West Georgia Woman Magazine December 2021

Woman

Complimentary

December 2021

West Georgia

TM

Carol Harper Turning Tragedy into Triumph

Staying Fit and Festive Working Through the Holiday Blues1

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Carol Harper Finds Her Purpose After a Life-Changing Crash.

Page 10 Photo by Zachary Dailey

What’s inside...

10 24 29

Inner Beauty, Outer Courage Staying Fit and Festive The Gift of Sight

In Every Issue:

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Daily Fare Local Happenings

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Working Through the Holiday Blues Holiday Fire Safety Unique Ways to Wrap Gifts

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A Season of Hope

Christmas means many things to different people. For some, it means spending time with family and friends. For others, it's about parties, gifts and Santa Claus.

For many, Christmas is about the birth of Jesus, celebrating his presence in the world and becoming instruments of peace, love and joy.

Regardless of your religious beliefs, I believe most of us would agree there could be more kindness in the world, more patience and more love – and not just during the holidays.

Many of you are probably experiencing grief and sadness from the loss of a loved one, job loss, divorce or going through some other difficult times right now. I've experienced all of these at different times in my life, and I know firsthand that sometimes, it can be hard to find peace and joy in anything. Don't lose hope or give up. I can assure you that better days are just around the corner. In the meantime, I wish for healing and peace for you, no matter what you're experiencing right now.

As the last two years have taught us, tomorrow is not certain. Slow down, embrace the time you have with your friends and loved ones, and experience the joy that can only be found in meaningful relationships.

Photo by Zachary Dailey By the way, I shared with you a couple of months ago that I'm going to be a grandmother, and we found out Oct. 30 that she's a girl! The future face of West Georgia Woman magazine perhaps? We're all so excited to welcome Miss Chelsie Wren Dailey into the world in March 2022.

In This Issue Our feature this month is Carol Harper from Rockmart, Ga. On July 7, 1979, a simple commute to work turned into tragedy for Carol when a drunken driver hit her car head-on. While the crash would result in years of physical and mental pain, Carol survived and came out of the wreckage a new woman – a woman with purpose.

On page 10, learn more about Carol and her journey toward finding her purpose, self-love and peace.

If you're like me, the holidays are the only excuse I need to stop everything healthy and enjoy the sweets and treats of the season. On page 24, Sandra Bolan shares with us how to stay fit, but still festive.

Are you diabetic? When's the last time you've had a dilated eye exam? Studies show six out of 10 people with diabetes are not getting the vital eye exams they need to preserve their vision, and 95 percent of vision loss from diabetes can be prevented just by having an annual dilated eye exam, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Learn more about diabetic eye disease on page 29.

Some people sail through the holidays baking, shopping and partying like there's no tomorrow. Still, others are so depressed they can't wait for the holidays to be over. If you're experiencing the holiday blues this year, read our article on page 32 to learn how to find peace and joy.

On page 41, I'm excited to share with you that my Dan received a special promotion to Lieutenant with the Carrollton Police Department in late October. More great news is that our dear friend Michael Stone, owner of Milestone Investment Management LLC., received the honor of Small Business Person of the Year from the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce Nov. 11. Read about Michael and his accomplishments on page 42. Please join us in congratulating these two special people!

Thank you for reading West Georgia Woman magazine! There's much more inside!

Please do business with our community advertising partners as much as you can. It is only through their partnership that we are able to give you this beautiful magazine each month.

Merry Christmas! I wish for abundant blessings for you and yours this holiday season.

See you next year!

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Publisher

Finding our voice. Knowing our value.

Making a difference.

TM

West Georgia Woman is a voice for and about the women who live and work in West Georgia.

Our mission is to engage, inspire, and cultivate a cohesive community for all women in West Georgia by sharing our hopes, our dreams and our lives.

This magazine would not be possible without the inclusion of our advertisers. Please be sure to show your support by doing business with these VIP’s (very important partners) so we will be able to continue to share with you our stories about amazing West Georgia women!

Please be sure to tell them we sent you!

We welcome your comments and suggestions.

Contact us: (404) 502-0251 Online: www.westgeorgiawoman.com

Follow us! @WestGaWoman

Need a copy? Get yours from our racks at Kroger, Publix, Smith Brothers Supply Company, Southern Home and Ranch Center, Food Depot, Neva Lomason Library and 4 a.m. Coffee Roasters (Maple Street) and the Tanner Health System Medical Pavilion in Carrollton; Piggly Wiggly in Bowdon, Franklin and Tallapoosa; Thriftown in Bremen; Kroger in Cedartown; The Little Giant Grocery in Sargent; Inspiring women wanted.

Fabiano’s Pizzaria, Leaf and Bean Coffee, Food Outlet (Temple Ave.) and Kroger Do you know an interesting woman (Bullsboro Drive and Newnan Crossings who should be on the cover of West Blvd. locations in Newnan;Tanner Health Georgia Woman? Is there a special System's Villa Med and Villa West Office project or organization you would Buildings in Villa Rica; Kroger on Fairburn like us to feature in our magazine?

Road (Hospital Drive) and Highway 5 and Let us know! Email your suggestions Food Depot (Hiram Douglasville Hwy) to features@westgeorgiawoman.com. in Douglasville; Food Depot and Brickhouse Grille in LaGrange; Food Depot Share your special events.

(Villa Rica Hwy) in Dallas; Universal Fitness in Hiram; WM Grocery and ChuckwagSend your upcoming events to: on restaurant in Roanoke, Al. and WM calendar@westgeorgiawoman.com Grocery in Wedowee, Al. We have them Need to advertise? Email: in larger quantities at Publix (Bullsborough Drive), Lee-King and Thompson pharmaSales@westgeorgiawoman.com cies in Newnan, the Apothecary Shoppe in Douglasville and the Vitamin Shoppe Call 404.502.0251 in Hiram, Publix at Mirror Lake, CVS in The views, opinions, positions or strat- Bowdon as well as hundreds of other retail egies expressed by the contributing locations and medical offices in 18 cities authors are theirs alone, and do not covering nine counties in West Georgia necessarily reflect the views, opinions, and East Alabama. positions or strategies of Angel Media, LLC., West Georgia Woman magazine or any employee thereof.

Angel Media, LLC. makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, correctness, suitability or validity of any information in this publication and will not be liable for any errors, omissions or delays in this information or any losses, injuries or damages arising from its display or use.

Mail correspondence to:

West Georgia Woman Magazine P.O. Box 2782 Carrollton, GA 30112

This publication is dedicated in loving memory of Tristan Alexander Brooks May 15, 1993 – September 17, 2015

Volume 7 • Issue 2 December 2021

Publisher/Editor

Angela Dailey angela@westgeorgiawoman.com

Copy Editor Editorial Contributor

Shala Hainer shala@westgeorgiawoman.com

Photographer for cover Zachary Dailey

Editorial Contributors

Sandra Bolan, Jordan Dailey, Rose Isaacs and Amanda Thomas

Advertising Sales

Sales@westgeorgiawoman.com West Georgia Woman is a monthly publication of Angel Media, LLC. All contents of this issue are copyright 2021. West Georgia Woman magazine, its logo and “Finding our voice. Knowing our value. Making a difference.” are trademarks of Angel Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited.

All submissions will be included as space is available. West Georgia Woman reserves the right to reject or edit any submissions that are not in compliance with our editorial policy.

If you wish to have your submission returned, please include a self addressed stamped envelope along with your submission.

9

Inner Beauty, Outer Courage

By Amanda Thomas 10 Photos by Zachary Dailey

Rockmart Woman Finds Purpose After Life-Changing Crash

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C

arol Harper’s story of survival began on Roswell Road in Atlanta.

It’s a story that the Rockmart resident has shared numerous times while speaking at churches, conferences and schools.

It’s a story she’ll never forget and hopes you won’t either.

This is a story about a morning commute to work on July 7, 1979, that turned into tragedy when a drunken driver hit Carol’s car head-on. But it’s also a story of faith.

While the crash would result in years of physical and mental pain, Carol survived and came out of the wreckage a new woman – a woman with purpose.

Her survival story began the day after the crash, but her journey to find her purpose started years before while she lived what some may consider the perfect life.

The Good Life Before moving to Atlanta, Carol was a beautiful, vivacious woman with a promising future.

She got her first job at the prestigious Sheraton Park Hotel in Washington, D.C. as a public relations assistant.

She wined and dined with the Washington elite, which included celebrities, Congress members and senators.

“I would go with the photographer, and he would take the pictures, then I would write up the captions,” she says. “I would send them to the hometowns of various congressmen and senators to get publicity for the hotel.”

Her looks were a very important part of her job at the hotel, which allowed her to attend black-tie events, including the presidential inaugural ball.

“I would go to every event dressed up in ball gowns, so having a good appearance was an important part of my job,” she says.

While she grew up in a Christian home, she got so caught up in the glitz and glamour of being a part of the Washington socialite scene that she started distancing herself from God. She became focused on her appearance and even dated some of the high-profile congressmen she encountered.

“I thought that would make me somebody,” she says. “I had low self-esteem, but I didn’t know it at the time.”

If someone had asked her at the time if she had low self-esteem, she would have immediately said, “Of course not.”

“Self-esteem is how you feel about yourself, and self-image is how you see yourself,” she says. “You can have a good self-image, look in the mirror and say, ‘I look pretty good,’ but deep down feel like you’re not worthy.”

A few years later, she moved to Atlanta, where she got a job as a sales manager for Capital Airport Inn. This was also where she met the man of her dreams.

He was handsome and had a great job.

They soon fell in love and got married in 1978.

But a year later, everything changed.

A Not So Typical Day

Carol Harper, before a drunken driver hit her head-on.

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The morning of the crash was actually Carol’s day off.

“We were getting up, getting ready to go to Lake Lanier on a picnic with some friends, and the phone rang,” she says. “My secretary called and said she was sick, so I had to go in and work for her that day.”

While Carol normally took Georgia Highway 400 to work, there wasn’t much traffic that morning, so she decided to take Roswell Road – a decision that

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Her jaw and nose were broken, and she had lost sight in her left eye. When her husband walked into the intensive care unit, he saw a woman whose head was swollen to twice its normal size.

He immediately told the doctor, “That’s not my wife.” But when the doctor showed him her wedding rings, he broke down crying.

The doctor also told him that she wouldn’t survive the night. But he was wrong. She survived.

While at the hospital, she spent four days in a coma, and for the first 10 days of her stay, she didn’t remember anything.

She also couldn’t speak because she had a tracheostomy – a procedure where doctors create a hole at the front of the neck and insert a tube into the windpipe.

Carol's car after the accident. She and the drunken driver were both traveling She had to use a pencil and paper to at 50 miles per hour. When the other driver crossed the center lane and hit ask where she was.

Carol head-on, the impact was the equivalent of driving into a brick wall at 100 miles per hour.

“They explained I was in a car crash,” she says. “It didn’t register because I would change her life forever. was in shock, and I didn’t really grasp what was It was around 8 a.m. that Saturday when she was happening at that point.” driving her brand new car and approaching a hill.

All she knew was that she was in pain.

“I don’t remember anything after that,” she says.

During the month she was in the hospital, the That’s when a drunken driver crossed the center line and hit her head-on.

Both vehicles were going 50 miles per hour, and the impact was the equivalent of driving into a brick wall at 100 miles per hour.

The steering wheel hit her face with full force.

Thankfully, Deborah Leslie, an intensive care nurse at Northside Hospital, was traveling the same road that day. She was on her way home from an overnight shift and taking another nurse home, which put her on Roswell Road that morning – she also normally took another route.

She was behind the drunken driver when the crash happened. She immediately came to Carol’s aid and PERSONALIZED, FAST AND FRIENDLY SERVICE pulled her out of the wreckage.

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mirrors were covered. The doctors thought she’d be devastated if she saw herself.

She didn’t see what the crash had done to her face until she returned home and looked in the mirror for the first time.

“I saw a face that wasn’t my own,” she says.

The first thing Carol said when she saw her reflection was, “I’m ruined.” She was so distraught she wished she’d died in the crash.

The crash had not only shattered her facial bones but had also shattered her self-esteem. While she had always based her worth on her beautiful face, that was taken now away from her.

While recovering from her injuries, she became dependent on her husband.

She couldn’t walk by herself, take a bath without help or even wash her hair. She couldn’t even fix a bowl of soup. She had to sip soup because her mouth had been wired shut for three months to allow her jaw – which was broken in three places – to heal.

Sometimes it took her an hour and a half to finish a bowl. She was also dealing with the effects of being permanently blind in her left eye.

“Because of my loss of vision, it was hard for me to read and watch TV,” she says.

A nursing assistant came and helped her when her struggle with body image. Having to live off soup husband had to go out of town for work. for three months also turned her once-shapely “I wasn’t figure into skin driving and had and bones. She to depend on dropped down to people, so I had 89 pounds. a very hard time “I was more getting through depressed all of this.” because none The forecast of my clothes fit, for her recovery and I was crying looked bleak. all the time,” she The doctor told says. her family she Even after would never work undergoing six again because of surgeries to her brain injury rebuild her face, and short-term she never looked memory loss. Her the same. broken pelvis “The first would also make surgery they did Left, Carol, in the hospital a few days after the accident. In a six-hour surgery, docit difficult for her tors used forceps to pick all the tiny bone fragments out of her skin, then they had in the hospital to have children. to wire her face back to her skull. Right, Carol's jaw was broken in three places. Her was just to pick jaw was wired shut for three months to allow it to heal. She couldn’t walk by herIf the physical the tiny bone self, take a bath without help or even wash her hair. She couldn’t even fix a bowl of pain wasn’t fragments out soup. She had to sip soup because her jaw was wired shut. Sometimes it took her enough, she of my face,” she an hour and a half to finish a bowl. The drunken driver's actions that day also left continued to says. her permanently blind in her left eye.

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The The surgeries dragged on and on for four years. surgery took “It was pretty extensive,” she says. “I’d heal up six hours from one and go have another one.” because It was hard for her to imagine living a life there were completely different from what she was used to. She so many was in constant pain, her marriage was in ruins, and fragments. there were even times when she wished she hadn’t During one lived. surgery, There were days when she would lie in bed crying. they took a One thing that helped her get through her piece of the depression was attending Northside Hospital’s day hip bone to treatment program, which included group therapy. reconstruct She also went to individual therapy. her nose.

She also leaned on her faith, praying for God’s Pieces of help in finding light in the darkness.

Teflon were used to A New Normal replace the cheekbones After the crash, Carol’s life changed forever. that were The pain from her injuries was constant, and what blown away further put salt in the wound was the outcome of the During the month Carol was in the hospiin the crash. court case against the drunken driver. He was only tal, the mirrors were covered. The doctors Another fined $450, despite having four other alcohol-related thought she’d be devastated if she saw surgery crashes on his record. herself. Carol didn’t see what the crash had done to her face until she returned home. involved Not only that, but change became a regular She looked in the mirror for the first time taking part of her vocabulary. In the years after the crash, and saw a face that wasn't her own. She was cartilage from she lost her job, her four-year marriage ended in a so distraught she wished she’d died in the behind her divorce, and she became suicidal. crash. ear to fill in One of the things she particularly struggled with the areas where her eyes had been knocked out of during this period was her self-image. When Carol their sockets. was in Washington, D.C., she had relied on her looks The damage to her eyes was probably the as a public relations assistant. most devastating part for Carol, who was used to Now she had to come to terms with her new face. receiving compliments about how pretty her long, This required her to reevaluate how she saw herself. almond-shaped eyes were.

“I was really destructive because I’d go to people, “I’m thankful for my eyesight, but it was really and I’d say, ‘Look, this is me before the crash, and hard not having now look at how that,” she says. ugly I am,” she She also says. “I’d really noticed no one throw myself ever told her how under the bus.” pretty she was She had to anymore. learn to speak “After each positively about surgery, I kept herself. thinking I’m going “Now, I talk to be back to the on the power of beautiful young your words, and I woman again, was delaying my and that’s what I healing by using thought they were those negative going to do – Carol after one of the six surgeries she endured over a four year period. Photos on words,” she says. repair me.” page 15 and 16 courtesy of www.carolharperspeaks.com.

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period in her life, she remembers being angry at God in the beginning.

She questioned why he had allowed this to happen.

“Now, looking back, I realize that I learned to see my inner beauty,” she says. “I learned to see what’s important and that all the exterior things weren’t as important as I thought they were in the beginning. It absolutely made me a stronger person.”

Eventually, she found the courage to survive. She knew God had saved her life for a reason, and she made it her mission to find out why.

Raising a Family

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Although her marriage had ended in divorce, she had a baby girl born four years after the crash.

This kept her going.

In 1983, she and her daughter, Christa, moved to Marietta. They lived on the income from her part-time telemarketing job – a job she was able to secure despite her doctor saying she would never work again.

“When they told me I would never work again, I just refused to believe it,” she says. “I did some telemarketing just to prove I could do it.”

While Carol and her daughter went through some tough times financially, God always provided them with what they needed.

Anytime she felt like her life was hanging on a thread, she leaned on God. She also wanted Christa to have a relationship with God, so in 1991 they joined Eastside Baptist Church in Marietta.

The church had a job bank, which sparked her interest because she was looking for work herself.

The job bank was a program to help church members and the community find jobs.

"The job bank director said, ‘Well, if you volunteer here, then maybe you can find a job,’” she recalls.

She enjoyed volunteering there but little did she know, another big opportunity was about to come her way. The director announced that she was resigning and wanted to recommend her for his job.

“I’m going, ‘Wow, that is God sent,’” she says.

She got the position in 1994 and continued helping people find jobs, but this time as the job bank’s director.

“I was able to use my spiritual gift of discernment to aid in the placement of applicants,” she says. “I worked in this job for five years and loved it.”

She spent the next few years raising Christa.

When Christa graduated high school in 2001, Carol set her sights on another goal.

Finding Her Voice Years earlier, Carol says God told her she would become a speaker. “I laughed because this was when my daughter was little, and public speaking was my worst nightmare,” she says.

But something happened. She ended up wanting to speak at a Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Victim Impact Panel (VIP) program. The program’s purpose is to help substance-impaired driving offenders recognize the long-term effects of drunk and drugged driving.

At VIP, survivors and others impacted by substance-impaired driving crashes speak briefly about the crash they or their loved ones were injured or killed in.

But how could she do that if she was terrified of speaking in front of an audience?

Then one of her friends told her about Toastmasters International, a nonprofit organization that teaches public speaking and leadership skills through a worldwide network of clubs., In 2002, she joined Toastmasters at the Square in Marietta to get over her fear so she could share her story.

“I thought that was my calling because I had

Carol shares her story during one of her workshops. She overcame her fear of public speaking and has now become an accomplished speaker. In 2006, she created "Carol Harper Speaks." She shares her story with schools, women's organizations, churches, associations, clubs or any group that needs encouragement or inspiration. She is also a life coach specializing in self-esteem and self-discovery.

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heard that Mothers Against Drunk Driving needed someone to speak at their victim impact panel,” she says.

Two years later, she joined MADD’s VIP program.

“I’ll never forget that first time I spoke,” she says.

“It was downtown Atlanta, and they had 200 drunk driving offenders. I walked out and saw that crowd, and I just freaked out.”

She was comfortable speaking in front of 20 Toastmaster members, but this crowd was larger.

Nevertheless, she took a deep breath and carried on.

“I just walked out there and told my story,” she says. “After it was over, I was just shocked by the response. I had several guys come over to me, and they said, ‘Wow, what a powerful story. I’m never going to drink and drive again.’”

This made her feel like she was truly saving lives.

“If I can get a few people to think before they go out and drink and drive, that could be saving a life,” she says. “In my talk to the drunk driving offenders, I say, 'I don’t want what happened to me to happen to you or any of your loved ones.'”

She eventually overcame her fear of public speaking and has now become an accomplished speaker. She has received numerous awards,

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including Competent Toastmaster, Advanced Toastmaster Bronze, Advanced Communicator Silver and Competent Leader.

She was club president from 2005 to 2006.

From 2002 to 2005, she was a substitute teacher at Herschel Jones Middle School and Paulding County High School, where she had the opportunity to tell students about the crash.

Through telling her story, she was able to warn them about the consequences of drunk driving. The largest group she has spoken to so far is 1,500 students.

“It was God who opened up doors after that,” she says. “All I wanted to do was speak at

Alcohol Impaired Driving: It's Not Worth The Risk

Over 10,000 Americans are killed by drunk drivers every year, with approximately 1,000 of them being children, according to the CDC. If that's not enough of a reason for you to call a cab, Uber or have a designated driver in place at your holiday gatherings, check out these other facts below about alcohol impaired driving.

• • • • •

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More than 25 percent of all traffic-related deaths are the direct result of alcohol impairment.

Each day, 30 people in the U.S. die in car crashes with an alcohol-impaired driver. This is one death every 50 minutes.

As of last year, 290,000 people were injured in accidents involving alcohol impaired driving.

Drivers with a blood alcohol level of over 0.10 are seven times more likely to be involved in a fatal accident than sober drivers.

Convicted drunk driving offenders in Georgia can receive anywhere from 10 days to five years of incarceration and fines ranging from $300 to $5,000.

Anyone who transports a child under the age of 14 while drunk receives additional charges, including up to 12 months in prison and as much as $5,000 in fines.

In Georgia, if convicted of DUI, car insurance premiums increase by 78 percent – an increase of $1,411 more than the average premium. Some insurance carriers will not renew, or may even cancel a policy after a DUI conviction.

•

MADD, and that’s what I thought my purpose was.”

That was until a woman at her church presented the opportunity to speak at a DUI school conference. She sent the organizer an outline of what she was going to talk about and headed to Savannah.

That’s when she realized that she could make a living as a professional speaker. In 2006, she created Carol Harper Speaks. She now speaks at schools, women's organizations, churches, associations and clubs.

She speaks to any group that needs encouragement or inspiration. She also became a life coach specializing in selfesteem and self-discovery

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Distracted Driving is Just as Dangerous as Drunk Driving

•

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•

•

•

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More than 9 percent of fatal crashes in the U.S. in the past seven years involved a distracted driver, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

From 2012 to 2018, approximately 23,000 people died in accidents involving distracted drivers.

More than 2,800 people were killed and an estimated 400,000 people were injured in crashes as a result of distracted driving in 2018, the latest year for data reported by the NHTSA. Looking down at a cellphone screen for just five seconds while traveling 55 miles per hour is the equivalent of driving across a football field with your eyes closed, says the NHTSA. Texting while driving is extremely dangerous because it includes three distractions at once: Manual distraction – using one or both hands to type a message; Visual distraction – looking at the cellphone screen to read a message or type a text; and Cognitive distraction – using the brain to interpret, read or create a text.

Lead by example. No one should be texting and driving. If you need to type a text, pull over to a safe place. Talk with everyone in your household about how taking their eyes off the road – even for a few seconds – could cause death or serious injury.

Think about how you would feel if you were to seriously injure or kill someone because of distracted driving. Just don't do it!

She later published two other books about dating and divorce, “Extraordinary Divorce – Stories of Women Who Discovered Their Destiny After Divorce” and “You Might Be Dating a Jerk If …”

All of the books are available for purchase on Amazon. Her publishing credits don’t stop there. Her story was also featured in Grammy Award-winning singer Gloria Gaynor’s book, “We Will Survive: True Stories of Encouragement, Inspiration and the Power of Song,” which was published in 2013.

A Long Overdue Reunion In 2014, Carol finally got the opportunity to thank the nurse who had saved her life decades earlier.

She received an anonymous email from someone who had found Deborah. Deborah had remarried, and her last name was now Oliver. Carol called her, and they reunited in October 2014.

She told Deborah she now has a daughter and was going to have a granddaughter on Dec. 2.

“She not only saved one life, she saved three lives,” Carol says.

Her granddaughter, Lila Carol, is now seven years old.

because she found purpose by looking inward instead of focusing on her outward appearance.

After conquering public speaking, she set her sights on another goal – becoming a published author.

The Power of Storytelling Now that Carol had found her purpose, she was passionate about saving lives, so no one would have to go through what she did.

To share her story with an even wider audience, she began writing books to inspire others and help them overcome adversity.

In 2006, she published her first book, “Of Face Value,” which is based on her true-life story.

While her story is about the consequences of drunk driving, she has even heard from cancer patients who were encouraged by her story. This isn’t surprising to Carol because her story is about overcoming adversity – whether it’s from dealing with the after-effects of a bad crash or living with a chronic illness.

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Carol, with her daughter Christa and her granddaughter Lila Carol. Carol says Deborah Oliver, the nurse who saved her life, saved three lives that day. Photo provided by Carol Harper.

Carol Harper is a drunken driver survivor, motivational speaker and author.

She is available to speak to organizations about her story of survival.

She also presents two workshops for women, “Discover Your Purpose: A Vision Board Journey” and “Another Chance at Love, What You Should Know Before You Remarry.”

To learn more about Carol Harper, or to book a speaking engagement, call 404.863.1371 or email carol@carolharperspeaks.com.

Visit her website at www.carolharperspeaks.com.

Finding Purpose After the Pain The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Proverbs 18:21 Carol decided to leave Marietta, which was getting crowded, and move to Rockmart where she

had a house in the country.

In 2019, she joined West Ridge Church in Dallas.

“I felt there was a need to go out into the country where I can get quiet and hear from God,” she says.

“When you got all the noise and activity around you, you can’t really hear from God.” She remains passionate about helping women and men discover their purpose so they can reach their full potential. She gives vision board workshops and recently shared her story at the Church of Brethren Meadow Branch in Westminster, Maryland.

“God really brought me back through this tragic car crash and showed me my purpose,” she says.

“Jesus was a part of my healing and helped me see my inner beauty. I want to help other women see the beauty within themselves.” WGW

May the gifts of the season ... peace, hope, love, health and happiness be yours throughout the New Year.

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By Sandra Bolan

O

Staying Fit and Festive

ffice luncheons and after-work drinks with Between Thanksgiving and January 1, people gain friends, combined with numerous multione to two pounds, according to a study published course family dinners, inevitably lead to a few by the New England Journal of Medicine. That may pounds gained over the holiday season. not seem like a lot, but it can become the reason for falling off the fitness wagon.

If you don’t already have a workout routine, start one before the holidays get into full swing. Thirty minutes a day, of anything that gets your heart rate up, will do wonders for your waistline and mood.

If you regularly workout, don’t slack during the holidays. But also don’t try to build your six-pack.

Aim to maintain. If you normally workout for 60 minutes a day but can only squeeze in 30 minutes because of holiday obligations, make that time count. Ramp up your effort with HIIT (high intensity Abigail Whorton, Chief Operating Officer interval training) workouts because they’re time efficient with an afterburn that lasts 24 hours,

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compared to a steady 45-minute treadmill run, which has no afterburn.

• Find a workout buddy. It can be a friend who is also trying to keep the holiday pounds from sticking around, or hire a personal trainer.

Having someone to keep you accountable in the gym can go a long way in the buffet line.

• Be creative when you’re traveling. You may not always have access to a gym while traveling. Opt for bodyweight workouts, which can be found for free on YouTube. If you can go to a gym, do HIIT and lift heavier than normal to accelerate the calorie burn. Take the stairs instead of the elevator and park the car far away from entrances.

• Get the whole family active. After a big meal, go for a walk with the family to check out the neighbor’s holiday décor. The walk will also help with digestion.

• Stay hydrated. Drinking water makes you feel full, which can help you avoid overeating.

Water also boosts metabolism and helps digest fatty foods more efficiently.

• Snack before you party. Eating carrots and hummus or apples with nut butter beforehand will help curb the tendency to overdo it on the holiday treats.

• Don’t skip meals because you know you’re going to overindulge. When you’re starving, you’ll eat anything, which leads to poor nutritional choices. It also throws your metabolism off and can undo all the hard work you've put in at the gym.

• Choose healthier options when possible.

Don't deny yourself anything, but try to ensure the portions of healthy food take up more room on your plate than the unhealthy options

If you regularly workout, don’t slack during the holidays. But also don’t try to build your six-pack. Aim to maintain.

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and try not to go back for seconds. Choose sweets that are made with natural sweeteners such as honey, raisins and dates.

Your workouts and nutrition don’t have to be perfect during the most wonderful time of the year, but don’t let it all go just because you missed one workout or ate too much. Wake up the next morning with the attitude of “I'm going to try to do better.”

And don’t feel guilty about making time for the gym because that small amount of “me time” will help reduce your stress so you can be more sociable when it counts. You’ll also have more energy to get you through the holidays. WGW

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Daily Fare With

e s o R f e h C

Photos by Zachary Dailey

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Chef Rose Isaacs is a native of Carroll County and lives in Carrollton with her husband Shawn and their son, Sebastian.

She graduated from West Georgia Technical College in 2013 with a degree in Culinary Arts.

After graduation, she began her career as a chef at the Carrollton Kroger Marketplace where she works in the bistro.

"

This pork loin is bursting with citrus flavor and fragrant garlic, and is great for a holiday party or a weeknight dinner for the family.

"

Citrus Garlic Slow Cooker Pork Loin Ingredients 1 pork loin For the marinade: 1 head garlic (about 10 cloves), peeled 1 small white onion, roughly chopped 1 tablespoon dried oregano 1 tablespoon kosher salt 1 1/2 teaspoons ground black pepper 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 cup grapefruit juice, from 1 medium grapefruit 1/4 cup lime juice, from 2 limes

1/2 cup fresh orange juice, from 1 medium orange 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil 1/4 cup fresh cilantro

Preparation In a blender or food processor, combine all ingredients of the marinade and blend well.

Pour blended marinade over pork and refrigerate overnight.

When ready to cook, place marinated pork loin in a slow cooker and cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 8 hours.

Serves 8.

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Walnut, Cranberry and Honey Brie

Ingredients 1 (8 ounce) round Brie cheese 1/4 cup honey

1/2 cup chopped roasted, salted walnuts or pecans 1/4 cup dried cranberries

a couple of sprigs of fresh rosemary or fresh thyme to infuse the honey

For serving: sliced baguette or crackers

Preparation Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Place Brie on a small baking sheet.

Bake about 10 to 12 minutes or until softened.

Remove and let cool for about 5 minutes.

While the cheese cools, place honey, dried cranberries and a couple of sprigs of herbs in a small saucepan.

Heat over low heat until warm.

Stir in chopped walnuts.

Spoon honey mixture over the Brie.

Garnish with additional herbs, if desired.

Serve immediately.

Serves 6. WGW

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"

This Brie is perfect for a holiday party or a special treat on Christmas Day.

"

The Gift of Sight What you should know about diabetic eye disease.

By Sandra Bolan

A

dults are stubborn when it comes to treating aches and pains. We’d rather live with knees and hips that go snap/crackle/pop when we walk than seek medical attention. We even get used to squinting or holding the phone closer to our face to see the screen.

All of these ailments should never be ignored, in particular, your vision – especially if you’re diabetic.

By not staying in control of your blood glucose levels and letting it get higher than it should, you could be setting yourself up for vision problems that require more than just a new pair of glasses.

Diabetic eye disease (DED) occurs when a person’s blood glucose level remains elevated for prolonged periods of time. The high blood glucose levels can damage the tiny blood vessels located at the back of the eye.

Damage can begin at the eye, even when a person is pre-diabetic.

General symptoms of DED include blurry or wavy vision, frequent vision changes, spots and flashes of light and poor color vision.

There are four main DEDs: retinopathy, macular edema, cataracts and glaucoma.

Diabetic Retinopathy This is the most common cause of vision loss for diabetics. The retina is the inner lining at the back of the eye, which senses light and turns it into signals our brain decodes into objects.

Diabetic retinopathy is when the small blood vessels in the retina become damaged. Abnormal new blood vessels may also grow on the surface of

the retina.

Without treatment, a person with diabetic retinopathy can become blind in the effected eye.

The longer a person is diabetic, the more likely she will suffer from diabetic retinopathy. This disease effects Type 2 diabetics, but it rarely effects Type 1 diabetics.

Mild cases can be treated by monitoring your diabetes. Advanced cases may require laser treatment or surgery.

Diabetic Macular Edema Macular edema is the build up of fluid in the macula, which is located in the centre of the retina.

Fluid build up causes the macula to swell and thicken, which causes waves and blurry vision.

Diabetic macular edema is the most common cause of vision loss for people with diabetic retinopathy.

Treatment is typically managing the underlying cause, then directly treating the damaged retina.

Glaucoma Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve, which connects the eye to the brain. The optic nerve carries impulses formed by the retina, which are then interpreted into images.

Damage occurs when pressure builds inside the eye because fluid can’t drain properly. This damages the eye’s nerves and blood vessels, which leads to vision loss.

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SEE THE BEAUTY IN THE HOLIDAYS Georgia Vision Institute is here to serve West Georgia and East Alabama with the highest quality eye care available. Our two (2) locations in Carrollton and Bremen offer services Monday through Friday, 8 am - 5 pm.

Mark Ortiz, OD and Joe Johnson OD, are happy to serve patients at both our Carrollton and Bremen locations. Each provides primary eye care – wellness checks, glasses and contacts as well as treatment for glaucoma and diabetes. Dr Johnson also leads our Dry Eye clinic while Dr Ortiz focuses on specialty contact lens fittings.

Keith Berry, MD and Lauren Yancey, MD are located at our Carrollton location. They perform over 2500 surgeries a year all from our Nationally Certified Ambulatory Surgery Center. From advanced technology cataract surgery to microincisional glaucoma surgery, we provide the same skills and technology of Atlanta without the drive!

Our goal is to provide services where you need them, as quickly as possible!

Give us a call, 770-834-1008 and we'll be happy to schedule an appointment for you!

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W W W. G E O R G I AV I S I O N I N S T I T U T E . C O M

Other than gradual vision loss, symptoms include headaches, halos around lights, eye aches/pains, blurred vision and watery eyes.

Diabetics are two times more susceptible to getting glaucoma versus non-diabetics.

The damage caused by glaucoma can’t be undone but it can be slowed down. Treatments include prescription eye drops, oral medications, laser treatment, surgery or any combination of those.

Cataracts Our eyes have lenses within them that help us see clearly. It’s normal as we age for those lenses to get cloudy. However, diabetics are two times more likely to get cataracts, as well as have them develop at an earlier age than non-diabetics.

Symptoms include blurred vision and glare.

The cloudy lens can be replaced with a clear artificial one in an outpatient procedure.

Other Problems Related to Diabetes Even if you don’t have diabetic eye disease, diabetes can still create problems such as blurry vision or double vision. If blood sugar levels change quickly, it affects the shape of the eye’s lens, resulting in blurry vision. Once the blood sugar level stabilizes, vision goes back to normal. Make sure your blood sugar is controlled before getting your eye exam for prescription lenses. This will ensure you get the proper prescription. Diabetes can also cause damage to the nerves that move your eyes, which can lead to double vision.

Diabetes is also a risk factor for other eye diseases such as branch retinal vein occlusion and central retinal vein occlusion – both can cause vision loss.

Take Important Steps Now to Protect Your Vision Deteriorating vision isn’t always “normal.” That is why annual eye exams are important.

For diabetics, they

The best gift you can give yourself is an annual dilated eye exam.

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are even more critical as exams can detect serious eye disease early. But studies show that six out of 10 people with diabetes are not getting the vital eye exams they need to preserve their vision, and 95 percent of vision loss from diabetes can be prevented just by having an annual dilated eye exam, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

It is vital for diabetics to maintain good control of their blood sugar and follow their primary care doctor’s diet and exercise plan.

If you have not had a dilated eye exam performed by an ophthalmologist, it is extremely important to get one right away to protect your vision. And never skip any follow up exams recommended by your eye care professional.

Early detection is key, and people with diabetes should get those critical annual eye exams even before they have any signs of vision loss. WGW

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Working Through the Holiday Blues

By Sandra Bolan

T

he holidays are supposed to be the happiest time of the year. But unwanted guests, stress and depression may make it more like the worst time of the year for many.

About 14 percent of Americans admit to experiencing the holiday blues, which is defined as "Temporary feelings of anxiety or depression during the holidays that can be associated with extra stress, unrealistic expectations or even memories that accompany the season," according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

Between the endless cooking and baking, there’s the cleaning and hosting on top of shopping for that “perfect” gift you either never find or, when you do, it’s way over budget.

The early sunsets don’t help because the lack of daylight has us wanting to hibernate and eat lots of carbs. It’s also hard to say no to all the party invites, which leads to being over-scheduled and miserable instead of blissful.

Remember to pace yourself. Thanksgiving to New Year’s Eve is a marathon, not a sprint.

The holiday blues are tough for everyone, but become heightened for people who already

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struggle with anxiety and depression.

The first step in making it through the holidays with your mental health in tact is setting realistic goals and expectations for yourself and others.

We’re not all Martha Stewart, so if your turkey, pumpkin pies and table settings look nothing like hers, that’s OK.

Accept New Traditions As new people join your family, they bring with them their own traditions. Instead of doing everything exactly the same way year after year, be open to incorporating other traditions. It may also take some of the pressure off you if other people bake their special pies or cook the turkey.

Budget Create a seasonal budget that includes everything from a new dress for the big party, food, gifts and travel. Be especially vigilant in sticking to the gift budget as it’s the one that’s easy to go overboard on.

Think of gifts tailored to your loved ones interests

and needs, not the biggest or most expensive gifts under the tree. Sometimes the most thoughtful gifts can also be the least expensive. Think hand-made coupons for babysitting, helping with yard work or baking their favorite holiday treats.

Time also needs to be budgeted. Block off specific days for certain tasks. Consider taking a vacation day from work so you have an empty house and no distractions.

Ask for Help Don't try to do everything yourself. If you need help with something, ask for it. This could be anything from having a potluck dinner where everyone contributes, inviting your family over to help you decorate for the holidays, purchasing prepared meals from your local restaurant instead of working in the kitchen all day or asking family and friends to babysit your little ones while you shop.

Maintain Routine Your schedule gets turned upside down for about 45 days at the end of every year. Do your best to maintain your regular workouts, as well as sleeping and nutritional habits. All three help mitigate the

over-indulging of holiday food and drinks.

Limit alcohol consumption to one to two drinks per party. Alcohol heightens an already bad mood. If you tend to hit the buffet like you’ll never eat again, snack on fruit with peanut butter or vegetables with hummus before you go. The combined carbs and protein will help you feel full longer.

Just Say No Over-scheduling and not taking enough “me time" leads to emotional breakdowns. Don’t forget to take daily time outs, even if it’s for just a few minutes, to be alone and do what you want to do – read, take a bath, meditate or have a good cry.

Some people may sail right through the holidays in complete bliss, but on New Year’s Day, it all comes crashing down. That, too, is normal. The post-holiday blues are the result of expectations that end in disappointment. Be realistic with your expectations and try not to let the holidays become something you dread.

The key to busting up those holiday blues is to think about what your triggers are and plan for how you will react to them in advance. With some positive thinking and a little bit of planning, you can find joy and peace during the holidays. WGW

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Fire Safety

Protect your family and your home during the holidays.

By Sandra Bolan

F

aulty lights, dried out Christmas trees and forgotten pots on the stove all contribute to increased fire calls during the holidays.

In fact, Christmas Day and Christmas Eve are two of the top three days for home cooking fires and the top two days for home candle fires, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

There are several things you can do to significantly reduce the risk of home fires during the holiday season. The three most important things you can do to protect your family members from being killed or injured in a home fire – and not just during the holidays – are: 1. Have smoke alarms on each level of your home and test them monthly.

2. Keep fire extinguishers on each floor and within easy reach.

3. Create a fire evacuation plan for people and pets.

Outdoor Décor When it comes to outdoor décor, the Griswold house is every homeowners’ goal. But all of those overloaded plugs are a fire in the making. Those

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overwhelmed circuits cause arc faults in the home’s electrical system, but installing an arc-fault circuit interrupter will shut down an overloaded outlet.

Use only decorations and extension cords designed for outdoor use. Don’t pinch cords in doors or windows and keep cords away from standing water.

Lights Whether they’re used indoors or outdoors, hang lights with clips or staples wide enough to straddle

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the cord. Don’t nail your lights to the wall or roof.

Decorative lights or electrical distribution are the main causes of these Christmas tree fires in the home. When choosing lights for your tree, make sure they are safe for indoor use and fire-approved.

Watch for loose connections or frayed wires and use a single, good quality extension cord. Unplug exterior and interior lights before going to bed or leaving the house.

Christmas Trees As soon as the turkey leftovers are packed up and the Black Friday shopping is complete, many people head to the tree farm to choose the perfect Christmas tree for their homes.

While Christmas tree fires are rare, they have the potential to be deadly. The problem with getting a tree so early is it may dehydrate and become a tinderbox. Buy a freshly cut tree closer to Christmas.

It's also Christmas Day is the second important to leading day for home consider the cooking fires each year. type of tree you choose.

You’ll want to choose a tree that has green, brilliant needles.

If you see any brown needles, this means that the tree is very dry. Avoid purchasing dry trees, as they’re more likely to catch on fire.

Flexible and soft needles indicate a healthy tree. An older, dying tree has brittle needles that break off easily.

When deciding on the perfect spot to put the tree, ensure it’s at least 3 feet away from any heat source – a radiator, fireplace, furnace or space heater. Once the tree is up, keep it watered. The average Christmas tree soaks up about one gallon of water a day. Always keep the base filled with water so the stump never becomes dry. Shake the tree occasionally. If several needles fall off, the tree isn't getting enough water.

As soon as your last holiday guest has left, take the tree down and put it outside, away from the house. Don’t put it in the garage because dried

out trees are highly combustible. If you prefer an artificial tree, ensure it has a fire resistant label on it.

Kitchen Cooking is the leading cause of home fires throughout the year, with 31 percent of those fires caused by unattended cooking. Christmas Day is the second leading day for home cooking fires each year.

A kitchen normally requires traffic control, but during the holidays, it’s likely to become overcrowded with even more people. And typically, every burner, along with the oven, is operating for several hours at a time.

All the chaos makes it easy to forget about something on the stove or in the oven that could turn into a boil-over or a dried-out turkey.

Never leave the kitchen when you're cooking.

Keep spoons, hand towels and oven mitts away from burners. Have pot lids close by so if a fire starts, you can quickly put a lid on it and remove it from the burner.

Never pour water on a grease fire. Use a kitchen fire extinguisher (if you don't have one, get one), salt or flour to put out the fire.

As soon as you’re finished cooking, turn the burners and oven off and place the cooked items on a trivet to cool.

Deep fried turkeys are a tradition for many families. But frying a turkey can easily turn into a hazardous fire situation. Don’t use these deep fryers indoors. They were designed for outdoor use only.

Set up the deep fryer on a flat surface, several feet away from trees and structures, and follow the manufacturer’s cooking instructions. Never use the deep fryer in a garage.

Ensure the turkey is completely thawed to prevent explosion or fire, and don't overfill your fryer with oil. This can cause the oil to spill over, engulfing the fryer in flames.

Keep children and pets away from the fryer at

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all times, even after the turkey is done. The oil is extremely hot and dangerous for several hours.

Fireplaces and Heating

Remove all items from your fireplace mantel before lighting a fire. Don't leave stockings or other Candles holiday décor hanging from the mantel. Use a fire Somehow the Victorians safely decorated their screen to keep logs and embers from escaping and Christmas trees with real candles. We don't suggest make sure all embers are extinguished before going trying that now. to bed.

December is the peak month for candle fires, and Gift wrap is exceptionally flammable. Don’t toss 60 percent of home candle fires start because the the paper into a fireplace as it could cause a flash candle was too close to a flammable item. Thirteen fire. percent of those fires started because the candle Keep anything that could catch fire at least 3 feet was left unattended or forgotten. away from fireplaces, wood stoves, the furnace, Any candles you use should be at least 12 inches electric heaters and portable space heaters. Always away from anything that can catch fire such as walls turn portable heaters off before going to bed. and curtains. Put candles in decorative holders so Never use your oven to heat your home. they’re not sitting directly on a table.

Install and maintain carbon monoxide alarms to Keep candles out of reach of children and pets. avoid the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Battery-operated flameless candles have come a Have your heating equipment and chimneys long way and give off a realistic glow without the fire inspected and cleaned by a qualified professional hazard – give them a try. once a year.

Menorahs and Kinaras also come battery-operated The holidays are meant to be a joyous time of or plug-in. But if you opt for traditional candle ones, year. By taking preventative fire safety measures place them 3 feet from curtains, walls and holiday and practicing due diligence, you can prevent most decor. They also need to stand on a non-flammable causes of fires in the home and ensure a safe and surface to help catch melting wax. happy holiday season for your family. WGW

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Local Happenings

Due to our country's current health situation, please call or email the organizations included in our local events section to inquire about in-person meetings.

West Georgia Mental Health Professionals Wellness Meetup Group

This group meets the last Saturday of every month in Douglasville or Austell. For more information, contact Cheryl at theheartmatters@gmail.com or 678.754.5840.

Learn more at www.heartmatterswellness.com.

Hope For The Journey This group meets the third Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the board room at the Tracy Stallings Community Center at 118 South White St. in Carrollton.

These events are free to breast cancer survivors or those currently battling breast cancer.

Learn more at www.hopeforthejourneywestga.org, email execdirector@hopeforthejourneywestga.org or call 770.214.1491.

Rare Pearls Mentoring and Leadership Program Rare Pearls mission is to enrich and empower the

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lives of young girls and women. This group meets the third Saturday of each month at Heritage Baptist Church in Douglasville, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.

This program is open to all girls ages 7 to 17.

For more information, call 770.947.8210, email rarepearls2015@gmail.com or visit the website at www.rarepearlsmentoringandleadership.org.

Nursing From The Heart Breastfeeding Support Group This group meets the third Monday of each month from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at 500 Old Bremen Road in Carrollton.

These events are free to pregnant women and moms looking for breastfeeding support. Free weight checks for your baby will be available. Come and share your breastfeeding journey with us.

Please check our website for meeting and event updates at www.nursingfromtheheart.com.

Gertrude's House Breast Cancer Support Group This group meets the third Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at Lithia Springs Family Chiropractic

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at 1758 Lee Rd. in Lithia Springs.

This group is open to all survivors, caregivers, supporters, friends, family and those fighting breast cancer.

Visit their Facebook page @GertrudesHouse or email them at GertrudesHouse@yahoo.com.

Domestic Abuse Support Group There is Hope is a support group for women survivors who have dealt with, or are currently dealing with, domestic violence.

This is a private Facebook group where women survivors come together and share their personal stories of experience, strength and hope.

For more information, please contact hopefulone807@gmail.com.

Survivors of Suicide Loss Support Groups Has your life been impacted by the loss of a friend or loved one to suicide? You are not alone. These groups offer peer support for anyone who has been affected by suicide loss.

There is no cost to attend.

Group meetings in Carrollton are the third Tuesday of each month from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at 306A Bradley Street. For more information, contact Ivey Rollins at iveyrollins@gmail.com or call 470.729.0909.

Group meetings in Douglasville are the second Tuesday of each month from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church at 6167 Priestley Mill Rd., Room 226. For more information, contact Terri Johnson at chose2live@aol.com or 770.765.2181.

Group meetings in Newnan are the second Monday of each month at 7 p.m. at Crossroads Church, 2564 Hwy 154. For more information, contact Lynn Bradley at 770.301.4890 or email nbll.bradley170@gmail.com, or contact Nancy Bradley at 770.251.6216.

Jack Beverly of Carrollton, Justin Pate of Bowdon, William Teague of Douglasville and Adam Warner of Fayetteville – began the four-week training program on October 4.

“This first cohort has been amazing to watch!

Our instructor, Scott Teal, instilled a safety-first culture and taught them real-world experiences as lineman,” Vice President of Economic Development and Community Affairs Angela Berch said. “Our partners participated from day one with this class, and we can’t thank them enough. WGTC is excited to train more individuals with this skill set and put them on their career path as apprentice lineman.”

On the last day of class, representatives from Carroll EMC, Coweta-Fayette EMC, Georgia Power, GreyStone Power, ProSource Utility and Powerline Services came to do on-site interviews with the graduates. Family and guests were invited to watch the new apprentice lineman demonstrate their aerial and pole-climbing skills in the training yard.

The Apprentice Lineman program, offered by the Economic Development Division at WGTC, was created after local industry partners expressed a need for lineman training in the West Georgia area.

It is the first non-credit lineman program offered by a technical college in the state of Georgia.

The program was totally customized based on input from the industry partners, Berch said, and recent Carroll EMC retiree Scott Teal is the instructor. Teal started his career at Carroll EMC as a meter reader in 1987. During his time there he became an Apprentice Lineman, Lineman, and ended his 34-year career this year as a System Design Staker.

Students in the program are trained with the necessary skills for entry level lineman employment including safety, construction, pole climbing and

Lineman Graduates Starting to Work West Georgia Technical College’s first class of apprentice lineman graduated October 28 from a month-long training session and are headed to work.

The inaugural class – Jaylen Baker of Bowdon,

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The five students graduating from the new Apprentice Electrical Lineman program at West Georgia Technical College October 28 showed off their new skills on the final day of class. The fourweek class teaches basic skills needed for entry-level employment as a lineman. The next class begins in January.

more. Students will also earn CPR, OSHA 10, and DOT flagging credentials, and they learn soft skills such as interviewing and resume writing.

“As my generation retires, it is imperative for us to give back to our career to train up new linemen with the latest and newest improvements while continuing to keep the focus on safety,” Teal said.

“This training provides the foundational skills needed for future linemen as they begin their adult lives in a career that puts others first.”

The next Apprentice Lineman Program cohort will begin in January 2022 and will be conducted at WGTC’s Murphy Campus in Waco. A CDL license is required for admission into the program. WGTC conducts both day and evening CDL programs at the Carroll and LaGrange campuses. For more information about the Apprentice Lineman Program, contact Linda Sullivan at linda.sullivan@westgatech. edu or 678-664-0516.

in the program can contact the company’s HR department for more details.

West Georgia Technical College, with campuses in Carroll, Coweta, Douglas, Haralson and Troup counties and class sites in Heard and Meriwether counties, offers more than 140 associate degree, diploma, and technical certificate programs of study. A unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, West Georgia Tech is one of the largest of the state’s 22 technical colleges. For more information, visit www.westgatech.edu.

Pilgrim's Pride Will Help Employees Pay WGTC Tuition Pilgrim’s Pride has signed an agreement with West Georgia Technical College to assist Pilgrim’s employees and their dependents with the cost of attending technical college.

West Georgia Tech President Dr. Julie Post and Pilgrim’s Pride Complex Manager Ricky Walker signed a local copy of the agreement November 8. A statewide agreement between the Technical College System of Georgia and Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation was signed earlier.

“Pilgrim’s is excited about this newly formed partnership with West Georgia Tech,” Walker said.

“We will be offering scholarships to all of our team members and their immediate families to help them further their education and provide an opportunity of a better future.”

Under the agreement, Pilgrim’s Pride will pay remaining tuition costs for qualifying team member and their dependents after other financial aid is applied.

Pilgrim’s Pride has identified West Georgia Tech as their local higher education partner for this program.

“We are so thankful for the partnership with Pilgrim’s Pride which provides a pathway for their employees to continue to grow, add skills and education and become more valuable as workers and employees,” Post said. “West Georgia Tech is here for lifelong learning opportunities that move people from where they are to where they want to be.”

Pilgrim’s Pride employees who are interested

WGTC President Dr. Julie Post and Pilgrim’s Pride Complex Manager Ricky Walker have signed an agreement that will assist Pilgrim’s employees and dependents with the cost of attending West Georgia Technical College. The company will pay remaining tuition after other financial aid is exhausted.

Carrollton PD Announces Lieutenant Promotions The City of Carrollton Police Department promoted three officers to the rank of Lieutenant October 29.

Dan Keever, a Haralson County native, began his career with Carrollton Police Department in 1993 as a patrol officer. During his tenure, he has obtained his Intermediate, Advanced, Field Training Officer, Supervisory and Management certifications.

Left to right: Chad Taylor, Stephen Davenport and Dan Keever were promoted to the rank of Lieutenant October 29.

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Through the years, he has been promoted to the ranks corporal and sergeant serving in both the Patrol and Criminal Investigations Divisions. Keever serves on the Crime Scene Unit and has advanced certifications through the International Association of Identification (IAI) as a Certified Crime Scene Investigator and Certified Crime Scene Analyst. He is also a General Instructor and has obtained over 4,000 P.O.S.T. training hours. Keever currently serves in CID where he primarily investigates Domestic Violence cases. He is a graduate of the University of West Georgia with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice. Lieutenant Keever will oversee the Domestic Violence Unit, the Crime Scene Unit and Evidence/Property.

Stephen Davenport began his law enforcement career in 2000 and has been with Carrollton Police Department since 2002 where he started on night shift patrol. He later transferred to the Traffic Unit where he served as one of the department’s first Motor Unit officers. Davenport was promoted to the rank of corporal as a supervisor on night shift patrol and later transferred to the Criminal Investigations Division as a detective. In 2016, he transferred to the Training Unit where he was later promoted to sergeant. During his tenure, he has obtained Intermediate, Advanced, Field Training Officer, Supervisory, Management, and Georgia Crisis Intervention Team certifications. Davenport is a Computer Voice Stress Analyzer Examiner, Hostage Negotiator, a Police Counter Sniper, and holds numerous Instructor certifications. He has obtained over 4,400 P.O.S.T. training hours, has an Associate Degree and is currently finishing his Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice with Central State University. Lieutenant Davenport will oversee the Training Unit, Recruitment, and State Certification.

Chad Taylor, a Haralson County native, began his career with Carrollton Police Department in 2006 as a patrol officer on night shift. In 2008, he was promoted to the rank of corporal and in 2010, transferred to the Criminal Investigations Division as a detective. He was later promoted to the rank of sergeant and took over as supervisor of the ACE (Aggressive Criminal Enforcement) Unit in 2017 where he currently serves. Taylor has obtained his Intermediate, Advanced, Field Training Officer, and Supervisory certifications and is also a National Gang Specialist. He is a member of GGIA, a Special Response Team Leader and has obtained over 2,500 P.O.S.T. training hours. Lieutenant Taylor will continue to oversee the ACE Unit (narcotics/gangs).

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Michael Stone Honored with Carroll County Chamber Small Business Person of the Year Award

Michael Stone, Founder and CEO of Milestone Investment Magagement, was awarded the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce Small Business Person of the Year November 11.

Left to right: Jennifer Sauls, Karen Handel, Michael Stone, Andrea Stone and Marshall Stone.

Michael L. Stone, Founder and CEO of Milestone Investment Management, received the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce Small Business Person of the Year Award November 11.

Michael is an accredited Investment Fiduciary and Professional Plan Consultant. He holds a B.S. degree from Louisiana State University and is a graduate of the LSU Graduate School of Banking. He is a long-time member of the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce, has served on various boards and committees and is a graduate of the Leadership Academy. In 1989, Michael was awarded a lifetime membership to the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce in recognition of his service to the Chamber.

He was a member of the Rotary Club of Carrollton Dawnbreakers for over 20 years and is a Past President of the Club. He is very active in serving Carrollton First Baptist Church, where he has served in various capacities. He has served on the Carroll Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors for 19 years.

He received the UWG Honorary Alumnus award in 2017, is an annual sponsor of the UWG Economic Forecast Breakfast, sponsors the UWG marching band and he and his wife Andrea established the Michael and Andrea Stone Visiting Artist Endowment for UWG and the City of Carrollton/COAH Art Takeover held each year.

Milestone Investment Management is known throughout West Georgia for offering experienced, highly personalized financial advice for individuals, families, business owners and female investors.

Unique Ways to Wrap Holiday Gifts

By Sandra Bolan

T

he season of gift giving is upon us, and while most people are just fine with wrapping their gifts in traditional Christmas wrap, others are seeking out creative wrapping alternatives. Whether you're tired of wrapping your gifts in the same old paper each year, or you've run out of holiday wrapping paper and all you can find is gift wrap with “It’s a Girl,” written all over it, it’s time to get creative.

Think Outside the Store One of the most plentiful sources of gift wrap is in the kitchen. Kitchen items that can be transformed into gift containers include glass and plastic jars, along with large coffee tins. These containers are especially good for candies and chocolates – homemade or store bought.

To refresh one of these containers, paint them, wrap colored yarn or festive ribbon around them or hot glue fabric to the exterior.

Brown groceries bags and craft paper go from drab to fab with decorative duct tape, crayons, paint, ribbon and yarn. Cut adorable Christmas shapes out of potatoes and use them

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as paint stamps. The only limitation is your imagination.

Kids bring home a lot of art work throughout the school year and the fridge can only display so many pieces. Turn them into wrapping paper – especially for grandparents, aunts and uncles. The kids can even make specific holiday pieces to be used for gift wrap.

If there is a musician on your gift-giving list, wrap the present in sheet music. For the traveler, use pages from an old atlas. For your religious relatives, wrap their gifts in paper using Christmas songs from old church hymnals. For those who love puzzles, wrap their gifts in crossword or word search pages.

Wallpaper with an interesting pattern on it can also be used as gift wrap.

Wrapping gifts in cloth is one of the most ecofriendly options available. Cloth wrap can be like giving two gifts – the Kids can actual gift and its turn their wrapper.

Cloth napkins artwork and hand towels into gift are great for wrap smaller gifts, while something larger can be swaddled in a lush bath towel.

Large square scarves also fancy up a present. Many craft stores sell pre-cut quilt squares, that can be utilized as gift wrap.

Fabric wine bottle gift bags don’t have to be used only for wine. If your gift fits in the bag, use it.

An old shirt, traditionally plaid, can be transformed into gift wrap. Simply cut the sleeves and collar off, then trim the bottom to make it square.

Once you’ve decided upon a fabric wrapper, complete it with ribbon or yarn to tie it up.

Some higher-end stores have fancy holiday bags.

If you purchase a gift from one of these retailers, recycle and use it to wrap your gifts.

Cookie tins aren’t just for cookies, especially vintage ones, that can sometimes be found for almost nothing at the flea market. Just sanitize thoroughly before using.

Wrapping gifts in traditional holiday paper is fine, but being creative with your wrapping shows the recipient you went the extra mile. Others may see up-cycling as cheap or offensive, so consider your recipient when wrapping your holiday gifts. WGW

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Kids Korner

Tidings of Great Joy Angel Ornament

Materials White, lace doily (can be found at local dollar store) Silver bell Hot glue gun and glue sticks Scissors White, yellow and brown construction paper Gold pipe stem Piece of gold ribbon or string for hanging ornament

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By Jordan Dailey Photos by Zachary Dailey

Instructions Cut the lace doily in half and fold accordian style.

Cut the angel's wings, hair and face out of the white, yellow and brown construction paper.

Decorate face as desired with a marker or crayon.

Glue the angel wings to the cut side of the doily.

Glue the bell in the center of the wings at the top of the cut side of the doily.

Glue the angel's hair to the doily, then glue the face on top of the hair.

Form a halo shape with the gold pipe stem and glue remainder of gold pipe stem to the back of the angel.

Glue the loop for hanging to the angel's back.

Button Tree Ornament Materials Assorted buttons, three sizes from large to small Green pipe stem Silver pipe stem

Instructions Take the green pipe cleaner and feed it through two holes of each button, starting with the largest

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buttons until you have the tree-shape desired.

Twist the bottom of the pipe stem to form the base of the Christmas tree.

Form a loop with the remainder of the pipe stem and twist together.

Take the silver pipe cleaner and fashion into the shape of a star.

Twist the remainder of the silver pipe stem around the green pipe stem to attach the star to the top of the ornament. WGW

Merry Christmas!

Love, Ruby

Providing Care and Comfort to All Ages During Their Time of Grief.

Ruby Hightower, Certified Therapy Dog and Grief Counselor.

Upon request, Ruby visits with a family during an arrangement conference, visitation or funeral service. ruby is also certified to visit retirement homes, nursing homes and schools.

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Word Bank

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Emmanuel December Nativity Snow Mary Twinkle Lights Shop Locally Fireplace Excitement Stockings Frankincense Reindeer Faith Alleluia Gathering Tinsel Hope Wassailing Jolly Hearth

Word search created at puzzle-maker.com

We Can Brighten Up Your Holidays with a Beautiful Smile!

M. Dawn Harvey, DMD, PC Family Dentistry and Complete Facial Esthetics

105 Dallas Rd, Villa Rica, GA 30180 • 770.459.5778

www.drharveysmiles.com

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It ’s not about

cancer,

it ’s about

you.

You’re more than your cancer.

At some cancer treatment programs, it’s easy to forget that there’s a person behind the diagnosis. Someone’s parent.

Someone’s daughter. Someone who’s scared, uncertain and full of questions.

So at Tanner Cancer Care, the first thing we do is get to know you — and answer your questions.

Your cancer navigator works with you every step of the way.

Making appointments. Arranging transportation. Answering questions about your financial concerns. Opening the door to all the resources of a regional health system.

Meanwhile, your clinical team studies your case, evaluates treatments and trials, and presents the best, evidence-based care plan to move you past cancer and on with life.

And they do it in 3 days.

Wait less. Worry less. Begin treatment faster.

Tanner Cancer Care Carrollton | Villa Rica TannerCancerCare.org

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