EAST METRO Top Stories for December 19th 

Publish Date: December 19th 

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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, December 19th and Happy birthday to Al Kaline 

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

1. Rockdale River Trail project to be adjusted
2. Covington stormwater discussion stirs controversy
3. Annual Pancake Breakfast Brings 'Christmas Magic' To Students

Plus, Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on saturated fats 

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: Villa Rica Wonderland Train 

STORY 1: Rockdale River Trail project to be adjusted 

  After hearing from the community, the Rockdale Board of Commissioners is tweaking the Rockdale River Trail project to better reflect residents’ concerns. 

They received 60 comments—58 from public meetings and two via email or mail. The feedback? A mix: 12 in favor, 41 opposed, and a handful offering conditional or neutral input. “These perspectives have been crucial in shaping our next steps,” the Board said. 

What’s next? A new environmental study, letters to affected residents, and another Town Hall once plans are updated.  

STORY 2:  Covington stormwater discussion stirs controversy 

 Things got heated at the Dec. 15 City Council meeting over a proposal to add the city’s stormwater charge to monthly utility bills. 

Council member Jared Rutberg argued it’d be easier for residents to pay in smaller chunks rather than one big bill in May. Plus, he said, it might finally get the Newton County Board of Commissioners and Board of Education to pay up—neither has historically paid the charge. 

But not everyone was on board. Council member Charika Davis didn’t hold back. “It’s a slap in the face,” she said, adding that residents should have the right to refuse the charge. 

City Attorney Frank Turner suggested litigation might be the only way to force the county and school board to pay, as they claim the charge is a tax, not a fee. The council ultimately tabled the decision, opting to discuss it further in a closed session. 

STORY 3:   Annual Pancake Breakfast Brings 'Christmas Magic' To Students 

   It was all pancakes, syrup, and holiday magic at Morgan County High School’s annual Special Needs Pancake Breakfast. 

Red and green pancakes? Check. Santa Claus? Absolutely. Even The Grinch (played by Tim Reynolds) made an appearance—though he couldn’t steal the smiles. Over 80 students from Morgan and Greene counties came together for a morning full of laughter, Christmas cheer, and, let’s be honest, way too much syrup. 

Big thanks went to Chase Stevens with State Farm for sponsoring, plus HOSA, TAPP, and Chef Tolbert’s culinary students for making it all happen. 

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: INGLES MARKETS 1 

STORY 4: Covington inks $100 million water agreement with Amazon 

   After two years of back-and-forth, the city of Covington has struck a $100 million deal with Amazon to build a water reuse facility for its massive Alcovy Road data center. The kicker? Once it’s built, the city will own and operate the plant, charging Amazon to use recycled water to cool its data center. 

The City Council approved the deal Monday night, voting unanimously on four related agreements. Mayor Fleeta Baggett emphasized that protecting residents’ water supply was non-negotiable.  

Amazon’s project, spanning 430 acres, will also pump $80 million into local infrastructure over the next five years. 

STORY 5: Two Shot At Meadow Ridge Party During Brawl Over a Butt Slap 

An Eatonton man, Tobias Horrez Farley, 44, is in custody after a chaotic brawl at a party on Meadow Ridge Road left a Madison couple shot early Sunday morning, Dec. 14. And the reason? A butt slap.  

“It’s a mess,” said Detective Sgt. Andre Johnson, who’s still piecing it all together. “We don’t know if the shots were intentional, accidental, or if more than one gun was involved.” 

Here’s what we know: Farley and his girlfriend got into it with a married couple—her cousin and his wife—after the cousin playfully slapped Farley’s butt. Things escalated fast. Words were exchanged, a gun was flashed, and by 2:30 a.m., fists were flying. 

The fight ended with the wife shot in the chest and arm, and her husband hit below the chest. Both are stable, but the details are murky. Three guns were recovered—Farley’s, his girlfriend’s, and one belonging to the female victim. 

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And now here is Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on saturated fats  

We’ll have closing comments after this.  

Break: INGLES MARKETS 2 

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/ 

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