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JULY 11 - JULY 17, 2018
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your weekly connection to local news & entertainment
Parents, children reunited thanks to Family Treatment Court
BY SARAH FAY CAMPBELL
sarah@newnan.com Less than two years ago, DJ and Elizabeth Lee were living in a broken-down van. T hey were jobless , addicted to meth, and all five of their children were in foster care. The Division of Family and Children’s Services was ready to file for termination of parental rights, and they were about to lose their children – forever. DJ knew about Coweta Drug Court, and how it could help people beat addiction. So he tried to get into the program. But because he didn’t have any drug charges, and the court is for people charged w it h felon ie s , he wa s turned down. Then he read a story in The Newnan Times-Herald about Family Treatment Cou r t , Cowet a’s newest “accountability court.” The program is designed for parents who have lost custody of their children and who have problems that are preventing them from getting
them back. DJ t hought t his new program just might be his family’s saving grace. On June 25, DJ and Elizabeth graduated from the 18-month program with all six of their children – including baby Gracie – there to cheer them on. The Lees have a home and are off drugs, and DJ has a job where he has been promoted several times. Just seven months into the program, the family was back together. “I still have that article. It’s laminated,” DJ said. “It’s what I needed, and it worked." It was Family Treatment Court’s first ever graduation program. “Thank you for the program,” Elizabeth said, as she accepted her graduation certificate in a ceremony held at the Coweta Justice Center. Though DJ was enthusiastic about the program, his wife was skeptical in the beginning. PHOTO BY SARAH CAMPBELL
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Jessica Hunter and Matt Wilson entered Coweta Family Treatment Court after their daughter, Madison, was put in foster care. Six months later, the family was back together.
Library spearheads fundraiser for soldiers overseas
PHOTO BY MELANIE RUBERTI
James Hendley, left, is the artistic director of the Newnan Shakespeare in the Park, while Madeline Sain is the managing director of the group. The duo started the nonprofit professional theater in January and will officially make their debut in July at Newnan’s Greenville Street Park.
Shakespeare to take center stage in Greenville Street Park BY MELANIE RUBERTI NTH FILE PHOTO
A military serviceman salutes fellow troops as they march by during Newnan’s annual Veterans Day Parade.
NTH STAFF REPORTS
news@newnan.com “Operation Gratitude” will soon be in full effect. The fundraiser is being spearheaded by the Coweta Central Library, located at 85 Literary Lane. The campaign, which begins July 2, is to collect items for U.S. troops overseas. Library officials are also asking adults and children of all ages to write a brief note or draw a picture expressing gratitude to those serving our country. T he donated items,
notes and pictures will be items needed for soldiers sent to Operation Grati- serving overseas: tude and added to care • Unused greeting packages for the soldiers. cards or stationary Drawing and art sup• A A a n d A A A plies will be provided batteries in the Central Library’s • Mini flashlights Adult’s and Children’s • Video games Services Areas. • Flash drives Operation Gratitude • Earbuds will run from July 2- 10, • Used cell phones except on July 4, when the • V I S A , M a s t e r library will be closed. Card or American For m ore i n for m a Express gift cards tion, contact the Central • Lip balm Library of the Coweta • Toothpaste, dental County Library System at 770-683-2052. Here is a list of donated SOLDIERS, page 3
SOLDIERS, page 3
melanie@newnan.com When the lovestruck characters of Hermia and Lysander and the impishly shrewd fairy Puck prance their way through the magical woodlands in “A Midsummer’s Night Dream,” they’ll also be making modern history in downtown Newnan. The popular Shakespearean play will be performed outdoors in the Greenville Street Park, which is quickly becoming one of the crown jewels for the performing arts community. The unique outdoor env i ron ment i s wh at set Madeline Sain and James Hendley’s plan into motion in December 2017. T he duo wa nted to
create a nonprofit professional theater named Newnan Shakespeare in the Park. Sain and Hendley both grew up in Newnan and have been best friends since grade school. Theater was their passion in high school. Sain a nd Hendley honed their acting and producing skills both on and off stage. T he pa i r g raduated from New na n High School in 2011 and went their separate ways – Hendley attended Western Carolina University and earned a degree in musical theater. Sain attended LaGrange College and graduated with a BA in theater performance.
After a brief stint at an acting conservatory, Sain returned to Newnan. Hendley found work at the historical Barter Theater in Abingdon, Virginia. Despite the distance, the two friends remained close and visited each other often. It was during one of those visits in December that the duo began talking about a compelling plan to bring more performing art to the community. “We were talking about how we needed a bigger theater presence in Newnan. How the town has grown and is now a
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