Debbie Harper—President & CEO of the Newton County Chamber of Commerce—returns to The Town Square Podcast for Episode 74, and this time she brings the full “what’s happening in 2026” rundown. Debbie explains what the Chamber actually does (and what it doesn’t do), how a 700+ member organization supports everyone from large industry to small business, and why the health of the business community is inseparable from the quality of life in Newton County.

Then we get into the good stuff: major 2026 events, the Chamber’s expanding networking calendar, a recap of the Chamber Annual Meeting & Awards Banquet (including standout winners and why they matter), and what’s coming next—like the Chamber’s vision work and a new foundation focus around workforce development and talent attraction. We also hit current business buzz around Town Center, what’s new on the square, and a timely reminder to shop local—especially after weather weekends that hit restaurants and service businesses hard.

(Listen now at TheTownSquarePodcast.com or watch on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.)

Covington City Councilwoman Charika Davis is back for her second term, and she’s not tiptoeing around the biggest word in local government right now: affordability. In this conversation, she shares what it’s really like campaigning while doing the job, why she sees herself as an advocate for working- and middle-class families, and what people often misunderstand about city government—especially the reality that a councilmember is “one vote,” not the person who hires, fires, or runs day-to-day operations.

We also get into two of the most talked-about issues in Covington: the stormwater billing controversy (and what fairness looks like when people feel blindsided) and the potential property tax relief conversation tied to major economic development and PILOT revenue. Along the way, Davis talks infrastructure strain from growth, sidewalks and safety, why empathy matters in policy, and how residents can actually reach her when they’ve got a real problem to solve.

(Listen now at TheTownSquarePodcast.com or watch on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.)

Newton County growth debates hit a new level in Episode 72 as District 5 Commissioner LeAnne Long returns to The Town Square Podcast to unpack the “good, bad, and ugly” of 2025—especially around data centers, annexations, and citizen trust. Long explains how her blunt communication style and relentless Facebook engagement have helped wake up residents who felt shut out of decisions impacting their neighborhoods.

The conversation dives into why transparency and early communication matter, how annexation timelines work, what happened with the Falconwood and Elks Club Road proposals (voted down by Covington City Council on January 20, 2026), and why data centers have become the buzzword of the year. Long argues she’s not anti-growth—she’s pro-balance, pro-process, and pro “no surprises” government.

(Listen now at TheTownSquarePodcast.com or watch on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.)

Covington Police Chief Brent Fuesting joins The Town Square Podcast for a wide-ranging conversation about who he is, how he leads, and what’s happening inside the Covington Police Department. A 23-year veteran of the department, Chief Fuesting shares his journey into policing, why patrol work matters, and why compassion and empathy are core values he looks for in officers—alongside accountability and integrity.

We also discuss the rapid growth of Covington, plans to open a downtown precinct for greater visibility and access, and how the department pursues transparency through annual reporting and a Citizen Review Board. Chief Fuesting addresses recruitment challenges, the role of technology in modern policing, and offers a direct answer to the question many residents ask: “How safe is Covington?” He also shares how residents may be able to support Police Who Care through Georgia’s Less Crime Act.

(Listen now at TheTownSquarePodcast.com or watch on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.)

If you’ve spent any time around Newton County events, you’ve probably seen Jim Corbin—at ribbon cuttings, Chamber lunches, Rotary service projects, and community gatherings. In Episode 70 of The Town Square Podcast, Jim sits down with Trey and Gabriel to share the story behind the “everywhere guy,” including his journey from South Carolina roots and decades in the HVAC world to a new season of life shaped by serious health battles and a renewed sense of purpose.

Jim opens up about surviving kidney failure, leukemia, and a long ICU stay—and how that experience deepened his desire to serve. We talk about Habitat for Humanity’s relaunch in our area, veterans home repairs, what it’s like to be a CASA volunteer advocating for kids in the juvenile court system, and why Miracle League baseball matters. And because it’s Jim, we also dive into hot sauce, competitive barbecue judging, Tennessee Squires, disc golf in Newton County, and a surprising piece of local history you’ll be thinking about long after the episode ends.

(Listen now at TheTownSquarePodcast.com or watch on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.)

In Episode 69 of The Town Square Podcast, Fire Chief Royce Turner shares his personal journey into public safety and his vision for the future of the Newton County Fire Department. From humble beginnings and a family legacy of service to leading one of the county’s most critical public safety agencies, Chief Turner reflects on leadership, culture-building, and the responsibility that comes with protecting a growing community.

Listeners will gain insight into how fire service has evolved, why medical calls make up the majority of responses, and what it takes to achieve top-tier safety standards like ISO ratings and accreditation. Chief Turner also speaks directly to the next generation, offering advice on faith, perseverance, and bringing “heart” to a profession built on teamwork and service.

(Listen now at TheTownSquarePodcast.com or watch on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.)

Pastor Charles Prescott II—Senior Pastor of Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church (“The Mac”)—joins Trey Bailey and Gabriel Stovall for a Christmas special conversation centered on calling, leadership, and hope in the messy middle. Pastor Prescott shares his unexpected journey into pastoral ministry, how a persistent sense of God’s direction led him to Covington, and what it’s been like stepping into a 147-year-old church still processing grief after a season without a pastor. Along the way, the guys reflect on authenticity in ministry, generational change in the church, and why substance matters more than performance in today’s world.

The conversation also explores Pastor Prescott’s unique bivocational role as Chief of Police and Associate Vice President of Campus Safety at Morehouse College, and how that experience shapes his approach to people, bias, trust, and compassion. With the holidays as the backdrop, the episode leans into real talk about grief, mental health, and finding “small blessings” that carry us through hard seasons. It’s an honest, encouraging episode that points listeners toward a deeper, steadier kind of hope—one rooted in God’s faithfulness and lived out in community.

(Listen now at TheTownSquarePodcast.com or watch on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.)

In Episode 67 of The Town Square Podcast, Trey sits down with Adam Harper, CEO and Owner of Relevant IT Services, to demystify the world of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence for everyday people, small businesses, and churches in Newton County and beyond. Adam shares his story of growing up locally, stumbling into IT through sales and relationships, and eventually launching a company built on trust, tailored solutions, and a “people first” philosophy.

The conversation dives into real-world cyber threats—phishing, social engineering, ransomware, ACH fraud, and deepfakes—and offers practical steps anyone can take to protect their data, their money, and their loved ones. Adam and Trey also explore the promises and pitfalls of AI, how it’s already changing industries, and what “digital resilience” looks like in a hyper-connected world. If you’ve ever wondered whether your business is “too small” to be a target or how to use technology without being controlled by it, this episode is a must-listen.

(Listen now at TheTownSquarePodcast.com or watch on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.)

In Episode 66 of The Town Square Podcast, Trey sits down with Elder J.B. Brockman, Chairman of the Political and Civic Action Committee for the Conyers-Covington Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Elder Brockman shares his journey from Benedict College and joining Kappa Alpha Psi in 1980 to his calling into ministry and current role as an elder at Victorious Life Church in Conyers. He explains the fraternity’s motto—“achievement in every field of human endeavor”—and how that plays out through service, mentoring young men, health and wellness initiatives, and deep community involvement in Rockdale and Newton counties.

The conversation centers on the Kappa Koffeehouse town hall forums, a nonpartisan, non-combative space where candidates and citizens meet eye to eye. Elder Brockman describes how these forums prioritize listening, civility, and real-time voter education, offering voters clarity without the negativity and attack-style politics we see at the national level. Together, Trey and Elder Brockman explore what it means to be “boots on the ground,” how to disagree without being disagreeable, and why the next generation needs more “solution agents” and fewer complainers. If you care about respectful civic engagement, mentoring, and building a healthier political culture in the messy middle, this episode is for you.

(Listen now at TheTownSquarePodcast.com or watch on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.)

Episode 65 of The Town Square Podcast is a deeply personal and reflective Thanksgiving conversation between Trey and Gabriel — their first hosts-only episode in months. Sitting at the table without guests, they look back at 65 episodes of messy-middle conversations that shaped Newton County’s civic dialogue. They revisit powerful moments with guests like Stephanie Lindsey, JaNice Van Ness, Serra Hall, Marshall McCart, and the DA/Defense Attorney youth gun violence duo—highlighting how honest, nuanced dialogue has helped move the county toward understanding rather than outrage.

This episode is part gratitude letter, part behind-the-scenes story, and part renewed mission statement. With emotional transparency, the hosts share how their backgrounds shaped their worldviews, how misinformation harms communities, and why long-form conversations remain vital. They also reflect on family, faith, survival, brotherhood, and the future of Newton County. Episode 65 is a Thanksgiving table full of honesty, humor, challenge, and hope — an invitation for the community to keep leaning into the messy middle together.

(Listen now at TheTownSquarePodcast.com or watch on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.)