Kari Apted
Kari Apted has been writing for The Newton Community Magazine since its inception. She began writing professionally in 2005 when her work was chosen to appear in "Operation Homecoming: Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Home Front, in the Words of U.S. Troops and Their Families," an anthology sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts.
Kari’s portfolio now includes blogs, feature stories, humorous newspaper columns and a plethora of home design articles. She’s currently working on her first book. Kari adores her husband, Donnie, their four mostly-grown children, and the family’s pack of rescued mutts. When she isn’t writing, Kari loves creating artwork, traveling, and hosting paint-and-sip parties.
Dog Daze
East Newton Elementary School media specialist Meghen Bassel serves as pet parent to beloved support dog Booker T. Pug. However, her canine expertise extends far beyond the library’s walls—all the
Homeschool, Not Alone School
by Kari Apted Dr. Annise Mabry’s children were the driving forces behind her development of Tiers Free Academy Homeschool Cooperative. As an LGBTQ-identifying individual, her daughter, Ally, was the victim
A Force for Learning and Justice
Dr. Annise Mabry has a wall full of diplomas. Those degrees have opened dozens of doors throughout her life, but her innate ability to find solutions to insurmountable problems drives
Passion for the Arts
Gichin Funakoshi, known as the father of modern karate, once said, ‘Spirit first, technique second.’ Jim Fuller, owner and chief instructor of Jim Fuller’s U.M.A.S. Karate, shares the belief that
A Mission in Medicine
While most teenagers are preoccupied with the latest TikTok trends, Madison Forsythe stays busy pursuing her future. She recently endured a stringent selection process to achieve a leadership position in
Walk This Way
Marc Roach decided more than a decade ago to start putting one foot in front of the other in pursuit of better health. Now, the 75-year-old covers between 10 and
Little Fish, Big Fun
The small town of Newborn in eastern Newton County celebrates an unlikely local resident every April: the lowly hornyhead fish. The annual Hornyhead Fish Festival features a fishing tournament with
Life with Lupus
Makayla Cosby was a picture of good health until mysterious symptoms appeared at the tender age of 7. After extensive testing, her family learned she had childhood onset lupus. Cosby
Cooking Up a Legacy
For over 50 years, restaurateur Jim Stalvey owned and operated over a dozen dining establishments in Covington and surrounding areas. The late Newton County icon not only enjoyed serving food but