Many of us, if not most of us – whether white or Black - have labored under the belief we elect officials to do the research, weigh the facts, then vote their conscience in matters of public trust. But that is an incorrect assumption in light of last week’s Board of Commissioners meeting.

The following charges and arrests were reported by the Newton County Sheriff’s Office, Covington Police Department, Oxford Police Department, Porterdale Police Department, the Georgia State Patrol and Georgia Pardons and Parole May 18 - 24, 2022:

CONYERS — The late Allan Jones, long-time chairman of the Rockdale Coalition for Children and Families and member of the Hospital Authority of Rockdale County board was memorialized with the dedication of a mural at Piedmont Rockdale Hospital Thursday.

Five local organizations are partnering to offer the second annual Bike Rodeo at Legion Field in Covington on June 4, 9 a.m. to 12 noon. This free, family-friendly event is sponsored by Michelin Covington Plant and MG Law.

Covington's Tim Fleming, former chief of staff for Gov. Brian Kemp, won the Republican nomination for the House District 114 seat over Madison businessman Wendell McNeal in Tuesday's primary election balloting with 64.7% of the vote. 

This fantastic flower was produced on a tree at what we here in Columbia call the Belser Arboretum, a 7-acre (or so) tract of forested land pretty much in the middle of the city, and two blocks from my home.

CONYERS — Rockdale County District 2 Commissioner Doreen Williams will be returning to office for another four-year term after a solic win over two Democrat challengers in Tuesday’s Democratic Primary Election. Williams received 6,488 votes (60.01%) to challengers Renee Simpson, 1,981 votes,…

Rivian Automotive is on track to break ground on its new electric vehicle battery and assembly plant late this summer.

Longtime Newton County Commissioner J.C. Henderson won in primary election balloting Tuesday, defeating challenger Willie B. Jackson in the Democrat Primary Election.

Graduation deays are among those most memorable milestones and touchstones of life. They are often seen more as an end to one phase, while I have always chosen to view the ceremony as well as the pomp and circumstance noting entrance into life’s next phase. These ceremonies now start as earl…

Major General Thomas Carden Jr. will be the keynote speaker at Memorial Day services at the Walk of Heroes Veterans War Memorial in Rockdale County.

At a recent book signing, a friend asked, “Who’s the most famous person you have met?”

The archbishop of San Francisco, Salvatore Cordileone, has announced he will no longer allow Speaker Nancy Pelosi to receive Communion because of her refusal to adhere to Catholic doctrine on unborn human life.

Newton County’s two largest high schools held commencement ceremonies last Thursday and Friday evenings at Sharp Field.

COVINGTON — Michael Chapple has been named incoming principal of Indian Creek Middle School by the Newton County Board of Education.

As I mourn and despair after yet another mass shooting, a rage seeps into my soul at another racially-motivated act of terrorism from within our country. A Scriptural lament rises within me. A longing, aching plea repeats itself: “How long, O Lord, how long?”

The following charges and arrests were reported by the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office, Conyers Police Department, Georgia State Patrol, and Georgia Pardon and Parole for the period of May 10 — May 16, 2022:

Newton Trails took a big leap forward toward its goal of renovating the old railroad trestle bridge over the Alcovy River along the Cricket Frog Trail, thanks to a fund-raiser held May 14 at Lockwood Mansion.

Prom season is upon us.

It’s wonderful to see the excitement on the faces of young people as they pose for photos in their front yards, dressed up in their finest duds.

The following charges and arrests were reported by the Newton County Sheriff’s Office, Covington Police Department, Oxford Police Department, Porterdale Police Department, the Georgia State Patrol and Georgia Pardons and Parole from May 11 to May 17, 2022:

Spending precious moments enjoying outdoor meals with family and friends is part of what makes warm weather get-togethers so special. Take those al fresco occasions to the next level with a favorite dessert: ice cream.

A Civil War heritage preservation group has the right to sue Henry and Newton counties over the removal or planned removal of Confederate monuments, a lawyer for the Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV) told the Georgia Supreme Court Thursday.

Approximately 30 Rockdale County government employees will travel to Greenville, S.C., at the end of the month to take part in a training retreat that could cost the county more than $30,000.

Top honor graduates from Eastside High School’s Class of 2022 congratulated their classmates on thriving in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic during commencement remarks Wednesday.

The United States Honor Flag was brought to Atlanta Monday to be part of funeral services for fallen Rockdale County Sheriff’s Deputy Walter D. Jenkins.

The overt racism and anti-Semitism written in the Buffalo shooter's 180-page "manifesto" has been rightly denounced by civilized people. The usual questions are being asked. These include how did he get the gun after he was admitted to a hospital last year for symptoms of mental illness?

“What about the rest of the North?” asked McGeorge Bundy, president of the Ford Foundation, back in the 1970s.

Following policy, he and the other officers were considering yet one more sizable grant to help the troubled Native Americans of Alaska.

COVINGTON — The National Transportation Safety Board said its investigation into a fatal plane crash in Covington will include scrutiny of the flight credentials of the two men who were killed.