December 2, 2016
Board of
Commissioners
New Commissioners Shine at Leadership Training
Regular Meetings December 6 at 9:00 AM (Cancelled) December 20 at 6:30 PM 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.
Recently elected Henry County District II Commissioner Dee Clemmons and District I Commissioner-elect Johnny Wilson both gained valuable insight at the ACCG’s 2016 Newly Elected Commissioners Conference. Pictured (l. to r.) ACCG President Tommy Lyons, Henry County Commissioner Dee Clemmons, Henry County Commissioner-elect Johnny Wilson, and ACCG Executive Director Ross King.
Newly elected District I Commissioner-elect Johnny Wilson and District II Commissioner Dee Clemmons participated in the Association County Commissioners of Georgia’s (ACCG) 2016 Newly Elected Commissioners Conference, held this week in Athens, Georgia. Over the three-day conference, which was hosted by UGA’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government and the ACCG, both Clemmons and Wilson gained valuable training and education in political leadership, with this year’s theme “Keys to Successful Governance.” The course was designed to help prepare newly elected commissioners to take office and the conference’s agenda offered valuable resources and critical information on the roles and responsibilities of elected officials, as well an overview of the workings of county government. Commissioners were also afforded the opportunity to meet other elected commissioners and help build a network of valuable contacts in order to share ideas and experiences.
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December 2, 2016
Published by Henry County Communications Department The Henry County Board of Commissioners
Editor
Sirens for Santa Set for December 15 On December 15, Henry County Police Officers will participate in the 19th Annual Sirens for Santa donation sponsored shopping event, formerly known as Shop With a Cop.
Melissa Robinson
Graphic Designer Meredith Butler Samantha Watson
Layout Designer Samantha Watson
Contributors Melissa Robinson Samantha Watson
Financial Wellness Workshop at McDonough Public Library Set For December 8 The McDonough Public Library will be hosting a free Financial Wellness Workshop on Thursday, December 8 at 6 p.m. in the library’s multipurpose room. This workshop will be led by Fosters Financial, who will discuss financial planning for a variety of situations such as financial emergencies, home buying, college, weddings and retirement. Registration is available, but not required. RSVP by contacting Financial Services Representative, Tripp Holder at 336-831-5220 or james.holder@foresters.com. henrycounty-ga.org
This year Officers will meet Henry County children at the Locust Grove Recreation Center and give them a ride to the Locust Grove Wal-Mart in their patrol cars. Officers will then escort the children through aisles of toys, electronics and clothes and let them pick out what they want to bring home. According to HCPD Officers, throughout the years of this program children have not only obtained gifts for themselves, but for members of their family as well. They’ve purchased toys, clothing and hygiene products and have pooled their funds together with their siblings for major purchases. This year’s spending money was raised through the event’s sponsor, the Henry County Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge 95. Officers and school crossing guards volunteered together at an FOP sponsored golf tournament as well as a Kawanis Fair parking detail to collect monies for children in need. Following the shopping spree, the children will be invited to a party with the Officers where they can eat, drink and be merry together. “You know the program is a success when a child tells you in the beginning of the program that he doesn’t like police but at the end of the program he is hugging you and telling you he had the best time of his life,” stated Sergeant Wayne Bender.
Drug Court Graduates Four Participants on its Fifth Anniversary
Drug Court Accountability program graduate Melvin Lewis hugs Judge Amero after receiving his certificate of completion from Craig Ogilvie (left) and Justice Melton (right).
Superior Court Judge Brian Amero and the Henry County Adult Felony Drug Court graduated four of its Drug Court Accountability Program participants on the court’s fifth anniversary, yesterday, December 1. The court graduated Michelle Taylor who by successfully participating in the program escaped four years of prison, Melvin Lewis who was able to avoid five years of prison, Wesley Caraway who was able to start his own business while evading prison time and Ricky Mason who was able to be out of prison for the birth of his two week old daughter. Judge Amero spoke on behalf of the Drug Court and described the participants as graduating “from tax burden to tax payer.” He gave a brief description of each graduate and described the meticulous requirements they had to fulfill to complete the program. After introductions and recognitions, Judge Amero gave the floor to Justice Harold Melton of the Supreme Court of Georgia who spoke about the importance of the occasion. He commended the graduates for their perseverance and commented, “Something will happen down the road and you’ll experience doubt, but you’ll
look back at this day and you will know you have what it takes to push forward. You only have one option if you fall and that’s to get back up.” Following the address by Justice Melton, was the recognition of the court’s fifth anniversary by Craig Ogilvie, Director of Henry County Accountability Courts. Ogilvie gave a history of accountability courts and stated that Henry County’s Drug Court has 40 active participants and has had 20 terminations and 36 graduates, only five of which have been arrested again. “We know that drug courts work. We have lived it here. We have our own success stories to tell and that’s why we’re here today,” said Ogilvie. “We’ve seen a 65 percent reduction in the recidivism rate and that is something to be proud of.” The program graduates were awarded certificates of completion and given framed “before and after” pictures. “I want to thank everyone who had something to do with my change,” stated Lewis. “This program gave me my life back and saved my life,” stated Caraway. “If I didn’t have this program I wouldn’t have in my life what I have right now,” said Mason.
Drug Court Accountability program graduate Wesley Caraway (right) receives his certificate of completion from Justice Melton (left).
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December 2, 2016 Commissioner Bruce Holmes to Host 6th Annual Community Appreciation Breakfast District V Commissioner Bruce Holmes will host his sixth annual Community Appreciation Breakfast and Christmas Program on Saturday, December 3, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. at the Hidden Valley Senior Center. The event will be a morning of fellowship and celebration in appreciation of the community for their support, and will feature Christmas carols and entertainment provided by the Fairview and Austin Road Elementary schools and musical selections by renowned saxophonist Antoine Knight. Award-winning harpist and the reigning USA National Miss Georgia Preteen, Gabriela Norwood, will also perform. A delicious breakfast is being sponsored by the Fairview and Stockbridge Dairy Queen restaurants. This event is open to the public and all are encouraged to attend to celebrate the holiday season. The Hidden Valley Senior Center is located at 600 Spraggins Memorial Parkway in Stockbridge.
The Cotton Fields Golf Course Offers New Hours For Driving Range The Cotton Fields Golf Course’s driving range will now be open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays until 7:30 p.m. The new hours will allow golfers to enjoy a lighted driving range in the evening hours since the sun goes down early in the fall and winter. For more information visit The Cotton Field’s website at www.cottonfieldsgolf.com. The Cotton Fields Golf Club is located at 400 Industrial Boulevard in McDonough. henrycounty-ga.org
A Heritage Christmas Set for December 10 Santa’s coming to town on Saturday, December 10 for the Heritage Christmas festival at Heritage Park from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. A Heritage Christmas always involves good food, festive music, photos with Santa Claus, holiday hayrides and Christmas-themed crafts. It’s a free event that can offer the entire family a jolly good time! Henry County Parks and Recreation will also be hosting a “Share the Joy” fundraising event for its Therapeutic Recreation Division and Henry County Special Olympics right before the festival. Volunteers will be collecting money at key intersections in McDonough, Locust Grove and Hampton from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. on December 10. If you are interested in volunteering with Parks and Recreation, please contact Brandy Sanders at bsanders@co.henry.ga.us. For more information on either of these events, please visit www.hcprd.org.
Henry County Library System Hosts Holiday Events The Henry County Library System will be hosting various holiday events at its multiple branch locations. In addition to holiday craft events and a few holiday movie showings, the library system will also hold a Santa at the Library event, Cookies with Santa event, a Jolly Holiday Party and a gift wrapping service. The Fortson Library branch will host Santa Claus on Monday, December 5 from 6 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. Citizens who wish to snap a picture of Santa with their family should bring their own camera and an unwrapped toy or book for Santa to take to children in need this Christmas.
Holiday Party on Monday, December 19 from 5 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. This party will be fun for the whole family and feature festive music, delicious snacks and Christmas craft making. The Fortson Library branch is located at 61 McDonough St. in Hampton. The McDonough Library branch is located at 1001 Florence McGarity Blvd. in McDonough. The Fairview Library branch is located at 28 Austin Rd. in Stockbridge. View the full list of events, visit www.henry. public.lib.ga.us/images/forms/HolidayEvents2016.pdf.
Weekend Lane Closures Scheduled for Work on South Metro Express Lanes
The Fortson branch will also feature a gift wrapping service every Friday leading up to Christmas, including December 2, 9, 16 and 23 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. You can bring up to three unwrapped gifts to Mrs. Tracy and she will wrap them for a small donation fee. All money collected goes to the Henry County Library System’s children and young adult department. The McDonough Library branch will host the Cookies with Santa event on Monday, December 12 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Families can come visit with Santa, take pictures with him and enjoy free refreshments and treats. Parents are encouraged to bring their own cameras for pictures with Santa. The Fairview Library branch will hold the Jolly
According to the Georgia Department of Transportation, construction activities continue on the new Georgia Express Lanes on Interstate 75 south of Atlanta. This weekend the contractor will be working on Interstate 75 north and southbound between Hudson Bridge Road and SR 20/SR 81. Weather permitting, work will be performed within 2 mile increments of installed lane closures. Drivers are urged to slow down and proceed cautiously throughout these work zones. Motorists should expect heavy congestion throughout the entire 12 mile work zone area. Alternate routes are available and should be considered. I-75 Northbound December 2 through December 3, 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Single right lane closure near Exit 221. I-75 Southbound Saturday, December 3, 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Single right lane closure between Exit 224.
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