Rockdale Citiizen
Celebration of Community
While the Conyers City Council handled a full agenda of policy and planning items during its March 18 meeting, the night’s most unified moments came in recognizing the people who continue to shape Conyers from the ground up. At the center of that...
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Rooted together
The 45th annual Conyers Cherry Blossom Festival was held Saturday and Sunday at the Georgia International Horse Park with a variety of activities, music, food, vendors, arts and crafts, performances and more. This year’s theme — Rooted Together,...
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ST. PATRICK’S SHENANIGANS
Conyers’ St. Patrick’s Day celebration was held Tuesday in Olde Town with a parade kicking off festivities. Grand Marshal Mayor Connie Alsobrook led the two-block walking parade, accompanied by a lively bagpiper playing classic Irish tunes. Here are...
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A STRONG FOUNDATION
A large crowd of community members, volunteers, and supporters gathered Sunday to celebrate a milestone moment for Conyers-Rockdale Habitat for Humanity as the organization held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for three newly-completed homes. The homes...
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A new voice on Council
On a weeknight in Conyers, Anthony Garcia Pacheco’s world can look like a juggling act: city emails on one screen, his toddler’s voice in the background, and a steady stream of calls from residents trying to sort rumor from reality. As Conyers’ first...
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RCPS announces 2026 valedictorians and salutatorians
Rockdale County Public Schools recently announced the valedictorians and salutatorians of the Class of 2026. The valedictorians and salutatorians were notified in surprise announcements during school Feb. 25. The valedictorians and salutatorians will...
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Turning the Capitol green
decades-long tradition continued Thursday, Feb. 26 in Atlanta as Georgia 4-H’ers turned the halls of the Capitol green and experienced the civic process in real time. Elected officials joined more than 700 youth, staff, volunteers and supporters to...
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CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Black History Month came to a close Saturday with a parade through downtown Covington celebrating important people and events in the history of African Americans. The parade, which traveled from Legion Field, down Floyd Street, around the Square and...
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PRESERVING HISTORY
As Salem Campground approaches its 200th anniversary, an effort is underway to ensure that the Newton County landmark continues its mission well into its next century. Salem Campground, located on Salem Road, has been gathering the faithful for a week...
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SHARING THE SPOTLIGHT
Two students earned the exact same highest SAT score in the district, resulting in co-District STAR Students for 2026. Aoqi Xu of Alcovy High School and Jack Allred of Newton High School each scored 1520 out of 1600 on the SAT — the highest score...
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CHILI CHAMPIONS
There were no sirens and no flashing lights. Just simmering pots and friendly rivalry at the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office Chili Cook-Off on Feb. 12. The internal event was an opportunity for deputies, command staff, detention officers and...
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‘Covington isn’t just where I worked. It’s family.’
Ken Malcom achieved two career milestones Monday — fulfilling 40 years of employment with the city of Covington and announcing his retirement. Malcom, who has served the last four years as director of Community Development for the city, previously...
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‘Games Afoot’
The New Depot Players are excited to present Ken Ludwig’s “Games Afoot (or Holmes for the Holidays)”, a comedic murder mystery set in 1936. After a recent attempt on his life, the actor William Gillette (played by Bob Winstead), hosts a Christmas...
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Celebrating Service
Lorraine Harrison received the A.R. “Gus” Barksdale Lifetime Achievement Award at the Conyers-Rockdale Chamber of Commerce’s 72nd Annual Meeting held Tuesday, Feb. 3 at the Georgia International Horse Park. Former Conyers Mayor Vince Evans presented...
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Conyers Rotary honors STAR students, teachers
The 2026 STAR Students and Teachers for Rockdale County were honored by the Rotary Club of Conyers on Jan. 29 in a celebration held at the Conyers-Rockdale Nancy Guinn Memorial Library. The STAR (Student Teacher Achievement Recognition) Student award...
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NEW LOOK Newton County celebrates reopening of Nelson Heights Community Center
After being closed for more than two years, the Nelson Heights Community Center reopened Thursday with a fresh, new look and new facilities. Newton County held a ribboncutting for the community center, celebrating recently completed renovations,...
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‘Tony had a love for the city’
Visitation and funeral services are planned Wednesday for former Conyers police chief and city manager Tony Lucas, 72, of Greensboro, who died Jan. 22. Visitation is Wednesday, Feb. 4 from noon to 3 p.m., followed by funeral services at Scott Ward...
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ETTING THE TANDARD
Sam and Loucy Hay were honored Thursday night as the R.O. Arnold Award recipients. The award was presented at the Newton County Chamber of Commerce’s 75th Annual Meeting held at Ohco District. The Arnold Award is recognized as the Chamber’s signature...
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Conyers honors employees at its annual awards breakfast
CONYERS — The City of Conyers recognized several employees for outstanding service during its annual employee appreciation breakfast held Jan. 21 at Cherokee Run Golf Club, honoring recipients of the city’s top staff awards and public safety...
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Leila Elkins honored with ‘I Have a Dream’ Award
The legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was honored Sunday by recognizing those who continue to embody his ideals. Four annual awards and one new award were presented by the MLK Celebration Committee during a service held at Newton High...
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AN INCLUSIVE SPACE
Community members, families, local officials, and project partners gathered Tuesday night at 1781 Ebenezer Road in Conyers for the grand opening of Johnson Park’s new inclusive, ADAcompliant playground. Several young children from the community were...
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LEADING THE WAY
Conyers swore in a new mayor, Connie Alsobrook, on Jan. 7, marking the beginning of her term after a historic win as the city’s first Black and first woman mayor — a milestone moment that reshapes the leadership story of a 172-year-old city. Nearly...
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A HIStOrIC dAy
A new era began Wednesday evening for the city of Conyers as new Mayor Connie Alsobrook was sworn into office during a City Council meeting at Cherokee Run Golf Club. Alsobrook, the city’s first Black mayor, was elected in November and replaces...
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30Service YEARS of Conyers honors Jurgens for contributions to city
Sadina Jurgens started working with the city of Conyers in November of 1995 as a receptionist and for the last 30 years, she has continued her service with the city. For her 30 years of service, the city honored Jurgens in December. Jurgens currently...
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Conyers honors out-going mayor
As the city of Conyers closed out 2025, the city recognized out-going Mayor Vince Evans in December. “We want to thank Mayor Vince Evans for his leadership as mayor for the past eight years and 18 years of service on the Conyers City Council,” a social...
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Leadership changes among top stories in Rockdale County
Achange in one of the key leadership roles in Rockdale County was in the news in 2025. Dr. Terry Oatts abruptly retired from his position as superintendent of Rockdale County Public Schools in February. Prior to his resignation, Oatts had been at odds...
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Conyers employees earn special recognitions
At the 2025 City of Conyers Christmas Party, the city honored five winners of the inaugural Employee Awards for their dedication, innovation and service. A glance at each winner: Chase Childers — Innovator Award “He has created lasting improvements...
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Joyful and Triumphant
The Georgia Boy Choir performed a special Christmas concert Saturday, Dec. 13 at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers. The event was sold out with about 600 attendees. For more information about the Georgia Boy Choir, visit https://...
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Police Who Care
Thirty kids walked into Walmart on Hazelbrand Road with a timid nature, but left smiling and laughing on Dec. 9. That is the effect Covington Police Department’s Police Who Care Christmas Shop With A Cop has on children from Alcovy CASA, the Newton...
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‘Better prepared to learn, grow and thrive’
C.J. Hicks Elementary School and Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS), in partnership with Kaiser Permanente and Goodr, celebrated the opening of an innovative, on-campus grocery store designed to provide free, fresh food and groceries to students and...
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Investing in classrooms
Snapping Shoals EMC continues to invest in Newton County classrooms, awarding $15,000 in Bright Ideas grants to support innovative instructional projects across the district. Funded through unclaimed capital credits, these grants empower teachers to...
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Parading into the holiday season
The sky was gray but spirits were bright Saturday morning as the 2025 edition of the Covington Christmas Parade stepped off from Legion Field. Dozens of entrants marched in light rainfall down Floyd Street to the Square before turning up Conyers Street...
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