EAST METRO Top Stories for August 1st

Publish Date: August 1st



Commercial:

From the Ingles Studio, Welcome to The Community Podcast. This Podcast brings you the top stories from the Rockdale-Newton Citizen and the Morgan Citizen. 

Today is Friday, August 1st and Happy birthday to Coolio

I’m Peyton Spurlock and here are your top stories presented by Times Journal

1. County rejects effort to revise plan for 93-lot subdivision

2. Mauldin to run for State House seat

3. District Attorney Randy McGinley receives DA of the Year honor

Plus, Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on GLP-1 Foods

These stories and more are coming up in today’s edition of the Community Podcast for Rockdale, Newton, and Morgan Counties! Please like, follow, and subscribe.

BREAK: ARTISAN MARKET

STORY 1: County rejects effort to revise plan for 93-lot subdivision

A developer’s push to move forward with a single-lot phase of a 93-lot subdivision hit a wall when the Newton County Board of Commissioners denied the request outright.

Hospitality Finance Group, based in Stockbridge, had asked for approval of a final plan for Tomlo Farms, a 120-acre development off Byrd Road. The catch? They wanted to reduce the required two entrances to just one, citing the cost of building a bridge over state waters.

But residents weren’t buying it. Danny Stone, who lives nearby, called it a “ruse” to dodge county rules requiring two access points for subdivisions of this size.

Commissioner LeAnne Long wasn’t convinced either, saying the second entrance wasn’t an unreasonable hardship. Her motion to deny the request passed unanimously.

For now, the project remains stalled, leaving the developer to figure out their next move.

STORY 2: Mauldin to run for State House seat

Brett Mauldin, a conservative businessman and second-generation entrepreneur, has officially thrown his hat in the ring for Georgia House District 114, which covers Morgan County and parts of Newton and Walton Counties.

Mauldin’s story? It’s rooted in hard work. He started in his family’s construction business at just 11 years old, learning the value of grit early on. The Great Recession hit hard, but it shaped his belief in fiscal responsibility and small-business resilience.

A husband, father of three, and member of Covenant Park Church, Mauldin says his campaign is about protecting Georgia’s future—its values, traditions, and people.

STORY 3: District Attorney Randy McGinley receives DA of the Year honor

 Randy McGinley, district attorney for Walton and Newton counties, has been named the 2025 District Attorney of the Year by the District Attorneys Association of Georgia. The announcement came during the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia’s summer conference, where prosecutors and investigators from across the state gathered to share ideas and sharpen their skills.

McGinley’s journey is impressive. He joined the Alcovy Circuit DA’s office in 2011, became chief assistant DA in 2017, and stepped into the top role in 2020 after Layla Zon’s appointment to the Superior Court. Re-elected without opposition in 2024, he’s been a steady force in the community.

Beyond his local work, McGinley has prosecuted high-profile cases statewide, including securing convictions in a Clarke County rape and child molestation trial and a Columbus murder case. He’s also been a vocal advocate for prosecutors at the state legislature.

We have opportunities for sponsors to get great engagement on these shows. Call 770.799.6810 for more info.

We’ll be right back

Break: COPY CENTRAL

STORY 4: Covington OKs construction manager for downtown utility project

Big steps forward for the Downtown Utility Relocation project. On July 21, the Covington City Council gave the green light to Strack Inc., a Fairburn-based company, as the Construction Manager at Risk. The preconstruction contract? $120,387.

Originally, the city tried a Design-Build approach, but only got one bid—and it was way over the $9 million budget. So, they pivoted. Michael Willis, the city’s engineering manager, explained that the Construction Manager at Risk model offers more transparency and control over costs. Makes sense, right?

The project itself is no small task: replacing old sewer, water, and gas lines across nine downtown blocks, plus adding a duct bank for power and telecom wires. Oh, and resurfacing streets too.

The timeline? Preconstruction wraps by January 2026, with construction done by summer 2027. It’s a long road, but downtown’s getting a serious upgrade.

STORY 5: Vehicle pursuit results in fatal crash

A tragic night unfolded as the Georgia State Patrol investigates a crash that claimed the life of 16-year-old Trevon Pohl during a police pursuit.

It started last Friday night at a Governor’s Office of Highway Safety road check on Ga. Highway 36. Pohl, driving a gray Ford Fusion, was stopped. When asked for his license, he admitted he didn’t have one. Deputies told him to pull into a nearby lot—but instead, he sped off.

The chase stretched onto Ga. Highway 81. South of Flat Shoals Road, Pohl lost control, veering off the road, hitting a utility pole, and coming to a stop in the middle of the highway. He died at the scene.

A 17-year-old passenger was airlifted to Grady Memorial Hospital with serious injuries. Sheriff Ezell Brown offered condolences, while investigations continue.

Break:

And now here is Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on GLP-1 Foods

We’ll have closing comments after this.

Break: Ingles Markets 10

Signoff-

Thanks again for hanging out with us on today’s Community Podcast. If you enjoy these shows, we encourage you to check out our other offerings, like the Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast, the Marietta Daily Journal, or the Community Podcast for Rockdale Newton and Morgan Counties. Read more about all our stories and get other great content at https://www.rockdalenewtoncitizen.com/ and https://www.morgancountycitizen.com/news/

Did you know over 50% of Americans listen to podcasts weekly? Giving you important news about our community and telling great stories are what we do. Make sure you join us for our next episode and be sure to share this podcast on social media with your friends and family. Add us to your Alexa Flash Briefing or your Google Home Briefing and be sure to like, follow, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

POST ROLL:

Produced by the BG Podcast Network

Show Sponsors:

● www.ingles-markets.com

● morganmedical.org

● copycentralga.com

NewsPodcast #CurrentEvents #TopHeadlines #BreakingNews #PodcastDiscussion #PodcastNews #InDepthAnalysis #NewsAnalysis #PodcastTrending #WorldNews #LocalNews #GlobalNews #PodcastInsights #NewsBrief #PodcastUpdate #NewsRoundup #WeeklyNews #DailyNews #PodcastInterviews #HotTopics #PodcastOpinions #InvestigativeJournalism #BehindTheHeadlines #PodcastMedia #NewsStories #PodcastReports #JournalismMatters #PodcastPerspectives #NewsCommentary #PodcastListeners #NewsPodcastCommunity #NewsSource #PodcastCuration #WorldAffairs #PodcastUpdates #AudioNews #PodcastJournalism #EmergingStories #NewsFlash #PodcastConversations 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EAST METRO Top Stories for August 1st
Publish Date: August 1st
  
Commercial:
From the Ingles Studio, Welcome to The Community Podcast. This Podcast brings you the top stories from the Rockdale-Newton Citizen and the Morgan Citizen. 
Today is Friday, August 1st and Happy birthday to Coolio
I&rsquo;m Peyton Spurlock and here are your top stories presented by Times Journal
1. County rejects effort to revise plan for 93-lot subdivision
2. Mauldin to run for State House seat
3. District Attorney Randy McGinley receives DA of the Year honor
Plus, Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on GLP-1 Foods
These stories and more are coming up in today&rsquo;s edition of the Community Podcast for Rockdale, Newton, and Morgan Counties! Please like, follow, and subscribe.
BREAK: ARTISAN MARKET
STORY 1: County rejects effort to revise plan for 93-lot subdivision
A developer&rsquo;s push to move forward with a single-lot phase of a 93-lot subdivision hit a wall when the Newton County Board of Commissioners denied the request outright.
Hospitality Finance Group, based in Stockbridge, had asked for approval of a final plan for Tomlo Farms, a 120-acre development off Byrd Road. The catch? They wanted to reduce the required two entrances to just one, citing the cost of building a bridge over state waters.
But residents weren&rsquo;t buying it. Danny Stone, who lives nearby, called it a &ldquo;ruse&rdquo; to dodge county rules requiring two access points for subdivisions of this size.
Commissioner LeAnne Long wasn&rsquo;t convinced either, saying the second entrance wasn&rsquo;t an unreasonable hardship. Her motion to deny the request passed unanimously.
For now, the project remains stalled, leaving the developer to figure out their next move.
STORY 2: Mauldin to run for State House seat
Brett Mauldin, a conservative businessman and second-generation entrepreneur, has officially thrown his hat in the ring for Georgia House District 114, which covers Morgan County and parts of Newton and Walton Counties.
Mauldin&rsquo;s story? It&rsquo;s rooted in hard work. He started in his family&rsquo;s construction business at just 11 years old, learning the value of grit early on. The Great Recession hit hard, but it shaped his belief in fiscal responsibility and small-business resilience.
A husband, father of three, and member of Covenant Park Church, Mauldin says his campaign is about protecting Georgia&rsquo;s future&mdash;its values, traditions, and people.
STORY 3: District Attorney Randy McGinley receives DA of the Year honor
&nbsp;Randy McGinley, district attorney for Walton and Newton counties, has been named the 2025 District Attorney of the Year by the District Attorneys Association of Georgia. The announcement came during the Prosecuting Attorneys&rsquo; Council of Georgia&rsquo;s summer conference, where prosecutors and investigators from across the state gathered to share ideas and sharpen their skills.
McGinley&rsquo;s journey is impressive. He joined the Alcovy Circuit DA&rsquo;s office in 2011, became chief assistant DA in 2017, and stepped into the top role in 2020 after Layla Zon&rsquo;s appointment to the Superior Court. Re-elected without opposition in 2024, he&rsquo;s been a steady force in the community.
Beyond his local work, McGinley has prosecuted high-profile cases statewide, including securing convictions in a Clarke County rape and child molestation trial and a Columbus murder case. He&rsquo;s also been a vocal advocate for prosecutors at the state legislature.
We have opportunities for sponsors to get great engagement on these shows. Call 770.799.6810 for more info.
We&rsquo;ll be right back
Break: COPY CENTRAL
STORY 4: Covington OKs construction manager for downtown utility project
Big steps forward for the Downtown Utility Relocation project. On July 21, the Covington City Council gave the green light to Strack Inc., a Fairburn-based company, as the Construction Manager at Risk. The preconstruction contract? $120,387.
Originally, the city tried a Design-Build approach, but only got one bid&mdash;and it was way over the $9 million budget. So, they pivoted. Michael Willis, the city&rsquo;s engineering manager, explained that the Construction Manager at Risk model offers more transparency and control over costs. Makes sense, right?
The project itself is no small task: replacing old sewer, water, and gas lines across nine downtown blocks, plus adding a duct bank for power and telecom wires. Oh, and resurfacing streets too.
The timeline? Preconstruction wraps by January 2026, with construction done by summer 2027. It&rsquo;s a long road, but downtown&rsquo;s getting a serious upgrade.
STORY 5: Vehicle pursuit results in fatal crash
A tragic night unfolded as the Georgia State Patrol investigates a crash that claimed the life of 16-year-old Trevon Pohl during a police pursuit.
It started last Friday night at a Governor&rsquo;s Office of Highway Safety road check on Ga. Highway 36. Pohl, driving a gray Ford Fusion, was stopped. When asked for his license, he admitted he didn&rsquo;t have one. Deputies told him to pull into a nearby lot&mdash;but instead, he sped off.
The chase stretched onto Ga. Highway 81. South of Flat Shoals Road, Pohl lost control, veering off the road, hitting a utility pole, and coming to a stop in the middle of the highway. He died at the scene.
A 17-year-old passenger was airlifted to Grady Memorial Hospital with serious injuries. Sheriff Ezell Brown offered condolences, while investigations continue.
Break:
And now here is Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on GLP-1 Foods
We&rsquo;ll have closing comments after this.
Break: Ingles Markets 10
Signoff-
Thanks again for hanging out with us on today&rsquo;s Community Podcast. If you enjoy these shows, we encourage you to check out our other offerings, like the Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast, the Marietta Daily Journal, or the Community Podcast for Rockdale Newton and Morgan Counties. Read more about all our stories and get other great content at https://www.rockdalenewtoncitizen.com/ and https://www.morgancountycitizen.com/news/
Did you know over 50% of Americans listen to podcasts weekly? Giving you important news about our community and telling great stories are what we do. Make sure you join us for our next episode and be sure to share this podcast on social media with your friends and family. Add us to your Alexa Flash Briefing or your Google Home Briefing and be sure to like, follow, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
POST ROLL:
Produced by the BG Podcast Network
Show Sponsors:
● www.ingles-markets.com
● morganmedical.org
● copycentralga.com
NewsPodcast #CurrentEvents #TopHeadlines #BreakingNews #PodcastDiscussion #PodcastNews #InDepthAnalysis #NewsAnalysis #PodcastTrending #WorldNews #LocalNews #GlobalNews #PodcastInsights #NewsBrief #PodcastUpdate #NewsRoundup #WeeklyNews #DailyNews #PodcastInterviews #HotTopics #PodcastOpinions #InvestigativeJournalism #BehindTheHeadlines #PodcastMedia #NewsStories #PodcastReports #JournalismMatters #PodcastPerspectives #NewsCommentary #PodcastListeners #NewsPodcastCommunity #NewsSource #PodcastCuration #WorldAffairs #PodcastUpdates #AudioNews #PodcastJournalism #EmergingStories #NewsFlash #PodcastConversations&nbsp;
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Bringing you the top stories from the Morgan County Citizen and the Rockdale Newton Citizen