With Newton Trails' Oktoberfest Fundraiser approaching, September 25 at the OHCO District, we wish to highlight the projects Newton Trails and its partners are currently working on. These, plus on-going maintenance, improvements, and promotions, are what we are asking donors and sponsors to support.

Eastside Trail to Cricket Frog Trail Connector - Newton Trails holds easements from three landowners along the path from the south end of the Eastside Trail at the Newton County School System's STEAM Academy to the Cricket Frog Trail, a distance of about one mile. We continue to seek the last needed easements. Newton County voters approved $1 million in the 2023 SPLOST for this project.

Yellow River Trail and Connecting Porterdale - Newton County voters included $1.3 million in the 2017 SPLOST for a trail along the Yellow River from Porterdale to the Rockdale County line and for associated branch trails. Newton Trails has supported this project because the trails would serve the western half of the County and connect Porterdale with our larger trail system. The project has enjoyed some success in acquiring easements and with developers including trails in their housing complexes, but there is more to do.

Highway 278 Trail - This trail is the brainchild of Mr. Rob Fowler and Main Street Land & Properties, the presenting sponsors for Newton Trails 2025 and 2026 Oktoberfest Fundraisers. It will parallel Hwy 278 from the Eastside Trail, near Wesley Methodist Church of Covington's new church building, to the Rivian plant. Along the way it will connect Georgia State University's Newton Campus and Stanton Springs Industrial Park. Newton Trails recently asked the Newton County Board of Commissioners and the Covington City Council to consider resolutions of conceptual support. Those resolutions DO NOT commit either the County or the City to providing money. If passed, they would merely be statements that the County and City believe the Hwy 278 Trail to be a worthy project.

East and West Bear Creek Bridges - Newton Trails is seeking a proposal from a bridge engineering firm for "analysis and recommendations" for both Cricket Frog Trail bridges. The current bridges are fine, but the wood plank decking has a limited lifespan and we want to be prepared to upgrade these bridges in the most cost effective way when it is necessary or opportune to do so.

Newton Trails appreciates and here recognizes the contributors who have generously supported our work with a gift of $500 or more since September 1, 2025. If you see an error or omission, please let us know at info@newtontrails.org. We want to get it right!

For information about our Donor, Sponsor, and Supporter Recognition Program, please visit www.newtontrails.org/donor-recognition. We will recognize all 2026 donors, regardless of the amount given, in our Winter 2026 Newsletter that comes out in January 2027 after we close the books on 2026.

DIAMOND ($10,000 or more)

Main Street Land & Properties

Rob Fowler

PLATINUM ($5,000 - $9,999)

Jerry Bouchillon

Mayfield Ace Hardware

OHCO District

Melissa McCarthy

GOLD ($2,500 - $4,999)

Bill & Julie Gramzinski

Karen C. Burnett

Morton & Paige Oftedal

Norris & Francie Little

Peach State Construction Company

Rodney & Julia Sheets

Tammy Nolan

Mr. & Mrs. William Fortson

SILVER ($1,000 - $2,499)

Becton-Dickinson

Billy & Theodosia Wade and Family

Burge Club

C-Town Bikes & Fitness

Chip & Jonna West

Chris & Barbara Martin

Courtney Klebowski

Covington Conyers Cycling Club

Dalton & Lisa Knox

Daniel Murphy

Debra & Rich Griffith

The Doepke Law Firm, LLC

Discover Covington

Greg & Lisa Herring

Greg & Tamara Richardson

Heather & Josh King

John & Terri Anschutz

Judy & Steve Tilmont

Mark & Lisa Hanson

Matthew Berberich

Michelin Tread Technologies, Covington

Oxford College of Emory University

Ronnie & Carol Shell

Scott Hubbard State Farm Insurance

William (Bill) Couch

COPPER ($500 - $999)

Caroline Buckner

Carter & Julie Rogers

Church of the Good Shepherd Episcopal

Duane & Sheri Ford

Ed & Roberta Winnicki

Getra & Mark Sanders

Jan & Craig Hudson

Lance & Sue Flynn

Les & Joan Conway

Lisa Barlow

Robert & Neely Lane

Southern Bicycle League

Timothy Potts

United Bank

Wanda & Steve Reagan

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