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NCSO solves burglary with help of pawn shop
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One man and one teen were arrested Friday, after reportedly attempting to pawn items they had recently stolen from a burglarized home off Brown Bridge Road.

According to the Newton County Sheriff’s Office, the victim called the NCSO to report his home in the Double Gate subdivision had been burglarized. He gave investigators a list of items taken.

Later that day, an employee of Porterdale Pawn off Ga. Highway 81 called authorities when two black males, one later identified as 21-year-old Avery Sims, the other a 16-year-old juvenile, attempted to pawn items that he believed were stolen. After retrieving the items, the victim reportedly identified them as being taken from his home and they were returned to him.

Sims and the juvenile were charged with burglary.

Warrants out for man accused of attempted rape
Warrants have been issued for Marcus Perez Jackson, 38, who reportedly attempted to rape the mother of his two children last week.

According to Newton County Sheriff’s Investigator Jeff Alexander, the woman reported that Jackson, the father of her two children, with whom she has lived with in the past but from whom she is now separated, came to her home to visit with his children. After the visit, Jackson reportedly cleaned up the kitchen while she put the children to bed and took a shower. After her shower, she went into her bedroom to lie down, which is when Jackson came into her bedroom and allegedly started making sexual comments and advances towards her.

The victim told investigators that she struggled with Jackson and attempted to scream, but that he shoved her onto her stomach, covered her mouth and nose, and sexually assaulted her.

She reported the incident the next day, and warrants were signed for Jackson’s arrest for attempted rape.

Woman charged in January vehicular homicide
A Covington woman has been charged with the Jan. 20 accident that claimed the life of 52-year-old Kathy Lynn Hill.

Janet Ianthe Slultz, 46, crashed into the left side of Hill’s 2000 Chevrolet Venture at the four-way stop at Bypass and Flat Shoals roads. Hill was taken to Newton Medical, where she later died.

The Georgia State Patrol found that Slultz was at fault, after the Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team investigated the accident. She is charged with vehicular homicide and failure to stop at a stop sign.

Eastside High School announces Top 10 graduates for Class of 2025
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Eastside High School has announced the names of the top ten graduates of the Class of 2025. Leading the way are valedictorian, Ian White, and salutatorian, Malachi Scharf. Each of the top ten graduates have exciting prospects ahead of them as they prepare for life after high school.

Eastside High School’s 2025 Top 10 Graduates are:

• Ian White—The valedictorian, Ian plans to attend college and obtain a doctorate in chemical engineering. He selected Mr. Elijah Clark as his top teacher.

• Malachi Scharf—The salutatorian, Malachi plans to major in chemical engineering at Georgia Tech. He chose Mr. Michael Poor as his favorite teacher.

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Malachi Scharf (left) and Ian White (right) are Eastside High School’s 2025 Salutatorian and Valedictorian. - photo by Courtesy of Newton County School System

• Kaiden Blazina—Kaiden plans to attend Georgia College and State University to study biology with plans to become an anesthesiologist or a missionary. Kaiden selected Mrs. Haley Dawkins as his honored teacher.

• Abby Malcom—Abby will be attending Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in the fall to major in agribusiness. Her goal is to run a floral business. She selected Ms. Sara Beth Hammond as her top teacher.

• Shelby Moore—Shelby plans to attend Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College to pursue a degree in agricultural education. She selected Ms. Alisa Echols as her top teacher.

• Annalie Parker—Annalie will attend Georgia College & State University with plans to obtain a doctorate and pursue a career in the scientific field. She selected Dr. Catrina Pollard as her favorite teacher.

• Chandler Shurtz—Chandler plans to attend Georgia Tech to study industrial engineering. He selected Mrs. Kelly Elder as his honored teacher.

• Robby Thomas, Jr.—Robby will attend Georgia Tech to study aerospace engineering and astrophysics. His goal is to work for NASA. Robby chose Ms. Kayla Stoddard as his honored teacher.

• Anna Underwood—Anna is attending Georgia State Perimeter to study her core classes with plans to transfer to the University of Georgia. Her career goal is to become an elementary school teacher. She selected Mr. Eric Adams as her top teacher.

• Benjamin Weaver—Benjamin is attending Newberry College to play soccer and study in their pre-vet program before moving on to veterinary school. He selected Mr. Caleb Watson as his honored teacher