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The News collects first place finishes at Georgia Press Association convention
The Covington News
Mason Wittner | The Covington News
Staff Report
Updated: Jun 11, 2024, 9:10 PM
Published: Jun 11, 2024, 8:44 PM

JEKYLL ISLAND, Ga. — Last Friday night at the Georgia Press Association’s (GPA) annual convention, it was announced that The Covington News placed first in a plethora of categories. 

The convention was held at the Jekyll Island Club Hotel. 

In the 2024 Better Newspaper Contest, managing editor Phillip B. Hubbard placed first in the Spot News Photo category for Division C. The photo that placed was on the night of the Aug. 25, 2023 fire in the downtown Covington Square area. 

The News also had first place finishes in the 2024 Better Newspaper Advertising contest of Division C. 

The News received first place in the Food, Signature Page and Online Banner or Tile advertising categories. The News placed second in the Full-Color advertising category as well. 

All awards were based on entries from 2023. 

Proprietor and publisher of The News, Patrick Graham commended the staff on their showing in this year’s contests. 

“Congratulations to our staff on another outstanding showing in this important statewide newspaper contest,” Graham said. “I can’t be more proud of their tremendous effort to serve our readers, advertisers and community well.”
April 3 crash kills two young adults, injures third
Newton County Sheriff Car---WEB
Kate Verity
Published: Apr 4, 2025, 10:29 PM

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.