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Chamber hires new Main Street Director
Lauren-Head-Shot
Lauren Singleton

COVINGTON, Ga. – The Covington/Newton County Chamber of Commerce announced today that Lauren Singleton has been hired as the new Main Street Director.

After an extensive search process, the Covington/Newton Chamber of Commerce has hired Singleton as the new Director of the Main Street Covington program.  The Director will have responsibility for day-to-day operations of the program that oversees the activities in the geographic area known as the “Downtown Business District.”  The district includes the historic downtown square as well as several blocks adjacent to downtown, including most of the government district in Covington.

“We are very excited to bring Lauren on our Chamber team.” Chamber President Ralph Staffins said. “We reviewed over 25 applicants for this position and finding the right person who had strong Main Street experience, a history of successful relationship building, and the unique personality for this role was not easy. We feel Lauren brings all these skill sets to the program.”

Allan Seebaran, chair of the Main Street Board, said, “Downtown Covington has grown to a level that compares us to larger and more progressive cities; Miss Singleton is bringing the experience, training, knowledge, and creativity to take us to the next level.”

Lauren is a native of Georgia and previously worked as the Main Street Manager for the City of McDonough. She has produced several events for the cities of McDonough, Riverdale and Morrow. As a graduate of Clayton College & State University in Morrow, Georgia, she received her bachelor’s degree in Integrative Studies with an emphasis on Entertainment Management. Singleton’s background includes social media management, graphic design, and marketing, in addition to event production and management.Her official start date will be May 29.

The Main Street program is built upon four guiding principles that the Director will be responsible for: Organization—the Main Street Board, volunteers, and committees; Design—maintaining the historic design values of the district, signage, and coordinated streetscape and landscape aesthetics; Promotion—brand management and drawing visitors and residents to the district; Economic Restructuring—connecting property owners and businesses in the district to financial and business solutions.

Any questions or inquiries can be directed to Ralph Staffins at RStaffins@newtonchamber.com, or by calling the office at 770-786-7510.

Man pleas guilty to 2020 stabbing murder of his wife
Arrief McKenzie
Arrief McKenzie (Photo courtesy of Gwinnett County Police Department)

NEWTON COUNTY — A Gwinnett County man has pled guilty to murdering his wife in Newton County.

In a social media post, the Newton County District Attorney’s Office stated that on Monday afternoon, Arrief McKenzie pled guilty to the 2020 murder of his wife, Niki McKenzie. 

Arrief is reportedly pleading guilty to all charges. His charges are malice murder, felony murder, burglary in the first degree, home invasion in the first degree, family violence aggravated assault, aggravated stalking and possession of a knife during the commission of a felony. 

The court scheduled a sentencing hearing for March 24 and 25. The maximum sentence Arrief could face would be life without parole, plus an additional life sentence as well as an additional 20 years. 

Though the State previously filed a notice of intent to seek the death penalty for Arrief, the notice was recently withdrawn as an agreement was reached where Arrief waived his right to trial by jury.

As a result, a bench trial was set for the week of March 24, where a judge would determine Arrief’s guilt or innocence. But upon Arrief’s submission of a guilty plea, this trial no longer will take place and the court will move ahead with sentencing.

In early 2020, Arrief had been barred in two court orders from contacting Niki, 51, or visiting her residence — which was on Keyton Drive in Covington. One order was a temporary protective order and the other was a sentencing order. This was in place because of Arrief’s 2019 guilty plea to family violence battery against his wife.

Around 7 a.m. on March 3, 2020, Niki prepared to leave her home to go to work. When she opened the garage door, Arrief attacked her, stabbing her several times with a knife. Niki died from her injuries.

According to the Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office, Arrief had already attacked and killed another woman that same morning, who is believed to have been an ex-girlfriend. Jillian Myles-Walters, 36, was killed in unincorporated Lawrenceville sometime before 6 a.m. and found by Gwinnett County officers. 

Arrief was detained later that same day by Dunwoody police during a traffic stop, and the murder weapon was located in his vehicle. It is believed that Arrief killed Myles-Walters in Lawrenceville, then drove to Covington where he sought and killed Niki.

Arrief continues to face murder charges in Gwinnett County for the murder of Myles-Walters. That case is pending