Local News

Jean and Charles Courtney with their daughter, Jeanie Krenz, middle, at the anniversary celebration.

Couple Celebrates 71st Wedding Anniversary

Dogwood Forest Acworth residents, Charles and Jean Courtney, recently celebrated 71 years of marriage. The couple, who moved into the senior living facility this summer, got married June 25, 1950, when Charles was 19 and Jean was 17.

At the time, he had just enlisted in the Air Force and had to get permission from his commanding officer to get married, which was required. As a military family, the Courtneys moved every few years, including stints in England, South Dakota, California and Texas, while Charles also served remote tours of duty throughout his almost 29-year military career. He retired from the military in 1978 and began teaching electronics at Arkansas College of Technology. Charles retired from teaching in 1999, and the Courtneys moved to Georgia to be near their youngest two children and grandchildren.

At 88 and 90, Jean and Charles have four children, nine grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren and are settling into their next chapter together.

Celebrate Constitution Week with DAR

Sept. 17 marks the 234th anniversary of the drafting of the Constitution of the United States of America by the Constitutional Convention of 1787. Join members of the Liberty Hill Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) to hear the Constitution Week Proclamation at Acworth’s regular meeting of the mayor and Board of Aldermen at 7 p.m. Sept. 16 at City Hall.

Bring a bell and join DAR members, at 4 p.m. Sept. 17 at City Hall, to celebrate the signing of the Constitution.

Art House Happenings

The Acworth Arts Alliance welcomes Lovona Brantley, a new instructor who has spent numerous years in the community. Brantley was the owner and operator of the Acworth Gallery, which was located on Lemon Street. She will teach intermediate/ advanced watercolors and a youth painting class at the Art House.

The Art House annual Holiday Gift Shop will be 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 13 at the Acworth Community Center, in Tanyard Creek Overlook. More than 20 member artists will be participating.

Innovative Fitness Announces 2021 Grant Recipient

Innovative Fitness awarded the second annual 2021 Chris Conti Memorial Grant to the City of Chatsworth, benefiting the city’s police and fire departments. This year, all nonprofits, public safety organizations, and public high schools in Georgia were invited to apply. The new fitness center will be housed within the Chatsworth Police Department.

The police force presently consists of 19 sworn officers and two administrative staff members in a city of 4,300 residents. The fire department maintains 14 full-time and 14 part-time employees. The newly designed fitness space will consist of the latest cardio, strength and functional training equipment aimed to promote and encourage physical fitness among the police and fire workforce.

“Physical fitness and strength are critical tools for a firefighter,” Chatsworth Fire Department’s Chief Charles M. Baxter said. “Fitness equipment that will allow our personnel to develop their strength, flexibility and cardiovascular endurance will have a direct positive impact on our ability to serve the citizens in our community.”

Innovative Fitness inaugurated the Chris Conti Memorial Grant (CCMG) in 2020 to honor the memory of its co-founder. The creation of the CCMG aligns with the company’s motto, “See a need, fill a need,” and will carry on Conti’s generosity and desire to give back to others in his community. Innovative Fitness is a national supplier of fitness equipment and athletic flooring and provides a full range of services to their clients in commercial and residential settings.

Oscar Johnson ready for take off.

Oscar Johnson kissing a flag next to his three daughters during the recognition ceremony. Oscar Johnson with Michael Searcy, director of community relations for Celebration Village.

92-Year-Old Veteran Lands Helicopter

After 20 years serving our nation as an Army combat specialist, an operative with the Central Intelligence Agency, and as the personal helicopter pilot to the vice president of the United States, Oscar Johnson, Jr. spent his birthday doing what he loves most, flying!

The veteran celebrated his 92nd birthday recently by landing a helicopter at his place of residence, Celebration Village Acworth. After landing, the helicopter was available for the nearly 450 people in attendance to see, followed by a recognition ceremony.

Johnson’s 92 years are filled with legend and lore, as he was assigned to the CIA with missions in Okinawa, Korea, Virginia, the Philippines, Guatemala and more. He carried a survival kit that included a pistol, 12 rounds of ammunition, gold for barter and a pill that guaranteed death in six seconds in the event of capture.

His final assignment before retirement in 1968 was flying Vice President Hubert Humphrey and his wife, Muriel, during the Lyndon B. Johnson administration. He has logged more than 37,000 flight hours.