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Newton High School placed under lockdown
ncs
Evan Newton
Updated: Oct 17, 2024, 9:30 PM
Published: Oct 16, 2024, 6:08 PM

UPDATE #3

According to the Newton County Sheriff's Office, no weapons were found during the search of the school. The possible weapon sighting was determined to be a staple gun, per the NCSO. School has since returned to normal activities since yesterday's lockdown.

UPDATE #2

Newton High School students have been dismissed, according to director of public relations for Newton County Schools, Sherri Partee

UPDATE #1

The Newton County Sheriffs Office (NCSO) told The Covington News that Newton High School was placed under lockdown earlier today due to a student reporting a possible weapon sighting in the school. The NCSO added that no weapons have been found currently, but that an investigation is still ongoing.

ORIGINAL STORY

Newton High School has been placed under lockdown.

There are currently conflicting reports on the cause behind the lockdown. While it was initially believed that multiple weapons were detected on campus, both Newton County Schools and the Newton County Sheriff’s Office tell The Covington News that no weapons have been located at this point in time.

The sheriff’s office are still actively conducting an investigation. The News will keep you posted once we learn more information.
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.