Henry County Update - Newsletter

September 16, 2016

Board of

Commissioners

Special Olympic Unified Volleyball Team Brings Home the Gold

Regular Meetings September 20 at 6:30 PM October 4 at 9:00 AM Called Meeting Discussing Capital Building Improvement Schedule: September 19 at 10:00 AM in Conference Room B. Joint Meetings Library Board: September 19 at 9:00 AM in Conference Room B. Board of Elections: September 19 at 1:00 PM in Conference Room B. 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.

Pictured (l. to r.) Front row: Unified Partner Leah Santerra, Unified Partner Jacob Adkins, Athlete Jeff Johnson, Athlete Kyle McEver, Athlete Michael White, Athlete Chip Ford and Athlete Ben Dollar. Top row: Coach Charles Stephens, Unified Partner Jim Wilson, Unified Partner Mark Hanson, Unified Partner Chad Parker, Athlete Brandon Hughley, Athlete PG Griffin and Coach Larry Johnson.

The Henry County Special Olympic Unified Volleyball Team, which is a part of the Therapeutic Recreation Division within Henry County Parks and Recreation, brought home the gold from the 2016 USAV Open National Championships, which took place on May 26 in Orlando, Florida.

The team has traveled all over the country to compete for the past six years and has now won the gold in the USA National Volleyball tournament in the Special Olympics Division for four years in a row.

Athletes Ben Dollar, Chip Ford, PG Griffin, Brandon Hughley, Kyle McEver, Jeff Johnson and Michael White were coached by Jacob Adkins, Mark Hanson, Larry Johnson, Leah Santera, Charles Stephens, Chad Parker and Jim Wilson.

Athlete PG Griffin also competed in the Georgia Games in Track and Field on Continued on page 2

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September 16, 2016 Special Olympics from page 1

Published by Henry County Communications Department The Henry County Board of Commissioners

Editor Melissa Robinson

Graphic Designer Meredith Butler Samantha Watson

July 17 and became a state champion for a 72 foot throw in the Shot Put competition. Griffin also completed the 100 meter run competition in 10.2 seconds.

In related news, the Special Olympics Traditional Big Dogs Softball Team traveled to Virginia on August 17 to compete in the Special Olympics North America Softball Championships and brought home the gold medal for the last game of the day, which they played in a torrential downpour.

For more information on the Henry County Special Olympics within the Therapeutic Recreation Division, please visit www.hcprd.org.

Layout Designer Samantha Watson

Contributors Melissa Robinson Samantha Watson Kevin Williams

Pictured (l. to r.) Bottom row: Darrell Thorton, Rashad Richardson, Matt Knowles, Raymond Craft, Jarvis Williams, Tarcia Keys, Chris Lewis, Charles Minnix and Coach Babbie Spain. Middle row: Brittany Thurman, Jacob Stewart, Joel Evans, Mathew Chancey, Chip Ford and Justin Jeffreys. Back row: Coach Terry Brooks, Coach Amanda Carlton, Coach Sharon Chancey, Coach Tony Knowles and TR Coordinator Terry Nash.

Volleyball athletes (l. to r.) Ben Dollar, Kyle McEver and PG Griffin all pose for a pic before the final game!

henrycounty-ga.org

Georgia EPD Declares Level 1 Drought Response, Encourages Water Conservation

Persistent dry conditions have prompted the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) to declare a Level 1 Drought Response in 53 counties, including Henry County. A Level 1 Drought Response declaration means local water utilities in the affected counties will be required to begin a public information campaign to help citizens better understand drought, its impact on water supplies and the need for water conservation.

“A Level 1 Drought Response is a good opportunity to partner with our public water utilities to promote good stewardship and to remind Georgians of the importance of using water wisely,” said EPD Director Richard Dunn.

According to the federal government’s U.S. Drought Monitor, varying degrees of drought impact about two-thirds of the state. Nearly all of the counties affected by the Level 1 Drought Response declaration are experiencing severe and extreme drought conditions.

“Water utilities have already taken action to insure that water supplies are generally good and practicing effective water conservation will help provide sufficient supplies through the coming months if dry conditions persist,” said EPD Director Dunn.

Below are guidelines from the Henry County Water Authority for outdoor water use. For more information on use and conservation, visit www.hcwsa.com.

During Level 1 drought conditions, daily outdoor watering for purposes of planting, growing, managing, or maintaining ground cover, trees, shrubs, or other plants is allowed each day, with the exception of the mid-day hours between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

The following outdoor water uses are allowed

daily at any time of the day: • Commercial agricultural operations as defined in Code Section 1-3-3.

• Capture and reuse of cooling system condensate or storm water in compliance with the applicable local ordinances and the state guidelines.

• Reuse of gray water in compliance with Code Section 31-3-5.2 and applicable local board of health regulations adopted pursuant thereto.

• Use of reclaimed waste water by a designated user from a system permitted by the Environmental Protection Division of the department to provide reclaimed waste water.

• Irrigation of personal food gardens.

• Irrigation of new and replanted plant, seed, or turf in landscapes, golf courses, or sports turf fields during installation and for a period of 30 days immediately following the date of installation; • Drip irrigation or irrigation using soaker hoses.

• Hand watering with a hose with automatic cutoff or handheld container.

• Use of water withdrawn from private water wells or surface water by an owner or operator of property if such well or surface water is on said property.

• Irrigation of horticultural crops held for sale, resale, or installation.

• Irrigation of athletic fields, golf courses, or public turf grass recreational areas.

• Installation, maintenance, or calibration of irrigation systems.

• Hydroseeding.

For more information concerning outdoor water use, please go to http://epd.georgia.gov/outdoor-water-use-information.

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September 16, 2016 Parks and Rec Offers Four Different Fall Break Day Camps

Parks and Recreation is hosting four themed day camps from September 19 to the 23 to keep your children active and engaged during the school break.

Bull Martin’s Basketball Camp will be open for boys and girls 6-10 years old from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and for boys and girls 11-18 years old from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Camp will take place at the Fairview Recreation Center in Stockbridge and will cost $100 per child, with a $10 discount for each additional child. Campers will enjoy days filled with team bonding and basketball practice and games.

Music and Performance Camp, with instructor Karin Williams, is open for boys and girls 6-12 years old from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the J.P. Moseley Recreation Center. The camp will cost $75 per child. Campers will spend an exciting week exploring various musical themes designed to develop musicianship skills and creative expression.

Volleyball Skills Camp, with instructor Karen Jackson, is open for boys and girls 9-17 years old from

7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the J.P. Moseley Recreation Center in Gym B. The camp will cost $120 per child and is only in session in the evening. Campers will learn the fundamentals for the game and develop an appreciation for and understanding of the sport.

Fall Day Camp is open to children aged 5 to 12 at all Recreation Center locations (20 children enrolled per site) from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Campers will participate in a well-rounded program that includes arts & crafts, several group activities and a field trip to the College Football Hall of Fame. This camp costs $100 per child.

Registration for all fall break camps is underway and can be completed at any recreation center or online at www.hcprd.org. Campers for each day camp should bring their own lunch, snacks and water bottles.

For more information contact the Parks and Recreation Department at 770-288-7300 or visit their website at www.hcprd.org.

Emergency Management Urges Residents to Take Action During National Preparedness Month

September is National Preparedness Month and the Henry County Emergency Management Agency is advising Henry County to be prepared for man-made and natural disasters.

National Preparedness Month was founded after 9/11 to increase awareness and encourage action for emergency preparedness nationwide. It is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Ready America campaign.

“National Preparedness Month is an ideal time for all residents to revisit their emergency preparedness efforts,” said Don Ash, Emergency Management Director. “By knowing about potential local threats, making a plan and building a kit of emergency supplies, henrycounty-ga.org

residents can ensure the safety of their families in the event of a disaster.”

The Henry County Emergency Management Agency and the Georgia Emergency Management Agency/Homeland Security (GEMA/HS) Ready Georgia campaigns continue with the theme “Don’t Wait. Communicate. Make an Emergency Plan Today” with an emphasis on preparedness for youth, older adults, and people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs.

For more information on how to be prepared in the event of an emergency, please visit www.henrycounty-ga.org/911 or www.ready.gov.