The Covington–Newton Chamber of Commerce has done much to promote the image of Covington as the new "Hollywood of the South."

The slogan seems to be catching on, as more tourists are visiting our community than ever before. These tourists are leaving behind much-needed tax money and are keeping alive some of the shops in and around the square, as well as our local hotels.

This past week, we watched a new TV show called "Resurrection.’’ Apparently it was filmed here, and the square and other points of local interest are easily identified. Quite frankly, we don’t remember when it was here filming. That fact speaks to the volume of productions that bring tourists and revenue to Newton County.

Also bringing in revenue has been the new Mystic Grill restaurant, which is drawing patrons from not just the local area, but also from all over the state, the country and even the world.

Again, these people are willing to spend their money here; some square merchants are recognizing this and are starting to keep their businesses open longer to accommodate the visitors.

This past week the chamber announced that it was going to experiment with the use of a trolley to promote special occasions and to assist in the tourism trade. The idea is to rent it out, supplementing the cost of the trolley, which will be fronted by the hotel-motel tax. We think this is a great idea, especially coming at no cost.

Just like spring, our city and county are starting to bloom. How sweet is the smell of success and prosperity.