The Covington News | Sunday, January 15th, 2017

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Sunday, January 15, 2017

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Johnson wins R.O. Arnold award

Chamber event has record turnout Three Ring Studios celebrates Newton’s year of film Jackie Gutknecht jgutknecht@covnews.com

With a record turnout, the Covington Newton Chamber of Commerce celebrated a record year during its 2017 annual meeting Thursday night at the Charlie Elliot Wildlife Center.

Jackie Gutknecht | The Covington News

Alcovy Judicial Circuit Superior Court Judge Horace J. Johnson Jr. is presented the R.O. Arnold award during the Covington Newton Chamber of Commerce annual meeting Thursday night at the Charlie Elliot Wildlife Center.

Porterdale OK’s Waffle House rezoning Darryl Welch dwelch@covnews.com

In its first meeting of the new year and one of its lengthier meetings in recent memory, the Porterdale City Council approved the rezoning of a 0.89 acre parcel of land along the Covington Bypass to accommodate the construction of Newton County’s newest Waffle House.

During the meeting, which lasted more than two hours and included a work session, the council voted unanimously, with conditions, to approve the change to the parcel on the Bypass at State Road 81 from Agricultural General (AG) to Commercial General (CG).

The zoning change vote

Jackie Gutknecht | The Covington News

Bob Thomson, Porterdale city manager, reviews zoning stipulations with the Porterdale City Council Monday night.

provided the council members the opportunity have their concerns about the construction of the restaurant and its impact on the aesthetics of the city and quality of life for its residents

addressed in writing.

“It’s being positioned so that there will be a really good buffer between the alley. The grassy area and the tree area will remain,” Porterdale Mayor Arline Chap-

man said, “It will not impact people who have enjoyed the wooded area behind their homes.”

“Do we have all of that in writing?”

Councilwoman Linda Finger asked.

Finger, and other members expressed concern that the buffers, along with aesthetic features including the four-sided brick veneer for the building and awning colors that had reportedly been agreed to by Waffle House, had not been specifically addressed on the site survey they saw at the meeting.

It was suggested that the rezoning could be approved without stipulations for buffers and architectural concerns, with the understanding that

u See rezone, 3A

Local boy aims to cut into hunger Jackie Gutknecht jgutknecht@covnews.com

While most children are spending their afternoons playing video games or riding bikes, Jacob Stone, a local Newton County boy, was starting a nonprofit organization to help the less fortunate in the community.

In December of 2015, at the age of seven, Jacob went with his church to help provide food to homeless people and an idea was born. Jacob heard the cries for help and wanted to be the one to provide it.

“I was proud that he wanted to do that and that it actually impacted him, going to Atlanta and seeing that – you know – not everybody gets to live like you do,” Angel Stone, mother of Jacob and Justin Stone, said.

Jacob started the not for

Submitted photo | The Covington News

Jacob stone, center, accepts a donation from the Covington Police Who Care.

profit organization Razor Waffles Cutting into Hunger and Homelessness. He, along with his brother Justin, worked to provide sleeping bags, book bags, food, toiletries and Bibles for more than 1,000 people.

Angel said both of her sons made the decision to donate

their Christmas money this year to Razor Waffles to continue to help grow the organization.

“We work with homeless, with addicts, recovery centers, shelters, seniors in poverty, children, abuse victims and anyone God places in our path,” Angel said.

Razor Waffles also provides a monthly meal in Porterdale for the hungry and homeless as well as a free store of canned goods, hygiene products and diapers.

Justin said the best part of working with Razor Waffles is seeing how thankful the people are for anything they can get.

Razor Waffles recently received a donation from the Covington Police Who Care organization, along with other community partners. It is also open to receiving donation through its GoFundMe page (https://www.gofundme.com/ razorwaffles) and through at Newton Federal Bank to the Razor Waffles account.

Jacob said as he continues to grow up he hopes the organization grows as well. He would like to keep it going as he gets older.

Dishing out awards Taking home the R.O. Arnold award was Alcovy Judicial Circuit Superior Court Judge Horace J. Johnson Jr. Johnson said he was completely surprised and honored to receive the award.

Infinity Network Solutions, represented by CEO Robert Betzel, claimed the Dick James Small Business of the Year award. Infinity Network Solutions was applauded for its innovation and dedication to empowering its employees.

Jack Moon, of McMichael Construction, was honored with the Spirit of Excellence Award.

“He truly takes being a Chamber Ambassador to heard and rarely misses an event of the opportunity to invite someone to a chamber function, Chamber President Ralph Staffins said.

Capping off the night, Founder and Chairman of Three Ring Studios – a multi-platform production studio under construction in Covington – Rahim Charania made history as the first-ever guest speaker to receive the Deal of the Year Award.

Newton’s year of film Charania expressed his plans to continue to grow Newton County’s reputation as the “Hollywood of the South” through Three Ring Studios.

“While this may be the year of film, this great chamber, the City of Covington and Newton County have already racked up over 40 years of experience in how to cater to this growing industry so as to maximize its economic impact,” he said. “TV and film production was taking place here long before any other region in Georgia and the reputation it gained helped it in many ways to facilitate the environment we see here today.”

In 2016 the film industry in the state had a total economic impact of more than $7 billion.

“While the City of Covington has been able to capture a respectable portion of these dollars, with the development of Three Ring Studios a new level of production and development will take place less than 20 miles from here,” Charania said. “When complete, Three Ring Studios will be one of the largest film and TV production campuses in Georgia.”

u See chamber, 3A

Jackie Gutknecht | The Covington News

Infinity Network Solutions, represented by CEO Robert Betzel, accepts the Dick James Small Business of the Year award.

For the most up-to-date news in Newton County, visit CovNews.com

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The Covington News

Sunday, January 15, 2017

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Monday, Jan. 16

Sunday

66 55 FIELDSTONE JEWELRY AND PAWN

2315 Iris Drive, Conyers, GA 30013

(770) 483-8248 www.fieldstonepawn.com

The MLK Day of Service is a national event observed by many institutions that offers the members of a community a chance to give back.

Here are some of your local opportunities to participate: Oxford College’s Day of Service will be from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Those who choose to join in on this event will be able to partake in projects such as work on an organic farm, park clean up and an on-campus option for those with accessibility needs. Contact Ricardo Horne for details at ricardo.horne@emory.edu or 770-784-8457.

Georgia State University (GSU) will host a Day of Service on its campuses which will include “delivering meals, building homes and reflecting on Dr. King’s life and teachings” according to the GSU Civic Engagement page on its website. It’s a Day ON at GSU. Contact the Civic Engagement office at 404-413-1550 for more information.

The Charlie Elliot Wildlife Center off Exit 98 on Interstate 20 has a volunteer opportunity for

those who love going outdoors and want to serve the community this Martin Luther King Jr. Day. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. volunteers will work on general trail maintenance. Call 770-784-3059 for more information.

There will be a cemetery cleanup at the Montgomery Cemetery on Highway 229 and Gaither Plantation Cemetery on Henderson Mill Road.

Interested citizens should be at the Newton Plaza behind the Bank of North Georgia at 9 am.

Newton County will participate in the Day On festivities through a cemetery cleanup starting at 9 a.m. at the Newton Plaza. Cemeteries to be cleaned are the Montgomery Cemetery on Highway 229 and Gaither Plantation Cemetery on Henderson Mill Road.

Newton County government offices will be closed in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The Newton County School System will be closed in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. All Newton County Library Sys-

tem locations will be closed in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Wednesday, Jan. 18

Oxford College is hosting its annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration which features Emory/Oxford alum The Rev. Avis Williams as the keynote speaker. The Rev. Williams graduated from Oxford College in 1978 and is an advocate for justice, education and the environment. The event will start at 7:30 p.m. at the Old Church on the intersection of Wesley and Fletcher Streets.

The college’s Voices of Praise gospel choir will participate in the event among other singing groups such as the Newton County Martin Luther King Interdenominational Choir. There will also be readings of selections from Martin Luther King Jr. and other Civil Rights leaders.

For details contact Lyn Pace, at ppace@emory. edu or 770-784-8392.

Information gathered by The Covington News Intern Jarred Todd.

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The Covington News

Sunday, January 15, 2017

New Boys & Girls Club proposed

Photos by Jackie Gutknecht | The Covington News

Children atendees contribute their ideas for the new club.

Jackie Gutknecht jgutknecht@covnews.com

The Boys & Girls Club of North Central Georgia is hosting a series of community pow wows for concerned citizens of Newton County who want to explore ways to invest in local teenagers. All community members, especially teens, are invited to join in the community gatherings to share ideas on how to best serve teens grades eighth through 12th. For more information, visit www.GreatFuturesNCG.org. The next pow wow dates are Jan. 26 at 7 p.m. at Potters House at 1120 Crowell Road, in Covington; Feb. 2 at 7 p.m. at Gateway Church at 11677 Brown Bridge Road, in Covington; and Feb. 11 at 10 a.m. at Chief Cornerstone Community Church at 2900 Salem Road SE, in Conyers.

chamber

>> From front page The plan for Three Ring Studios consists of three campuses with more than 600,000 square feet of sound stage space, more than 250,000 square feet of office space and 150,000 square feet of support and work space. It will also house Georgia’s first postproduction and game development campus and provide space for the educational and development of the next generation of professionals. When complete, the facility will house more than 1,700 people working on site with different productions.

“All of this could only have been accomplished with the visionary mindset with which the City of Covington, Newton County and the Covington Newton Chamber of Commerce operate,” he said.

Charania said Covington Mayor Ronnie Johnston’s vision for 0 percent unemployment has stuck with him the most.

“I remember how he passionately shared with me his belief that if you give a person an opportunity to learn and better themselves, you will not only help them but create a better community,” he said.

Charania said he has a vision for Newton County.

His vision includes 0 percent unemployment by creating an opportunity for everyone who wants to work and growing a place when the quality of life is matched by the quality of education.

Setting the bar 2016 was a year of growth

Community members present their ideas for the vision of the proposed Newton County Boys & Girls Club.

Rennie Curran, former Univeristy of Georgia and NFL football player, talks about how the Boys & Girls Club impacted his life.

Landers Thomas, CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of North Central Georgia, expresses his excitement of the possibility of a new club.

rezone

>> From front page those issues could be addressed at a later date.

Council members disagreed with that approach. There was concern that approving the zoning change without actually specifying how the property would be used and what it would look like could prove problematic later.

“If we vote tonight to rezone it, it’s rezoned. We don’t have architectural control over what someone decides to build,” Councilman Lowell Chambers said.“He can come back and say, ‘I’m going to build a gas station there’ if we just rezone it.”

There was also discussion of sending the request back to the Planning and Zoning committee to have any concerns addressed.

The council, however, was working against the 60-day window for approving the zoning request. Had the request, which was submitted Nov. 21, 2016, not been approved or denied within the 60-day window, it would have been deemed approved, according to City Attorney Tim Chambers. .

Another suggestion was to stretch the time by denying the request and having Waffle House reapply. Chapman strongly disagreed with that approach.

“We are trying to play hardball with a major national company,”

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she said, “They will tell us what we can do with that land before this is over with. We don’t have the upper hand. I’m not saying that we need to capitulate to them, but I’m saying that we need to work it out. We’ve got to work with them.”

Members agreed and compiled a list of conditions to be included in the language for rezoning the parcel. n The use of the property shall exclusively be Waffle House Restaurant n The building shall be foursided red brick n The awnings and canopies shall be one of the following colors: grey, red, brown and/or rust n A pedestal sign shall be used at the road to match the building n Parking shall have internal circulation with the ability to connect to future, adjacent properties n Twenty-five-foot buffers on adjoining residential properties with 12-15 foot mixed evergreens, excluding Leyland Cypress trees n A detention/retention pond to be in the rear of the building Porterdale City Manager Bob Thomson said Thursday that he is not anticipating Waffle House will have any problems with the conditions attached to the rezoning approval. Thomson also said an arborist, working through the city, will be working with Waffle House to pick out the appropriate evergreens to be planted in the buffers.

“

I remember how he passionately shared with me his belief that if you give a person an opportunity to learn and better themselves, you will not only help them but create a better community.”

— Rahim Charania, Founder and Chairman of Three Ring Studios

for the Covington Newton Chamber of Commerce, Bill Loeble, past chamber chair, said.

Reaching beyond its membership goal of 600, the chamber stands at 618 members, which represents 20,000+ employees in and around Newton County.

The chamber saw a growth of 15 percent with an 87 percent retention rate.

Also seeing an increase were the tourism numbers, with an 11 percent increase in 2016 with almost 35,000 visitors from 48 states and 32 countries coming the chamber office. Tourists spent more than $125 million in 2016 in the county, which helped support 1,140 jobs with a payroll of more than $23 million.

The Chamber also hosted more than 1,000 people at its Taste of Newton event, marking the largest crowd in history.

The Chamber welcomed new businesses to the community with 31 ribbon cuttings in 2016.

Photos by Jackie Gutknecht | The Covington News

Above: Founder and Chairman of Three Ring Studios Rahim Charania receives the Deal of the Year Award. Below: Jack Moon, of McMichael Construction, is honored with the Spirit of Excellence Award.

TO THE QUALIFYING VOTERS OF THE CITY OF OXFORD

Jackie Gutknecht | The Covington News

Founder and Chairman of Three Ring Studios Rahim Charania talks about what he sees in the future for Newton County.

Date of Election: Pursuant to O.C.G.A § 21-2-131(a)(1)(A) notice is hereby given that on Tuesday, the 7th day of November 2017, between the hours of 7 AM and 7 PM, a General Election will be held at the City of Oxford Community Center located at 110 West Clark Street, Oxford, Georgia for the office of: Council Post 4 Council Post 5 Council Post 6 Qualifying Fees: Qualifying fees are at 3% of the annual salary for each Council office or $144.00.

Qualifying Dates and Hours To qualify for above office a notice of candidacy must be filed in the office of the City of Oxford at City Hall, 110 West Clark Street no earlier than Monday, August 21, 2017 beginning at 8:30 a.m. and will close Friday, August 25, 2017 at 4:30 p.m.

The last day a person may register and be eligible to vote in the Municipal General Election and Runoff is Tuesday, October 10, 2017.

Lauran S. Willis City Clerk

A crime Sunday, January 15, 2017

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www.covnews.com

PPD to host Citizens Police Academy Jackie Gutknecht jgutknecht@covnews.com

The Porterdale Police Department (PPD) is accepting applications for its sixth Citizens Police Academy (CPA) to start Feb. 2 at 6 p.m. at Grace Baptist Church or Porterdale City Hall.

“The program gives the citizens an opportunity to meet and interact with the law enforcement officers that make up the PPD,” Investigator Corporal Charles Cook said. “The academy gives our citizens a chance to gain first-hand knowledge into law enforcement and some of the obstacles we as law enforcement officer face on a day to date operation.”

Cook said this year’s academy should cover narcotics, K-9, job duties of the coroner’s office, the role of the 911 communication center, criminal investigations, evidence, firearms, courtroom, traffic enforcement and domestic violence.

The academy is a tuition free, eightweek program that will meet Thursday nights. There is, however, a $20 fee to cover the applicant’s ID badge and CPA shirt.

CPA is open to any Newton County resident or business owner, 21 years of age or older. In addition to residents and business owners, members of the clergy, city council and people interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement are also encouraged to apply.

Interested applicants must have a valid Georgia driver’s license and an acceptable driving history, no felony criminal history, no misdemeanor criminal history involving moral turpitude or drugs and all applicants will undergo a background check.

Upon graduation from the class, applicants will not be a certified peace officer, granted any police powers or special privileges.

Interested applicants should call PPD Chief Jason Cripps at 770-786-2226 ext.

3245 or Cook at 770-786-2226 ext. 3247 with any questions. Applications can be obtained at PPD, Porterdale City Hall or online at www.cityofporterdale.com.

<No data from link> | The Covington News

Daughter arrested after threats against mother Darryl Welch dwelch@covnews.com

A 30 year-old Covington woman was arrested by the Covington Police Department (CPD) after she reportedly threatened to kill her mother during an argument Jan 8.

According a CPD incident report, CPD Officers Quinn Pitts and

Justin Stott responded to a report of a juvenile problem at 3246 West St., in Covington. When they arrived, they met with Judy Horton, who told them that her daughter, Cenyardra Horton had threatened to kill her during an argument about changing clothes.

Horton also told police that her daughter has a history of mental

health problems and that she did not want her to go to jail, but that she wanted her to get some help, according to the report.

When questioned about the threats by the officers, Cenyardra Horton reportedly said, “I’m goddess of the world, God, Jesus. I told her if I had a gun, I would have shot her.”

According to the report, Pitts

2 arrested on outstanding warrants Darryl Welch dwelch@covnews.com

Two people were arrested when a traffic stop for an equipment issue on Highway 81 showed outstanding warrants and other infractions on the driver and a passenger.

Newton County Sheriff ’s Office (NCSO) Deputy An-

drew Archie conducted a traffic stop on a white pickup truck operating without a tag light Jan. 6 at 2:14 a.m.

After obtaining and checking ID’s on the driver and two passengers in the truck, it was determined that the driver, Jovaughn Ransom, of Covington, was wanted on two outstanding warrants. Ransom

was also charged with driving with a license suspended/revoked, driving without a valid registration and possession of drug related objects.

NCSO confirmed that one passenger in the vehicle, Nia Hickmon, of Conyers, was also arrested on an outstanding warrant which, was verified through dispatch.

and Stott advised Cenyardra Horton she could not threaten people.

Stott asked if she wanted to speak with someone from mental health.

She declined the offer. When asked if she was going to harm her mother, she reportedly told the officers, “If I want to and if you put me in handcuffs, you’re putting yourself in handcuffs.”

According to the report, Judy Horton told the officers she felt threatened by her daughter’s words and she believed her daughter would follow through on her threats.

Cenyardra Horton was placed under arrest for terroristic threats and violation of the family violence act and transported to the Newton County Law Enforcement Center.

Traffic stop leads to drug arrest Darryl Welch dwelch@covnews.com

A traffic stop for a busted taillight resulted in the arrest of a Covington man on drug charges.

Covington Police Department (CPD) Officer Matt Holbrook was patrolling on Washington Street

when he noticed a Dodge Caravan being driven by Jamal A. Brown, 20, had a busted tail light Jan. 8 around 9 p.m.

According to his report, after stopping the vehicle Holbrook noticed a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle.

When questioned about

the odor, Brown reportedly told the officer there was a bag of marijuana in the glove box. Holbrook then searched the vehicle and found a bag of marijuana in the glove compartment.

Brown was arrested on a charge of possession of marijuana less than an ounce, and the tail light violation.

newton county jail log Charlie Marques Banks, 24, Covington, Jan. 9, parole violation, probation violation Justin Levar Bostic, 36, Monticello, Jan. 10, housed for Jasper County Colby Dominick Butler, 24, Lithonia, Jan. 6, hold for other agency (Delaware Bridgeville Troop 5) Mark Aldon Buxton, 54, Mableton, Jan. 10, failure to appear Felicia Danielle Crosby, 31, Covington, Jan. 5, probation violation, probation violation Annie Mikaela Duncan, 22, Covington, Jan. 6, court sentenced Angela Fargnolia, 51, Covington, Jan. 5, parole violation Rene Lynn Fish, 46, Conyers, Jan. 9, disorderly conduct, criminal trespass, willful obstruction of law enforcement officers Marcus Quentarus Gaither, 41, Covington, Jan. 10, driving while license suspended/revoked, fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, willful obstruction of law enforcement officers William Cornell Gates, 59, Conyers, Jan. 10, DUI – alcohol Ricky High Gilstrap, 55, Covington, Jan. 9, probation violation Gregory Griffith, 48, Decatur, Jan. 9, probation violation Tammy Marlene Harrington, 31, Carrollton, Jan. 5, court sentenced Edman Dee Hickman, 53, Monroe, Jan. 5, failure to appear Anthony Tyrone Holloway, 37, Griffin, Jan. 6, theft by taking Cenyardra Shonta Horton, 30, Covington, Jan. 8, terroristic threats and acts Lashandra Tamika Huitt, 40, Covington, Jan. 4, failure to appear for fingerprintable charge Lucky Benhur Huynh, 21, Jackson State Prison, Jan. 10, back for court Jonathan David Jackson, 32, Riverdale, Jan. 4, probation violation for fingerprintable charge Matthew Bryan Jackson, 33, Montgomery State Prison, Jan. 5, back for court Larry Lemonscheu Jenkins, 32, Augusta, Jan. 5, court sentenced

Stantavius Bernar Johnson, 26, Thomson, Jan.4, housed for other agency Tosha Danielle Kidd, 26, Eatonton, Jan. 10, back for court Justin Ryan Lane, 27, Covington, Jan. 6, court sentenced to 60 days beginning Jan. 6 Jerry Nathan Lawley, 32, Monticello, Jan. 4, probation violation Demario Antwarn Martin, 31, Conyers, Jan. 10, probation violation for fingerprintable charge Tammy Tanara Minter, 20, Covington, Jan. 4, failure to appear Kimberly Watson Moss, 49, McDonough, Jan. 5, probation violation Jimmy Ray Ogles, 48, Covington, Jan. 10, probation violation for fingerprintable charge Phillip Brian Ogles, 37, Covington, Jan. 10, probation violation for fingerprintable charge Nina De Pickett, 42, Covington, Jan. 6, probation violation for fingerprintable charge Lajohn Darnell Pilcher, 20, Social Circle, Jan. 10, probation violation Christopher Devon Porter, 20, Locus Grove, Jan.

7, bail jumping, giving false name, address or birthdate to law enforcement officer, failure to appear after giving case bond Warren Kenneth Price, 48, Conyers, Jan. 7, driving while license suspended/revoked, operation of vehicle without current plate/expired plate Jovaughn Dale Ransom, 37, Covington, Jan. 6, driving while license suspended/ revoked, drug related objects, hold for other agency warrant (Rockdale County Sheriff ’s Office), operation of vehicle without current plate/expired plate Garrett Sharoid Richards, 46, Conyers, Jan. 9, court sentenced on ankle monitor Dafydd Morgan Roberts-Jones, 26, Covington, Jan. 6, court sentenced Adrian Romez Sanders, 46, Atlanta, Jan. 6, forgery – 1st degree, identity theft fraud when using/possessing identity information concerning a person, theft of services Morgan Tenay Shell, 22, Oxford, Jan. 6, weekenders Rodney Stephen Singley, 38, Covington, Jan. 9, hold for parole Patricia Marylin Smith,

50, Covington, Jan. 4, probation violation Darion Jurell Stanley,26, Covington, Jan. 6, probation violation, probation violation Wesley Donald Stephens, 25, Monticello, Jan. 9, probation violation Barry Donnell Stewart, 46, Locust Grove, Jan. 6, probation violation Mario Romoan Sullivan, 36, Alamo, Jan. 7, housed for other agency Anthony Eugene Thomas, 41, Covington, Jan. 9, probation violation Michael Edward Thomason, 57, Covington, Jan. 7, probation violation

Brandi Nicole Tupper, 36, Covington, Jan. 7, housed for other agency Michael Anthony White, 58, Covington, Jan. 9, battery – family violence Craig Don Williams, 37, Covington, Jan. 10, parole violation Vanessa Gayian Williams, 39, Loganville, back for court, failure to appear for fingerprintable charges Misty Dawn Wilson, 36, Covington, Jan. 6, court sentenced Roger Dion Young, 44, Lawrenceville, Jan. 4, failure to appear for fingerprintable charge Leland Blake Anderson,

34, Covington, Jan. 6, court sentenced Jeffery Kawan Ballard, 27, Jonesboro, Jan. 8, DUI – alcohol, improper left turn, no tag lights Saunders Keith Beggs Jr., 38, Stockbridge, Jan. 6, weekenders Rommie Marcel Belcher, 26, Oxford, Jan. 8, possession of a schedule II controlled substance Rodney ONeal Benton, 43, Covington, Jan. 6, weekenders

C N

CovNews.com:

See the full list of this week's jail log

The Newton County Republican Party, Inc. will hold its monthly meeting Monday, January 23rd

Location:

The Company Store

2001 Main St. Porterdale GA.

Ray Cowan, Chairman 770-595-8477 Scott Jay, 1st Vice Chairman 678-794-7691 Congratulations President Donald Trump we are behind you 100%

FREE CONCERT

*with donation to the Dave Young Vocal Scholarship www.NewtonCountyArts.org

Trey Clegg Singers

Porter Performing Arts Center 140 Ram Drive, Covington, GA

February 12, 2017 3:00PM

The Covington News

Sunday, January 15, 2017

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Hice names 2017 U.S. Service Academy nominations Staff Reports news@covnews.com

U.S. Congressman Jody Hice (GA-10) announced the names of the high school and college students whom he nominated for appointments to America’s Service Academies Jan. 10. He also extended his congratulations to Jacob Allen, of Loganville, William Johnson, of Warrenton, and Alexis Shirley, of Watkinsville, the first of his nominees to receive academy appointments this year.

“It is my honor to offer my congratulations to these exceptional students who are among the best and brightest in the Tenth Congressional District,” Hice said.

“These young men and women exemplify the highest attributes of character, scholarship, and patriotism and will go on to become the

future leaders of America’s Armed Forces. Jacob, William, and Alexis are the first of twenty-five students whom I nominated to receive prestigious appointments to one of our Nation’s Service Academies, and I look forward to congratulating additional nominees in the weeks and months ahead.”

Congressman Hice has the privilege of nominating eligible students to the United States Air Force (USAFA), Naval (USNA), Military (USMA), and Merchant Marine (USMMA) Academies. Please note that a nomination does not mean a student will automatically receive an offer of admission, officially referred to as an appointment. The Service Academies’ admissions authorities make the final determination.

Congressman Hice submitted for nomination the following twenty-five students:

1. Jacob Allen (Loganville), Walnut Grove High School – offered appointment to United States Air Force Academy 2. Christopher Austin (Oxford), Georgia State University 3. Shane Blalock (McDonough), Ola High School 4. Justin Blough (Braselton), Mill Creek High School 5. Benjamin Bruner (Athens), Cedar Shoals High School 6. William Caldwell V (Milledgeville), Georgia Military College 7. Jack Chambers (Bishop), North Oconee High School 8. Allen Dodge (Evans), Augusta Christian High School 9. Craig Edwards (Social Circle), Providence Christian School 10. Zachary Fedak (Evans), Greenbrier High School 11. Wyatt Galloway (Mansfield), Piedmont Academy

12. Justin Gittemeier (McDonough), Union Grove High School 13. Ian Gonzales (Auburn), Dacula High School 14. Garrett Hipp (Dacula,), Archer High School 15. Alexa Jacquitte (Monroe), George Walton Academy 16. Anna Jerald (Bishop), North Oconee High School 17. William Johnson (Warrenton), Briarwood Academy – offered appointment to United States Air Force Academy 18. Korrey King (McDonough), Naval Academy Preparatory School 19. Madison McKee (Dacula), Bethlehem Christian Academy 20. Thomas Mims (Buckhead), Riverside Military Academy 21. Forde Norris (Athens), Prince Avenue Christian School

22. Morgan Phillips (Winterville), University of North Georgia 23. Andrew Salies (McDonough), United States Military Academy Preparatory School 24. Richard Salies (McDonough), Georgia State University 25. Alexis Shirley (Watkinsville), North Oconee High School – accepted appointment to United States Air Force Academy Hice made his decision after consulting with his 2016-2017 Military Academy Selection Board. He was honored to have the following members serve on his board: Stu Mosbey, Colonel, USAF (Ret.), Todd Miller, Lieutenant Colonel, USA (Ret.), Seth Hathaway, Lieutenant Colonel, USMC (Ret.), Edward Shelor, Lieutenant Colonel, USMC (Ret.), Dr. Curtis Jones, Jr., Lieutenant Colonel, USA (Ret.) and Dr. Marva Dixon.

Large road widening project underway north of I-20 Staff Reports news@covnews.com

Submitted photo | The Covington News

Senator Tonya Anderson was sworn into office Monday, Jan. 9

Sen. Tonya Anderson sworn in as Ga. Senator Staff Reports news@covnews.com

Senator Tonya Anderson (D- Lithonia) was sworn into office as a Georgia State Senator by Court of Appeals Judge Charlie Bethel in a ceremony at the State Capitol Monday, Jan. 9.

“I am privileged to be serving my constituents in DeKalb, Newton and Rockdale counties again, this time as a state Senator,” Anderson said. “I look forward to working alongside my fellow senators to create meaningful legislation that has a positive impact on the lives of all Georgians.

Through hard work and faith in God, I believe we will have a productive and successful legislative session.”

The ceremony marks Sen. Anderson’s first term as a state Senator. She represents Senate District 43 which includes portions of DeKalb, Newton and Rockdale counties.

A $10.6 million road widening project began in December, 2016 and will take approximately three years to complete.

The work will start at exit 93 on Interstate 20 and extend to Sims Chapel Road on State Route 142. Work will also be done from Harland Drive to Avenue of Champions on Alcovy Road.

“The Georgia Department of Transportation is anticipating a tremendous amount of growth in that particular area of Covington and are being proactive in addressing possible future road needs,” City of Covington Transportation Manager Ken Swain said. “This is a large project spanning nearly two miles and we are looking forward to working with GDOT to help bring these improvements to life.”

The project will include widening State Route 142 from two lanes to four and replacing the CSX railroad bridge. According to GDOT, these improvements will create additional vehicular capacity that will improve mobility, reduce the frequency of

Submitted photo | The Covington News

traffic wrecks and reduce congestion. The work is also aimed at enhancing economic development opportunities.

The City of Covington has both overhead and under-

ground utilities and will have a working relationship with GDOT and the contractor for the duration of the work.

This project is part of GDOT’s Statewide Transportation Im-

provement Program designed to help improve corridors of the state with burgeoning growth. Motorists should exercise caution and patience while construction is underway.

HENDERSON’S RESTAURANT 770-786-3775

“Where Friends, Neighbors and Good Food Lovers Meet to Eat” Newton County’s Oldest and most Historic Restaurant Since 1956 • Clarence Henderson, Sr., Founder Owned, Operated and Managed by THE HENDERSON FAMILY

GOOD FOOD

CATFISH FOR TAKE OUTS And to schedule your party in one of our private dining rooms just call.

Visit us on the web at: www.hendersonsrestaurant-covington.com

Wednesday Vegetable Dinner Special $5.95 1 Meat, 2 Vegetables, Salad or Slaw and Hushpuppies

Sunday Lunch Vegetable Meal $7.95

1 Meat, 3 Vegetables, Salad or Slaw and Hushpuppies

WE ARE LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES SOUTH OF COVINGTON On Hwy. 36 & the intersection of Henderson Mill Rd. & Flat Shoals Rd. 11885 Highway 36 • Covington, Georgia 30014 CLOSED MONDAY Sunday - 11:00 a.m. till 3:00 p.m.

Tuesday - Saturday 4:00 p.m. till 9:00 p.m.

A opinion Page 6A

www.covnews.com

COVINGTON NEWSPAPER COMPANY INC. Our main telephone number is

770-787-6397

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Postal information The Covington News (USPS 136140) is published weekly on Sunday, for $55 a year for home delivery, or $72 by mail per year by Covington Newspaper Company, Inc., 1166 Usher St., Covington, GA 30014. Periodicals postage paid at Covington, GA. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Covington News, P. O. Box 1249, Covington, GA 30015.

our thoughts Our Thoughts on Our Thoughts Twice a week, the editorial staff of The Covington News meets to discuss the week’s stories and the upcoming print edition of the newspaper. Topics such as content and artwork are discussed.

Also included in these conversations is the weekly Our Thoughts editorial, the column you are now reading.

Editorials have been a staple in newspapers for generations. Each newspaper does them differently and there is no set style or standard on how they are handled in the newspaper profession.

The staff at The Covington News has long included an editorial each week on the opinion page. Since this newspaper’s founding in 1865, an editorial has been used several different ways. It has been used to urge the community to take action, to endorse a candidate in a local election, to shine light on a not-so-flattering local issue, or provide commentary on national, regional, or local issues affecting our community.

While there have been many meaningful editorials in the past, let’s face it, that is not always the case.

There are some weeks that there is just not anything for The Covington News to comment on.

When the editorial staff finds itself spending more time wracking their brains for ideas for an editorial, it is time to take a step back and analyze. Do we need a weekly editorial? Do our readers need to hear about our opinions, or lack thereof?

We, at The Covington News, have decided that it is time to make adjustments. We are excited to introduce a series of changes that will be taking place in our newspaper in the coming weeks.

You may have already noticed our new Hometown Highlights section (page 2A) that features a brief look at what’s been happening around town this week.

The Our Thoughts section is not disappearing. Rest assured, there will still be plenty of community happenings that warrant our commentary; it will just be less frequent.

We will also be using this space to highlight some of Your Thoughts.

One way is our new Man on the Street section, asking local residents what they think about specific events or issues happening in our community.

We, as your community newspaper, will be listening closely to our readers and including your commentary in our paper.

Because, after all, our community and you, our neighbors, are the reason we do what we do.

Courtesy Foter.com

HAVE YOUR SAY The Covington News welcomes your letters to the editor and cartoons on issues of public concern.

Please include full name, hometown and phone number (for verification purposes). Only names and hometown will be published.

Letters should be limited to 500 words and may be edited or condensed by the editor. Only one editor per month from the same writer or organization will be printed.

We do not publish poetry, letters from third-party sites, letters involving personal, business or legal disputes or blanket letters. Generally, we do not publish letters concerning consumer complaints unless related to a recent reported story. Unsigned or incorrectly identified letters will be withheld.

Letters must be submitted by noon on Wednesday for Sunday publication. *Mail: Editor, The Covington News, P.O. Box 1249, Covington, GA 30015 *In person: 1166 Usher St. Covington, GA 30015 *email: news@covnews.com

Sunday, January 15, 2017

Another ‘Forty Days’ at the Capitol As a new year arrives He also pledged more and we begin our provermoney for Autism, early bebial “Forty Days” under havior issues up to age four, the Golden Dome, I’d like a $3 million facility for Vetto once again begin my eran’s Mental Health issues, weekly updates to you, my and a $50 million Cyber constituents.

Innovation Training CenThe Governor’s agenda, ter in Augusta. This facildave belton of course, dominates the ity, partnered with Augusta Columnist news. His State of the State University, the National Seemphasized that Georcurity Agency, and the new gia should “accentuate the positive” and Cyber Command at Fort Gordon, will be count our many blessings for surviving an “incubator of innovation” and make the Great Recession better than any other Georgia “the Silicon Valley of the South”. state in the South.

It’s amazing, but the Army is spending Our Rainy Day fund, once a mere $2B this year in Augusta to strengthen $116 million – enough to run the state our Cyber capabilities. That’s a lot of jobs. for a mere two days – is now up to $2.3 On a personal note, I’m happy to rebillion. Our unemployment is down port my work this summer as the House from 10.4 percent to 5.3 percent, and for Military Affairs Study Committee has the fourth year in a row Georgia has been been turned into a permanent Chairnamed the “Best State to do Business In.” manship in Military Affairs. As Georgia In his address, the Governor promised has the fifth largest military population a 20 percent pay increase to state law en- in America, with an economic impact of forcement, a 19 percent increase to DFAC nearly $20 billion per year and providing case workers, and a 2 percent increase to almost one-third of a million Georgians, teachers. He praised teachers for raising we cannot afford to ignore our military, the graduation rate from 67 percent to 79 especially as rival states budget millions percent during his tenure, calling them of dollars every year to protect their own “Georgia’s everyday heroes” and noted installations. that 50 percent of all new spending will Our Committee visited all of Georgia’s be spent on K12 Education. bases last summer, and to my surprise, ev-

ery base asked for better K-12 education for children of military personnel. Based on these findings, I plan to spearhead an effort to improve education for military children during the 2017 legislative session by introducing a “School Choice” bill for children of Georgia military families.

Unfortunately, Georgia ranks at the bottom against our rival military-rich states in terms of education. We show our appreciation for the military in many ways, but if we really cared about these brave men and women, we would do the very best we can for their patiently waiting children. Georgia needs to do better.

For my other Committees, I will continue to serve on Education and Economic Development & Tourism. I also picked up Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications, mostly because of my work on “Caleb’s Law” – a texting-and-driving law I championed when I served as a School Board Member.

As always, I hope you will pray for me as I continue to serve Newton and Morgan Counties. I can be reached at 706372-4114 or dave.belton@house.ga.gov.

Belton is a Republican from District 112, serving in the Georgia House of Representatives.

letters to the editor

Concern raised about trash hauler contract It has become apparent that the RFP(Q) for Solid Waste RFQP#16-06A was written to prevent the local companies now serving Newton County from being awarded any/all of the contracts for Solid Waste Management. Taken a while to figure this out, but the recent announcement of a “pending contract” (is this an “intent to award”?) has brought this to light. I’ve seen many RFPs written in a “preferential” way. Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. The RFP(Q) also doesn’t appear to have been well-advertised. Local haulers have stated this week that they knew nothing about it.

Again, just because you are only required to announce in one publication doesn’t mean you should. It’s not even on our County Website.

In this “voluntary” system, will local companies be prohibited through their “district sub-contract(s)” with ADS from charging its current rates independently and running their current routes? If this is the case, the Centers will be much cheaper and heavily used, again, and the roads will suffer. My cul-de-sac currently has three waste-disposal trucks each week.

There are more than three companies servicing the rest of my neighborhood.

Why do we need to increase costs by contracting with ADS or anyone else to set up routes and haulers? The costs will be higher to the citizens and the local haulers who must purchase ADS bins

and signage for their trucks! Why would those of us who already have curbside pick-up for $14/month want to pay more for the same service? That’s quite a gravytrain for ADS. AND when you have a “monopoly” the price doesn’t go down, does it? What time frame will the “agreed upon” fees be held to? How would this cost be controlled? Curbside should be managed by the SWA. If we don’t have the staff, hire it!

Why are we awarding curbside pickup to a company associated others hell-bent on bringing a Trash Mountain to our county? Advanced Disposal also has a Horrible Environmental Record. Are we no longer interested in working on cleaning up our environmental issues? I don’t trust the ADS Statement: “But that investor is long since gone,” said Edwards.

“I think what happened is he tried to use our name to show he had some experience in this. He’s no longer an investor.”

What about the other investors and others interested in bringing a Trash Mountain here? Is this a step in that direction?

How can we be guaranteed that it is not?

A comment made in a local news article on Jan. 12 states that: “ADS was chosen through a request for proposal process as the preferred provider, in part because it was the only company that would work with local haulers.” If we take out that requirement, who else will qualify for the contract?

Why isn’t recycling part of the RFP(Q) and pending contract(s)? This is key to cleaning up our county. If we included recycling, we could close the Centers and stop the financial losses and the road wear associated. What happened to all the talk about following other counties’ lead(s) in becoming a zero-landfill county?

Will ADS have the same or a different rate as others for tonnage disposal at our landfill? If it’s less, what’s to keep them from bringing hauls from other areas into our landfill at a reduced rate?

Why was a quorum avoided for the Private SWA/BOC meeting Tuesday with ADS and the Local Haulers? Why are meetings like this being held before any citizen input on the SWA intentions?

Is this award related to the Baker or any other lawsuits against the county? Just a coincidence?

The reason so many fought so hard for a Solid Waste Authority was to stop the Trash Mountain and clean up and reduce our landfill. I think the SWA members, for the most part, want to head in this direction. Unfortunately, some of the current plans have what could be called “Unintended Consequences” that will not be good for the county. I encourage everyone to attend the next NCBOC meeting 7 p.m. 1/17/17 and the next NCSWA meeting 5:30 p.m. 1/19/17. Both will be in the Historic Courthouse.

Ann Neuhierl, Voter

Citizens should pay attention to housing authority Dear Editor: I received information in August 2016 that Erica Morris at the Covington Housing Authority (CHA) was misusing her fleet fuel card and was buying gift cards and then converting the cards to personal use. As a former Covington Police Department (CPD) officer and financial investigator, I was wanted to investigate. I also learned the thefts were reported to Greg Williams, CHA executive director, in May 2016. When I called the CHA to find out where to send an open records request (ORR), Morris answered. She directed me to send the request to her. I sent an ORR Sept. 2.

I requested copies of credit card statements among other things. Initially, the reply from Williams indicated I would receive the items requested. On the date I was to

receive the records I received a letter stating I would receive nothing. Williams told me the records I requested were part of a police investigation and couldn’t be released.

After some discussion a month later, Williams agreed to send me some of the items I requested but not the banking and credit card information. CHA Attorney Hillary Edgar wouldn’t tell me which law enforcement agency was conducting the investigation.

I called the CPD and local D.A.’s office and neither had an investigation in progress.

The Georgia Attorney General’s office told me the CHA denial of my request was not appropriate. Even after CHA was notified by the AG, staff continued to refuse my right to the records.

I was reading The Covington News Oct. 30 and saw the where CHA reported the al-

leged thefts to CPD Oct. 26. I had been lied to by the CHA. Why had I been told that my records request had been withheld because of a police investigation in September?

How could there have been a police investigation in September when nobody called the police until October?

I decided to attend to CHA board meeting in December.

I learned that many, if not all, the records I had requested were missing.

Even more disturbing is the fact that now Williams has gone on record that he didn’t know about any of this until Morris confessed to him.

Where is the record of the confession? I think all of these things would be important to maintain of file in a personnel file. It took me all of two minutes to look at the records I received to determine there exists probable cause to arrest

Morris. I’m confident law enforcement could have taken action. The case is now in the hands of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Inspector General (OIG).

How is it that Morris’ resignation letter is dated Aug. 29, but she was there in September when I called the office?

Because of the way the CHA chose to respond to this incident, this money is gone, the property is surely disposed of and the taxpayers are on the hook for at least $60,000.

I reached out to Mayor Ronnie Johnston when I read The News article about his concern for the CHA. I emailed and called him so I could inform him of what I knew. I guess he’s not that concerned.

There will be more on this, you can rest assured.

Barry McIntosh, CPA

Man on the Street: What would you like to see in the Covington Town Center?

Jarred Todd covintern@covnews.com

The Covington News took to the street to find out what you, the people of Covington, want in the upcoming Covington Town Center on Alcovy Road.

Here’s what you had to say: Kristy Stubbs-Henderson: “As a real estate professional, it’s good to see there’s other things that are going to bring young professionals to our area, we are growing as an environment.”

Daniel Rivera: “A the-

StubbsHenderson

Rivera

ater.” Rivera has two daughters who enjoy going to see movies with and said he would appreciate a theater that is closer than Carmike Cinemas in Conyers.

Megan Whitaker: “I want more small town boutiques.”

Whitaker

Sherrill

James Sherrill: “Better restaurants and better shopping.” Sherill went on to say that “it’s sort of the natural progression of Covington ... you have to develop.”

Maggie Cato: “Local Artists ... we have a lot

Cato

Plitt

of talent in this city and there’s not even galleries around here.”

Kaye Plitt: “I’d like to see more shopping. I don’t think we have anywhere to get a quick gift, like if you’re going to a wedding.”

2A

opinion

Sunday, January 15, 2017

The Covington News

Week 1: Update from the 2017 General Assembly Senate David Cook.

The Capitol has 55 of Georgia’s 56 come alive again this senators, including week as we convened four new senators, for the first session from across the state of the 154th Georgia were sworn in for two General Assembly. year terms. FollowThis year promises ing a special election to be very busy and Sen. Rick Jeffares Tuesday, the 56th offers endless opporColumnist Senate seat was filled tunities to strengthen by Senator-Elect our state’s position as a top place to live, to work and to Chuck Payne from Senate District 54. We expect Payne to be play.

Jan. 9 marked the first day of sworn in next week.

Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle handed the 2017 legislative session. Day one was full of tradition. The day out committee assignments this began with the ceremonial call week. I am honored to have the to order by Lt. Governor Casey opportunity to serve another Cagle, the Pledge of Allegiance term as chairman of the Reguand the traditional devotional by lated Industries Committee and the Chaplain of the Day. Follow- as vice chairman of the Natural ing the devotional, we elected and Resources Committee. Additionswore in President Pro Tempore ally, I will serve as secretary of David Shafer and Secretary of the State Institutions and Prop-

MLK Jr. and the Beloved Community

The Rev. Lyn Pace Columnist

I try to write these monthly articles with a good thought in mind or something that helps us engage meaning-making. This month is certainly no different, but instead of using my own words as encouragement or motivation I want to invite you to a couple of events that have inspired me so over the last eight years that I’ve lived here and help move me in the direction of King’s vision for the beloved community.

The 32nd annual awards program sponsored by the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Observance Committee of Newton County will be today at 3 p.m. at Newton High.

This event includes awards presentations, remarks from community leaders, music from local choirs, a keynote speech and more. This year’s keynote address will be given by Dr. Doug Hicks the new Dean of Oxford College of Emory University. This event is free and open to the public.

It is moving to see those in our community honored with these awards and to hear the gifts shared in spoken word and song from others in our community.

This week Oxford College will host its Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, which began in 1993 and has taken place annually since. This event will be Wednesday, Jan. 18, 7:30 p.m. at Old Church at the intersection of Wesley and Fletcher Streets in Oxford.

It will include participation from many areas of the college and community, including music from the college’s Voices of Praise gospel choir and a cappella choir, Oxappella, as well as the Newton County Martin Luther King Interdenominational Choir.

Readings from King and other leaders of the civil rights movement will be read and greetings offered from the Dean of Oxford College and the Student Government president. This event is free to the public.

The keynote speaker this year is The Rev. Avis Williams a resident of Oxford and a 1978 graduate of Oxford College.

The Rev. Williams is a lifelong member of the Historic Bethlehem Baptist Church in Covington and holds a Master of Divinity degree from Candler School of Theology where she is enrolled in the Doctor of Ministry Program (Class of 2018).

She is an advocate for justice, education, and health care as well as environmental stewardship and sustainability programs.

She has served as the pastor of community transformation for Lake Oconee Community Church (LOCC) since 2007.

Avis has become a good friend to me in my time as chaplain at Oxford College. She is also a colleague in ministry and in many ways the doctoral program at Candler School of Theology (I’m in the class of 2017).

The ways in which she connects with the local community with people of all ages is one of the aspects of her life and ministry that inspires me most.

She also knows this place, Newton County and Covington and Oxford, and she has an interesting story to tell that is sure to inspire those who attend this celebration.

I am especially encouraged by his and many others’ vision for the beloved community, where nonviolence is the way of life and we work together to deeply connect our lives to one another no matter who we are or what we look like or where we come from.

The events this weekend will surely help us move toward embodying this kind of community. Join me there, will you?

The Rev. Lyn Pace is the college chaplain at Oxford College of Emory University. You can find him running in the city of Oxford about three times a week.

erty Committee and as a member of the Appropriations and Ethics Committees.

Wednesday, Gov. Nathan Deal delivered his State of the State address, where he outlined Georgia’s past and present economic and social landscapes, and announced his plans to improve both in Fiscal Year 2018. Gov. Deal spoke to the state our economy was in when he took office in 2010. Our “Rainy Day Fund” was nearly empty and our revenue was down $2.3 billion from 2007. To fix this, we worked to pass fiscally conservative budgets, remove regulatory burdens on businesses and cut taxes for all Georgians. Our “Rainy Day Fund” has been replenished and now sits near $2.033 billion.

Gov. Deal stressed the importance of finding solutions to heal our states chronically failing

schools and to diminish the epidemic of opioid addiction taking control of lives throughout Georgia. The need to modernize our cybersecurity technology and for professional training and preparedness purposes was also addressed through Gov. Deal’s announcement of the new Georgia Cyber Innovation and Training Center.

The Georgia General Assembly is only constitutionally required to pass one piece of legislation each year, a balanced budget. Next week, we will go line by line through both the Fiscal Year 2017 Amended Budget, in effect until June 30, 2017, and Fiscal Year 2018 General Budget, which goes into effect on July 1, 2017. During the budget hearing process, we will examine the allocation of funds for each area to determine areas in which we over

allocated and under allocated last year and adjust accordingly. This process allows us to maintain a balanced budget, while providing enough funding to the areas that need it the most.

I am honored you have put your trust in me and I will always put your best interests at the forefront of my decision making while here at the Capitol. Feel free to contact my office to talk about pending legislation or address other concerns in our district – my door and phone lines are always open!

Sen. Rick Jeffares serves as Chairman of the Regulates Industries Committee. He represents the 17th Senate District which includes portions of Henry, Rockdale and Newton counties. He may be reached by phone at 404.463.1376 or by email at rick.jeffares@senate. ga.gov.

Never giving up on your life text read, “At least It was 12 a.m. you’re not giving on Jan. 1, 2017, up.” when I received I pondered the well-predictthis statement for ed “Happy New a while ... good Year’s!” texts that while ... a good people were ealong while. gerly waiting to Isaac Redman So simple, but send with their Columnist profound indeed thumbs on the ... how important tab.

All across the country there it is not to give up.

I worked at Walmart in were people celebrating in many different forms and my late teen years. I worked fashions. Some shot fireworks, specifically in the parking lot while others shot worse pushing buggies back to the things. Some went home too bay. Needless to say, I have just late, while others might still about seen it all.

There were always mishaps. be looking for it. Some played Monopoly all night, while The gathering, the pushing, others watched people play the stacking, the replenishing Monopoly because they went of buggies, oh what constant bankrupt on Boardwalk. I, frustration! Without fail, the however, was sprawled across buggies I had just pushed up my couch in the comforts of to the bay would find themmy living room. I had one selves back in the parking shoe on and the other shoe lot where I had just gathered cocked on its side on the floor. them. The cycle could not One arm was tucked between and would not be broken! me and the backrest and the The work was never ending! other one was dangling off the I must have pushed the same cushion like I was just about buggy back to the same bay to do something productive five times in a day! Continubut ran out of energy halfway ally, I had to start over, day in and day out. After a while, it through the motion.

And there I was, thinking seemed useless to keep pushabout the new day to come, ing the buggies. I had lost the significance of such an underwith the new year to follow.

After hearing the vibrant rated job.

After some pouting and texts, I replied to each of them generically. One, however, I inner-groaning, I would be sent back, “Happy New Year. reminded of the people who mindlessly grabbed a bright Time to start all over.”

A few minutes went by and shiny, swift and ready without a sound, but the si- buggy that awaited them in lence was interrupted by the the bay so they could swoop last text I would receive in the through the store in a single night. Without further ado, I gathering and tote their groturned onto my right shoulder ceries to the register all at to glance at the text as I tilted once! I thought about the my screen towards me. The mass chaos the parking lot

turned into after the stampedes of Black Friday, and to think that could be every day!

I envisioned a buggy setting sail across the lot in a fierce gust of wind destined for a newly painted prized possession!

And so I would muster some motivation that would last me until lunch break.

Jesus tells us in Luke 16: 10 that whoever is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.

It is good to understand that it will not always be easy to continue in our responsibilities faithfully, even the responsibilities that we love.

In the same manner, we need to understand that it is crucially important to follow through with our responsibilities and commitments all the same.

Our eyes were not made to see the ends of our influence, but the grasp of our influence reaches far and wide.

When we are feeling discouraged, tired, and feel as if we are repeating the same patterns in life like spinning tires, God can help us by His testimony. God has had to start over from scratch. God gave Adam and Eve a perfect life with a beautiful Earth to thrive in, and all was thrown away into the pitfall of sin.

God could have given up, but chose to reconstruct.

Mankind became so sinful and distant from Him that He washed it all away and started over again. He could have given up, but He preserved us yet again.

Over and over the children of God forsook the law, yet time and time again God delivered them from the hands of the enemy. The acts of God brought His people to repentance and to a faithful reckoning. Even still, His people slipped into a destructive lifestyle away from His will. Even so, God remained faithful.

Though it seems God had to constantly repeat Himself in Scriptures, there is one thing that will never have to be repeated, and that is Jesus Christ on the Cross.

This ultimate sacrifice; This wonderful act of submission; This heroic act of humility; God’s ultimate showcase of love; The epitome of God’s grace; This indeed was done once and for all, and for all who believe.

Thank God that we do not have to rely on ourselves for salvation.

Praise God that we do not have to provide a sacrifice or atonement every time we mess up.

Let us praise our God that never gave up on us.

Let us together pray for God’s plan; seek His face even in the smallest of things; stay faithful and steadfast no matter how difficult; and let us NEVER give up.

Stay encouraged, and God bless Isaac Redman is a 22-yearold youth pastor at Pleasant Grove Church. He is a servant of Christ and loves music and the outdoors.

Hide the silverware! The legislature’s coming!

To Arms! To Arms! The Against this backdrop, Gov. Legislature is coming, the Nathan Deal will present his Legislature is coming! legislative agenda, includI thought Paul Revere ing a long-awaited education would have shared the news reform package. As for what with you, but he seems to the governor is proposing in think it is more important that regard, perhaps the overthat you know about the whelming defeat of AmendDick Yarbrough British, who can’t be anyment 1 last fall that would Columnist where near as prone to mishave authorized a state takechief as our intrepid public over of public schools deemed servants. to be failing will have served as a learning Just to be on the safe side, you might lesson to the governor’s team this time want to hide the silverware from now around. until our boys and girls come back home They don’t like to hear this — trust me from the Gold Dome in March to tell us on that — but they were outhustled by the what a swell job they did on our behalf. opposition.

If they mention that while there they The defeat was blamed on the nationdid indeed take a trip to a posh resort to al teacher’s union, but I suggest it was a play golf with a lizard-loafered lobbyist combination of the Georgia PTA, civil and were feted several times at a swanky rights groups, newspaper editorials and Atlanta eatery and accepted generous tired-of-being-a-punching-bag schoolcontributions to their campaign coffers teachers that was most responsible. from deep-pocketed, out-of-state special I reach more schoolteachers in Georgia interest groups but that none of these weekly than any writer in the state. I write trivialities in any shape, form or fashion about public education issues as much as influenced how they voted on any issue anyone in the state. I had the privilege of because they are there to serve you — serving as a member of the Governor’s throw up on their shoes.

Education Reform Commission.

Given that statewide elections are set to I have three public schoolteachers in occur in 2018, you will see more than the my family. Yet, I never heard from anyusual amount of political posturing this one on why Amendment 1 would benefit session as potential candidates for higher public education. The opposition covoffice strut their stuff, trying to convince ered me up with information as to why you and me that they have what it takes to the amendment would not benefit public be our next generation of leaders. education. Go figure.

Just remember that the more you see a Gov. Nathan Deal no doubt will be legislator blathering on the evening news well-remembered for his successful efduring the session, the more suspicious forts to overhaul the state’s criminal jusyou should be. tice system. (Note: I am a board member They are clearly running for something of The Department of Juvenile Justice.) bigger than their current job and have Today, Georgia is regarded as a national their interests at heart, not yours. leader in criminal justice reform and gets

high marks from both conservative and liberal groups for its innovations.

I am sure the governor would like to do the same with education reform but between a wary education community, Kool-Aid drinking ideologues who are looking for any opportunity to dismantle public education and demagogues miffed that the “Religious Liberty” and “Guns Anywhere Except the State Capitol” bills were vetoed by the governor, education reform is going to be a challenge this session.

Know this about Gov. Deal: Underestimate him at your own risk. He may be winding down his second and last term and may be considered by some as a lame duck, but the governor of Georgia — any governor — has a lot of power inherent in the office to reward his friends and punish his foes.

On a personal note, this will be the first legislative session in 16 years without Rep. Joe Wilkinson of Sandy Springs, who decided to step out of the political sausage-making business and move on with his life. Good for him. Wilkinson never missed one day of the session in those 16 years, even when undergoing a series of radiation treatments for cancer which, thankfully, were successful. Joe Wilkinson took his job seriously, but not himself. A rare breed in politics.

Now, if you will excuse me, I must go.

Some guy in a cocked hat just rode by on a horse and told me the Legislature is coming! Time to hide the silverware.

You can reach Dick Yarbrough at yarb2400@bellsouth.net; at P.O. Box 725373, Atlanta, Georgia 31139; online at dickyarbrough.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/dickyarb.

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Making the grade Midseason analysis of Newton County hoops teams Gabriel Stovall gstovall@covnews.com

Believe it or not, we’ve reached the midpoint of the basketball season, and the grades are in.

With just about month left in the regular season, before region tournaments begin and the state tournament berth chase begins in earnest, we at The Covington News decided to dish out some midseason progress reports.

We’ll take a look at each school’s boys and girls teams, provide a brief synopsis of their progress thus far, and a bit of a prognosis for how each team will finish the season.

Ladies first, in alphabetical order:

Alcovy Lady Tigers Current Record: 3-9 overall, 0-3 in Region 3-AAAAAA Best Win: Alcovy’s 60-34 blowout win over South Atlanta during the Woodland High School Christmas Tournament should qualify here. Though South Atlanta has a losing record, the Lady Tigers’ showed grit on defense and had their highest scoring output of the season here.

Toughest Loss: Coach Justin Hunter’s squad has had a few close call losses this season, but the 5451 double overtime loss to Riverdale in that same tournament was a hard one, simply because of the fight the Tigers put into winning, and the missed opportunities to salt the game away.

Midseason MVP: Combo guard Tamia Brown. The 5-foot-4 junior has been the heart and soul for the Lady Tigers squad, leading them in points and assists, and setting up her other teammates for success.

The most encouraging part about Brown’s game is the fact that she’s still got one more year to get better. Without Brown, the Tigers may not have the three wins they’ve got.

Midseason Grade: B- At the beginning of the season, Hunter said his team would rise and fall on its ability to excel in effort and execution. Hunter can’t be too upset with the team’s effort – particularly on defense. Despite a couple of lopsided results, the Tigers are only surrendering about 41 points per game. Their defense can keep them in most contests. But the execution offensively lacks, largely impart to youth around Brown. Freshman Serai Johnson has been a bright spot, however. If the Tigers can find some consistent scoring elsewhere than Brown, don’t be surprised to see them squeeze out three or four more wins this season, giving themselves some momentum to build on next year.

Eastside Lady Eagles Current Record: 3-13 overall, 3-3 in Region 4-AAAA Best Win: You don’t have to go too far back to find this one. This past Tuesday’s 47-41 win over an

eight-win region opponent in Salem. That was major for the confidence of this young Eastside squad.

Toughest Loss: We’ll go with the 72-34 Luella loss on Dec. 16.

Although it may have been the tough-to-swallow turning point needed to help Eastside gel. The Lady Eagles, in this game, were thoroughly dominated by a good, but not great Luella team. That’s always a hard kind of loss to take.

Midseason MVP: Alysee Dobbs. She scored 19 in Friday’s win over Druid Hills, and has been averaging double figures as a freshman. She is a picture of hustle, and her motor never stops running.

She’s going to be a special player to watch if she continues to develop over the next three years.

Midseason Grade: B Given the lower expectations that come with a team full of unproven freshmen who haven’t spent a ton of time playing competitive college ball, the Eagles are actually doing pretty well for themselves. You always want to see a team improve as the year goes along, and it looks as though the Eagles are starting to play their best basketball as the season rounds that corner toward the January home stretch. And don’t look now, but with another region game against Salem on Jan. 17, that we now know is winnable for them, Eastside still has a chance to make a push.

Newton Lady Rams Current Record: 13-2 overall, 4-0 in Region 8-AAAAAAA Current Ranking: No. 6 in Class AAAAAAA Best Win: Hands down, Friday’s 66-63 victory over No. 5 Archer.

On the road, against an athletic team with three girls 6-feet and taller, and one right at 5-foot-11?

Yeah, this one was impressive.

Toughest Loss: The Dec. 10 4942 loss to Duluth, though not a region game, is probably one of those

that coach Tiffani Johnson would like to have back. When you lose because a team is better, that’s one thing. But when you lose because you simply weren’t bringing your ‘A’ game, then that’s another. Chalk this loss up to the latter for Newton.

Midseason MVP: Honestly, you could make a case for a few. But we’ll go with the obvious choice.

Lexii Chatman. The diminutive junior is a consummate leader and the chief scorer on a fast, but small Newton squad. Her 24 points, clutch buckets and solid defense against Archer is probably the reason why they won.

Midseason Grade: A- Coach Johnson will tell you that sometimes her team can go through some mildly inexplicable concentration laps. Although it seems to happen most when her team plays down to the level of competition. A good showing against a couple of solid teams at the BallNPrep Powher Holiday Invite in Birmingham, Ala., coupled with the big win at Archer has Johnson and company feeling as if they can compete with anyone. Several region games will test the team’s focus, including a regular season finale with Archer at home. If the Lady Rams stay focused, they will be tough to beat.

BOYS Alcovy Tigers

Current Record: 5-9 overall, 0-3 in Region 3-AAAAAA Best Win: The Nov. 19 and 21 wins against Spalding and Luella may tie. Both teams may not be state powers, but have enough athletic ability to cause trouble if you sleep on them. Alcovy showed, in these games, that if healthy, they can give some teams problems.

Toughest Loss: Definitely the Dec. 20 game with Northgate. A 57-55 setback, that game was a heartbreaker that began a fivegame slide for the Tigers. And the game was winnable in every way,

despite Alcovy missing key players because of injury.

Midseason MVP: This may be different if the roster was fully intact, but we’ll say Shaq Brown, on a team that has a lot of young talent.

He’s been rising up as a consistent player, at least through the Holiday Tournament season.

Midseason Grade: C+ It’s kind of tough to grade Alcovy because of the missing pieces they’ve had to play with, such as Carnarcion Cosby who is a scorer for them. Cosby has been nursing injury. Koby Perry has also missed some time, and coach Mack Hardwick called Perry one of the team’s best leaders in the preseason.

A tough back end of the schedule includes games against Lakeside and Heritage-Conyers, and a regular season finale with Class AAAA No. 5 Eastside. The expectations were maybe a little higher than what the results have been so far, but there’s still time to make a bit of a turnaround, particularly if some of the missing pieces return.

Eastside Eagles Current Record: 11-6 Current Ranking: No. 5 in Class AAAA Best Win: That 78-71 win over then-No. 3 Henry County on Dec. 12 was huge, and seemed to give Eastside some confidence going into the Holiday Tourneys.

Toughest Loss: Fewer losses aggravate a coach and frustrate a team more than those lost on the free throw line. Such was the case when Eastside lost 63-61 to Salem last week after Keiodre Perry missed a pair with 4.6 seconds left that could’ve tied the game.

Midseason MVP: With apologies to Keiodre Perry, who’s having a stellar season, we’re going to go with Des Dyer here. We knew Perry would have a big year, especially with the brunt of the team’s leadership on his shoulders. But few peo-

ple saw Dyer’s double-double per game production coming. Without that, Eastside’s sledding would be much tougher, even with Perry.

Midseason Grade: B+ This grade comes straight from the mouth of Eastside’s coach himself.

“Effort is an A,” he says. But execution has been lacking. Especially in this stretch of four losses in five games. The back end of the schedule is favorable, though, for Eastside to regain some momentum heading into the region tourney.

Newton Rams Current Record: 17-0, 4-0 Current Rankings: No. 1 in Class AAAAAAA, No. 14 on Maxpreps. com, No. 21 in USA Today’s Top 25.

Best Win: The 73-64 win over Spartanburg Day in the Farm Bureau Classic Championship game.

Not because Newton hasn’t played better teams, but because the win over arguably the nation’s best high school player, Zion Williamson, helped catapult Newton into the national spotlight.

Midseason MVP: Talk about another tough one. But we’ll give the nod to Isaiah Miller, just because of what his addition to the team has done to make sophomore point guard Ashton Hagans and senior sharpshooter J.D. Notae so much more dangerous. Really, any of those three could make a strong case.

Midseason Grade: A We’re holding off on the “plus” because there’s always room for improvement. It will be interesting to see what Newton can do against teams with more size. But so far, the big three of Hagans, Miller and Notae have been unstoppable. And role players like 6-foot-6 Josh Tukes and three-point threat Darvin Jones have only added to the Rams’ potency. Getting past a Spartanburg Day rematch may be the only thing stopping Newton from a perfect regular season.

Newton cracks USA Today poll ahead of Spartanburg rematch When the Newton boys basketball team takes the court Monday against Spartanburg Day and Zion Williamson, they’ll be doing so with a little national swagger in their step.

The Rams, ranked No. 1 in Class AAAAAAA and ranked No. 1 in Georgia, regardless of classification, according to Maxpreps. com have checked in this past week at No. 21 in the USA Today top 25 high school basketball poll.

Newton (17-0, 4-0 in Region 8-AAAAAAA) are coming fresh off a string of three victories this past week, including a 77-50 region win at Archer Friday night.

In that game, Isaiah Miller led the top-ranked Rams with 20 points, while J.D. Notae and Ashton Hagans chipped in with 17 and 16 points apiece. Hagans also notched eight assists, seven rebounds and five steals in the win.

Rams coach Rick Rasmussen called it “another solid road win” for his team which is in the throes of a stretch of six games in eight

days. And while Rasmussen appreciates the national love, he said it can’t get in the way of Newton’s top season goal.

“It’s pretty cool to be ranked in the country, but it doesn’t mean anything unless you’re still there at the end of the year,” Rasmussen said.

Rasmussen’s bunch will play Williamson and Spartanburg Day Monday at 2 p.m. in the Blue Collar MLK Classic at Peachtree Ridge High School. Newton defeated Spartanburg Day 73-64 on Dec. 30 in the championship game of the Farm Bureau Classic in Spartanburg, S.C., and Rasmussen believes the atmosphere for the rematch should make for a fun game.

“We are looking forward to a rematch with Spartanburg Day, and also the Rockdale rivalry game on Tuesday,” he said. “But Monday will be exciting. Isaiah (Miller) picked up an offer from Miami of Ohio (Thursday), and a bunch of colleges will be at the game on Monday. But beyond that, it’s a great way for us

File Photo | The Covington News

Newton boys basketball coach Rick Rasmussen and his Rams’ squad are getting national acclaim for their success this season.

to remember and honor Martin Luther King Jr., who paved the way for

equality in our country.”

Newton’s Tuesday night game

against Rockdale is at 7:30 p.m. at Newton High School.

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Sunday, January 15, 2017

The Covington News

Underrated no more: EHS’ Dyer turning heads Gabriel Stovall gstovall@covnews.com

It takes Kieodre Perry to start the conversation on Des Dyer.

Before the season began, Perry, the senior leader on the Class AAAA No. 5 Eastside Eagles basketball team waxed prophetic about his teammate, Dyer.

“You’ll see,” Perry said. “He’s one of the most underrated players in Newton County.”

And Perry has been consistent with that statement, as every now and then he can be seen repeating it on his Twitter page in some form. He gets few arguments regarding the sentiment, though. In fact, Dyer himself is one of the ones who will agree with Perry the loudest.

“Yes, I feel like I’ve been underrated all my life,” Dyer said. “Because I work hard, and even when I couldn’t play I was still out on the court every day working, trying to get better.”

Although Dyer is a senior, this season at Eastside is his first playing on the varsity level. The Newton transfer came over after his sophomore year and paid his dues as a key member on the Eagles’ junior varsity squad as a junior.

Georgia High School Association red tape prevented Dyer from joining the varsity last year. But it didn’t keep him from catching the eye of his Eastside coaches.

“It’s one of those things where, last year, because of rules and everything else, moving out of his grandfather’s house and GHSA issues, he couldn’t play,” said Eastside boys coach Brent Wren. “But he went through it all like a champ. He got on the JV team, took those JV minutes and didn’t pout about it. He worked hard in the summer, in the weight room, in the gym. He was with coach Gilstrap, working on footing and

Gabriel Stovall | The Covington News

Eastside senior Des Dyer is averaging a double-double per game in his first ever varsity action.

shooting, just everything. And it’s paying off for him.”

Paying off, indeed. Dyer is averaging close to 18 points and over 12 rebounds per game. The 6-foot-2, 170 pounder plays bigger than he is, often drawing defensive assignments against the opposing team’s post players.

His rebounding acumen has been huge for a team that lost size when 6-foot-10 senior Jesse Walden went down with a high ankle sprain.

But he’s also gaining confidence in his slashing and

penetrating game. He likes to run the floor, as evidenced by a thunderous one-handed dunk he threw down this past Wednesday against Newton on a fast break. And he’s definitely not afraid to step far back behind the three-point arc to shoot.

“Oh, I have a lot of confidence in my shot,” said Dyer who scored 10 points in Friday’s 76-66 region win over Druid Hills. “I can shoot it. These last two games I haven’t been hittin’ though.”

Then he paused before

dropping a gem of confidence. “(Druid Hills) got lucky that I wasn’t hittin’ tonight,” he added. “I got very frustrated.”

Part of that frustration can be attributed to Dyer picking up three early fouls in the first quarter, and then ultimately fouling out, still with a little over two minutes remaining in a game where Druid Hills remained pesky throughout.

It’s that confidence that’s he’s always had in his game that kept him working hard on and off the court to give

him a chance to have a special senior season.

“It feels good to be here and be a part of this team,” he said. “At first, I was upset because I just couldn’t play because at first I couldn’t get my grades right at Newton.

But since I came over here, I’ve been on the A and B honor roll. Everything has worked out perfectly.”

It worked out perfectly for Eastside, also.

Dyer’s scoring and rebounding has taken pressure off of Perry who assumed

unquestioned leader status on the Eagles’ squad after the transfers of Isaiah Miller (Newton) and Joshua Cammon (Tucker).

“He’s one we got from the other side,” Wren said. “And he’s getting better and better the more we gravitate toward the end of the season.

We appreciate having him.”

The feeling is mutual for Dyer. That much is evident as the somewhat soft spoken wing player begins to gush about the camaraderie he’s found at Eastside.

“It’s just that we have a very tight bond,” Dyer said.

“Everybody listens. Everybody works hard and does everything together to try and get better.”

It’s the kind of environment he’s always wanted to be in, and one Wren wishes he could keep him in.

“Man, if I had him for four years,” said Wren, his voice trailing off. “I wish he could reclassify and stay for another one. That’s just the kind of a kid he is. He’s like an old man on the court. There’s a physicalness to him, but he’s very soft spoken. When he speaks, though, Wren says he commands attention.

“Everybody knows that when he talks, he’s going to be straight and direct,” Wren said. “There are no in-betweens with him.”

Perhaps that’s what allows Dyer to spend few works making bold declarations of where he wants his career to go.

“I want to play in college,” he said. “I really want to go the league (NBA).”

And Wren won’t argue with him about it.

“I love this kid,” Wren said.

“For him to come on here to our varsity team and average a double-double in his first year just speaks volumes of how tough a kid he is. His hard work is paying off. The sky is the limit for Des.”

Local makes appearance for NFL’s Houston Texans in playoffs

By Sherri Davis-Viniard Special to The Covington News

It wasn’t all that long ago that Houston Texans running back, Akeem Hunt, moved to Newton County, Georgia and enrolled in the third grade at Fairview Elementary School.

From there he attended Clements Middle School before graduating as an honor roll student (and star football player) from Newton High School with the Class of 2011.

A successful collegiate football career at Purdue University soon followed, which ultimately led to his signing as a rookie free agent with the New York Giants in May 2015.

He was later signed and released from the Baltimore Ravens before signing with the Houston Texans later that year. Now, in just his second season with the Texans, his team is in the NFL playoffs with their eyes on the ultimate prize — the Super Bowl.

That would be enough to boost the ego of many 23-year-olds well into the stratosphere, but that’s not Akeem Hunt. Ask him any question and the words, “faith,” “discipline,” “strength,” or “integrity,” will probably be somewhere in the answer.

In fact, those characteristics meant a lot to him all the way back in his school days.

While Houston, Texas is over 800 miles from Covington, Georgia, memories from home and school are never all that far away. He hasn’t forgotten how his experiences in the Newton County School System (NCSS) helped prepare him for his success in college and ultimately his pursuit of his lifelong dream of playing in the NFL. When asked if playing in the NFL was always his career goal, his answer is matter-of-fact, “yes.” It’s the answer to why it was always his career goal that truly explains the inner workings of this young man.

In Hunt’s mind, a career in the NFL always meant, “The thrill of knowing it’s a bumpy road and knowing that faith is always the best weapon to use during battle.”

When you realize his go-to Bible verse is, Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” and his advice to others is two-fold: “Always live by faith and keep your frequency high,” and “smile,” his answer to why his goal was always to play in the NFL makes perfect sense.

Knowing that pursuing a career in the NFL would be a “bumpy road,” Hunt worked hard to continually improve in academics and athletics. And that’s where Newton High School came in.

“Everyone in the school played an important role,” said Hunt, although he singled out three Newton High School staff members who made the most impact when he was a student there: Football coaches Cortez Allen and Camiel Grant, and his mother, Sophia Lewis, who still works at the school today.

“There was great involvement and a great teaching zone,” Hunt said. “I learned a lot.”

Newton High was where he learned to study, and according to Hunt, that is a skill that “will always help in anyone’s life when it comes to overcoming an obstacle.” Those study skills helped Hunt become an honor roll student in the classroom. Outside of the classroom, Hunt said participating in the athletic program at Newton High School was an important factor in his success at the collegiate level, because there, he explained, he was “able to spot my weaknesses and start working to get better. You have to learn to do things yourself or else you will fail. It gave me integrity and discipline.”

In addition to his good grades, Hunt was also the offensive MVP for the Newton Rams during his senior year. With an eye on his ultimate goal of playing in the NFL, Hunt selected Purdue University as his college of choice, “because of the academics and a chance to achieve my passion to play football.”

At Purdue, he majored in movement and sports science. During his freshman year with the Boilermakers, Hunt appeared in 12 games as a reserve and finished third on the team in rushing with an impressive 287 years and two touchdowns on just 33 carries.

By the time his collegiate football career at Purdue came to an end, he had played in 49 games and amassed 2,035 yards on 371 carries and 11 touchdowns. In addition, he had 100 receptions for 841 yards and six scores and 74 kickoff returns for 1,747 yards and six touchdowns.

Although he wasn’t drafted in the 2015 NFL draft, he signed immediately after the draft with the Giants. Soon after, he moved to the Ravens before ultimately signing on with the Houston Texans. He’s been there ever since – first on the

Houston Texans Photography | The Covington News

Newton alumnus Akeem Hunt has seen action in eight games and has rushed for 109 yards on 20 carries for the Houston Texans. The Texans played the New England Patriots Saturday night in the NFL playoff’s divisional round.

Houston Texans Photography | The Covington News

Akeem Hunt was considered a three-star prospect coming out of Newton High before signing to play college football at Purdue.

practice squad, and as of November 21, 2015, the active roster.

The next day, in his first game in the NFL, Hunt rushed for two yards on his very first carry against of all teams, the New York Jets. Overall, he played in seven regular and one post season games during the 2015 season and has played in eight regular season and one post season games in the 2016 season. That means, the young boy whose ultimate goal was always to play in the NFL, has not

only worked hard and achieved that goal, but he’s also played in postseason games in each of his first two years as a professional football player.

And this year his team is still in contention for the Super Bowl, which of course, will be played on his home field at NRG Stadium, home of the Houston Texans.

When you ask him what his professional goals are for next year and into the future, he doesn’t list personal achievements, such as win-

ning individual awards or recognition. For him it’s all about what he can do for his team.

“I know there are better things to come through Christ who strengthens me,” he said. “My goal is to become a better and better teammate to help the team achieve their goals.”

Is it any surprise that just five years ago, his classmates at Newton High School elected him as Homecoming King?

“I remember the smiles of every genuine person that understood my message when I was running for Homecoming King, and knowing that I won for them,” said Hunt. “Personality over popularity.

I would recommend to any student to just be themselves and to use their intelligent and beautiful minds to create peace.”

With the Houston Texans still focused on post season play and the ultimate possibility of winning Super Bowl LI on their home field, Hunt and teammates are busy preparing for their next opponents, the New England Patriots.

Once their season is finally over, he’ll have more time for his many hobbies, including dancing, playing piano and drums, poetry, bowling, Wordplay with Beats, skating, movies and taking care of his dog, Yuki.

Until then, he’ll be on the practice field getting ready for the big game.

So remember, the next time you tune in to a Houston Texans game, look for No. 33 Akeem Hunt. He’s not just a NFL player who worked hard to achieve his dream, he’s also a proud alumnus of Newton High School, Class of 2011.

The Covington News

sports

Lady Rams knock off No. 5 Archer, 56-53 Gabriel Stovall gstovall@covnews.com

Newton Lady Rams coach Tiffani Johnson came out of last Wednesday’s romp over rival Eastside with a bit of a game face on. It was because she was already looking ahead to what she called “our biggest region game to date” against No. 5 Archer.

Friday night, in the battle for the top spot in Region 8-AAAAAAA, it was the sixth-ranked Lady Rams who came away victorious after notching a 56-53 win on the road to boost its record to 13-2 and 4-0 in region play.

Junior Lexii Chatman paced the Rams against a big, long Archer squad with 24 points as Newton takes a firm one game lead over the region, having beaten both Archer and South Gwinnett once out of two games this season.

Newton will next face Fayette County Monday in the MLK Holiday Classic at Campbell High, then will come home to host rival Rockdale on Tuesday, with a home rematch Friday with South Gwinnett. Newton will host Archer again for the regular season finale on Feb. 3.

Anthony Banks | The Covington News

No. 6 Newton’s Lexii Chatman poured in 24 points to help lift the Lady Rams past No. 5 Archer Friday night, 56-53.

Q&A with Eastside freshman Alysse Dobbs

Gabriel Stovall | The Covington News

Despite being a freshman, Alysse Dobbs has been one of the more consistent players on a rebuilding Eastside Lady Eagles basketball team.

Coach Glenda King calls player ‘one of her more consistent players’ Gabriel Stovall gstovall@covnews.com

When the Eastside Lady Eagles basketball team defeated Druid Hills 47-29 on Friday night, it not only gave the Eagles another win on the season. It gave them two wins in the same week for the first time this season. Eastside coach Glenda King has said from the season’s onset that it would be a building year for a young team that often sees three or four freshmen on the floor at the same time on any given night.

Among those freshman is Alysse Dobbs. Dobbs had 19 points in Friday’s Druid Hills win. She was also the only Lady Eagle to score double figures against Newton this past Wednesday.

King calls her one of her more consistent players, both as a scorer and emerging leader.

After Friday night’s win, we got the chance to catch up with Dobbs to get her take on her, and the team’s progress at the season’s midpoint.

The Covington News: After the Friday night win, we could hear your team hollering and screaming in the locker room.

What did Coach King say to get you so excited?

Alysse Dobbs: “Well it’s a region game and we knew wanted to win all of, or as many of our games in region as we can. So it was exciting for us to come out here and get a win against them again.

TCN: It seems like you all are having a lot more fun now than, perhaps, at the beginning of the season.

Why do you think that is?

Dobbs: “Throughout the season we’ve all created a stronger bond and we’ve gotten to know each other better. Now that we’ve gotten to know each other better, we just kind of play around with each other now. But it helps us to play better together.”

TCN: Coach King has said you are one of the more consistent players on this team.

You’ve led the team in scoring a few times this season. How does it feel to have that kind of load on you as a freshman?

Dobbs: “It feels good. I

mean I really don’t think much about how I score or how much I score. I just go out there and play. I just go play how I play, so I’m not always the high scorer out there, but I don’t concern myself with that.

I just go out and play.”

TCN: So you have played, and started, in both softball and basketball here at Eastside. Which sport is your favorite?

Dobbs: “I don’t know.

That’s a hard decision. Basketball keeps me in shape when I’m not in softball.

I’ve always liked basketball because it’s fun. And then softball, I get to interact with my teammates, and I get to know everybody, and it’s just a good sport and I love it.”

TCN: How have you become a better basketball player throughout your freshman season?

Dobbs: “The coaches, they give me pointers, and they tell me not to always rely just on my jump shot.

And with that, they help me throughout practice and in the games.”

TCN: Last question for you. How do you see your-

self, and this team improving the rest of the year?

Dobbs: “I want to improve myself by not just trying to shoot every time, and learning to pass the ball off more and getting everybody a turn. And I see the team improving throughout the year because as we get to know each other better and create a greater bond, we concentrate more in practice and practice harder and it definitely will help us in games.”

Sunday, January 15, 2017

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Sunday Sound Off

Eastside girls learn life lessons together in both winning, losing Also, that vicI’m not sure tory, coupled when it rewith a 40-35 ally began to region win take place, but something against a deshifted in the cent Salem Eastside Lady squad, gave Eagles locker the Eagles Gabriel Stovall room, and it something Columnist shifted for the that it was better. missing as the I had the chance to losses piled up at the besee coach Glenda King’s ginning of the season. team play three times Confidence. this past week in wins But more than that, against Salem and Druid there was another term Hills with a loss to Class being bandied about beAAAAAAAA No. 7 New- tween coach and players ton sandwiched in be- on Friday. tween.

Fun. And I can tell you this: Freshman Alysse The team I saw this past Dobbs, one of the team’s week is not the same leading scorers, talked squad I laid eyes on last repeatedly about the inmonth when I first saw creased team bond the them play in early De- Lady Eagles have expecember against the Lady rienced since that Luella Rams. loss. So has King. And I recall witnessing East- you can see it on all of side’s 72-34 throttling at their faces. the hands of Luella back Even when an Eagle on Dec. 16. It was the player makes a mistake, team’s third loss in a row King can be seen giving a after a 40-35 win over a reassuring smile, even as winless Druid Hills team. she continues to tutor her I remember King’s tone squad from the bench. with her team in that Several times Friday locker room. It wasn’t a night, a Lady Eagle player happy tone. would hit the floor after a She wanted her team to hard foul. King seemingly show more effort. More would playfully chide her hustle. Better execution. young athlete, encouragIt’s the same kind of frus- ing her to “shake it off ” trations that coaches from and keep playing.

Pop Warner football all Definitely the attitude the way to the pros expe- is different. Will that rience – when you prac- translate to more wins? tice something and the Who knows? finished product looks A Jan. 21 game with vastly different than what 1-16 Berkmar and a rewas practiced. match with a similarly King was irritated with struggling Alcovy squad her squad. No sin there.

– the Lady Tigers bested Coaches are just as huEastside 40-32 in the man as the players they teams’ season opener coach. But maybe it was back on Nov. 12. the upcoming Christmas But as King shared with holiday that started the me in that Christmas time shift. text message she sent, it’s King shot me a text not always all about the message with pictures of her team doing some wins and losses.

I know it sounds cliché, community service to but I think it’s a sports several nursing homes in truth we adults, espethe area. She told me that cially, need to constantly they were taking a little reacquaint ourselves with break away from basketin regard to youth sports. ball to serve the commuEveryone wants to win, nity and bond together as including King, who’s a team. taken a Rockdale County It seems to be just what squad to the state tourthe doctor ordered.

On Friday night, after nament during her stint an 18-point domination there. But everyone who over region foe Druid wants to win would also Hills, I went back to the do well to know that there Eastside locker room are other ways to win beagain, just as I did that sides what’s on the scoreboard. day in Luella.

And the Lady Eagles And this time the yells figuring out how to bond and screams I heard didn’t come from one and grow together as a person. It wasn’t coming team and basketball famfrom a frustrated coach ily is, indeed, a bonafide or a player on the verge of “W.” It’s the kind of gift quitting.

I’m not exactly sure athletics can give to our what was said, but I know young people that keeps that whatever it was on giving as they grow.

Here’s to hoping for touched off screams of adulation, which, by the more of those W’s in the way, are definitely distinc- win column and in life for tive from those of frustra- King and her girls.

Gabriel Stovall is the tion.

But the girls were hap- Sports Editor at The Covpy. With the win, they ington News. He can be swept the two-game series reached for tips and story with the Lady Red Dev- ideas at gstovall@covnews. ils, and ensured that they com. Follow him on Twitprobably wouldn’t reside ter @GabrielStovall1 as at the bottom of the Re- well as our sports Twitter gion 4-AAAA standings. page @CovNewsSports.

B living Sunday, January 15, 2016

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Porterdale accepts donated bus Darryl Welch dwelch@covnews.com

On Monday, the Porterdale City Council accepted the donation of a wheelchair ramp-equipped bus. The bus was donated by the Newton County School System (NCSS).

At the meeting, council members and Mayor Arline Chapman discussed ways that the bus could be used to promote the city and benefit its citizens.

One of the suggested uses was using the bus to transport disabled kayakers and canoers to the handicapped accessible kayak and canoe launch that the city hopes to build using a grant from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Recreational Trails program.

Members also discussed building a combination kayak rack/speaker platform on the top of the bus so that in addition to transporting kayakers, the bus could be utilized as a stage for emcees at city festivals.

There was even discussion of Santa Claus riding on top of the bus during the city’s annual Christmas parade.

The suggestion that eventually the bus could be used to transport senior citizens to the grocery store once a week was also made.

City Manager Bob Thomson said Thursday right now, the city has no specific plans for the bus and the council will decide the best uses for the bus at its February retreat.

Thomson also said the city hopes to enlist artists to transform the exterior of the bus in a manner similar to the city’s Art Car. Thomson suggested that some of the graphics might include mill village and river scenes.

It was also suggested at the council meeting that the city logo could be attached to the bus’s exterior.

Submitted photos | The Covington News

Left: The City of Porterdale accepts a donated school bus from the Newton County School System. Below: Porterdale plans to enlist artists to transform the exterior of the bus similar to the city’s Art Car.

Have you ever thought ...

What doors are opened that were closed, and what doors still need to be challenged?

Banes, served Today is the as Chair.

88 anniversary Speaking at of the birth of the event, PasDr. Martin Lutor Eric Lee of ther King Jr. Tothe Springfield morrow, as we Baptist Church do each third said, “As I was Monday of January, we will B. Wiley Stephens approaching Columnist the courthouse pause as a nafor tonight’s tion to remember Dr. King. We do this to swearing-in, I thought beboth honor the man and to cause I had parked near renew our commitment to the back door, I would cut the challenge of his life, and through the back door to his teachings for us to live up get here. As I made my way to the ideals of the American through the back door, I began to appreciate that when dream.

His was the prophetic this facility was built in voice that challenged us as 1884 there were people who nation to open the doors of could only access it through freedom and opportunity the back door, if at all.” to all. He was the leader and Then Pastor Lee reminded voice of the Bus Boycott in listeners of some who made 1955 in Montgomery Ala- the effort to open the front bama. Perhaps the most not- door for all citizens of Newed of time that he challenged ton County. He mentioned for the doors of opportunity Deacon Forrest Sawyer; to be open to all was his “I Rev. Pitts, Sheriff Brown, Have A Dream Speech” in and Judge Horace Johnson.

August, 1963. Another time He continued “We thank he was leading the opening God for all who have been of the way, was the March our forebears and our foreto Selma for voting rights in runners – black men, black April, 1965. He was trying to women, white men – who open the way for labor rights have made this building acwhen he was assassinated in cessible to all.”

While we celebrate the Memphis in 1968.

Dr. King led our nation to doors that have been opened great progress but Monday is for today, let us not fool for us to remember there is ourselves in thinking all the still much to be done. We are work has been done. There challenged to work together are still issues of justice that to make sure the door is must be faced. There are still opened for all to live out the those among us that need us as a community to speak up American Dream.

At the first meeting of for them and help them be Newton County Board of who God created them to be.

It was an embarrassment Commissioners for 2017, for the first time an Afri- to me that our county’s reaccan American, Marcello tion to a Mosque being built

in our area was chosen as the top story for 2016. While it is true this was a leading story that drew national attention.

What bothered me is that this stands as a clear signal that there are still doors to be opened. If those of the Islam faith are not free to build a place of worship, then none of us are truly free. Our Bill of Rights does not allow us to extend the freedom of religion to some but not to all.

Martin Luther King simply stated, “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” We who have enjoyed the place of dominance in our culture must realize that freedom is a gift that must be shared or it will lose its value to all.

We were challenged by Dr. King to “let no man pull you so low as to hate him.” The Covington that I have come to love is one that receives the new comer with open arms.

And working with all, both those whose families have been here for generations and those who have just arrived, will build a stronger and better community. We must be willing to challenge any barrier that stands in the way of any so all might be truly free.

A major part of Dr. King’s dream was for those who lived behind the walls of suspicion and hatred, would grow to understand each other and become neighbors and friends. We have come a long way but there is still a journey before us.

B. Wiley Stephens is a retired United Methodist Minister and author who now resides in Covington.

Flying like an Eagle

Submitted photo | The Covington News

Jared Griggs became an Eagle Scout on Oct. 24, 2016. His ceremony took place Jan. 8.

Jared first started his scouting experience as a Cub Scout in Pack 4138. He transitioned into Troop 211 to start his Boy Scout experience. He has been a scout with Troop 211 since 2010. Within this time, he has successfully completed his trail to Eagle Scout. Jared is a hard working young man who shows his determination and dedication in his everyday life.

He currently attends Alcovy High School, where he will be graduating in the spring of 2017.

In school, he is an A-honor roll student that participates in numerous afterschool clubs and activities, such as Key Club, National Honor Society, FBLA, and band. He plans to go to a 4-year college to study business. Congratulations Jared!

Marshall’s Music Minute

Sweet Harmony & Leighlynn Shine double bill highlights another big week of music Another week is in the books, and the music just keeps flowing.

As usual, a lot going on this week, let’s dig in.

Sweet Harmony & Leighlynn Shine live at The Listening Room at Irish Bred Pub, Friday, Jan. 20 at 8 p.m.

This is a show that has been months and months in the works.

We’ve had a couple of near misses trying to get our schedules together, but now the time has come.

Sweet Harmony, the group I’m proud to be a part of, will be doing a double bill with one of my all-time favorite groups, Leighlynn Shine. It promises to be a big night.

We’re all looking forward to it.

Opening things up will be Sweet Harmony. Comprised of Rebecca Bates, Leeanne Blankenship, Johnny Hamby, Ann McCart and

Marshall McCart Columnist

myself, we play an unique blend of acoustic Americana music in the tradition of John Prine, Gillian Welch and Lucinda Williams with originals reflecting that heritage. The centerpiece of our sound is the “sweet” harmony of Reb, Leelee and Ann. It really is something else. And Johnny’s upright bass mixed in with a couple of guitars and a mandolin lays down the foundation.

Leighlynn Shine, a group that I’ve written about many times in this space, is just a marvelous group.

Founded and led by two local lovely ladies, Brittany Coles and Cindy Taylor, their sound can be described as Americana as well but with some more country influences. And speaking of sweet harmonies, these two will give you chills when you hear them. And they’ve had some big news recently as Steven Bogle, a highly touted local musician, singer and songwriter, has joined their full band line-up. For this show they are planning a mix of covers and originals and you’ll probably hear their latest single, “All the Right Ways,” that has been getting airplay on 94.9 FM. This should be a very special evening.

pickin’ Professor,” David Leinweber, and the superbly talented and award-winning Dave Benson, this group is on a higher plane. Both of these guys are outstanding guitar players and they can sure enough hit some nice harmonies. The mix of what these guys can play is what really takes them over the top. A typical show will incorporate traditional Appalachian mountain music, old time British folk, Spanish, “Folkadelic,” Blues, and Classic Rock. It’s quite remarkable. And as I mentioned in a previous column, they do a version of “Summer Breeze” that will blow you away.

This is one you won’t want to miss.

Benson & Leinweber live at The Mystic Grill, Saturday, Jan. 21 at 7 p.m.

Hannah Thomas live at Porterdale Bar & Grill, Saturday, Jan. 21, 2 p.m.

This dynamic duo returns to the Mystic Grill in what is always a great show. Comprised of the “Flat-

National touring and recording artist and Newton native Hannah Thomas will be stopping by the

home county between tour stops this weekend for an afternoon show at The Porterdale Bar & Grill.

Hannah, who I’ve also written about a few times in this column’s run, has shared the stage with the likes of Pat Benatar, Melissa Etheridge and The Indigo Girls. A mix of country and rock, she has wowed critics and fans alike all over the country with her impressive songwriting, guitar playing, and singing abilities. On top of all that, she just has such a magnetism and stage presence whenever she plays live.

It’s really a sight to behold.

Check in next week at CovNews. com for an expanded online version of “The Minute” to read about the rest of the great shows going on in Covington and Newton County.

Thanks for reading and we’ll see you next time.

Marshall McCart wears many hats, but being a musician & musical enthusiast are chief among them.

B obituaries Sunday, January 15, 2017 Melinda Gail Lynn Griffith Jordan Funeral Home, Inc.

Melinda Gail Lynn Griffith, age 66, of Mansfield, passed away on Monday, Jan. 9, 2017, at St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital in Greensboro.

Melinda Griffith was a lifelong resident of Jasper County. Her parents were the late Thomas Woodrow Lynn and Opal Mae Folds Lynn. Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her son, Chris Griffith; first grandson, James Lee Smith; sisters, Janice Ramey and Barbara Lynn; and brother, Wade Lynn.

Melinda was a homemaker and drove a school bus for Jasper County for six years. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. She loved spending time with her family, reading; and could quote scripture from memory.

She is survived by her loving husband of 48 years, Jimmy L. Griffith of Mansfield; daughters, Darlene (Tim Montgomery) Stapp of Mansfield, Margaret (Tony) Smith of Monticello, and Tanya (Clay) Elliott of Social Circle; grandchildren, Brittany Stapp, Abby Stapp, Tiffany Smith, Allen Smith and Troy Barlow; and great grandson, Cameron Wade.

A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m., Friday, Jan. 13, 2017, at Talmadge Cemetery, Rock Eagle Road, Monticello, Georgia.

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www.covnews.com Pastor Gary Day will officiate.

Serving as pallbearers will be Troy Barlow, Chris Minnoia, Clay Elliott, Allen Smith, Oscar Cote and Glynn Wade.

The family will receive friends from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m., Friday, Jan. 13, 2017, at Jordan Funeral Home 264 Hillsboro Street, Monticello, Georgia 31064.

Jordan Funeral Home, of Monticello, is in charge of arrangements. Please visit our website at www.jordanfuneralhomemonticello. com.

Gladys Smith Caldwell & Cowan Funeral Home

Gladys Smith, of Covington, passed away Jan. 7, 2017, at the age of 87. She had been a member of Victory Tabernacle Church, in Conyers, where she was active in the Senior’s Ministry. Mrs. Smith was retired from IPD Printing Company - she worked in bindery for 20 years. She enjoyed cooking, camping and visiting with family and friends. Mrs. Smith loved her friends and family, and she was very proud of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Preceding her in death was her husband of 68 years, William W. Smith, Jr.; parents, Farris and Eula Brown; brothers, Robert Brown, Tommy Brown, Fred Brown and John Brown.

Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Carol and Marvin Rhear of Cumming; sons and daughters-in-law, Gerald and Pam

Smith, Ricky and Patricia Smith, all of Conyers, Donald and Barbara Smith, of Covington; grandchildren, Lisa Jillson, of Vero Beach, Florida, Suzanne Smith, of Union, New Jersey, Jessica Salmon, of Covington, Krystal Smith, of Conyers, Katie Seymour, of Madison, Brian Smith, of Conyers; five greatgrandchildren; sisters, Sarah Daniel and Polly Ergle; numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral Services for Mrs. Smith were held Friday, Jan. 13, 2017, 11 a.m., at the Chapel of Caldwell & Cowan Funeral Home, 1215 Access Road, in Covington. Pastor Doug Nelms officiated and internment followed in New Covington Cemetery.

Velma Ansley (Bim) Meyer Caldwell & Cowan Funeral Home

Vilma Ansley (Bim) Meyer, of Oxford, passed

away peacefully in her sleep, Jan. 11, 2017, at 89 years of age. A native of Atlanta, Mrs. Meyer was a teacher with the Newton County Department of Education from 1950 to 1969, at which time she retired for health reasons. During her adult years, she enjoyed playing tennis, traveling and playing bridge. Mrs. Meyer shared her love of bridge when writing a column in The Covington News, aptly titled, “Bridge by Bim.” She was preceded in death by her parents, Eugene and Mary (Hilley) Ansley.

Survivors include her loving husband of 67.5 years, Dr. Carlos B. Meyer; daughters and son-in-law, Maridel Meyer Reynolds of Monticello, Cyndi M. Evans and her husband, Vincent Evans, Jr., of Conyers; grandchildren, Greg and Missy Anderson, Jonathan Reynolds, Anna Kate

Reynolds, Nick and Danielle Reynolds, Brandon and Leslie Evans, Ansley and Bobby Britton; great-grandchildren, Blaine Reynolds, Ashtyn Reynolds, Teagen Reynolds, Kimbrel Britton, Tyler Britton and Gavin Harrison.

A private graveside service was held. www.caldwellandcowan. com to place online condolences 770-786-7062.

Margaret Dimsdale Caldwell & Cowan Funeral Home

Margaret Dimsdale, of Covington, passed away Jan. 13, 2017, at the age of 71. Margaret loved her church, her family and her friends. Ronnie and Margaret were married for 45 years - on their way to forever together. She was preceded in death by her father, Jesse Marion Malcolm.

Survivors include her husband, Ronnie Dimsdale; daughter and son-inlaw, Renee and Jim Kauffman, of Covington; son and daughter-in-law, Sam and Denise Dimsdale, of Decatur; grandchildren, Keith Scott, Kayla Kauffman; great-grandchildren, Kaylin Scott, Lucas Scott; mother, Martha Malcolm, of Covington; sister and brother-in-law, Gail and Henry Mobley, of Conyers; several nieces and nephews.

Funeral Services for Mrs. Dimsdale will be held Sunday, Jan. 15, 2017, 2 p.m., at Salem United Methodist Church, 3962 Salem Road, in Covington, with Rev. Joe Peabody, Jr., officiating and internment following in Lawnwood Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer donations to the Salem United Methodist Church Building Fund.

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T. Lanier Levett & Dana Sullivan Levett

remember when The Covington News has been going through its archived photos and we wanted to share some with you. If you recognize anybody in these photos, let us know at news@covnews.com or swing by our office.

B education Sunday, January 15, 2017

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BOE starts budget process Duane M. Ford news@covnews.com

Tuesday, the Newton County School System (NCSS) Board of Education (BOE) took the first step in a six month process for the development and eventual adoption of its 2017-2018 budget. Erica Robinson, executive financial manager, presented a proposed budget calendar.

That proposed calendar will be finalized and approved at the BOE’s next meeting Jan. 17. It outlines the many steps that will lead to adoption of a final 2017-2018 budget at the BOE’s last meeting in June. The NCSS operates on a July 1 to June 30 fiscal year.

The calendar includes two general sub-processes. There is an initial internal process that NCSS leaders, faculty and staff members

will follow as they develop a tentative budget. That sub-process will end when the BOE adopts a tentative budget in May. The second sub-process will begin when the BOE publically publishes the tentative budget and invites public comment in The Covington News, the BOE’s legal organ for posting such documents and notices. The public will then have about three weeks to com-

Eastside High recognized as 2015-2016 award school Duane M. Ford news@covnews.com

Last week, Gov. Nathan Deal and the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement announced this year’s award schools based on assessment and other information collected during the 2015-2016 school year.

There are two categories of awards, highest performing and greatest gains.

Eastside High School was recognized with a 2016 Single Statewide Accountability System Greatest Gains Award at the highest, or platinum, level. Eastside was the only school in the Newton County School System (NCSS) to be recognized. Statewide, 139 schools across 50 school districts and only five other high schools received a similar award.

“We at Eastside High School are extremely proud to receive this honor,” Jeff Cher, principal for Eastside High, said in a news release. “It affirms the hard work and dedication on the part of our faculty and staff to strive for continual growth and achievement for all students.”

“The 2015-2016 school year was a very successful one for our high schools,” Shannon Buff, director of secondary schools, said in a news release. “Our high schools had numerous AP Scholars, our SAT and ACT scores increased across the board and our high school graduates earned millions of dollars in scholarships. And the students and staff at Eastside High School should definitely be congratulated for their accomplishments in 2015-2016. Forty-seven Eastside students qualified as AP Scholars and three of those at the National AP Scholar Award designation.

Eastside’s students topped the state on the SAT math and writing exams and both Georgia and the nation on the SAT reading exam. They increased their total composite score on the SAT by 47 points in 2016.”

She added, “Just like the SAT, Eastside’s ACT scores also increased across the board and they outperformed the nation in four categories — English, reading, science and the composite. They outpaced the state in science, too.

The school just had a phenomenal year and they are very deserving of the Platinum recognition.”

The Governor’s Office also released an updated list of “chronically failing” schools as well as its 20152016 Georgia School Reports.

No NCSS school is considered chronically failing.

School Reports, which include accountability information for each school in the state, can be seen at schoolgrades.georgia.gov.

The Governor’s school awards are based on schools’ College and Career Readiness Performance Index (CCRPI) scores. According to the Georgia Department of Education, “The CCRPI is Georgia’s

ment on the tentative budget. That comment period will include two public hearings.

Although the BOE will adopt a final budget in June, it will not set its final property tax millage rate until July. If there are proposed changes in the millage rate, additional public hearings will be held.

In other action, the BOE approved the renewal of a contract with Harris School Solutions for

technical support, troubleshooting, customer support, training information and software updates and enhancements for their NextGen financial software. The new contract will cover the 2017 calendar year and cost $32,852. The BOE approved the hiring of six teachers, two paraprofessionals, and five staff members. It approved three personnel transfers, five resignations and three terminations.

Hopper named to Dean’s List at Emmanuel College Staff Reports news@covnews.com

Madison Hopper, of Covington, has been named to the Dean’s List at Emmanuel College, in Franklin Springs, for the Fall semester of the 2016-17 academic year.

To be named to the Dean’s List a student must earn a quality point average of 3.60 or higher during a given semester and be enrolled full-time. Earning Dean’s List status is a high scholastic honor at Emmanuel College and is evidence of hard work and motivation for learning.

Coody graduates from Clayton State with Bachelor of Science degree Staff Reports news@covnews.com

Brookelyn Danielle Coody – daughter of Rick and Kimberly Witcher and Tony Coody – graduated from Clayton State University with awards from

“

We at Eastside High School are extremely proud to receive this honor.

It affirms the hard work and dedication on the part of our faculty and staff to strive for continual growth and achievement for all students.”

— Jeff Cher, Eastside High principal

statewide accountability system, implemented in 2012 to replace the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) measurement, after the U.S. Department of Education granted Georgia’s waiver from NCLB on Feb. 9, 2012.”

The CCRPI measures schools and school districts on a 100-point scale.

The number of points awarded to an individual school is the result of a complex and controversial calculation based on Georgia Milestones Assessment System test scores and other data items.

There are different formula for elementary, middle, and high schools.

“Student achievement” determines 50 of the 100 possible points. A school’s achievement score depends on how well its students perform on the Georgia Milestones tests, on measurements of how ready its students are for success in college or a career, and its students’ high school graduation rate or a predictor of high school graduation. In 2016 Eastside High’s achievement score was 39.2.

“Progress” determines up to 40 points. Progress is a measure of how the performance of a school’s students changes over time relative to similar student test takers across Georgia.

In 2016, Eastside High’s

progress score was a perfect 40.

“Achievement Gap” determines 10 points. It is determined by measures of the academic progress displayed by the lowestachieving 25 percent of students in the school as well as the gap in performance between that group of students and the state average. In 2016, Eastside High’s achievement gap score was 7.5.

Finally, schools can earn up to 10 “challenge points.” Another name for these would be “extra credit points” and they may be earned in two categories. First, challenge points are awarded if subgroups within the school are meeting achievement goals.

The calculation looks at the performance of three subgroups: economically disadvantaged students; English learners; and students with disabilities.

Second, points can be gained if the school has implemented certain “best practices” known to contribute to the college and career readiness of its students.

In 2016, Eastside High was awarded 3.8 challenge points.

The CCRPI score for a school is the summation of points earned in each of the four areas. In 2016, Eastside High’s CCRPI totaled 90.5.

the honors society with her Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Human Services. She graduated a semester early on Dec. 10, 2016.

She is continuing her education and plans to attend medical school in the fall.