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Almost 100 Bard workers to lose jobs
Urological division merged with Covington's medical division
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C.R. Bard Inc. announced that it is cutting 98 jobs in Covington as it consolidates the urological and medical divisions. Public affairs spokeswoman Holly Glass said the Harland Drive facility will close by June 22 as part of Bard's strategic adjustment plan to improve its overall cost structure and improve efficiency.

She said the first jobs will likely be eliminated on June 22 and that employees will receive severance and outplacement benefits. However, Bard will continue to sell all products made by both the urological and medical divisions, which will both be housed in the Industrial Boulevard facility.

Mayor Kim Carter said the city never wants to see a loss of jobs, particularly from large employers like Bard, but she said the company has always been a good employer and community member and she expects that relationship to continue.

A manufacturing facility for Bard Urological Division was first built in Newton County in 1967. Bard Medical Division was built in Covington in 1996. Other facilities have been built in other Georgia cities, and the company has about 700 employees statewide.

Glass said the company is also realigning certain sales and marketing functions in its European businesses. Bard's first quarter net sales were up 2 percent over 2008's first quarter, and chairman and CEO Timothy M. Ring said in a press release that expense management was a key factor in the growth.

According to the company's Web site, Bard makes products in the areas of vascular, urology and oncology. Bard also has a line of advanced surgical specialty products and services. Bard Urological provides products, services and education for the surgical treatment of prostate cancer, diseases and conditions of the urinary tract, female incontinence and pelvic prolapse.

April 3 crash kills two young adults, injures third
Newton County Sheriff Car---WEB

NEWTON COUNTY — Around 10 a.m. on Thursday, a head-on collision on Highway 212 left two young adults dead and a third hospitalized.

Joe Navarro, 21, was driving the vehicle and Breanna Smith, 18, was in the passenger seat. Katie New, 20, sat between them.

According to the Newton County Sheriff’s Office, the vehicle lost control while going around a curve and crossed the centerline, where it collided head-on with a box truck. The crash report shows that their vehicle traveled another hundred feet after impact before coming to a stop. It spun, ended up facing the opposite direction on the shoulder of the opposite lane.

Navarro and Smith were pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. New was airlifted to Grady Hospital. Her current condition is not known. 

Navarro, Smith and New were not believed to be wearing seatbelts when the collision occurred.

The driver of the box truck was not reported to have suffered any injuries.

This is an ongoing story. The News will post updates as they are made available.