March 14, 2017
Board of
Commissioners
Henry County Fire Department to Host Open House for New Station in Locust Grove
Regular Meetings March 21 at 6:30 PM April 4, 2017 9:00 AM 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.
The Henry County Fire Department will be hosting an Open House for Fire Station No. 2 on Saturday, March 18, 2017 beginning at 2 p.m. The public is invited to come out and tour the new station and meet with their local fire professionals and other county representatives. Fire Department officials will also christen their new fire truck, in the start of a new tradition for the HCFD. The new fire station is a replacement for the existing station, which was built by volunteers decades earlier. The station will be part of the City of Locust Grove’s new Court and Police Complex. The nearly 10,000 square foot, three-bay station is located on the ground behind city hall on Frances Ward Drive and features sleeping quarters for ten, kitchen and laundry facilities, a common living area, fitness room, staff offices and a meeting room. The project was budgeted under SPLOST IV in the amount of $2,361,600. Henry County Fire Station No. 2 is located at 35 Frances Ward Dr. in Locust Grove, GA, 30248.
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March 14, 2017 Published by Henry County Communications Department The Henry County Board of Commissioners Editor Melissa Robinson Graphic Designer Meredith Butler Melissa Robinson Layout Designer Melissa Robinson Meredith Butler Contributors Melissa Robinson Kevin Williams
Commissioners Mull Two Finalists For County Manager Position
The Henry County Board of Commissioners has pared down the list of applicants for the County Manager position and has named the two finalists after interviews took place on March 8, 2017. The county manager search was conducted by the Henry County Human Resources Department and initially attracted 15 applicants for the position. The two candidates under consideration are Cheri Hobson-Matthews and Patrick J. O’Connor. Cheri Hobson-Matthews, from McDonough, GA, is currently the Assistant County Manager for Henry County and earned her Master’s of Urban and
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Regional Planning and her Bachelor of Science Degree in Community Planning and Urban Studies, both from Alabama A&M University. She has been with Henry County Government for the past 15 years, and as Assistant County Manager is responsible for overseeing the management of approximately 1,700 employees. Hobson-Matthews began her career in Henry County Government as a Planner II in the Planning and Zoning Department, moving up the ranks to Planning and Zoning Director, then becoming a Division Director. In 2014 Hobson-Matthews was promoted to the role of Assistant County Manager and during her tenure, also served as Interim County Manager. In her role as Assistant County Manager, she has assisted with the preparation and administration of a $137 million budget, as well as aided in planning, managing and directing the activities of the county government and its various departments. Patrick J. O’Connor, from Atlanta, GA, holds both a CPA and CPFO (Certified Public Finance Officer) designation, and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance and Accounting from the University of Connecticut. With more than 30 years of experience in city and county government, O’Connor most recently served as Interim County Manager for Fulton County Government where he oversaw the daily operations of county government and more than 5,500 employees. Prior to that post, he served as Finance Director for Fulton County from 1996 to 2014 and was responsible for the administration of an operating and capital budget of nearly $1 billion. Prior to his tenure with Fulton County, he previously served as the Finance Commissioner for the City of Stamford, CT, the Finance Director in Staunton, VA and the Assistant County Manager/Finance Director in Statesville, NC. The Henry County Board of Commissioners expects to make its final decision after the required 14day waiting period.
Chair June Wood pitches in to keep local roadways clean
Henry County Commission Chair June Wood joined with Stockbridge city council members Elton Alexander and Neat Robinson, along with citizens to pick up litter on Jodeco Rd. this past Saturday. Litter on the roadways is a growing concern for both county and city officials and is one of the most frequent complaints from citizens. Residents who see litter on county roadways should call Henry County Code Enforcement at 770-288-6210. The Henry County Rotary Club operates the Adopt-a-Road program where a group adopts a one-
mile stretch of road and agrees to pick up trash at least once a quarter. There is no charge to the group and they get a sign displaying their volunteer group name erected at each end of their adopted roadway. The remaining trash pickup dates for this year are June 10, August 5 and November 4. Groups interested in participating in the Henry County Rotary Club’s Adopt-a-Road program should contact Kerry Arnold at kerry.arnold@heritagebank. com.
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March 14, 2017 Registration for Rock Eagle 5th Grade Summer Camp Is open
Campers enjoyed canoeing on the lake at last year’s 5th grade Rock Eagle 4-H Camp
An amazing adventure awaits Henry County 5th grade students at the Rock Eagle 4-H Center, where Henry County 4-H staff will travel with students for a 5-day residential camp that runs from June 26-30, 2017. Opportunities abound during this fun-filled time 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 many opportunities, such as canoeing, educational sessions related to archery, entomology, forestry, gardening, herpetology, lake ecology and wildlife study. 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 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 who are trained to meet
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the requirements for camp. Campers reside for the week in one of 55 cottages (16-20 campers per cottage) at the 4-H center, with 4-H staff and volunteers chaperoning the cottages. Meals are served cafeteria-style in the Rock Eagle Dining Hall. Campers follow an organized schedule each day and are responsible to be in assigned locations at specific times. They also enjoy periods of free-time during which they may visit one of two swimming pools (one of which has a water-slide) or they may visit the canteen and hang-out with friends. Both pools are monitored by certified lifeguards. 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, and the class also includes the opportunity to make and sample a tasty, super-healthy fruit smoothie. A week of residential camp is an opportunity to gain independence. Continued on page 5
Emphasis is placed on the: • Importance of being early for each session. • Value of being responsible for one’s belongings. • Benefit of making new friends. • Merit of learning to work as part of a team or group. In all of this, counselors and chaperones have safety as the top priority while striving to help participants have LOTS OF FUN during a “technologyfree” week. Camp registration for Henry County 5th graders will open at 6:00 a.m. on Monday, March 13, at the Henry County 4-H Office which is located at 97 Lake
Dow Road – McDonough (Heritage Park). The camp registration form is distributed to all 5th graders in the Henry County school system. It can also be found at ugaextension.org/henry. Full payment can be made at time of registration or in two installments. For more information, please contact Laura Garrett at 770-288-8421 or lgarrett@uga.edu. To view a video of camp highlights, visit the Georgia 4-H website, and click on “summer camp” then under Cloverleaf Camp Videos – click on “Rock Eagle.” The direct link is https://rabam.wistia.com/ medias/l5b63k68db.
Officer Kinley Wilson was sworn in as a peace officer with the Henry County Sentence Enforcement Department. Pictured (l. to r.) Phonecia Wilson, Officer Wilson and Sentence Enforcement Director Carl Brown.
Sentence Enforcement Swears in First Officer Henry County Sentence Enforcement recently swore in its first certified peace officer. Senior Probation Officer Kinley Wilson was sworn in by Chief State Court Judge Ben Studdard on February 22, 2017. Henry County Sentence Enforcement is the newest department within Henry County having become operational July 1, 2016. The department is responsible for providing misdemeanor probation supervision to the State, Superior and Magistrate Courts for Henry County.
Prior to joining Henry County Sentence Enforcement, Mr. Wilson served as a Probation Officer with Dekalb County State Court and also previously served as a Probation Officer with the Department of Corrections, supervising felony probationers. Also in attendance at the swearing-In ceremony were several Sentence Enforcement staff, Officer Wilson’s wife, Phonecia Wilson, Judge James Chaffin and State Court Solicitor Trea Pipkin.
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March 14, 2017 New County Farmers Market Looking for Vendors
Calling all farmers, gardeners, crafters, artisans—the new Nash Farm Park Farmers Market is looking for you. The Nash Farm Park Farmers Market will begin April 2 and run every first Sunday of the month through December, offering a bounty of home-grown produce, farm-raised beef, homemade baked goods, jams and jellies, handmade craft items and jewelry, locally sourced honey and more. Vendor fee for the entire nine-month season is just $75 however pop up vendors are welcome for $25 a day. The market will run from 3 to 6 p.m. with setup
from 2 to 3 p.m. and breakdown from 6 to 7 p.m. If you want to sell your homemade or handcrafted items at Henry County’s largest farmers market on the beautiful grounds of Nash Farm Park in Hampton, contact Henry County Parks and Recreation at 770-288-7300 or send an email to parksrec@ co.henry.ga.us and provide your farm or company name, a description of your product (jellies / jams or cakes) and please include any certifications or licenses held. Nash Farm Park is located at 100 Babbs Mill Rd. in Hampton, GA 30228.
Commissioners Approve Park and Senior Center Names
The Henry County Board of Commissioners approved two separate resolutions at the March 7 Commission meeting officially naming a new park in District 5 set to open this month, and new Senior/ Recreation center to open in Hampton next month. Commissioners approved a resolution naming the new park Village Park at North Henry. The new park in the Fairview area is set to open with a ribbon cutting ceremony on March 16, 2017 at 11 a.m. The
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park is located at 750 Fairview Rd. in Ellenwood. Commissioners also approved naming the new senior/rec center in District 2 the Bear Creek Senior Center and Recreation Center. The new senior recreation center will be located at 56 McDonough St., in Hampton, GA and is expected to be open near the end of April. Both projects were approved by voters under the SPLOST IV referendum.
TOWN HALL MEETING Hosted By:
DISTRICT 1
COMMISSIONER
JOHNNY WILSON
TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 2017 6:30 - 8:30 PM
Discussion will focus on public safety and crime prevention. Speakers include representatives from the Henry County Fire Department and Police Department.
Luella Middle School
2075 Hampton-Locust Grove Rd, Locust Grove
HENRY COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
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March 14, 2017 Small Fruit Plant Sale Benefits Extension Programs
The Henry County Extension Office wants to remind residents that spring will soon be upon us, and that means spring planting and enjoying fresh fruit all spring and summer long. With that in mind, be sure to order your small fruit plants from the Henry County Cooperative Extension Office’s “Small Fruit Plant Sale,” with proceeds going to support various
extension programs. The plants available for sale this year include pear, blackberry, blueberry, muscadines and raspberries, as well as fig trees. Blueberry bushes are $10 each; blackberry bushes, fig trees, muscadines and raspberry plants are $8 each; and 5-gallon pear trees are $16 each. Plant orders are being taken from now until Friday, March 17, for pick up the following week at Heritage Park. Order forms may be found online at http:// ugaextension.org/county-offices/henry/agricultureand-natural-resources/small-fruit-plant-sale-fundraiser. html. Checks should be made payable to Henry County Extension- 4-H. Heritage Park is located at 97 Lake Dow Rd. in McDonough. For more information, contact the Extension Office at 770-288-8421.
Henry County Fire Department Hosting 2017 Spring Arson Seminar
The Georgia Fire Investigator’s Association, a branch of the International Association of Arson Investigators, and the Henry County Fire Department are hosting the 2017 Spring Arson Seminar from March 21st thru March 24th at the Heritage Park Recreation Center at 99 Lake Dow Road in McDonough. Fire investigators from all over the state of Georgia will be assembled at Heritage Park for four full days of valuable information sharing and hands on training. Investigators will receive instruction on proper investigation techniques utilizing the National Fire Protection Association standards referred to as NFPA 1033 and NFPA 921. Additional instruction will also be provided on electrical arc mapping, canine investigation, report writing and legal issues, and evidence collection. Highlights of the 2017 Spring Seminar will center on Live Cells Burn directed by the Henry County Fire Department. The controlled burns are conducted on henrycounty-ga.org
full scale room models, and represent the best way to simulate real fire scenarios for training purposes. Henry County has been the home of the GFIA Spring Seminar for nine consecutive years. Henry County Fire Marshal Chief Joe Kelley said, “The seminar is a huge success, and we are looking forward to another rewarding week of networking and sharing of knowledge.” Members have expressed their gratitude for the hospitality of Henry County. The seminar benefits for Henry County are two-fold; Henry County Investigators obtain valuable training at no cost to the County, and attendees bring revenue to the Henry County community by way of travel, lodging and meals. For more information on the 2017 GFIA Spring Seminar including registration and membership information, please visit www.gaiaai.org/Training.htm.
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TOWN HALL
MEETING Henry County Planning and Zoning Department will be hosting a Town Hall Meeting with discussion to focus on a pending rezoning request on Mt. Carmel Road as well as general Planning & Zoning Matters.
Luella Elementary School Common Room 575 Walker Drive, Locust Grove, GA
MARCH 16, 2017 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm
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March 14, 2017
DO NOT FEED ANIMALS 12 HOURS PRIOR TO SURGERY
BRING ALL DOGS ON LEASHES
SCHEDULING INFO 770.288.7001
BRING ALL CATS IN CAT CARRIERS
Hidden Valley Senior Center 600 Spraggins Memorial Pkwy Stockbridge, GA 30281
ENCOURAGE PETS TO “POTTY” PRIOR TO APPT.
770.288.7002
CASH ONLY ACCEPTED
Locust Grove Senior Center 280 Mose Brown Rd Locust Grove, GA 30252
770.288.6944
Hampton Senior Center TBD
TBD
SENIOR CITIZEN PET OWNERS (55+YRS) DATES
Wednesday February 15, 2017 Thursday February 16, 2017 Wednesday February 22, 2017 Thursday February 23, 2017 Wednesday March 22, 2017 Thursday March 23, 2017 Wednesday March 29, 2017 Thursday March 30, 2017
LOCATION Heritage Senior Center 1050 Florence McGarity Blvd McDonough, GA 30252
ADDITIONAL SERVICES (must accompany surgery)
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SERVICE PAIN MEDICATION (3-DAY SUPPLY)
FVRCP (CATS)
COST
SERVICE
$5
NAIL TRIM
$10
HERNIA
COST $5 $15
$20-DOGS* $20-CATS* *COMPLIMENTARY RABIES VACCINATION/ MICROCHIP INCLUDED
BY APPOINTMENT ONLY (WALK-INS NOT ACCEPTED)
March 14, 2017 Commissioners Recognize Crime Victims’ Rights Week
District Attorney Darius Pattillo and Solicitor General Trea Pipkin, along with members of their offices, accept a proclamation from the Henry County Board of Commissioners in recognition of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week.
The Henry County Board of Commissioners recognized National Crime Victims’ Rights Week with a proclamation at the March 7 Commission meeting. The proclamation read in part, “Henry County is dedicated to strengthening victims and survivors in the aftermath of crime, building resilience in our communities and our victim responders, and working for justice for all victims and survivors.” This year’s annual National Crime Victims’ Rights Week will be observed the week of April 2 through April 8, 2017. On Thursday, March 30 there will be a Community Awareness and Networking Event at 6:30 p.m. preceding the 15th Annual Memorial Service to be held at 7 p.m. at Shiloh Baptist Church. The memorial service is held every year to honor and remember victims of crimes and their families as well as recognize outstanding law enforcement
efforts and officers and victim service providers. This year’s theme—Strength. Resilience. Justice.—reflects a vision in which all victims are strengthened by the response they receive, organizations are resilient in response to challenges, and communities are able to seek collective justice and healing. National Crime Victims’ Rights Week is a program sponsored by the National Center for Victims of Crime and the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, which works to stop the cycle of violence through awareness and education. To R.S.V.P. contact the Office of District Attorney Darius Pattillo at 770-288-6359 or krosemond@ co.henry.ga.us or the Office of Solicitor-General Trea Pipkin at 770-288-7176 or sduffey@co.henry.ga.us. Shiloh Baptist Church is located at 262 Macon Street, McDonough, GA 30253.
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March 14, 2017 Free CERT Training Classes to Begin in April Applications due by Friday, March 17 Are you prepared to act in case of an emergency? With the Community Emergency Response Team training, or CERT, you will learn to help yourself, your family, and your neighbors in the event of a catastrophic disaster. Because emergency personnel may not be able to help everyone immediately, you can make a difference by using CERT Training to save lives and protect property. Beginning Tuesday, April 4, 2017, the Henry County Office of Emergency Management will offer free citizen preparedness courses as part of its CERT program that includes academic and hands-on instruction. Topics covered include: • Emergency Preparedness
• Fire Safety • Emergency Medical Operations I & II • Light Search and Rescue • CERT Team Organization • ICS 100: Incident Command System • Disaster Psychology • Terrorism and CERT • Course Review and Simulated Disaster Exercise The free CERT training is a 6-week course that begins Tuesday, April 4 from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. and will take place at the Henry County Emergency Operations Center located at 526 Industrial Boulevard in McDonough. Training is open to all interested individuals ages 18 and older. The deadline for application submissions is March 17, 2017. To download the CERT training application, visit http://www.co.henry. ga.us/911/pdf/CERT-VolunteerApplication.pdf. For more information and to submit the CERT volunteer application, contact CERT coordinator Shelita Broomfield by fax 770-954-2876 or e-mail sbroomfield@co.henry.ga.us.
The Henry County Fire Department is taking applications for the Citizens Fire Academy Applications due by Friday, March 17
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 Tuesday, March 21, ending May 9. 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 Continued on page 13
henrycounty-ga.org
Henry County Police Department is taking applications for the Citizens Police Academy Applications due by Friday, March 17
The Henry County Citizens Police Academy is now accepting applications for its 11 week class session that meets every Tuesday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. from March 21 through May 30. The goal of the Citizens Police Academy is not only to help local residents better understand police work in their community, but to develop stronger ties between our community and police agencies in an effort to better address crime issues. Community Based Policing is an important and vital aspect of crime control in any community. It is through community cooperation and planning that we can best ensure quality police services in an organized effective crime prevention effort. The instruction provided at the Citizens Police Academy will include topics relevant to Henry County crime problems, such as crime prevention and community based policing, drugs, gangs, DUI and traffic enforcement, investigations, the Use of Force Model and use of force, firearms safety and the law
and a tour of the Henry County Jail. Classes are free of charge, but involve a commitment to attend an 11-week session. Students that participate in the range class will be required to purchase a certain type of ammunition for the range weapon. Most of the classes are held at the Henry County Police Department Training Room. Potential candidates for the academy must be at least 21 years of age, live or work in Henry County, have no prior felony arrests and no misdemeanor arrests within six months of the application. To apply, visit www.henrycounty-ga.org/police and print the application and background consent form and submit them either in person or by mail to Henry County Police Department, 108 S. Zack Hinton Pkwy, McDonough, GA 30253 by Friday, March 15, 2017. For more information on the academy, please contact Joni Miller in the Uniform Patrol Division at 770-288-8285 or by email at jmiller@co.henry.ga.us.
Fire Academy Continued from page 12 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) 288-6641 or log on to www.co.henry. ga.us/Fire/CitizenFireAcademy.shtml. Download the application and fax the completed forms to (770) 2886776 or email jlaster@co.henry.ga.us. Applications must be submitted no later than March 17.
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