February 25, 2016
Board of
Commissioners
Fire Department Training Academy Graduates Emergency Medical Technicians
Regular Meetings March 1 at 9:00 AM March 15 at 6:30 PM Meetings held at: Administration Building Community Room 140 Henry Parkway McDonough, GA 30253 Regular Commission meetings air daily on Henry TV Channel 180 and AT&T U-Verse Channel 99, at 9 a.m. & 7 p.m.
(l. to r./front to back) Amy McCullough; Patrick Harrison; Jeremy Hicks; Daniel Roy; Noah Hudgins; Kortney Cheek; Michael Johnson; Owen High; Mario Hooper; Johnathan Owens; Scott Groover; Donald Wright; Desmond Walker; Jesus Favela; Bryan Glass; Lt. Ben Leverett.
The emergency medical technician certification program is intended to provide the initial training for students to receive emergency medical technician certification in the state of Georgia. Fourteen students completed twenty one weeks of classroom and clinical instruction provided through the Henry County Fire Department Training Division. Coordinators of the program provided students with instruction in topics ranging from trauma, medical, obstetrical, geriatric and EMS operations. Individuals who completed the program include Kortney Cheek, Jesus Favela, Bryan Glass, Scott Groover, Patrick Harrison, Jeremy Hicks, Owen High, Mario Hooper, Noah Hudgins, Michael Johnson, Johnathan Owens, Daniel Roy, Desmond Walker and Donald Wright. This group of men and women were also recent graduates of the Henry County Fire Academy and are eager to begin shift work on February 29, 2016. Interim Fire Chief Brad Johnson and Division Chief of Training Ike McConnell offered words of encouragement and praise as they presented each student with a certificate of completion. “You have been selected to serve and protect the citizens and visitors of Henry County,” stated Interim Fire Chief Johnson. “Be consistent; always be dedicated to the job, your fellow firefighters and the goals you set for yourself.”
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February 25, 2016
Published by Henry County Communications Department The Henry County Board of Commissioners
Editor Melissa Robinson
Graphic Designer Meredith Butler Samantha Watson
Layout Designer Samantha Watson
Contributors Melissa Robinson Samantha Watson Kevin Williams
Don’t forget to vote in the 2016 Presidential Primary on March 1, 2016 For information on where and what time to vote, please visit www.henrycounty-ga.org.
henrycounty-ga.org
Senior Citizen Fall and Fire Prevention Class Set for March 1
The Henry County Fire Department (HCFD) in partnership with Piedmont Henry Medical Center will be conducting a fire and fall prevention class on March 1, 2016 from 9:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. at the Piedmont Henry Medical Center at 1133 Eagle’s Landing Parkway. The “Remembering When”™ program was developed by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to help older adults live safely at home for as long as possible. According to NFPA statistics adults aged 65 and older are twice as likely to be killed in a home fire compared to the general population. NFPA also asserts that falls are the leading cause of death from injuries to those in the same age group. “Remembering When”™ helps older adults evaluate their safety needs while making fire and fall prevention messages fun and easy to remember. The program content is centered on 16 key messages and is presented through group discussion, trivia games and handouts. By focusing attention on these two serious issues, we can make a measurable improvement in the health and well-being of older adults, who are a rapidly growing segment of our community. Citizens 55 and older may gather more information by contacting Lieutenant Wanda Maddox at 770-288-6621. There is no cost for attending the class.
Henry County Fire Department Accepting Applications for Citizens’ Fire Academy The Citizens’ Fire Academy is an eight week program designed to educate and inform citizens about fire and emergency services in order to achieve a greater understanding of the inner workings of the Henry County Fire Department. The academy will begin on Thursday, March 17, ending May 12. Classes will be held on Thursday evenings from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. at the Henry County Fire Department Headquarters located at 110 South Zack Hinton Parkway in McDonough. The instruction will include practical demonstrations that all participants are encouraged to participate in but because of the voluntary nature of the program, physical limitations of applicants will not be considered a reason for exclusion from the academy. It is imperative that all participants understand that the Citizens’ Fire Academy is intended to be an informative experience to provide insight into how the fire department functions and what services they provide. The goal is also to provide an enjoyable, interactive atmosphere in which fire department members and
citizens can share information and concerns. It is not intended to train participants as firefighters or to assist at any fires. We hope the graduates of the Citizens’ Fire Academy become more aware and better informed about how the fire department operates and will encourage friends, coworkers and families to join the Henry County Fire Department in this rewarding program. Class sizes are limited and potential candidates for the Citizens’ Fire Academy must be a minimum of 18 years of age, live in Henry County and have no prior felony arrests or misdemeanor arrests within six months of the application process. For more information on the Citizens’ Fire Academy, please contact (770) 288-6620 or log on to www.co.henry.ga.us/Fire/CitizenFireAcademy.shtml. Download the application and fax the completed forms to (770) 288- 6776 or email jlaster@co.henry. ga.us. Applications must be submitted no later than Monday, February 29, 2016.
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February 25, 2016 Calling All Vietnam Veterans For the Vietnam Veterans Day Welcome Home The Henry County Parks and Recreation Department is presenting a Vietnam Veterans Day “Welcome Home” ceremony and celebration to honor the valiant Vietnam Veterans who fought for our country. In an effort to offer a proper “homecoming” that many felt was not offered at the end of the war, Parks and Rec officials are reaching out to Vietnam Veterans. The ceremony will take place on March 29, 2016 at 1 p.m. at the Veterans Wall of Honor in Heritage Park in McDonough. Sponsors of the event, including the Andrew McBride Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Army Aviation Heritage Foundation, the American Legion Post 55 and 56, the Marine Corps
League Detachment 1339 and the U.S. Vietnam War Commemoration, wish to celebrate and welcome every Vietnam Veteran in the county. If you are a veteran who would like to be formally recognized for your service during the “Welcome Home” event, please register in person at the Heritage Park Museum or any Henry County Recreation Center or call the Henry County Parks and Recreation Department at 770-288-7300. The community is welcome and encouraged to attend to show their support and gratitude for those that were robbed of a welcoming 50 years ago—because every solider deserves a welcome home.
Commissioner Bruce Holmes To Television filming taking place Host Town Hall Meeting in Stockbridge Focus will be on how to do business with Henry County District V Commissioner Bruce Holmes will hold a Town Hall Meeting on March 19, 2016 at 9 a.m. at Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Stockbridge. The town hall meeting will feature a discussion on doing business with Henry County led by Rod Gray, Purchasing Director for Henry County Government. This discussion will help companies and businesses learn the proper steps to take when looking to work with Henry County Government. Subtopics will include general information about the department and its divisions, details on procurement methods that the county utilizes and much more. Participants will have the opportunity to network as well as ask questions. The Town Hall Meeting is open to the public and all are encouraged to attend. Mt. Olive Baptist Church is located at 469 Mt. Olive Rd, Stockbridge, GA 30281. henrycounty-ga.org
Filming for the television program “Stranger Things” has been taking place at the former Patrick Henry High School in Stockbridge and will continue through Wednesday, March 2, 2016. Officials want residents to be aware that filming will take place indoors and part of the filming will include intermittent simulated gunfire. According to J.D. Hardin, Communications and Community Relations Coordinator for Henry County Schools, signage is expected to be posted around the area to let citizens know of the filming taking place, residents in the area have been made aware and notifications are going home to parents of students at nearby Stockbridge Elementary School. He said that a lane closure will also take place on S. Lee St. on the same two dates mentioned above from 5 to 10 p.m. For more information, contact J.D. Hardin at 770-957-6601
Registration Ongoing for Rock Eagle Summer Camp For Henry County 5TH Graders An amazing adventure awaits Henry County 5th grade students at the Rock Eagle 4-H Center, to be held this year from June 13-17, 2016. The Henry County 4-H staff will travel with students for a 5-day residential camp that week, where opportunities will
abound during a fun-filled week at the 1,500 acre camp located just north of Eatonton – about 60 miles from McDonough. The camp is situated around a 110-acre lake and campers have the opportunity to canoe as well as engage in fun and educational activities, such as canoeing, archery, conservation, entomology, forestry, herpetology, lake ecology and the study of wildlife. Campers will also enjoy periods of free-time where they can visit one of two swimming pools, play miniature golf or visit the canteen and hang out with friends. All 5th grade campers take part in a hike to the actual Rock Eagle mound – a stone effigy measuring 120-feet from wingtip to wingtip. It is made entirely of milky quartz rocks and is believed to have been built about 2,000 years ago by Native Americans. The mound is on the National Register of Historic Places. Camp sessions are led by very energetic counselors who have passed a rigorous selection process and completed multiple training sessions. Camp chaperones include Henry County 4-H staff members along with volunteer leaders that are trained to meet the requirements for camp.
Knowing that physical activity and good nutrition are so very important for everyone, Rock Eagle offers the “Health’s Our Pledge” (HOP) Class during the week of camp. Students learn about the value of always being active and eating well. A week of residential camp is an opportunity to gain independence, with emphasis placed on: * The importance of being early for each session. * The value of being responsible for one’s belongings. * The benefit of making new friends. * The merit of learning to work as part of a team or group. Counselors and chaperones keep safety as the top priority while striving to help participants have great fun during a “technology-free” week. Camp registration for Henry County 5th graders is ongoing at the Henry County 4-H Office, which is located in Heritage Park at 97 Lake Dow Road, McDonough. The camp registration form is distributed to all Henry County 5th graders in the Henry County School system and it may also be found at www.ugaextension.com/henry. Full payment can be made at time of registration or in three installments. To view a video of camp highlights, go to the Georgia 4-H website, click on “activities & events”, then summer camp, and then Cloverleaf Camp Videos – Rock Eagle. The direct link is http://georgia4-h.wistia.com/medias/wzux86tm02.
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