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School board to welcome new member next year
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The Newton County Board of Education members are, from left, Eddie Johnson, Shakila Henderson-Baker, Trey Bailey, Abigail Coggin and the late Almond Turner. - photo by Submitted Photo

COVINGTON, Ga. — The Newton County Board of Education will welcome a new member early next year, following the death of one of its own.

Long-term board member Almond Turner was fatally shot on Nov. 23 while visiting family in Meridan, Mississippi. He was in his sixth term serving District 4 and was a former chairman.

Turner, also a retired assistant police chief in Covington, was the city’s longest tenured employee, with 45 years of service, when he retired in 2016. He had served as assistant chief since 1997.

"The process for replacing a member of the Board of Education requires the remaining board members to appoint an individual who lives in the same district to fill the term," Sherri Davis, NCSS director of public relations, said. "We have reviewed the process with legal counsel, and the board is preparing to welcome a new member to the Board of Education sometime in February."