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Snellville hires former Oxford city manager
OXFORD
Tom Spigolon
Updated: Aug 27, 2021, 8:28 PM
Published: Aug 27, 2021, 8:29 PM

OXFORD, Ga. — Oxford is searching for a new city manager to replace Matthew Pepper after he departed for a job in Gwinnett County recently.

The city of Snellville announced they hired Pepper as assistant city manager.

Pepper had served as Oxford city manager since June 2018 when he was promoted from assistant city manager upon the retirement of Bob Schwartz.

The town is mostly residential and has an estimated population of about 2,400. It is home to Emory University's Oxford College.

Councilman Jim Windham said he was hoping the next city manager would have the "same basic philosophy" as elected leaders about operating the city government.

"Hopefully it's someone who will buy in to the same philosophy we've had since I've been on the council," said the four-term councilman.

Matt Pepper
Matt Pepper - photo by Special Photo
April 3 crash kills two young adults, injures third
Newton County Sheriff Car---WEB
Kate Verity
Published: Apr 4, 2025, 10:29 PM

NEWTON COUNTY — Around 10 a.m. on Thursday, a head-on collision on Highway 212 left two young adults dead and a third hospitalized.

Joe Navarro, 21, was driving the vehicle and Breanna Smith, 18, was in the passenger seat. Katie New, 20, sat between them.

According to the Newton County Sheriff’s Office, the vehicle lost control while going around a curve and crossed the centerline, where it collided head-on with a box truck. The crash report shows that their vehicle traveled another hundred feet after impact before coming to a stop. It spun, ended up facing the opposite direction on the shoulder of the opposite lane.

Navarro and Smith were pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. New was airlifted to Grady Hospital. Her current condition is not known. 

Navarro, Smith and New were not believed to be wearing seatbelts when the collision occurred.

The driver of the box truck was not reported to have suffered any injuries.

This is an ongoing story. The News will post updates as they are made available.