A dark past, a bright future

In 1926, historian Carter Woodson helped set aside the second week in February as week he called "Negro History Week" to celebrate the accomplishments of black Americans in this country.

Learning from tragedy

A week ago, Newton County lost one of its young people in a gun accident. T.J. Dorsey was shot in the back by a friend when a gun he thought had the safety on fired.

Last man in the woods

 I am on my soapbox today.  I'm going to say at the outset that I fully understand that there are people who have serious allergic reactions to certain things and I appreciate that. I also understand that there are bad people in the world who will do bad things to others.  Having said that let me begin my diatribe for today.  We have allowed ourselves to become a nation that ...

Revisionist historians, source documents

One of the great dangers faced by contemporary historical researchers is that documents considered as absolutely trust-worthy may actually contain errors, or be criminally fraudulent.

A day for couples

"So, Valentine's Day is coming up," I reminded my husband. "Have you given any thought to making plans?"

Our Thoughts... Community first

 The saga of redecorating the elected official's office/city of Covington meeting room has finally come to an end, we think.

Our Thoughts... A wise decision

Our editorial page is designed to spark public debate on issues facing our community. Any comments we make, for or against an issue facing our community, is just our opinion and no more. We extend you the invitation to respond on this same page, without comment from us.

Here's looking at you, kid

If you like theater and you have not paid a visit to the Social Circle Theater to catch a play, a local entertainer's performance, or performances by the children in the community, then you have missed a real treat. Recently, Social Circle Theater students participated in the 2009 Junior Theater Festival. The festival hosted more than 1,400 students this year. Social Circle was represented by a group of 19 young actors ages 8 to 16.

Crooks and change

If you or a family member has ever not had enough money to pay your taxes and had to work out a payment plan, or received a letter from the IRS informing you that your taxes weren't figured correctly and you owed the government money - know there is no easy way to negotiate with the IRS. No matter what plan you work out, you are going to pay a healthy penalty and a high ...

Our thoughts...Have fun, be safe

 Super Bowl Sunday has become an American holiday. They should probably go ahead and add it to calendars so people can plan parties months prior to the event.

Our thoughts...Pull together

 The front page of our paper Friday screamed out bad news - unemployment in Newton County has reached 10.4 percent. This puts our county at No. 1 in unemployment in the extended metro area. The state of Georgia is currently reporting an average unemployment rate of 7.8 percent.

Our thoughts...Good work NCSO

 Last Friday a burglary crime spree occurred locally that you usually only see in the movies. The folks who live in the River Walk Farms subdivision, a quiet Newton County community of rolling meadows and beautiful homes, had settled in for what they thought would be a peaceful weekend.

Our thoughts...Liquor for Social Circle

 The city of Social Circle is an example of what old-time Georgia living was and is about.  It has one stop light, and if you blink twice you might miss it. If you visit, you best follow the speed limit restrictions.

Our Thoughts... Disturbing appointment

The U.S. Senate approved the appointment of Timothy Geithner as our new treasury secretary Tuesday.