The goal of the Newton County Sheriff’s Office is “to be recognized as the kind of professional organization that values, respects, and honors the rights and dignity of the entire community. Through an abundance of collaborative efforts, the NCSO is committed to improving life in every aspect for its citizens, businesses, schools, colleges/universities, and visitors.”
Parent involvement benefits goes beyond classroom at private schools - 17
NCSS continues to elevate the student in student-athlete - 19
Newton County filled with civic clubs focused on bettering community - 6
Public Information office keeps citizens informed - 11
Local merchants bound together by tourism - 24
Q&A: Patton on the ‘Health Triangle’ - 29
Group classes make Alcovy Fitness feel like home - 34
Community Spirit Award - 38 City of Covington Fire Department
Unsung Heroes
Fred Johnson - 40
Lindsay Dycus - 42
Johnny Edwards - 44
Youth of the Year - 46
Award-Winning Team
Employer of the Year - 48
Animal Medical of Covington
Patrick Graham OWNER & PUBLISHER pgraham@covnews.com
which is published every Sunday and Wednesday by Newton Newspapers, Inc.
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Phillip B. Hubbard MANAGING EDITOR phubbard@covnews.com
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CONTACT US
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Mail • P.O. Box 1249, Covington, GA 30015
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A & J’s Bonding - 16
Alcovy CASA - 32
All Air Sensible Service - 23
Animal Medical of Covington- 50
Ausband Chapman Insurance - 23
Beasley Drug Co. - 30
Berry’s Tree Farm - 26
Bradley’s Bar B Que - 21
Bread and Butter Bakery - 21
Bullseye Accounting Services - 18
Cater 2 U - 16
City of Covington - 13
City of Oxford - 12
Christie Dove Insurance - 36
Complete Automotive Tire Center - 16
Conyers Rockdale Council for the Arts - 30
Conyers Jewelers Inc - 30
Covington Carts - 20
Covington Dance & More - 22
Covington Ghost Tours - 22
Covington Police Department - 9
Critters Outdoor Pizza - 37
Deep South Cattle Company - 36
First Baptist Academy - 23
Fletcher’s Jewelry - 22
Forever Mis Quinces - 31
Frankie’s Place - 31
Frozen Notes - 31
Georgia Piedmont Techical College - 51
Hines Home of Funerals - 16
Hometown Realty - 24
JC Harwell & Son - 12
Keep Newton Beautiful - 9 Kiwanis Club of Covington - 6
Lavish Studios - 29
Leapin Lizards Pet Shop - 16
Lester Lackey Funeral Home - 22
Linda Hays - 15
Mamie’s Kitchen - 28
McKibbens Music - 22
MHB Paving - 36
Natural Path Family Health Food Store - 34
Newton County Board of Commissioners - 11
Newton County Chamber of Commerce - 25
Newton County IDA - 25
Newton County School System - 45
Newton County Sheriff Office - 2
Newton County Tomorrow - 12
Newton County Water & Sewage - 10
Newton Federal Bank - 52
Nitro 2 Go - 14
Oak Hill Animal Hospital - 35 Osake - 20
Oxford College of Emory - 17
Piedmont Newton Hospital - 33
Precision Locksmith - 21
Preissless Design - 31
Printability Signs - 24
Rapid Tax Service - 21
R.L. Cousins Alumni Association - 41
Rush Tees - 21
Rotary Club of Covington 8
Saucedo Tires - 16
Shametria Dixon State Farm - 28
Shannon D. Sneed Attorney at Law - 16
Social 1832 - 37
Social Circle Ace Hardware - 36
Southeastern Appliances - 27
Snapping Shoals EMC - 2
Southern Heartland Art Gallery - 20
The Boo-Tique - 30
The Escape Room - 21
The Law Office Amy Zapatka - 36
The Meat House - 16
The Pampered Puppy - 30
The Sandwich Factory - 30
Tin Plate - 37
Town House Cafe - 22
Town of Newborn - 18
Travel Arrangements 4 U - 16
United Bank - 5
Westmoreland’s Time Shop - 30
Wheeler Petuary - 26
Wild Art Gallery - 22
Wilder Chiropractic Center - 30
Wilson Mathews Insurance - 7
Worthy Clothing Co. - 20
Woven Boutique - 21
Your Perfect Cup - 26
Your Pie - 23
Your Sister’s Closet - 21
GARRETT PITTS SPORTS EDITOR
Newton County is home to three civics clubs that each act with the intention of helping the people in the community.
The Kiwanis Club, Lions Club and Rotary Club connect with the people of the county through events, fundraisers and drives that are organized with the purpose of enhancing the local area.
Kiwanis Club
Helping children is at the forefront for the Kiwanis Club of Covington.
Headed by judge Melanie Bell, the Covington Kiwanis Club strives to help children in many different capacities through different events, fundraisers
and drives.
“We have a motto of, ‘Saving the children of the world,’” Bell said. “That is what we are about, everything we do is child focused. It doesn’t mean those are the only things we give to, but most of our community service is centered around children.”
Bell mentioned how the Kiwanis Club works with A Child’s Voice, which is a child advocacy center in Social Circle.
The club also has a program called Young Children Priority One. Bell spoke about this program and how the club has used it to help children aged 0-5 years old get accessible books.
Along with that, the club also sponsors a Miracle League each year and even goes out to cheer on the team to victory during their games.
The club has also made an impact in the Newton County School System, too.
For each high school, the Kiwanis Club has a $3,000 scholarship that is awarded to a student annually along with running an annual feminine hygiene drive.
“If people are on food stamps, you
can’t buy any feminine hygiene with those funds,” Bell said. “We started collecting every year and doing a drive and we started taking those to the middle schools. We also collect some other hygiene items [such as] face wash and deodorant. We give those to the counselors at the middle schools.”
One of the biggest events for the Kiwanis Club each year is their golf tournament, which is held at the Ashton Hills Golf Course. This year’s tournament will be held on May 20.
With the club helping children and the community through many different avenues, Bell feels that the Covington Kiwanis Club is one of the better little-known things about Newton County.
“We have talked about as a board that we feel we are one of the best kept secrets in Newton County which is not good,” Bell said. “We want people to know what we do so they can know we are out here.”
The Covington Lions Club has continued with its mission of serving since its creation.
The club is led by president Russ Thompson, who boiled down the club’s purpose to one word.
“The Lions club is a service organization,” Thompson said. “The one of the mottos of the Lions Clubs is that we serve.”
The Covington Lions Club was founded in 1952.
One big part of the Lions Club’s service to the community is through charitable contributions.
“Last year, our club donated over $27,000 to different organizations. We contribute to the Lions Lighthouse,
which is an organization that provides free glasses to people who need them. Lions Club has a camp for the Blind, we contribute to that every year.”
Working with the Lions Lighthouse is just one of the many areas where the club works to help people struggling with vision.
The club works with all 14 elementary schools in the county to administer vision exams with two machines that the club purchased itself.
One of the bigger events that is hosted by the Lions Club is their annual chicken barbeque.
Along with that, the club also does an annual pancake supper and chili supper. Thompson also mentioned how the club sponsors the Christmas parade in downtown Covington and assists the Covington Police Department in Fuzz Run.
The Lions Club helps the students of Newton County, too, as the club gives two scholarships to each of the three high schools in the county.
Above all, Thompson discussed the people within the club and the impact they have had on each other and the community.
“It is not just a place to go work and help raise money. We have a good time doing it and there are a lot of friendships there,” Thompson said. “It’s just a group of men and women who enjoy what they are doing and contribute to the community.”
The Rotary Club of Covington is a group of individuals inspired to make lasting change in the community.
The club is led by presi-
dent Lauren Poynter.
Poynter discussed the foundation of the club and how they work on many different things within the community.
“Our mission is to provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill and peace through our fellowship of business, professional and community leaders,” Poynter said.
Connecting with the community and serving it to fulfillment is one of Poyn-
ter’s selling points to those interested in the club.
“Rotary is a service club. Its product is serving,” Poynter said. “Rotarians provide community service to both local and international communities. This is perhaps the best reason for becoming a Rotarian: the chance to do something for somebody else and to sense the self-fulfillment that comes in the process and return that satisfaction to one’s own life. It is richly rewarding.”
One strong point that
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Poynter harped on is the diversity within the club and its ability to connect with many different parts of the community.
“Rotary consists of a cross section of every business community,” Poynter said. “Its members come from all walks of life. I envisioned working to attract new members from diverse backgrounds and professions, fostering a dynamic and inclusive club environment where members feel valued, engaged, and motivated to contribute.
“Our club is fortunate enough to have a diverse team of dedicated members. We have educators, surgeons, Bank Presidents, Load officer, local business owners, realtors, elected officials, retired law enforcement and beyond. We are somewhat of a small club so we all wear many hats.”
The Rotary Club hosts a variety of events that include: community cleanups, fundraising galas, health camps and educational workshops. According to Poynter, the events are designed to address a specific community need.
With a long list of events, there are couple that Poynter holds in high regard.
“Our signature event is the
annual onion sale and Gun raffle, both of which raise funds for the Empty Stocking Fund and various other service projects,” Poynter said.
The Rotary Club also highlights youth programs, such as Interact and Rotaract. This program provides leadership development opportunities, mentoring and support for youth-led
initiatives.
With a lot to look forward to for Poynter and the rest of the Rotary Club, she shined light on what Covington and Newton County can expect.
“For the rest of 2024, you can expect to see The Rotary Club of Covington continue to expand its efforts in community service, with a focus on sustainability and education,” Poynter said.
“We’re planning several new initiatives aimed at supporting underprivileged youth and promoting environmental conservation. Additionally, we’ll be strengthening our collaborations with local organizations to broaden the impact of our work. Our club is also excited about hosting an international service project, which will offer our members the opportunity to engage in hands-on service opportunities abroad.”
Earth Day Shred Event
Monday, April 22
District 1 Community Cleanup
Saturday, May 4
FREE Tire Disposal Day
Saturday, May 25
District 2 Community Cleanup
Saturday, June 1
District 3 Community Cleanup
Saturday, June 8
District 5 Community Cleanup
Saturday, June 22
Rivers Alive!
Saturday, September 21
District 4 Community Cleanup
Saturday, October 19
America Recycles Day Shred Event
Monday, November 18
The GREAT American Cleanup
Saturday, March 29
Adopt-a-Mile
4 Times Per Year, Any Time –Participants Choose Dates
KNB also offers environmental education programs, demonstrations, and presentations including Detective Seymore Green puppet shows and other fun activities about litter prevention, water pollution prevention, recycling, and other topics. KNB can present programs and projects for groups of all ages, which are available upon request and provided FREE of charge.
Newton County Water & Sewerage Authority
Providing Critical Resources for the visions of tomorrow….
Our mission is to provide our customers with clean safe drinking water while reclaiming wastewater in an environmentally sound manner while focusing on cost efficiency and value oriented service.
Proudly Serving Our Customers for 54 Years.
IEVAN NEWTON NEWS EDITOR
n any community, communication is the key to ensure residents are informed. That is where the Newton County Public Information Office (PIO) comes in.
Led by public information officer Bryan Fazio, the PIO is responsible for administering information for all county affairs.
“We insist in transparency,” Fazio said. “So we make sure we get the word out of what we’re doing here in Newton County out to the many channels that people utilize to receive information.”
Oftentimes, the PIO are the ones behind the scenes who drive forward the content people see on a daily basis, including the Newton County website, news releases, the Notify Newton app and
various social media platforms.
They also appear at a number of events throughout the community, including board meetings, civic club meetings and other county-related occassions.
One new avenue that the PIO has recently started is the “Do You Know Newton?” podcast.
The podcast covers topics that are being addressed across Newton County as well as featuring interviews from department heads and elected officials.
In the first few episodes, guests on the show have included director of the Board of Elections and Registration Angela White-Davis, county manager Harold Cooper and chairman Marcello Banes.
The PIO was launched back in late 2016, with Fazio taking on the role of public information officer in 2017.
Fazio took the role after over a decade
of working in the newspaper industry, including right here in Covington.
He said that when the opportunity came up for him to be the public information officer that he was intrigued by the idea of focusing on the local county government alone.
In doing so, he sought to change his role from reporter to spokesperson.
“It was the thought of taking that community involvement one step further instead of just covering local government, just kinda being that representative of it,” Fazio said.
Recently, the PIO has expanded to two people in the department with Addison
Barron joining the office in July.
Barron is the audio/visual content manager with an emphasis on enhancing the department’s video production.
Fazio specifically highlighted Barron’s direct influence in the livestreaming of the Board of Commissioners meetings, with Barron heading up the charge to enhance that coverage.
Keeping in line with the idea of clarity, the office is continuing to look at ways to maximize governmental transparency.
On the county website, items such as past and previous budgets, bid postings, financial
documents and budgets/minutes are readily accessible for all to view.
“It’s important for people to know what’s being done with their taxpayer’s funds,” Fazio said.
But it’s not just the governmental affairs that the office wants to focus on, it’s also the people who make up the backbone of Newton County.
“I personally think it’s important to see the faces who are paving their roads and serving as sheriff’s deputies and officers, people who are working to keep the water clean,” Fazio said. “There’s a lot that goes on besides the people who vote two Tuesdays a month.”
may and october thursdays from 12pm - 1pm downtown square park
may 11 through october 12
saturdays from 9am - 12pm heirloom park (1143 oak st. seno market july 6, july 27, august 31)
second friday of the month june, august-october, 7 pm legion field (3173 mill st.ne)
APRIL 22 - KNB PAPER SHRED EVENT
APRIL 27 - SUPER HERO CINEMA SATURDAY (SQUARE)
MAY 4 - AG DAY ON THE SQUARE
MAY 18 - SPACE CINEMA SATURDAY
MAY 27 - MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY (SQUARE)
JUNE 1 - YMCA BIKE RODEO
JUNE 2 - DUELING PIANOS ON THE SQUARE
JUNE 6 - VAMPIRE DIARIES EPISODES SHOWN ON THE SQUARE
JUNE 8 - 2ND LINE SATURDAY NIGHT (SQUARE)
JUNE 15 - JUNETEENTH PARADE
JUNE 22 - SUNNY BEACH CINEMA SATURDAY (SQUARE)
JULY 4 - INDEPENDENCE IN THE PARK
JULY 20 - CHRISTMAS IN JULY MARKET ON THE SQUARE
AUGUST 24 - IMAGINATION SENSATION CINEMA SATURDAY (SQUARE)
SEPTEMBER 14 - PWC ANNUAL FUZZ RUN
SEPTEMBER 21 - KNB RIVERS ALIVE CLEANUP
SEPTEMBER 28 - HISPANIC HERITAGE CELEBRATION
CINEMA SATURDAY (SQUARE)
OCTOBER 4&5 - MIRACLE LEAGUE WORLD SERIES
OCTOBER 26 - SILLY SCARES CINEMA SATURDAY (SQUARE)
OCTOBER 31 - TRICK OR TREAT AT LEGION FIELD
NOVEMBER 11 - VETERANS DAY CEREMONY (SQUARE)
NOVEMBER 21 - LIGHTING OF THE SQUARE
NOVEMBER 21 - ICE SKATING OPENS @ LEGION FIELD
NOVEMBER 23 - NEWTON CO. MINISTERS UNION MEAL
GIVEAWAY
NOVEMBER 30 - SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY
DECEMBER 7 - ANNUAL LIONS CLUB CHRISTMAS PARADE
DECEMBER 7 - LIGHTS AT LEGION KICKOFF + MISTLETOE MARKET
DECEMBER 12 - SANTA ON THE SQUARE
DECEMBER 19 - SANTA & REINDEER ON THE SQUARE
Newton County Superior Court Clerk’s office in conjunction with the Georgia Superior Court Clerks Cooperative Authority (GSCCCA) is pleased to offer two new services to the citizens of Newton County.
• Filing Activity Notification System (FANS) provides Georgia citizens with tools to monitor activity regarding their property and records
• eCertification services provides users the ability to electronically request certified Court and Real Estate Records 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
The Clerk of Superior Court is also honored to offer an invaluable service to our veterans by recording and preserving military discharge records, free of charge. Please visit our website, www.alcovycircuit.com, for more information.
Mrs. Linda D. Hays
The Clerk of Courts
It is my honor to serve the citizens of Newton County
OLIVIA SAYER CORRESPONDENT
Nine words make up the mantra of college preparatory school, Peachtree Academy.
“Together we can make a difference in our school.”
For many schools, collaboration is vital to creating a flourishing environment. Whether it’s the teachers working together to craft their lesson plans or the administrative offices assisting one another to oversee academic performances, it takes a village to ensure a school is excelling.
For those in Covington, it’s the emphasis of parent involvement that fosters an environment established on working together.
“Building a foundation and a teamwork between the parents and teachers is vital for any student,” said Peachtree Academy dean of academics Brittany Atha. “Because in order for a student to want to be successful and be motivated, they have to have a team working to support them.”
For Atha, parent involvement starts with the forming of relationships.
She said that getting to teach a group of students for 14 years allows her to get to know their families. As a result, parents feel comfortable coming to the school’s administration if any concerns arise.
“We get to know these parents,” Atha said. “A lot of our kids are with us from pre-K all the way through 12th grade, which allows us to become a family and not just a school to educate their child.”
This line of thinking is similar
to that of Covington Academy, another preparatory school in Newton County. Administrator and athletic director Travis Price said establishing relationships with parents builds a level of trust between them and those working with their children.
“By having that relationship built, they know us, and we’re able to have a quality conversation from the first step,” Price said. “It’s not a coming in and trying to decide who’s right, who’s wrong.”
Establishing trust between the parents and their childrens’ schools also showcases to the students that the faculty can be trusted.
“They see the connection that their parents have with the teachers, and it allows the students to continue their respect with the teachers,”
Atha said. “If you have a parent that’s not respecting the teacher and they’re not coming in and building that relationship, nine times out of 10 you’re not going to expect the student to respect the teacher.”
Once the relationships are established, parents start to get involved with the school.
Especially with private schools, being involved allows parents to receive a first-hand look at what their child is learning in class. It also gives them an opportunity to directly affect what they are doing in school.
Additionally, the benefits of parent involvement extend beyond the classroom.
Getting involved allows parents to further bolster their relationships with their children, and it shows the students that their parents support them.
“Their parents’ involvement
just shows them that their parents are there for them, “ Price said. “And their parents have their back.”
Both schools rely on the help of its parents, who help put on numerous events. The willingness of Peachtree Academy and Covington Academy’s parents
to volunteer was something that was forged within the relationships built between them and the faculty.
“We use our parents as a resource,” Price said, “Whatever they bring to the table, and we use that opportunity to fit it into our kids and make it work.”
GARRETT PITTS SPORTS EDITOR
The presence of student-athletes continues to grow in Newton County as each high school implements ways for students to excel in the classroom and in their respective sports.
One constant among the schools in the effort to prioritize the “student” in student-athlete to ensure athlete’s are not held back due to their academics.
Thomas Lowe, Alcovy High School’s athletic director, discussed his mindset when it comes to building the foundation for Alcovy’s student-athletes.
“You have to have your players eligible to have the best chance of winning. So what I always try to do is come from the standpoint of eligibility,” Lowe said. “That is the first thing, because that is the immediate thing that hits them. If the student is performing well academically, the student will probably lose their eligibility.”
The Tigers have seen many athletes sign national letters of intent to continue their athletic and academic careers at the next level.
Lowe sees this as an opportunity to change the culture in the school by showcasing what is possible for each student.
“We definitely want to increase upon it in terms of getting more athletes in college,” Lowe said. “I want every student at Alcovy to have an opportunity to have those opportunities at the next level.”
“We are trying to create a new standard. Not just for the academic program,
but for the school as a whole. And I think that has become a little more contagious.”
Eastside athletic director, Champ Young, shared his insight on how the Eagles view the student-athlete experience.
“Student-wise, I think our teachers do such an amazing job already of providing the best educational experience you can have in this area. That goes for all students, not just student-athletes. From an athlete’s experience, you have in my opinion, some of the top coaches in the area as well pouring their passions into some great young people.”
Tania Menchaca, Alcovy’s valedictorian, is a student-athlete. Menchaca excelled in the classroom along with being a key part of the Tigers’ girls soccer team.
Lowe hopes that Menchaca’s achievements in both being a student and an athlete can motivate and encourage others at Alcovy.
“I was a student-athlete myself and I have worked with many student-athletes. One of the things I always say is, ‘People always try to come up with reasons to why they can’t, [or] why it has to be academics or athletics [and] they come up with reasons why they can’t do what’s necessary in both the classroom and on the field,’” Lowe said. “This is just a testament to show that it can happen. I think it’s important for students to see. When people say things can’t happen, I like to show them that it can happen when you put your mind to it.”
Another system that the schools have implemented to ensure athletes’ success
in the classroom is grade check-ins and tutoring programs.
“Most of our coaches have grade checkpoints they hit on,” Young said. “I know many of them have standards they have already set in their own programs where if grades get to a certain point, they will limit participation for that athlete because at the end of the day, we try to have our kids who are celebrated on the athletic side also be pillars as far as model students. That means they need to perform well in the classroom.”
Young made sure to give extra credit to his coaching staff at Eastside.
“We have amazing coaches that build relationships with the kids to make them understand what it takes to get to the next level,” Young said. “Not just from an athletic standpoint, but you have to have the GPA as well. I really tip my cap to the coaches for the work they do with the student athletes they have.”
Lowe recognized the challenges that can come with being a student-athlete, but he hopes that students will embrace the challenge head on.
“They’re going to have to struggle through some things — in terms of balancing athletics with academics. I always tell students, “The better their grades are, the better opportunities they will have.’ I want them [to have] an opportunity to experience success. I want them to experience challenges because life is going to present challenges. If they learn how to overcome challenges now, it will make it easier for them to overcome challenges later.”
OLIVIA SAYER CORRESPONDENT
While the majority of the businesses located in Covington serve different purposes, they are bound together by one characteristic — each one thrives off local tourism.
Just last year, 118,278 people visited the Covington Welcome Center alone, a number that has been rapidly increasing since 2021.
Being located in the heart of Covington brings a lot of tourists into Zac Johnston’s establishment, Bread and Butter Bakery.
“Tourism has been huge for us as a business and for all the downtown merchants, especially,” Johnston said. “Just a different diversity of the types of people that come here, in regards to from all over the world. And it’s just really cool to bring [in] all different people.”
At the intersection of Washington and Monticello Street, Johnston is hard at work, preparing coffee and conversing with customers.
“I think that’s the backbone of what differentiates yourself as a business,” Johnston said. “I think it is to be able to build relation -
ships.”
Aside from the exceptional hospitality and warm weather, many people travel to Covington to see landmarks featured in their favorite movies and television shows. The city housed the sets for “Remember The Titans,” “The Dukes of Hazzard” and “Cannonball Run.”
However, the most sought after sites are those for “The Vampire Diaries,” which was primarily filmed in Covington.
“In regards to a tourist, the biggest thing that draws is the movies,” Johnston said. “Right now, the most popular one is ‘The Vampire Diaries.’”
Local merchants have taken advantage of the city’s draw, with several owners modeling their businesses after the popular show. A few spaces down from Bread and Butter Bakery sits Vampire Stalkers/Mystic Falls Tours, a business that provides fans with a tour of the show’s most popular scenes.
Tour guide manager Amber Chandler said majority of her clients
come from around the world, such as Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. To help remember these unique experiences, her coworker keeps a book with the personalized signatures of everyone who visits.
“It’s actually one of the journals from the show and then she gets people to sign it,” Chandler said. “So that’s a really cool thing to have.”
When visiting a new place, it is standard to return home with a piece of memorabilia. Tourists revel in the opportunity to showcase their adventures and enjoy owning something to commemorate them. Oftentimes, this will be fulfilled by purchasing a t-shirt, such as one found at Rush Tees & Signs.
“A lot of the customers that we print for, the business that we print for, some of them are directly related to the tourist trades,” said co-owner of Rush Tees & Signs, Taylor Barnett. “So tourism is actually a really big part of our business, once we break it down
and look where the end product is.”
When walking down the streets of downtown Covington, one cannot help but notice the ‘small-town feel’ it radiates. The Victorian architecture and friendliness of the business owners create a welcoming environment for outsiders visiting the area.
“We try to treat people like people,” Johnston
said. “Unfortunately, that’s kind of a lost thing in society now, as it’s all transactional and people become numbers. And so if somebody is going to spend the time to get out of their car, to choose a local small business, we want to give them at least 30 seconds and treat them like people, and ask them about their day and try to make [it] just a little bit better.”
Henry Patton, M.D., with Piedmont Physicians of Covington-Internal Medicine, shares information concerning the ‘Health Triangle’:
How important is being surrounded by a community of people to a person’s mental health?
Being part of a community reduces feelings of isolation that could negatively affect a person’s mental health. Communities often serve a source of encouragement in difficult times. They can even help provide support and reduce tangible stressors in a person’s life. For example, if a member of the community is seriously ill, a neighbor might coordinate a meal train so the family does not have to worry about cooking. It is also simply a fundamental human
need to feel included and being part of a community can meet that need and promote our mental health.
What are some unique ways to maintain physical health?
I often hear from patients that they do not have time to exercise. But there are many ways to introduce physical activity into things you are already doing that do not add much (or any) time to your routine. For example, the next time you go to the grocery store, choose a parking spot that is far from the front door and walk. The next time you are chatting on the phone with a friend, get up and walk around your home while you talk. Some of my patients actually are more active than they realize. For instance, if they do yard work and pick up sticks, they are exercising—but they might not report
that as exercise. I also always encourage my patients to find ways to make exercise fun; choosing a friend or family member to join you is a great way to do that. Step challenges are one suggestion that often inspire friendly com -
Take a stroll through this quaint, historic area of Conyers. Enjoy unique specialty stores, restaurants, entertainment, and festivals in this Main Street community.
Ear Piercing
Custom Jewelry Designs
MORE LIKELY to succeed in school
HALF AS LIKELY to re-enter the foster care system
MORE LIKELY to spend less time within the foster care system
WHAT IS A CASA?
MORE LIKELY to find a safe, permanent home
petition and get everyone moving.
Why is social health just as important as the other two?
Social health is as important as mental and physical health because it promotes the other two and vice versa. Strong social connections improve a person’s quality of life. Little or no social interaction can lead to poor health outcomes. With poor social health, we see increased rates of depression, anxiety, and chronic diseases including dementia. Investing in relationships with friends and family is investing in your overall health and well-being.
MORE LIKELY to receive court ordered services
WHO IS ALCOVY CASA?
MORE LIKELY to spend less time in court
A Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) is an everyday citizen who becomes part of a network of committed volunteers- from all walks of life- who advocate for the best interests of children who have experience abuse or neglect.
Alcovy CASA serves the children in Newton and Walton Counties. More volunteers are needed so 100% of our children can have the advocacy they deserve.
What part does social media play in maintaining quality social health?
Social media can be a tool for maintaining social health. But like all tools, it must be used properly to be effective. Social media is good for us to the extent that it is used positively to build our community. For instance, it can help us stay connected to loved ones who live far away and remain informed about their lives. Conversely, social media can lead us not to be present to family members and friends who are physically with us, decreasing the quality of that interaction and its health benefits. Excessive time on social media can create unrealistic expectations for our lives, which can negatively impact mental health. Social media can also be a source of bullying. As with most things in life, moderation is key. Balance the time you spend on social media with quality face-to-face time with those in your circle.
Why is it important that all three correlate? What does it mean for a person when one aspect isn’t maintained as well as the other two?
HELP US SERVE EVERY CHILD.
DONATE: Invest in Alcovy CASA program the children we serve.
VOLUNTEER: Become a CASA volunteer and make a lasting impact in the life of a child.
Mental, physical and social health go handin-hand. Typically, if a person is feeling good (mental health), they are more likely to exercise (physical health) and go out with friends (social health). Health in any one of these areas can, therefore, strengthen health in the others. The opposite is also true. Poor social and physical health can be detrimental to mental health.
How can a person each day be intentional in maintaining all three sides of the health triangle? (While at work, school, etc.)
My advice is to focus on the basics: eat well, exercise and practice good sleep hygiene. Care about others and let others care about you to foster strong relationships. It is also good for you and the community to contribute to society, so consider making time to volunteer too, if you can. Go out and make a positive difference in every life you touch—it will make a positive difference for you!
Pam Stillerman walks into Alcovy Fitness and Wellness early in the morning. She heads into an open room with mirrored walls, rolls out her exercise mat and turns up some music. As a crowd of people filters in, she greets each one with a warm smile.
Stillerman, owner and Chief Exercise Officer (CEO) of Alcovy Fitness and Wellness, is no stranger to the fitness space. Her expertise in group fitness dates back over 30 years.
A registered nurse, Stillerman said her passion lies in health promotion.
“I love people and I always have,” Stillerman said. “I subscribe to the policy that a body in motion stays in motion. I also think that the key to the fountain of youth, even though you can’t stay youthful forever if you move and you exercise you can look at people and see how much younger physiologically they are than their chronological age”
Alcovy Fitness and Wellness offers 68 group fitness classes a week ranging from aqua fitness to cycling.
For new members, Stillerman said her employees aim to treat everyone like an old friend.
“The gym should kind of be like the bar from Cheers.” Stillerman said. “When you come in, everyone should know your name.”
That hospitality shines in the other members as well. Stillerman recalled members holding others accountable for attendance and taking new members under their wing.
“People notice who is around them, and if they don’t come, they keep each other faithful by saying ‘Where have you been?’ So, like that, if I didn’t exercise with groups, I wouldn’t be that faithful to my exercise program,” Stillerman said. “People help you be accountable, you work harder. It’s just a very social environment.”
While Alcovy Fitness and Wellness offers amenities beyond group fitness, Stillerman said that
the group workouts check all the boxes for a members’ fitness needs.
As a gym with a high volume of senior members, Stillerman encourages those who are hesitant to join a group setting to slowly grow accustomed to the exercise.
“It’s called Alcovy Fitness and Wellness for a reason,” Stillerman said. “Because not everything has to kill you. You dont have to kill yourself to exercise. We have ways that you can ease in.”
Most popular among those seniors is the Fitness Gold class, a class so favored that Stillerman said her staff had to add an additional slot to accommodate everyone. The class involves low-impact cardio and utilizes chairs for stability and balance.
Alcovy Fitness and Wellness also partners with the Silver Sneakers program, a system in which eligible seniors receive a gym membership at no cost.
Outside of group fitness classes, Stillerman still advocates for members to socialize with others, and said that finding a group is
key to remaining accountable in fitness, even if one is working out individually.
“Sometimes you’ll see groups of men get together, groups of women, and they chat, and those stay if they can find a group, but if they don’t find a group I feel like they are just going to be lost,” Stillerman said.
Stillerman said that for those who may not have an initial group and are hesitant to socialize, she will often provide them with a guest pass to bring in a friend or loved one for a member to exercise with.
“I want them to be committed to fitness, because we are here to help people get fit, stay fit, get fitter and be the fittest they can be,” Stillerman said.
As a longtime resident of the Covington area, Stillerman hopes Alcovy Fitness and Wellness will provide social connections through fitness for years to come.
“I want fitness to be affordable,” Stillerman said, “and I want it to be effective.”
PHILLIP B. HUBBARD MANAGING EDITOR
For a century-plus, the city of Covington’s fire department has been a fixture in the local community. Across that time, a lot of things have changed for the Covington Fire Department and there have been many triumphs and challenges.
Throughout everything, one thing has remained the same — Service.
Fire chief Joe Doss emphasized what it takes for the people of the Covington Fire Department (CFD) to provide that service each day.
“You have to have a servant’s heart,” Doss said. “You have to be willing to put yourself on the line for it. That’s what we do day in and day out.”
No instance showcased that mentality more than on the Covington Square around 9:37 p.m. on Aug. 25,
The CFD responded to a call on Hendricks Street where Shear Bliss’ building caught fire and spread to local businesses New Shoez, Shelvie Jean, The Dude Store and Barber Shop while affecting other stores with smoke and water damage. The fire was not fully extinguished until 11:20 a.m. on Aug. 26, 2023.
Safety was at the forefront of Doss’ mind upon arriving at the scene and seeing his fire firefighters in action.
“The goal for everybody is to go home. We hire people and we bring them here and we train them, but our goal is to get them home — get them paid, make sure they’re earning a living — but send them home,” Doss said. “If we can get them home safe and mitigate the problem and accomplish our goal, which is either fixing it back the way it was or stopping as
best we can when we found it. That’s our goal. But our end goal always is send people home safe.”
In all of his 26 years of being a firefighter, Doss stressed that Aug. 25’s fire was the biggest fire he has ever witnessed. Doss has heard of a chemical fire in the early 1970’s that could be comparable.
At that time, Doss was in the interim fire chief role, a role he took a month prior to the big fire. Doss additionally held the roles of fire marshal and on-call investigator as well.
December 2023 was when Doss was officially promoted to fire chief.
Wearing several hats and bearing many duties, Doss remains grateful for how his team banded together during such a situation on Aug. 25, 2023.
“It’s not one person’s responsibil -
ity to be responsible for something that large,” Doss said. “Usually you end up with what’s called an incident commander — that’s your single point person who runs the whole scene. That one, because of where it was on the front side of the building on Monticello Street and the backside of the building, which was going to be on Hendricks Street — we ended up having two incident commanders. One running the back and one running the front.
“But they worked so well together that it went without a problem.”
The Covington Fire Department offers more services besides just fire response. Doss said the blank answer is fire, EMS, hazardous material, technical rescue.
Doss labeled the fire service as a “jack of all trades.”
“You don’t really know what to do? You’re going to send the fire department,” Doss said. “Not that we can fix everything or we know everything about it, but we’ve got our hands in a lot of stuff.”
The CFD has two stations — Station 21 (Pace Street) and Station 22 (Alcovy Road). Per the city of Covington’s website, it is currently one of six accredited agencies in Georgia by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International. The department holds an ISO rating of 2 as well.
It has a staff of 55 personnel — 48 suppression and seven administrators.
One of the members is Mike Jones, a captain on A shift. He has been with the CFD 22 years of his 24-year total fire service career.
Jones recognized the whole CFD as a “close knit” group.
“Sometimes, it’s like being at Thanksgiving dinner,” Jones said. “You got all of these different personalities. But, if your Thanksgiving dinner was every third day and it lasted for 24 hours. It’s good, though. I enjoy it. The department’s really good to us.”
Not only does the CFD focus on fire response, but it opens its doors for community connection.
Parents, scout troop leaders and teachers reach out periodically to set up trips for students and children,
which Doss stressed the department welcomes anytime of the year.
The CFD’s station tours are held in special regard, especially to James Anglin.
Anglin, a basic firefighter (Fire 2), is from Covington and he started 1.5 years ago with the CFD after graduating from Eastside High School.
“That’s what I grew up doing. I came here when I was young,” Anglin said. “It’s cool for me to have that point of view as a kid coming here to now being able to teach kids about the fire service and what we do in our day-to-day. So, it’s satisfying to build them up like how they built me up and they teach things. It’s really cool to see and satisfying.”
Outside of the station tours, the CFD is exploring more ways to further connect with the local community.
Doss told The News that the CFD does “smoke alarm blitz” where, if a person does not have any smoke alarms, they will install two. At times, Doss said they will go out to “aging communities” and talk about falls, trip hazards, the use of safety rails, etc.
Susie Keck, a Covington city council member and mayor pro-tem recognized the significance of CFD’s dedi -
“
You have to be willing to put yourself on the line for it. That’s what we do day in and day out.”
cation to going above the call of duty.
“CFD’s commitment to service means that they prioritize the well-being and safety of the residents they serve,” Keck said. “They are dedicated to ensuring that the city is prepared for emergencies and that residents have access to the resources and support they need in times of crisis.”
No matter if it is responding to one of the biggest fires in Covington’s history, hosting station tours or doing smoke alarm blitzes, the CFD is focused on serving its community.
However, looking back on that night on the Square in August 2023, Doss remains appreciative for how the community supported them.
“As far as that fire from that night, I would absolutely say thank you to all the surrounding areas who came to help us,” Doss said. “And the people who came in. They just brought stuff.
“That’s small town.”
EVAN NEWTON NEWS EDITOR
In his 85 years of life, Frederich Johnson has dedicated himself to a life of faith and initiative.
On any given day, you can ride by Good Hope Baptist Church off of Hwy 162 and see Johnson checking on things. Whether it is something simple as changing the letters on the sign of the church or collecting cans of food for those in need, Johnson prides himself on serving for the church.
Johnson has been a deacon at Good Hope for 57 years – the second longest standing deacon currently at the church.
But much like Newton County, the landscape has been completely changed from year one to year 57.
“What’s stayed the same?… 57
years… Well nothing stayed the same. Everything changed, all the time,” Johnson said. “We try to stay with the same protocol as service goes and stuff like that, but I guess that would be the only thing.”
Despite world-related changes, Johnson has long been a man of initiative.
He moved to Newton County when he was 5 years old, where he has stayed ever since. Johnson married his wife Artie and had three children – all of which are college graduates.
Johnson graduated from R.L. Cousins school in 1958, where he was a part of the second-ever graduating class. From there, Johnson enlisted in the Army where he served in Vietnam.
Following that, he worked at General Motors for seven years before
going into masonry contracting. He continued to take jobs until five years ago.
Johnson’s background in masonry would eventually lead him to take an interest in cleaning and restoring old cemeteries.
According to Johnson, it all started around 12-14 years ago after a phone call from a friend.
“There was a cemetery down at Gray’s Chapel… the hub across from the Green Valley Farm back out in the woods. A friend of mine – of course he had called me – and they had been working on that cemetery, you know cleaning it up and they asked me if I would come down and help haul the wood off and everything,” Johnson said. “So I did that and after that I found out that’s what we were doing, I said ‘Well heck, this is something we can do.’”
Since then, Johnson and his group of volunteers have dedicated Jan. 15 of each year – the day of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s birthday – to clean up cemeteries in need across Newton County.
Johnson estimated that he and his team have cleaned up around 25-30 cemeteries over the last 10.5 years, something that he hopes is for the betterment of the community.
“There are over 300 cemeteries neglected in Newton County and I just kind of halfway took it on my own to try and oversee this,” Johnson said. “I know I can’t do them all, I just do what I feel like we can do.”
Johnson hopes that the tradition will continue long after he is gone, and that he aspires to clean at least one more cemetery before the year ends.
Outside of his commitment to service, Johnson is a member of a number of different community organizations. He is a gold card member of Friendship Lodge #20 for the last 35 years. He is also a member of the American Legion Post 32, having also been a former commander of the now defunct Post 295.
Additionally, he is a member of the R.L. Cousins Alumni Association. He is a part of the group that is looking to get the school renovated and usable again for the community.
Overall, Johnson said that this one of the most rewarding projects he had
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been a part of and that he hopes to see it come to fruition in his lifetime.
Johnson also spends his time attending government meetings. His motivation for doing so is to keep the community informed on important issues.
“I try to make those meetings. It’s something to keep the community informed on what’s going
I just do what I can do. That’s all I can do.” “
on,” Johnson said. “When something comes up I try to let the people in the community know.
“I just do what I can do. That’s all I can do.”
When reflecting back on his life, Johnson said that “life’s been good.” He hopes that the impact he
has made in the community will inspire others to take on a life of faith and initiative, too.
“I guess just remember me as… when I see something that needs to be done,” Johnson said, “I go out and do it.”
Congratulations to Unsung Hero Mr. Fred Johnson
R.L. Cousins Alumni
GARRETT PITTS SPORTS EDITOR
Child advocacy is at the foundation of what Lindsay Dycus strives for in her role as the Alcovy Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) executive director.
As a member of Alcovy CASA since 2008, the aim has always been constant for Dycus.
“Our mission is to use community volunteers from everyday walks of life to train them and support them for advocating for children who are in foster care in Newton and Walton county,” Dycus said.
Those volunteers and the staff found at Alcovy CASA are who Dycus sees as her unsung heroes.
“Our CASA volunteers are really the unsung heroes. They are the
ones that are going and visiting and supporting in every way,” Dycus said. “We have a board of directors who are incredible. They all have a passion for children and are all invested in the commuity,” Dycus said.
Dycus grew up in the Conyers area, and attended Heritage High School. She then earned a psychology degree from Georgia College and State University.
Following her graduation, Dycus began her journey into helping children — a field she was unfamiliar with beforehand.
“My first ‘big girl job’ out of college was working at the Methodist Children’s home and Versailles, Kentucky. They decided it would be a great plan to put my 22-year-old, freshly graduated out of college-self into [helping]
behavior disorder teenage boys in a cottage and saying ‘Good luck,’” Dycus said. “That was an amazing experience that opened my eyes to a world outside to anything I had ever known. It was really what shaped me to stay in this work.”
Looking back, her time spent with the children in the cottage played a pivotal role in her future efforts.
“That was really the defining moment of knowing that I would work in children welfare but I would do better than what I was seeing those kids be treated as,” Dycus said.
Dycus eventually moved back to the Newton County area, which led her to Alcovy CASA.
When she first began with Alcovy CASA, Dycus was the Newton County Advocacy Coordinator.
In that role, Dycus was in charge of training the volunteers in the program.
“A lot of the beauty of the CASA volunteers is that they don’t come from the background of child welfare, so they bring a common sense approach,” Dycus said. “We offer all of the training for free and the support for free. Because these folks don’t have that background, we offer a lot of support.”
Dycus decided to step away from her role to become a stay-at-home mom, but still stuck on as a Alcovy CASA volunteer in three cases.
“About the time those cases ended, I got a phone call from our juvenile court judge at the time saying the previous CASA director was retiring and the board has reached out to her and asked if she knew anyone that she would want to be the director. So, she called [and said], ‘Do you want to come back?’” Dycus said.
Dycus, who was already looking to get back into the field, jumped
at the opportunity. In 2014, she became the executive director.
From when she was the advocacy coordinator to now being the executive director, one constant for Dycus and Alcovy CASA — the strive to be consistent.
“When a child comes into care — in a matter of an instant — they are in a different home, with different adults, with different rules. Frequently, that means a different school, different daycare situation, they are going to a doctor they have probably never been to before,” Dycus said. “It might be their first time ever going to the dentist. They now have counselors, they are in court. There are a lot of new things.
“The one person who is going to be consistent in that process is CASA.”
For Dycus, the favorite moments in her job come when the best possible scenarios happen for the children they work with.
“Seeing those moments where
“The one person who is going to be consistent in that process is CASA.” “
everyone can come together and agree,” Dycus said. “Seeing a family reunited, you always hold your breath — you want it to work, you want that child to safely go home with those parents to parent their child. But, being there when the judge gives the order, custody is returned, you can go back to being a family.’ Those are some of the best moments.”
More importantly for Dycus is the goal of making sure the chidrens’ voices are heard.
“The perception that we are trying to give kids consistency and support,” Dycus said. “We want to make sure their voice is amplified in what we are doing.”
PHILLIP B. HUBBARD MANAGING EDITOR
Down a hallway at Newton High School, students walk into a classroom that has no desks. It is the chorus room for the Rams.
Standing at the front of the class greeting students with a big smile is Johnny Edwards, the director of choral activities at Newton High. Edwards is not at a smartboard writing equations or discussing historical events, instead, he is at a keyboard teaching his students different choral techniques.
While his classroom is unorthodox, Edwards believes this allows him to provide a lasting impact in his students’ lives.
“I feel that I have an advantage because I’m doing what I love to do and a lot of these students I see all four
years of high school. When you’re teaching math, sometimes you might see them a year,” Edwards said. “I get to see them change from maybe not even being able to match pitch to singing like they sing now. So it’s a joy just to watch them progress over time.”
Edwards’ passionate teaching style was recognized by the Georgia Music Educator Association (GMEA). In February, he was awarded District 4’s Teacher of the Year honor.
District 4 comprises Newton Rockdale, Dekalb, Morgan and Jasper County schools as well as Dekalb City Schools.
When the chairman of District 4 shared the news with Edwards, he could hardly believe it.
“When they told me, at first I didn’t know what she was saying. She was saying, ‘You were voted teacher
of the year for District 4.’ I asked, ‘How?’ She said, ‘Your colleagues in District 4 nominated you and voted you teacher of the year,” Edwards said. “I was emotional, overjoyed, overwhelmed. It was a great honor. It was one of the greatest honors I’ve had teaching.”
Edwards was set on his musical path early when he was “born in the church” and was a church musician. He was a pastor’s kid who played around on the piano at home.
With his dad in the military, Edwards and his family moved around a lot. At one point, all of the musicians left to go to other stations. As a result, Edwards’ dad put him on the spot.
“My dad was like, ‘Hey Johnny, get on the piano.’ And I wasn’t at the level of playing. That was back in the day when you didn’t tell your
I’ve been gifted to do what I do, and I just like to give my gift to others.”
parents, ‘No.’ I was like, ‘OK,’” Edwards said. “I just played whatever. I kind of learned just by watching people. That was before YouTube, before all that.”
Edwards “knows a little bit about the trumpet” by being in his high school’s band. However, his main two instruments are piano and organ, piano being his go-to. Jazz and gospel are his favorite styles of music as well.
In addition to playing and teaching music, Edwards has also written some gospel and choral music and he has even had some pieces published.
Through his love of music, Edwards earned a bachelor’s in music education from Georgia Southern University and a master’s in music education with an emphasis in choral music (MME) from Georgia College and State University.
He plans to one day pursue a doctorate in composition.
Away from the classroom, Edwards is a member of the American Choral Directors Association, assistant director of the Oxford Youth Singers and Oxford Singing Children through the Newton County Arts Association and is the minister of music at Solid Rock Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia.
Edwards stressed that music and ministry are his top passions
“I love music in ministry,” Edwards said. “Even in school I just believe — even though music is my passion, I also believe it’s my ministry. You can’t really talk about ministry in school, but you can live a life that people notice.”
Musical notes may be running through Edwards’ veins with his life being so intertwined around this passion. When asked what he would do if he was not steeped in music, Edwards could not come up with a confident answer.
“Wow. That’s funny. I was thinking of this question. I really don’t know. I know I like writing, books or something with math. I love math as well,” Edwards said. “I’d probably still be teaching somewhere or doing something in ministry somewhere.
“That’s a hard one. I have no idea.”
Edwards has been Newton High’s chorus director since 2016. Under his tutelage, Newton’s chorus has garnered superior ratings at the yearly evaluation, “Large Group Performance Evaluation.”
He also teaches Advanced Placement music theory and music theory. Overall, Edward wants to use his various roles to help share his passion for music with the next generation.
“I’ve been gifted to do what I do,” Edwards said, “and I just like to give my gift to others.”
EVAN NEWTON NEWS EDITOR
Scientific innovations from around the world are saving lives each and every day. But for the next big innovation, look no further than right here in Newton County.
Meet Nevaeh Craven, Layla Crayon, Hulet Neely and Shania Stewart, a group of young student-scientists at the Newton College and Career Academy STEM institute and creators of the Quick Save CPR mat.
The Quick Save CPR mat is a portable medical device designed to save lives in times of a medical emer -
gency. The mat is placed across the patient’s chest and provides voice commands to direct users on proper hand placement and pressure needed to perform CPR.
While the mat has the potential to be a significant innovation in the medical field, the origins of the mat came from a place that many people would not expect.
“We were actually in our English-language class, and it was a part of a Shark Tank project,” Crayon said. “We had to come up with a project for the advancement of health care, and so my group thought about ‘Hey, a CPR mat.’”
That’s right… an ELA class was
where this scientific innovation was berthed.
As the group began their preliminary research on the project, they were surprised to see the data regarding CPR-related deaths. They found that oftentimes with CPR, it’s the amount of pressure that makes a big difference.
“It’s often a common mistake to not apply enough pressure when performing CPR,” Stewart said.
Once the team figured out that data, they made the decision to pivot from a pressure sensor to the Quick Save CPR mat.
Amid their research, the group discovered that many of the mis -
takes that come along with CPR are due to lack of training and people forgetting how to properly do it.
“We had to do a lot of research and background for the overall thing and so when we were looking it up we learned that with CPR some mistakes, is that people sometimes don’t do it correctly because some of them aren’t caught up in their training,” Stewart said. “Usually with CPR training, you go to the procedure once and then you kind of forget about it when nothing happens. In times of emergency people aren’t aware of what to do properly.”
After the group created the prototype, they were encouraged to enter the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition by the STEM Institute program director, Laura Lambert.
“Essentially at first, it was really just a project for our class and our STEM
Hulet likes to describe it as the gift that keeps on giving.” “
director, Mrs. Lambert, she really thought that our project would be a really good entry for the Samsung competition,” Neely said. “So she asked us if we were okay with entering it into the competition and of course we agreed and we just decided to go from there.”
That turned out to be a wise decision by the group, as they were named state finalists in the Solve for Tomorrow competition back in December 2023. With that distinction, they were awarded a $2,500 Samsung prize package for the school as well as a top 300 nationwide honor.
From there, the group were recognized across the school district for their
achievements, something that they were surprised to see.
“We’re still kind of like letting it set in. We were actually like pretty surprised,” Craven said. “We knew we did pretty good when we did the project, but I don’t think we thought it was gonna go that far.”
But their accomplishments go beyond the school district. Recently, the group of young student-scientists finished 5th at the HOSA state leadership competition, adding to their list of achievements from the project.
“Hulet likes to describe it as the gift that keeps on giving,” Crayon said. “Because we keep winning
things with it, we keep receiving recognition for our brilliant work.”
As they progress through their academic careers, all four members of the team plan to continue their work in the medical field in the future.
Craven, Crayon and Neely – all juniors – plan to attend college and medical school when they graduate from the Newton County School System. Stewart, the lone senior of the group, plans to attend college and medical school as well and further her studies in clinical research.
While the group will inevitably go their separate ways in the future, they still plan to further develop the CPR mat, hoping to make a lasting impact in the medical field.
“We want to see how much further we can go with the mat,” Stewart said. “‘Cause we do want to create something that can help others.”
GARRETT PITTS SPORTS EDITOR
With 48 years of veterinary service, Animal Medical of Covington has been a staple for Newton County residents who have been looking to take care of their pets and animals.
Animal Medical of Covington is led by lead veterinarian Dr. Kristian Shriver.
When asked what separates his veterinarian office from others in the area, Shriver highlighted how his team’s ability to work with customers.
“My staff and I actually listen to the clients,” Shriver said. “Yes, we are busy, but we listen to what they have to say. We try to give them the best medicine we can but still accommodate their wishes the best we can as well.”
Shriver began in the office in 1998. After making the move from Gwinnett County, Shriver felt like his place in Covington was the right fit.
“My wife and I moved here because we both had jobs. Then we fell in love with the place and decided it was a good place to raise our kids and stick around,” Shriver
said. “And to boot, I love the people around here. It is a very friendly community.”
Shriver earned a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology from The University of Georgia in 1994 as well as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1998.
To go along with his degrees from the University of Georgia, Shriver ran the veterinary arm of disaster medicine for the Georgia Department of Public Health.
Shriver’s staff consists of 16 employees who have worked in the office for many years, and he attributes the success of the business to
his team.
“It is the people who work here,” Shriver said. “We have people that have worked for me for 17-plus years. It does really have a family-feel. People tell us about their grandkids and tell us about things that are going on in their life.
“Everyone is like family. I know it sounds cliche, but that is really how it is.”
Among Shriver’s staff, he has one veterinarian, three full time groomers, two receptionists, seven assistants and three high school work based learning students.
Similar to the staff, Animal Medical of Covington also has long-term clients.
“We have several [customers] who pre-date me here. That was 26 years ago,” Shriver said. We have people who move away and come back to us. They move away and still drive the distance to come see us.”
Animal Medical of Covington offers many different services, ranging from general medicine all the way to surgeries and non-invasive cancer diagnostics.
Among the other services are dentistry, diagnostics, ultrasounds in their in-house lab, laser therapy for arthritis, boarding and grooming. Pet products, health products, nutrition, shampoos and flea products are also sold in the office.
“Our groomers were voted best in the county, so I have to brag about them, of course,” Shriver said.
As new technology continues to be introduced into the field, Shriver and Animal Medical of Covington lean on embracing
Garrett Pitts | The Covington
new forms of treatment to offer to their clients.
“Just like with anything else, the technology is what changing things a lot. Things that we were doing when I came out of school have changed tremendously because of technology making it a lot better,” Shriver said.
“For example, we used to treat arthritis with just pills. Now, we treat it with therapy to decrease inflammation. There is now an arthritis vaccine. We do supplements, we do rehab, we do a lot of things that, when I first came out of school, It wasn’t even thought of.”
Animal Medical of Cov -
Yes, we are busy, but we listen to what they have to say.”
ington is located at 7120 Industrial Blvd, Covington , GA 30014. The hours of operation are 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Monday through Wednesday as well as Friday, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Thursday and 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. on Saturday. The office is closed on Sundays. The practice is members of the Newton County Chamber of Commerce as well as the American Veterinary Medical Asso
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ciation and Georgia Veterinary Medical Associates.
In 2019, Animal Medical of Covington was voted as the Best Veterinarian and Best Animal Hospital by The Covington News Through the awards and years of business, Shriver gave all the credit to his team.
“The staff…that’s who makes it. I can’t brag enough about them,” Shriver said.
Our team at Newton Federal works throughout the year to give back to our community. Not only do we participate in numerous events and community initiatives, but we also create in-house programs and campaigns which allow us to give back.
From sponsoring several different community initiatives supporting children and teachers, to sponsoring local golf tournaments, Concerts on the Square, Covington Police Department’s Fuzz Run, Covington YMCA Cheerios’ Challenge, and much more, our team is constantly working towards a New Newton.
We’ve also cooked up something special with our 2023 Newton Federal Cookbooks. Receive one with your donation, with all proceeds benefitting Alcovy CASA, special advocates for children in the local child welfare system. But that’s not all. Our Rewards Visa program rewards cardholders for using their card at participating local businesses that offer certain discounts and perks to Newton Federal customers.
Our legacy of serving and giving back to our community goes back to 1928. We accomplish so much more together. Which is why believe “We’re Better Together”.