WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2017
Upcoming event in Coweta & beyond... page 4
PHOTO BY MAGGIE BOWERS
Kris Youmans of the Kris Youmans Band performs at The Alamo Bar & Grill in downtown Newnan.
Local musician offers music fundraiser
“I’m the youngest guy in the organization by far, and I’ve done a lot of legwork,” Ragan Whitlock, Southern Fly Fishing Magazine editor said.
By MAGGIE BOWERS maggie@newnan.com
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Newnan native Ragan Whitlock is the editor of the Southern Fly Fishing Magazine, an online bi-monthly magazine that focuses on the fast growing sport of kayak fishing in the south. Whitlock often writes about his own fishing experiences.
Whitlock new editor of fishing magazine By KANDICE BELL kandice@newnan.com A t o n l y 2 2 ye a r s o l d , New na n native R aga n W hitlock is the new editor of Southern Fly Fishing Magazine. Southern Fly Fishing Magazine is an online bi-
mont h ly maga zi ne t hat focuses on the fast growing sport of kayak f ishing in the south, and especially the region’s coastal waters. The magazine was launched in 2014. Whitlock is a 2010 graduate of Newnan High
School and a 2016 graduate o f We s t e r n C a r o l i n a University in Cullowhee, N .C . , where he m ajore d i n English . A n av id f ly f isherman and a licensed fishing guide, Whitlock is
MAGAZINE, page 5
It is music that drives Kris Youmans, despite a full-time job, family, and innumerable other daily tasks and responsibilities. Music, and the community that surrounds it. T he t r ad it ion a l cou nt r y music artist has been singing and songwriting since the age of 18, when she and other fellow musicians began making their way onto the stages of local pubs and clubs along the popular River Street in downtown Savannah. “Music has a way of bringing people together,” Youmans explained. It is t hat senti ment t hat brought the singer back to the art nearly 15 years ago, after leaving Savannah for smalltown Newnan and taking on the role of wife and mother. These days, Youmans focuses her skill on bringing awareness. “I enjoy using music to support local organizations,” Youmans said. “Everyone is so happy to help. I love how people in the community network and work together.” The singer and her band, The Kris Youmans Band, put on three shows a year locally at a minimum, and play to benefit a number of Coweta charities. Youmans also organizes concerts in support of lesser-known musicians in the area. In addition, the band managed to win Georgia Country Artist of the
Year, Traditional, in 2016. “I stay pretty busy,” Youmans said. “And, I love it all.” It b e g a n w it h Me a l s on W heels of Coweta , a loca l chapter of the larger Meals on Wheels Association of America. The organization provides home-delivered meals, handyman services, pet care assistance and general companionship to area elderly and homebound. Youma ns sa id she enjoys bringing awareness to the charities that don’t receive much focus, and Meals on W heels i n Coweta wa s one of the first brought to her attention. In response, Youmans created a local version of Blues Plate Special, a concert which brings together a variety of area talent, all willing and able to play a specific genre of music: the blues. Several bands contribute to the show each year and the fundraiser has become a popular one amongst locals and visitors alike. The concert has been held annually at The Alamo, located in downtown Newnan. “I try to go with what works,” Youmans said. “The Alamo is well-known and liked, and all of the staff and the managers love being a part of community outreach.” Youmans explained that similar fundraisers in other cities charge guests up to $50. “Maybe they raise more money, but we 2 MUSIC, page 3
Possible plans for linear park discussed at Mayor’s Luncheon By KANDICE BELL kandice@newnan.com Newnan’s linear park was the topic of discussion at the annual Mayor’s Business Luncheon hosted by Mayor Keith Brady on Wednesday at The Newnan Centre on Lower Fayetteville Road. A linear park is a relatively new concept that uses walking/biking trails to connect neighborhoods. Ed McBrayer, executive director of the PATH Foundation, talked about the proposed trails and the social and economic impact of such trails. PATH, formed about 26 years ago, is a publicprivate partnership that has built more than
260 miles of greenway trails, raised more than $80 million from the private sector for trail development and caused $130 million to be allocated from public sector. The Silver Comet Trail is an example of the success of Path’s approach. Newnan’s contract authorizes work with PATH and with the Kaizen Collaborative, which designs projects. Kaizen’s work includes the Atlanta Beltline, an island-wide project on St. Simon’s Island and projects in Rockdale and DeKalb. Types of trails Types of trails McBrayer said the trails are not being McBrayer said the trails are not being
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PHOTOS COURTESY KRIS YOUMANS
The Kris Youmans Band recently performed at Chateau Meichtry in Talking Rock, Ga. Band members are, from left, Patrick Thompson, “Slim,” Kris Youmans, and David Puett. , FEBRUARY WEDNESDAY
1, 2017
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COOK TAMARKUS RESULT FOR BAPTIST CHURCH NARY PHOTO BY IMAGE BEULAH MISSIO
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Family Reachdisplays 21,000 homes per week Fisk — family plus,201,000 ft. tall copies delivered tohalfway to e Newnan Theatrnts snowman over 50 locations throughout se pany pre PHOTO
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Coweta County!
By KANDICE BELL kandice@newnan.com
Many families have different traditions they look forward to each holiday season, and the Ridley family in Newnan looks forward to their annual display of hundreds of snowmen. Linda Ridley has put her snowmen out for everyone to see for over 20 years. “She gets them out every year for the family,” said Buck Ridley, Linda’s son. “The family can bring over whoever they want to see them. She has one that’s 20 feet fall and some all the way down to an inch. She’s been collecting them for years.” Linda Ridley has snowmen made from glass, crochet, pillows, stuffed snowmen and fiber optic ones. Snowmen are also distributed to every room in the house, including the bathrooms. She begins the Friday after Thanksgiving by taking the books down from a bookcase where some will be displayed and getting the snowmen out of the storage of the family business, Coweta Car Care in Sharpsburg. It takes her about two weeks to put the snowmen in their respective places.
Also online at times-herald.com
PHOTO BY KANDICE BELL
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multiple seizures throughout each day. The attacks come often and without warning and can lead to a number of complications. “We have really good weeks and really bad ones,” Erin Scharko-Fisk explained. “He could have a seizure just from being overly tired, anxious or even just excited.” Micah’s condition was discovered in his first month of life when the seemingly healthy baby began experiencing seizures that would stop him from breathing. As he grew, Micah’s seizures only became stronger and more frequent, occurring in clusters, or, sometimes in the form of absence seizures which are short periods of “blanking out” or staring R AFTE into space. Doctors treating Micah have tried a number of treatments,
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Dec. 21, 2016
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Family 770-683-1707 displays Fisk family 16 Jefferson Street • Newnan, GA 30263 20 ft. tall halfway to times-herald.com snowman By KANDICE BELL kandice@newnan.com Many families have different traditions they look forward to each holiday season, and the Ridley family in Newnan looks forward to their annual display of hundreds of snowmen. Linda Ridley has put her snowmen out for everyone to see for over 20 years. “She gets them out every year for the family,” said Buck Ridley, Linda’s son. “The family can bring over whoever they want to see them. She has one that’s 20 feet fall and some all the way down to an inch. She’s been collecting them for years.” Linda Ridley has snowmen made from glass, crochet, pillows, stuffed snowmen and fiber optic ones. Snowmen are also distributed to
fundraising goal
By MAGGIE BOWERS maggie@newnan.com Four-year-old Micah is a happy and active child, and, like most little ones his age, has recently begun attending preschool — a feat his mom was not certain he would be able to accomplish this year. Micah suffers from severe epilepsy and experiences multiple seizures throughout each day. The attacks come often and without warning and can lead to a number of complications. “We have really good weeks and really bad ones,” Erin