By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
SPLOST collections above projections
Money is $2.5 million over projecections
Placeholder Image
If SPLOST collections continue to roll in like they have been, the county could collect $7.4 million more than projected, potentially moving up some projects’ timelines and providing more options for paying off future debt.County Manager John Middleton provided an update to the Board of Commissioners on SPLOST collections and projects last week and said Newton County county had collected $21.68 million through June 2013, two full years after collections started for the 2011 SPLOST. The 2011 SPLOST called for $57.6 million to be collected over six years, which would be $9.6 million per year.
Subscribe to keep reading
Subscribe today to keep reading great local content. You can cancel anytime!
Subscribe
April 3 crash kills two young adults, injures third
Newton County Sheriff Car---WEB

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.