The Covington News is sponsoring an inaugural Health and fitness Expo from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday at Georgia Piedmont Technical College, 8100 Bobby Williams Parkway.

Thirty health care and fitness companies will be on hand to offer fitness demonstrations, workshops, body mass composition tests and free screenings for blood pressure, children's health, cholesterol, glucose and hearing.

"We decided to do the Health Expo after examining our community and seeing a need to teach our youth more about how to stay healthy and fit. Our goal is to help not only educate our youth but also parents so they can learn how to help their children become healthier while allowing themselves to become healthier as well," said Diane Barber, The News' Director of Revenue.

A series of speakers will appear on a main stage at the event, and door prizes will be given away in between speaker. The audience will be asked questions about The Covington News and the expo, and prizes will be awarded for correct answers.

At 12:30 p.m., Mainstream Dance will perform followed by a presentation compiled by Dr. Jose Bigles from Georgia Ophthalmologist at 1 p.m.

"The main speakers were chosen based on our platinum and title sponsors. Then we began to reach out to the people we knew in the community to find entertainment groups that wouldn't mind coming out to the event to participate. We tried to keep everything tied in with a fitness theme," said Cynthia Blackshear-Warren, the expo's coordinator and The News' Advertising Supervisor.

At 1:15 p.m. there will be a performance by "BW," a Barry White tribute artist, followed by a presentation by Sandra Epps, the director of Newton Medical's Home Health program. At 2:30 p.m., there will be a presentation from representatives of Rockdale Physicians Associates.

Entertainment group Ty Rumble and The Boys will perform at 3:30 p.m. At 4:45 p.m., there will be a grand prize drawing for a 24-inch television.

To qualify for the drawing, attendees must visit at least 15 of the exhibitors featured on a half page ad on page 2B in today's newspaper. Also in today's paper is a full special section all about health and wellness.

Participants are encouraged to bring the ad to the expo on Saturday. The expo will end at 5 p.m.

"With the stress and worry about today's economy, health issues with all of us have begun to take a back seat in our lives. Tomorrow the Covington news will be presenting this health expo to help the community to put their health issues back on the front burner. We hope that everyone comes out and joins us," said T. Pat Cavanaugh, The News' General Manager.