April 15, 2016
Board of
Commissioners Regular Meetings April 19 at 6:30 PM May 3 at 9:00 AM
Fire Station 14 Groundbreaking
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.
There will be a groundbreaking for the Henry County Fire Department Station 14 on Tuesday, April 19 at 1 p.m. at 1875 Hampton Locust Grove Road. The station is made possible through SPLOST funding. The goal of the SPLOST Management Team is to ensure every project funded by the SPLOST initiative will provide the County a higher level of service by increasing, improving and enhancing all services, as requested by the voters. This will result in Henry County being a better place to live, work and play. While accomplishing these tasks, SPLOST shall work to minimize public inconvenience, protect public safety, and control the environmental impacts of the projects, in the most cost effective manner possible. For more information on this and other SPLOST projects, visit www.henrycounty-ga.org/splost.
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April 15, 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
East Driveway of Administration Building Closed The easternmost or lower driveway to the Henry County Administration Building was closed at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 13 for reconstruction. It will remain closed for approximately 2 weeks. Citizens wishing to enter the Tax Assessors Office will need to use the main driveway and navigate behind the Administration Building. The reconstruction will involve removal and replacement of existing curb & gutter, asphalt, and base material. After construction on the lower driveway is complete, construction on the main driveway into the Henry County Administration Building will begin. Please direct all questions to Michael Toney at 770-288-7625. henrycounty-ga.org
Kickin’ it Old School Summer Day Camp Registration Open Summer is the time for fun in the sun, not the time for binge watching Netflix and Nickelodeon. Be prepared for when school lets out by registering students aged 5 to 13 for the Henry County Parks and Recreation’s eight week Kickin’ it Old School Summer Camp. Registration is open at any Parks and Recreation office, Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for eight, one week sessions of summer day camp taking place May 31-July 1 and July 11-July 29, Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. The registration fee for one child is $100 per week. Each week of camp will offer a field trip and swim day. Week one, May 31-June 3, will feature a trip to a Braves game. For week two, June 6-10, campers will go to Pin Strikes bowling. During week three, June 13-17, participants will visit the World of Coke. For week four, June 20-24, campers will enjoy a trip to Sky Zone Trampoline Park, and to wrap up week five, June 27-July 1, inflatables and karaoke will be set up at a Parks and Recreation office location. Week six, July 11-15, will feature a trip to Medieval Times. For week seven, July 18-22, chaperones will take the campers to Starlite Skating Center and for week eight, July 25-29, a field day will be set up at the J.P. Moseley Recreation Center. For more information on the Kickin’ it Old School Summer Camp, visit www.hcprd.org or call Henry County Parks and Recreation at 770-288-7300.
Geranium Sale at the Henry County Extension Office Add a pop of color to your garden this year with McDonough’s favorite flower, Geraniums. The Henry County Extension Office is holding its annual Geranium plant sale from April 5 to May 7, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Extension Office in Heritage Park. Eight inch pots will be on sale for $8 in a variety of bright and beautiful colors. All the proceeds will support 4-H programs for Henry County youth. On Monday, April 18, sale hours will be extended, lasting from 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. There will also be a Saturday sale on May 7 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, contact the Henry County Extension Office at 770-288-8421. The Henry County
Extension Office is located at 97 Lake Dow Road (Heritage Park) in McDonough.
Henry County Police Department announces 2015-2016 HEAT grant The Henry County Police Department is proud to continue its long-standing partnership with the “Governor’s Office of Highway Safety” by continuing to accept grant funding as part of the “Metro-Atlanta Multi-Jurisdictional DUI Task Force.” The renewal grant has been in effect since October 1, 2015 and will cease on September 30, 2016. The Officers involved in this project are Sergeant Scott Cumbie, and veteran HEAT (Highway Enforcement of Aggressive Traffic) officers Jason Jones, Kelly Horne, and Matt Palmer. 100% of their time will be devoted to making the roadways of Henry County safer for citizens, employees, and visitors. The grant from GOHS funds 40% of the salaries for one officer and the sergeant, and Henry County is responsible for 60% of their pay as well as 100% of two additional in-kind officers. Henry County is eligible for this grant each year based on fully compliant previous administration of prior years, and specifically in order to combat continued issues with serious injuries and fatalities on county roadways.
The purpose of the HEAT unit is to enforce D.U.I., Speeding, and Aggressive Driving laws and to educate the importance of Occupant Safety (Seat belts and Child Restraints) to the citizens and visitors of Henry County. By maintaining this valuable program, the Henry County Police Department hopes to encourage continued support of the citizens in the HEAT Officers’ pursuit of safer roadways. The Henry County Police Department is pleased to announce our continued partnership with the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety and other Local Law Enforcement agencies in our continuing effort to save lives and reduce injuries and fatalities on Henry County and Georgia highways. Should you need additional information regarding this grant, please contact Sgt. Scott Cumbie, HEAT Unit, Henry County Police Department, at 770-288-8293 or Kimberly Monast at 770-288-8133. “The Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety is a full partner in this program.”
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April 15, 2016
Henry County Holds Active Shooter Drill The Henry County Emergency Management Agency held an Active Shooter Drill at the Henry County Government Administration Building on Tuesday, April 12 from 8 a.m. to noon that involved the cooperation of Henry County Law Enforcement, the Emergency Management Agency and Henry County staff members who work in the Administration Building. The realistic drill played out a scenario of two active shooters, and gauged the response not only of law enforcement but employees as well. The drill was supervised by the Henry County Emergency Management Agency, the Henry County Police Department and Fire Department and the Sheriff’s Office. CERT volunteers acted as various county officials, as well as victim during the simulated chaos, which came with simulated gunfire and other sound
effects. Participants were asked to act as realistically as possible and take one of three paths for survival: run, hide or fight. In the months leading up to the drill, law enforcement held several Active Shooter classes to help prepare employees for this type of emergency. The Active Shooter Drill was organized by the Henry County Emergency Management Agency in cooperation with other local and state agencies and is an integral part of emergency preparedness. Henry County EMA Director Don Ash said the county was preparing for this drill since October of 2015 and made a substantial investment of time and energy into ensuring that employees have the tools they need in the event of such an emergency. Observers and evaluators will submit notes to law enforcement as part of an afteraction report.
Spring Book Sale on April 16 Emails, Facebook messages, Tweets, oh my! Try spring cleaning your stress by taking a break from the busy buzzing of your cell phone or laptop and picking up a tried and true pastime from the Friends of Henry County Library Spring Book Sale. On April 16 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the McDonough Public Library there will be a large selection of Christian fiction, Inspirational non-fiction, Sci-Fi and Fantasy fiction along with new fiction and children’s books and movies. Books are a great way to exercise your mind, cleanse your mood and give back to your community since all proceeds from the Spring Book Sale will benefit the Henry County Library System’s upcoming summer reading programs. For more information, please contact Cassandra Ryan at ryanc@mail.henry.public.lib.ga.us. henrycounty-ga.org
Law enforcement officers and firefighters enter the scene during the Active Shooter Drill at the Administration Building.
10th Annual Geranium Festival Wheelchair Tennis Tournament Set for April 22-24
Year after year the Annual Geranium Festival Wheelchair Tennis Tournament is a smashing success. Pictured (l. to r.) are tournament referee Denise Hanson, player Veronica Grove and Tournament Director Harlon Matthews from 2013.
Let the Geranium Festival Wheelchair Tennis Tournament serve you up a good time on April 22-24 at Richard Craig Park in McDonough. The tournament is celebrating its 10 year anniversary with its largest participation rate yet. Sixtyfour players from across the country, eighteen of which are women, will compete in the largest letter division only tournament in the United States for a $6,000 prize. In accordance with the tournament’s theme, staff will be Servin’ it up, Southern Style to the men’s A, B and C divisions, novice division and women’s A and B divisions. This is the inaugural year of the tournaments women’s B division, thanks to the increase in women participants. Singles and doubles competitions will begin at 9 a.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and end at 6 p.m. All spectators who come out to support the competitors will be entered to win a series of door
prizes. There will also be three drawings for three separate pairs of tickets to the BB&T Atlanta Open Semi-finals Evening match between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 23. The Geranium Festival Wheelchair Tennis Tournament is presented by Henry County Parks and Recreation and was made possible by the County’s support and generous community sponsors, including the Atlanta Lawn Tennis Association, Luxottica, the Bennett Taylor Family Foundation, the Burns Family Foundation, Active Pest Control, R&R Mobility, Melwood Springs Water, ABC Medical, NuMotion and the Walton Foundation. For more information, contact Harlon Matthews at 404-308-2414 or hmatthews@co.henry.ga.us.
Previous competitors at the Geranium Festival Wheelchair Tennis Tournament including Tournament Director, Harlon Matthews.
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April 15, 2016
Going Green in Your Backyard Learn how this simple green infrastructure project can improve your home!
Join Henry County Stormwater Management Department on April 23, 2016 at the Henry County Master Gardener’s plant sale at the Heritage Park Arena from 9am until 12pm. We will be discussing and making DIY rain chains for homeowners. Rain chains are an easy and attractive way to replace or supplement your downspouts on your home’s rain gutter system. Rain chains look and sound good!
henrycounty-ga.org