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JANUARY 31 - FEBRUARY 6, 2018
local calendar Coweta’s guide of events in your community ➤ page 4
Homeless camp closed, ➤ page 5
Here today, gone tomorrow READ THE STORY ON PAGE 2
PHOTO BY MELANIE RUBERTI
The main power facility for retired units 1-5 implodes and disappears under a cloud of smoke and dust Saturday morning at Plant Yates. The controlled demolition was the next step in the dismantlement of the old Georgia Power plant which served customers from 1950-2015. Read the story on page 2A.
Local group donates more than $21,000 to Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
PHOTO BY REBECCA LEFTWICH
The Newnan-Coweta Boys & Girls Club was named the Coweta Community Foundation’s Nonprofit of the Year. From left are Cynthia Finney, Hasco Craver, Marsha Suber, Bob Coggin, Executive Director Lauren Odom, Steve Mader and Gerald Kemp.
Boys & Girls Club named CCF Nonprofit of the Year BY REBECCA LEFTWICH
becky@newnan.com A 2017 grant from the Coweta Community Foundation helped establish a reading club for members of the Newnan-Coweta Boys & Girls Club, and the organization has been named Nonprofit of the Year by the foundation for 2018. Executive Director Lauren Odom said she was shocked when the club was announced as the winner at the foundation’s annual awards and grants ceremony, held Jan. 19 at the Newnan Centre. “I’m still in shock,”
Odom said. “What I do is basic, everyday stuff. It’s what I’m supposed to be doing. I don’t view it as me going above and beyond.” The eight-week book club was a success, Odom said, matching stronger readers with readers of the same grade level who were not as strong. “I honestly think kids learn best from peers,” she said, adding that the foundation’s grant was utilized to purchase books, snacks, supplies and decorations for the program. In addition to the Nonprofit of the Year award, the club received another
grant from the foundation to be used for its garden club. About a dozen elementary school-aged students currently are learning about gardening from UGA Extension Service Master Gardeners. Grant funds will be used to build raised beds and replace edging, to purchase gardening supplies and to take club members on a field trip to a farmer’s market. The Coweta Community Foundation also presented Leadership Awards
CCF page 2
SUBMITTED PHOTO
From left, Judy Sweeney, Alicia Fox, Jeannie Hayes and Susan Boyd present Chantal Robertson with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society a check for $21,164.33. A majority of the money was raised during the 2017 Lights for Linda and Links for Linda events.
NTH STAFF REPORTS
news@newnan.com Tw o b i g c o m m u nity events are helping researchers find a cure for cancer. Committee members with the “Lights for Linda” and “Links for Linda” campaigns recent ly presented a check totalling $21,164.33 to the Atlanta chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. “What a stellar way to cap off a memorable year,” stated Nancy Sanker. “My heart is filled
1700 Highway 34 East • Newnan, GA 30265 (next to QT) • 770-252-1787
with gratitude to friends who donated their time and talents, and to the businesses who were quick to donate.” Nancy began “Lights for Linda” in Dec. 2010 after her sister, Linda McGrenaghan, passed away from Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. She was just 52 years old. Nancy and her neighbors in the SummerGrove neighborhood bought luminaria kits from the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, sold them and
donated the proceeds back to the organization. Nancy has continued the tradition and watched it ex pa nd i nto ot her communities. She and a group of neighbors held the inaugural “Links for Linda” golf tournament in October of 2017. T he event ra ised $14,000, Nancy said. Caroline Hawes also contributed to the cause by setting up shop in 2017
DONATES page 2
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