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The News collects first place finishes at Georgia Press Association convention
The Covington News
Mason Wittner | The Covington News

JEKYLL ISLAND, Ga. — Last Friday night at the Georgia Press Association’s (GPA) annual convention, it was announced that The Covington News placed first in a plethora of categories. 

The convention was held at the Jekyll Island Club Hotel. 

In the 2024 Better Newspaper Contest, managing editor Phillip B. Hubbard placed first in the Spot News Photo category for Division C. The photo that placed was on the night of the Aug. 25, 2023 fire in the downtown Covington Square area. 

The News also had first place finishes in the 2024 Better Newspaper Advertising contest of Division C. 

The News received first place in the Food, Signature Page and Online Banner or Tile advertising categories. The News placed second in the Full-Color advertising category as well. 

All awards were based on entries from 2023. 

Proprietor and publisher of The News, Patrick Graham commended the staff on their showing in this year’s contests. 

“Congratulations to our staff on another outstanding showing in this important statewide newspaper contest,” Graham said. “I can’t be more proud of their tremendous effort to serve our readers, advertisers and community well.”

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Though the State previously filed a notice of intent to seek the death penalty for Arrief, the notice was recently withdrawn as an agreement was reached where Arrief waived his right to trial by jury.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