April 17, 2014
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Regular Meetings April 1st - 9:00 AM April 15th - 6:30 PM
Meetings held at: Administration Building Community Room 140 Henry Parkway McDonough, GA 30253
Calhoun resident rewarded for helping solve hit and run death of Henry County Police Officer The Henry County Police Department and the Fraternal Order of Police gathered on Wednesday at the HCPD’s North Precinct to present a reward to a Gordon County resident who was instrumental in helping police identify the motorist who was responsible for the hit and run death of Henry County Police Officer Elgin Daniel, back on November 12, 2012.
A check in the amount of $5,000 from the FOP and $1,000 from Henry County Government, from seized funds, were presented to William Baldwin for his assistance with the identification, arrest and conviction of Ruben Marin. Marin was convicted for the hit and run death of Officer Daniel. Baldwin was working at a dealership in Calhoun, GA when Marin
Regular Commission meetings will air Fridays, Saturdays, Mondays and Wednesdays on Henry TV Channel 14 and AT&T U-Verse Channel 99, at 9 a.m. & 7 p.m.
Henry County Police Chief Keith Nichols thanks William Baldwin for his assistance in identifying the hit and run driver who killed Officer Elgin Daniel in November, 2012.
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April 17, 2014 Patrick Henry Sculpture Unveiled in Henry County Patrick Henry Jolly was the featured guest speaker at the unveiling and dedication of the Patrick Henry sculpture, created by local artist Andy Davis.
The ceremony was held on March 29, 2014 in front of the Henry County Courthouse on the McDonough Square.
Patrick henry Jolly recites part of Patrick Henry’s famous speech at the sculpture unveiling in McDonough.
A sculpure of famed American patriot, Patrick Henry, is now a fixture in front of the Henry County Courthouse.
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Donation from page 1 came in to the shop to purchase a replacement mirror for his truck. The truck was the same one Marin was driving when he struck and killed Officer Daniel, while Daniel was on duty and helping a stranded motorist on GA 138 in Stockbridge. Baldwin said he remembered a morning newscast talking about the hit and run and something about the damage to Marin’s truck resonated with him. He took down Marin’s license plate number and called
Henry County Police to report his suspicions. The presentation was attended by various law enforcement professionals, as well as Daniel’s family. Henry County Police Chief Keith Nichols showed rare emotion when speaking about Officer Elgin Daniel who he called a gentleman and the epitome of what an officer should be, and said that young officers should look to Daniel and the way he carried himself as an example.
Connecting Henry to Host Job Fair Connecting Henry, Inc., in collaboration with MBC Training & Recruiting Service, will be hosting a Spring 2014 Job Fair on Friday, April 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Heritage Park in McDonough. According to Susan Crumbley, Connecting Henry‘s Interim Director, companies and organizations that will be represented include Piedmont Henry, ALPLA, Bank of America, Best Bank, Excel, Georgia Crown, Henry County Sheriff’s Office, Lowe’s, PVH, Publix, Sam’s Club and Waffle House. More companies are expected to be added in the coming weeks. Crumbley said that job seekers should come
prepared with several copies of their resume and dress professionally, to meet and network with prospective employers. For those who don’t currently have a resume, the Atlanta Regional Commission’s Mobile Career Resource Center will be onsite with several computer stations for visitors to utilize in resume development and job search assistance. The job fair will be held in Meeting Room B at Heritage Park, located at 97 Lake Dow Rd. in McDonough. Prospective employers with openings to fill should contact Connecting Henry, Inc. at 770-288-6230 to register as a vendor.
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April 17, 2014 Miles for Meals Celebrates 20 Years of Supporting Henry County Seniors Lace up those walking shoes and start stretching to usher in the 20th Miles For Meals Walk in Henry County, which is celebrating two decades of providing area senior citizens with hot meals and in-home services, and is the single largest fundraiser organized by the Henry County Council on Aging to benefit Henry County Senior Services’ various programs. The annual event takes place at Heritage Park on Saturday, May 3, 2014, at 10 a.m. at the Jason T. Harper Event Center. Walkers of all ages are encouraged to come out for this long-standing community tradition. Every dollar raised by the Miles for Meals Walk stays in Henry County to assist local senior citizens,
with the funds helping to provide critical services, such as hot, nutritious meals through the Meals on Wheels program, nutritional supplements and in-home health services. In addition to providing much needed meals and services, the Meals on Wheels program offers one important side benefit: a way to ensure that these seniors are checked on regularly by a caring volunteer. The one-mile route will take participants on a leisurely walk through Heritage Park. Registration for this family-oriented event begins at 9 a.m., with the actual walk to commence at 10 a.m. Water will be available throughout the morning, and a picnic lunch will begin immediately following the walk. All walkers
Ann Marie Quincey and Diane Reed, Director of Henry County Senior Services, show the t- shirt design for this year’s Miles for Meals Walk, which is marking its 20th anniversary.
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NOTICES OF VALUE to Be Mailed April 18 Charles Reddoch, Henry County’s Chief Appraiser, wants citizens to be aware that Real Estate Notices of Value for 2014 are being mailed to real property owners on April 18, 2014. Many property owners will see an increase in property values because of the increase in the real estate market. Several years ago the housing market in Georgia, and across the country, took a sharp downturn. The Assessor’s Office responded by decreasing values. Due to those decreased values, tax bills decreased as well. However, the Assessor’s Office is now mandated to respond to the increasing market by reassessing real estate at fair market value. When property owners receive their assessment notices, they will also receive an estimated tax bill based on the
2013 millage rate. Reddoch said that the tax bill is an estimate, and the amount is subject to change when the Henry County Board of Commissioners, the Henry County Board of Education and the individual cities establish their 2014 millage rates. “When the housing market took a downturn, we were required by law to reassess, and now that the market is on the rise, we are once again, required to reflect fair market value. We respond to the market.” said Reddoch. The 2014 Notices of Value will be available beginning on April 21, 2014 at www.qpublic.net/ga/henry as well as through the County’s website at www.henrycounty-ga.org.
The Henry County Police Department is now using YouTube! The purpose is to work in partnership with our citizens in solving and reducing crime.
www.youtube.com/user/HenryCountyPoliceDpt
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April 17, 2014 Public Information Meeting Regarding Banks and Rock Quarry Rd. Project Set for April 24 The Henry County SPLOST Department will hold a public information meeting regarding an intersection improvement project for Banks and Rock Quarry roads on Thursday, April 24, 2014 at Fire Station No. 9 from 6:30 until 7:30 p.m. Improvements to the intersection include the addition of turn lanes and signalization. The meeting will be “open house� format where people can come to view the plans and ask questions. Fire station No. 9 is located at 122 Rock Quarry Rd., Stockbridge, GA 30281. For more information on the SPLOST Department, please visit www.henrycounty-ga.org/splost.
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Miles for Meals from page 4 get a free t-shirt and meal ticket for lunch included with their $25 donation, as well as entry into a drawing for door prizes. Groups and individuals whoraise the most money will be given special recognition at the event. Each year, a t-shirt is designed with a theme to honor or commemorate someone or something instrumental to Senior Services, and to celebrate and illustrate the 20th anniversary of the Miles For Meals Walk, members of the Senior Services staff will be wearing the official t-shirts from the past two decades. According to Diane Reed, Senior Services Director, the Miles for Meals Walk is an important fundraiser for Henry County’s seniors, especially during lean economic times. “With budget cuts we have lost some revenue stream, so this walk is even more important to help with that,” said Reed. “The walk only lasts a few hours, but the good it does, lasts the whole year through.” Anne Marie Quincey, Henry County Information and Assistance Specialist, said it’s encouraging to see that many participants are seniors or family members
whose relative have been assisted by Henry County Senior Services. “Many of our walkers are seniors, or family members of seniors, and that really lets us see the impact of the services we provide and how important those services are to the community,” said Quincy. To add to the festivities, DJ J.T. will be playing the latest tunes entertaining the crowd and Renee Yawn from Jazzercise will get participants warmed up. Walkers will also have a chance to win fun door prizes and choose from a variety of sweets from a bake sale. The Jason T. Harper Event Center is located in Heritage Park, 101 Lake Dow Road, just off Highway 81 East in McDonough. For walker envelopes and information, or to sponsor the event, please call 770.288.7010 or email MilesForMeals@co.henry. ga.us. For more information on Henry county Senior Services, please visit henrycounty-ga.org/seniorservices. To contribute something to the bake sale, contact Melissa Sloan at 770.288.7004.
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April 17, 2014 Henry County Police H.E.A.T. Unit Receives MADD Award Mothers Against Drunk Driving of Georgia (MADD of Georgia) held its 10th annual statewide law enforcement recognition banquet, the Golden Shield Honors, on March 27, 2014, where officers from the Henry County Police Department were recognized with awards, which are given for the prior year’s accomplishments. The banquet is held each year as a way of thanking the law enforcement agencies for all they do to stop drunk driving, support the victims of that crime and prevent underage drinking. The awards program allows MADD to recognize outstanding police officers, sheriff’s deputies and state troopers. There were 600 law enforcement officers on hand for this year’s banquet and Golden Shield Honor Awards ceremony.
The officers honored during the ceremony accounted for 22,000 DUI arrests in the state of Georgia in 2013. The Henry County Police Department’s diligence and hard work was recognized as they received two major honors for their outstanding efforts. The Henry County Police Department was awarded Statewide Agency of the Year, for the second year in a row, and Henry County Police Officer Timothy Williams was named Statewide Officer of the Year, an honor given to only one officer per state. For more information on the Henry County Police Department, visit www.henrycounty-ga.org/police or see them on Facebook.
At the Golden Shield Honors held late last month, (l. to r.) Barry Martin, President of Georgia MADD and Harris Blackwood, Director of Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, with Henry County H.E.A.T. Unit Officers Kelly Horne, Timothy Williams, Robert Butera, Sgt. Scott Cumbie and Carl McDonald, MADD National Law Enforcement Initiative Coordinator.
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Early Voting Begins Soon For the May 20 Primary The Primary Election is scheduled for May 20, 2014 with polls open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Early voting in Henry County begins April 28 and will continue through May 16 at the Henry County Elections and Registration Building, located at 345 Phillips Drive in McDonough. Early voting hours for April 28 through May 9 will be Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., and for added convenience, citizens may also cast their early votes on Saturday, May 10, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. From Monday, May 12 through Friday, May 16, early voting will be available from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Elections and Registration Office on Phillips Drive as well as at the Hampton Depot, 17 E. Main St., Hampton;
the Fairview Library, 28 Austin Rd. in Stockbridge; Stockbridge Community Center, 130 Berry St., in Stockbridge; and the Locust Grove Recreation Center, 10 Cleveland St. in Locust Grove. The deadline to register to vote in the Primary Election is Monday, April 21, 2014. County offices up for reelection include Henry County Commission Districts III, IV and V, the Henry County Board of Education Districts IV and V, Henry County Solicitor General, Henry County Magistrate Judge and two seats for Henry County State Court Judge. For more information, visit www.henrycounty-ga.org/elections.
Veterans Museum Receives Generous Donation The Henry County Veterans Museum accepted a donation from the Georgia United Credit Union yesterday where members of the credit union presented a check in the amount of $5,000 to Henry County Parks and Recreation Facilities Coordinator Jim Joyce, who runs the museum along with a handful of volunteers. The presentation came at the museum on Wednesday, April 16. Several supporters were on hand to celebrate the donation, including District III Commissioner Gary Barham, District IV Commissioner Reid Bowman and Henry Parks and Recreation Director Tim Coley, whose department maintains the museum, located at Heritage Park in McDonough.
In appreciation, Joyce presented a plaque to Meg Norrell, Georgia United Credit Union Branch Manager and members of her staff, for their generous contribution and continued support. Norrell said that Georgia United Credits Union’s mission includes ensuring education, family and community and that her organization is a staunch supporter of various community endeavors. Commissioner Bowman took the opportunity to thank Norrell and Georgia United Credit Union for their generosity. “Henry County and the Board of Commissioners appreciate very much you guys stepping up to the plate,” said Bowman. “Because of what you’ve done
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Museum Donation from page 9
and because of the work of these guys, our volunteers, it makes this a place that we are proud of to bring our kids and our grandkids, and they love it, and it just wanted to say thank you.” Joyce said he was extremely grateful for the donation to the museum. “It’ s truly gratifying when local businesses recognize the fact that veterans and veterans’ affairs are so truly important, and proactively support them,” said Joyce. As the only employee, Joyce has come to rely on a small army of dedicated veterans who volunteer their time to make the museum a success. They do everything from organizing the donations and creating and rotating displays, to refurbishing rooms and hosting visitors.
According to Joyce, all of the items displayed in the museum have been generously donated, and they tell the tale of our military’s history, many with personal stories of individual soldiers, some who paid the ultimate price for freedom. More importantly, the museum is a tribute to United States Veterans for the sacrifices they made and serves as a fascinating history exhibit for the community and beyond, bridging generations. The Heritage Park Veterans Museum is located at 101 Lake Dow Rd. in McDonough. The museum is free and open to the public, Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. It is also located just a short distance from the Veterans Wall of Honor. For more information, call the Henry County Parks and Recreation Department at 770.288.7300.
Meg Norrell with Georgia United Credit Union presents a donation in the amount of $5,000 to the Henry County Veterans Museum.
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