EAST METRO Top Stories for January 9th
Publish Date: January 9th
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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, January 9th and Happy birthday to Jimmy Page
I’m Peyton Spurlock and here are your top stories presented by Times Journal
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: Bama Boys Towing
STORY 1: Warming drive underway through Feb. 15
Winter’s here, and for some, staying warm isn’t a given. But Newton County’s stepping up.
The Sheriff’s Office, Tuggle-Harris Educational Foundation, and Newton County Fire Service are collecting cold-weather essentials—blankets, gloves, hats, you name it—for folks who need them.
Got extras? Drop them off by Feb. 15 at:
Everything goes to local charities. Questions? Call Felicia Tuggle at 770-595-4725. Let’s help our neighbors stay warm.
STORY 2: Nearly $4.1 million In Road Improvements Needed For New Schools
The Morgan County Board of Education is asking for help—big help. They need $4.1 million for road upgrades to handle traffic for the shiny new $65 million K-5 campus set to open in Fall 2028. On Jan. 6, Superintendent Stacey Stancil and Assistant Superintendent Jay Homan asked the county commissioners to chip in nearly $1 million. The catch? The city of Madison has to agree too.
The upgrades include a roundabout at College Drive and East Avenue, plus improvements at Old Buckhead Road and 441. Without them? “A disaster,” Homan warned—traffic jams, delays, accidents.
The county approved the funding, but not without some grumbling. Commissioner von Hanstein wasn’t thrilled: “Sixty percent of our taxes already go to schools, and now you want more? Plus, this is inside Madison, not the county.”
Still, others backed the plan. “We’re One Morgan,” said Chairman Blake McCormack. “These roads serve everyone.”
Next stop: convincing Madison.
STORY 3: NCSO executes search warrant, makes three arrests
A quiet morning in the Westminster subdivision turned chaotic Wednesday as deputies swarmed a house on St. Anne’s Place. Three people were arrested, though the Newton County Sheriff’s Office is keeping tight-lipped about the details for now.
What we do know? The Criminal Investigations Division led the charge, with backup from the SWAT team—never a casual addition. The Westminster neighborhood, tucked off Salem Road, isn’t exactly used to this kind of scene.
As for what went down or why? The investigation’s still unfolding, and the NCSO isn’t spilling much yet. Stay tuned.
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We’ll be right back
Break: INGLES MARKETS 4
STORY 4: Georgia health officials urging flu vaccination amid “widespread and severe” infections
Flu hospitalizations in Georgia skyrocketed in late December—over 500 in one week, a jaw-dropping six-fold jump from earlier in the month. Seven deaths were reported during that same week, and state health officials are sounding the alarm.
“Flu activity is severe and spreading fast,” the Department of Public Health warned, urging anyone eligible to get vaccinated ASAP. With post-holiday gatherings and schools reopening, they’re bracing for even more cases.
Meanwhile, the CDC reported a national surge—cases up by a third, deaths climbing nearly 1%. Acting director Jim O’Neill even tweaked pediatric vaccine guidelines, suggesting parents consult doctors before vaccinating kids under six months.
STORY 5: Newton commissioners approve eight new detention officer positions
Newton County Sheriff Ezell Brown finally got the green light to hire eight new detention officers after years of staffing struggles. On Tuesday, the Board of Commissioners approved $397,595 to cover salaries and benefits for the rest of the fiscal year, pulling the funds from the county’s contingency budget.
For years, the Sheriff’s Office couldn’t even fill its existing positions, let alone add new ones. But now? “The floodgates have opened,” said NCSO Operations Director Brandy Burch, noting a surge in applicants. The problem? Without pre-approved positions, they lose candidates to faster-moving agencies.
The Detention Center, running with 105 staff for 530 inmates, has been stretched thin for years. Sheriff Brown reminded commissioners that layoffs during the Great Recession gutted the jail’s workforce, and they’ve never fully recovered.
The commissioners, recognizing the urgency, voted unanimously to approve the hires.
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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 5
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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