October 10, 2014
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Early Voting to Begin October 13 for the General Election
Regular Meetings October 21st - 6:30 PM November 4th - 9:30 AM Meetings held at: Administration Building Community Room 140 Henry Parkway McDonough, GA 30253
Regular Commission meetings will air Fridays, Saturdays, Mondays and Wednesdays on Henry TV Channel 180 and AT&T U-Verse Channel 99, at 9 a.m. & 7 p.m.
The General Election is scheduled for November 4, 2014 and will include elections for Henry County Commission seats for District 3, District 4 and District 5. Voters will also have an opportunity to vote for several state seats as well as Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General and U.S. Senate. Advance voting in Henry County begins October 13 and will continue through October 31 at various locations.
Advance Voting Locations and times are as follows: October 13 – 17 from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. • Main Office – 345 Phillips Dr., McDonough, GA October 20 – 24 from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. • Main office – 345 Phillips Dr., McDonough, GA • Merle Manders Conference Center – 111 Davis Rd., Stockbridge, GA Saturday, October 25 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. • Main Office – 345 Phillips Dr., McDonough, GA • Merle Manders Conference Center – 111 Davis Rd., Stockbridge, GA October 27 – October 31 from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. • Main Office – 345 Phillips Dr., McDonough, GA • Merle Manders Conference Center – 111 Davis Rd., Stockbridge, GA • Fairview Library, 28 Austin Rd., Stockbridge, GA • Fortson Library, 61 McDonough St., Hampton, GA • Locust Grove Recreation Center – 10 Cleveland St., Locust Grove, GA ELECTION DAY – November 4 from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
For more information visit www.henrycounty-ga.org/elections.
the henry county update
1
October 10, 2014 Henry County Police Department Unveils New Badges The Henry County Police Department unveiled its newly designed police badges at a Shield Ceremony earlier in the week, where officers also took their Oath of Appointment from Henry County Police Chief Keith Nichols. Two ceremonies were held on October 6, 2014 at the Henry County Performing Arts Center in McDonough, where officers were presented with the new badges. According to Lt. Joey Smith, Public Information Officer and Commander of the Internal Affairs Division, each new badge features the officer’s employee number molded into the badge and displays the names of Henry County’s three fallen officers engraved on the back of each badge. Chief Nichols addressed the officers during the ceremony expressing his sincere appreciation for
Henry County Assistant County Manager Cheri HobsonMatthews ceremoniously pins the new police badge on Police Chief Keith Nichols during the Shield Ceremony held on October 6, 2014.
henrycounty-ga.org
what the officers do each and every day. Later, he said he was very pleased with the new badge, which incorporates important elements of the previous police badge. “We are very pleased with the final product of the badge. It was a joint effort between the command staff and our Total Quality Management Board, which is made up of a mix of employees,” said Nichols. “We think the badge has many traits that incorporate our old badges with this new one. The new badge is much lighter than the old one and it has the officer’s employee number as the badge number. The new badge still pays honor to the three Henry county officers that have lost their lives in the line of duty with their names engraved on the back side of the badge, closest to the officer’s heart.”
Johnson Named Deputy Fire Chief
Third Annual Commissioner’s Masked Ball Set for October 26 Proceeds to benefit the Commissioner Bruce Holmes Youth Foundation
Brad Johnson was officially named and swornin as Deputy Fire Chief of the Henry County Fire Department during a ceremony held on October 2, 2014. Johnson is a 26-year veteran of the Fire Department, rising up through the ranks and most recently held the position of Division Chief of Operations. Henry County Fire Chief Bill Lacy made the appointment and Johnson was surrounded by his family during the ceremony. Lacy said the promotion was well-deserved and a long time in coming, as Johnson was taking on the duties of both Deputy Chief and Operations Chief for several years. “He has done an outstanding job in taking on the roles of both Deputy Chief and Operations Division Chief since 2009,” said Lacy. “He was really due this promotion for his exceptional service to county over the entire course of his career.”
Henry County District 5 Commissioner Bruce Holmes will host the Third Annual Commissioner’s Masked Ball on Sunday, October 26, 2014 beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the Egyptian Ballroom of the Fox Theatre in Atlanta. Reverend Timothy McDonald, III, Henry County Sheriff Keith McBrayer, Shane Persaud, Sarah Billups, Marilyn Flynn, Joni McCrae and Alexandria Johnson will be honored during the evening’s festivities and Mistress of Ceremonies will be 11Alive news anchor, Brenda Wood. Tickets for the event are $60 each and tables of ten and six are also available. All the proceeds go to benefit the Commissioner Bruce Holmes Youth Foundation, a non-profit organization that works to foster meaningful and positive outcomes for young people through athletics, healthy living, education, leadership and mentoring. Tickets may be purchased at www.cbhyf.eventbrite.com or www.cbhyf.org. The Fox Theatre is located at 660 Peachtree St NE, in Atlanta. For more information, call 404-3100460 or 770-597-7544. Attire is formal black tie and mask.
3
October 10, 2014 Henry County Public Safety Professionals Help Raise Awareness of Breast Cancer Two of Henry County’s finest public safety professionals have been named to this year’s Piedmont Henry Hospital’s “Real Men Wear Pink” campaign, which brings awareness to breast cancer prevention and early detection. Brad Johnson, Division Chief of Operations for the Henry County Fire Chief Brad Johnson with the Department and Sgt. Henry County Fire Department Charles Huffman with the Henry County Police Department were asked to participate in this year’s campaign, both donning pink shirts to bring awareness to this devastating disease, and will make public appearances at various events throughout the month. The main message of the campaign is that early detection is the best defense against breast cancer. Johnson and Huffman join eight other Henry County men in promoting breast cancer awareness, including Lincoln Parks, Dallas McPherson, Rodney Bowler, Stan Berrong, Chris Williams, Eddie Ausband, Marc Smith and Jeff Huber. Johnson said he was onboard as soon as he
henrycounty-ga.org
was asked to participate.“I thought about family members, close friend and even co-workers who have had to fight breast cancer, so anything I can do to show my support and make a difference, I’m honored to do,” said Johnson. Donna Braddy, Director of Marketing and Public Relations for Piedmont Henry Hospital said that Sgt. Charles Huffman with the Henry County Police Department. she is pleased with how successful the campaign to raise awareness has been. “Each year we select ten Henry County men who represent a variety of organizations throughout the county. We choose men who are community leaders who are eager to promote and support breast cancer awareness,” said Braddy. “The Real Men Wear Pink ambassadors exceed our expectations with enthusiasm and encouragement.” October marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month and this is the 6th year for the hospital’s annual campaign. For more information about scheduling a mammogram at Piedmont Henry, call 404-205-8772.
Commissioner Bruce Holmes To Be Guest Speaker at AACOC Symposium Henry County District 5 Commissioner Bruce Holmes will be a featured guest speaker at the Airport Area Chamber of Commerce’s fourth annual “The View from the Top” symposium, where he will join other featured guests from local governments in the metro Atlanta area. Holmes will speak about opportunities in Henry County, with its close proximity to Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, as well as update participants on various developments in the County and specifically in District 5.
Sponsored by Delta Airlines, the VFTT program will be held on October 29, 2014 at the Georgia International Convention Center in College Park, and is an opportunity for AACOC members and guests to hear from local leaders around the airport area. For more event information, visit www. airportchamber.com. For more information on Commissioner Bruce Holmes or the Henry County Board of Commissioners, please visit 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
New Officers Sworn In
Henry County Police Chief Keith Nichols swears-in two new officers, on October 9, 2014. Officers Blake Parker and Daniel Ward took the Police Officers Oath and will begin field training next week. Congratulations!
5
October 10, 2014 Officials welcome the Henry County Fair Henry County officials and members of the Henry County Chamber of Commerce helped the Kiwanis Club officially open the Henry County Fair on October 7. The fair is located at Heritage Park in McDonough and runs through Saturday, October 11, with proceeds to benefit
henrycounty-ga.org
several charitable organizations throughout the county. For more information, please visit www.henrycounty.kiwanisone.org and click on the fair link.
Henry County Honors Local Heroes The Henry County Parks and Recreation Department’s Veterans Museum, in conjunction with the United States Army Survivor Outreach services, held the fourth annual Gold Star Family Day on Saturday, September 27, where, in a somber ceremony, 20 photos were added to the museum’s memorial wall. A public ceremony was held first at the Veterans Wall of Honor in McDonough with remarks by Chaplain MAJ Kenneth Koon. Following that was a private ceremony held at the Heritage Park Veterans Museum where families of those lost had the opportunity to honor their loved ones by placing their photos on the memorial wall located inside the museum.
Bugler Jim Houston plays Taps at the Gold Star Family Day, held at the Veterans Wall of Honor at Heritage Park, in honor of fallen soldiers.
According to Jim Joyce, museum coordinator for the Henry County Parks and Recreation Department, the Heritage Park Veterans Museum is the only facility of its kind not located on a military base. The museum features uniforms, vehicles, medals, periodicals and other memorabilia honoring American soldiers in wars from World War I up to the present. The Heritage Park Veterans Museum is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and admission is free. For more information, visit www.heritageparkveteransmuseum.com. For more information on the United States Army survivor Outreach Services, please visit www.sos.army.mil.
A photo is added to the memorial wall inside the Heritage Park Veterans Museum during the Golf Star Family Day private ceremony.
7