November 5, 2015
Board of
Commissioners
Crash Victim Thanks Henry County Fire Department for Saving Her Life
Regular Meetings November 17 at 6:30 PM December 1 at 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.
Crash victim, Kayla Jenkins from Jackson, GA, hugs the man that pulled her from her submerged vehicle in Swan Lake.
“I am very, beyond all measure, thankful for these men. If it wasn’t for the firefighters behind me I wouldn’t be here today,” stated recent car crash victim, Kayla Jenkins, of Jackson, GA. On November 5 Jenkins publically thanked the firefighters of the Henry County Fire Department for rescuing her from her from her vehicle, which landed upside down in Swan Lake, in Stockbridge, after crashing into a tree. The Henry County Technical Rescue Team (T.R.T.) was responsible for prying open Jenkins’ 2003 Ford Taurus doors and pulling her to safety on October 27. She also credits the quick action of a Good Samaritan who lived in a house nearby. She said he heard the crash and then treaded the cold, murky waters to check on her. After seeing she was alive, he left to call 911 and then returned to stay with her until rescuers arrived. Jenkins was transported to Atlanta Medical Center where she was treated for having water in her lungs. She miraculously suffered no serious injuries but claims she still suffers from nightmares about the accident. “The moment I knew someone was coming to save me I thought, I’m actually going to get to see my family again,” said Jenkins. Continued on page 2
1
November 5, 2015
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 Samantha Watson Melissa Robinson Kevin Williams
Crash victim from page 1 She sang the praises of the T.R.T. and attributed her safety to the watchful eye of the Lord. The Firefighters at Fire Station No. 11 were thankful for her visit and were happy to receive a batch of homemade cupcakes as a thank you gift. The T.R.T. is a specially trained group of firefighters drawn from the ranks of the Henry County Fire Department. They specialize in rescuing victims from places inaccessible to fire service ladders and have been trained in swift water, dive rescue and recovery, hazardous materials and structural collapse. For more information on the Henry County Fire Department and the T.R.T. Team, visit www.henrycounty-ga.org/fire. henrycounty-ga.org
Adult Winter Basketball Registration Now Open
You don’t have to be in the NBA to enjoy playing basketball as an adult. In fact, you can join one of Henry County Parks and Recreation’s adult winter basketball leagues and play your favorite sport all season long! Registration for the Competitive Church league and the Competitive Open league is now open and will end on November 30. You can register a team Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Fairview, Heritage, J.P. Moseley or Locust Grove Recreation Centers, or online at hcprd. org. The registration fee per team is $450. All games will be played at the J.P. Moseley Recreation Center. Each league must have a minimum of six teams. The season consists of ten games and single elimination tournament at the end of the season, which begins in December. Co-ed teams are not allowed. For more information on the adult winter basketball leagues, contact Peggy Hesselbach at 770-288-7294 or visit the Henry County Parks and Recreation website at www.hcprd.org.
Henry County Students Receive Honors at Annual Fire Safety Luncheon
First Public Meeting for Transportation Plan to be Held on November 12
The Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner held the 23rd Annual Life, Fire & Safety Awards Luncheon at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in Forsyth, Georgia, where five Henry County students were honored. The awards luncheon recognizes individuals and organizations who excel in fire safety areas of education and fire prevention. Winners of the statewide fire safety contest are also recognized for their outstanding achievements in essay writing and artwork. Henry County had five students chosen to receive awards at this year’s luncheon. Henry County Fire Chief Bill Lacy was present to congratulate the winners. “These students are incredibly creative,” said Lacy. “They took a very serious topic, fire safety, and presented it in innovative ways.” Winners included Cecelia McCarthy, a 4th grade student at Wesley Lakes Elementary School, who won for Calendar Fire Tips Safety for September 2016; Brendan Carroll, a 10th grade student at Woodland High School who won first place for his fire safety essay; Ryan Landers, a 10th grade student at Woodland High School, who won second place in the essay contest; Damian Ekpoudom, a 10th grade student at Woodland High School who won third place in the essay contest; and Mariah Truitt, a 12th grade student at Woodland High School, who also won third place in the essay competition.
The first public meeting for the Henry Joint County/Cities Comprehensive Transportation Plan (JCTP) will take place on November 12, 2015 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Henry County Government Administration Building, located at 140 Henry Parkway in McDonough. The meeting will feature an open-house format where citizens and stakeholders can visit various booths and displays to learn more about the JCTP and voice their opinions and concerns. Booth topics will include traffic congestion, maintenance of roads, goals and objectives of the JTCP and transportation priorities. The updated plan will examine all modes of transportation and their interconnections to identify how the travel demand anticipated over the next 20-year plan period can be best accommodated. Additionally, the plan process will consider expanded transit service opportunities. The JCTP, including the cities of Hampton, Locust Grove, McDonough and Stockbridge, was originally adopted in 2007, and is undergoing its first update, which is expected to be finalized in April 2016. The plan is a comprehensive and functioning list of transportation priorities in the County and will help the County prepare for growth, plan future land use and apply for future grant funding. For more information on the JCTP and the future of transportation in Henry County, or to give feedback on the plan, please visit www.henryinmotion.com.
3
November 5, 2015 Lane Closures Continue This Week as Work on South Metro Express Lanes Proceeds Construction activities continue on the Georgia Express Lanes on Interstate 75 south of Atlanta. This week the contractor will be working on Interstate 75 north and southbound at multiple locations between SR 20/81 and Hudson Bridge Road/Eagles Landing Parkway. Weather permitting, network will be performed within 2 mile increments of installed lane closures. Drivers are urged to slow down and proceed cautiously throughout these work zones.
Connecting Henry’s Noel in November Set for November 7
Connecting Henry will be hosting Noel in November on Saturday, November 7 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Merle Manders Conference Center in Stockbridge, GA. The event will feature entertainment for all ages, fun surprises from Santa and live bands including Stevie G & The Rockerz and The Mackie Creek Band. Connecting Henry requests a donation of a new unwrapped toy for their Community Cares Toy Shop as admission into the event. For more information on Noel in November, call Speer Entertainment Services at 770-957-0768. For more information on Connecting Henry, visit www. henrycounty-ga.org/connectinghenry. henrycounty-ga.org
Motorists should expect heavy congestion throughout the entire 12-mile work zone area. Alternate routes are available and should be considered. Work will occur as follows: I-75 Northbound, Monday, November 2 through Monday morning, November 9. Single lane closure between Exit 218; SR 20/81 and Exit 224; Hudson Bridge Road/Eagles Landing Parkway for pavement milling and temporary barrier wall placement.
Fire Station No. 2 and Other SPLOST Projects Get Greenlight Multiple SPLOST IV project bids were approved at the November 3 Commission meeting including engineering design services for roads and bridges in districts one and four, as well as for the construction of a fire station in Locust Grove. Commissioners approved awarding the bid for construction of Fire Station No. 2 to J.R. Bowman Construction Co., in the amount of $1,653,000. SPLOST officials expect to break ground by early December. AECOM Technical Services was awarded the bid for engineering design services for the Selfridge Road Bridge replacement project in District IV in the amount of $184,900. A bid for design services was also awarded to ARCADIS U.S., Inc. for bridges and culvert repairs for King Mill Road over Tussahaw Creek, Locust Grove Road over Indian Creek, Old Jackson Road over Tussahaw Creek and South Ola Road over Tussahaw Creek, in the amount of $25,000. Engineering design services for two sections of Peeksville Road will be conducted by Heath & Lineback Engineers, Inc. at a total cost of $214,400, with $88,025 for Peeksville Rd. from New Hope Rd. to the Bridge, and $126,375 from the Bridge to Old Jackson Rd. For more information on these projects, visit www.henrycounty-ga.org/SPLOST.
Henry County Veterans Day Ceremony Set for November 11 On Wednesday, November 11, 2015 a Veterans Day Service will be held at the Veterans Wall of Honor at Heritage Park in McDonough beginning at 11 a.m. Now in its seventh year at the Veterans Wall of Honor, the ceremony will include a Presentation of the Colors, remarks, a reading of memorials and placement of a wreath at the Wall of Honor. A patriotic music medley will be provided by the Junior Chorales of the Artios Academies of South Atlanta and Gwinnett, as well as music by the Strong Rock Christian High School band and chorus, SFC Fred Pedro, who will perform the National Anthem, Jim Houston of Bugles Across America, who will perform Taps, and David Gregory, who will play Going Home on the bagpipes. The keynote speaker will be Lt. General James R. Helmly (ret) who joined the Army in 1966 and Served in various roles for 42 years, including two tours of duty in Vietnam. LTG Helmly held logistical and operations positions in the 87th Maneuver Command and the 81st Army Reserve Command. He has commanded the 352nd Maintenance Battalion in Macon Ga. and the 449th Area Support Group in Forest Park Ga. He was also Deputy Chief of Staff for Training and Personnel of the 81st ARCOM. From 1995 until 1999, he served as Deputy Chief of Staff, Army Reserve in Washington D.C. He became Commander of the Joint Task Force for Operation Provide Refuge at Ft. Dix, N.J. in 1999 until
taking command of the 78th Division in 2001. Following that, he was Military Assistant to Manpower and Reserve Affairs, Office of the Secretary of the Army. Helmly was confirmed by the Senate and promoted to LTG in March 2002 as Chief, Army Reserve. During his tenure as Chief, he was responsible for the mobilization of more than 147,000 Army Reserve soldiers in support of the Global War on Terror and improved readiness, training, facilities and streamlined the command and control of the Army Reserve forces. In 2006, LTG Helmly was assigned as Chief, Office of Defense Representative to Pakistan. He retired in 2008. Leading up to Veterans Day, on Saturday November 7 and Sunday November 8, Kelly’s Zeroes, a military reenactment group from Dahlonega, GA, will have interactive displays of WWII soldiers deployed, as well as reenactments of those on the home front at Heritage Park in McDonough. There will be a complete WWII encampment with tents, weapons, displays to view and the soldiers will be available to discuss WWII history. The reenactment is a special recognition and in honor of the 5th anniversary of the opening of the Henry County Heritage Park Veterans Museum. To celebrate this anniversary, the Veterans Museum will have extended hours and be open to the public from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is free and all are welcome. Heritage Park is located at 101 Lake Dow Road, just off Highway 81 east of McDonough. For more information, please contact Henry County Parks & Recreation at 770-288-7300. Honoring Veterans at last year’s Veterans Day Ceremony at the Henry County Veterans Wall of Honor.
5