We Are Henry Fall 2023 Issue

PUBLISHER & PHOTOGRAPHER

Michie Turpin

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Michelle Nunnally

EDITOR

Monroe Roark

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Scott Tredeau

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Michael Boylan

Pastor Kenny Heath

Ruth Hildreth

Delaney T. Kirby

Erin Lopez

Arolue Flemmen Prater

Monroe Roark

J.M. Sylver

We Are Henry Magazine is published quarterly. All contents are copyrighted by We Are Henry, LLC. Reproduction, in whole or part, without permission is prohibited. We Are Henry, LLC. reserves liability in error to a printed correction. We want to hear from you—call or click today. 678-770-0731, michieturpin@gmail.com

facebook.com/wearehenry

instagram.com/wearehenry

TRANSFORMING…

McDonough Library to Undergo Renovation.

by MONROE ROARK

A public library’s primary mission has not changed in decades. The exact methods by which a library meets its community’s needs can be a constantly moving target, mainly because of changes in technology.

This is the reasoning behind the planned renovations at the McDonough Public Library just off Hwy 81, east of downtown. At the end of the 20th century, it was contained in a much smaller facility on Hwy 155 (the current home of Henry County Probate Court). In 2001 the current location opened to the public, and since then it has served an average of 70,000 visitors per year.

A constant task for library officials is finding the balance between the demand for physical products vs. digital products. Henry County library system director Kathy Pillatzki said the five branches in the county still circulate far more actual items with paper pages, to the tune of about a 7-to-1 ratio. The demand is still there, with the exception of reference materials.

“When the [McDonough] building was new, we had a large print reference collection,” she said. “It was a huge section with magazines and encyclopedias and such, as well as a big series of literary criticisms and specialized encyclopedias.”

The explosion of Internet usage in that time has resulted in large reference collections, which can be expensive to print and to ship, often becoming outdated by the time they reach the shelves. Library officials in McDonough have scaled back greatly in this area, leaving a considerable amount of empty shelf space.

A similar change has taken place with the library’s 26 public computers.

“At one time you could come almost any time of the day and every one of those computers would be in use, with a waiting list for the next one available,” said Pillatzki. “What we see now is a large number of people in the library who have their own devices but need our WIFI. They can be there all day studying or conducting business, while at any given time you might see four or five people on those 26 computers.”

The number of public computers will be reduced, leaving another empty area that can be rearranged so that patrons can still make use of it but for different reasons. Hence, the renovations.

“Our top priorities will be addressing safety issues along with repurposing underutilized space,” said Pillatzki.

The project is possible because of $1 million set aside specifically for this purpose. Pillatzki met in 2019 with late commissioner Gary Barham to discuss funding options, and Barham was a key figure in seeing $100,000 for the project placed on the SPLOST V capital projects list. Once that SPLOST extension was approved by voters, the library system was eligible to apply for and receive a $900,000 state grant. Henry County’s two state senators, Emanuel Jones and Brian Strickland, provided crucial support leading up to the money’s inclusion in this year’s state budget, and the project received unanimous backing from all members of the Henry delegation in the State House of Representatives.

“ We are going to close the library so it [the renovation] can be done more quickly and efficiently, but we will be offering curbside pickup.”

Kathy Pillatzki

The current timeline as laid out by Pillatzki includes an expected September date for bidding out the construction portion of the project, with actual work probably starting in December. She could not specify how long it would take, although she speculated on two months or longer to complete the project.

The inside of the library will not be open to the public during the renovation process. Discussions with the architect took place regarding a possible setup with partial work going on in one area of the building while another area remained open, but it was determined that such a plan would result in the overall job taking much longer to complete and being much more expensive.

“We are going to close the library so it can be done more quickly and efficiently, but we will be offering curbside pickup because the staff will have access to library materials,” said Pillatzki. “That will be done at the administrative entrance.”

This will not be new territory for employees or patrons. Library officials became quite proficient at the process of providing curbside service just a few years ago during the COVID-19 pandemic. Pillatzki pointed out that she and her staff realized at the end of the pandemic how such a service could be valuable at other times in the future.

“In addition to being necessary during the renovation, it will be an access point for people with disabilities or someone whose child has fallen asleep in the back seat of the car – if a child is sick and they don’t want to bring them into the library but they know they will be stuck at home for a few days,” she said.

Upon completion of the project, the library will have newly arranged areas for young adult services, the circulation desk, regular adult services, community gatherings and virtually every other type of service. One of those areas will be unveiled and named for Barham, who passed away only a few weeks after funding was finalized for this work in which he played such a vital role.

The McDonough branch is actually the oldest in the county, as new facilities have since been built in Fairview, Hampton, Locust Grove and Stockbridge. All of them were possible in part because of SPLOST dollars.

So while its staff and administration continue to adapt to changes in patrons’ specific needs, the county library system’s overall goal of serving the community is the same.

“Whether you want to check out a book, or even if you don’t have a library card and just want to come inside and beat the heat,” said Pillatzki. “The library is for everyone.”

KATHY PILLATZKI STANDING WITH SHELVES SOON TO BE REMOVED

THE WOMEN WHO LEAD WOMEN’S SERVICES AT PIEDMONT HENRY

Commitment to Quality Mother-Baby Care.

by MICHAEL BOYLAN

It isn’t a secret that Piedmont Henry Hospital is a busy place. The emergency department is one of the busiest in the Piedmont system, the surgical services department hums with activity every day of the week, and the hospital continues to offer new programs and services to care for a consistently growing and thriving community. The Marcia G. Taylor Women’s Center at Piedmont Henry also stays very busy. The department occupies two floors of the hospital’s North Tower and features the obstetric emergency department (OBED), Labor and Delivery, the Family Care Center, and a Level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Over the past year, Women’s Services has welcomed several new leaders, bringing a wealth of experience to a department that sees between 150 and 180 deliveries a month. Laytrina ClemonsBrown, MSN, RN, is the director of Women’s Services. She joined the team in October 2022 and has always been passionate about nursing and caring for mothers and their children.

TO R) LASHIEKA MITCHELL, RNC-OB, MSN ED., ANGELA COKER, RN, KIM PACE, PHH NICU MANAGER AND LAYTRINA CLEMONS-BROWN, MSN, RN

“My grandmother and mother both worked in healthcare, so I always knew I wanted to serve in a hospital,” said ClemonsBrown. “So, I started working in a hospital as a teenager in Americus, Ga.”

Clemons-Brown worked as an extern during her time in nursing school. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from Georgia State University, worked as a staff nurse in Women’s Services, then rose through the ranks to Charge RN, Assistant Nurse Manager then Nurse Manager in metro Atlanta. Clemons-Brown then went on to obtain her Master’s Degree in Nursing Leadership and Administration from Kennesaw State University. She also maintained membership in the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nursing and has sat on the board of the Georgia chapter of Maternal Mortality Review Committee and Postpartum Support International.

“Piedmont’s promise is to make a positive difference in every life we touch,” said Clemons-Brown. “My goal for my team is to consistently find ways to make process improvements that lead to better patient outcomes, as well as greater employee satisfaction.”

Kim Pace has been the manager of Piedmont Henry’s Level III NICU for 14 years. The NICU admits between 20–25 babies a month and provides care to infants at gestation of 21 weeks and six days or greater. Pace graduated from Emory School of Nursing and has had a long career caring for babies in NICUs in Georgia and Virginia. She also has cared for neonatal heart transplant patients and served as part of a Neonatal Transport team.

“I have a passion for mentoring NICU team members as they grow in their careers,” said Pace. “Being able to provide quality, specialized care for our patients, and this community, is a privilege, as well as a responsibility we take very seriously.”

“Being able to provide quality, specialized care for our patients, and this community, is a privilege, as well as a responsibility we take very seriously.”

Kim Pace, PHH NICU Manager

KIM PACE, PHH NICU MANAGER

LAYTRINA CLEMONS-BROWN, MSN, RN

Angela Coker, RN, is the clinical manager of the Family Care Center, since May 2022, but has been a registered nurse for 27 years and a member of the team at Piedmont Henry (back when it was still Henry Medical Center) since 1997, working in the emergency department, med/surg units, and the nursery. She began working full-time with the Family Care Center, the hospital’s postpartum unit, in 2007 when construction of the North Tower was completed. The unit expanded and transitioned to Mother-Baby care and Coker began serving as a relief charge nurse on weekend night shifts.

“I’ve been blessed to work with a wonderful manager who encouraged me to move further in leadership,” said Coker. “Under her mentorship, I learned the role of nurse manager and served as interim manager of the department for approximately one year before accepting the role full time.”

Lashieka Mitchell, RNC-OB, MSN Ed., is the clinical manager of Labor and Delivery, the OBED, and the antepartum units. She has been a nurse in labor and delivery and high perinatal services for 21 years and brings energy and enthusiasm to her leadership role.

“I enjoy having birthday parties each time I come to work,” said Mitchell. “Childbirth is one of the most amazing and vulnerable times in a family’s life. My goal is to make sure that every patient and their families receive excellent care and service because they are trusting us to deliver!”

The Women’s Services team at Piedmont Henry is united in their mission to provide safe, high-quality care. They are often one of the leading departments in patient satisfaction scores and consistently look for ways to improve the experience for patients and their families. Piedmont Henry is designated a Baby-Friendly Hospital. The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative is a global initiative of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The initiative’s goal is to improve health outcomes for mothers and babies through breastfeeding and immediate skin-to-skin bonding. The department also offers access to lactation consultants, most procedures after a baby’s birth at bedside, and HALO Bassinets, which have an adjustable-height and a 360-degree swivel design, which allows a mother to position her newborn for safe and easy access for skin-to-skin contact, breastfeeding and care.

“Having a baby can be an exciting time for families, but it can also be stressful at times,” said Clemons-Brown. “Our hope is that our patients and their families see our level of confidence and the high level of care we provide and feel confident themselves. We hope that every family we serve feels like they are the only family being cared for while they are here.”

To learn more about the maternity services offered at Piedmont Henry, visit piedmont.org/maternity-services.

LASHIEKA MITCHELL, RNC-OB, MSN ED.

ANGELA COKER, RN

The Children of the Mines

Potosí, Bolivia

Traveling changes you. When placed out of your comfort zone in a part of the world in which there’s more obstacles, you grow, and never return to the same person you once were.

Potosí, Bolivia is one of the highest cities in the world. It sits on the lower part of the country and is known for its mining, and colonial architecture. At one point the city was the main supplier of silver to the Spanish empire. Today’s mining puts emphasis on the extraction of tin, zinc, lead, and silver.

As we were looking for a spot to take a panoramic photo of the city, we took the wrong turn. A wrong turn that was meant to happen. A wrong turn that enriched our lives by observing a huge contrast with our lives back in the United States.

Our truck couldn’t advance any more on the impassable roads. We decided to get out and continue our journey to take the photo of the city by foot. Within a few seconds we were greeted by a group of kids, and their dogs. They all seemed confused, and yet excited to see strangers carrying some interesting photography equipment. They followed us in curiosity, and so did their dogs. That is when we realized we were surrounded by the children of the mines.

I was able to capture one of the most meaningful photographs I have ever captured in my life. No longer the desire of taking a panoramic photo of the city prevailed. So, here’s the photo. What do you see?

I see a group of kids in shock of seeing strangers that don’t resemble them.

I see a group of kids that are forced to work in the mines to help their parents extract something so they can eat. Most of them are not even in their teen years.

I see a group of kids that have no luxury whatsoever and live in complete poverty.

I see a group of kids covered in dust, broken skin on their hands, and snot on their faces from the gruesome environment.

I see a group of kids whose parents have a lifespan of 40 years of age. The parents are likely to get trapped at some point inside the mine, and lose their life from cave-ins, or die from silicosis.

I see a group of kids who have to stay home alone while their parents work a 72-hour shift.

I see a kid with a pair of pants sporting a video game logo. A video game that he has never seen, or will never have the luxury to play.

I see a dog that is very happy as long as he is next to those kids. Nothing else matters to man’s best friend than just the company.

I see a beautiful city in the background, but the contrast of a very difficult to swallow situation of poverty in front of me.

And last but not least, I see my family changed forever by those images. Images that take away any desire to complain, and it is replaced by the feeling of pathos.

To my kids, I apologize for not giving you the vacation that at your age you want, but this experience was an investment in all of us to make us better humans, and to you reading this I ask you, what do you see?

PHOTOGRAPHY BY: PETO FALLAS

BACK ROW: MATT SETTLE, TREY TETREAULT, COACH CHRIS WATSON, SCOTT MAYO, MALLORY MAYO, MAGGIE MAYO MIDDLE ROW: COACH BECKY HARRISON, NOAH LIGGETT, NOLAN HALL, CHANGE HALL, JOHN MARK HARRISON, BRENDAN PATTERSON, RUBEN LYLE, COACH FELIX LEON FRONT ROW: BRIAN HORWATH, ROWLAND MAYO, CAMDEN WATSON, MERCER MAYO, CHANNING WATSON, JENTRY MAYO, EMMIE MAYO

Grace Bats Cleanup

Grace Bats Cleanup

Team Titans Training Facility brings Together Baseball and Faith.

by DELANEY T. KIRBY

Scott Mayo and Matt Settle have known each other for over twenty years, playing high school baseball against each other. Settle played for Stockbridge High School and Mayo for Union Grove. Both men went on to play college baseball.

Over the years, the two Henry County men always envisioned going into business together, in some way, but it wasn’t until a year ago that the right opportunity presented itself.

As Mayo and Settle were looking for a business venture to take on, an indoor baseball facility became available. Within months they were signing a lease for the spot and Team Titans Training Facility became a reality.

Titans baseball has teams from 5U to 15U. The facility also offers memberships to all ages.

At Team Titans, Mayo and Settle have created a place that offers much more than baseball lessons, they aim to send a good message to kids and parents that is faith-based, that discipline, and working hard, are a big part of why Team Titans exists. For Mayo and Settle, it is growth in character as well as growth on the field.

To that point, Team Titans has partnered with Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) to hold summer baseball camps as well as provide “Bible & Baseball” - a baseball-themed Bible study with baseball instruction.

As far as what is in store for the future, Mayo and Settle want to make sure they have a good foundation before they expand. There is a need for more individuals who want to not only coach but be a good, Christian example.

Settle now works full-time at the Titans, handling financials, coaching, and giving private lessons, from pitching to batting. He is married to his wife, Rachel.

Mayo can also be found at the facility most days. He coaches for two of the teams, and also gives lessons, while still working as District Manager at Ecolab. His wife, Mallory, handles scheduling. They have four children together, who can be found at the training facility, with their parents.

To learn more, go to Team Titans Training Facility page on Facebook.

Team Titans Mission Statement

“ To provide growth of fundamentals and inspiration of athletics to all individuals through faith-based standards, morals and actions.”

BE PREPARED

Capitol Financial Solutions Helps You Make Financial Plans for All Seasons

Denise Sowell, CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®, and Keli Hazel, CPA, BFA, the women behind Capitol Financial Solutions in downtown McDonough, decided to become business partners after realizing that they shared similar values and a passion for helping people navigate a complex, and constantly changing, industry. They maintain separate offices on the same block, but share knowledge and resources as they support each other and their clients. Customers that sit down with either of them know that they have a great team ready to answer any of their questions and create a financial plan uniquely tailored for them and their goals.

Whether they are working with young couples just getting started, those on the cusp of retirement, or people who suddenly find themselves single, both Sowell and Hazel start things off with a conversation to get a sense of where things stand and where their prospective clients would like to go.

“People often don’t understand financial planning and think it is all about investments or rolling over their 401K,” said Sowell. “It’s much more comprehensive than that. It can be managing debt, getting the most out of your work benefits, planning for college or retirement, or managing the finances of a loved one after they’ve passed away.”

When it comes to things like finance, taxes, and laws, it can be easy to get overwhelmed. Sowell and Hazel have decades of combined experience and are constantly learning to stay on the cutting edge of industry trends. Sowell, a Certified Financial Planner™, has been in the industry since the 1990s and Hazel, who was a CPA out of college, has been a licensed financial planner since 2011. Both women enjoy educating people on all of their options and seeing all of the planning pay off.

People who come to Capitol Financial Solutions go through four steps as their personalized plan is established. The first step is gathering items like a list of assets, liabilities, income sources, budget needs, and tax records to examine your current financial situation. The second step is to determine your financial goals. Clients should think about what kind of lifestyle they hope to have and what type of legacy they would like to leave. The third step is to identify gaps, the parts of your goals that may be difficult to achieve. This is the time to examine risks and address any questions that arise. The final step is to start your personal plan and Sowell and Hazel will help establish a step by step plan to achieve your goals.

“It is so important to build relationships with our clients and be good advocates for them and their goals,” said Hazel. “I truly love coming to work every day and being able to help people.”

To learn more about Capitol Financial Solutions, or to schedule a discovery meeting, visit capfsgeorgia.com or call 770-898-0848 or 470-878-1247.

Securities and investment advisory services offered through Osaic Wealth, Inc. member FINRA/SIPC. Osaic Wealth, Inc is separately owned and other entities and/or marketing names, products or services referenced here are independent of Osaic Wealth, Inc. Osaic Wealth, Inc does not provide tax or legal advice. Branch Phone :770-898-0848

“It is so important to build relationships with our clients and be good advocates for them and their goals.”

A goodscarytime

Local business showcases McDonough’s past and present.

by ERIN LOPEZ

Are you looking for a unique night on the town? Look no further than Southern Ghost Tours in McDonough.

Southern Ghost Tours has become well known in the McDonough area since its rebrand in 2020. The revamped tours seek to tell true stories of McDonough and those that once lived here… and some that may have never left.

Co-owned by Tara Nestich, Tricia Bowman and Kiersten Frisby, the goal of Southern Ghost Tours is to bring visitors to McDonough and share the history of the McDonough community while also showcasing local businesses and all that the city has to offer.

“We want to add an entertaining experience that’s authentic to the history of the Square. We have a lot of history here right in this Square,” said Nestich, referring to the county’s history in the Civil War, Prohibition, and even its Native American origins.

Southern Ghost Tours offers year-round events, but most well-known are the Haunted Ghost Walks that take place each Friday and Saturday night.

Visitors can expect an approximately 90-minute walking tour with hired actors as tour guides around locations in and around the McDonough Square.

Through firsthand research at The Brown House, the local historical and genealogical society, and in one-on-one conversations with living relatives, the tour guides share the authentic stories of locations and families from McDonough.

The owners also hire paranormal companies to investigate locations as well.

“We research a building, dig up all the history we can on it, who all owned it, how it was built, what products they used to build the building, what architectural style it is, and then bring

in a paranormal team to do an investigation, see what we get from that, what kind of pictures, readings, voices on spirit boxes, and then that’s how we build a story,” said Nestich. They have also conducted paranormal investigations of locations on the McDonough Square, to include The Dickson House, Southern Roots Tavern & Eatery, and the Camp Creek train wreck site.

Following the tour, visitors can peruse their Boo’tique for crystals, jewelry, decor, apparel, and other items.

Other events provided by Southern Ghost Tours include Haunted Pub Crawls, Scavenger Hunts, Murder Mystery dinners, and other private events.

Southern Ghost Tours will soon expand to Olde Town Conyers, sharing true stories of locals, locations and showcasing business in that area as well.

“ We want to add an entertaining experience that’s authentic to the history of the Square.”

Tara Nestich

TRICIA BOWMAN, DAYLIN SMITH, HARRIET BONES, KALI MCCLUNG, STETSON ( BABY ), KIRSTEN FRISBY, OLIVIA WILLIAMS, JIM WILLIAMS, JAMES BROOKS, TARA HUCHEL -NESTICH, LIANDRIAN WILLIAMS

VETERAN MARK PHILLIPS, MANAGER SONYA GORDON, MANAGER DR. SHEA WILLS, VETERAN KIMBERLY BRADDY

MORE THAN A DAY AT THE SPA

Manifest Wellness Spa offers Cutting Edge Technology to Support Well-being.

by AROLUE FLEMMEN PRATER

The statement - the power that made the body heals the body, as viewed upon entry into the Manifest Wellness Spa, is quite apparent. Located on Highway 42/23, in back of the Vineyard Park facility in McDonough, this very unique health center not only offers healing services with discounted packages for paying clientele, but it also offers free services for military veterans and for First Responders.

Every month on the 15th day, from the hours of 9 A.M. to 1 P.M., the managers, Dr. Shea Wills and Sonya Gordon, open their doors to these special servicemen and women.

Since opening this healing facility in January 2023, various veterans have participated in the services the center offers. Relaxing in luxurious leather recliners, the military personnel absorb the healing properties of a cutting edge, non-medical phenomenal technology known as the Energy Enhancement System (EESystem). Twenty-four custom installed computer screens generate multiple bio-active life enhancing energy fields which interface with the body’s DNA matrix to promote healing, oxygenation, and improve circulation. Cellular rejuvenation and re-calibration of body equilibrium can also occur.

Developed over fifteen years ago by Dr. Sandra Rose Michael, EESystem has been recognized at dozens of medical, scientific and professional conferences around the world. United States doctors, therapists, international meditation and wellness centers have used this ecological and environmentally safe system.

How have some of the veterans benefited from attending these sessions at the Manifest Wellness Spa? Two military veterans with varied physical and mental aliments have graciously consented to share their experiences in coming to the center.

A veteran now living in Macon, Kimberly Braddy entered the U.S. Air Force in June 1986. She would eventually be stationed at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia’s largest industrial installation, located in Warner Robins where she served as an air cargo specialist until June 1994.

Braddy regularly visits the Manifest Wellness Spa in addition to the free monthly sessions. Prior to her attendance, Braddy researched the Energy Enhancement System and believed this technology would be advantageous for better health. Utilizing EESystem, the additional services of the oxygen bar, bio charger, and sauna, Braddy says she has experienced improved health benefits with heart issues, arthritis, and sleep apnea.

Fayetteville veteran Mark Phillips, at the age of 17 in 1959, was in the National Guard while in high school in Arkansas. Upon graduation in 1961, he enlisted for active duty in the U.S. Air Force. After three years of military service, Phillps received a medical discharge.

Today Phillips is living with Parkinson's disease, has had COVID, a stroke, and several other health issues. Hearing from a friend about the EESystem technology, he was skeptical at first but decided to give it a try. Since coming to Manifest Wellness Spa and another facility, Phillips says he feels a pronounced difference in increased energy level, better speech and clearer thinking. Phillips shared that he has an overall feeling of well-being which he strongly believes is from attending the sessions.

Having served in various military capacities and branches, these two veterans, along with others, have a common like-mindedness and can relate with one another. They very much appreciate this generous and free offer that has been extended to them to help with health improvement.

Manifest Wellness Spa managers Dr. Shea and Gordon heartily embrace this up-and-coming medical technology. Each has overcome health issues while experiencing health transformation in usage of the EESystem. They are passionate in their desire to share this non-medical advancement with others so that there is true realization that “the power that made the body heals the body.”

“I want to be the most decorated Paralympic athlete.”

Justin Phongsavanh

DREAMINGBIG

Local Paralympian Justin Phongsavanh.

by J.M. SYLVER

Justin Phongsavanh is no ordinary local resident. He’s a Paralympian. A Paralympic bronze medalist and world record javelin thrower who now calls Henry County home. But how did this man, born and raised in the Midwest, make his way to Georgia? “The reason why I picked Georgia, I could not do snow anymore,” says Phongsavanh. He also had other reasons for picking his new home. “I found Henry County to be very optimal. I love my city, the community. It has everything you can imagine.”

This lifelong athlete fell in love with sports at a young age. “I’ve been doing sports since 2nd grade,” says Phongsavanh. From playing football to throwing, plus his heart and soulwrestling, he excelled in sports. Even making it onto a varsity team when he was in the 8th grade. There was little doubt, sports would continue to be in Phongsavanh’s life and his future.

Then, in a random act of violence, Phongsavanh was shot and left paralyzed from the chest down.

“When the incident happened that left me paralyzed, I was at a crossroads,” recalls Phongsavanh. While continuing his education, he wanted more, but the javelin thrower had doubts.

“I threw in high school, I couldn’t imagine throwing in a wheelchair,” says Phongsavanh. Over time, he realized he could return to sports. “I went to my first competition. I broke all the national records,” explains Phongsavanh. “It brought me back to when I would win in high school.”

His passion for sports still there and the will to succeed, nothing was going to stop him. “The hunger of wanting to be on the world stage of the paralympic games. I’m now an official member of Team USA,” says Phongsavanh.

What’s next for this inspiring Paralympian? “I want to be the most decorated Paralympic athlete,” asserts Phongsavanh. And he’s well on his way. But sports aren’t the only thing he has going on in his life. He is also an entrepreneur. Phongsavanh plans on utilizing his accounting education during his downtime from javelin throwing. “Starting in 2024, I’m going to do taxes,” says Phongsavanh. “My season is only in the summer. I want to capitalize on my life now.”

Part of that life for Phongsavanh is living in Henry County. “Henry County is great! I’m so thankful for the people I’ve met and the community,” says Phongsavanh. And one of the perks of calling the south home is that “I’ve had amazing barbecue.”

Covenant Care Services

Nurturing Families and Dreams Since 1989.

by RUTH HILDRETH

Covenant Care Services, a state-licensed non-profit Christian adoption and counseling agency, was founded in 1989 with a mission to provide compassionate support to birth mothers, children, and families. Over the past 33 years, this remarkable agency has been a beacon of hope, facilitating over 550 adoptions and averaging 150–200 women cared for each year. Covenant Care’s unwavering commitment to both birth mothers and adoptive families is a testament to the power of love and support in the adoption journey.

From the outset, Covenant Care works closely with expectant mothers, providing them with the care and assistance they need during their pregnancies. The ultimate goal is to empower these mothers to make the best decisions for themselves and their babies. If parenting isn’t feasible, the agency helps them review prospective adoptive parents’ profiles, ensuring the best fit for their child. Importantly, Covenant Care’s involvement doesn’t end after the birth. They continue to offer ongoing support, welcoming birth mothers into their extended family. The annual

birth mothers’ retreat is a testament to this enduring care, providing a space for these incredible women to connect, find solace, and receive counseling.

The stories of the beautiful children who have found loving homes through Covenant Care are heartwarming and inspiring. Chris and Dori Brown’s journey began in 2014 as they navigated the adoption process. Drawn to Covenant Care’s goals, they underwent training and approval, leading to a life-changing moment in 2016 when they were chosen by a birth mother. Their daughter, Piper, became an integral part of their family, surrounded by love and support from their church and community. The Henry County couple’s second adoption, in 2019, brought them a son, Syrus, and the unique opportunity to meet his birth mother before his arrival. The love and gratitude they hold for both birth mothers is evident in the pictures displayed in their children’s rooms, a daily reminder of the immense love that binds them all. Dori now works as a client counselor with Covenant Care.

Similarly, Luke and Katie McGee of McDonough embarked on their adoption journey in 2010. Just ten months later, their arms were filled with the joy of holding their daughter, Adah. The fear Katie initially felt about open adoption melted away as she witnessed the beautiful connections that formed. In 2014, sweet Hattie joined their family, bringing joy to one mother and a mix of emotions for another. Katie’s deep commitment to adoption led her to join Covenant Care in 2015 as an adoptive family counselor, and later as a client counselor. The arrival of their son, Lewis, in 2020, happened with just one day’s notice, but their friends and family rallied, showering them with love to welcome this new addition. The different relationships each child has with their birth mothers weave a tapestry of support and care, and Katie’s journey has taken her to graduate school and a fulfilling role as a specialized adoption counselor.

Covenant Care Services is a place where dreams are nurtured, where the joy of parenthood mingles with the bittersweet journey of birth mothers. It’s a haven of support, where dedicated counselors play a crucial role in guiding both sides through the complex emotions involved. The heartwarming stories of families like the Browns and the McGees are a testament to the enduring bonds formed through love, compassion, and the incredible work of Covenant Care.

Local Business providing Quality Cleaning Services.

When you see a service truck from GleamPro Cleaning pull up to your home or business, you might think it is just one franchisee for a large national company with offices scattered all over.

It is not.

There is only one GleamPro office and it’s in Jackson. However, the cleaning company serves a wide geographic area that stretches across Henry and surrounding counties, utilizing a fleet of six trucks and 15–20 employees. Those professionallooking employees get the job done in a way that makes one think they have a gigantic company behind them.

“We always wanted to look professional and look like a real company, a real business,” said Tonya Gentle, GleamPro’s CEO who started the business with her husband David nearly 20 years ago. “Even when it was just me and him, we were going in wearing khaki pants and collared shirts. That’s how we’ve always presented ourselves. We were always asked if we were a franchise, and we always had to tell people no. We are just two individuals that started this business together.”

GleamPro does maid and janitorial work under a variety of settings, ranging from route work (in which businesses are cleaned every night) to porter work (with janitors on site during a company’s regular operating hours).

“We do anywhere from warehouse and manufacturing companies to small lawyers’ offices and accounting firms and doctors’ offices,” said Tonya Gentle. “We pretty much do it all.”

David Gentle started in 1996 with a window cleaning business. He was working at a diner when a friend told him he could make good money washing windows. When he and Tonya formed their current company together in 2004, they focused on construction cleanup, commercial window washing, residential window washing, and specialty cleaning on items such as chandeliers.

“As we were doing that kind of stuff on the residential side, other people started asking us to clean their houses,” said Tonya Gentle. “So, we started doing residential cleaning and it grew

through word of mouth. We started cleaning people’s offices and grew that way. Most of our growth has all come from word of mouth and referrals.”

Their residential services today include power washing and exterior cleaning as well as interior maid service.

An ongoing initiative that is near and dear to them right now provides help for a particular group in need. Starting in collaboration with a national organization called Cleaning for a Reason, GleamPro continues to offer free residential cleaning services for anyone who is undergoing treatment for cancer. The company has taken that service a step further and offers power washing and exterior cleaning for those patients as well.

“We want to make sure people in this area know we are doing this, because it is something we feel people really need,” said Tonya Gentle. “Other people sometimes forget about the little things when something like that is going on a person’s life, but a lot of times it is the little things they need help with.”

For more information about what GleamPro can do, visit gleampro.com.

ACTS OF LOVE

Local resident assisting families impacted by illness.

by ERIN LOPEZ

Deborah Eskridge knows firsthand how illnesses can impact day to day life.

Diagnosed with lupus in 2016 at the age of 19, she spent much of her time adjusting to her “new normal” rather than attending her second year of college as planned.

Recognizing that many children and young adults impacted by illnesses may not be able to do the same things as others their age, especially during the holiday season, Eskridge began a toy drive called Deborah’s Toy Chest in late 2016.

“With the support of my neighbors, friends, and family, I was able to donate 66 toys to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta,” said Eskridge.

From there, her desire to help others grew and Deborah’s Dream Inc. was established in 2020.

“The mission of Deborah’s Dream Inc. is to provide a joyful experience for kids and young adults in the midst of battling

their chronic/life-threatening illness or injury and give support and encouragement to the families of any child that is hospitalized,” said Eskridge.

Through her nonprofit and with the help of her “dream team,” including family, friends, and volunteers, she hosts multiple fundraisers and drives throughout the year.

To date, she has been able to donate a total of 1,591 toys and $400 to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and the impact of Deborah’s Toy Chest is expected to increase as she gets ready for the 2023 holiday season.

In addition to Deborah’s Toy Chest, Eskridge also arranges for craft nights as well as meals to be provided to families at the Ronald McDonald Houses in Atlanta for families that are in transition either into or out of local hospitals.

She also collects supplies and puts together Parent Packs for parents that find themselves unexpectedly at the hospital with their child after a diagnosis and unprepared for a visit or short stay. The packs have items such as toiletries, a notebook, a card with encouragement, and a small toy or stuffed animal for the child as well.

In everything she does through Deborah’s Dream Inc., Eskridge understands that no meal, toy, or comfort item can fix a diagnosis, but it can completely change the perspective of a recipient and their families.

“I am aware that no act of love will change a diagnosis, but every act of love will affect the journey through it,” said Eskridge. Eskridge is looking to expand Deborah’s Dream Inc. by offering more volunteer opportunities and is hopeful for more community support to allow her to continue to share her dream with others.

“I am aware that no act of love will change a diagnosis, but every act of love will affect the journey through it.”

Deborah Eskridge

SAMUEL, WILLIAM, TJ, HAL, AND CARTER MCGINNIS

THREE GENERATIONS, ONE SCHOOL

Creekside Christian Academy Celebrates 50 Years in Education.

by J.M. SYLVER

For the McGinnis family, having several generations living on the same property in Henry County with each generation having gone to the same school is something special.

“It’s neat three generations have gone there,” says TJ McGinnis, son of the patriarch of the family, Hal McGinnis.

TJ followed in his dad’s footsteps by attending school at Creekside Christian Academy (CCA) and now he’s sending his children to CCA.

“Dad and I had the same teacher. Having gone there myself, I knew my kids would go there,” says TJ.

Since 1973, Creekside Christian Academy has provided families the opportunity to give their children a Christianbased education.

“I can’t believe the school has been there for 50 years,” says Debbie Caldwell, who retired from teaching at Creekside after 30 years.

Caldwell got to know the McGinnis family quite well over the years. “This is so exciting. Not only did I enjoy having TJ, I got to teach his sons,” recalls Caldwell, sharing her thoughts about what it means to have the third generation of McGinnis family back at Creekside. “As a teacher, it brings you great joy that they want to bring their children here.”

Caldwell’s sentiments about the McGinnis family and Creekside Christian Academy ring true also for Patti Keeton, another retired Creekside teacher of thirty years.

“The McGinnises … those children are wonderful. Precious family,” says Keeton.

As for what the school and its anniversary mean to her? “I’m very proud of the school. I’m happy we lasted for 50 years and have kept that Christian education.”

Having gone through many changes from name and location changes to what grade levels are offered since its opening in 1973, Creekside has been a blessing to the McGinnis family.

“It’s a neat feeling to be part of a school that prepared me to go to a public high school,” recalls TJ, who attended CCA when high school grades were not offered. “Some of the closest friends I have went to school there.”

Today Creekside Christian Academy offers students K3–12th grade a biblical worldview education with high schoolers having the opportunity to earn college credits. “The school does offer dual enrollment. If you do it, you will get college credit just as long as you pass,” says TJ.

Learn more about Creekside’s 50 year history by visiting creeksidechristian.academy/why-cca.

“Dad and I had the same teacher. Having gone there myself, I knew my kids would go there.”

TJ McGinnis

Ready to R e a d

Community Christian School Students Succeed with Orton-Gillingham Program.

by MIKE BOYLAN

Learning to read is one of the core skills taught when a student first starts going to school. However, not every student learns the same way or at the same pace. At Community Christian School in Stockbridge, Alicia Petry, the school’s literacy specialist, has introduced students and teachers to the OrtonGillingham method. She is the only fully trained and highly qualified Orton-Gillingham instructor on the southside of Atlanta and she has seen lots of success since beginning to roll out the program at the school four years ago.

“We started with just a handful of students the first year and introduced it to grades K-2 in the second year,” said Petry. “Now we are a well-oiled machine. We can identify and remediate students who may struggle with reading and don’t let them fall too far behind.”

Petry describes the Orton-Gillingham method as “phonics on steroids.” Students learn the 44 sounds of the English language, all eight types of syllables, and all six ways to divide multisyllabic words. They learn proper letter formation and how to decode a word and how to spell it. Unlike memorizing sight words, students in the program learn why words are built the way they are and can ultimately read any word.

“The method works for all students, regardless of ability,” said Petry. “It will supercharge a student who already has some reading skills, but can also be beneficial for those with dyslexia or are learning English as a second language.”

Kindergarten students at Community Christian School get the foundation. They learn letter sounds, handwriting, and start to learn the rules of the English language. In first grade, the students often experience the biggest growth and feel they can

read common words by the end of the year. By second grade, they are tackling multisyllabic words, and are learning roots, prefixes and suffixes. In third grade, they are no longer learning to read, but rather reading to learn.

Petry has the faculty’s full support and the school has started to see the benefits. Struggling readers get the help they need early on and many of the students begin enhancing their reading comprehension earlier as well. The foundations that are established will continue to pay off as they advance into higher grades and deal with more advanced material.

“English is a living language and many people bring their culture into a vocabulary that is constantly changing,” said Petry. “The skills our students learn through this method help them tackle challenging words and build confidence that will pay dividends for years to come.”

“The skills our students learn through this method help them tackle challenging words and build confidence that will pay dividends for years to come.”

Alicia Petry

Making School History

Strong Rock's Varsity Baseball Team wins State Championship.

by MONROE ROARK

Strong Rock Christian School’s 2023 varsity baseball team has brought home a state championship.

It was an incredible May night in the North Georgia mountains. Strong Rock had just lost the second game in a three-game series, leaving them 1–1 against Bethlehem Christian Academy. Both the Patriots coaches and players dug deep and committed to winning the third and final game to claim the Georgia Independent Athletic Association (GIAA) Class AAAA state championship. And that’s exactly what they did. In just five innings, Strong Rock won 11–1 over Bethlehem to take the title of state champions.

The victory was the biggest in the history of Strong Rock Christian School as it marks the school’s first team sport championship, as well as an exclamation point for head coach Toby Evans.

“Not a bad way to go out,” Evans acknowledged in a recent interview.

The 20-year educator left the dugout that spring night for the last time as head coach of the Patriots baseball team upon his appointment as high school principal at the Locust Grove school.

Before the 2022–2023 school year, Strong Rock was a member of the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) in the Class A Private category. Upon moving to the GIAA, the athletic arm of the Georgia Independent Schools Association, the school is in the AAAA classification, as the largest school in the organization. However, competition at the region level did not change much because many of the Patriots’ opponents made the move at the same time.

Despite having reached the playoffs regularly, 2023 was the first year the baseball team won its region. The 30-game regular season schedule consisted of three-game series against each opponent, and the Patriots won at least two games in every series.

The toughest postseason challenge came from Bulloch Academy in the second round of the playoffs. Strong Rock, the host team, lost the first game and had to “scratch and fight” to win the other two, according to Evans.

From there it was a semifinal matchup against Tattnall and then the championship series against Bethlehem.

“Our season will be remembered not for our rings, or for our record, but for our character and how we played the game,” says Adam Brown, a senior at Strong Rock this school year. “The baseball team became a family. We are a blessed group of guys who got to experience something special that many teams set out to do, but fall short. All glory goes to God!”

Senior Cooper Culberson echoes Brown’s sentiments. “We are family and when everyone accepts their role and is all in, big things happen!”

As the 2023–2024 school year gets underway, Evans has stepped aside and Jason Godbee, who was an assistant last season, will lead the team in the Spring. He will be without three starting players including two pitchers Zack Wallace, playing baseball at Mercer University and Grant Miller, playing baseball at Shorter University, and shortstop Isaiah Pou, playing baseball at Oglethorpe University.

Even with so much change, the Strong Rock Patriots have many players from this history-making team returning, including Culberson who has already committed to play baseball at Mercer in the fall of 2024.

“We are family and when everyone accepts their role and is all in, big things happen!”

Cooper Culberson

BACK ROW: COACH JASON GODBEE, HUNTER CASH, BLAKE BURGHARDT, JACKSON GLENN, NATE ANDREWS, ZACK WALLACE, HUNT TATUM, COOPER CULBERSON, GRANT MILLER, COACH JUSTIN NICHOLSON FRONT ROW: LANDON STANCIL, ADAM BROWN, LLEYTON HALLMAN, ISAIAH POU, COLIN MENDIOLA, ANDREW REID, BROOKS BIBBY, WILL STYERS, DAVID LONGINO, ERIC ADAMS, HEAD COACH TOBY EVANS

PIPPINS SERVES UP BIG FLAVOR IN SMALL SPOT

A McDonough BBQ Fixture.

by MICHELLE FLOYD

A small spot in McDonough continues to make a big name for itself.

Ron Pippin opened the Original Pippin’s BBQ in 1986 in a small shed in McDonough, stirring up so much noise that he decided in 1988 to open up a permanent space near the McDonough square, where it still stands today on Sims Street.

“He didn’t want anything big,” recalls current owner David Curry of Pippin, who was known for hunting, fishing and award-winning barbecue.

At age 17, Curry, a lifelong Henry County resident, worked next door when Pippin opened the shed and would walk over for a burger each week.

After working at Ford and then the Atlanta Auto Auction for most of his life, Curry and his wife Nicole decided to start their own businesses - they opened a Great American Cookies and Marble Slab Creamery in Conyers in 2016, then in Eagle's Landing in 2018.

Over the years, when Curry was the Henry County Tax Commissioner from 2009 to 2019, he met with Pippin from time to time.

“I used to joke with him, ‘Aren’t you tired of cooking BBQ?’,” Curry recalls.

Eventually, after Pippin had some health issues in 2018, he and Curry “shook on it” and the Curry family took over ownership in January 2019. They eventually sold their other businesses in 2021.

“It’s not meant to be a five-star restaurant,” Curry admits. “I just hope it’s an escape. We hope it’s good ole Southern comfort food with really great customer service.”

The current building sits in a small section of a shopping center with a small lot that can fill up with customers at certain parts of the day. Curry says the busiest time is lunch, but the restaurant is open until dinner with options for dine in or to go.

Offering pork, chicken, beef brisket and ribs on a plate or bread, nothing is precooked or frozen.

“We cook our meat fresh daily,” Curry explains. “We prepare everything daily.”

The baked beans recipe comes from Nicole’s family, and the Mac ‘n Cheese recipe was tweaked by the Curry family.

“The coleslaw is one that Ron came up with as a kid,” Curry explains, adding that the old Covington location and the current Conyers locations were not owned by Ron but by family and friends with different recipes. “He didn’t like his mom’s, so he said he had to come up with his own.”

“It’s not meant to be a five-star restaurant. We hope it’s good ole Southern comfort food with really great customer service.”

David Curry

Curry feels that the pork is their best seller — smothered in mild, hot, sweet or vinegar BBQ sauce or Worcestershire sauce — but admits that their brisket and Brunswick stew have a “big fan base” too.

Pippin’s also sells chicken salad, salads and dessert like banana pudding, brownies and apple pies.

“We eat there at least once a week,” admits McDonough resident Donna Renfroe, who lives part time in Alabama. “As soon as I get back home, I go to Pippin’s.”

She and her family have been eating it since moving to the town about 30 years ago. Now as empty nesters, she will go get food to go for her and her husband Scott or meet friends there for lunch.

“When you go, you know you’re always going to see somebody you know,” she says, adding that the chicken and sides are her favorites. “It’s fresh — you can tell comparatively to other BBQ and it’s always good.”

The restaurant also offers family dinners, bulk orders and catering, recently serving more than 400 people, including Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, at the second annual 10th Congressional District BBQ.

When should you send your child to a pediatric hip specialist?

Hip problems in children can be very different than in adults. If an issue is left untreated for too long, it could impact your child’s development and lead to more problems later in life. Sometimes pain is attributed to growing pains or overuse of a muscle from playing sports or physical activity, and parents should take their child to see a doctor when:

• The pain continues to progress and doesn’t go away with at-home treatments.

• You see signs of infection.

• Your child or teen doesn’t want to bear weight on the side of the hip injury.

• Symptoms become more severe and more frequent.

• Soreness after a workout lasts more than a few days.

If your child needs treatment, ways to manage and their hip or pelvis problems may include:

• Medications

• Casting or bracing (orthotics)

• Pain management

• Physical therapy

• Rest (reduced activity, crutches, wheelchair or traction)

• Surgery

- Femoral head redirection surgery or flexion osteotomy for SCFE

- Hip arthroscopy and surgical hip dislocation for hip impingement

- Varus osteotomy, core decompression and hip distraction for treatment of Legg-Calve-Perthes disease

- Periacetabular osteotomies (Ganz PAO) for teens and adults with hip dysplasia

To learn more about the hip program at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, please visit choa.org/hip.

Insight above provided by Dr. Tim Schrader, Medical Director of the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Hip Program at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Disclaimer: This content is general information and is not specific medical advice. Always consult with a doctor or healthcare provider if you have any questions or concerns about the health of a child. In case of an urgent concern or emergency, call 911.

“It’s a good thing to pray–whatever the circumstances!”

Pastor Kenny Heath

Do you Pray? Or do you P.U.S.H.

Pray Until Something Happens!

by PASTOR KENNY HEATH

A young man went into a drugstore to buy three boxes of chocolate: small, medium, and large. When the pharmacist asked him about the three boxes, he said, “Well, I’m going over to a new girlfriend’s house for supper. Then we’re going out. If she only lets me hold her hand, I’ll give her the small box. If she lets me kiss her on the cheek, then I’ll give her the medium box. But if she really lets me get serious, I’ll give her the big box.” He made his purchase and left.

That evening as he sat down at dinner with his girlfriend’s family, he asked if he could say the prayer before the meal. He began to pray, and he prayed an earnest, intense prayer that lasted for almost five minutes. When he finished his girlfriend said, “You never told me you were such a religious person.” He said, “And you never told me your dad was a pharmacist!”

It’s a good thing to pray–whatever the circumstances!

According to many public opinion polls, prayer is very important to most people. Several years ago, a poll was taken that found 90 percent of Americans pray while 86 percent said they believed in God – isn’t it interesting that more people pray than claim to believe in God?

Our praying should be like the story of Jacob wrestling the angel in Genesis 32. When you read that story, you will find that they wrestled all night and toward morning, the angel said, “Jacob, let me go.” But Jacob hung onto that angel.

He said, “I won’t let you go until you bless me.” So, the angel said, “Okay, your name has been Jacob (which means “grabber”). From now on you will be named Israel (which means prince of God).”

What a great prayer lesson! Have you ever grabbed onto God in prayer and begged Him saying, “I’m not going to quit praying until you answer me”?

Don’t just pray… PUSH – Pray Until Something Happens!

When you pray, recognize that prayer is a request. The essence of a request is much different from a demand, in that it may or may not be granted. And if an infinitely wise God listens to the requests of finite and foolish creatures, of course, He will sometimes grant them and sometimes refuse them... If God had granted all the silly prayers I’ve made in my life, I wonder where I would be now.

When you pray you should do some talking… AND some listening. What is God trying to say to you personally? Are you consumed with worry and anxiety? Pray.

Have you stopped praying about a need in your life? Are you considering quitting in some area where God has placed you? Don’t quit, keep on praying!

Are you filled with doubt about prayer? Start praying and expect God to answer.

Every time you walk through a door that says PUSH – let God remind you to Pray Until Something Happens!