2025 VISIONS

VISIONS 20 25

Featuring Community Spirit Award Winner

Brian Coates

Newton County

MARCHES FORWARD A S P ECI A L P U B L I CATI O N O F

NEWTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE COMMITMENT. LOYALTY. SACRIFICE. DEDICATION.

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.”

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA @NEWTONSHERIFFGA

WWW.NEWTONSHERIFFGA.ORG

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COVINGTON FARMERS MARKET

Saturdays* from 9A-1P starting May 24 to August 31 at Heirloom Park, 1143 Oak St. SE (*Closed July 5 & July 26)

LIVE AT LUNCH CONCERTS

May 2 - Miracle League All Star Weekend May 17 - Ag Day on the Square (10A-2P) May 26 - Memorial Day Program on the Square (10A)

Thursdays in May and October from 12P1P on the Square presented by the Arts Association June 7 - YMCA Annual Bike Rodeo @ Legion Field (10A-12P) of Newton County & City of Covington

LIVE AT LEGION CONCERTS

June 14 - Juneteenth Parade + Celebration June 21 - Summer on the Square Concert w/ Chris, Jon & Scott (7P)

Legion Field at 7PM

*JULY 3* - Independence in the Park on the Square (8P) JUNE 13: Hotter Than July (Stevie Wonder Tribute) July 7 - Arts Association Patriotic Concert @ Legion Field featuring the Newton County Community Band (7P) AUGUST 8: TRIBUTE (Allman Brothers Tribute) July 19 - Christmas in July on the Square (9A-1P) SEPT. 12: A1A (Jimmy Buffett Tribute) OCT. 10: Dancing Dream (ABBA Tribute)

presented by the Arts Association of Newton County & City of Covington

All events subject to change or cancellation due to weather, predicted weather at time of decision or unforeseen circumstances.

August 23 - Cinema Saturday: “Trolls” on the Square (7P) Sept. 13 - Police Who Care Fuzz Run 5K @ Legion Field (8A) Sept. 19 & 20 - Newton County Rodeo @ Newton Co. Agricultural Ctr. (8P) Sept. 20 - Cinema Saturday: “Despicable Me 4” on the Square (7P) Sept. 27 - KNB Rivers Alive Cleanup Sept. 27 - Covington Fall Festival on the Square (10A-4P) October 4 - Celebration of Hispanic Heritage Concert on the Square (7P) October 13 - CFD Firehouse Open Golf Tournament October 25 - Cinema Saturday: “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” on the Square (7P)

Visions “Unsung Hero” Ron Carter City of Covington Welcome Center Coordinator Congratulations to everyone honored in the 2025 edition of Visions. Our City family is proud to call Ron Carter a member of #TeamCOV. As Newton County Marches Forward, Ron will be a vital part of the progress as well as key to honoring Covington’s past and present.

discovercovingtonga.com cityofcovington.org

Nov. 6 - Vampire Diaries Episodes on the Square (6P-10P) Nov. 8 - Concert on the Square: Macon Music Revue (7P) Nov. 11 - Veterans Day Ceremony on the Square (11A) Nov. 17 - KNB Paper Shred Event (9A) Nov. 20 - Lighting of the Square (6P-730P) Nov. 22 - Newton County Ministers’ Alliance Thanksgiving Box Giveaway @ Legion Field Nov. 29 - Small Business Saturday December 6 - Annual Christmas Parade (10A) December 6 - Lights at Legion Kickoff + Mistletoe Market @ Legion Field (6P - 9P) December 11 - Santa & Movie Shorts on the Square (6P-8P) December 18 - Santa + Live Reindeer (6P-8P)

Table of Contents

LEARNING

GSU Newton looks to ‘reintroduce’ itself to the community..........9 Policing the halls: A new chapter in school safety............................11

WELLNESS

View Point Health builds healthy lives and communities.....11

COMMUNITY

DDA sets sights on solidifying Covington as destination..............21 Pilot Club honors mission of philanthropy........................................23

ENTERPRISE

NCT vows to make plans for a brighter future............................... 29

LEADERS

6

This magazine is a special publication of

which is published every Sunday and Wednesday by Newton Newspapers, Inc. Patrick Graham

Evan Newton

PROPRIETOR & PUBLISHER

pgraham@covnews.com

MANAGING EDITOR enewton@covnews.com

Cynthia Warren

Kate Verity

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR cbwarren@covnews.com

NEWS EDITOR kverity@covnews.com

Lee Ann Avery

Garrett Pitts

CIRCULATION DIRECTOR lavery@covnews.com

Martina Nolley

LEGALS CLERK mnolley@covnews.com

SPORTS EDITOR gpitts@covnews.com

Kaison Joyner

ASST. LEGALS CLERK news@covnews.com

CONTACT US Mail • P.O. Box 1249, Covington, GA 30015 Telephone • 770.787.6397 (NEWS) Online • CovNews.com

Community Spirit Award: Brian Coates........................................... 36 Youth of the Year: Robby Thomas Jr. ...............................................39 Unsung Hero: Doug Bolton .............................................................. 41 Unsung Hero: Lanier Sims ................................................................ 43 Unsung Hero: Ron Carter ..................................................................45 Employer of the Year: NCWSA .........................................................47

Follow us on social media

Index of Advertisers ..............................................................................7

@COVNEWS

VISIONS 2025: NEWTON COUNTY MARCHES FORWARD

THE COVINGTON NEWS

A

A Word from the Editor. . .

pproximately 18 months ago, I made my return to Newton County after spending several years away from the area.

Growing up 30 minutes away in Monticello, I would frequent Newton County quite a bit. As a kid, it was going to yard sales or the local thrift stores on Saturdays with my grandparents. Later as a teenager, it was driving for the first time outside of Jasper County and to Dr. Hillman’s office for my orthodontist appointments.

Then at 22 years old, just months after graduating from Georgia College & State University, I began my professional journey in journalism as News Editor, eventually becoming Managing Editor in September 2024.

To say Newton County has a special place in my heart would be an understatement.

I’m often asked by my friends,

“What is your favorite part about your job?” Truthfully, there’s lots of ways that question can be answered.

It can easily be having the opportunity to regularly report on the local governments in the county. Another answer could be having the chance to have first hand access in covering our wonderful student-athletes. Or maybe it’s the chance to talk with people that I always dreamed of talking to, like a U.S. Senator or a professional athlete.

But for me, none of those answers are correct. My favorite part about my job is highlighting those who make a difference in the local community. It simply would be covering those who march Newton County forward.

The great thing about these excellent community members who march Newton County forward, is that it doesn’t have to be done in one uniform way. Unlike an actual marching band, many of who you’ll see in this magazine find ways to march Newton County forward to the beat of their own drum.

Marching Newton County forward is Ron Carter, a smiling face and

strong representative for the city of Covington. It’s also Lanier Sims, a longtime community member who always puts Newton County first in all of his endeavors. It’s also Doug Bolton who dedicated his entire life to serving others.

It’s also the Newton County Water and Sewerage Authority, a staple employer that keeps our water systems moving smoothly. It’s even Robby Thomas Jr., a young man who has dreams larger than the Earth.

And, of course, it’s Brian Coates (who may take the meaning of marching Newton County forward more literally than anyone else), a man who has raised millions of dollars and improved countless lives.

That, to me, is powerful. It’s why I love what I do and why I’m so passionate about showcasing the good the community has to offer.

I hope everyone reading this will get to see each story and find your own way to make a difference in the community. After all, it will take a whole band of folks to truly march Newton County forward into the future.

INDEX OF ADVERTISERS A&A Outlet - 24 A&J’s Bail Bonding Co. - 32 ACS - 8 Alcovy CASA - 14 All Air Services - 20 Animal Medical of Covington - 35 Astrin Real Estate & Property Management - 26 Ausband Champan Insurance - 20 Beasley Drug Company - 33 Berrys Tree Farm - 30 Blackshear’s Bail Bonding - 32 Bradley’s Bar-B-Que - 18 Bullseye Accounting Services Inc. - 9 Cater 2 U - 32 Christie Dove Insurance - 33 City of Covington - 5 City of Oxford - 22 Complete Automotive Tire Center - 32 Conyers Jewelers Inc - 26 Conyers Rockdale Council for the Arts - 33 Copy Central - 29 Corks and Cuvee Wine & Gift Shoppe - 27 Covington Ghost Tours - 19 Covington Orthodonics - 50 First Baptist Academy - 20 First Presbyterian Church of Covington - 19 Fletcher’s Jewelry Inc. - 19 Georgia Piedmont Technical College - 51 H&R Block - 15 THE COVINGTON NEWS

Hines Home of Funerals Inc. - 32 Hometown Realty Constulants Inc. - 31 HotRod’s Diner - 33 J.C. Harwell & Son Funeral Home - 31 Keep Newton Beautiful - 22 Leapin Lizards Pet Shop - 32 Lester Lackey & Sons Funeral Home Inc. - 19 Loganville Christian Academy - 10 Marriott/Residence Inn - 34 McKibben Music -19 Miller Veterinary Services - 27 MLK Academy - 32 Monroe Power Equipment Company - 32 Natural Path / Family Health Food Store - 12 Newton County Board of Commissioners - 23 Newton County Chamber of Commerce - 30 Newton County Historical Committee on Black Heritage Preservation - 37 Newton County Industrial Development Authority - 44 Newton County Schools - 40 Newton County Sheriff’s Office - 3 Newton County Tomorrow - 30 Newton County Water and Sewerage Authority - 48 Nitro 2 Go - 25 Osake - 21 PC After Dark Computers -28 Peachtree Academy - 9 Pemberton Law LLC - 20

Petrelli Law - 19 Piedmont Insurance Associates - 13 Piedmont Newton - 12 Pinnacle Bank - 4 Preissless Design - 27 Printability Signs - 31 Providence Classical Christian School -10 PTP 357 Studio - 27 Recovery Education Counseling Services LLC - 32 Rush Tees & Signs - 18 Snapping Shoals EMC - 2 Social Circle ACE Hardware - 33 Southern Heartland Art Gallery - 21 TDS Auto Service - 33 The Clock Tower Escape Room - 18 The Doepke Law Firm - 49 The Law Office of Amy Zapatka, LLC - 33 Town of Newborn - 24 Travel Arrangements 4 U - 32 Treasures by Dawn Crescent - 46 United Bank - 52 Vervain Vault - 19 Walden’s Restaurant - 20 Westmorelands Time Shop - 33 Whistle Post Tavern - 26 WildArt Gallery - 19 Wilder Chiropractic Center - 33 Your Pie - 18 Your Sister’s Closet - 18

VISIONS 2025: NEWTON COUNTY MARCHES FORWARD

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VISIONS 2025: NEWTON COUNTY MARCHES FORWARD

THE COVINGTON NEWS

LEARNING

GSU Newton looks to ‘reintroduce’ itself to the community

T

Evan Newton Managing Editor

he leaders at Georgia State University- Newton Campus are on a mission to build something special in Newton County.

Located east of Covington near I-20, the campus has been a staple in the realm of Newton County education since its inception as Perimeter College in 2007. The campus underwent a seismic shock a few years back when Georgia State University (GSU) and Perimeter merged together in 2016.

Despite the merger almost taking place a decade ago, many at the school have felt that the campus is in obscurity due to its location in the outer portions of the county. This is why leaders such as Andrea Hendricks, senior director of online initiatives and senior campus administrator, are looking to change the narrative.

“There were some organizational changes at the campus over the last 8 or so years that left our campus without someone focused on building and maintaining community partnerships or on recruitment strategies for our campus,” Hendricks said. “The pandemic also impacted our enrollment, making it challenging to bring students back to campus. I, along with several other administrators, are on a mission to reintroduce ourselves to the community and become a higher education partner that they can count on.”

The reintroduction plan for the GSU Newton team involves multiple different facets.

Fundamentally, the first fold in the team’s plan is expanding educational opportunities. This has been done in both in course availability and accessibility.

GSU Newton offers over 40 “Perimeter Pathways” that are two-year programs that lead to either an associate of arts or associate of science degree.

These hours can be used to move on to a bachelor’s degree at the Atlanta campus, or can be transferred elsewhere.

One main selling point that GSU Newton cites is its affordability. According to Hendricks, the cost per credit hour is $101, which is far lower than most traditional universities.

The school also prides itself for its inclusion of all student backgrounds.

THE COVINGTON NEWS

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Currently, the Newton Campus has 767 enrollees. This in- Contributed Photo cludes first-year, transfer, dual-enrollment, international, non-traditional, post baccalaureate, re-entry and transient students. Some students are also in the “GSU62” program, which allows those 62 and older to take classes for free.

While having a strong educational foundation is important, the school has also made an effort to increase both student and community engagement.

For the last 16 years, the school has hosted its Daffodil Festival and Symposium Series, bringing in speakers related to key issues. The last two events focused on Artificial Intelligence and Mental Health, respectively.

Additionally, events such as the Cinema Connect, Ignite Your Pathway Passion and Panther Pop-Up Community events were started this year, with plans to make each of these events an annual tradition.

The last, but certainly not least, facet that GSU Newton prides itself on is community connection.

The school possesses a program called Academic CLASSICAL CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Community Engagement (ACE), a service and commuDistinctly Christ-Centered & Classical nity-based learning program that pairs students with partners throughout Newton County. Some of the ACE partners include Merryvale Assisted Living, Keep Newton Beautiful. Covington Food Pantry and Covington Housing Authority among others.

Community outreach also means connecting with the youth of Newton County. GSU Newton hosts STEM Day during its Fall and Spring semesters, allowing middle schoolers from Newton County Schools to explore future career paths that may interest them.

With all of the offerings that GSU Newton has to provide, one can argue that the campus is a “hidden gem” in the county. But, Hendricks and company hope that the school’s reintroduction to the community allows their gem to be hidden no longer.

“GSU Newton is the perfect destination for those seeking quality education with personalized support,” NOW ENROLLING FOR Hendricks said. “We offer affordable tuition, diverse ac2025 - 2026 PreK - 12th ademic pathways, and a welcoming environment that sets students up for success in their careers and lives.

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10 VISIONS 2025: NEWTON COUNTY MARCHES FORWARD

THE COVINGTON NEWS

Policing the halls: A new chapter in school safety

A

Guinevere Grant Correspondent

cross the country, schools are reconsidering the role of police on campus. Now Newton County Schools is joining that conversation, officially introducing 14 new school resource officers (SROs) at every elementary school in the county.

According to Michael Barr, chief operations officer, the nationwide rise in school related threats emphasized a need for this proactive approach. Having an SRO at every elementary school allows the county to provide a consistent law enforcement presence.

The decision stemmed from a collaborative effort among district leadership, school safety experts and the Board of Education. While enhancing physical security was a primary goal, the addition of an SRO also emphasized the importance of student support, early intervention and fostering a positive school environment.

Barr pointed out that the evolving role of SROs as mentors, conflict resolution facilitators and trusted adults played a critical role in shaping the initiative.

SROs not only focus on crime prevention and emergency response, but at the elementary school level they foster mentorship. Unlike their administrator and counselor counterparts who handle discipline, these officers provide a layer of guidance.

Completing a 40-hour school resource officer course, 24 hour active threat response course and additional training, SROs are certified law enforcement officers. Rather than intervention, they take a prevention first approach that focuses on de-escalation and peaceful problem solving.

Barr noted that the response to adding SROs has been overwhelmingly positive, with their presence on campus contributing to a stronger sense of safety and trust among teachers, students and parents.

Ultimately, the district hopes these officers will be viewed not only as law enforcement, but also as mentors and positive role models. The goal is to shift the perception of school policing toward a more relationship-centered approach.

“The addition of School Resource Officers (SROs) at our elementary schools reflects the Board of Education’s and district’s ongoing commitment to the safety and well-being of our students and staff,” Barr said. It is a critical proactive investment as our SROs work to build positive relationships with students and families and foster a safe school environment.”

THE COVINGTON NEWS

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THE COVINGTON NEWS

WELLNESS

View Point Health builds healthy lives and communities

H

Guinevere Grant Correspondent

ealth clinics are often the silent pillars in communities, providing essential care and services to patients. However, as healthcare systems become more complex, many people are left struggling to access the help they need.

But in Newton County, caregivers have made strides to bridge this gap and have worked to provide accessible and affordable care to every patient, insured or not.

“We really feel strongly that if somebody has been struggling on their own, trying to navigate their own mental health symptoms, it takes a while to get up the courage and the willingness to seek treatment and to seek help,” said Jennifer Hibbard, chief executive officer of View Point Health. “So when they make that outreach, we want to say, ‘Yes, come in today. We’re going to help you today.’”

Established in 1994, View Point is a Georgia community service board, meaning that they provide for individuals with behavioral health needs, mental health issues, substance abuse disorders and intellectual or developmental disabilities. Through funding from the state, the clinic embraces providing care to those with limited means.

Throughout the three counties — Gwinnett, Rockdale and Newton — View Point cares for over 18,000 people annually. Each outpatient clinic also provides same-day access, so individuals do not need to worry about scheduling an appointment.

In Newton County, the board of commissioners selects the clinic’s board of directors. This ensures that those who run the clinic are chosen by the local community.

Outside of comprehensive clinician care at their facilities, View Point has also had licensed clinicians at Newton County Schools for 12 years. When a social worker or school counselor determines that a student needs health intervention and assessment, they are referred to View Point clinicians who provide care within the school environment.

In addition, the clinic has a new partnership with the Newton County Sheriff’s Office, allowing the addition of a co-responder clinician to assist deputies. The clinician will respond alongside an identified officer to certain 911 calls when someone on the scene is determined to be in need of behavioral care.

“We are excited to be expanding [co-responders] to Newton County because the results that we have seen have been phenomenal,” Hibbard said. “Only about two percent of the calls that we go out on result in an arrest.

We’re really able to divert the criminal justice system by getting the individual connected to services.”

THE COVINGTON NEWS

A primary goal of View Point is to create a community where no lives are lost to suicide.

The clinic works alongside Newton Suicide Prevention to raise awareness on identifying individuals in need of support and connecting them with the right treatment.

Additionally, the clinic offers a day program for adults facing mental health challenges, providing psychosocial rehabilitation and peer support.

“I hope that our community understands that mental illness is a fatal disease,” Hibbard said. “...We strive for zero lives lost to suicide, and we feel like having that as our target keeps us recognizing that it’s possible and working towards that.”

According to Hibbard, the main challenge in providing care to individuals without insurance is raising awareness among the uninsured about the options that are available to them.

In order to meet this challenge, Debbie Varnes, director of marketing and fundraising at View Point Health, plans their outreach by attending health fairs.

“There are always more people that we need to reach,” Varnes said.

Continuously keeping information in the public eye is how View Point maintains visibility and ensures that people are aware of the resources they offer.

View Point’s mission is to ultimately build healthy lives and healthy communities. Hibbard noted that it is important that people understand that, despite assumptions about care available to those without insurance, View Point does provide high-quality and comprehensive care.

“Even though we’re the safety net and we serve individuals who might not have an option of going anywhere else...,” Hibbard said. “...We want to make sure that the level of care is still high quality and the service is the same level that we would provide if somebody was paying full price for it.”

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THE COVINGTON NEWS

COMMUNITY

DDA sets sights on solidifying Covington as vibrant destination

W

Garrett Pitts Sports Editor

ith the goal of elevating both the looks and the success of downtown, the Covington Downtown Development Authority (DDA) has its sights on becoming a household name for the city’s merchants.

The Covington DDA ultimately exists with the purpose of boosting the city’s downtown sector. Whether it is visually upgrading parts of the square or through assisting new merchants into the area, the development can take many shapes and forms.

For DDA Chair James Chapman, the goal has and will always revolve around helping downtown thrive.

“Our goal at the end of the day is to support our community and support our downtown merchants and any way we can engage to make the community look better and thrive,” Chapman said. “It’s as simple as that, that’s how I view it, ‘What’s good for the community? What’s good for our downtown merchants? What’s going to continue to help us take pride in this downtown area?’ Any project that falls inside that excites me.”

The Covington DDA has finished a few projects in the last year, but it is looking to do much more in 2025 and into 2026.

Most recently, the DDA worked around downtown to upgrade many of the park benches around the square as well as upgrading many of the newspaper stands.

“Where we are at and where we want to be are two different things,” Chapman said. “The DDA is an extremely versatile board that can do a lot of things for a community. Our No. 1 goal right now is just to do some work. We painted park benches, the newspaper boxes that had some wear and tear.

THE COVINGTON NEWS

Anything we could do to just make the community look better.”

One person who was hands-on during these projects was DDA board member and Covington city council member Travis Moore, who is a seventh-generation resident of Covington.

“The paint was faded and worn, we had some rotten wood. When you drive through and you see that, it just doesn’t give a good look particular when you are driving through,” Moore said. “We are reaching out and trying to get some of the building owners to maybe replace some of the torn awnings. We were sending letters out just for the ones that are dirty, saying, ‘Hey, we are trying to clean up downtown, we noticed your awning was dirty, is there a chance you could work with us?’ That way, when you drive through there or walk through there, you aren’t seeing that.”

Chapman noted how the addition

of Moore to the DDA has helped along with the efforts of downtown coordinator, Allen Martin.

“Before, we were a board that met on a quarter and we approved facade grants, that’s basically all we did. I am not slighting anyone for that, it’s just how we existed,” Chapman said. “We have gotten some real good energy going in the sense of Travis has been a huge asset since joining on, and also the foundation of it really falls around Allen Martin at the city. Allen has been huge. He has been drinking for the water hose in terms of what the DDA can be and the vision for the future.”

One area that the DDA is actively working on is getting new merchants into the area.

With open areas for new businesses to enter, Moore and Chapman both want the DDA to play an integral role in assisting new merchants and businesses into downtown Covington.

“We have a lot of open real estate

Contributed Photo VISIONS 2025: NEWTON COUNTY MARCHES FORWARD 21

right now trying to reach out and trying to recruit to fill those empty voids that we have,” Moore said. “Whether it is someone brand new to Covington or someone that is looking to relocate from another city or expand from another city.”

When new businesses do decide to build locations in downtown, there are multiple ways in which the Covington DDA can assist, according to Chapman.

“The loan opportunity is great — the revolving loan. It’s up to $250,000 to incentivize people to invest in downtown,” Chapman said. “The facade grant, that’s a max of up to a $5,000 payout. If you are willing to invest to make your storefront look better, there are opportunities for us to pay some of that cost, pay some of that burden.”

With the possibilities of the revolving loan and the facade grant, the DDA is hoping to work with merchants, both new and pre-existing, to elevate the looks of downtown.

As Chapman and Moore hope to see the Covington DDA become more of a household name for merchants in the downtown area, they also hope to see it become a helpful hand to the city itself, too.

“I think the other thing that I would like personally for the DDA in 2026 is becoming a dependable source for the city itself. You got two sides of it, you got the merchants.

The other side is the local government. I want to be a dependable source that the Mayor and city council can’t depend on to get things done and get across the fish line.

I want to be a spot where they can come to and say, we know the DDA can handle that.”

Volunteers Needed!

KNB also offers environmental education programs, Saturday, September 20 Saturday, May 31 demonstrations, and District 4 Community Cleanup District 3 Community Cleanup presentations including Saturday, October 11 Saturday, June 7 Detective Seymore Green Seymore's Litter Getters Cleanup FREE Tire Disposal Day puppet shows and other fun Friday, October 17 activities about litter Saturday, June 14 District 5 Community Cleanup prevention, water pollution Seymore's Litter Getters Cleanup Saturday, October 25 prevention, recycling, and other Friday, July 11 America Recycles Day topics. KNB can present District 1 Community Cleanup programs and projects for Shred Event Saturday, September 6 groups of all ages, which are Monday, November 17 Rivers Alive! available upon request and The GREAT American Cleanup Saturday, September 20 provided FREE of charge.

Saturday, March 28 District 2 Community Cleanup

Free Tire Disposal Day

Dates are subject to change. Please call or visit the website to confirm as events approach.

For Event Details and More Information: www.keepnewtonbeautiful.org • lriley@co.newton.ga.us 770-784-2015 22 VISIONS 2025: NEWTON COUNTY MARCHES FORWARD

THE COVINGTON NEWS

Pilot Club honors mission of philanthropy Garrett Pitts Sports Editor

W

ith over half a decade of service in the local area, the Covington Pilot Club is looking to continue its mission of providing volunteer work in the city.

Led by club president Ann Cargile, the mission is simple.

“Our motto is ‘True Course Ever’,and our principle is friendship and service,” Cargile said.

Chartered in 1958, the Covington Pilot Club has orchestrated and taken part in many kinds of volunteer work in the city.

The club meets on the first Thursday of every month at First Presbyterian and Fellowship Hall and tries to do one project a month in the community.

Whether it is showing teacher appreciation at Livingston Elementary, hosting bingo for the residents of Pruitt Health or assisting with the special needs prom, the club looks to make an impact on all ages of Covington residents.

Cargile shed light on some of the other projects that the Covington Pilot Club has been a part of in recent years.

“We volunteer at Chimney Park twice a year,” Cargile said. “This month it will be the Fairy [Houses] Festival, Twilight will be in December.

We worked in Twilight in December and we helped with that. This coming May we will be delivering Mother’s Day flowers to the residents of Riverside HealthCare. We donate to the Newton County Arts Association.”

Cargile is the current president of

the club after being appointed to the position in the last year, but her time in the club stems back further.

“I joined the club in 2001, at a friend’s invitation,” Cargile said. “I had heard of the Pilot Club before, so then I found out it was a community volunteer service organization. That was the type of club I wanted to be a part of, not just to meet and socialize.

I preferred to help with the community.”

Cargile’s desire to make an impact through volunteer work had a direct result on the current state of the club and its mission.

“We are dedicated to making a difference in our community,” Cargile said. “We are committed to do more, care more, and be more. That is also one of our mottos.”

According to Cargile, one of the big-

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VISIONS 2025: NEWTON COUNTY MARCHES FORWARD 23

gest changes that the Pilot Club has seen since her first year in 2001 is the increased amount of projects and volunteer work.

Along with the service in the community, Cargile noted that one of the club’s best attributes is the people in it.

“The members we have are different ages, different life careers,” Cargile said. “Some have children, some have grown children and some do not. We have one member that has a grandson that comes with her each time. We appreciate having him there to help out.

Contributed Photo

Very caring individuals.

“We have one member who has been a member for 65 years. The actual Pilot Club of Covington was chartered in 1958, and she joined in 59. We are fortunate to still have an active member that is still participating.”

With a look ahead to the remainder of 2025 and even into 2026, Cargile hopes to see the Pilot Club gain more members.

“What’s planned next year is we have a large membership drive. We have had a couple of our members pass on this past year. We hope to have new members that are really dedicated to providing volunteer service for our community.

“We invite anyone to come and visit and just see what the Pilot Club is there for,” Cargile said. “We are there to serve our community.”

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Newton County Tomorrow vows to create a brighter future Kate Verity News Editor

M

arching Newton County forward means looking at the age of tomorrow. Newton County is host to a well-intentioned, yet relatively unrecognized group that has spent over two decades looking at what tomorrow looks like.

The group is called Newton County Tomorrow (NCT), and they have played major facilitating roles in several of the county’s biggest advancements in the last decade.

According to the NCT’s mission statement, the group was established in 2002 to bring Newton County together.

“Newton County Tomorrow is a community-oriented organization focused on finding ways to best support Newton County’s residents as Newton evolves,” These seats are presently held by Nancy Schultz (forthe brochure states as the group’s mission. “NCT allows community leaders to facilitate and plan for the mer county commissioner), Michael Barr (NCS chief future of the county and ensure that it continues to operations officer), Laura Gafnea (Oxford College dibe a citizen-first community focused on sustaining a rector of community relations), Duane Ford (Newton high quality of life by managing progress. NCT focuses Trails), Serra Hall (Industrial Development Authority on smart growth that allows us to preserve our natural executive director), Lindsey Petrini (Piedmont Newton Hospital CEO), Stephanie Lindsey (Attorney at resources and historic charm.”

Debbie Harper, chairman of NCT and president of Law), Avis WIlliams (former Oxford council member) the Newton County Chamber of Commerce, said that and Tavarez Holston (Georgia Piedmont Technical NCT was formed to break down barriers and foster College president).

One way that NCT helped align the county was by working together.

“Basically, it’s an engine that can make some of the getting all the executive board groups on the same fiscal year. That means that they can all come into new things happen that we need to happen,” Harper said.

The group is an alliance of officials from all across budgets at the same time, making planning for projNewton County, meeting once a month at The Center. ects more cohesive. These boards are what fund NCT. Additionally, NCT sat on the steering committee Its Board of Directors is position-based, meaning that the members change based on who holds a certain po- for the Newton College & Career Academy when it sition.

Current board members include Debbie Harp- Fun For The Whole Family er (Chamber President), Fleeta Baggett (Covington mayor), Michael Patterson (Porterdale mayor), Blair Northern (Mansfield mayor), Gregg Ellwanger (Newborn mayor), David Eady (Oxford mayor), Linda Hays (interim chair), Duke Bradley III (Newton County Schools superintendent), Mike Hopkins (executive director of the Newton County Water and Sewerage Authority) and Shamica Tucker (executive director of Fresh Cut Fraser Firs the Covington Housing Authority).

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opened. Another achievement was the Water First initiative, which saved taxpayers money, according to the NCT website.

“The Water First program offers discounts for GEFA loans,” the NCT website states. “Participation in the program saved taxpayers $1.2 million in financing cost, leading directly to Baxter [now Takeda] International’s $1.3 billion investment in Newton County.”

NCT has made significant strides in the last few years, since partnering with the University of Georgia in 2022 under the Archway Program.

“As one of 8 Archway Partnership™ communities in the state, Newton County gains access to higher education resources to address community-identified needs and opportunities,” the NCT brochure states. “Archway Partnership provides neutral facilitation to support Newton County’s goals of establishing a peaceful, open space that allows for a collaborative environment in the interest of community progress.”

Though the Archway Partnership in its earliest stages of implementation, this partnership has much in store for residents in every corner of Newton County.

“We do pay for that, but for what we pay, we get double back in resources from the university,” Harper said. “Archway’s model is to go out into the community [and] survey. We had five listening sessions to bring the community in, and they were very structured as to how you did. So they compiled all the information into a booklet, and from that, we have built four work groups.”

The Archway Partnership developed these four different work groups to represent priority areas for NCT. These were developed based on multiple listening sessions with the community, helping the group to determine what needed more immediate attention.

Jeffrey Burke, the Archway professional for Newton County, helps facilitate work like this.

The four work groups are: Community Health and Resilient Liv-

30 VISIONS 2025: NEWTON COUNTY MARCHES FORWARD

ing, Government Unity and Leadership, Living and Learning for Life and Whole Community Housing.

Each group has two NCT members assigned to it.

Each work group has several projects in various stages of completion. The projects are developed by UGA students, but once the plan is approved, it is up to the city, county or corresponding organization to actually get it implemented.

In the months to come, many of the active projects should complete their planning stages. Students at UGA work all semester long to develop the plans and present them at the end of their courses, which are nearing completion now.

NCT is plowing the county forward. The group’s biggest issue is visibility, but that hurdle could be shrinking as well.

“We’re doing good work, we’re just not telling our story…” Harper said. “We’ve got good folks in good positions, and we’re just really trying to do the best we can for our community. ”

THE COVINGTON NEWS

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Community Spirit Award

Photo by Garrett Pitts | The Covington News

Brian Coates

Marching Newton County forward by building student success

T

Evan Newton Managing Editor

here are many educators who are pillars in the Newton County community. But few take the meaning of marching Newton County forward as literal as Brian Coates.

Coates has been the director of bands at Alcovy High School since 2017. In this role, he wears a number of different hats. He’s the director of the award-winning Alcovy Big Sound marching band, symphonic band, concert band, jazz band and any other ensemble the school may produce.

But perhaps Coates’ biggest hat is the one he wears as a leader. In his eight years at Alcovy, Coates has provided an emphasis on maximiz-

ing student achievement in and out of the classroom.

On one bulletin board, Coates displays a gallery of pictures filled with college band directors who have visited his classroom and given his students scholarship opportunities on the spot. Right beside it is another bulletin board with pictures of students who have signed with universities at the band’s “Signing Day,” a ceremony where students reveal where they would be going to college at.

Through it all, Coates has helped raise over $8 million in scholarship funds for his students while changing countless lives for the better.

“The most fulfilling part, and it oftentimes can go unnoticed and it can be hard to document, but it’s re-

36 VISIONS 2025: NEWTON COUNTY MARCHES FORWARD

ally the impact that I’ve had on students,” Coates said.

Like many, the journey to getting to an influential position was not easy. But for Coates, it was one that took more twists and turns than he could have imagined.

Coates grew up in the north in Detroit, Michigan, starting his music career at a young age and playing in his high school marching band. He graduated from Southfield-Lathrup High School and attended the University of Michigan, where he marched with the Michigan Marching Band as an alto-saxophone player.

In his two years with the Michigan Marching Band, Coates got the opportunity to perform at the 2003 Outback Bowl in Tampa, Florida and THE COVINGTON NEWS

the 2004 Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. He left the band the following year to focus on his studies, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts and Jazz Studies.

Following his time at Michigan, Coates attended Tennessee State University in Nashville where he got his Masters in Music Education, with the goal of becoming a college band director.

But the then-aspiring director ran into a hiccup when applying for jobs.

“I had a Masters in Music Ed, but I was not certified, because my undergrad was performance and theMasters didn’t come with certification,” Coates said.

“I wanted to stay in Nashville and teach, but they wouldn’t hire me.”

Eventually, Coates found his way to Trevazant High School at Memphis City Schools on an alternative license before getting his certification. After four years in Memphis, he moved down to Tuscaloosa, Alabama to pursue his doctorate.

After deciding that it was not the right fit for him, Coates sought a move elsewhere. In speaking with a mutual friend group at Tennessee State, he eventually found Alcovy, where he has made his home ever since.

“I’ve had previous experiences that were, you know, not positive, but I can honestly say that Covington has been supportive to me and the band program over the years,” Coates said. “ I try to make sure Covington, Georgia is on our logo and materials. That’s one of the first things people ask, they’re like “Okay, where y’all from?” So, really, as we march forward with Covington, I definitely want wherever we go, I want people to know who we are and that Covington is a great place that has great talent.”

Marching forward the program meant literally changing the identity of what the Alcovy band used to be.

When Coates first arrived at the school, the marching band performed a “corps style.” While that particular style is the preferred method for most band directors, it did not seem to resonate with many.

“We would go to competitions and not do well,” Coates said. “We would go play music in the stands and, eh, it wasn’t really moving the people.”

It was then that Coates sought a change. With guidance from his son Kyndle Boyland – a former band member and current percussion instructor for Big Sound – alongside assistant principal Dr. Thomas Lowe, a switch to “traditional style” was made that ultimately connected with audiences better.

“Kyndle and Dr. Lowe were very instrumental in guiding me towards a style that I think, well, it turns out that people like it,” Coates said.

Adjusting the performance style of the band was not the only change that has been made in Coates’ tenure.

Coates recalled a talented senior from the Class of 2021 who was only one of two to make the prestigious Georgia All-State Band in the school’s history.

After the student performed with the All-State Band, they went through a rigorous audition process for a scholarship at the University of Alabama. After weeks THE COVINGTON NEWS

(Top) Billboards on Coates’ classroom wall showcase the various band directors who have visited. (Bottom) Photos from the 2023 and 2024 Alcovy Band Signing Days. Photos by Garrett Pitts | The Covington News.

VISIONS 2025: NEWTON COUNTY MARCHES FORWARD 37

Photo by Garrett Pitts | The Covington News of anticipation, the student was awarded approximately $5,000/year to attend the university.

But with the decision being handed down just weeks away from graduation, combined with the mounting costs of out-of-state tuition, the student was unable to attend the university.

“The band scholarship and the academic scholarship(s)... it still was not enough, unfortunately, enough for them to attend that school,” Coates said. “Unfortunately, that student did not at least go right away to college. And as passionate as I am about my students being successful, that lit a fire under me.

It’s just kind of like, “Okay, what can I do as a band director to make sure that this doesn’t happen to any more of my students?”

Immediately, Coates sprang into action. First was encouraging students to apply to more than just one college. Then it was college audition fairs, where students can perform and receive acceptances on the spot.

Even with the rise in scholarships for band students, it was still not quite enough for Coates. He want-

ed to find a way to recognize his students’ achievements on a larger scale.

This led Coates to turn to his love of sports to create the next step for his students: A Band Signing Day. “My influence on my sports. I was a band kid all my life, but I am a sports enthusiast,” Coates said. “Watching ESPN or things of that nature and seeing the hype and everything that comes from the excitement behind decision day. There’s just an air about it, and I wanted that same energy to be brought toward band, toward the Fine Arts.

“I saw it from the sports world and thought, ‘Hey, why can’t we do that for band?’”

Like many times before, his ideas turned into a reality as Alcovy High School hosted its first signing day in 2023. Students who signed with their college of choice accumulated over $2.5 million in scholarship money. In just the second iteration of the event in 2024, that number doubled to $5.5 million, sending nearly a dozen of his students to college.

A year removed from that massive accomplishment, Coates’ Al-

38 VISIONS 2025: NEWTON COUNTY MARCHES FORWARD

covy band program seems to have no signs of slowing down. Moving forward his first goal is to continue strengthening the ethos of the Alcovy band program.

“My plan is to grow everything. I want to grow everything,” Coates said. “I want this to be a hub, the musical high school band hub of the country, where band directors from every state that want to offer good scholarships, their first stop, I want it to be Alcovy.”

Goal No. 2, however, is about building a program that is much more than what you may see on any of the walls in the band room.

“I love trophies. I love awards. I love scholarships. I love opportunities,” Coates said. “But there are students who don’t go to college.

There are students who don’t get scholarships. If I can help a student graduate high school. That’s amazing to me, because a lot of these kids go through things at home, and sometimes I’m the only adult they can trust and that they feel comfortable talking to.

“As long as I can leave an impact on students – and I believe I have – I want to keep doing that.”

THE COVINGTON NEWS

Photo by Garrett Pitts | The Covington News

Youth of the Year

Robby Thomas Jr. A STAR student with dreams out of this world

E

Garrett Pitts Sports Editor

astside senior Robby Thomas Jr. has already gained multiple accomplishments, but one of the county’s top scholars has his sights set much higher.

In fact, they are out of this world. “[The biggest motivator for me] is just looking up,” Thomas said. “Looking up to the sky and looking at the stars and being, ‘I can reach there one day.’”

The ultimate goal for Thomas is

THE COVINGTON NEWS

to eventually work at NASA and become an astronaut.

With only a couple months left before he walks the stage at graduation, having the chance to put his goals into motion is what excites him most about the next chapter of his life.

“Being able to put my learning to use,” Thomas said. “Learning more and extending what I know to be able to accomplish my goals — which is to work for NASA.” When Thomas walks across the stage and grabs his diploma, he will

do so as one of Eastside’s Top-10 students.

Additionally, Thomas was awarded by Newton County Schools as the district’s 2025 STAR Student. Thomas achieved this honor by earning the highest SAT score in the district: 1530 out of 1600.

Throughout his time as an Eagle, Thomas has left his mark in many different organizations and clubs within Eastside.

Along with his academics, Thomas has been involved in National Hon-

VISIONS 2025: NEWTON COUNTY MARCHES FORWARD 39

or Society, Junior Classical League, the Student Advisory Committee and the Eagle Ambassadors.

While some may consider it too much to handle for one student all together, Thomas sees it in a different view.

“It’s really just seeing different perspectives and things like that,” Thomas said. “Being able to meet new people, see new things, try new things, learn new things. That’s really why I joined so many clubs and do so many different things at the school.”

Along with his efforts throughout numerous organizations at the school, Thomas also played on the Eastside boys varsity basketball team.

There, he got to play in a sport he has loved his entire life.

“I have been in sports all my life,” Thomas said. “It started when I was like three or four playing soccer in little leagues. I started playing basketball when I was seven and stuck with that all the way through.”

Looking back, the times on the court are some of the favorites for Thomas as an Eagle.

“Just the times playing basketball,” Thomas said. “All these years, just seeing those guys grow with me, it’s been great. I have been playing with a lot of them since middle school. It’s just great to see those guys grow with me.”

After graduation, Thomas does not plan on wasting much time before diving into the field of aerospace engineering.

Thomas will do this at Georgia Institute of Technology.

With the reputation that Georgia Tech has, the decision for Thomas was an easy one.

40 VISIONS 2025: NEWTON COUNTY MARCHES FORWARD

Photo by Garrett Pitts | The Covington News “Georgia Tech produces engineers — great engineers,” Thomas said. “I don’t just want to be an engineer, I want to be a great one.”

While Georgia Tech was the main choice for Thomas particularly in-state, he also considered other universities such as Auburn and Clemson.

“In-state, Georgia Tech was always the option for me,” Thomas said.

While NASA is the goal, it did not truly form until Thomas really began to learn more about the world of aerospace engineering.

“I have always wanted to do some kind of engineering, but aerospace did not really dawn on me until recently,” Thomas said. “I was interested in how aircraft worked, but I never really thought of it as something I could be doing until a couple years ago.”

In reflection of the last four years of high school, Thomas has seen himself grow as a student and person in many ways.

As someone who considers himself always looking for that next challenge to conquer, Thomas spoke to how these last four years have shaped his drive.

“I’ve seen my determination grow a ton,” Thomas said.

“Early in my secondary, it just came easy to me, so it wasn’t as determined. If it came easily, I know I could do something harder and challenge myself and that’s what I have been focusing on recently. Just feeling like it and wanting to be better.”

As he has seen himself grow as a person over the years, Thomas also shared what kind of person he expects to see from himself down the road, too.

“I want to be an on-time, on-schedule, everyday type of person,” Thomas said. “Having a set schedule and everyday just forcing myself to focus on that schedule to better myself. Whether that is getting up and going to the gym, or reading a book every week or something like that. Just staying on schedule and on task at all times.”

While his time at Eastside is coming to an end, Thomas gave a few words of advice to anyone who may be looking to follow down the same path.

“Sometimes you just have to feel like it,” Thomas said.

“Sometimes you have to force yourself to feel like that is something you have to do to be great.”

THE COVINGTON NEWS

Unsung Hero

Doug Bolton A lifetime of dedication to helping and serving others

T

Evan Newton Managing Editor

he Rotary motto “Service Above Self” was coined at the first Rotary convention in Chicago, Ill. in 1911 by Arthur Fredrick Shelton. It is a motto that has stood the test of time for Rotary Clubs and Rotarians around the world.

Perhaps no person in Newton County lived by that motto quite like Doug Bolton.

Doug was born on March 11, 1949 to the late Charles Elliott and Frances Phoebe Bolton. After bravely serving in the U.S. Navy for four years, Doug began his career in law enforcement in the 70s with the DeKalb County Police Department (DPD), where he carried forward his duty to protect and serve.

Around that time, Doug met his wife Sherri, a then-employee at the DPD. After dating on-and-off for many years, the pair married in the 80s.

At the turn of the century, the Boltons wanted a change in scenery. After a period of deliberation, they decided to build in Newton County, and the pair would come to build roots in their new community.

Contributed Photo Doug retired from the DPD in 2004, after working his way up to Major in the department. With his full-time career chapter ended, he decided to dedicate the rest of chair for the Newton County Senior Services board, president of the Covington Police Who Care Inc., an his life to expanding the chapter he never closed.

“Everything Doug did after he left law enforcement original board member of the Newton County Miracle League and co-founder of the “Family Promise” was service,” Sherri said.

One project that many in the community knew Doug program for the First Presbyterian Church, his home for was “Hands on Newton,” a volunteer service and civ- church. ic engagement organization designed to address issues But perhaps the service project Doug was most resulting from Newton County’s population growth. He known for was his time in the Rotary Club of Covbecame the first director of the program in 2007, con- ington. A Rotarian dating back to his time in DeKalb County, Doug wore his Rotary wheel with pride in tributing to many successful projects.

He also served on a number of boards, including as nearly every project he served in.

Doug contributed to an array of projects in his over File Photo 20-year Rotary tenure. While he made annual summer trips to Camp Sunshine – a summer camp for kids with cancer – as well as annual deliveries with the Empty Stocking fund for Christmas, he was a proven leader and facilitator for the club.

But Doug’s service does not stop at the border of Newton County.

In 2015, Doug oversaw a project that led to the donation of hundreds of wheelchairs and various medical equipment to people in need in Morocco.

In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Doug coordinated the Farmers to Families program. This program provided food truck deliveries for free for nearly 50 counties across the state.

As if the pandemic restrictions were not hard enough, THE COVINGTON NEWS

VISIONS 2025: NEWTON COUNTY MARCHES FORWARD 41

Contributed Photo

Doug faced another challenging obstacle through this particular project. He was actually hospitalized in the burn unit.

Despite the difficulties that he faced, Doug found a way to make sure the project continued.

“He was in the burn unit at the hospital during all of that. Even with all the pain meds, he still had that concern on his mind,” Sherri said. “Between Doug verbalizing stuff and me on the phone and this other

42 VISIONS 2025: NEWTON COUNTY MARCHES FORWARD

man that was gonna make the phone calls and make the truck deliveries and all that, we kept it running.

Doesn’t that tell you something about him?”

His heart for service only continued following the devastating 2023 Square fire. After the Rotary Club met to determine how they could help the businesses affected by the disaster, Doug knew it was something he had to lead.

“The club agreed to put some money into it,” Sherri said. “Well, Doug took the ball and ran with it like he always did.”

According to Sherri, Doug facilitated personalized donations for many of the businesses affected by the fire. From gift cards to hair products and even iPads, he made sure the businesses knew the community had their backs.

It was building these personalized relationships that put Doug on another level when it came to service.

Sherri said that his niche for relationship building eventually turned into a stronger passion for mentoring. Whether it was helping a troubled teen who needed guidance or a new business owner who was looking to join the ranks of Rotary, his vision for leadership was through a clear lens.

In particular, Sherri recalled a conversation she had with one of Doug’s friends in the Rockdale Rotary Club.

“I was asking him, ‘What’s the thing that comes to your mind about one of the great things that you had with Doug?’ I said, ‘I know he’s a leader and a mentor,’ but he said, ‘Yeah, but I don’t know if I’d say mentor. He was just always interested in what I’m doing,’” Sherri said. “‘And he always made me aware of opportunities that I might have not known about or been reluctant to throw myself into.’”

If mentoring people of all ages was not enough, his ability to never meet a stranger was just as admirable.

This especially rang true when Doug gave up one of his own kidneys to someone he barely knew.

When Doug was notified about a Rotary member who had missed a slew of meetings due to dialysis treatment, he immediately sprang into action. After getting tested to see if he was a match, he went through with the donation without any hesitation.

“He was a very optimistic person. He wanted to be involved in whatever was going on,” Sherri said. “That was improving the community, helping individuals, heck, he even gave someone one of his kidneys.”

Doug’s time on Earth was cut short on Dec. 24, 2024, when he passed away peacefully alongside his close family members. But his legacy will never be forgotten.

When asked what people should take away from Doug’s journey, Sherri said it came down to providing help to others whenever possible.

“You don’t have to be a member of the Rotary Club or hold a job; you can help people right where you’re at,” Sherri said. “Doug always approached a need or a request with not ‘Can I do it? ‘ but ‘How can I help people?’ And if you help people in any form or fashion, it’s an act of kindness. And once you do, it’s a ripple effect.”

THE COVINGTON NEWS

Unsung Hero

Lanier Sims The embodiment of community service

L

Kate Verity News Editor

anier Sims has lived a lifetime in Newton County. He has served Newton County like family and never failed to put his community first.

While Sims has been in the public eye for the last decades, much of his work has been done behind the scenes, where his nonstop commitment to bettering Newton County may often go unrecognized. Though he has held elected office and served publicly for years, for Sims, it is never about the recognition.

“For me, it’s not about being the main person in the room, the elected official, the one that gets the credit,” Sims said. “I could care less about any of that as long as I can see our community thriving and continue to move forward. That’s all the joy I need.”

Though Sims refutes elected office as a lifelong calling, he has stepped up in the past, when he sees a need that he could meet.

Sims served as District 2 commissioner for eight years, preceding the current seat holder Demond Mason. He worked to restore the county’s economy after Photo by Garrett Pitts | The Covington News the nationwide downturn of 2009, throwing himself head first into economic development.

Just when it was believed he would not return to the “I believe it was 2012 or so, we landed – at that time board of commissioners again, Sims was called upon last it was called Baxter, which is now Takeda out at Stan- fall when Governor Brian Kemp asked him to be interim ton Springs, and they were going to invest a billion chairman. dollars at the time and promised a thousand jobs,” Sims served a five-month term as interim chair, working Sims said. “And kind of the light bulb went off in my with commissioners and citizens alike to keep county operhead. We really got to focus in on economic develop- ations steady during uncertain times. ment. So I started getting involved.”

Nowadays, Sims’ aspirations are far from elected office, Sims immersed himself with the local Chamber of but he said he is regularly asked if he wants to run in the Commerce and its economic development commit- future. tee. He also attended economic development training “The answer’s going to always be no,” Sims said. “But offered by the Association County Commissioners of with that, I always say if there’s a big enough need that I Georgia. feel that I can serve, I’ll always take a look at it.”

“A decade later, we’ve landed a $42 billion Meta, But Sims’ work to better his hometown goes beyond the which has probably grown even bigger than that. commissioner horseshoe.

We’ve landed Rivian, we’ve landed Archer, we’ve land- Sims currently serves as chair of the Industrial Developed Lidl, and the names just keep going on and on,” ment Authority and also sits on boards for the Hospital AuSims said. “If I have to say what’s my biggest thing, thority and Chamber of Commerce. He was previously the my biggest accomplishment I think is bringing oppor- chairman of the chamber as well, with that one-year term tunity to our community. When you bring in a com- expiring just earlier this year. pany of those size, it spurs off not just employees, but Throughout all the boards, organizations and community other small businesses that can now help supply, or groups that Sims has worked with, one motivator remains either, let’s say you need landscaping, you need jani- constant: Service. torial, you need catering. A lot of other companies are “I started in the Rotary Club and just really have taken started because of some of these larger companies.” their model to heart, which is ‘service above self,’” Sims Though his stint as the District 2 commissioners is said. the only elected public office Sims has held, he briefly One way Sims’ heart for the community is apparent is returned to the board last year.

THE COVINGTON NEWS

VISIONS 2025: NEWTON COUNTY MARCHES FORWARD 43

Photo by Garrett Pitts | The Covington News

through volunteer work.

Sims fondly remembers mentoring several of Newton County’s youth in an internship-like program one summer. He said that, though he thought of his role as just a mentor, many of the kids he worked with viewed him more like a father figure.

“When many of those kids graduated, they wanted me at their graduation, they wanted me there going off to college, or I can even remember one young man reaching out to me when he was ready to buy his first car,” Sims said.

Sims also makes himself readily available for the

44 VISIONS 2025: NEWTON COUNTY MARCHES FORWARD

Washington Street Community Center when they call upon him. He mentioned that this community center in particular is close to his heart because his mother used to attend it.

For several years, he has offered his wide skill set such as web design, rebranding and video production. But the main service that Sims is synonymous with is digital marketing, something that goes in hand-in-hand with his passion for service.

In the early 2010s, Sims shifted his career into the digital marketing scape when his family’s excavating company suffered under the recession of the late 2000s.

Around this time, the world was making a shift from traditional marketing strategies to digital ones, and Sims wanted to lend his know-how to those who needed some help making this jump.

“For a lot of the older guys, I would say at that time it was a little confusing going from Yellow Pages to internet website, social media, all of that stuff,” Sims said.

“And so I started helping a few businesses, and they started telling each other the work that I was doing for them. I was doing it out of just really service, and it took off into a full-blown business that this year will be our 15th year anniversary being in the digital marketing space.”

While Sims’ life has taken many twists and turns, his mission has always remained the same.

“It’s about me trying to serve and help versus anything else,” Sims said. “If I benefit, I benefit, but that’s not the reason for anything I do. “

THE COVINGTON NEWS

Photo by Garrett Pitts | The Covington News

Unsung Hero

Ron Carter The ‘face’ of the Covington Welcome Center

W

Garrett Pitts Sports Editor

ith tourism becoming more commonplace in Covington, Ron Carter has seen his role as the Director of the city’s Welcome Center become more impactful each year.

In many cases, Carter’s face is the first tourists see and interact with in Covington.

“That’s what I am told, in a way I am the face of Covington,” Carter joked.

Carter, a lifelong Covington resident, describes himself as a ‘people’s person’ and how his current role is perfect for him.

“It kind of just happened. I’ve always done customer service,” Carter said. “I definitely want to deal with people, I am better with that than behind the scenes.”

While showing off Covington and what it has to offer is one of Carter’s main responsibilities, interactTHE COVINGTON NEWS

ing with new people every day is one of his tasks he enjoys the most.

“I do love the fact that I get to talk to people as they come in. It is more beneficial to me than anyone else because it lets me see our town and our community through fresh eyes every day,” Carter said. “We have a lot of residents that come in as well, and I tell our residents as they come in, ‘Be a resident in your own town.’”

In the past, Carter worked with Georgia Public Broadcasting and even in the Covington Chamber of Commerce before stepping into his current role.

However, Carter’s ties to tourism in Covington stem from his time at the Chamber.

“The Chamber is where tourism started,” Carter said. “It started with the chamber in the seventies I believe. I started working for Clara Deemer, who was the tourism director at the time, and I managed the welcome center for her. I went into membership for a white at the chamber for tourism. It is more about dealing with people every day, it is something new every day.”

Ever since they moved into the current building in 2020, Carter and his team have worked at the Covington Welcome Center that holds and displays a plethora of props from many of the films and shows that were shot in the ‘Hollywood of the South’.

What was originally a temporary museum turned into a permanent place to showcase both the films and the history of Covington.

“We had done a pop-up museum just to see if people were interested, and they were. They were very interested,” Carter said. “So, we were hoping to do something like that and the producers said, ‘Bring your trucks’ and loaded it up. Everything we have in here has to be donated or lent to us, we can’t purchase anything. Warner Bros. has been incredibly generous to us, as well.”

A welcome center of its kind is not something Carter always expected to see in his hometown.

“Nope. never, ever, ever,” Carter said. “It is nice, I see a lot of changes in Covington, but I also see a lot of the same, which is very nice. We were really able to maintain that small-town feel. I always say, our historical society and our downtown development do a good job of keeping us a small town, even though we are not a small town anymore.”

According to Carter, tourism has played a big part in the success and prosperity of the welcome center.

“It is very exciting for us to have this here. For us to have what we have here, is really unique,” Carter said.

“For example, last year we had 130,000 visitors come through. A town our size should see 25,000 visitors.

We are really ahead of the curve on that. It is strictly because of film tourism. That is the biggest draw we have. Historical tourism is strong as well.”

The welcome center features props from many of the locally-shot productions that include Vampire Diaries, Legacies, Sweet Magnolias, Dukes of Hazzard and more.

Carter noted how over the last 15 years, tourism has VISIONS 2025: NEWTON COUNTY MARCHES FORWARD 45

Photo by Garrett Pitts | The Covington News allowed Covington to become much more than just a town people pass on the way to their destination.

“That’s one of the biggest changes I have seen in tourism. When I started here, we were more of a ‘stop-over’, people would come here and spend the night on the way to the beach or the way home from the beach or something along those lines. We are now the destination. They come and stay six or seven nights. We are funded solely by hotel/motel taxes, so residents don’t pay a penny for what we do here.”

The stats reflect Carter’s claims. Last year, Newton County brought in $130 million just from tourism alone.

With increased tourism and filming, Carter hopes to see the welcome center increase in size in the coming years.

“I always tell people, my goal would be to go to the city council and say, ‘Hey I need a bigger building.’ If you walk around and see, we do need a bigger building,” Carter said. “I kind of joke with the staff because we are in the office of tourism and downtown development, so I tell them eventually I am going to have to kick them out of their office to use the space up as well.”

With all the changes that Covington has seen over the years, Carter’s love for his hometown has not diminished. Rather, it has been the opposite. “[It’s increased] exponentially,” Carter said. “I 46 VISIONS 2025: NEWTON COUNTY MARCHES FORWARD

have always loved talking to people and I love my community, I love Covington. I feel like we have the best of everything here. We are so close to Atlanta to where if you want the city, it is there but it is not too close that you have to deal with it. I lived there for 10 years and moved right back. My whole family is here and that is one of the biggest things. That is the biggest thing — having family here. My mother’s family probably goes back six generations, my dad goes back four or five. Our families have been here forever.”

With decades of involvement and life in Covington, Carter has seen almost everything. However, he shared what thing he wishes he could experience for the first time again “The architecture, for me,” Carter said. “We have some of the most beautiful homes you will ever see.

That is probably my biggest thing.”

While his work at the welcome center takes up a large portion of his day-to-day life, Carter shared what his main love is.

“My family. That’s the biggest thing,” Carter said.

“This takes [up a lot], but I let this take up so much of my time, it is not mandatory. I am here all the time, I love it. It is just the interaction with people.

Who would’ve ever thought, growing up in Covington, Georgia, that I would meet people from every corner of the globe.”

THE COVINGTON NEWS

P T

Photo by Garrett Pitts | The Covington News

Employer of the Year

Newton County Water and Sewerage Authority Serving the community in more ways than one for over 50 years

F

Kate Verity News Editor

or communities across the world, clean water is the backbone for daily civilization. The Newton County Water and Sewerage Authority prides itself on being that backbone.

The NCWSA has worked day in and day out since the 70s to become the premier water distribution and sewerage treatment facility in Newton County. For many, they are the ones keeping water flowing from shower heads, washing machines filling and toilets flushing away, all at the turn THE COVINGTON NEWS

of a tap or push of a button.

While large water towers labeled “NCWSA” are prevalent throughout the county, much of the work happens behind the scenes. This is why the NCWSA can often be taken for granted.

Executive Director Mike Hopkins, one of the authority’s original employees since its inception, was reminded of this when visiting with some of the brightest students attending Emory at Oxford College.

“I spent time with about 25 students from Emory College and they came out to our water reclamation

plant,” Hopkins said. “These are very bright people and they had no clue [what we did.]”

Whether it’s the water/sewer departments, engineering department or even customer service, Hopkins noted that it is imperative that the department maintains a high standard for the community.

“Without us doing our job as good as we can do, the community would be in a bad way,” Hopkins said. “People would get sick, people could possibly die.”

There are numerous public misconceptions about the NCWSA.

VISIONS 2025: NEWTON COUNTY MARCHES FORWARD 47

For one, the authority is not a county entity. Despite assumptions that, as an essential service, they might be a public entity, the water authority is funded solely by its customers.

While the authority has received federal funding in the past, including ARPA funding for its reverse osmosis facility in Stanton Springs, they receive no tax dollars.

Through educational work and community involvement, the NCWSA might be able to dispel these misconceptions. Throughout the last year, the authority has been everywhere, volunteering and showcasing itself, not out of self-promotion, but in an effort to teach and aid.

This visibility is important to the NCWSA so that Newton County residents understand that their water and sewer utilities stem from people who want to help and care about what is best for the county, despite appearances that could lead people to think otherwise.

“We get a little bit of negative feelings sometimes from our customers because unfortunately, if you don’t pay your bill, then there’s consequences for that,” said Tracey Clark, human resources director. “So we like to promote ourselves in a more positive way that not everything we do is negative.”

Indeed this strategy has seemed to resonate with the community.

The NCWSA has a “Water Monster,” which Clark describes as a miniature water tank that they bring to events to provide drinking water.

The authority brings the Water Monster to events and passes out water in biodegradable cups or reusable wa-

48 VISIONS 2024: BETTER TOGETHER

Photo by Garrett Pitts | The Covington News ter bottles. Employees agreed that the acquisition of this tank was a turning point for community involvement because it gave the NCWSA something to showcase and identify itself.

“The water monster is really when we started doing a lot of stuff because we could take our water and get it out there,” said Tim McCart, director of operations.

But besides keeping the county’s premier avenue for water and sewer needs, the NCWSA keeps the pipes of community service flowing every single day.

To name a few, the NCWSA supports the Special Olympics, Fuzz Run, Cheerios Challenge, Family Fun Day, Miracle League, Change the World, Oxford Fourth of July, events at Chimney Park, as well as elementary school field days, school trade shows and career expos.

Krista Waits, business operations manager, echoed that volunteer work at the NCWSA is just second nature.

“We just volunteer every chance we can,” Waits said.

“If there’s an opportunity for us, we just get out there and we want [the authority] to be recognized there…We just do whatever we can for the community.”

With the amount of work that NCWSA provides for the community, it should come as no surprise that having the ability to serve is a requirement, not an option.

“They’re told that in the interview,” Clark said. “You have to have a servant’s heart to work here; that we are here to serve the public.”

With Newton County experiencing substantial levels of growth, NCWSA is growing along with it. The authority anticipates an increase in usage over the span of at least the next 50 years as more industrial sites make their way to Newton County.

Despite how big or small Newton County is, the NCWSA seeks to keep its mission the same: To educate and to serve the community.

“Our industry has done a poor job of keeping people abreast of what we do and how important it is that people have the services,” Hopkins said. “So what we try to do with all this is make an impression on the community. I mean, we’re not looking for new customers, we’re not like a business in that sense. We’re not looking for new customers, but we’re just trying to educate the citizens and our customers.”

THE COVINGTON NEWS

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