Rockdale superintendent gets Va. job

Madison to host Peach State Blues Festival

King Communications Group and Main Street Madison Ga. will kick off the summer with the first Peach State Blues Festival in Madison, Ga., on Saturday, June 2, from noon to 10 p.m. The celebrated, legendary Blues singer Bobby Rush will be the festival's headliner. Blues singers Claudette King (daughter of legendary B.B. King), Willie Hill, Bobbye (Doll) Johnson, Cantwise and Freedom, Cruisers, and Lady D and the Set it Off Band will also perform.

U.S. Rep. Broun to visit Newton County on tour

U.S. Representative Paul Broun, R-Athens, will be in Newton County May 23 as part of a five-day, re-election bus tour to visit all 25 counties in the newly drawn 10th Congressional District. Broun will visit Newton County at 4:30 p.m. at the Newton County GOP Headquarters, located at 1107 Church St. on the square next to Square Perk Café.

Councilwoman judges children contest

Covington City Councilwoman Hawnethia Williams was one of four city officials to serve as a judge of the Georgia Municipal Association's "If I Were Mayor, I Would" essay contest this year. The "If I Were Mayor, I Would" essay contest gives students the opportunity to share their visions of what their community would be like under their guidance.

NCSO holding free firearm safety course

The Newton County Sheriff's Office is holding a free Citizen's Firearms Safety Course. The eight-hour course will be conducted on Saturday, June 2, from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Newton County Law Enforcement Training Center located at 15151 Alcovy Road.

County’s 2050 Plan featured in foundation’s report

Newton County has been featured by the Orton Family Foundation in a report for its strong stewardship program, the 2050 Plan. The 2050 Plan aims to house 88 percent of the county's future population on just 30 percent of the county's land by 2050.

Soaring for Service

The local Boy Scouts Troop 222 had a bumper crop of Eagle Scouts this past year, as nine young men completed the capstone projects necessary to gain the Boy Scouts' top honor. "For the most part, all of them undertook very heavy duty projects, not some lightweight stuff," Scoutmaster Jerry Aldridge said. "Some people do just what they have to do to get awards, but when you take the projects Kevin Thompson, Sam Hay IV, ...

Crime roundup for May 16

When the officer asked Rico Garrett for his driver's license, he said that he didn't have one. He told the officer that it was suspended because he hadn't paid child support.

Arraignment schedule for two charged in Tempie Lane double homicide

The two men charged in the shooting deaths of 56-year-old Donald Eugene McCullough and his 66-year-old aunt and caretaker Peggy Molden are scheduled for arraignment next week. Brawny Jarvis McCullough, the 31-year-old son of victim Donald McCullough, and Jonathan Michael Henderson, 28, both Villa Rica residents, were arrested in February by Newton County Sheriff's Investigators, Georgia Bureau of Investigation agents, U.S. Marshals and the Villa Rica police.

Officials serve it up

Mayor Ronnie Johnston cooked burgers and Police Chief Stacey Cotton handled the fries, while council members Chris Smith and Hawnethia Williams took orders and police Lt. Wendell Wagstaff took care of the drive-thru. Covington council members and police officers worked at the newly reopened Covington McDonald's Monday evening, as part of the store's groundbreaking ceremony.

Newton leaders graduate from economic development academy

The Board of the Georgia Academy for Economic Development announces Newton County graduates from the 2012 Region 5 Multi-Day Training Program. Class participants represented a number of professional and non-professional economic development fields, including elected officials, public servants, business leaders, educators, and social service providers from twelve counties in Northeast Georgia. The academy provided each of the graduates an opportunity to gain a unique understanding of the complexities of economic and community development on the ...

Edward Jones ranks highest in investor satisfaction

For the sixth year out of the past eight, financial-services firm Edward Jones ranks highest in investor satisfaction with full service brokerage firms, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2012 Full Service Investor Satisfaction Study. The study measures overall investor satisfaction with full service Investment firms based on seven factors: investment advisor, investment performance, account information, account offerings, commissions and fees, website and problem resolution.

Commissioner Sims completes training

Newton County Commissioner Lanier Sims received a certificate for the Commissioners Training Program at the 2012 Association County Commissioners of Georgia Annual Conference, along with more than 100 county officials. The annual conference was recently held at the Savannah Civic Center in Chatham County.

Sprucing up the square

The square is being spruced up this week just in time for 11 Alive's Friday morning broadcast live from Covington, which will feature the downtown. City workers were out in force Tuesday, replacing the main light fixtures with brighter lights that are purer white, sanding and repainting benches, installing new bike racks and weeding the sidewalks and planters.

Woodstock to take over Porterdale

Porterdale Woodstock will bring live, free music from the 1960s and 1970s to the Porterdale Depot on Main Street Saturday, May 19.

Porterdale farmer's market to open next week

The Porterdale Farmers' Market will be opening for its second season on March 24. Local growers, bakers, and crafters will once again be selling their home-grown and hand-made wares at the Historic Train Depot in Porterdale every Saturday from 8:30 to noon.

Porterdale parade, wrestling today

Porterdale will host its inaugural St. Patrick's Day Party beginning at 1:30 p.m. with a parade. After the parade ends, attendees can stay and enjoy a day full of music and wrestling in the historic mill town.

High temps lead to spring behavior early

Spring is just around the corner and with it comes warm temperatures and beautiful weather. This past week temperatures reached the 80s setting record highs for this time of the year. The flowers are beginning to open up from the long winter, and local families are going to parks and nature trails around Covington to enjoy the beautiful scenery happening around them.

BOC continues alcohol debate

The Newton County Board of Commissioners continued to work on an alcohol ordinance to allow for restaurant sales of alcohol, but the question of how close alcohol can be sold to churches, libraries and schools remained unsolved Monday.

Woman at homeless shelter disorderly

A 31-year-old woman was arrested Tuesday afternoon after a fight at the homeless shelter with another resident.

Chief Judge Ott announces reelection

Alcovy Circuit Superior Court Chief Judge John Ott officially announced Wednesday that he will seek reelection.

Covington shows off movie chops

Covington showed off its credentials to movie executives at The Next Cool Event in Atlanta, which was designed to show off the state's film friendly communities and interior and event design companies.

Health Scores - March 16

America's Best Value Inn, 10101 Alcovy Road, Covington, March 6. Score: 100 Baymont Inn & Suites, 10111 Alcovy Road, Covington, March 6. Score: 100 Blimpie, 3198 Elm St., Covington, March 6. Score: 98 Bradley's Bar-B-Que, 1160 Church St., Covington, March 13. Score: 90 C.R. Bard Urological Cafeteria, 8195 Industrial Blvd., Covington, Feb. 21, Score: 93 Challenge Charter Academy, 8134 Geiger St., Covington, March 2. Score: 82 China Star, 13015 Brown Bridge Road, Ste 320, Covington, ...

Young couple arrested for fight

A couple at the Magnolia Heights Apartment Complex was arrested following a family fight late Tuesday morning.

Man killed on I-20 was driving dead man's car

The South Carolina man who was struck and killed early Tuesday morning on Interstate 20 in Newton County was driving a car registered to a dead Alabama man, authorities said.

Charges filed in death of motorcyclist

Charges have been filed in the death of popular motorcyclist James Burton Eenhuis, 65, who was killed January 27, 2011.

Hank Johnson to be at Saturday town hall

U.S. Congressman Hank Johnson (D-GA) will attend Saturday's town hall from 10 a.m. to noon at the Porter Memorial Branch Library, 6191 Ga. Highway 212, Covington.

Farm Bureau celebrates Agriculture Awareness Day at Georgia Capitol

Georgia Agriculture Awareness Day was observed with a celebration of the state's largest industry at the Georgia Depot near the state capitol Tuesday. The event, hosted by Governor Nathan Deal and Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black, included the recognition of farmers from across Georgia selected to receive the 2012 Governor's Agricultural Environmental Stewardship Awards for management practices they use to protect the soil, air and water on their farms. Event attendees were able to sample ...

Vampires keep bringing in tourists, money

Nicole Tilston stood patiently watching the activity in the parking lot of Sharp Learning Center Tuesday morning. Clutching her autograph book and permanent marker close to her chest, she stared in awe from across the street as the actors entered and exited trailers of the makeshift production headquarters for "The Vampire Diaries."

Salem Road Walmart opens doors today

The new Walmart at the intersection of Brown Bridge and Salem Roads will open for business around 8 a.m. today, following an official grand opening ceremony at 7 a.m.