2016-2017 Newcomer's Guide to Newton County

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A special supplement to The Covington News

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This is Covington.

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Welcome to The Oaks Course.

Located east of Atlanta,

6 8

table of contents Welcome

Word from the General Manager

history 8

A deeper look at Newton County

A closer look

14 at our history

just a pitching wedge from I-20 exit 88, sits The Oaks Golf Course. This Top-100 Georgia course, set beneath graceful oaks, lies in the heart of historic Covington, Georgia. Whether stopping by for a

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business 19 Made in Newton

from the 19 Word Chamber of Commerce

20 In the steps of Stars 25 Hollywood of the South megasite 26 Newton ready for business

business lunch or a leisurely 18 holes on our family friendly tees, anyone can feel like a Champion at The Oaks.

28 36 50 11240 Brown Bridge Road, Covington, Ga. 770-786-3801 ~ www.golfoaks.com

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the arts arts in 28 The Newton County

The rise of

35 Main Street

nature 36 From farm to table 40 Newton’s great outdoors County 48 Newton Recreation

Newton Trails adds

49 Norfolk Southern route

people & schools 50

Board of Commissioners

50

Covington City Council

51

Porterdale City Council

52

Oxford City Council

53

Mansfield City Council

53

Newborn City Council

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Where to vote

55

Getting utilities in Newton

56

Word from the Superintendent

57

Board of Education

58

Education outlets

59

School directory

newton directory 60 Libraries

62 Recycling

63 Clubs

65 Churches

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NEW COMER'S Guide 2016-17

hosanna fletcher General Manager

bryan fazio Editor

Amanda Ellington Circulation Supervisor Editorial Staff Mariya Lewter

Sports Editor Sandra Brands

Reporter

Advertising Cynthia Blackshear-Warren

Sales Director Annette Godwin

Sales Manager Susan Grajko

Sales Representative annette benton

Sales Representative

CIRCULATION erica hardeman

webmaster brian worton

WELCOME! Whether you are new to our community or have lived here all your life, welcome. This guide will introduce you to new places, remind you of good things, and highlight why Newton County is a wonderful place to call home.

We have five distinct municipalities and multiple distinct unincorporated areas of the county, each with their own “personality.” We have a strong hisHosanna tory of service, with more than 120 non-profit organizations ranging from recycling to adult literacy. We have a large faith community with almost 120 churches that have active members and missions. We have a growing arts community that includes fine arts, dance, and music programs, accessible to all, through a variety of organizations, and at many different locations. We have trails, bike rides, and kayaking for those outdoorsy types. We have youth and adult recreational sports to participate in as well as championship recreation, high school, and college teams to watch. We have educational programs ranging from GED to Masters level opportunities. We have agricultural tourism for those that want to “pick your own” as well as mainstream commodity farms of beef, hay, and timber. We have history and film tourism sites in each town and throughout the county. We have manufacturing, bio-tech, research, healthcare, retail and service industries. We have a regional airport, six interstate exits, and 4 rivers. We have

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town life and rural life.

Truly, Newton County has a little bit of everything.

But what we have the most of is community. That sense of small town. That sense that anywhere you go, you will see someone you know, even in a crowd.

That sense of being involved and included. That sense of being part of something greater. That sense of belonging.

Fletcher Newton County provides a community of friendship, hospitality and conviviality that is not easily come by in today’s world of social media and online everything. And you notice it the first time you drive into town, on your lunch break, every Sunday after church, and every Friday night.

Our staff at The Covington News spends months preparing this magazine each year. We are proud to be part of the Newton County history, having published our community newspaper since 1865. We are proud to serve our community, covering the wide range of things that we believe truly make Newton County unique.

We look forward to celebrating our community with you as you read through these pages and further as you read The Covington News, printed each Sunday or online each day at covnews.com.

Welcome.

Sincerely, Hosanna Fletcher, The Covington News

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history

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Covington, the county seat of Newton, is in the center of a county with distinctive characteristics, such as its commerce, history and nature. (photo by Bryan Fazio)

A DEEPER LOOK AT

NEWTON COUNTY Why you’re in Newton County and why you should think about staying the covington news

W

elcome to Newton County, if you’re new to the area, thinking about moving here or just curious for another take here’s a look through some of the county’s most pressing issues and greatest opportunities that will shape its future and maybe even that of the greater east Atlanta region.

That future path has been set in recent years with the addition of Shire’s production plant (formerly Baxalta and Baxalta) a reinvigorated downtown and a recent announcement of a massive film, television, music and video gaming production facility.

To get to that point, however, the county saw a vibrant rural life, an increase in industrial companies and a boom in construction, prior to the downturn during the national recession.

A bit of perspective Covington, the county seat, is a 35-mile car ride east of Atlanta along Interstate 20 is a mix of people live between two worlds.

9 Newcomers Guide 2016

COVNEWS.COM 9

Which makes sense, because the metro Atlanta region, which hasn’t historically included Newton County, is Georgia’s economic engine and cultural center and home to some 5.5 million people, as well as one of the South’s most important metropolises.

And it’s Newton County’s proximity to Atlanta that both leaves the county overshadowed and provides it with some of its greatest opportunities to become a business and quality of life destination for the state.

A bit of history A manufacturing boom in the 60s and 70s brought a number of big-time industries to the county, including Hercules (now Fibervisions), Mobil Chemical Company (an ancestor of Pactiv) and Bard Urological Division, now C.R. Bard. In the 1980s and 1990s, General Mills and SKC continued the trend and located new plants in Covington.

More recently, Newton has turned into a bedroom community of Atlanta.

Several factors collided in the late 90s and 2000s to turn Newton County into one of the 10 fastest growing counties (by percentage population growth) in the entire United States.

Newton County, one of Georgia’s biggest counties at 279 square miles, had land to spare and people flocked to the housing being built in the area.

The county’s population grew by 20,193 during the 1990s and another 34,018 from 2000 to 2007.

The dairy farms and forests of western Newton County were replaced with sprawling subdivisions, emulating development patterns that had occurred previously in DeKalb and Rockdale counties further west, and thousands more homes were scheduled to be built when the housing market collapsed in 2008.

In the aftermath of the U.S.’s worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, several thousand local construction workers found themselves out of jobs and parts of the Newton County were left scarred with the remnants of unfulfilled promise.

The county was forever transformed, yet many officials and longtime residents in Covington and eastern Newton County were relieved the collapse, as devastating as it was, prevented the county from being completely overrun by suburban sprawl.

Much of the county’s rural nature, including its greenspace, forests and farms were maintained — in the eastern part of the county. The population swelled in the western side, with the addition of the county’s second Walmart, Publix grocery store and several neighborhoods.

Road to recovery Newton County was hit hard by the housing collapse, since its record growth had been driven almost entirely by housing construction. Construction workers and craftsmen lost jobs. Those Continued on page 10

The Newton County Historic Courthouse sits on a corner of the Covington Square, and was built in 1865. (file photo)

10 10 COVNEWS.COM

Newcomers Guide 2016

Continued from page 9 stomer Great Cu-Stop By Service ee Us! and S

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workers and others who had bought homes outside of their budget on risky mortgages lost their homes. The county’s tax base, which had been inflated by unsustainable home values, collapsed.

The aftermath was ugly, and Newton County is just starting to see the signs of real recovery. Home prices continue to rise, residential construction is picking up, businesses are expanding and new ones are coming.

Isolated incidents of hope, like the Mystic Grill restaurant, and other new ventures on the Square, along with Ross clothing store, Jimmy John’s sandwiches and more are beginning to string together to form some momentum.

Pharmaceutical manufacturer Baxter International’s (now Shire) April 2012 decision to locate a new $1 billion manufacturing campus on the Newton/Walton county border has been a consistent source of hope and optimism for brighter days ahead.

The bioscience plant, which will make plasma-derived therapies, will employ around 1,500 workers itself, a huge total even among big manufacturers, but the fact it was the first tenant to land in the 1,600acre Stanton Springs Industrial Park is equally significant.

Shire’s arrival is used as leverage by community leaders in all sorts of efforts and has framed many conversations about the future. It helped lead to the building of new restaurants and stores on the Covington Square, the development of a new hotel, the Holiday Inn Express & Suites and further interest in industrial development.

A new community workforce development center, the New Leaf Workforce Center, and the Georgia BioScience Training Center in Stanton Springs provide some hope of progress to come, especially when combined with the Newton College and Career Academy, which is helping many local high school students get a head start on careers

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Landing another large industry or two would certainly spur the push for high-quality development. Recently a film, television, music and video game production studio was announced to be in the works in Covington. An unnamed partner from California is expected to bring a big-name in movies to Covington.

Small town charm, rural beauty Despite all the talk about growth and future opportunities, if you were to ask many residents where the county’s heart lies, they’d point you to Covington Square.

A true town square, the Covington Square is a true community gathering spot, whether its weekday lunch concerts, Saturday car or tractor shows or massive festivals, the Square remains the town’s calling card, accompanied by its Historic Courthouse, which continues to be a prominent fixture in TV shows and movies looking to capture the essence of small town America.

The Square has seen an uptick in nightlife with the Irish Bred Pub and Your Pie, joining Mystic Grill, Amici and R.L.’s.

The area has remained vibrant, and the steady amount of filming for movies and TV shows helps it feel like a happening place.

The fact that Covington has trademarked the motto “Hollywood of the South” and can trace its movie lineage back to the 1955 film, “A Man Called Peter,” gives hope the area can remain in the limelight for years to come.

And that’s not to mention the charm of the county’s even smaller cities. Porterdale, just south of Covington, is doing all it can to turn itself in a little river village, using its location off the recreational Yellow River to reestablish its identity five decades after the death of its textile mill.

Oxford, the calm city founded by the Methodist Church, remains quaint and quiet, while Oxford College, a two-year college partner of Emory University, continues to grow quietly in size and stature.

Newborn and Mansfield remain the ideal of the American small town – a couple hundred residents mixed in with a few businesses with no need for stoplights. The town council meetings will even, every once a while, harken back to the days when council meetings used to be a true gathering of the community for the purpose of airing grievances and reaching a public consensus on the town’s business.

There’s some real character and plenty of real characters here in Newton County.

COVNEWS.COM 11

Population pick up Below are the population totals for Newton County by decennial Censuses. Newton County’s rate of growth started climbing in the 1990s before exploding in the 2000s. If the housing market hadn’t collapsed in 2008, the county could have added another several thousand residents.

1970 – 32,400 1980 – 34,666 1990 – 41,808 2000 – 61,906 2010 – 99,958 2015 – 105,473* *This is the latest annual estimate put out by the U.S. Census Bureau.

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a snapshot of

Newton County Population • Population estimates (July 1, 2015) 105,473 • Under 18-years-old (July 1, 2014) 27.1% • Over 65-years-old (July 1, 2014) 11.9% • Females (July 1, 2014) 52.3% • Male (July 1,2014) 47.7% • White (July 1, 2014) 53.6% • Black (July 1, 2014) 43% • American Indian (July 1, 2014) .4% • Asian (July 1, 2014) 1.1% • Hispanic or Latino (July 1, 2014) 4.9% Population characteristics • Veterans (2014) 7,307 • Foreign born (2014) 5.9% Housing • Housing units (July 1, 2015) 38,467 • Owner-occupied housing unit rate (20102014) 72.5% • Median value of owneroccupied housing (2014) $118,500 • Median gross rent (2010-2014) $945 • Building permits (2015) 251 Families • Persons per household (2014) 2.90 Education • High school diploma (2010-2014) 83.6% • Bachelor’s degree or higher (2010-2014) 19.4% Economy • In civilian labor force 16-years-+ 63.7%

• In civilian labor force 16-years-+ female 60.8% • Total accommodation and food service sales (2012) $112,912,000 • Total health care and social assistance receipts (2012) $189,049,000 • Total manufacturers shipments (2012) $1,854,798,000 • Total merchant wholesaler sales (2012) 747,320 • Total retail sales (2012) 747,320 • Total retail sales per capita (2012) $7,362 Transportation • Mean travel time to work (2010-2014) 31.5 minutes Income and poverty • Median household income (2010-2014) $49,208 Business • Total employer establishments (2014) 1,299 • Total employment (2014) 17,441 • Total annual payroll (2014) $629,910,000 • Men-owned firms (2012) 4,121 • Women-owned firms (2012) 4,036 • Minority-owned firms (2012) 4,260 • Veteran owned firms (2012) 946 *Information from the United States Census Bureau

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A reenactor welcomes people to the Newborn school house, dressed as a Union Soldier. (file photo)

THE ROOTS OF

our history by sandra brands Newton County The area that became known as Newton County has been inhabited by humans for at least 12,000 years, according to archaeologists. The piedmont geological region became an ideal location for bands of hunters and gathers. The county’s creeks, streams and wetlands, including Snapping Shoals, Hurricane, Cane, Caney Fork, Beaverdam, Strouds, Big Haynes, Big Flat, Nelson, Wildcat and Long Creeks made possible a diverse and rich ecological environment. Later inhabitants may have included the Southern Siouans, Muskogeans and the Catawba.

But it was the Creek Confederacy that occupied the river basin areas of Newton County when the first English traders made contact with the inhabitants. The Creek ceded the land to the state in 1818 and 1821.

Named for Revolutionary War Sergeant John Newton, Newton County was formed in 1821 from parts of Jasper, Walton and Henry

counties. The county seat, required by state law to be as close as possible to the geographic center of the county, was first known as Newtonsborough, but the town was changed to Covington in 1822 in honor of War of 1812 hero General Leonidas Covington.

During the Civil War, after capturing Atlanta, General William Tecumseh Sherman sent one of his Brigadier Generals, Kenner Garrard, towards Covington to burn bridges over the Yellow and Ulafauhachee (Alcovy) rivers and tear up the railroad tracks between Lithonia and Alcovy. Known as Garrard’s Raid, the July 20th attack effectively cut off communications between Atlanta and Augusta.

In fall, Sherman split his army of 65,000 troops in two, with one half moving towards Savannah through Macon, and the other half, which Sherman himself led, moving through Newton County on its way to the important Georgia port town. By November 18, 1864, the Federal troops had reached Covington and

marched down Floyd Street. Though some buildings were destroyed in Covington and livestock and crops confiscated, few buildings not related to the railroads were damaged.

Sherman mentioned the town in his memoirs and his soldiers described the city in letters to their families.

Civil War Heritage Trail and state historic markers throughout Newton County note sites of interest, including a recently installed plaque on the square, which shares the story of Sherman’s March. There is also a monument to the Confederate dead.

The 2011 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax will create a history museum in the restored Old County Jail building at 1177 Hunter Street in Covington. Outside the building, a marquee points to different historic sites and museums in the county. There are plans to create an African-American Heritage Museum in the works.

In 1849, the church that would become

s

15 Newton County is home to many historic homes in each of its five municipalities. (file photo)

“Planning Tomorrow-Today” the Bethlehem Bapitist Church in 1851, opened its doors, making it the oldest AfricanAmerican congregation in the county. One of the church’s founders, Rev. Tonie Baker, was a free man of color.

But in mid-19th century Newton County, free persons of color, while they did exist, were required to have a white guardian and pay a poll tax annually to maintain that freedom. Slavery was a significant part of the county’s history prior to the end of the Civil War. In fact, in 1850, there were 5,187 slaves owned by 647 people. Ten years later, there were 6,460 slaves owned by 756 people.

Harry Herbert Pace, the founder of Black Swan Records, one of the first labels for African-American music, was born in Covington. He partnered with W. E. B. DuBois in a printing business, and later would collaborate with blues composer and musician, W. C. Handy. Pace ran the business and Handy wrote the music. The songs would be recorded, but by white musicians. Pace moved to New York and formed the Pace Phonograph Corporation, Inc., which recorded under the Black Swan label, the first record company owned and operated by African-Americans. Probably it’s most famous artist was the blues, jazz and gospel singer Ethel Waters.

The Civil Rights movement came to the county with a picket of Harper’s 5 and 10 on the Covington Square in 1968. The Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) affiliate of Newton was founded that year. Major civil rights protest marches took place in Covington in the spring of 1970, with six leaders of the movement – Joe Lightfoot, Leon Walker, Robert Johnson, Tyrone Brooks, Lloyd Jackson and Forrest Sawyer Jr. – were arrested and jailed for more than 45 days. That fall, the hospital and public schools were finally desegregated.

Newton County Municipalities Covington Founded in 1822, Covington is known for its downtown square presided over by the Second Empire style courthouse. It was the fourth courthouse in Newton County: the first two were built in the center of the square, and the third, built in 1856, was located on one side of the square. It burned to the ground in 1883, and was replaced by the easily recognizable courthouse in 1885. It is currently listed in the National Register of Historical Places.

Covington’s nickname is ‘The Hollywood of the South’. It has been a popular filming site for television shows and movies, including The Dukes of Hazzard, Cannonball Run, The Vampire Diaries, In the Heat of the Night, The Odd Life of Timothy Green, Remember the Titans, My Cousin Vinny, The Walking Dead and Selma.

Mansfield Mansfield was created when a group of businessmen organized as the Carmel Land Improvement Company and began purchasing land for the township after tracks for Middle Georgia and Atlantic Railroad were laid in the late 1890s. Named for Eugene Continued on next page

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16 16 COVNEWS.COM

Continued from previous page

Warren Mansfield, one of the members of the investment company, the city of Mansfield was incorporated in 1903 and by 1909 was recognized as the largest cottonseed market in Georgia.

The town boasts numerous early 20th century homes and the bell originally housed in the 1908 schoolhouse has been moved to the new Mansfield Elementary School. It is home of Sherrod “Sherry” Smith (1891-1949), “Mansfield’s Famous Southpaw”, a distinguished Major League pitcher who played in the 1916 and 1920 World Series, facing Babe Ruth in the second 1916 game. Over the course of his 23 years in baseball, Smith played with the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Brooklyn Robins (later the Dodgers) and the Cleveland Indians.

Though sitting in unincorporated Newton County, the historic Burge Plantation, built in 1830 has a Mansfield address. Still owned by descendants of the original settler, Willey Burge, who purchased the first 202 acres of the 603 acre plantation in 1809, Burge is now a site for weddings and special events, and is opened for tours. It also houses an organic farm.

Newborn Newborn began as a settlement launched after the 1807 Land Lottery. Originally known as Cross Road or Sandtown, the town was created in 1819 and it became known as a center for trade, education, and medical care.. It became known as a center for trade, education and medical care.

According to the text on the historical marker on Highway 142 southeast of Newborn, the town was supposedly saved by Union sympathizer John W. Pitts, who had entertained General Sherman on Nov. 19, 1864. The Pitts General Merchandise and Warehouses Building, built in 1896 by Julius Epamenondas Pitts still stands.

Newborn is also home to the Porter Manor Homes and Gardens, built in the 1890s, the Sandtown/Hodges Home from the early 19th Century, and the Newborn United Methodist

Church, renovated over the years since it was first built in 1820.

Also of note are the 1897 Plott Home, originally the Methodist parsonage, the Dobbs home from the turn of the last century, the Zeigler-Childs Building, home to the town hall and library, and the Old Newborn School house and Cemetary. The building that was once the home of the Newborn Academy, later Palmyra Institute, became a high school in 1909 and functions today as a community center. Newborn is also known for its Horneyhead fish festival held in April.

Oxford The Georgia Methodist church was granted a charter in 1836 to create Emory College, a liberal arts school, in memory of Bishop John Emory. A year later, the town of Oxford formed as an integral part of the college. Later, Emory College, which eventually became Emory University, moved to the Druid Hills area of Atlanta, and Emory College became a two year residential preparatory school similar to a New England prep school. Eventually, the school reverted to a college and by the 1950s, became an institution for students wanting to complete the first two years of general education. The school is now known as Oxford College of Emory University and students can complete their first two years of college at a smaller college before moving on to Emory University in Atlanta.

The Oxford Historic District and Orna Villa, an 1825 mansion which was used as a hospital during the Civil War, are on the National Register of Historic Places. Many of the war’s soldiers are buried in nearby Oxford Cemetery, which is also the resting place of eight Emory College presidents, three of whom become Methodist bishops.

Oxford also plays a role in the split in the Methodist church, creating the Methodist Episcopal Church and the Methodist Episcopal Church South. The church was against the practice of slavery, but Georgia Bishop Continued on page 18

Newcomers Guide 2016

Located on Wesley Street in Oxford, Old Church was built in 1841, and was the first Chapel of Emory University. (file photo)

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The Porterdale Mill Lofts once served the area as a textile mill and cotton warehouse. (file photo)

James O. Andrew had inherited the slave Kitty Andrews. It led to his suspension in 1844, which immediately led to the separation of the two factions. The two Methodist churches did not reunite until the 1930s.

Porterdale Originally known as Cedar Shoals, Porterdale grew up along the banks of the Yellow River. It became an important mill town, with the first factory for the carding of wool and cotton built by Connecticut’s Noah Phillips and his brother-in-law John Persall in 1831.

Later, the company would become Porterdale Mills and still later, Bibb Manufacturing, which became the largest twine manufacturer in the world.

The town was incorporated as Porterdale in 1917. The Porter family were benefactors to the mill town community. After the closing of the mill and subsequent downturn in the community’s economy, the village has been working hard to rebuild, addressing issues caused by vacant, substandard or under-utilized houses and commercial buildings.

The village’s Memorial Gym burned down in 2005, leaving only a shell. The village opted not to restore the gym, instead converting it into an open air event center while retaining the original brick exterior. In 2006,

Newcomers Guide 2016

Continued from page 16

the vacant Porterdale Mill was purchased and turned into lofts overlooking the Yellow River, and houses residential and retail space. Over the last decade, the village has seen a revitalization of its downtown historic business area and the establishment of a large historic district. It has been recognized as a PlanFirst Community by the Georgia Department of Community and by the Georgia Main Street program.

Social Circle Though a little over 70 percent of the city sits in Walton County, the city of Social Circle flows over the border into Newton County on the north. Established at the crossroads of two major Native American trails, the town was founded in 1820. Later it was incorporated as a village in 1832, a town in 1869 and as a city in 1904. Its entire historic district is on the National Historic Register.

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business

Made in Newton

Manufacturing in Newton County employs thousands by sandra brands Newton County continues to grow, attracting retail shops and industrial and manufacturing plants.

Many of the plants are considered state-of-the-art. Last year, Michelin Tread Technologies upgraded its site in Covington to allow burn off of volatile organic compounds (VOC), making the plant more environmentally friendly. VOCs released in to the air can combine with nitrogen oxides to form ground-level ozone.

• Pactiv Corporation, Covington, was opened in 1984 and employs almost 500 people. The company makes packaging for food service industries, and grocery and convenience stores.

• Bard Urological Division, Covington, was established in 1967 and employs over 500 people. The company manufactures health care products for urological procedures such as catheters, trays and other tools.

• Specialty Yarn and Converting in Porterdale has been in operation since 1917. Recently purchased by Continental tires, it engineers textiles such as rubber thread and yarns. The plant employs over 200 people.

• Oldcastle Glass, Covington, opened in 1981 and employs over 100 people.

The plant creates custom-engineered curtain and window walls, architectural windows, storefront systems, doors, skylights and architectural glass.

• Guardian Automotive, Covington, was opened in 1969 and is responsible for creating decorative automotive trims and insulated glass. It employs 310 people.

• FiberVisions, Covington, employs 225 people and opened in 1967. The plants makes the fibers, called polypropylene staple fibers, that go in to the making of disposable mops and dust cloths, disposable diapers and feminine hygiene products.

• General Mills is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year. The Newton County plant makes dry cereal and employs 400 people. It opened here in 1989.

• International Storage, Covington, makes metal shelving and storage products at its Covington plant. Opened in 1986, it employs 150 people.

• SKC, Inc., Covington, makes polymer and polyester film used in packaging, industrial, imaging, electrical, bio-compostable and solar applications.

Production began in the spring of 1999, using cutting edge robotics and technology designed and engineered to transition into the 21 Century. The Newton County plant employs 331 people.

• Clairon Metals Corporation, Covington, is a full-service metal stamping plant with tool and die, engineering, subassembly and special packaging capabilities. Opened in 1989, it employs 180 people.

• Bridgestone Sports, Covington, makes golf balls and assembles golf clubs at its Newton County plant. The plant opened in 1989 and employs 172 people.

• Beaver Manufacturing in Mansfield opened in 1971 and makes yarns used to reinforce hoses. The company employs 140 people.

• SGD Glass, based in France, has a branch plant in Newton County where they make and decorate luxury glass bottles for cosmetics and perfumes.

The company opened its Covington branch in 1996 and employs 290 people.

• Nisshinbo Automotive Manufacturing, Inc., Covington, is a state-of-theart facility that opened in 1997. The 325 employees make molded disc pads for braking systems.

• Rock Tenn in Covington opened in 1972 and employs 110 people. The company makes corrugated and fiber boxes • Michelin Tread Technologies, Covington, was upgraded to allow burn off of VOCs before being released into the air. The plant manufactures tires.

Leftover rubber tread is recycled.

• Contract Packaging, part of Kelly Products, manufactures and packages for chemical companies by formulating small package production and distribution of insecticides, pool and spa cehcmicals, and wildlife scents and attractants.

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A word from Ralph Staffins - Covington-Newton County Chamber of Commerce Welcome to Covington!

I would like to personally welcome you to Covington and Newton County. Here you will find the best quality of life in the Metro Atlanta region. We offer our citizens the small-town atmosphere with the amenities of a larger city. We know that you will fall in love with our community whether you are relocating or just visiting. Covington-Newton County will continue to grow and Staffins outpace the rest of the region for several reasons that I want to share with you. Our community continues to attract new people because we strive to create quality jobs, focus and improve on our entertainment district, and continue to be “Hollywood of the South.”

The Covington-Newton Chamber of Commerce’s first priority is to help create high paying, quality jobs in the industrial, retail, and film industries. In fact, Newton County is home to some of Georgia’s biggest industries: Shire, General Mills, Bard, SGD, and the headquarters of Bridgestone Golf.

We also boast some of the best dining options outside of the perimeter. Downtown Covington is quickly becoming a busy entertainment district with a multitude of dining and shopping options as well as live music. While our Downtown continues to grow, businesses all across our county are increasing employment and growing at a record pace.

Another industry that is an integral part of our community is the film industry, and is the reason Covington is known as the “Hollywood of the South.” As you visit you will come to know that Newton County has been the home to over 75 featured films and television shows. Some of them include Vampire Diaries, Miracles from Heaven, Sweet Home Alabama, Remember the Titans, and In the Heat of the Night. People come from all over the world to see the locations where their favorite TV shows and movies are filmed; these tourists have an economic impact to Newton County of $120 Million in direct tourist spending.

As you can see there is something for everyone here in Covington and Newton County. We welcome you to our community and encourage you to dine in our restaurants, play in our parks, visit our downtown, and shop with all of our great Chamber Members. We are an active, growing Chamber of nearly 600 member businesses. As your Chamber President I welcome you to Covington-Newton County, where you won’t be a newcomer for long – you will be a friend and neighbor.

Ralph Staffins, President Covington-Newton County Chamber of Commerce

Walking in the steps of

stars the covington news

21 Newcomers Guide 2016

As you become acquainted with Covington and Newton County, you likely will quickly become aware of the small town’s big-name claim to fame.

Welcome to the “Hollywood of the South.”

While it may be easy to assume the title blankets Georgia or even Atlanta proper, CovingtonNewton County Chamber of Commerce actually trademarked the name for the city in 2011, and the estimated 13,452-person city – according to U.S. census data – sits among some of the top production destinations in the country.

Nearly 70 films and TV productions have been wholly or partially filmed in Covington, bringing in more than $100 million to the county in direct tourist spending, around $20 million in worker income from more than 1,000 jobs and millions in local county and state tax revenues in 2012, according to sources provided

by Steve Morse, director and economist at the Western Carolina University Hospitality and Tourism Program, to Jenny McDonald, director of tourism and marketing at the Chamber of Commerce.

Movie filming was sparse until it exponentially picked up in the 1990s with movies like Oscar-winning My Cousin Vinny, which filmed

in 1991, Brad Pitt’s Kalifornia in 1992 and the TV movie “Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All” in 1993, which won four Emmys.

The new millennium brought Covington and Newton County movies like Remember the Titans in 2000, Sweet Home Alabama in 2002 and Madea’s Family Reunion in 2005. Since 2010, sets for Footloose (2010), Flight (2011), and American Reunion (2011) have visited the area. Even since the start of 2014, scenes from Taken 3, Selma, and Bessie have been filmed in Covington.

Joining The Vampire Diaries and The Originals is television show Sleepy Hollow, which started filming in Newton County in 2015. Joining those shows on television is the Dolly Parton biopic Coat of Many Colors, which spurned a sequel that filmed in Covington recently.

While movies have certainly made their mark on the city, with the historic courthouse, clock tower and Square appearing in the backdrop to many sequences and dialogues, TV shows are what the Hollywood of the South

COVNEWS.COM 21

may be best known for. Beginning with the first five episodes of Dukes of Hazzard in 1978, shows such as two Golden Globe-winning I’ll Fly Away (1991-92), In the Heat of the Night (1998-94), and Golden Globe-winning Miss Evers’ Boys sport scenic Covington backgrounds.

But the biggest tourism-drawer and spotlight goes to The Vampire Diaries (TVD), which has been filming all over the city and county since 2009, often transforming landmarks into Mystic Falls, Virginia. Fans and tourists come from all over the world to walk in the footsteps of their favorite character or eat at Scoops, a local ice cream shop and cast favorite.

Fans have shown so much love for TVD that they can take a walking tour through “Mystic Falls Tours.”

“Vampires Diaries is a phenomenon. These fans are serious business. They will do anything to be as close as possible to anything the cast does,” said Jessica Lowery, whose tour and Vampire Stalkers store, located on the Square, is endorsed by the Chamber of Commerce.

Lowery said she has seen an influx of tourists from Germany and Brazil in the last six to eight months, which she attributed to “The Vampire Diaries” recently reaching those countries.

And it doesn’t end there.

Continued on next page

22 22 COVNEWS.COM

Newcomers Guide 2016

Continued from previous page

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This program allows any individual, veteran, organization or business to choose their level of annual support. Several levels of membership are available beginning at $50. You will receive a decorative decal to show your support of the Walk of Heroes Veterans War Memorial.

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Tours have done so well that she led a ReHeat Tour in May, centered on the In the Heat of the Night series, which brought in hundreds of fans.

When visitors stay overnight in Newton County, a hotel tax is funneled directly back into the Main Street program, which is meant to be used for the betterment and beautification of the city.

According to Jenny McDonald, average hotel stays have increased from one or two nights to four nights per visitor.

“It really is an industry in itself,” McDonald said of the county’s tourism.

Overnighters may choose to walk by Newton County’s impressive number of historic homes and cemeteries. Outdoor options and day-trips are plentiful, from picking your own fruit at an organic farm to taking a picnic to a park to kayaking down Yellow River in Porterdale.

If you don’t feel like taking a guided tour, feel free to wander through the Covington Walk of Stars self-guided tour, which features engraved paving stones dedicated to famous TV shows and movies, including the production title, noted actor and year it was filmed in the pavement around the Square.

Businesses like Mystic Grill, the real-life version of the iconic Vampire Diaries restaurant that opened in January and has been in the recent local and tourist spotlight, would never have had the chance to exist without a well-backed filming and tourism industry.

“What I want from this is for people to learn where the revenue is coming from and see the economic impact,” McDonald said. “I’m hoping that more niche businesses come out of it. Those are the things that keep small towns alive.”

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HOLLYWOOD OF

THE

SOUTH

Television and film credits for Newton County as of June 2015 2015-Present — Sleepy Hollow 2014-Present — The Originals 2009-Present — The Vampire Diaries 2015 — Miracles from Heaven 2015 — Coat of Many Colors 2015 — Operator 2015 — Survivors Remorse 2015 — Southern Fried Homicide 2014 — The Fifth Wave 2014 — Vacation 2014 — Red Band Society 2014 — Bessie 2014 — Selma 2014 — Taken 3 2014 — Barely Lethal 2014 — Sabotage 2014 — Resurrection 2014 — Cemetery Tales: Tales from Morningview Cemetery 2012 — Prisoners 2012 — I’ll be Homeless for Christmas 2012 — Carl 2011 — American Reunion 2011 — Flight 2011 — Jayne Mansfield’s Car 2010-11 — Odd Life of Timothy Green 2010 — Footloose 2009 — Fly By 2009 — Get Low 2009 — Halloween II 2008 — Dangerous Calling 2008 — The Family that Preys 2005 — Boxed in 2005 — False River 2005 — Madea’s Family Reunion 2005 — Three Wishes 2003 — Bobby Jones: A Stroke of Genius 2002 — Autorequiem 2002 — Sweet Home Alabama 2002 — The Fighting Temptations 2002 — TV Road Trip 2001 — Boycott 2001 — The Accountant 2000 — Remember the Titans 2000 — Run Bonnie Run 1999 — Price of a Broken Heart 1999 — Wayward Son

1997 — Black Dog 1997 — Flash 1997 — Miss Evers’ Boys 1996-97 — Savannah 1996 — Fled 1988-94 — In the Heat of the Night 1994 — Past the Bleachers 1993 — Quest for Justice: The Hazel Brannon Smith Story 1993 — The Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All 1993 — Door to Door 1993 — A Simple Twist of Fate 1992 — Consenting Adults 1992 — Kalifornia 1992 — For Love and Glory 1991 — Stay the Night 1991 — Grass Roots 1991 — My Cousin Vinny 1991-92 — I’ll Fly Away 1991 — Carolina Skeletons 1991 — White Lie 1990 — Sudie and Simpson 1988 — A Father’s Homecoming 1986 — Jason Lives: Friday the 13th part 6 1986 — Resting Place 1981 — Coward of the County 1980 — Cannonball Run 1980 — Little Darlings 1979 — The prizefighter 1978 — Dukes of Hazzard (first 5 episodes) 1975 — Scalpel (originally titled False Face) 1954 — A Man Called Peter

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26 26 COVNEWS.COM

Newcomers Guide 2016

9,000 JOBS. $5 BILLION. Newton megasite is ready for big business by bryan fazio Newton County was close to seeing 9,000 jobs and a $5 billion investment come to county, if only the timing was a little better.

Jaguar Land Rover was seeking a large piece of property to produce 300,000 cars constructed of aluminum in the fall of 2014.

The company was working with site selectors Ernst and Young looking over locations in Europe, Brazil, Singapore, Mexico and Newton County.

The piece of property in Newton County was 2,600 acres located along Hwy. 11 between Interstate 20 and Social Circle near the CSX railroad line. At the time, Ernst and Young noticed some geological outcropping, historical barns and cemeteries still on the property and the fact that due diligence still needed to be done.

That left Newton County as the “bridesmaid” as Dave Bernd, Newton County Vice President of Economic Development puts it, to Slovakia, which won the project.

Fast forward about 18 months and Newton County is in a different place.

The site that Jaguar Land Rover was seeking for a home to its new factory is now vetted by the Georgia Ready for Accelerated Development (GRAD) Site Program and all the due diligence is completed and certified for any company looking to move on a project quickly.

The GRAD certification was granted to Newton County’s megasite, the Historic Heartland site, on May 20. That certification declares that the site meets state and federal requirements such as utilities planning, road and rail accessibility, wetland and stream delineation, a topographic survey and geotechnical investigations have been completed,

and other environmental assessments have been done.

Having a GRAD certification means landing a major business becomes a whole lot easier.

“It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when,” Bernd said. “We will be asked specifically [if we are GRAD certified] when a company comes out, and you will not even be considered on a majority of the lists if you are not GRAD certified.”

Bernd said it took his team and Thomas and Hutton, of Savannah, who worked on the certification to complete all the due diligence necessary for the certification. That is 18 months, he said, that a company will not wait.

“A Jaguar Land Rover does not have 18 months to figure out if they can use the site or not,” Bernd said. “What they want to do is buy the property and go. Not wait a year and a half.”

In a post-mortem review of the Jaguar Land Rover site selection, Ernst and Young told Newton County that not having the due diligence completed and not having letters of planned rezoning from agriculture to commercial was the cause of Jaguar Land Rover to look away from Newton County.

Ernst and Young, however, also told Newton County’s economic development staff that the Historic Heartland site is a key piece of property for development in the county.

“They said we probably have the premier megasite in the Southeast with key attributes being rail, ports and workforce all nearby,” Bernd said.

The Historic Heartland site is one of two megasites — a minimum of 50 acres available for development — in Newton County. The

other is Stanton Springs, which currently has the Georgia Biotechnical Learning Center and Shire plant located on it. The latter was an initial $1.1 billion investment with 1,500 expected jobs.

Bernd said he would think the Historic Heartland site can continue to draw projects such as Jaguar Land Rover, which would have been $5 billion and 9,000 jobs, or the Kia plant, which is in West Point, Georgia and has 15,000 jobs on the site.

The Historic Heartland site is 991 acres with 700 acres of rail frontage, located in Newton County, Walton County and Social Circle. The land is two different properties owned by Bruce Vineyard and Susan Wahl, who paid for the site certification.

“They really want to leave a legacy to Newton County and to the region,” Bernd said.

“They want to create high-paying, high-end jobs that truly give something back to the community.”

Since Halloween, four projects have been turned down on the Historic Heartland site that would have divided the area into smaller industrial sites. That is not what the Newton County Economic Development department is looking for.

“During the Jaguar Land Rover postmortem all three agencies [that worked with Newton County] said we do not want to break this up into an industrial site,” Bernd said.

“What we want to do is turn it into a campus so we can go after [Jaguar Land Rover and Kia type plants]. You just don’t have these types of sites this close to a metropolitan area with this type of acreage left and with 4.3 million people within a 45-minute drive of the site.”

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arts

28

the arts in newton county

by sandra brands

Members of the Covington Regional Ballet perform The Nutcracker, presented by the Arts Association of Newton County. (Bryan Fazio)

29 Newcomers Guide 2016

COVNEWS.COM 29

T

he Downtown Historic Square is not just the setting for films, series and commercials. In late spring and into the summer, The Newton County Arts Association sponsors concerts on the downtown Square every Thursday in May and September and evening concerts the second Friday of each month, June through September. The music ranges from gospel to Motown, bluegrass to classic rock, and more.

An active arts community enriches life in Newton County. Dance, music, theater and galleries are all part the cultural life of the area.

Numerous art-related activities and camps are offered for children throughout the year, but especially during the summer months.

Popular culture, fine arts and small towns all come together to create an environment that builds on its traditions to create the arts of tomorrow, making creative expression accessible to all.

The Newton County Arts Association 1106 Washington Street, Covington; (770) 786-8188; http:// www.newtoncountyarts.org/ A non-profit organization, the Newton County Arts Association offers something for everyone: art galleries that feature a variety of mediums and styles, along with local handmade jewelry and soaps; choirs for children and youth; art-themed camps for students; a regional ballet company; a community band, among other offerings.

The Arts Association also maintains a list of private music teachers and studios.

Continued on next page

CHURCH OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD A parish of the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta Providing sanctuary, refuge, and renewal for ALL and reaching out in love to our neighbors.

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SUNDAYS: 8:00 AM - Holy Eucharist (Mass), Rite One (traditional language; no music) 9:30 AM - Adult & Children’s formation groups (Aug-May) 10:30 AM - Holy Eucharist, Rite Two (modern language; hymns, choir & guest musicians) “Coff ffee f Fellowship,” a light reception to greet friends new and old, follows each service.

Newton County residents enjoy concerts on the Square throughout the spring, summer and fall, presented by the Arts Association of Newton County. (file photo)

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Continued from previous page

Covington Regional Ballet, 1114 College Ave SE, Covington; (678) 625-0042; http://covingtonregionalballet.com/ Founded in 2001, the Covington Regional Ballet (CRB) presents high quality dance programming that provide local dancers with pre-professional instruction and performance opportunities. Twice a year, the ballet offers spectacular productions—The Nutcracker and a contemporary piece in the fall, with another production in the spring. The CRB strives to entertain, educate and inspire audiences of all ages, engaging the community in a celebration of the arts through a wide-variety of dance programming. Covington Regional Ballet offers a Pre-Professional Summer Intensive program.

Newton County Community Band; communityband@newtoncountyarts.org Since 1993, the Newton County Community Band has presented community performances, including Christmas and spring concerts, a concert with the 8th graders of Newton County School System; a Fourth of July concert at Covington’s Square; and an annual concert for Oxford College’s “Oxford Day.” The band is made up of volunteers. Those interested, should email communityband@ newtoncountyarts.org.

Oxford Singing Children Students in 4th through 7th grade audition for the Oxford Singing Children’s Choir, which provides them with basic music skills and performance experience, while building friendships and learning the benefit of teamwork.

Students in 8th through 12th grade can audition for the Oxford Youth Singers, which enhances musical skills and offers experience in musical theater and choral performance. Students also have the opportunity to learn about the technical and backstage components of performances.

The Oxford Singing Children and Oxford Youth Singers perform Christmas in Covington in December, and collaborate to present a musical in the spring.

Auditions for new members are in August of each year. Students who have taken part in OSC & OYS previously or who participated in Musical Theater Camp in July do not need to audition. Students auditioning should be prepared to sing scales, a song and clap rhythm patterns by repeating rhythmic patterns that are clapped for them. Scholarships based on financial need are available.

Creative Kids Camp Sponsored by Newton Federal Bank, the Newton County Arts Association offers Creative Kids Camp during the summer on the

Newcomers Guide 2016

campus of Oxford College off of Emory Street. The camp specializes in music, musical theater, dance and visual arts, all age-appropriate. Tuition is charged and scholarships are available through the Arts Association office at (770) 786-8188 or acoggin@newtoncountyarts.org. All scholarship recipients are required to pay the non-refundable deposit. Registrations are done online. Campers will be accepted on a “first come, first served” basis – 25 campers per grade level.

True Colours Youth Art Exhibit Each March, the artistic talents of local art students are celebrated and exhibited at the Newton County Library. Art teachers from the Newton County School District select up to 10 pieces of artwork created by their students for display.

Youth Strings & Orchestra One of the Arts Association’s newest programs, the New County Youth Strings specializes in using the Suzuki method of teaching, Private 30-, 45- or 60-minutes lessons in violin, viola and cello begin at age 4. Group lessons, 30 and 45-minutes long, begin in the Spring semester. Studio recitals are held once a semester, usually in November and March. Orchestra rehearsals are held once a week.

For more information about fees and schedules, or to register a student, visit The Arts Association web site.

OTHER COMMUNITY ARTS PROGRAMS Southern Heartland Arts, 1132 Monticello St SW, Covington, GA 30014; 770-788-8799; http://www.southernheartlandart. com/ Southern Heartland Arts, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization supporting the visual arts in Newton County. Incorporated

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in 1988, SHA brought together Newton County artists, along with artists from Rockdale, Newton and Henry Counties and is one of the oldest visual art guilds east of Metro Atlanta. Since opening the Southern Heartland Gallery, the guild has grown over 700% in membership and is a vital part of downtown Covington and its cultural growth. Membership dues, the Corporate Sponsorships of United Bank and Air Conditioning Specialists and multiple corporate and individual donations have helped SHA, Inc. to fulfill its mission to bring visual art to Newton County.

Heartscapes Art Gallery, 1132 Monticello St SW, Covington, GA 30014; 770385-5834; http://www.heartscapesart. com/index.html Heartscapes Studio and Gallery is owned

by Nick and Kathy Cuiffi. Kathy continues to share her talents with the community and offers art classes at the studio. The gallery sells oil paints, mediums, canvas, and brushes. Whether you need a gift, mental/ art therapy, a special piece of artwork to add that finishing touch to a newly decorated room, a frame for your child’s last art project, or just some me time, come join in the fun and let Kathy and Nick help you discover talents you never knew you had.

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Southern Heartland Art Gallery offers locally made pieces of art, as well as a space for artists to create. (Gracie Miller)

Newborn’s bluegrass pickin’ and down home playin’ On the second Saturday night of warm weather months, the Newborn Pickers Circle gathers for an evening of bluegrass pickin’ at Newborn’s Town Park near City Hall, 4221 GA Hwy 142. For more information about the Circle, visit the town’s web site at

http://www.newbornga.com/ or Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/ Town-of-Newborn/179065462157551 .

Presented by Rick Holder, The Front Porch acoustic series is held on the third Sunday of each month at the historic Old Schoolhouse, 4224 Highway 142, Newborn.

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32 32 COVNEWS.COM

Newcomers Guide 2016

Continued from previous page The Covington Square hosts several concerts throughout the year.(file photo)

The music, beginning at 6 p.m., might be Bluegrass, might be Irish, might be country.

Concerts include local musicians, and has been branching out to include players from around the state. BBQ is available. There’s no cover charge, but donations are encouraged. More information is available online at The Newborn Area Heritage Trust web site http://www.newborn schoolhouse.org/.

Oxford College of Emory University, 110 Few Cirle, Oxford (770) 784-8389; http://oxford.emory.edu The Artistic/Lyceum Events series at Oxford College brings experts and performers to campus for lectures, concerts and theatrical presentations. All events are free, unless otherwise noted, and open to the public, though seating is limited.

Porterdale’s Tuba Christmas concert It’s a holiday celebration featuring tuba players and their festively decorated instruments—tinsel, bows, flashing lights—and it happens every year in Porterdale, and more than 200 cities nationally and internationally. Open to all levels of players, musicians usually register at city hall on the day of the Play the Run Cherokee Run Golf Club is an Arnold Palmer-designed masterpiece.The course and driving range are open to the public year round.

Dine at the Run Retreat to the Palmer Room or clubhouse veranda for daily lunch or a refreshing beverage.

Bring the family out for our Sunday brunch buffet.

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concert. That’s followed by an hour-long rehearsal, and then it’s a free public performance at the History Gym Amphitheater on Main Street. For more information, visit Main Street Porterdale’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/MainStreetPorterdaleGa. The Social Circle Theater, Main The-

ater, 650 Ashley Dr.; Theater Annex, 169 Thurman Baccus Rd.; (770) 464-2269; http://www.socialcircletheater.com/ Committed to providing the facilities and human resources for quality, affordable family entertainment, the Social Circle Theater is a non-profit organization founded in 2000. Founders Bob and Mabel Standridge believed the theater could preserve the

33 Newcomers Guide 2016

town’s history and unify the community through storytelling and folklore. The theater has entertained and shared the history of Social Circle ever since. Through storytelling and dramatic acting, the theater takes patrons back in time, showing them what life was like in years past. Community productions feature as many as 75 local cast members.

Rising Stars The youngest troupe, ranging in ages from 4-years to 5-grade, meets weekly throughout the school year and focuses on singing, dancing and acting skills. Typically, the Rising Stars appear in two performances per season, one around Christmas and one in the spring.

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The Well Diggers A performance-based troupe for the young adults of Social Circle Theater, the Well Diggers meet weekly throughout the school year to focus on dancing, singing and acting skills. The Well Diggers have won awards at the MTI Junior Theater Festival and Access Broadway. They typically perform in two productions a year in the theater. They also take these shows to schools as field trips, to the local nursing homes and hospitals.

Other classes The Social Circle Theater offers classes in dance and art, and on Monday nights, adults gather for line dancing classes. The cost is low and several times a year, the group holds socials at the theater with a DJ and concession stand. For more information on the Line Dance classes and events, visit the class’s Facebook page at https:// www.facebook.com/linedancingatsctheater.

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Newton Health Center 8203 Hazelbrand Road Covington, GA 30014 Tel: 770-786-9086 Web: www.gnrhealth.com

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COVNEWS.COM 35

The rise of Main Street the covington news

Main Street USA Community is shaped by its cultural and commercial center. The Main Street movement grew out of a call from people who began to miss a town center, who wanted more than shopping malls and big box stores.

Main Street is about creating a place in town where people gather on a summer’s evening to listen to music, or bring their children for

Porterdale Main Street An award-winning Main Street Program was launched by the mill village to revive the downtown business area. Brick buildings have been refurbished, and restaurants, stores and studios have opened, including a restaurant that offers plays and occasionally wrestling.

Other events sponsored by Porterdale Main Street includes the Historic Preservation Month in May, featuring speakers, walking tours and educational events; July 4th in the Village; an annual “Friends of Porterdale” reunion, Porterdale YART Sale and the Yellow River Jam in October; Christmas in the Village on the first Friday in December, followed by a Tuba Christmas on the second Sunday in December.

The Porterdale Film Crew brings producers and directors to town for pop up screenings hosted by regional filmmakers throughout the year. The Crew also hosts screenings of favorite classics in the open air Porterdale Memorial Gym along with viewing parties of obscure works by international artists.

the lighting of the town Christmas tree.

Main Street Covington In Covington, the downtown historic district has slowly been coming back to life.

Restaurants and boutiques are joining professional services in storefronts around and just off the Square. Music fills the streets as local bands entertain on summer evenings and late spring lunch hours. Other annual events include Independence on the Square, including an amazing fireworks show. The Covington Police Department sponsors a “Scare on the Square,” for children at Halloween.

Christmas on the Square is a relatively new tradition. Stores are decorated and the community gathers to witness the lighting of the Christmas tree, and Santa arrives in town to greet children. The Festival of Trees is a local fundraiser. Donors contribute decorated trees, minature trees, wreath, gift baskets and gift certificates and over a three weekend period, visitors can bid on the tree that catches their fancy. Proceeds benefit local parks, such as The Miracle League and Chimney Park.

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nature

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FROM FARM

TO TABLE

Pictured left: Mitcham Farms offers you pick strawberries each spring. (Bryan Fazio)

FARM

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S

COVNEWS.COM 37

By sANDRA BRANDS

ome small farm farmers are offering two different ways for Newton County residents to support local agriculture: either by purchasing shares in a farm’s seasonal offerings or by subscribing to receive an email which lists the week’s offerings and prices.

Neither way beats the prices in the big box grocery stores, but both ensure freshly harvested and, for the most part, organically grown, produce.

For example, last week, six ounces of baby kale from Flying Horse Farm in Newborn, which notifies customers of what’s in by newsletter, was $4. At Yellow Hen Farms, to keep things simple, vegetables are priced at $3, whether it is for one head of lettuce, four ounces of kale or Swiss chard, or three ounces of arugula.

“I’m not trying to compete with Wal-Mart, so you’ll find that my prices are higher,” said Sara Vinson of Yellow Hen Farm in Covington.

“Our CSA is not free food,” said Daniel Parson, Manager of the organic farm at Oxford College at Emory University. “It’s not volume food or geared toward canning. Last year was a great year for squash and people were freezing it. This year may not be [good for squash], but could be for tomatoes.”

The Oxford organic farm sells its produce by subscription, or Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) shares. So, too, does Alcovy Organic Farms and Double B Farm. Shares run between $25 and $30 a week for a full share, typically between five to nine items a week of the current crops.

The definition of season can vary by farm.

Oxford offers spring and fall 13-week seasonal shares, and a summer, eight-week share, while Alcovy offers three 12-week seasons with the

possibility of a winter season. Double B Farm in Oxford offers three 12-week shares at $30 per half share and $50 per full.

There are 50 shares available each season at the Oxford College Organic Farm, Parson said. The spring season begins on April 28, and shares are nearly sold out. However, this year, the farm will sell produce at the city of Oxford’s Farmer’s Market off of Emory Street, on Thursdays from 3 to 6 p.m.

CSA share holders can pick their weekly produce up there as well. There’s also a drop off site at Emory University.

Need in the community The decision to sell this year at the Oxford Farmer’s Market came about after Parson and Ruth Geiger, farm apprentice, took part in the recent summit hosted by the Newton County Health Department at the college in March.

“We’re inspired by the need of the community for fresh food,” Parson said. “We’re inspired by the health department telling us we’re part of the food desert. We think there’s a need here, and we’re trying to serve people in our community first.”

Oxford farmer Brady Bala, of Double B Farms, offers one-half pound of eight to ten items per week.

While he grows most of the produce, sometimes he will augment his offerings with produce from neighboring local farms.

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Newton County Community Supported Agriculture Farm Drop off Seasons Cost Contact Alcovy Organic Mansfield 3-4/13 weeks $325 Full/$208 Half http://www.alcovyorganicfarms.com/ Burge Plantation Mansfield Spring* $425 Full/$240 Half http://www.burgeorganicfarm.com/ Covington Double B Conyers 3/12 or 24 weeks $30 week Full www.conyers.locallygrown.net $16 week Half doublebeefarm@gmail.com Flying Horse Covington Order from www.facebook.com/flyinghorsefarm weekly newsletter dougandglenna@flyinghorsefarm.com Oxford College Oxford 10 weeks spring/fall $325 Call D. Parson 770-728-1165/404-452-4321 Organic 8 week summer $275 daniel.parson@emory.edu http://oxford.emory.edu/organic-farm/ Yellow Hen Covington Weekly email http://www.yellowhenfarm.com/ *The Burge Organic Farm web site currently lists the spring season.

38 38 COVNEWS.COM

Newcomers Guide 2016

Continued from previous page

“If I go and package everything up, and I have seven items and just down the road, there’s a farm with fresh strawberries, there’s my eighth or tenth item,” he said.

The variation is dependent on the type of produce he’s supplying.

“I grow shitake mushrooms, which cost a lot more than lettuce,” he said. If mushrooms are in the box, “I’ll probably stick closer to eight items.”

He said, depending on the week and what can be harvest, he might augment with blueberries, corn or other types of produce he doesn’t grow. Subscribers pick up their shares of the harvest in Conyers at Copy Central on Parker Street.

Though his farm is just across the Newton County border in Jasper County, Archie Ballard, of Alcovy Organic Farms, drops off weekly shares of produce near the Mansfield post office between 6-7 p.m. on Friday. His weekly boxes contain between nine and 12 different vegetables. Egg shares are also offered at $65 for the full, 13-week season.

“A full share should be enough food for a family, one serving per person of a fresh vegetable daily,” Ballard said. “We prepare the CSA share be paid up front, though we offer a 50 percent now, 50 percent later option.

“What I do for those who pay for a full season upfront is give them a quarter share of eggs [3 dozen],” he said. If they buy two seasons, they get six dozen; three seasons, they get nine dozen; and four seasons, a full share of eggs, or 12 dozen.”

Ballard said that he prices his shares competitively because, “I want to help people get fresh, organic produce, help them for health reasons. Normally, when you get a box, [the produce] is within 24-hours of getting picked.

We pick fresh the day before.”

“When you buy collard greens at the grocery store, you buy a bunch with the main stem,” he said. “We harvest individual leaves — so there’s not a lot of waste.”

The Oxford College organic farm is certified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Alcovy Organic Farms will be certified in July. The certification verifies compliance with USDA organic regulations and takes 36-months to prove compliance. Certifications must be renewed every year, and only certified producers can call themselves “organic,” according to USDA. Yellow Hen, Double B and Flying Horse farms are all Certified Naturally Grown (CNG) producers. CNG farms receive peer review certification, and grow crops without synthetic chemicals or genetically modified organisms (GMO). All three compost and build up

Newton County offers many agricultural entities.

(courtesy of Metro Creative Connection)

nutrients in the soil through fertilizers such as blood- or bone-meal, and use only natural pesticides, if any.

Selecting weekly Both Yellow Hen Farm and Flying Horse Farm release a weekly list of what crops are available at what price. Customers place an order and the boxes are dropped off at a location weekly.

Yellow Hen Farm drops boxes off on Thursday at Oxford College at 9:15 a.m. and Covington Square at 9:45 a.m. Glenna Wright and her husband Doug of Flying Horse Farm drop off their produce boxes at the Newton County Main Library branch on Thursday at noon. The Wrights also deliver in Madison and Rutledge on Wednesdays.

“Not everyone wants the commitment of a CSA,” Wright said. “A lot of our customers

have voiced the opinion on other occasions.

They had specific things they wanted and they would end up with something they didn’t like or didn’t know how to cook.”

Flying Horse Farms grows “a lot of heirloom vegetables,” she said, “those originally introduced no later than the 1950s, though a lot from [varieties] grown as far back as the 1700s. They are seeds that predate the hybrids. Sometimes, they aren’t as beautiful as some of the vegetables in the store. Those are bred for a longer shelf life and the flavor has been bred out.”

The Wrights say they believe it’s important to carry forward seeds that have been supplying food for generations and purchase their organic heirloom seeds online. They had just finished planting heirloom tomato seeds in the hoop house on April 14, when they were interviewed for this article

39 Newcomers Guide 2016

“We enjoy growing them and all of our customers seem to like them,” Wright said.

Vinson said she sends out an email listing out Monday morning. “Most customers order first thing Monday morning because supplies are limited and they know that if they wait until Wednesday, I may not have something they really want.”

Both Vinson and the Wrights will confirm the order placed.

Wright said if a customer can’t get to the drop off site, “as long as you’re in the same basic area, we’ll run it to some place. We’re still at a size where we can deliver personally.”

The table and beyond Most of the farms grow similar items – varieties of spring greens such as kale, Swiss chard, arugula, collards; beets; sweet potatoes; melon; varieties of squash and other vegetables common to the area. Some may offer berries, watermelons, broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower.

Some, like Flying Horse Farm, offer blueberries, ginger and turmeric. Others offer melons and pea and bean varieties. In addition to seasonal vegetables, herbs and eggs, Yellow Hen Farm sells handcrafted soaps, moisturizer, scrubs and an all-natural mosquito repellent.

“If a customer tells me they want something, I’ll explore it,” Ballard said. “I had a lady ask me about sunchokes or Jerusalem artichokes.”

By next year, he said, he expects to be able to provide those as well as asparagus. He’s also been asked about duck eggs, and will soon be able to supply those in addition to the variety of different colored chicken eggs he already provides.

“I’ll have about 135 chickens laying by the beginning of summer, if not earlier,” he said, adding the flock had been quadrupled from the last year to meet customer demands.

And that communications, all of those interviewed said, is what they enjoy about locally-sustained agriculture.

“We’ve become friends with the people who do business with us,” said Wright. “We have a chance to talk. We started off growing for close friends. Now we’ve found the people we grow for have become our friends.”

“There’s a reason I sell my produce this way, instead of the grocery store,” agreed Parson. “If I did that, I’d never get to know my customers. I hear from customers they like the same thing.

“It’s a wonderful thing to have food growing in our communities,” he said.

All of the farmers encourage people to

COVNEWS.COM 39

come visit their farms and see how food is grown.

“We’re on a small scale, and people can visit the farm,” Parson said.

“It’s important for people to recognize the effort that goes in to growing food,” said Wright. “We touch every seed, pick every plant, pick off every bug “When people come out to see what’s actually done, it gives a new appreciation for what’s grown,” she said.

All agree that there are significant benefits to buying produce and other agricultural products from local vendors.

One benefit, Parson said, is the produce is “way fresher. It takes days or weeks for things to get to the grocery store. We pick and pack the day before. It’s as fresh as anything you can get.”

Like Parson, Vinson said her customers have said the fresher produce tastes better. “Customers often tell me that they’re amazed when lettuce that they purchased one or two weeks ago is still fresh in the refrigerator. They’re used to produce lasting only a few days after purchase. I think I’ve also read that the fresher produce is the more nutritious it is.

“And, environmentally, food purchased locally has a smaller carbon footprint,” she said.

40

Enjoy Newton’s GREAT OUTDOORS the covington news

Kayakers have flocked to Porterdale and the Yellow River for its relaxed recreation activities. (file photo)

W

ith lakes on its northern and southern borders, rivers and streams running throughout and a landscape dotted with farms dozens of miles from the hustle and bustle of Atlanta, Newton County exemplifies natural beauty.

There are plenty of opportunities to enjoy the county’s natural landscape. Here is a look at how and where to get out and enjoy Newton County.

Covington City of Covington (2194 Emory Street, Covington; 770-385-2000; http://www.cityofcovington.org/) Academy Springs Park (3120 Conyers Street, Covington) Bringing a touch of nature to the city, Academy Springs Park, sometimes referred to as Springs Park, boasts playground equipment originally installed by the Covington Lions Club, a pavilion with tables and chairs that can seat between 70 and 80 people, and areas for picnicking. The Satsuki Garden Club has restored a butterfly/pollinator garden and there are walking paths, most handicapped accessible, through the park. The park is open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Pavilion rental information and reservations can be made by calling (770) 843-5939, or by visiting www.covingtongalions.org.

Baker Field (1146 Conyers St.) Baker Field is located on Conyers Street next to the Conyers Street Gym. This is a small field that is used by youth baseball and softball teams for games and practices. Baker Field is a community field that is available to the public when activities are not scheduled. Baker Field is named after the late Buddy Baker, a pioneer of early baseball in Newton County.

Chimney Park (7116 Floyd St NE, Covington; (678) 625-1235; http://www.chimney-park.com/) Located behind Newton County’s main library branch on Floyd Street, Chimney Park gets its names from the remnants of the Martin-Patterson Home, built between 1910 and 1918. Though the house burned to the ground in the 1980s, its granite foundation and one chimney remain. The 12-acre site is an urban woodland offering people a chance to reconnect with nature under the shelter of towering trees. Friends of Chimney Park, a nonprofit organization, works with the Newton County Parks and Recreation Commission towards creating environments that meet the national goal of “No Child Left Inside.”

Two annual events, one in May and one in December, raise money for park projects, such as installing flooring over the old foundation of the Patterson home to make it more accessible. In December, trees are draped with thousands of lights for “Twilights at Chimney Park.” Santa, cider, carolers and storytellers delight children and adults alike. “Fairy House at Chimney Parks” is held the first Saturday in May and is a fanci-

41 ful gathering of winged creatures, young and old, and offers tours of fairy houses, crafts, refreshments, storytelling, exhibits and a Maypole.

Recently, a music fence was installed in the park through an educational grant from the Pilot Club of Covington. The “fence” is a series of hollow pipes encapsulated in a wood fence-like frame.

Legion Field Park The site of the county fair, Legion Field has recently been refurbished. Lumber harvested from the Newton-Covington Land Application site was used to build the pavilion and framework for the new bandstand. All of the park facilities and areas are available for private rental as well as events open to the public and weekly matches on the cricket pitch.

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NEWBORN Town of Newborn (4224 Highway 142, Newborn; (770) 787-1660; http://www. newbornga.com/) Newborn City Park The park, located near the city hall on GA142, features swings, grills, picnic tables, benches, a large pavilion and more. During the summer months, the Newborn Pickers Circle gathers at the pavilion for an evening of bluegrass and fiddles.

Porterdale City of Porterdale (2400 Main St., Porterdale; (770) 786-2217; http://www.cityofporterdale.com/) B.C. Crowell Park Named in honor of long-time Porterdale resident, Billy Carl Crowell, B.C. Crowell Park sits adjacent to the Porterdale Police and Volunteer Fire departments. There’s a pavilion for picnics, a little league fields and a basketball court.

Cedar Shoals Park A small park located on the banks of the Yellow River off of Riverfront Street, Cedar Shoals Park was named in honor of Porterdale’s original name: Cedar Shoals. There are picnic tables on the riverfront.

Porterdale Community Garden A collaboration of Newton County Cooperative Extension Service and Master Gardeners, Hands on Newton/NCCP, and the City of Porterdale, the Newton County Community Garden in Porterdale, located behind city hall, offers residents without access to a sunny garden area or interested in sharing a hobby with fellow enthusiasts a place to plant vegetables and fruits. Managed by resident Candace Hassen, the garden has 56 beds, most four-foot-by-eight-foot, all available to residents for a nominal deposit fence.

Sunflowers, cared for by the garden community as a whole, are harvested, the seeds roasted and package and handed out during the city’s annual Christmas parade.

Porterdale Pocket Parks As part of its neighborhood revitalization, the City of Porterdale created three “pocket” parks, located on Hemlock, Pine and Elm streets. All have playground equipment installed on safety mulch, and feature roses, areas to rest and a kiosk housing free lending libraries.

Porterdale Memorial Gym When the gymnasium burned to the ground in 2005, the village made the decision to keep the standing brick walls and create an outdoor venue with seating for 500 for weddings, concerts and other events. There is a stage and a green room.

The Kiwanis Club of Covington is a club rich in tradition and service. Our club has been very active in our community since it was founded in 1927.

If making a positive impact in the lives of children and members of your community is something you have a calling for, we’d love to meet you.

We meet every Thursday at 12:30 P.M. in the fellowship hall of the Covington First United Methodist Church. Please contact us at covingtonkiwanisclub@ gmail.com.

Serving the Children of the World

Veterans Memorial Park Situated on a triangle-shaped piece of land off South Broad Street, Veterans Memorial Park features a gazebo built by veterans from the area.

Yellow River Park (2400 Main St., Porterdale) The Yellow River is a part of the Georgia Rivers Network. An extensive park was created based on a design by The National Park Service, that links the river side Continued on page 44

Kiwanis Club of Covington

Don’t let a bum knee slow your stride.

Piedmont is a regional leader in the delivery and advancement of Orthopedic Services, consistently ranking as one of the busiest programs in the state. Offering a variety of diagnostic and surgical services, we are committed to helping you get back to the activities you enjoy.

Learn more about our orthopedic services at piedmont.org/NewtonOrtho

44 44 COVNEWS.COM

Newcomers Guide 2016

Continued from page 41

park to a major walking trail system. The existing historic depot will serve as the trailhead, eventually housing restrooms. The city, county, the Newton County Trails/Path Foundation, chamber, Yellow River Conservation and Preservation Club and Lafarge Aggregate, and with the help of a grant from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Yellow River Park now offers kayakers a launch area, playgrounds for children, a disc golf course and a one-quarter mile concrete trail for walkers and bike riders. The existing historic depot serves as the trailhead and will eventually house restrooms. The Yellow River Park now offers kayakers a launch area, playgrounds for children, a disc golf course and a one-quarter mile concreate trail for walkers and bike riders. The nearby Porterdale YAK Club rents kayaks and a limited number of paddle boards.

Newton County Parks & Recreation Newton County Parks & Recreation (Turner Lake Park Complex, 6185 Turner Lake Road, Covington; (770) 786-4373; http:// newtonrecreation.com/) Headquartered at Turner Lake, The Newton County Recreation Commission manages over 330 acres of recreational facilities, including the award-winning Turner Lake Complex, the City Pond Complex/ Miracle League Field, Conyers Street Gym, Baker Field, Fairview Community Park, Mary Louise Fowler Park, RotaDyne Field, Pactiv Field, Old Cousins/Wolverine Field, South Street Park, Spillers Park, Stone Road Complex, Trail Blazer Park, Turner Lake Complex and Denny Dobbs Park. The goal is to offer high quality facilities and programs meeting the physical, social and emotional interests of Newton County residents. For information, visit www.newtonrecreation.com or call (770) 786-4373.

Beaver Park (Highway 213, Mansfield) Beaver Park is used as a youth baseball and softball practice field. A walking track circles the park’s large open field and leads to the pavilion and tennis court. The large field is a great place to throw a football or fly a kite. The open area also offers kids a place to run around and play games such as tag. The park also has a playground for the entertainment of young children.

In response to residents’ requests, the City of Mansfield will be installing a new decked pavilion for concerts, plays and holiday events as part of a new Town Center. The center will be encircled by the Newton Trail System, a scenic, rural, multi-use trail extending east from Covington to Mansfield and Newborn.

City Pond Complex/Miracle League Field (13501 City Pond Road, Covington) City Pond Park is located just off of Inter-

Baseball is just one of the sports the Newton County Recreation Commission offers throughout the year. (Mariya Lewter)

state 20 on Old City Pond Road. A large pond that circles much of the park’s land, with an open area nearby for playing catch or tossing Frisbees. The state of the art facilities at City Pond offer a wide variety of activities including a two mile trail the circles the pond for walkers and runners; a lighted football field; four lighted tennis courts; one picnic pavilion; three concession stands with a meeting room; restrooms; an umpire dressing facilities/scorekeeper building; five batting cages; and a tot-lot playground. The six baseball fields for youth, 5 through 14, are considered some of the finest in the state, and were the site of the 1993, 1997, 2002 and 2008 Dixie Boys World Series.

Part of the park is The Miracle League Complex, a state-of-the-art facility that opened in April 2015, it accommodates players with physical or mental challenges. It includes a customdesigned field with a cushioned, rubberized surface, wheelchair accessible dugouts, and a completely flat surface to eliminate barriers.

Accessible restrooms, a concession stand, and picnic pavilion will also be incorporated within this design.

The park is open daylight to dusk.

Conyers Street Gym (1146 Conyers St., Covington) Conyers Street Gym is located in Downtown Covington beside Baker Field. The gym has been temporarily closed for restoration work.

Denny Dobbs Park (6244 Highway 212, Covington) Located in western Newton County’s Oak Hill District, Denny Dobbs Park is a state of the art regional park with amenities offering different recreational opportunities for residents.

Named for Denny Dobbs, a former Georgia State Representative and lifelong resident of Newton

County, the park’s amenities include two playgrounds for children 2- to 5-years old, and one for children 5 to 12. There are two basketball courts and a ball field, trails and an interactive electronic gaming station called NEOS, which combines video game speed with aerobic activities. A Life Trail offers a series of handicapped accessible exercise stations designed to maintain and enhance flexibility, strength and endurance for adults 50 and older. The stations are connected by a paved walkway that circles the entrance to the park.

The picnic pavilion can accommodate up to 175 people is accessible with a number of wheelchair-friendly picnic tables.

Fairview Community Park (310 Crestfield Circle Covington, Ga 30016) Fairview Community Park is a traditional neighborhood parks designed for children under the age of 12. The park sits in the Fairview Estates neighborhood and is part of the Neighborhood Stabilization Program. It has a walking trail and picnic area as well playground.

Mary Louise Fowler Park (Covington ByPass, Covington) A two acre park located in the central part of the county, the Mary Louise Fowler Park consists of a walking trail, tennis court and basketball court.

RotaDyne Field (9150 Industrial Blvd, Covington) RotaDyne Field is a small field located on Industrial Blvd. and is used for practice and games for younger age children, ages 5 through 8.

Pactiv Field (7150 Alcovy Road, Covington) Pactiv Field is used for softball and football practice.

45 Newcomers Guide 2016

Old Cousins/Wolverine Field (8134 Geiger Street, Covington) Newton County Recreation Commission has started work on the Old Cousin site adding a new football stadium and renovating the basketball gym.

South Street Park (2201 Emory Street, Covington) South Street is just one of our traditional neighborhood parks. The park is designed for children under the age of 12. The park is fenced in for safety and consist of swings, a slide, merry-go-round, monkey bars and landscaped with cypress mulch and shade trees Spillers Park (9134 Jefferson Avenue, Covington) Another traditional neighborhood park, Spillers Park is designed for children under the age of 12. The park sits under a canopy of shade trees and consists of a large tot-lot, swings, a picnic area and a walking trail.

Stone Road Complex (Four miles off I-20 exit 93 on Stone Road, Covington) A three-field adult softball complex on the outskirts of the Covington city limits, Stone Park Complex is 14.5 acres and known, locally, as Hamm Fields. A large tot-lot for children, ages 2 through 5, was recently installed. The playing fields are lighted and the park has a full concession stand and a scorekeepers booth. The park is handicapped accessible.

Trail Blazer Park (3112 Clark Street, Covington) Trailblazer Park is a two-acre park located on the outskirts of downtown historic Covington.

It includes playground for small children, a covered basketball court for older children and adults, and a picnic pavilion. For information on pavilion rental, contact the Newton County Parks and Recreation Commission.

Turner Lake Complex (6185 Turner Lake Road, Covington) The Turner Lake Complex is situated on 158-acres and contains a 26-acre lake as well as a 34,000-square-foot building, which houses the commission offices, a gymnasium, a full service senior center and a 275+ meeting room.

The facility is home to four state-of-the-art girls softball fields. Well lighted and easily accessible, these regulation fields were developed to meet the needs and requirements of sanctioned softball tournaments. Year and daily passes for residents and nonresidents are available for the indoor walking path and basketball court.

Park hours are daylight to dusk. Indoor gym and walking track hours are Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed weekends. Administrative office

hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The indoor basketball courts close at 5:30 p.m. between November and February for Recreation League Play.

OTHER RECREATIONAL PARKS Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center (563 Elliott Trail, Mansfield; www.gadnr.org) Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center features 6,400-acres managed by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Offering a variety of activities and programs, this beautiful area is centrally located in the state in a beautiful wooded setting near Mansfield, Georgia, making it easily accessible from Atlanta, Athens and Macon.

Factory Shoals (450 Newton Factory Bridge Road, Covington) Now a nature park situated along the Alcovy River in the Southern portion of the county, Factory Shoals represents one of Georgia’s earliest experiences in water-powered industrialization. Archaeological remains of five mills, ranging from large textile factories to small mills, exist within a one mile section of the river, some built as early as 1820. By 1860, there was a population of 600.

Sherman´s march to Newton County, 1864, the flood of 1881 and other economic forces fore-shortened the post-bellum prosperity of this development.

Today, the 450-acre park hosts picnickers, campers, rafters and hikers. Swimming is permitted, but can be treacherous. Park hours are from 8 a.m. until dark. Camping is available from March 1 through Dec. 1 on a first come first serve basis. Smoking and alcohol are not permitted. Pavilions can be reserved by calling 770 787-6670.

Gaither Plantation, 270 Davis Ford Rd., Covington; (678) 625-1200; http://www. co.newton.ga.us/departments/parks-attractions/gaither-plantation This 256-acre Gaither Plantation is one of the few remaining examples of mid-19th to late 20th century farms and cotton plantations in Northeast Georgia. Built in 1850, the plantation house was the center of a rural Georgia farm community for over 100 years. The Gaither family lived in the home until the 1920s, and for the next 76 years, was a private residence owned by others. In 1986, Newton County purchased the property as part of the Bear Creek Reservoir project. In addition to the house, there is a 1830s log smokehouse, a pole hay bar, agricultural fields, two 19th century cemeteries, and other historic buildings relocated from elsewhere in Newton County. Groups of 10 or more have been able to tour the plantation on certain days, but reservations are required. The plantation is available for weddings, gatherings

COVNEWS.COM 45

and other events. Contact (678) 283-1675 for more information.

The Georgia FFA/FCCLA Center (720 FFA Road (Highway 36), Covington; (770) 7866926; www.georgiaffacamp.org) The Georgia FFA-FCCLA Center is a nonprofit educational facility designed to provide Georgia’s youth with a site for leadership and career development. Started in 1937, the site is one of only two FFA-FCCLA Centers in Georgia, and has evolved into a premier camp facility and conference center for FFA and FCCLA Organizations, as well as other youth and adult organizations. Programs include wildlife camps, horse camps, parent and children adventure camp and a rope course program.

The center is available for rent by school, church, civic and youth organizations, and for men’s and women’s, and corporate retreats.

Basic services for rental groups include lodging, meals, conference rooms, recreational activities and facilities, and a ropes course program.

Georgia Wildlife Federation Alcovy Conservation Center (11600 Hazelbrand Road, Covington; www.gwf.org) Headquartered in Covington at the Alcovy Conservation Center, the Georgia Wildlife Federation’s (GWF) mission is to encourage the protection and restoration of waters, wildlife, forest and field through advocacy, education and stewardship. Affiliated with the National Wildlife Federation, GWF offers educational programs that use the swamps of Alcovy River as an interpretive backdrop. The Conservation Center is a 15,000-square-foot complex of offices, lecture halls, classrooms and library space, all surrounded by native plant gardens.

Other facilities on 115-acres site along the Alcovy River include pavilions, an executive retreat house and a log cabin. Hunter and angler heritage education programs are also offered.

The Center is opened, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. All visitors must check in with the front office upon arrival and departure.

Jackson Lake (180 Dam Rd., Jackson; (404) 954-4040; http://georgiapowerlakes.com/ lakejackson/) One of the oldest reservoirs in Georgia, Jackson Lake is situated within parts of three counties—Jasper, Newton and Butts. Though relatively small—about 4,750 acres with 135 miles of shoreline—Jackson Lake is formed by the confluence of the Yellow, Alcovy and South rivers. Tussahaw Creek is a tributary, and below the Lloyd Shoals Dam, built in 1910

by Central Georgia Power, the lake’s outlet is the Ocmulgee River.

Continued on next page

46

Club of Covington

Lake Varner offers recreational activities, as well as a new playground for children, in the county’s north end. (file photo)

Continued from previous page

Jackson Lake still generates electricity while providing a location for water sports, boating, skiing, wake boarding and fishing.

Lake Varner/Cornish Creek Reservoir (11905 Alcovy Road, Covington; (770) 7842049; http://www.co.newton.ga.us/departments/water-resources/lake-varner) The Cornish Creek Reservoir offers a natural setting to relax and enjoy the outdoors. Fish, picnic, read, enjoy nature and watch wildlife within minutes of downtown Covington. The reservoir is managed in coordination with the Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Division and is stocked with a wide variety of fish. Park facilities include two covered picnic pavilions, picnic sites with charcoal grills and parking, public restrooms, children’s playground, dual launch boat ramp, paved and primitive nature trails, open field areas for recreation, swings and benches with great views of the water, accessible bank fishing areas and an ADA accessible fishing pier.

Newton and Walton County residents are not charged fees for use. There’s a $5 per boat and $5 per vehicle charge for all out of county residents. The hours are, April through October, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., and November through March, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

to Newton’s future. In all, there are nearly 16 miles of trails replacing the old railroad tracks in Newton County.

The Nonie Needham Nature Trail and Educational Path is located in the City of Mansfield, a quarter mile trail east of Highway 11 on Highway 213. Just dedicated this year, the trail runs through 15 acres of land between Highway 213 and Mansfield Elementary School.

The Eastside Trail runs 2.5 miles from downtown Covington to Eastside High School. A multi-use greenway, the 10-foot wide concrete path begins off Ramsey Drive., just west of the Newton County Public Library, and runs between pasture land and woods south to the high school.

The Lake Varner Trails, located just north of Covington, feature a short, paved trail along the Newton County’s main reservoir, and an unpaved, primitive trail leading through the woods to a granite outcrop.

The Oxford Trail is a 1.2 mile, 8-foot-wide concrete trail that was developed in partnership with the City of Oxford and Oxford College. The wooded path runs behind the campus and along Turkey Creek, and features benches, a kiosk with information about native forest and meadow habitats, and a large deck under the trees behind Oxford’s historic Old Church on Wesley Road.

The Charlie Elliott Trail is a 4.7 mile, softsurface multi-use trail at the Wildlife Center, just south of the City of Mansfield.

The Yellow River Trail is a 1,480-foot concrete loop that follows a curve in the river.

Used for fitness workouts and accessing the Yellow River Water Trail, the loop will be linked to the Historic Train Depot trailhead at Broad Street and eventually, to Newton County’s planned Turkey Creek/Yellow River Greenway and Turner Lake Park. A disc golf course opened this year in the park.

Turner Lake Park’s Trails feature three miles of paved and unpaved walking trails around Turner Lake and ball fields, and pass by outdoor classrooms and the site of an old Newton County homestead.

The Rotary Club of Covington Where You Find Q serves Newton County throughWhere its Empty Stocking, You Find Q Top 10 students and Camp Sunshine projects, along with nationwide and international contributions.

The club, formed in 1939, meets for lunch, an informative program and ® networking every Tuesday Where You Find Quality Products and Friendly, Trails at Noon at the Covington Know ® Covington/Newton County Trails (P.O. Box 2010, Covington; www.newtontrails.

First United Methodist.

Visit Know Where You Find Quality Products and Friendly, org) The Covington/Newton trail network www.rotarcovington.org or serves as a recreational opportunity and an alternative transportation system that Facebook.com/rotary-clubconnects neighborhoods, schools, parks, commercial centers, and other local and of-covington-georgia or @ regional destinations of interest. Whether a trail means to you a place to push a stroller, rotarycovington for more walk a dog, take a walk in the woods, or bike Two Co to Alabama, we all have a common interest information.

T wo Con to see our community build on the plans set in motion over a decade ago to pave a path

Two Con

47 Newcomers Guide 2016

COVNEWS.COM 45

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Newcomers Guide 2016

Golf courses Ashton Hills Golf Club Ashton Hills Golf Club formerly known as Indian Creek Golf Club went through a renovation in 2012 when ownership changed. That same year Georgia Golf News named the course Atlanta’s Best New Course. The course is located at 10400 Covington Bypass Road in Covington, Georgia. The 18 hole course is year round with an open guest policy and bent greens. It also includes a driving range, rental clubs and rental carts. Tee times start at $15.

The Oaks Course Measuring 6,437 yards and located at 11240 Brown Bridge Rd in Covington, Georgia. The course features four sets of trees each tailored to players of different skill levels. The Oaks course is a semiprivate course open year round with Bermuda fairways and greens. The course has a driving range, rental clubs and carts – carts are included in green fees.

Tee times start at $15.

Ashton Hills Golf Course is one of two golf courses in Newton County. (file photo)

49 Newton County Trails boasts 15 miles of trails from Ga. Hwy. 81 in Covington to Ziegler Road in Newborn. (file photo)

Newton Trails adds Norfolk Southern route

By BRYAN fAZIO Almost 15 miles of trails are now available from Ga. Hwy. 81/Washington Street in Covington to Ziegler Road just west of Newborn after Norfolk Southern signed a lease agreement with Newton Trails.

Newton Trails, a local nonprofit organization incorporated in 1998 to promote and develop a county-wide network of multi-use trails for pedestrians and bicyclists, signed the agreement with Norfolk Southern in Spring 2016.

“Once we’re able to do risk assessment, post notices and take care of the bridges,” said Sara Vinson, Chair of Newton Trails Board of Directors, “we hope to start hosting some first view walks of the trail.”

The trail will connect Newborn to downtown Covington, allowing people to travel by bike or foot between the two towns.

“This could really be one of the most helpful economic development tools, particularly for small towns,” Vinson said. Trails have begun to play a big role as an economic driver in cities among millennials.

Atlanta has seen success with its Beltline, going through the heart of the city.

“Trails are the new golf course,” Vinson said. “That’s what everybody wants to live by — particularly, millennials and educated people.

They like linear towns that have towns, and businesses nearby that connect neighborhoods.”

The Norfolk Southern rail trail is just one of the many miles of trails newton County has to offer.

50

people & schools

50

get to know your elected officials

NEWTON COUNTY

Keith Ellis

john douglas

lanier sims

LLYOD KERR

chairman

district 1

district 2

county manager Newton County local government consists of five district commissioners and a chair elected county-wide.

The Board of Commissioners meets the first and third Tuesday of every month at the Historic Courthouse on the Covington Square at 7 p.m.

nancy schulz

j.c. henderson

levie maddox

district 3

district 4

district 5

City of Covington

The Covington City Council meets at Covington City Hall, 2194 Emory Street, on the first and third Monday of every month at 6 p.m.

RONNIE JOHNSTON

MIKE WHATLEY

CHRIS SMITH

LEIGH ANNE KNIGHT

MAYOR

COUNCIL

COUNCIL

CITY MANAGER

ken morgan

josh mckelvey

Ocie Franklin

Hawnethia WILLIAMS

COUNCIL

COUNCIL

COUNCIL

COUNCIL

Newcomers Guide 2016

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get to know your elected officials

City of PORTERDALE

ARLINE CHAPMAN

LINDA FINGER

lowell chambers

MAYOR

COUNCIL

COUNCIL

terry gray

timothy savage

BOB THOMSON

COUNCIL

COUNCIL

city manager

Porterdale city council meets for regular meetings the first Monday of every month at 6:30 p.m., with work sessions on the second Tuesday and fourth Thursday, at City Hall, 2400 Main St., Porterdale, GA 30014.

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get to know your elected officials

City of OXFORD

The Oxford City Council meets the first Monday of every month and holds a work session every third Monday at City Hall at 110 West Clark Street at 7 p.m.

jerry roseberry

Bob Scwartz

david eady

melvin baker

MAYOR

city manager

COUNCIL

COUNCIL

george holt

Sarah Davis

Mike Ready

jim windham

COUNCIL

COUNCIL

COUNCIL

COUNCIL

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get to know your elected officials

City of MANSFIELD

City of Newborn (no photos)

jefferson riley

Perry Lunsford

Helen Robertson

MAYOR

COUNCIL

COUNCIL

City council meetings are held the second Monday of every month, with work sessions the first Thursday, at the Mansfield Community Center at 6:30 p.m.

Chris Fulmer

lisa dunn

council

COUNCIL

Gregg Ellwanger, Mayor Jene Downs Tom Krieger Ruth Sams Martha Ellwanger

City council meetings are held the first Monday of every month at the Town Hall 4224 Highway 142 at 7 p.m.

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County Precincts and Polling Locations: Alcovy, Precinct 4: Newton County Library, 7116 Floyd Street,NE, Covington 30014 Almon, Precinct 3: Almon Community Center, 65 Mount Tabor Road, Covington 30016 Beaverdam, Precinct 13: Gateway Community Church, 11677 Brown Bridge Road, Covington 30016 Brewers, Precinct 6: Red Oak Methodist Church, 15105 Highway 36, Covington 30014 Brick Store, Precinct 7: St. Augustine Catholic Church, 11524 Highway 278, E, Covington 30014 Buck Creek, Precinct 19: Zion Baptist Church, 7037 Highway 212, N,bCovington 30016 Cedar Shoals, Precinct 8: Porterdale Baptist Church, 2 Palmetto Street, Porterdale 30070 City Pond, Precinct 1: Central Community Church, 11157 City Pond Road, Covington 30014 Covington Mills, Precinct 5: American Legion Post #32, 3132 Legion Drive, Covington 30014 Crowell, Precinct 24: The Potter’s House, 1120 Crowell Road, N, Covington 30014 Downs, Precinct 10: Prospect United Methodist Church, 6752 Highway 212, Covington 30016 Gum Creek, Precinct 12: Gum Creek Precinct Building, 325 Dial Mill Road, Oxford 30054 Hub, Precinct 25: Berean Baptist Church, 20 Old Social Circle Road, Social Circle 30025 Leguinn, Precinct 14: High Point Baptist Church, 12025 Highway 36, Covington 30014 Livingston, Precinct 9: County Line Baptist Church, 3325 Highway 162, S, Covington 30016 Mansfield, Precinct 15: Mansfield Community House, 3158 Highway 11. Mansfield 30055 Newborn, Precinct 16: Newborn United Methodist Church, 118 Church Street, Newborn 30056 Oxford, Precinct 17: Oxford City Hall, 110 W Clark Street, Oxford 30054 Rocky Plains. Precinct 18: Harvest Baptist Church, 2075 Highway 212, Covington 30016 Stansells. Precinct 20: Voice of Pentecost, 4648 Salem Road, Covington 30016 Town, Precinct 2: Washington Street Community Center, 4138 School Street, Covington 30014 Municipal Polling Locations City of Covington, Precinct 2: Covington City Hall, 2194 Emory Street, NW, Covington 30014 City of Mansfield, 5, Mansfield City Hall, 3146 Highway 11 (Main St), Mansfield 30055 City of Newborn, 6, Newborn City Hall, 4224 Highway 142, E, Newborn 30056 City of Oxford, 3, Oxford City Hall, 110 W Clark Street, Oxford 30054 City of Porterdale, 4, Porterdale Fire Station, 2 Main Street, Porterdale 30070 City of Social Circle, 7, Social Circle City Hall, Community Room, 138 E Hightower Trail, Social Circle 30025

55 Newcomers Guide 2016

Getting Utilities in Newton County Water and septic lines Water and Sewerage Authority 11325 Brown Bridge Rd, Covington 30016 (770) 787-1375; www.ncwsa.us.

Electricity The City of Covington is the only municipality in the county that provides electricity. Contact (770) 385-2075 or long on to www.cityofcovington. org/electic.htm For all other areas, contact: Snapping Shoals EMC - (770) 786-3484 or www. ssemc.com Georgia Power - (404) 329-4001 or www.southernco.com/gapower/ Solid Waste The cities of Covington, Oxford and Porterdale provide curbside pickup.

Covington City Hall: 770-385-2000 Oxford City Hall: 770-786-7004 Porterdale City Hall: 770-786-2217 Newton County residents not residing in one of these municipalities may contract with one of the following private contractors operating in Newton County.

All South Robertson 678-432-1670 Burgess 770-787-3182 Curbside 770-385-1000 Newton County also has 11 drop-off convenience centers for recycling and waste at the following locations: Piper Road/Highway 36 10545 Highway 36 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday 1 p.m. - 7 p.m. Sunday Bypass/Flat Shoals Road 11575 Covington Bypass Road 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday 1 p.m. - 7 p.m. Sunday

Cook Road 10 Cook Road, Oxford 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday 1 p.m. - 7 p.m. Sunday Stewart VFD, 14645 Hwy. 36 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday 1 p.m. - 7 p.m. Sunday Stone Road 70 Stone Road 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday 1 p.m. - 7 p.m. Sunday Highway 212/Highway 162 2010 Highway 212 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday 1 p.m. - 7 p.m. Sunday Hazelbrand Road 11585 Hazelbrand Road 1 p.m. - 7 p.m. Sunday - Friday 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. Saturday McGiboney Road 518 McGiboney Road 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday Oak Hill Road 112 Oak Hill Road 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday Adams Circle 2010 Adams Circle 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday Dial Mill Road, 325 Dial Mill Road 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday 1 p.m. - 7 p.m. Sunday

COVNEWS.COM 55

56 A member of the Newton High School Rambassador program reads to children on Dr. Suess’ birthday.

(Bryan Fazio)

A word from Samantha Fuhrey - Superintendent in traditional studies, but also high quality artistic Welcome to Newton County and the Newton programming. Additionally, in an effort to meet County School System where our mission is to the needs of our students, we have instituted a provide educational excellence for all students.

“Move On When Ready” design in our elementary It is my honor and privilege to serve as your and middle schools through the use of advanced school system Superintendent! I look forward to coursework. Finally, we are fortunate to offer working together to ensure our students experithe very first biotech middle school program in ence positive, engaging learning environments in Georgia. which they can focus on excelling. The Newton samantha fuhrey Reading is the single most important indicator County School System staff believes it is our of success. In the Newton County School System, responsibility to provide students with a quality it is expected that all students read at or above grade level education in a safe, orderly environment that fosters innovaprior to moving to the next grade. In addition to their regular tion, creativity, and high expectations. studies, the more children read, the more likely they are to Our partnerships with parents and families serve as the experience success in school. If your child is entering school foundation for our continued advancement. My request of for the first time, reading with him/her daily and discussing our parents is to be supportive of our schools and make certain students read and attend school regularly. When children what you have read will prove beneficial. An international study conducted by the Organization for Economic Cooperaare not in school, they miss important information and are tion and Development confirms that children whose parents likely to fall behind. Often, it is believed that missing a day frequently read with them in their first years of school conor two “doesn’t hurt,” but research indicates that over time, tinue to reap the benefit long after the completion of elemenconsistent absenteeism significantly impacts student learning. Unless your child is not feeling well, please ensure he/she tary school. For all students, regular “outside-of-school” reading is critical to expanding vocabulary and building gets to school. background knowledge. All students should read challenging Over the last several years, we have experienced excepbooks of interest to them for at least 20-30 minutes each and tional growth in student achievement. Our students continue every day. to outpace the state with regard to graduation rates, and our The Newton County School System enjoys a tremendous graduating seniors have been awarded millions of dollars in level of community support. Our partnerships with businesses athletic and academic scholarships including the Posse, Gates and community agencies demonstrate a commitment to Millennium, and Stamps Scholarships. Our laser-like focus continued economic development, future growth, and supon teaching and learning prepares students to be college and port for our students, teachers, leaders, and staff. I am happy career-ready thereby opening a multitude of opportunities to continue to work to enhance our strong relationships and beyond high school. Our STEM (Science, Technology, Engiinvite others to get involved. neering, Math) emphasis begins as early as kindergarten; Again, welcome to our community! I look forward to an we believe it is imperative that every student attending the excellent school year, and thank you, in advance, for your Newton County School System experiences rigorous, relsupport of our school system; I encourage every student evant learning opportunities via the STEM problem-solving model. We anticipate, in the near future, expanding our STEM and parent to make the 2016-2017 school year the best school year ever! program to include the arts. STEAM programs round out stuSamantha Furhey dents’ educational experiences by immersing them not only

57 Newcomers Guide 2016

COVNEWS.COM 57

get to know your board of educATION

Trey Bailey

eddie johnson

Shakila Henderson Baker

DISTRICT 1

DISTRICT 2

DISTRICT 3

Almond Turner

Abigail Coggin

SAMANTHA FUHREY

DISTRICT 4

DISTRICT 5

SUPERINTENDENT

Newton County School Board work sessions and meetings are held at 7 p.m. at the Board of Education every second and third Tuesday of every month

1269 Wellbrook Circle • Conyers, GA 7229 Wheat Street • Covington, GA

304562-1

1075 South Main Street Suite 200 • Madison, GA 1000 Cowles Clinic Way Cypress Building, Suite C-300 • Greensboro, GA

58 COVNEWS.COM

Newcomers Guide 2016

get to know Newton education outlets HIGHER EDUCATION Georgia BioScience Training Center The $14 million center adjacent to the new $1 billion Baxter International Inc. biomanufacturing plant being constructed in Covington. The center supports training for Baxter employees and for new companies in the life sciences industry that choose to locate in Georgia. It is a signature building that declares to a global audience that Georgia is committed to both research and knowledge and the skilled, trained workforce that is critical to successful bioscience businesses.

“This training facility represents not only our commitment to supporting Baxter’s needs, but also our commitment to growing the life sciences industry in Georgia,” said Georgia Governor Nathan Deal. “It’s projects like these that have made, and will continue to make, Georgia the No. 1 state in the nation in which to do business.”

(Information taken from Georgia.gov) Oxford College of Emory University 110 Few Circle, Oxford 770-784-8888 www.oxford.emory.edu Dr. Douglas Hicks, dean The first two years of Emory University’s liberal arts curriculum may be pursued either at the main campus in Atlanta or at Oxford College, which was founded in 1836 as Emory’s original campus. Emory moved to Atlanta in 1919, but students who wish to live and study in a smaller community can still choose Oxford. A new $29 million science building on the campus quad was opened in 2016 and construction of the new dining hall is underway.

Avoid The Rush.

Georgia State’s Newton Campus doors opened in 2007 as Georgia Perimeter College. In 2015 the perimeter college consolidated with Georgia State University. The Newton perimeter campus is now part of a university that has more than 50,000 students enrolled in multiple campuses throughout the Metro Atlanta Area.

Georgia Piedmont Technical College 16200 Alcovy Road, Covington 770-786-9522 www.gptc.edu Dr. Johnny D. Jones, dean Established in 1961, Georgia Piedmont Technical College is one of the oldest and most respected of the state’s 33 technical colleges. In 2010, the college served 24,590 students and conferred 1,118 awards to graduates across its two campuses and five centers.

Graduates have a 99 percent job placement rate with 69 percent graduate placement in jobs in or related to their program or field of study or in further education. The GPTC adult education program is one of the largest such programs, as well as international literacy programs, in the state. GPTC is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commissions on Colleges to award associate of applied science degrees, diplomas and technical certificates of credit.

Troy University 1160 Monticello Street, Covington 770-385-8315 770-385-8825 (fax) www.troy.edu The Troy University Covington Site originally began operations in 2002 as a teaching site attached to the Augusta Site but became an independent site after exponential growth. The Covington Site serves non-traditional students using both on-site, cohorts and online classes.

Troy University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commissions on Colleges to award associate, baccalaure-

Order Your Valentine Flowers Early!

Georgia State University (Georgia Perimeter College Newton Campus) 239 Cedar Lane, Covington 770-278-1200 www.perimeter.gsu.edu Dr. Peter Lyons, Vice Provost

Sherwood’s FLOWERS & GIFTS 1105 Floyd Street NE., Covington

770-786-7272

ate, master’s, education specialist and doctoral degrees. The Covington Site supports several bachelor and master’s degree programs.

AREA PRIVATE SCHOOLS Covington Academy 2171 Elks Club Road, Covington 678-625-9025 Grades: K3 through 12 George Walton Academy 1 Bulldog Drive, Monroe 770-267-7578 Grades: K4 through 12 Loganville Christian Academy 2575 Highway 81, Loganville 770-554-9888 Grades: K4 through 12 Montessori School of Covington 4108 Summers Street, Covington 770-788-7779 Grades: K3 through 8 Peachtree Academy 14101 Hwy. 278, Covington 678-729-9111 Grades: K4 through 12 Piedmont Academy 126 Highway 212, Monticello 706-468-8818 Grades: K3 through 12 Providence Christian School 252 Byrd Road, Oxford 770-788-6618 Grades: K4 through 12 Young Americans Christian School 1701 Honey Creek Rd, Conyers 770-760-7902 Grades: K4 through12

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59 Newcomers Guide 2016

COVNEWS.COM 59

Newton County school system HIGH SCHOOLS Alcovy High School 14567 Highway 36, Covington 770-784-4995 678-625-6117 (fax) Dr. Sandra Owens, principal Ms. Jennifer Mason, assistant principal Dr. Kristopher Williams, assistant principal Ms. Dionna Evans, assistant principal Ms. Carla Peck, assistant principal Mascot: Tigers School Colors: Black & Gold Original building-July 2006 Programs: Quest, Advanced Courses, Agriculture/Conservation/ Horticulture, Broadcast/Video Production, Construction, Culinary Arts, Health Occupations, PreEngineering/Manufacturing, Business Education Organizations/Clubs: Baseball, Softball, Football, Soccer, Tennis, Volleyball, Cheerleading, Track, Wrestling, FCCLA, Key Club, FFA, FCA, Naturalist Club, Latin Club, FBLA, Drama.

Eastside High School 10245 Eagle Drive, Covington 770-784-2920 770-784-2918 (fax) Mr. Jeff Cher, principal Dr. Gloria Griffith, assistant principal Dr. Philip Davidson, assistant principal Mr. Bart Buff, assistant principal Mascot: Eagles School Colors: Green & Silver Original Building Built in 1994 Classroom Additions: 2002 Programs: Quest, Advanced Courses, Advanced Placement Courses Organizations & Clubs: The Pride of Eastside Eagle Bands, Baseball, Softball, Football, Soccer, Tennis, Volleyball, Cheerleading, Track, Wrestling, FCCLA, Key Club, FFA, FCA, Naturalist Club, Latin Club, Image Club, FBLA, Drama, Curamus Club Newton High School 1 Ram Way, Covington 770-787-2250 770-784-2957 (fax) Mr. John Ellenberg, principal Dr. Ryan Norman, assistant principal Ms. Carla Hull, assistant principal Ms. Renee Evans, assistant principal Dr. Johnathan Page, assistant principal Dr. Veronica Bacote, assistant principal Mr. Nilesh Patel, assistant principal Mascot: Rams School Colors: Blue & White Constructed: 2013 Programs: Quest, Advanced Courses, Advanced Placement Courses Organizations & Clubs: Baseball,

Softball, Football, Soccer, Tennis, Cheerleading, Track, Wrestling, FCCLA, Key Club, FBLA, Jazz Club, Chess Club, MCJROTC

Flint Hill Elementary School 1300 Airport Road, Oxford 770-784-2969 Principal Lynne DiNardo

Newton College and Career Academy 144 Ram Drive, Covington 678-625-6769 678-625-6041 (fax) Chad Walker, principal/CEO Atosha Logan, assistant principal of instruction Dr. Allison Woodard, assistant principal of business engagement The NCCA represents a strategic focus of the Newton County Board of Education and the Newton County School System to meet the growing needs of the workforce of Newton and surrounding counties.

Today’s workers needs a balance of academic and career pathway (technical) skills, which is one of NCCA’s goals. NCCA partners with area businesses that have the resources and real world expertise to make academic work real, rigorous and relevant. (Information taken from the NCCA Master Plan 2013-2018)

Heard-Mixon Elementary School 14110 Highway 36, Covington 770-784-2980 Principal Marquita Wilkins

MIDDLE SCHOOLS

Live Oak Elementary School 500 Kirkland Road, Covington 678-625-6654 Principal Ericka Anderson Livingston Elementary School 3657 Highway 81 South, Covington 770-784-2930 Principal Shari Thomas Mansfield Elementary School 45 E. Third Ave, Mansfield 770-784-2948 Principal Lori Thomas Middle Ridge Elementary School 11649 S. Covington Bypass Road, Covington 770-385-6463 Principal Michael Forehand

Clements Middle School 66 Jack Neely Road, Covington 770-784-2934 Principal Joy Scavella

Newton County Theme School at Ficquett 2207 Williams Street, Covington 770-784-2959 Principal Naomi Cobb

Cousins Middle School 8187 Carlton Trail NW, Covington 770-786-7311 Principal Scott Sauls

Oak Hill Elementary School 6243 Highway 212, Covington 770-385-6906 Principal Brenda Gammans

Indian Creek Middle School 11051 S. Covington Bypass Road, Covington 770-385-6453 Principal Renee Mallard

Porterdale Elementary School 45 Ram Drive, Covington 770-784-2928 Principal Lizzella Dodson

Liberty Middle School 5225 Salem Road, Covington 678-625-6617 Principal Keisa Taylor Social Circle Middle School 154 Alcova Drive, Social Circle 770-464-1932 Principal Theodoris Gibbs Veterans Memorial Middle School 13357 Brown Bridge Road, Covington 770-385-6893 Principal James Peek ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS East Newton Elementary School 2286 Dixie Road, Covington 770-784-2973 Principal Kim Coady Fairview Elementary School 3324 Fairview Road, Covington 770-786-2636 Principal LaMoyne Artie Brunson

Rocky Plains Elementary School 5300 Highway 162 South, Covington 770-784-4987 Principal Miranda Jones Social Circle Elementary School 240-A West Hightower Trail, Social Circle 770-464-2664 Principal Beth Pridgen Social Circle Primary School 439 Annie P. Henderson Drive, Social Circle 770-464-1411 Principal Ronda Estes South Salem Elementary School 5335 Salem Road, Covington 678-342-5907 Principal Holly Dubois West Newton Elementary School 13387 Brown Bridge Road, Covington 770-385-6472 Principal Takila Curry

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newton county

directory

2315 Iris Drive, Conyers, GA 30013 Off 1-20, Exit 84 (between Salem Rd. & Almon Rd.)

www.fieldstonepawn.com

CONYERS • 770-483-8248

directory LIBRARIES Newton County Library System Covington Branch Library 7116 Floyd Stree, Covington (770) 787-3231 Tuesday & Thursday 10am - 8pm Wednesday & Friday 10am - 6pm Saturday 10am - 2pm Newborn Library Service Outlet 4224 Ga. Highway 142, Newborn (770) 787-1126 Wednesday 11am - 2pm Porter Memorial Branch Library 6191 Ga. Highway 212, Covington (678) 729-1388 Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday 11am - 8pm Saturday & Sunday 1pm - 5pm

JEWELRY • GUNS GOLD • ETC.

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LAPTOP COMPUTERS

LAWN EQUIPMENT

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JEWELRY

Uncle Remus Regional Library System W.H. Stanton Memorial Library 407 West Hightower Trail, Social Circle (770) 464-2444 Monday, Wednesday & Friday 10am - 6pm Tuesday & Thursday 10am - 8pm Saturday 10am - 4pm Sunday 2pm - 6pm

We Have What You Need to Make Your House a Home

gram

Adult Classes Workshops Paint Party

INSTRUCTIONINSTRUCTION Artful Harvest Artful Harvest Program ip h s r la o h KidsCamp Classes & Art Camp Sc Kids Classes & Art Judged Art Show Judged Art Show Adult Classes Adult Classes Workshops Workshops Paint Party Paint Party

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Kids Classes & Art Camp Adult Classes Workshops Paint Party

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Southern Heartland Visual Art Center and Gallery on the Square

We are Newton’s Non Profit Advocate for the Visual Arts 1132 Monticello Street 770-788-8799 Heartland Southern Visual Heartland Art Visual Center www.southernheartlandart.com; friendArt us onCenter Facebook

uthern Gallery Square on the Square and Gallery on andthe

e are Newton’s Profit WeToare Newton’s Advocate Non Profit for Advocate Visual for the Arts Visual Arts arts, toward the OurNon Mission: provide, encourage, and the support involvement in the visual 1132 Monticello goal Street 1132 Monticello 770-788-8799 Street of enriching the cultural life 770-788-8799 of area residents through ww.southernheartlandart.com; www.southernheartlandart.com; friend us on Facebook friend us on Facebook

instruction, educational scholarship and exhibition of fine art.

o provide, encourage, Our Mission: and Tosupport provide, encourage, involvement and support in involvement the visual in arts, the visual toward arts, toward the the goal of enriching the cultural goal oflife enriching of area the cultural residents life of area through residents through nstruction, educational scholarship instruction, educational and exhibition scholarship and of fine exhibition art.of fine art.

Unique Gifts by Local Artists

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Original Art

Custom Framing

Artist Grade Art Supplies

Custom Original Framing Art Custom Framing Artist Grade Artist Art Grade Supplies Art Supplies Jewelry Pottery Photography Photography Paintings and Mosaics ottery Jewelry Photography &&Pottery PaintingsPaintings and Mosaics and Mosaics

62 62 COVNEWS.COM

Newcomers Guide 2016

directory Recycling Centers These centers are open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9am - 7pm; Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 7am - 7pm and Sunday from 1pm - 7pm.

DIAL MILL ROAD 325 Dial Mill Road, Oxford

PIPER ROAD/ HIGHWAY 36 10545 Ga. Highway 36, Covington

MCGIBONEY ROAD 518 McGiboney Road, Covington

BYPASS/ FLAT SHOALS 11575 Covington Bypass Road, Covington

OAK HILL ROAD 112 Oak Hill Road, Covington

STEWART VFD 14645 Ga. Highway 36, Covington STONE ROAD 70 Stone Road, Oxford

ADAMS CIRCLE 2010 Adams Circle, Covington This center is open Sunday through Friday from 1pm - 7pm. and Saturday from 7am - 7pm.

COOK ROAD 10 Cook Road, Oxford

HAZELBRAND ROAD 11585 Hazelbrand Road, Covington

Quality Brands You Deserve!

• Vaughan-Bassett • Ashley • Liberty • Broyhill • La-Z-Boy • Simmons • Riverside • Masterfield & More

F

HWY 212/ HWY162 2010 Highway 212, Covington

97

ne home furnishings.

We have over 30,000 square feet of furniture on display since restoring several large historic buildings across the street from our main store. Come see us at 1145 Clark Street near the Newton County Courthouse.

At Ramsey’s, your account is still a name and not a number. We offer a personal customer service experience when you are shopping for your home furnishing needs.

Our everyday low prices and next day delivery help save you time and money.

Ramsey Furniture Company is a family owned and operated business.

We look forward to serving you with quality furniture at savings like the Ramsey family has been famous for since 1919.

Sincerely, y,

SAM RAMSEY President

TONY RAMSEY Vice President

Hours: Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri., Sat. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. / Wed. 9 a.m.-12 noon / Closed Sunday

1145 Clark Street • Covington (Located near the Newton Co. Courthouse)

3rd & 4th generation of the Ramsey Family to serve you!

www.ramseyfurniturecompany.com Like us on

63 Covington Lions Club 7:30 p.m. second and fourth Thursdays, 3120 Conyers St., Covington

directory Clubs American Legion Post 32 Second Thursdays, 3132 Legion Drive, Covington. You can contact Commander Tarry Moore through mail at P.O. Box No. 310, Covington, GA 30015.

You can also get more information about the organization at http://covingtonpost32.orf. If you are a war veteran living in Newton County and you need some assistance, please contact American Legion Post 32.

Benevolent Protective Order of Elks Lodge 1806 7:30 p.m. first and third Tuesdays, 135 Crowell Road Covington Covington Garden Club 10 a.m. on first Wednesdays, meet at various homes of members Covington Kiwanis Club 12:30 p.m. Thursday for lunch, Covington First United Methodist Church Covington Rotary Club Noon Tuesday for lunch Covington First United Methodist Church

Covington Woman’s Club 9:30 a.m. second Tuesdays, Historic Woman’s Club building on College Street Golden Fleece Masonic Lodge No. 6 Dinner 6:30 p.m., meeting 7:30 p.m. second and fourth Tuesdays, except second Tuesday only in December, 1104 Clark Street SW, Covington Oxford Lions Club Noon on first Thursdays, 7 p.m. on third Thursdays, Allen Memorial United Methodist Church, Oxford Pilot Club of Covington 7 p.m. on most first Thursdays, sometimes third Thursday, First Presbyterian Church of Covington Satsuki Garden Club 10:30 a.m. second Tuesdays, Newton County Public Library. Those interested should contact the library for the current program chairman’s information.

Southern Heartland Woman’s Club 4 p.m. on first Sundays, Southern Heartland Art Gallery on the Covington square

Monthly wine tastings!

.,

Private rentals available!

.,

Sample wines daily!

16 craft beer taps!

.,

Local craft beer!

.,

Cigars also available!

1109 Church Street | On the Square Downtown Covington 470-444-1313 | thecorkboutique@gmail.com | www.thecorkboutiqueandgifts.com Hours: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday

vated agents, fast results! Whether you’re buying or selling a home rtnering with the right Realtor® is the key to a timely and successf rvice is our #1 goal. We are committed to aggressively marketing y m exposure so you can close the sale faster!

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Gerri GerriMurphy MurphyRealty Realty 1123 1123Washington WashingtonStreet StreetSW SW Covington, Covington,Georgia Georgia 770-787-8400 770-787-8400

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e Malone

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BillBill Blair Blair

Bill Blair Lytice Lytice Brown Brown Cathy Cathy Dobbs Dobbs

Kristy Stubbs Henderson

Connie Connie Malone Malone

MiaMia Johnson Johnson Thompson Thompson

Cheryl Mitchell

Connie Kristy Kristy Stubbs Stubbs Henderson Henderson Malone Cheryl Cheryl Mitchell Mitchell

Lakisha Felton Teresa Teresa Martin Martin Angela Angela Walton Walton

Teresa Martin

Tami Moody

Kristy Cindy Stubbs Hender Tami Tami Moody Moody Cindy Moon Moon

Shelby Puckett Shelby Shelby Puckett PuckettLee Rowell Lee Lee Rowell Rowell Rick Rick Spires SpiresRick Spires Alisa Alisa Lyon Lyon

Lakisha Lakisha Felton Felton

Lytice Tricia Tricia Kuhn Kuhn Brown

Jamie Jamie Peterson Peterson

Angela Walton

Alisa Lyon Lee Rowell PatPat Swords Swords Smith Smith

Teresa EdEd Laposki Laposki Martin

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65 ome, land or business, essful real estate transaction.

Newcomers Guide 2016 ng your property

directory CHURCHES

Apostolic

Apostolic Community Church of Covington ton 2094 Street Highway SW 81 South, Covington , Georgia (770) 784-7768

hy Realty

7-8400

African Methodist Episcopal

Mount Zion AME Church 119 5th Avenue, Mansfield (770) 787-0358

Pleasant Hill AME Zion Church 1578 Alcovy Station Road, ompson Tricia Kuhn Covington (770) 464-2999

dy

n

son

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Cindy Moon

St. Paul AME Church 13108 Brown Bridge Road., Covington, (770) 786-7785

Poplar Hill AME Church 623 Poplar Hill Road, Covington, (770) 787-4954

Graves Chapel AME Church 1575 Alcovy Trestle Road, Social Circle (770) 787-2510

Baptist Almon Baptist Church Almon Road, Covington Bald Rock Baptist Church 2284 Old Covington Road N.E., Covington (770) 929-3421

Berean Baptist Church 20 Old Social Circle Road, Social Circle (678) 625-3551

Bethel Bara Baptist Church 11392 Jackson Highway, Covington (770) 787-0370

Bethel Grove Baptist Church 10728 Flat Shoals Road, Covington, (770) 786-6630

Bethel Grove Baptist in Mansfield 520 Sewell Road, Mansfield (770) 786-3359

• Macular Degeneration • Floaters • Cornea • Glaucoma • Dry Eye • Cataracts

Dr. Pulliam is a Board Certified Ophthalmologist and specializes in adult Ophthalmology including cataract consultation and second opinions.

Pat Swords Smith

4165 Hospital Drive • 770-786-9312 (Across from Piedmont Newton ER) Covington, GA 30014

michaelpulliammd.com Ed Laposki

66 66 COVNEWS.COM

Bethlehem Baptist Church 2177 Usher Street, Covington (770) 786-8229

Calvary Baptist Church 4228 Mill Street N.E., Covington (770) 786-3216

Canaan Baptist Church 5581 Salem Road, Covington (770) 786-8885 Corinth Missionary Baptist Church 813 S. Cherokee Road, Social Circle (770) 464-2949

Cornish Mountain Baptist Church 1089 Cornish Mountain Church Road, Oxford (770) 787-7644

County Line Baptist Church 3325 Ga. Highway 162 S., Covington (770) 786-2637 Covington Bible Baptist Church 75 Marble Drive, Oxford (770) 784-6622 Crossroads Baptist Church 227 County Road 229, Social Circle (770) 786-2563

Early Hope Baptist Church 3162 Ga. Highway 162, Covington (770) 786-8318

East Newton Baptist Church 1129 Rocky Plains Road, Covington 770-786-6627

Newcomers Guide 2016

Fellowship Baptist Church 4297 Ga. Highway 81, Oxford (678) 342-9040

First Baptist Church of Covington 1139 Usher Street, Covington (770) 786-9031 1st Baptist Church of Social Circle 195 N. Cherokee Road, Social Circle (770) 464-3474

Gateway Community Church 11677 Brown Bridge Road, Covington (770) 787-1015 Grace Baptist Church 474 Crowell Road, Covington (770) 786-5692

Welcome!

We’re proud to be your local school system and we welcome you to Newton County.

Newton County School System 2109 Newton Drive NE • Covington 770-787-1330

www.newtoncountyschools.org Our mission is to provide educational excellence for all students!

67 Newcomers Guide 2016

Greater Love Baptist Church 1780 Pickett Bridge Road, Covington (770) 788-1832

Harvest Baptist Church 2075 Ga. Highway 212, Covington (770) 787-7275 Harvest Baptist Church 2075 Ga. Highway 212, Covington (770) 787-7275

High Point Baptist Church 12025 Ga. Highway 36, Covington (770) 786-5985 James Paschal Baptist Church”, 651 Ga. Hwy. 142, (770) 787-3024

Knox Chapel Baptist Church 679 Knox Chapel Road S.E., Social Circle (770) 464-2361 Mansfield Baptist Church 101 Woodlawn Road, Mansfield 770-787-0723 Mars Hill Baptist Church 387 W. Hightower Trail, Social Circle (770) 464-0000 Mt. Olive Baptist Church 355 Moores Road, Covington (770) 786-1617

Mt. Zion Baptist Church 657 Mt. Zion Road, Covington (770) 787-2421

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New Hope Baptist Church 2207 Brown Street S.W., Covington, (770) 786-1709

Newton Baptist Church 720 Jack Neely Road, Covington, (770) 788-7868

Oxford Baptist Church 305 Emory Street, Oxford (770) 786-8132

Pleasantview Baptist Church 302 Fincher Road, Covington (770) 786-3394

Porterdale Baptist Church N. Broad Street @ Palmetto Street, Porterdale, (770) 7862650 Sims Chapel Baptist Church 61 Sims Chapel Road, Covington, (770) 787-6865

NewtoN CouNty ReCReatioN CommissioN 6185 Turner Lake Road Covington, GA 30014 www.newtonrecreation.com

770-786-4373

"It's your time, we help you spend it...at play!"

Gymnasium • Special Events Walking Trails • Community Room Youth & Adult Athletics Youth & Adult Instruction

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Solid Rock Baptist Church 8111 Brown Bridge Road, Covington, (770) 784-0982

Zion Baptist Church 7037 Ga. Highway 212 N., Covington, (770) 786-6767

Springfield Baptist Church 1877 Iris Drive, Conyers (770) 929-1111

Stewart Baptist Church 158 Stewart Church Road, Covington, (770) 788-7177

The Baptist Tabernacle 10119 Access Road NW, Covington, (770) 786-7775

Catholic

St. Augustine Catholic Church 11524 U.S. Highway 278 E., Covington (770) 787-1064 Christian Methodist Episcopal

Murray Memorial CME 4100 West Street N.W., Covington, (770) 786-5474

West End Baptist Church 455 S. Cherokee Road, Social Circle (770) 464-3965

Church of Christ

Central Church of Christ 160 Ga. Highway 142, Covington, (770) 787-3710

Covington Church of Christ 9441 Covington Bypass Road, Covington (770) 787-1119 Charismatic

St. Andrews Charismatic Episcopal Church 375 Old Oxford Road, Covington, (770) 784-5100 Church of God Triumph COGIC 115 Bell Street, Covington, (770) 786-4683

COMMITMENT. LOYALTY. SACRIFICE. DEDICATION.

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We are a full service Sheriff’s Office dedicated and committed to enforcing the laws enacted for the Protection of the Lives, Persons, Property, Health, and Morals of all citizens in Newton County.

We are a state certified law enforcement agency, a nationally accredited correctional facility and are seeking the national CALEA certification.

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NEWTON COUNTY

SHERIFF’S OFFICE COMMITTED

TO EXCELLENCE

15151 Alcovy Road NE • Covington, GA 30014 678-625-1400 • newtonsheriffga.org Ezell Brown, Sheriff

GEORGIA PIEDMONT TECHNICAL COLLEGE A UNIT OF THE TECHNICAL COLLEGE SYSTEM OF GEORGIA

Apply to Georgia Piedmont Technical College, and take the first step toward earning a degree, diploma or certificate.

• Graduate nearly debt-free • Convenient locations • High job placement rate • Small class size • Flexible class schedule ALSO OFFERING: Workforce and Professional Development Programs • Customized Training & Retraining Programs • Continuing Education • Entrepreneurship & Business Development Support • Conference & Meeting Facilities • WorkKeys™ Certification

www.gptc.edu 404-297-9522 #GoGPTC

Equal Opportunity Institution

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Full Gospel

Gospel Mission Church 755 Almon Road, Covington, 770) 787-6507 Jersey Holiness Church 3439 Monroe Jersey Road, Jersey, (770) 464-2301 Jehovah’s Witness

Jehovah’s Witness 13075 Ga. Highway 36, Covington (770) 786-7632 East Conyers Jehovah’s Witness 2914 Fairview Road, Covington (770) 787-5087

Lutheran

Abiding Grace Lutheran Church 5510 Ga. Highway 212, Covington, (770) 385-7691

Gaithers UMC 1375 Newton Factory Bridge Road, Covington (770) 786-6001 Grace UMC 3145 Washington Street, Covington, (770) 787-0517

Methodist

Jersey UMC Alcovy UMC 115 Jersey-Social Circle Road, 12521 Alcovy Road, Covington Jersey, (770) 464-1247 (770) 786-0610 Lovejoy UMC Allen Memorial UMC 12835 Ga. Highway 36, 803 Whatcoat Street, Oxford Covington (770) 786-7414 (770) 786-7907 First United Methodist Church of Covington Livingston Chapel CME 1113 Conyers Street, 95 Bethany Road, Covington, Covington (770) 786-7305 (678) 342-2115

Taking Care of a LOVED ONE in His or Her Final Days IS HARD ENOUGH No One Should Have to Do it Alone Abbey Hospice, and its 13-bed inpatient unit located in the heart of Walton A County, provides home hospice services to the surrounding 17 counties including Newton, Rockdale, Morgan and Jasper.

bbey b Hospice

770-464-5858 AbbeyHospice.com

71 Newcomers Guide 2016

Mansfield UMC 3031 Main St., Mansfield (770) 385-9800

Mt. Pleasant UMC 55 County Hwy 229, Social Circle (770) 786-6376 Newborn UMC 118 Church Street, Newborn (770)-786-3574

Connexion Church UMC 5138 Emory Street N.W., Covington (770) 787-3386

Porter Memorial UMC 3 Cotton Avenue, Porterdale, (770) 786-6149 Prospect UMC 6752 Ga. Highway 212, Covington (770) 786-6303

Red Oak UMC 15105 Ga. Highway 36, Covington (770) 787-0404

Richards Chapel UMC 426 Richards Chapel Road, Covington (770) 787-1834

Salem UMC 3962 Salem Road, Covington (770) 786-6027 Shiloh UMC 10 Almon Church Road, Covington (770) 787-1087 Social Circle UMC 261 S. Cherokee Road, Social Circle, (770) 464-3854

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Springhill UMC 1228 Hwy. 162, Covington (770) 786-2170

Starrsville UMC 2786 Dixie Road, Covington, (770) 786-4293

Trinity UMC 6154 Collins Street, Covington (770) 787-8780 Union Grove UMC 757 Dixie Road, Covington (770) 786-0555 Church 213 Covington First Baptist Church Annex (temporary) 1675 County Road 213, Covington, 770-385-6304 (permanent)

72 72 COVNEWS.COM

Mormon

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints 10235 Eagle Drive, Covington, (678) 342-0414 Nazarene

LifePointe Nazarene Church 5133 Highway 36, Covington (770) 787-2220 Non-Denominational

Brown Bridge Christian Church 13108 Brown Bridge Road, Covington (770) 788-0755 Central Community Church 11157 City Pond Road, Covington (770) 385-3452

Church in the Now 13183 Harland Drive NE, Covington (770) 922-5334

Christian Life Center 10242 Flat Shoals Road, Covington (770) 784-8189 Covington Christian Church 141 E. Highway 142, Covington (770) 786-1021

Eastridge Community Church 863 Ga. Highway 142, Covington (770) 786-2048

Faith of Jesus Ministries 100 Usher Road, Covington (770) 787-1748

Newcomers Guide 2016

Gateway Community Church 11677 Brown Bridge Road, Covington, (770) 787-1015 Jersey Community Church 110 Lower Jersey Road, Jersey (770) 464-2638 Journey Church 3813 Hwy. 81, Oxford, (770) 783-2220 Life Church 3130 Salem Road SE, Covington (770) 787-0486

New Beginning Full Gospel Ministries 453 Oxford Road, Covington (770) 787-6376

Oak Hill Church 195 Snapping Shoals Drive, Covington, (770) 272-4429

Full Service Funeral Home, Crematory and Cemetery Owned & Operated by the Caldwell family since 1933 ~ Serving all families with dignity and respect Active in Relay for Life and other organizations and clubs ~ Dedicated to our community Recipient of the National Funeral Directors Association Pursuit of Excellence Award 10 Consecutive Years - 2006 through 2015 / Best of the Best Award 2007 Inducted into the National Funeral Directors Association Hall of Excellence 2016 Recipient of the Order of the Golden Rule Exemplary Service Award 2016

1215 Access Road, Covington & 3134 Floyd Street, Covington

770-786-7062 ~ www.caldwellandcowan.com

73 Newcomers Guide 2016

Rainbow Covenant Ministries 9 Hemlock Street, Porterdale, (770) 787-8519 Tabernacle of Praise 3024 Highway 11, Mansfield (770) 851-6817

The Avenue Church 1317 N. Cherokee Road, Social Circle (770) 464-2622 The Church at Covington 11975 Ga. Highway 142, Oxford (770) 786-7293

The Pointe/Crosspointe Church 252 Byrd Road, Oxford (770) 385-4968

United Praise Christian Center 12949 Highway 36, Covington (770) 385-0473 Word of Life Tabernacle 99 Ellis Trail, Covington (770) 385-9882 Pentecostal

Atlanta Deliverance Tabernacle 3163 Corley Street, Covington (678) 712-9144

The Potter’s House 1120 Crowell Road, Covington (678) 212-0319 Voice of Pentecost 4648 Salem Road, Covington (678) 625-1700

COVNEWS.COM 73

Presbyterian

Bethany Presbyterian Church 1002 Bethany Road, Covington (770) 786-1629 First Presbyterian Church 1169 Clark Street S.W., Covington (770) 786-7321

Grace Covenant Presbyterian 2900 Salem Road, Covington (770) 786-0111 Gum Creek Presbyterian Church 2700 Gum Creek Road, Oxford (770) 786-8301

Welcome The residents of Oxford, the Mayor and the City Council members would like to welcome you to Oxford.

Oxford Mayor and Council

Jerry D. Roseberry, Mayor Council Members: David S. Eady, Mike Ready, George R. Holt, Melvin O. Baker, James H. Windham and Sarah T. Davis

www.oxfordgeorgia.org

74 74 COVNEWS.COM

Newcomers Guide 2016

Luther Hays Presbyterian 90 Hayston Road, Mansfield (770) 744-5475 Porterdale Presbyterian P.O. Box 669, Porterdale (770) 786-7507 Providence Reformed Presbyterian Church 6752 Hwy. 212 N, Covington (678) 210-0272

Trinity Presbyterian Church 11171 U.S. Highway 278 E., Covington (770) 787-7493

Seventh-Day Adventist

First Seventh Day Adventist Church of Covington 7161 Monticello Street S.E., Covington (770) 787-6855

NEIGHBORHOOD!

are you connected?

We repair tablets & smart phones!

••••••••• On-Site Service available for home or business ••••••••• Walk-ins are always welcome!

Our staff welcomes the opportunity to serve you!

PC

AfterDark

Computers

6157 Highway 278 NW, Suite 14 • Covington • 770-788-7000 • pcafterdark.com

Stop in and browse our large selection of name brand, quality hardware and software!

We specialize in upgrades, computer & printer repair, service & networking!

We sell new & used computers, laptops & printers.

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In Home Care for Seniors and Disabled Adults Right at Home of East Atlanta

678-712-6636

www.raheastatl.com

WE ARE THE RIGHT PEOPLE, DOING THE RIGHT THINGS, THE RIGHT WAY, FOR THE RIGHT REASON.

Put Your Mind at Ease with the Right Care for YOUR Loved One

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24 HR Emergency Service Licensed & Insured Family Owned & Operated

15% off Any Plumbing Service (up to $100 discount) Expires 6-30-2017

Office open 7 days a week! • Emergency Service 24/7!

770-860-8110

1422 Business Center Drive, Conyers, GA 30094

www.highpriorityplumbing.com

Like us on

www.facebook.com/highpriorityplumbing

Covington’s Finest Apartment Complex Since 1987 • Beautiful, Affordable Community Living • One & Two Bedroom Apartments • Swimming Pool and Tennis Courts • Ask about our Teacher, Senior & Veteran Discount • Owner Operated

Call or Come By Today!

770-786-0445

10238 Fieldcrest Drive • Covington, GA 30014

www.fieldcrestwalk.com • management@fieldcrestwalk.com

D D O

dining, golf, and shopping.

ric Discover Historic 770-602-2606 Discover Historic nyers Olde Town Conyers The Conyers School of Ballet 901 Railroad Street, Conyers, GA 30012

770-922-1935 Authorized Seiko and Pulsar Watch Dealer.

907 Commercial Street We Specialize in Watch Repairs. in Olde Town Conyers

visit.conyersga.com

Welcome to Olde Town Conyers Your to Neighborhood Irish Pub &Conyers Eatery for 14 Years!

Olde Town Registering Take ah stroll through thisd WWelcome ith i it t th ths hs hst st s sta ta t tan an a and nd n ndi di din in i ing ng n g the t th h he e T est e es s st t o of f T ime i im m me e Great Food, Great Friends, W ith i it t th ths hs h hst st s sta ta t tan an a and nd n ndi di d din in i ing ng n g the t th h he e T est e es s st t o of f T iime m me e quaint, historic area of Take a stroll through thisConyers.

Noim w for Enjoy Witiith tths thhhs hstsststa tta tan aan and nnd ndi ddi din iin ing nngg th tthe hhee Teseestsstt ofof T iime me Great Atmosphere Fallim quaint,unique historicspecialty areaW of stores, Conyers.

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restaurants, Enjoy uniqueentertainment, specialtyMstores, eetin our jewe and festivals in this Lunch served Thurs.gthruySat. 11:30 am-3:30 pm l y needs restaurants, entertainment, Main Street community.Dinner served Nightly till 10:00 pm and festivals in this Happy Hour Daily 4:30 pm-6:30 pm Visit the Welcome Center in Olde Town to get Main Street community. information on events, festivals, attractions, It’s always at The Celtic Tavern! dining, and shopping.

Visit thegolf, Welcome Center aingood Oldetime Town to get

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Balllet,, Tapp, Jazz, J z , Modern, M der , Poi P intte Jazz, Moddern,, Pointe annd aandd CCreatit ve MMovementt 918Street, Commercial Streetattractions, in Olde Town Conyers information on events, festivals, 901 Railroad Conyers, GA 30012 C reattive Moveement 770-922-1935 770-922-1935 Authorized Seiko and PulsarAuthorized Watch Dealer.

Seiko and Pulsar Watch Dealer.

7 Commercial Street sincce 11980!

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907 Commercial Street dining, golf, and shopping.

770-785-7001•www.conyersceltictavern.com We Specialize in Watch Repairs.

We Specialize in Watch Repairs.

Olde Town Conyers 770-602-2606 in Olde Town Conyers sincce 19980! visit.conyersga.com 901 Railroad Street, Conyers, GA 30012

Wed: Open Mic 8:30 pm • Thurs: Team Trivia 7 pm Fri: Live Music 6 pm-midnight • Sat: Karaoke 9 pm-1 am 770-602-2606 Sun,Tues, & Thurs: Texas Hold’em 8 pm visit.conyersga.com

770-922-1935 907 Commercial Street in Olde Town Conyers

Seiko and Pulsar Watch Dealer.

931 Center StreetAuthorized - InWeOlde Town Conyers Specialize in Watch Repairs.

The Conyers School of Ballet The Conyers School ofwww.conyersschoolofballet.org Ballet 770-483-5280 Your Neighborhood Irish Pub & Eatery for 14 Years!

Great Food, Great Friends, Great Atmosphere

Conyers/Rockdale Council for the Arts

The Conyers School of Ballet ll Classes!

Lunch served Thurs. thru Sat. 11:30 am-3:30 pm Dinner served Nightly till 10:00 pm Happy Hour Daily 4:30 pm-6:30 pm

Your Neighborhood Irish Pub & Eatery for 14 Years!

Great Food, Great Friends, It’s always a good time at The Celtic Tavern!

GreatStreet Atmosphere 918 Commercial in Olde Town Conyers 770-785-7001•www.conyersceltictavern.com

Lunch served Thurs. thru Sat. 11:30 am-3:30 pm Dinner served Team NightlyTrivia till 10:007pm Wed: Open Mic 8:30 pm • Thurs: pm Happy •Hour Daily 4:30 pm-6:30 pm am Fri: Live Music 6 pm-midnight Sat: Karaoke 9 pm-1 931 Center Street - In Sun, Tues, & Thurs: Texas Hold’em 8 pm

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918 Commercial Street in Olde Town Conyers 770-785-7001•www.conyersceltictavern.com

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PRESCRIPTIONS

in an effort to enhance the cultural Conyers/Rockdale Made to Order in our Compounding Lab! offerings Rockdale Wed: Open Micin 8:30 pm • Thurs:County Team TriviaPRESCRIPTIONS 7 pm 931 Center Street - In Olde Town Conyers

Council for the Arts

Specializing In...Hormone Replacement Therapy, Made Lab! Fri: Live Music 6 pm-midnight • Sat: Karaoke 9 pm-1 am to Order in our Compounding

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In 1989 the Conyers/Rockdale classes - the Conyers/Rockdale Council for the Arts offers all of these and more.

Council for the Arts was established in an effort to enhance the cultural Experience a broad variety of art offerings inCounty the intimate black box theater at offerings in Rockdale 933 Center Street If you enjoy music, fine arts,artists comedy, children’s and and art PRESCRIPTIONS Center Streetlive Arts,theatre, nationally renowned in the Rockdaleprograms Auditorium Conyers, GA 30012 Made to Order in our Compounding Lab! classes - the Conyers/Rockdale Council for the Arts offers all of these and more. learn from theaexpert provided by inthetheinstructors ArtSmart Experience broad instruction variety of art offerings intimate during black box theaterCamp. at Specializing In...Hormone Replacement Therapy, 933 Center Street

Conyers/Rockdale Council for the Arts

Center Street Arts, nationally renowned artists in the Rockdale Auditorium and

933 learn Center from the expert Street instruction provided by the instructors during ArtSmart Camp.

In GA 1989 the Conyers/Rockdale Conyers, 30012 Council for the Arts was established 910 Center Street, Conyers, GA 30012 770-483-7211

910 Center Street, Conyers, GA 30012 in an effort 8am-6:30pm to enhance the cultural 770-922-3143 www.conyersarts.org 770-922-3143 •• www.conyersarts.org Monday-Friday offerings in Rockdale County

Saturday 9am-4pm If you enjoy live theatre, music, fine arts, comedy, children’s programs and art classes - the Conyers/Rockdale Council for the Arts offers all of these and more.

770-483-7211

Conyers, GA 30012 770-483-7211

Veterinaryy Meediccinees, Toopiccal Anaalggesiccs, andd Muuch More!

Open Monday-Friday 8am-6:30pm Open Monday-Friday 8am-6:30pm Saturday Saturday 9am-4pm 9am-4pm Ora Bailey, Owner

Ora Bailey, Owner Ora Bailey, Owner

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Vendor

Directory

8316 HAZELBRAND RD. • COVINGTON, GA 30014

Office: 770-784-1618 Fax: 770-784-1619 Toll Free: 855-629-8797 www.ozelec.com

OWNER: Terry Ozburn Estimator’s: Scott Bogle Bret Benton Bobby Clegg

terry@ozelec.com 770-231-9066 scott@ozelec.com 404-569-9722 bret@ozelec.com 678-283-6091 bobby@ozelec.com 678-794-3496

“Quality Through Integrity” Serving the Southeast Since 1984

Covington Women’s Health Specialists, 2 Covington Newton County Office Economic Development, 3 The Oaks Golf Course, 4 Dermatology Center Of NewtonRockdale, 5 Berry’s Tree Farm, 6 East Metro Board Of Realtors, 6 Dermatology Consultants, Pc, 7 Snapping Shoals Emc, 10 Plain Nuts Catering, 10 Covington Ford, 10 Atlanta Gastroenterology, 11 Smile Creations, 12 The Women’s Center, 13 Piedmont Academy, 15 Covington Academy, 16 Elite Pawn, 17 Newton County Water And Sewage, 18 Peachtree Academy, East, 18 Fletchers Jewelry, 21 Bread Butter Bakery, 21 Cathy Dobbs and Tricia Kuhn, 22 Walk Of Heroes, 22 Mayfield Ace Hardware, 23 Ginn Motor Chevrolet, 24 Loganville Christian, 25 The Mall At Stonecrest, 27 LaVie Spa & Salon, 29 The Church Of The Good Shepherd, 29 Best Septic Tank, 30 Linda Hays, 30 Dabney-Froe Law Group, 31 Cherokee Run- City Of Conyers, 32 Keep Covington/Newton Beautiful, 33 Jc Harwell & Sons Funeral Home, 33 Hardy’s Floor Covering, 33 Gnr Health Departments, 34 Benny C Phillips, Pc, 35 Franks Restaurant, 35 YMCA, 35 Oxford College Of Emory University, 39 Kiwanis Club Of Covington, 41

Piedmont Newton Hospital, 42 Piedmont Newton Hospital, 43 Rotary Club Of Covington, 46 Cowan Ace Hardware, 47 Young Levett Funeral Home, 48 Wildart, 49 Georgia International Horse Park, 51 Elite Pawn, 52 Blue Willow Inn, 53 Randy’s Carpet Plus, 53 Covington News, 54 East Atlanta Gastroenterology, 57 Sherwoods Flowers And Gifts, 58 Bulldog Tire Inc, 58 Fieldstone Jewelry And Pawn, 60 Southern Heartland Art Gallery, 61 Ramsey’s Furniture, 62 Cork Boutique And Gifts, 63 Coldwell Banker/Gerri Murphy, 64 M. Michael Pulliam, Md, 65 Marshall Ginn, 66 Newton County School System, 66 Newton County Rec Department, 67 Newton County Sheriffs Office, 68 Georgia Piedmont Tech College, 69 Abbey Hospice, 70 City Of Covington, 71 Caldwell & Cowan Funeral Home, 72 City Of Oxford, 73 Pc Afterdark, 74 Alcovy Fitness & Wellness, 75 Right At Home, 75 High Priority Plumbing And Services, 76 Fieldcrest Walk Apartments, 76 Westmoreland’s Jewelry, 77 The Celtic Tavern, 77 The Conyers School of Ballet, 77 Conyers/Rockdale Council for the Arts, 77 Beasley Drug Company, 77 Conyers, 77 Ozburn Electric, 78 Main Street Covington, 79 Piedmont Newton Hospital, 80

DOWNTOWN

EVENTS

Covington Community Bike Ride First Sunday of each month Meet at the Square at 3:00

Co-Hosted by the Newton Trails, Main Street Covington and Covington-Newton County Visitors Center

July 4th Independence On The Square

A community event to celebrate the Nation’s Independence. Live reworks extravaganza.

Presented by Main Street Covington

Events you don’t want to miss in Downtown Covington!

Lighting of the Square – Thursday, November 17th – 5:30pm

Join us for a celebration to kick off the Christmas season.

There will be Carriage rides, music, Christmas Open House with downtown shops and a visit from Santa Presented by Main Street Covington

Late Night Shopping – Each Thursday night in December before Christmas Join us December 1st, 8th and 15th Presented by Main Street Covington

2nd Friday Summer Concert Series Concerts begin at 7pm and are held June, August and September in Square Park.

Covington/Newton Christmas Parade Saturday, December 5th at 10:30am

Lunchtime Concert Series On The Square Held at noon each Thursday during May and September

Christmas On The Square – Each Friday night in December from 6-9pm Friday, December 2nd, 9th and 16th 6-9pm

Co-hosted by Main Street Covington and The Arts Association of Newton County

Co-hosted by Main Street Covington and the Arts Association of Newton County

Presented by Covington Lions Club

Presented by Main Street Covington

Fuzz Run – Saturday, September 10th Hosted by the Covington Police Department

Kick off Portraits of Hope and Breast Cancer Awareness Month Co-Hosted by Piedmont-Newton Hospital Women’s Diagnostic Center and Main Street Covington

downtowncovington.org

ToHealthy learn more about living better, thy living living Heal visit piedmont.org/livingbetter s starts here. here. start

#livingbetter

To learn more about living better, ing better, visit piedmont.org/livingbetter ngbetter

To learn more about visit piedmont.org/l

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