Newton County is
VISIONS
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.
LEARNING
Music for Change sets the stage for community impact..................6
Building Strong Futures sets students up for success......................8
WELLNESS
NCSO provides mental health support to colleagues..................11
Covington Women’s Health Specialists provide expert care..........14
COMMUNITY
Arts Association internship program builds young leaders.........19
ENTERPRISE
Leapin Lizards Pet Shop reaches 40-year mark.............................. 22
LEADERS
Community Spirit Award: Debbie Harper........................................27
Youth of the Year Award: Matthew Lynn..........................................
Unsung Hero: Felicia Harris ...............................................................34
Unsung Hero: Jennifer Williams .......................................................38 Employer of the Year Award: Newton Federal................................40 Index of Advertisers ..............................................................................5
Patrick Graham Proprietor & Publisher
Evan Newton Managing Editor
Kate Verity News Editor
Garrett Pitts Sports Editor
Cynthia Blackshear Advertising Director
Lee Ann Avery Circulation Director
Judy Shropshire Legals Clerk
Published Wednesdays and Weekends by Newton Newspapers Inc., 1166 Usher St., Covington GA 30014. Telephone 770-787-6397 Online covnews.com
ON THE COVER
Newton County Chamber of Commerce President Debbie Harper, winner of The Covington News’ Community Spirit Award for 2026.
PhotobyMichaelBandoo,Cover designbyEvanNewton
Newton County is a community that’s truly Built to Last
With nearly two and a half years under my belt in Covington, I’ve come to see just about everything Newton County has to offer. I’ve seen the good. I’ve seen the bad. And I’ve, unfortunately, seen the ugly. But above all, I’ve seen the greatness that Newton County exuberates each and every day.
There’s a saying that I first heard shortly before I graduated college. In short: “The people make the place.” That couldn’t ring any more true than right here in Newton County.
You’ll meet many of them in this
year’s VISIONS magazine titled “Built to Last.” This year’s Community Spirit Award Winner, Debbie Harper, personifies what it means to build a community that’s lasted for generations. As the president of the Newton County Chamber of Commerce, she has the tough job of being the liaison to over 25,000 employees through 700 employers.
What’s even more impressive is that she actually takes the time to know as many of those people as she possibly can. About a year ago, Kate Verity — the newest managing editor of The Oconee Enterprise in Watkinsville — told me that Debbie had invited her for lunch. It wasn’t for a story or any ulterior motive, just a friendly conversation and a way to integrate Kate, then a newcomer, into the community.
You’d be hard pressed to find that type of character anywhere else nowadays. Well, that is, except right here in Newton County.
You’ll also find that level of char -
acter in Newton Federal, a bank that’s dedicated to people first, not numbers. You’ll also find in it our three Unsung Heroes: Felicia Harris, John King and Jennifer Williams. All three are extraordinary individuals who put their all into this community.
And you’ll also find it in Matthew Lynn, a young man who does extraordinary things in the world of performing arts. Seriously, go watch Matthew perform some time. You won’t regret it.
Thankfully, that’s just a small sample size of what Newton County is made up of. Because despite all of the negative you may hear (and that we have to report), I can assure you that there are far more decent people here than not.
That’s why Newton County is a community that’s Built to Last.
On behalf of the entire staff of The Covington News , we hope you enjoy this year’s 2026 VISIONS Magazine, Built to Last.
INDEX OF ADVERTISERS
ACS - 12
Animal Medical of Covington - 10
Berry’s Tree Farm - 23
Bradley’s Bar B Que - 17
Building Strong Futures - 9
Bullseye Accounting Services - 14
Cater 2 U - 22
Christie Dove Insurance - 31
City of Oxford - 25
Complete Automotive Tire Center - 22
Conyers Arts Council - 21
Covington Ghost Tours - 16
Discover Covington - 43
Fletchers Jewelry Company - 16
Forever Ms Quinces - 21
Hometown Realty Consultants, Inc. - 33
Ida Claire - 33
Keep Newton Beautiful - 33
Leapin Lizards Pet Shop - 22
Loganville Christian Academy - 9
McKibben Music - 17
Newton County Board of Commissioners - 24
Newton County Chamber of Commerce - 29
Newton County IDA - 29
Newton County Sheriff’s Office - 3
Newton County Water and Sewerage Authority - 25
Newton Federal - 42
Nitro 2 Go - 18
Osake - 20
Pat Astrin Realty - 21
PC AfterDark Computers.- 23
Peachtree Academy - 7
Piedmont Newton Hospital - 13
Snapping Shoals EMC - 2
The Clock Tower Escape Room - 17
The Doepke Law Firm, LLC - 24
The Law Office of Amy Zaptaka, LLC - 31
The Sandwich Factory - 21
Town of Newborn - 20
Travel Arrangements 4 U - 22
United Bank - 44
Vervain Vault - 19
Walden’s Restaurant - 17
Waldens Restaurant - 17
West Morelands - 21
Wild Art Gallery - 16
Your Pie - 16
Your Sister’s Closet - 17
LEARNING
Music for Change sets the stage for musicians and community impact
KAITLYN HARVEY CORRESPONDENT
The thrum of amps can be heard around Oxford College of Emory University usually quiet and quaint campus, as the first chord breaks open the afternoon for OxFest, where every set carries a cause as much as a sound.
The sound is a lineup of student bands that perform and raise money for their community partners and allow for various organizations, like voting registration groups, to table at the event.
Behind it all, the student musicians of Music for Change are the driving force, making it possible.
Who’s behind the music
Music for Change is a collective of student musicians from Oxford College that gives them the platform to perform at local community events. The club also serves as a way for students who were involved in music throughout grade school to still play and perform throughout college.
Lilly Ferrell, a sophomore psychology student majoring in music from Jefferson, Ga., was horrified with the thought of not having a way to play music in college as a lifelong singer, pianist, guitarist and bassist.
“For my first two months, I didn’t have music at all, and I felt like something was missing,” Ferrell said. “And then I saw OxFest and joined, and I was just like, ‘Wow, it’s back.’ Because for me, music is just something I need. If I don’t have it, then I just don’t feel as whole.”
Ferrell serves as co-president alongside Fiona Kuo, a sophomore majoring in sociology with a minor in data science on the pre-law track from Long
Kuo carries with her an extensive background as a violinist and violist, with her being first inspired to pick up the instrument after seeing two violinists in a ramen shop at six years old. Since then, she has taken part in multiple performing groups, including the
Music for Change caught Kuo’s eye while they were tabling during one of her first days at Oxford College. Taking part in a similar club in high school and looking to get involved on campus, she joined as a public relations officer.
Island.
New York Youth Symphony and Juilliard’s Music Advancement Program.
Photo by Alexis Cox | The Covington News
Now, as co-president, she directed the focus of the group into more community service initiatives.
“We also have been working to really extend our mission of the social justice component of Music for Change,” Kuo said. “So, not only making a change on our campus, but extending that beyond.”
‘A stage for both’
Music for Change’s mission is to “provide a stage for both musicians and social justice,” meaning that the club works collectively towards social progress and for the communi ty and the underprivileged.
One of the club’s biggest efforts over the past year was their partnership with the Washington Street Communi ty Center, a program center for the children of Newton County, ages five to 18 years old.
This past January, Kuo was recognized with the Colle giate Dreamer Award during Newton County’s Martin Lu ther King Jr. Day celebration for her efforts with Music for Change that resulted in raising over $600 dollars for the Washington Street Community Center.
Kuo recalls the partnership being “spontaneous,” and that her favorite part was performing for the kids of the center and their interest in their instruments.
“They had no idea what a violin was,” Kuo said. “They were really curious about what the instrument was like, like parts of the instrument and the sound of it. It’s very new to them.”
The experience at Washington Street Community Center inspired Kuo to expand fundraising and. Bands that are a part of Music for Change have performed in elementary schools to senior centers, impacting Newton County residents of all ages.
Ian Gau, a freshman from Chicago, who is the music coordinator for the club, saw this impact in person while performing at Merryvale Assisted Living.
“I remember there were a few songs that one of the musicians played, and you could see the moment where different people recognized the song, and it brought a smile immediately to their faces,” Gau said. “I think it kind of just shows how music can span borders of age, race, gender, everything. It’s just something that everyone can appreciate.”
When the concert’s over
Kuo and Ferrell are in their final year at Oxford College, but are leaving a legacy for other members. Due to their efforts, the Oxford College Board of Counselors will be donating money to help the club buy instruments for members who want to participate but do not have an instrument with them.
As their time with the organization comes to a close, both leaders are reflecting on the impact they’ve built through events like OxFest before transferring to Emory’s main campus.
“That’s how we kind of put the cherry on top at the end of the year,” Ferrell said. “Me and Fiona wanted to leave something behind for Music for Change.”
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Building Strong Futures sets students up for success
KAITLYN HARVEY CORRESPONDENT
Some find it in the brick walls of a university, the sparks of a welding project, the face of a client or in their reflection before going to work. No matter where, there is that moment where you realize that you are where you’re meant to be, doing what you love.
Building Strong Futures opens the door for Newton County’s high schoolers to find this reality, showing them that their futures can extend far beyond what they once imagined.
Building Strong Futures is a nonprofit that works to provide enrichment programs for high school students, offering college tours and career workshops. It originated in the halls of Union Grove United Methodist Church as an idea of Michelle Norington and Monica Banks.
The organization was originally founded as Building Strong Women in 2002, focusing on teaching women life preparation through etiquette
classes, mentor programs and an annual cotillion.
“I looked at my daughter, [Banks] looked at her daughter, and we felt that there was something needed,” Norington said.
Tameka Bolden said she does not remember if she was “volun-told” or volunteered to be a part of Building Strong Women. But now, as a member of the board for Building Strong Futures, she sees it as a full circle moment, giving back for the opportunities Banks and Norrington have given her.
“I can say that over the years being in it, I’ve learned a lot, not just about how to carry yourself in an etiquette way,” Bolden said. “Just seeing it grow over the years, it is definitely a way to give back to the community. I feel like it’s a way for me to pay it forward.”
In 2015, the organization wanted to include young men in the programs as well, thus rebranding to Building Strong Futures. This was followed by a shift in programming, focusing on career readiness rather than eti -
quette.
The flagship program of the organization is providing college tours. They aim each year to send students to two predominantly White institutions and two historically Black colleges and universities, visiting the likes of Duke University, New York University, Columbia University among others.
Building Strong Futures is showing students that their world of opportunity is limitless. Since their time touring colleges, they have visited states like Florida, Tennessee, Louisiana and Washington, D.C.
“It’s about exposure,” Clarissa Weaver, treasurer of Building Strong Futures said. “We start our students early as they’re entering ninth grade, and a lot of our students return year after year until they graduate. So, they have the opportunity to be exposed to over 20 universities, whether they’re in an urban setting or rural setting, and just across the southeast region as well.”
College and career workshops are also offered, teaching students pro -
Photo via Building Strong Futures, Facebook
fessionalism and giving them insight into what college life is like beyond the tour.
Nicholas Jones, board member for Building Strong Futures and leadership and learning coordinator for Newton County Schools, has worked in multiple roles in education, from teacher to administration. Jones recalls not having opportunities like these available when he was in school, so he wants to give local students what he didn’t have.
“We do a lot to kind of focus on the kids because you want other kids to be attracted to the program by having fun,” Jones said. “The board, we’re in our 30s and 40s. So, we want to still show them that we have a good time.”
Coming up is the organization’s 25th year in action and its 10th college tour, they are creating a focus on fundraising, hosting galas and golf tournaments to continue their programs and minimize costs for participants.
“We have students that have done great things and are continuing to do great things,” Norrington said. “All that comes back to the exposure, from never knowing what’s out there to understanding what they could do.”
For many students, that exposure becomes the turning point. It is the moment when a college campus no longer feels distant, when a career path becomes real, and when possibility replaces uncertainty.
Through each tour, workshop and conversation, Building Strong Futures is not just showing students where they can go, but helping them believe they belong there.
WELLNESS
NCSO provides mental health support to colleagues
Photo by Evan Newton | The Covington News
RACHEL SANDSTROM CORRESPONDENT
In 2016, Newton County Sergeant Wesley Dickerson’s former deputy Justin White was killed in the line of duty.
White was responding to a cardiac arrest call when his patrol car flipped. He was rushed to the hospital but ultimately passed away on Nov. 15.
Three years after White’s death, Dickerson’s mental health started to take a toll, and he eventually reached a breaking point.
“I was having such a hard time dealing with it,” Dickerson said.
Dickerson just finished the night shift and was doing homework for
his Central State University classes. He was pursuing a psychology degree.
Dickerson’s four-year-old son was watching Paw Patrol, and the volume was turned up too loud when Dickerson raised his voice.
“We’ve got a great relationship,” Dickerson said. “He’s one of the coolest kids I’ve ever met, but I never want to experience that again, to see the fear of my kids because of the way I said something.”
Dickerson experienced a panic attack for the first time following his frustration with his son. This was the moment he knew it was time to seek help.
After talking to a counselor, Dick -
erson realized White’s accident was not the only incident that impacted him. A host of traumatic events he experienced throughout his career all played a part in the way he was feeling.
“I was exposed to some of the worst in life and never knew it was there,” Dickerson said.
After seeking help, Dickerson developed a passion to encourage other law enforcement officers to do the same. In line with his passion, Dickserson created a peer support group for law enforcement at the Newton County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO).
With the help of Dharma Davis, NCSO co-responder, and Mandy Peters, NCSO training coordinator,
Dickerson has provided officers with a space to talk about their experiences.
Through the Georgia Department of Public Safety, Dickerson took the Peer Counselor Certification Training course, where he learned how to perform diffusions and debriefings.
During a critical incident, Dickerson is able to go to the scene and provide support in the moment. Over the next few days, Dickerson can bring the officers into the station, where he will lead a conversation for officers to talk about their experience.
“They’re able to bounce off of one another and see how each other’s coping with it,” Dickerson said. “Just knowing that everybody saw and heard the same thing, it helps everybody.”
As a co-responder, Davis mainly provides mental health support to community members. While Davis is not certified in the training, she is a mental health professional, meaning she can also give officers coping skills and connect them with additional resources if necessary.
Davis said she has supported Dick-
erson’s dream to start the peer support group since she arrived at the NCSO two years ago.
“I’ve definitely been pushing the idea of having a mental health unit,” Davis said.
Originally, Dickerson and Davis were the only ones running the peer support group. Recently, three NCSO employees were interviewed to assume the role of peer counselors.
If selected, the group will go through the Georgia Peer Counselor Certification Training to learn the same skills Dickerson was taught.
Dickerson’s long-term goal is to expand the group to all Newton County first responders.
“They’re going to be able to pick out someone out of that group and say, I’m comfortable enough with this person that I can talk to them,” Peters said.
Being the NCSO training coordinator, Peters has to approve Dickerson’s peer support program and has seen the program evolve from the beginning.
After working at the NCSO for 29 years, Peters became desensitized to the traumas she had seen and sees
the support group as a blessing to the agency.
“I think it’s absolutely a great thing because behind every badge is a human being,” Peters said. “And every human being deserves support, whether it be emotional or social.”
Davis emphaized the peer support group’s commitment to confidentiality. She says there is a stigma in law enforcement that officers should not open up about their mental health struggles.
“[It’s]jJust letting those in law enforcement, definitely starting within Newton County, know that they have people that they can talk to, who they can trust and express whatever they are going through,” Davis said.
Dickerson says law enforcement officers come into the profession with an empty cup. Every call they respond to, fills the cup with another drop. He says, it is important to seek help before your cup overflows.
“We all have our breaking point,” Dickerson said. “We need to make sure that we don’t get to that breaking point because of the calls you go to, because you can’t help somebody if you’re not able to help yourself.”
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Covington Women’s Health Specialists provide expert care at home
KATE VERITY NEWS EDITOR
Dr. Cathy Larrimore said she wants the women of Covington to know that they don’t have to drive into Atlanta to receive expert care. It’s available right here at home.
Larrimore has been leading Covington Women’s Health Specialists since its inception in 2004, before which she worked in the Navy. While the practice was initially under the umbrella of Newton General Hospital, Larrimore later purchased it and has run it independently ever since. Covington Women’s Health Specialists maintains an affiliation with what is now Piedmont Newton Hospital, operating on the hospital campus in their Physicians’ Pavilion.
Covington Women’s Health Specialists was founded on a key principle of being for women, by women. Larrimore said the all-female team was put together when Newton General Hospital saw a market for such a niche among female patients, especially
Photo via Covington Women’s Health Specialists
those with religious stipulations.
“There’s a small minority of women who look for male gynecologists, but most women think that a woman understands better,” Larrimore said. “And I don’t believe that myself; I think men can be very good at whatever profession that they choose to do. But it’s definitely a desire for a lot of women.”
Beyond providing obstetrics and gynecology care, Larrimore said that practices like Covington Women’s Health Specialists can provide many additional important services that some women may not realize they should seek regularly. She said that because education is so important in the field, Covington Women’s Health Specialists prioritizes community involvement.
According to the Covington Women’s Health Specialists website, the practice sponsors many of the Newton County Arts Association’s annual events, including the 2025 Pink-Out Concert for Breast Cancer Awareness. They also sponsored the Fuzz Run in many of its past years and helped sponsor the 2025 Sip n’ Stroll at Legion Field.
Also in 2025, Covington Women’s Health Specialists made a financial donation to the Fort Valley State University MANRRS [Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences] Chapter. During the 2026 iteration of Black History Month, Covington Women’s Health Specialists shared student-written highlights that celebrated Black women in medicine and science.
Larrimore said that being out in the Covington community not only gives them a chance for service, but they can often reconnect with former patients, see babies they helped bring to term and continue educating local women.
“A relationship with the gynecologist is important for women, because we’re of course trying to do their pap smears and, you know, take care of their reproductive selves, but at the same time, we’re trying to provide other preventative medicine type services,” Larrimore said.
Larrimore said that during the annual exam, providers at Covington Women’s Health Specialists screen patients’ symptoms, check for high blood pressure, and discuss breast, gastrointestinal, hormone and thyroid health as well.
Dr. Cathy Larrimore
“The pap test is only just a small lab test in a whole, you know, big exam that they get when they come in for an annual visit,” Larrimore said.
This is part of how education is such a crucial part of the practice. For some women, meeting with their gynecologist can be informative rather than about undergoing a procedure or test. For instance, Larrimore said she often sees misinformation on the frequency of pap smear appointments on social media.
“...Maybe the TikTok influencer is not the right person to tell them who
doesn’t need a pap smear,” Larrimore said.
Lately, Larrimore said, in Covington Women’s Health Specialists’ work to educate the community, they advertised that they accept patients who identify as transgender or non-binary. She said that this led to misinformation circulating online, with people inaccurately saying that the practice would be examining male genitalia.
Rather, Larrimore wants the community to understand that many people who identify as male have female organs that still need to receive healthcare.
“We’ve never really had labels for it in the past, but we’ve always known people who—maybe women who wore men’s clothing,” Larrimore. “That’s a main concern for us, because those people may feel uncomfortable coming in for care, but they still need care. And they need care just as much as a woman who’s living life in feminine clothes and making it obvious that she’s living her life as a woman. Those people need care just as much.”
Through blog posts on their website and social media pages, Covington Women’s Health Specialists is continuing to work to educate the community and show Covington women that high-quality care is close by.
“I want them to think that there are experts close to home,” Larrimore said. “They can receive expert care close to home.”
Discover DowntownCovington
Discover everything Downtown Covington has to offer! With annual events and great shopping and dining options, there’s something for everyone.
COMMUNITY
Arts Association internship program builds young leaders
KATE VERITY NEWS EDITOR
The Arts Association in Newton County is a hub of artistic creativity and community fellowship.
Each year, young creatives take the first steps in getting involved in the arts through the Arts Association. Some of these children are stepping into a years-long commitment as they develop an arts family at 1169 Washington St.
Some of these students are so dedicated that they eventually take on internships during their upperclassmen years of high school.
As interns, they get the opportunity to learn what’s beyond the stage. Whether helping out in the technical department by running lights and sound or learning the business office and what it takes to run a nonprofit, the interns learn valuable skills that are transferable in and out of the arts.
“So if they’re more interested in what goes on in the office, or if they’re more interested in the backstage, or if they’re in costumes, so we sort of create it for them,” said Abigail Coggin, executive director. “But they all get to experience working backstage, just because we don’t have a program for
that, and that’s so important, especially if they go off to college to work and things.”
Coggin said that office-based interns may learn how to create a budget, apply for grants and other practical matters that go into running a nonprofit.
Other interns have gone on to have careers in the arts, and everything they learned about production and shows helped prepare them for the future.
“That’s the thing about the whole program in general, is just that, you get what you want out of it, and you just, we have to develop it and make that relationship with the kids and develop the program to what works best for them,” Coggin said.
The Arts As -
sociation’s first intern was Alexandria Schulz in 2003. Schulz and longtime Executive Director Buncie Hay Lanners struck up a conversation after Lanners learned Schulz needed a summer internship.
Over the course of her internship, Schulz organized an art and architecture tour of historic homes.
“It was for my senior year at Newton High School, and I was in this youth apprenticeship program, and we had to find an internship for the summer the summer before our senior year,” Schulz said. “So I was part of the Covington Regional Ballet [via the Arts Association] for a few years prior to that, and I had actually like taken a step back from my ballet stuff, and had been more involved in extracurricular stuff at school, but it wanted to stay involved with the Arts Association and so Buncie Lanners [former executive director] and I got to talking, and she needed an intern for the summer, and so we came up with this idea of doing some projects for the Arts Association.”
Schulz was one of the interns who didn’t pursue a career path direct -
Photo via Arts Association in Newton County, Facebook
ly tied to the arts, instead going into the tech industry in Silicon Valley. But she draws a direct connection between the creativity she cultivated in the arts and tech innovation.
“The arts is about nurturing creativity, right?” Schulz said. “And the sector of tech, I mean, I was in Silicon Valley, so it’s an innovation space. And innovation and creativity go hand in hand. They’re one and the same, I would say.”
Another previous intern, Nala McCamy, continued to pursue the arts after high school. Her experiences
growing up in the Arts Association and working as an intern laid the groundwork for where she is today.
McCamy is the current theatre director at Newton High School and teaches acting classes at the Arts Association.
“I know I was going to do theater, but it [the internship] confirmed in me that I knew that I wanted to be well-rounded,” McCamy said. “I knew that I didn’t want simply the skills of an actor. I wanted to be able to do multiple things and make myself available in multiple ways, and that technical theatre internship gave me the—started the groundwork for doing just that.”
lowing it to be molded for each child — hasn’t changed.
While the internship was initially open to just seniors, both juniors and seniors participate now, which allows some students to be interns for back-to-back years. Additionally, what began as a summer internship with Schulz has changed to align with school semesters, and some students even obtain class credit for the commitment.
But one of the biggest changes since the program’s creation is how many interns the Arts Association has been able to bring on.
“We went from having maybe two, to now we have like eight,” Coggin said.
Since Schulz and McCamy’s time as interns in the Arts Association, the program has only grown and developed. But its fluidity — al -
Though the growing manpower is an added benefit at the nonprofit, Coggin says the heart of the intern program is and will always be education.
“Our main commitment is they want to learn this. So we’re going to keep the program going as long as we can, because this is—it’s not even just about ‘free labor,’” Coggin said jokingly. “It’s about them learning, and they want to prepare.”
DiscoverHistoricOldeTownConyers
Take a stroll through this quaint, historic area of Conyers. Enjoy unique specialty stores, restaurants, entertainment, and festivals in this Main Street community.
Leapin Lizards Pet Shop reaches 40-year mark
DELANEY DERRY SENIOR CORRESPONDENT
Scaly serpents to playful puppies, this shop has anything and everything that satisfies a pet lover’s desires. Leapin Lizards Pet Shop celebrates four decades of business in 2026.
Owner Jovona Kiser opened the shop 40 years ago along with her husband, Daryl. It is a full-line pet store, meaning it sells a range of supplies for all animal needs and has all kinds of critters from cats and dogs to birds and reptiles.
The shop does not necessarily have all animals in store at all times, but their range of what animals are available in store varies across all types from furry to feathered friends. Thay also provide grooming services and boarding for small animals such as guinea pigs, rabbits, snakes or birds. Leapin Lizards is more than a local pet shop. Its small charm is not what
makes it unique, but how the owners have gone beyond the average pet shop of animal knowledge and supplies but with friendly service and willingness to serve.
The owner does her very best to cater to what the community needs for their pets, which Kiser says is what has kept them in business so long. They see what the public needs, and they find a way to provide the services they require.
“We have a strong following,” Kiser said. “When you treat people right, and you give them halfway decent prices, they’ll come back.”
The community has been loyal and loving over the past 40 years, Kiser says, and she could not be happier about it.
“We exceeded our goals in the first year,” Kiser said. “We set six-month and 12-month goals and exceeded both the first year, and it’s just been going all out ever since.”
Although the shop has now been
Photo via Leapin Lizards, Facebook
open for 40 years, Kiser said that things are hardly different from when it first opened. She explained that the merchandise has changed over the years and the animals they carry vary from time to time, but the integrity and purpose of the shop is no different from opening day.
“When we first opened, you might have one or two snakes in here, one or two birds, but now we have a large selection of snakes,” Kiser said. “The reptile section has really grown a lot in the last ten years. I have a guy working for me, and that’s what he specializes in.
So, we go with the flow. Whatever, at the time, is popular, then that’s what we go with.”
After Kiser and her husband got married, they moved to Covington to begin their newlywed life. After relocating, they discussed opening a pet shop.
Kiser explained that their best friends owned a pet shop in Covington, but it was closing down at the time they were moving. They saw the opportunity to open a new shop, and with the support of their friends, they opened Leapin Lizards in Janu -
ary of 1986 in Covington.
“The only experience [my husband and I] had when we opened the store was what we had at home,” Kiser said. “We had a zoo at home. We had snakes, lizards [and] like ten fish tanks. We were just animal people, and we took it from there.”
Unfortunately, Kiser’s husband passed away 14 years ago, but Kiser has kept the business running and continues to celebrate its success. But his memory is not forgotten. The name of the shop stems from a seemingly small and simple moment between the two of them and is now a fond memory of the couple.
“My husband and I were watching lit tle Annie one night, and she said, ‘Leapin’ lizards!’ and that was it,” Kiser said.
Forty years later, the cou ple has a suc cessful busi ness, but also
a sweet, memorable night is forever encapsulated in the local shop that Kiser and her husband started together.
There are no set plans for a 40th anniversary celebration, but Kiser said she is ready and excited for something to be planned later this year. The shop has a long history to celebrate and a community that is grateful for its business.
“I was excited [to reach 40 years],” Kiser said. “I was like, ‘Wow, that’s an accomplishment.’ It feels good to know that we have provided a service for the town and surrounding counties.”
Fun For The Whole Family
Fun For The Whole Family
90 Mt. Tabor Road Covington, GA 30014
Photo by Michael Bandoo | The Covington News
CommunitySpirit Award Winner
Debbie Harper Building a community that’s designed to last
EVAN NEWTON MANAGING EDITOR
At 2100 Washington St, just a few blocks off the Square, Debbie Harper and the Newton County Chamber of Commerce are hard at work to ensure that Newton County is a community Built to Last.
Harper has served as the president of the chamber since 2020, leading the charge as a liaison for 25,000 employees from 700 employers across Newton County and surrounding ar -
eas. As a liaison to an employer pool that is the size of one-fourth the population of Newton County, Harper often wears a proverbial hard hat and safety vest to ensure things run smoothly.
The fifth-generation Newton County resident has spent a lifetime marketing her town as the best in the world. Whether it was at her parents’ grocery store on the Square, her 23-year career as a realtor or in her current role at the chamber, Harper is fully committed to the place she calls home.
“I used to sell homes to families, and now I sell my home to the world,” Harper said.
Though Harper is one of the more notable figures across the county, she didn’t think her long-term future would be in Newton County. As a kid, she had aspirations of living her life elsewhere.
“When I talk to students, I’m like, ‘OK, who said they’re never coming back?’ That was me,” Harper said.
But as fate would have it, Harper would return to Newton County after graduating from Berry College and the University of Georgia.
Much of Harper’s early background was in real estate, as she spent much of her time as a realtor with RE/MAX.
Photo by Garrett Pitts | The Covington News
She paved a 23-year real estate career that many realtors could dream of.
While still working in real estate in 2013, Harper was hired in a part-time capacity with the chamber as its membership director. Four years later, she was brought on board full-time, giving her total attention to satisfying the needs of the chamber’s members.
Harper’s desire to attract and retain the best the county has to offer serves as a full-circle moment to the days when she did not see a future at home.
“That’s what really drew me into the chamber world, was the potential for growing our own talent here in our community,” Harper said. “It’s a marathon, it’s not a sprint.”
As membership director, Harper thrived in recruiting new businesses into the chambers’ ranks. Her work resulted in a 30% membership-growth in just six years.
On June 1, 2019, Harper was named interim president of the chamber, where she began to instill her vision in full. Despite navigating through a global pandemic, she steadied the waters and kept the chamber moving in a time of ambivalence.
The interim tag was removed in June 2020, marking the start of the Harper era.
As the chamber enters its 75th year of operation, Harper’s role as president has never been more important. An influx of businesses, both small and large, has changed the landscape of what Newton County is today.
Large industrial areas like Stanton Springs or game-changing mixed-use developments like Covington Town Center are sure-fire controversial topics. Some love the idea. Others, not so much.
But Harper is proud to play a role in growing and building Newton County’s future.
“I’m proud to say I’m part of the growth, because a part of making a difference and making this community that one that people will want to come back to,” Harper said. “If you talk to students, they don’t want to come back because they think there’s no quality of life for them or entertainment. We’re trying to evolve through some of that. It’s not easy, obviously, but the growth is here, and we’ve got to manage it and stay ahead of it so
“ I used to sell homes to families, and now I sell my home to the world.”
that we can tell the story and not let somebody else tell our story.”
Outside of larger-scale developments, Harper is just as hands-on with small businesses. Any time there’s a ribbon-cutting for a new member, you can almost guarantee she will be present to show her support for the businesses that make up Newton County.
“It’s important for me to support the members and be there kind of in the grind, I guess, and not just be a figurehead,” Harper said. “I think it’s important to show up for them.”
Outside of her notoriety as the face of the chamber, Harper enjoys a quality life with her family. She and her husband, Lance, have been married for nearly 30 years. They have three boys, Sam, Lucas and 2018 VISIONS Youth of the Year winner, Dos.
All three of her boys have moved out
of the house, leaving the Harpers as empty-nesters. She’s taken up reading, walking and the game Mahjong as her hobbies.
“There’s a group of ladies who have wanted to introduce it [Mahjong] more locally — they were playing in some other communities — so I’ve kind of gotten in with that, and I try to play once a week,” Harper said.
Outside of growing her skills on theMahjong board, Harper wants to do some traveling and see more of the world.
But no matter where she goes or what she does, Harper’s legacy has been cemented. She’s a visionary and a pioneer for ensuring that Newton County is Built to Last.
“This is home; it’s deep roots,” Harper said. “It’s changed a lot, but I’m very proud to be a part of that change.”
Photo by Michael Bandoo | The Covington News
Youth of the Year
Matthew Lynn Making Newton County and the world his stage
DELANEY DERRY SENIOR CORRESPONDENT
Set the stage, cue the lights and just like that, he is in his element. Matthew Lynn, a current Eastside High School senior, is a star in the performing arts.
From leading roles in local productions to countless hours spent rehearsing, he has built a reputation as one of the most dedicated and accomplished young performers in Newton County.
Now, Matthew is preparing to take his talents to the next level, heading
to college to study musical theater with the hopes of displaying his passion on stages around the world.
“I am excited to see what else is in the world,” Matthew said. “A few summers ago, I was in this American Music Abroad program, and I got to perform over in eight different countries in Europe.
“And, so I got to see the world away from my parents. It was just like me and 50 other kids who performed. And just being able to experience a completely new country with completely different customs and spaces just opened my mind to ‘wow, there is so much out there in the world.’”
Starting at a young age, Matthew said he was enthralled with theater. His interest was first sparked around the age of five after he witnessed his older sister, Kennedy’s, interest in theater.
Kennedy is now his current drama teacher. When they were kids, she participated in theater at the Arts Association in Newton County and pushed Matthew to give it a try, too. So, from the age of five to now, 17, she has had a major impact on his pursuit of the performing arts.
After his first camp with the Arts Association and his first show, Honk Jr., Matthew said he was captivated by the
Photo by Garrett Pitts | The Covington News
performing arts.
Once he reached high school, Matthew’s passion for theater only continued to grow. Matthew explained how, after watching several acts from a One Act competition, he was hooked, and his passion for the stage multiplied.
“We went to that competition, and I saw people that were really good at their craft and really good at what they did, and I kind of realized, I was like, ‘Oh, people actually do this for real. People commit their lives to this,’” Matthew said. “I want to do this.”
Later that year, Matthew won an award for All-Star Cast at Eastside. From there, he has gained a surplus of awards and achievements.
Through Eastside’s drama department, Matthew has been selected for All-Star Cast both freshman and sophomore years, Region Actor of the Year junior and senior year and made All-State Theater all four years of high school.
Through The Arts Bridge Foundation, he has been a part of the Shuler Ensemble. He was also chosen to perform alongside the best leading actors and actresses of the state for the Overture Gala last year.
Not only has Matthew gained wisdom and experience from rehearsing and performing, and knowledge from leaders and peers, but he has learned a lot from the characters he plays as well.
Matthew explained that in his last show, Company, his character Bobby taught him critical information not only for future roles on stage but also in life off stage.
“It showed me a lot about friendships and relationships and what they mean to different people,” Matthew
Photo by Alexis Cox | The Covington News
said.
“Bobby has helped me to understand that growth is not always linear, and that sometimes you might have to take a step back and rethink everything you’re doing and rethink how you think about a topic or an issue. His character has helped me develop those thoughts and those actions into my own life.”
Alongside his many theater honors and accomplishments, Matthew has also been a student leader. He has served as president of Eastside’s Student Government since his sophomore year, is a member of the Superintendent Student Advisery Council with Newton County Schools, is the current President of Eastside High School Theater, and, this year, through the Georgia Thespians, he received the Thespian Achievement Scholarship.
With all of these achievements un -
der his belt, Matthew’s next step is college.
Matthew has been accepted to multiple universities, such as the Manhattan School of Music, Point Park University and Belmont University, for musical theater. He is leaning towards Point Park, but is still working on a final decision before the first of May for where he wants to start this next chapter of life and where he will further develop his future career as a performer.
With that, Matthew has consistently worked to demonstrate the work ethic and versatility required for the demanding world of performing arts. So, the transition from high school productions to collegiate training will mark a significant milestone, not only for his personal journey but also for a community that has nurtured him and watched him grow.
The past two years have signified
the most growth for Matthew in his drive to pursue the performing arts. The biggest turning point for him was during the Georgia High School Musical Theater Awards last year, when he was chosen to be in the Shuler ensemble.
“When I walked into that room, and I saw kids that were insanely talented, kids that were going through the same audition process as me and are wanted to do this in college, I saw them, and I realized, one, that I have to whip myself into shape because if I want to do this, I have to be as good as all the kids in here,” Matthew said.
“And, it was like an epiphany of like, this is amazing. This is a room filled with such kindness and such love for what we’re doing, and I feel like that type of artistry is really hard to find anywhere, and that is what made me realize I wanted to go into this permanently.”
Photo by Alexis Cox | The Covington News
Spring Hill Park Garden Planting
Friday, May 1
District 2 Community Cleanup
Saturday, May 16
District 3 Community Cleanup
Saturday, June 27
Seymore's Litter Getters Cleanup
Friday, July 17
Rivers Alive!
Saturday, September 26
Seymore's Litter Getters Cleanup
Friday, October 9
District 4 Community Cleanup
Saturday, October 10
FREE Tire Disposal Day
Saturday, October 17
KNB's FREE Paper Shred Event for America Recycles Day
Monday, November 16
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.
UnsungHero
Felicia Harris Embodying the giving spirit through generations
GARRETT PITTS SPORTS EDITOR
“Hand-in-hand, we will succeed stepping out of the triangle.”
That is the motto echoed by Felicia Harris, the founder of the Tuggle Harris Educational Foundation — a nonprofit that has helped countless kids, teenagers and adults in Newton County.
What does ‘the triangle’ mean?
For Harris, it is about taking people in need and giving them the resources and care in order to take the next step.
“What that means is if the parents
trust me — it’s a triangle, with me as the first person, then a child and then a parent — if you trust me and if you want things to work for your kids — education, school supplies, resources, seminars,” Harris said. “Hold my hand, we will get that child out of the triangle. Where they have barriers in their lives, my foundation helps them get out from behind those barriers.”
Through the Tuggle Harris Educational Foundation, Harris has had the opportunity to provide school supplies, hygiene products, everyday necessities and general advice and guidance to those in need.
Harris has given back for decades, and attributes it to watching her family do the same.
“My father was always a giver, and I used to say, ‘Why is he always giving? Why does everybody know my daddy? Why this?” Harris said. “I saw how he used to give and how he would think about it, and that’s where the foundation was built. My father is a giver, my grandparents were givers; they gave us what we needed. Most of all, my education isn’t all about giving; some kids just need love. I just feel like I can provide that for those kids.”
Fast forward to the present day, and
Photo by Garrett Pitts | The Covington News
now Harris sees herself as a “giver,” carrying on her family’s legacy.
“I do it because I can go into the store and [think], ‘Somebody said they needed this’ and I go pick it up,” Harris said. “When we did the school uniforms, it [the school year] was over and school had already started. I went into Walmart, and school uniforms were only a dollar — ‘I got to get these school uniforms.’ If I see something and it’s dirt cheap, I go ahead and buy it because I know somebody is going to call me.”
While “education” is in the name of the foundation, Harris stressed that it is more than just giving back to kids in school.
“People always think education is about schooling, but education can be about anything,” Harris said. “Just talking to the people. Educating on how to buy a car, educating on how to fill out an application. I just put the foundation on there because I wanted a foundation and that is what it was.
“It’s not just helping the kids,” Harris said. “When it says ‘Education Foundation,’ it is not just about youth. Because sometimes we broaden it for adults. I sometimes have adults who call just for advice. We did a coat drive, and we gave out over 600 winter coats — it wasn’t just for the kids. We gave it to everyone who needed a winter coat.”
After years of giving back, Harris recognized that it would not have been possible without her faith. Before she enters any venture, Harris noted that she goes to God.
“Before I did this, I prayed about it and said, ‘God, is this for me or is this not for me?’” Harris said. “I don’t have any biological kids, and I always question, ‘God, why do I not have any kids?’ Now, I see the vision that God had for me with this foundation and how I can bless other kids. He was working on it while I was trying to figure it out.”
Harris’ faith and belief has helped her turn her foundation into a household name that is built to last in the Newton County community. And now, Harris has taken steps to take her foundation even higher.
This past September, Harris received her 501(c)(3) — a document that allows the IRS to view the Tuggle Harris Educational Foundation as a charity that
“ We have to learn to help each other. How I got it is the same way you can get it.”
serves the public good. Additionally, it allows Harris to earn tax benefits from the foundation.
Specifically, Harris hopes to provide relief for graduates in the county.
“With my goals for the next two years, I want to be able to give out scholarships,” Harris said. “I want to be able to give out scholarships to all three high schools in Covington. If a child is going to college, I want to be able to supply them with MacBooks, ChromeBooks. I want to be able to buy dorm items. When they call, I want to be able to donate $500 towards this.”
Outside of giving to the graduates, Harris had a few more goals on the horizon,
One goal is to have quarterly prayer vigils. Another is to hold seminars and classes that teach young adults and
parents on a variety of topics that they are unfamiliar with.
The ultimate destination for Harris is to retire and dedicate the entirety of her time to her non-profit over the next decade.
As Harris has continued to heighten her nonprofit, she has had recent opportunities to offer advice to others in similar spots — a request she is all for.
“The first thing I tell them is that you have to pray on it,” Harris said. “There is nothing you can take on if you don’t have God in it. There are going to be some stressful times…I would never be selfish with what God has blessed me with. If I can help somebody along the way, then my life won’t be in vain.
“We have to learn to help each other. How I got it is the same way you can get it.”
Photos by Jadden Mitchell | The Covington News
UnsungHero
John King Keeping Covington strong one day at a time
KATE VERITY NEWS EDITOR
Those who have attended a Covington City Council meeting and stayed long enough to hear the open comments from the public at the meeting’s end know that there’s a decent chance you’ve heard someone thank Deputy City Manager John King for coming to their rescue. Covington residents have become known to come out of the woodwork, thanking King for addressing their issues promptly. When someone calls
the city with a problem, King’s role often allows him to be among the first line of aid.
The ever-humble King emphasized that there are others working behind the scenes who are deserving of the gratitude.
“It’s very humbling, first of all, that I am able to help, and then secondly, that someone takes the time to recognize that they were helped,” King said. “And it’s not always just me. I mean, a lot of times I’m just the quarterback, just like, [they] call John, and then I call someone else, and they get it taken care of. It’s not
always me that goes out and actually fixes the problem.”
As deputy city manager, King said his day-to-day responsibilities entail supporting the city’s 12 directors and 23 departments, plus maintaining relationships with employees and the community.
King described City Manager Tres Thomas’s role as more often responsible for the “heavy lifting,” such as high-level meetings and projects. King’s role, on the other hand, is often more boots on the ground in the city.
“Things like sanitation, limbs and
Photo by Garrett Pitts | The Covington News
leaves…I find out why they didn’t get picked up, if we’re able to pick it up, and if not, then how are we going to resolve it.” King said as an example. “Just resolving issues and problem-solving.”
Whether looking into residents’ billing disputes or deploying a department to address why an undesirable liquid is bubbling up from a manhole, King’s work allows him to interact heavily with the people of Covington.
In doing so, King said he believes that always operating with empathy and compassion is key. Along with those two character traits, King is guided by two principles: Answering the phone and showing up.
“I think initially, like, maybe on the first time they need to call me and I show up, it’s surprising,” King said, “But then I think afterwards they’re like, ‘Well, it’s John. That’s not surprising, that he showed up or answered the phone.’
...I think by answering the phone, it gives credibility and trust in our organization, that we’re going to be there when you call.”
King’s current role was by no means his first introduction to Covington. His father is a lifelong Covington resident, and King himself graduated from Newton County High School in 1991.
After high school, King attended Georgia College & State University for two years before deciding to take a different path by enlisting in the U.S. Navy.
Six years into being a sailor, King decided to open another chapter. He moved to Athens and eventually began working as a skydiving instructor in Monroe.
“I guess about 2004 or ‘05, after my second parachute malfunction, I decided that I probably needed to start thinking about something else,” King said. “...So I figured that I wanted to do what I thought at times the next best thing, which was learn to fly.”
King began learning at Georgia Aviation Technical College in Eastman. While visiting Covington one weekend, he ran into an old classmate — who would eventually become his wife.
As their relationship turned seri -
ous in 2006, King decided to move back to Covington, securing a job with the Newton County Fire Department and continuing his aviation education in Peachtree City on his off days.
This led to King’s first employment with the City of Covington, where he worked at the municipal airport. As the years went on, he became fulltime at the airport and climbed the
enjoyed it. I think very highly of the Street Department. They handle — kind of like the catch-all, they handle everything.”
King assumed his current role in 2021, under then-City Manager Scott Andrews. He said it was originally called “assistant city manager,” but later changed to “deputy city manager” because the “deputy” designation gives the role more authority in lieu
“ ... I’m where I’m supposed to be right now,” King said. “...I like being very interactive with our employees and the citizens. ”
ranks to a management role in 2017.
When the airport combined with the Street Department to form the Transportation Department in 2020, King oversaw it all.
“I just kind of rolled into that position, and Street Department was, it’s a beast,” King said. “I mean, it took up probably 95% of my workload. I
of the city manager’s day-to-day, not only in the city manager’s absence.
King said he’s happy in his role, having a positive impact on the citizens and employees of Covington.
“I think that I’m where I’m supposed to be right now,” King said. “...I like being very interactive with our employees and the citizens.”
Photo by Michael Bandoo | The Covington News
UnsungHero
Jennifer Williams Uplifting children one partnership at a time
KATE VERITY NEWS EDITOR
As the director of Instructional Technology and Media Services at Newton County Schools, there is a lot on Dr. Jennifer Williams’ plate.
The twofold position requires Williams to oversee both the Instructional Technology and the Media Services coordination across the entire school district.
Instructional Technology responsibilities include rostering, training
and development, digital resources, student online security and privacy, putting on summer camps, events and grant writing.
Media Services envelops all 24 media centers in Newton County Schools, plus the librarians themselves, and anything related to reading and literacy education.
Her role may seem like a lot to juggle, but Williams doesn’t seem like she’s ever broken a sweat.
“I get up, and I’m happy,” Williams said. “There’s not a day that I say I don’t want to go to work. Not a lot of people will say that. I feel very—not
just blessed, but humbled because I actually do something that means something, and that I love.”
Williams has been with Newton County Schools for 16 years. She’s held the directorship for four years, before which she worked as a coordinator and a specialist in Instructional Technology. Before the specific department, she served Newton County Schools as the Federal Programs Technical Data Facilitator.
But Williams got her start in the district doing boots-on-the-ground work as a fifth-grade EIP teacher at South Salem Elementary School.
Photo by Garrett Pitts | The Covington News
South Salem wasn’t Williams’ first teaching position. She’d previously taught in DeKalb County, Fulton County and before that, New York City.
“I worked at the New York Stock Exchange,” Williams said. “I went to school for business and finance. And then I saw a sign on the train that said, ‘Want to become a New York City teacher? Become a New York City teacher, you’ll love it.’ And I said, OK!”
Though Williams may not have always planned to enter education, it turned into her career. As the director of Instructional Technology and Media Services, she’s ensuring that Newton County students are just as prepared to take on any career path.
Williams and her team are the driving force behind some of the biggest events that Newton County Schools put on each year. Some include the Literacy Extravaganza, initiatives for International Literacy Day and Read Across Newton, Teach for Tomorrow and—Williams’ pride and joy—the annual InspiHER Code Like a Girl conference.
Each year, the InspiHER Code Like a Girl conference brings over 300 female students of all ages to Georgia Piedmont Technical College to have what Williams calls ‘a Day of the Girl.’
The annual conference includes a plethora of technology education sessions, including coding, drones and robotics engineering.
“That is the one thing that I can say is it’s a legacy,” Williams said. “We’ve done it for 10 years, and it’s 100% grant funded.”
Williams has also been at the forefront of fostering a flourishing partnership between Newton County Schools and Amazon. One of the huge ways that Amazon recently contributed to the direct is by committing to not only fund the entirety of the 2027 Code Like a Girl conference, but also wants to double the number of girls who can attend.
“We’ll bring 700 girls,” Williams said. “And it’s gonna be two days, where they pledged to buy all the food, all the materials, pay for our transportation, everything for it.”
Amazon has also partnered with Williams and Newton County Schools in two other major initiatives: The
Photo by Michael Bandoo | The Covington News
“ If I had to say what my superpower is, it’s creating partnerships.”
Goodr Market at Alcovy High School and the Think Big Corner in the Newton County STEAM Academy.
The Goodr Market is no-cost “grocery store” that will provide students with valuable resources.The mini market is set up in a lower-level room at Alcovy. It is regularly stocked with fresh fruits, refrigerated goods, boxes of food for students.
The Think Big Corner includes a 3D printer, coding materials, robotics components and more.
“I turned my conference room into this Amazon space,” Williams said. “...And got, you know, hundreds of thousands of dollars of equipment put into the school for us to have the Think Big Van and the Think Big space. And we have a facilitator who
comes to our school district every week, once a week, four days out of the month to do lessons with all the students.”
All of the changes that Williams has brought to Newton County Schools show what her true superpower is.
“If I had to say what my superpower is, it’s creating partnerships,” Williams said. “Really making connections with other people and saying, ‘Hey, be partners with us.’”
Williams rests easy at night knowing that what she’s created is Built to Last. She’s confident in her team, her department and her school system.
“Everybody’s going to be OK,” Williams said. “They’re all gonna be OK. Like, if I’m not here, everything will carry on and be great.”
EmployeroftheYear
Newton Federal
A bank that knows you by more than just a number
GARRETT PITTS SPORTS EDITOR
With almost a century of experience, Newton Federal has stood the test of time.
Building a strong sense of community is a smart idea for any bank, but it’s the top priority for a Newton Federal team that has built a tight connection with its customers.
Greta Heard, the Market President
of Newton Federal, has worked at the bank for over 33 years. When asked what separates Newton Federal from other banks in the area, the answer was simple.
“The customers,” Heard said. “We are customer-focused. We lead with care, and we love the community. [It’s] the way we serve our community and our customers.”
Newton Federal has served as the “community bank” for the county for decades, and Heard noted that one of the biggest keys for the business is
how it treats every person who walks through the door.
“We are definitely community-driven,” Heard said. “It is more of a relationship drive; it’s not a number. We lead with care because we care about the community. We are very relationship-focused. No number — that is what separates us from the bigger bank. When it is one-onone, everybody knows everybody.”
With those interests in mind, it has allowed the bank to build a client base that knows the exact interests
Photos by Garrett Pitts | The Covington News
of Newton Federal and how they can help.
“Something like a bank, especially a community bank like we are, cannot exist without the customers and people that do business with us,” said Nikki Sorrels, assistant branch sales manager. “The only way that we can get these people in is to take an active interest in them. While that kind of sounds cliché, I can honestly say that the driving factor behind Newton Federal has never been how much money we can pull in, how much income we get, or what the salaries are. It has always been from the top down, ‘What can we do? How can we help? How can we serve?’”
While this initiative has driven in clients, it has also served as the reason people such as Mortgage Services Director Tonya Burnett joined the bank in the first place.
“Newton Federal, when I came over, was very open to meeting the clients where they were at. That’s what I was looking for,” Burnett said. “Not being in that little box, being able to fit the client with the product that they were looking for.”
To build that sense of community in the office, Newton Federal has worked with people of all ages in all walks of life.
Even when people are at their worst, the mission is the same, according to Lead Teller Stephanie McLaughlin.
“Being in banking, you can see customers on their worst days, but also their best days,” McLaughlin said.
“They could be coming in because they are buying a house, or getting a new car, or they could be coming in because they lost a loved one. You get to really see them through so many different times in their life, both good and bad.”
A big way that Newton Federal has made its impact is by simply showing its face.
Getting out into the community, understanding the people and doing their part to support the county are some of the driving factors for Jimmy
Tanner, the vice president of Business Development.
“You have to know what’s going on in the community. You have to know the demographic in the community, and you have to be aware of what’s important to the community,” Tanner said. “We love being on the Square for the concerts. The arts association is just a hidden gem — communities really need one like this. We love being on the Square, it’s iconic for Covington and Newton County.”
According to Tanner, the “why” is what separates Newton Federal from other banks.
“The key to business success is not exactly what you do, but ‘why’ you do it,” Tanner said. “That’s the reason. If the ‘why’ you do it is just the almighty dollar, I am not sure there are a lot of people that connect and care about it. If the ‘why’ you do it is to make a difference — to support non-profits, to tell people about the free medical clinic, to support them in some way — if the why is the mission, that can resonate with people.”
Newton Federal Controller Ronnie Cook has witnessed firsthand how the bank has supported some of his other ventures.
“We want to give back to the community,” Cook said. “Separately from this, I am on the advisory board for the Salvation Army, so that is something that the banks helps out a lot with, too. We go out and volunteer for the Salvation Army on bank time to help them out.”
As Newton Federal has developed a strong bond with the community, the team noted that there is a stron -
“ We are customer-focused. We lead with care, and we love the community. [It’s] the way we serve our community and our customers.”
ger bond inside the bank itself. With a team of around 33 employees, it has proven to be a family environment for anyone who joins the bank.
Photo by Garrett Pitts | The Covington News
“They are all special,” Heard said. “They all have a uniqueness about themselves because they understand the importance of supporting each other. It’s the teamwork — they support each other. If we go out in the community, they serve with care. They make sure everybody is OK.”
As the bank’s 100th year anniversary closes in, the team looks to maintain its same standard, goals and impact in the community for the next century.
“I have worked at this bank for 15 years; I have grown up here,” Sorrels said. “I started here when I was 24 years old, and they have taught me so much about giving and giving back. There is nothing I would impress upon anyone other than Newton Federal’s employees have always cared very deeply about every single person that has done business with us and every person as a whole.”
LIVE AT LUNCH CONCERTS
Thursdays in May and October from 12P-1P on the Square presented by the Arts Association of Newton County & City of Covington
LIVE AT LEGION CONCERTS
Legion Field at 7PM
JUNE 12: Landslide (Fleetwood Mac Tribute)
AUGUST 14: Soul Kitchen (Roots Concert)
SEPT. 18: Ultimate Garth (Garth Brooks Tribute)
OCT. 9: The Evolution of Beyonce (Beyonce 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.
COVINGTON FARMERS MARKET
*Most Saturday mornings from May 23-August 29 from 9A-12P in Heirloom Park 1143 Oak Street SE
April 25 - Art in Heirloom Park Market (9A-1P)
May 1 - First Friday Concert on the Square (6:30P - 7:30P)
May 16 - Ag Day on the Square (10A-2P)
May 25 - Memorial Day Program on the Square (10A)
June 6 - YMCA Annual Bike Rodeo @ Legion Field (10A-12P)
June 19 - Juneteenth Concert @ Legion Field w/ Stello & the Supes (7P)
June 20 - Covington Juneteenth Parade (10A)
*JULY 4* - Independence Day Hometown Parade & Festival (Parade 10A / Festival 11A-2P on the Square)
Visions “Unsung Hero” John King City of Covington Deputy City Manager
Congratulations to everyone honored in the 2026 edition of Visions. Our City family is proud to call John King a member of #TeamCOV. Celebrating how Newton County is Built to Last, we know John has been and will be a vital presence in continuing to build on the relationships key to Newton County’s future.
July 6 - Arts Association Patriotic Concert @ Legion Field featuring the Newton County Community Band (7P)
July 25 - Christmas in July on the Square (9A-1P)
August 29 - Cinema Saturday: “SpongeBob SquarePants” on the Square (7P)
Sept. 12 - Police Who Care Fuzz Run 5K @ Legion Field (8A)
Sept. 26 - Keep Newton Beautiful Rivers Alive Cleanup
Sept. 26 - Cinema Saturday: “Encanto” on the Square (7P)
October 8 - CFD Firehouse Open Golf Tournament
October 17 - Tentative KNB Tire Disposal Day (8A-12P)
October 17 - Covington Fall Festival (10A-3P)
October 31 - Trick of Treat @ Legion Field (2P - 4P)
Nov. 7 - Cinema Saturday: “A Minecraft Movie” on the Square (6:30P)
Nov. 11 - Veterans Day Ceremony on the Square (11A)
Nov. 16 - Tentative KNB Paper Shred Event (9A-12P)
Nov. 19 - Lighting of the Square (6:30P-7:30P)
Nov. 21 - Newton County Ministers’ Alliance Thanksgiving Box Giveaway @ Legion Field
Nov. 28 - Small Business Saturday
December 5 - Annual Christmas Parade (10A)
December 5 - Lights at Legion Kickoff + Mistletoe Market @ Legion Field (6P - 9P)
December 10 - Candlelight Shopping on the Square (6P-8P)
December 17 - Santa + Live Reindeer + Movie Shorts (6P-8P)
