the henry county update - may 3rd, 2013

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

Regular MeetingsMay 7th at 9:00 a.m.

May 21st at 6:30 p.m.

Meetings held at: Administration Building

Community Room140 Henry Parkway

McDonough, GA 30253

Commission meetings will air Mondays, Thursdays,

and Saturdays on Henry TV Channel 14,

at 9 a.m., 2 p.m., & 7 p.m.

1the henry county update

May 3, 2013

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Miles for Meals organizers wantcitizens to know that the annual walk, nowin its 19th year, will go on rain or shineSaturday morning. This annual event takesplace at Heritage Park on Saturday, May 4,2013, at the Jason T. Harper Event Center.Walkers of all ages areencouraged to comeout for this long-s t a n d i n gc ommun i t yt r ad i t i on .S h o u l dthere beinclement weather, low-impact “walking-type” exercises will be held in the arena inplace of the walk, with lunch to follow as planned.

Miles for Meals is the single largestfundraiser organized by the Henry CountyCouncil on Aging to benefit Henry CountySenior Services’ various programs. Everydollar raised stays in Henry County to

assist local senior citizens, with the fundshelping to provide critical services, such ashot, nutritious meals that are home-delivered each weekday to hundreds ofseniors through the Meals on Wheelsprogram, nutritional supplements to those

who qualify and in-homehealth services. Inaddition toproviding muchneeded meals andservices, theMeals on Wheelsprogram offers

one important side benefit: a way to ensurethat these seniors are checked on regularlyby a caring volunteer.

The two-mile route will takeparticipants on trails throughout HeritagePark, with a choice of routes to fit allparticipants’ fitness levels. Registration forthis family-oriented event begins at 9 a.m.,with the actual walk to commence at 10

Continued on Page 3

Miles for Meals to Go On Rain or Shine

We are now onAT&T U-VerseChannel 99 &

Charter Channel 14

2May 3, 2013www.henrycounty-ga.org

This past Monday in McDonough, the Henry CountyEmergency Management Agency and the National WeatherService conducted assessments of the damage left behindfrom Sunday evening’s storms. The assessments wereconducted in Eastern Henry County in and around theSleepy Hollow Subdivision off Honey Creek Road.

Although the damage was only light to moderate, theassessments revealed that an EFO Tornado did indeed touchdown. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported and thedamage was not severe.

Tornadoes can happen at any point during the year,but there are peak times and months of the year when theyare most likely to occur. In Georgia, spring time hashistorically been the most prevalent time in which we haveexperienced tornadoes, as this is when air can becomeunstable due the clashing of warm and cold air. The summeris also a peak period for tornadoes; however this is a moreprevalent period for the northern states.

Unfortunately, Georgia is prone to tornadoes at anytime of the year. As a matter of fact, destructive tornadoeshave touch down as early as January in Georgia, leavingbehind significant damage.

“It's best to be alert at all times of the year, as the

weather can get warm and humid even in winter,” statedHenry County Emergency Management Director Don Ash.

Knowing how to stay safe during a tornado isimportant, and preparing ahead of time is key. Tornadoesusually happen during the spring and summer months soyou should check the weather reports daily to see if there isany chance for severe weather. If you're going to be out andabout, install some type of weather alert system on your cellphone so you can be warned about weather alerts instantly,regardless of your location. The safest place to be is thelowest level of your home, preferably the basement or stormcellar if you have one. If you do not have a basement orstorm cellar, go to lowest place of your home toward thecenter and away from windows, such as a bathroom on thelower level in the interior of the house. Taking shelter in thebathtub and covering yourself and your family could protectyou from flying debris. Finally, invest in an emergencyweather radio since tornadoes can often happen during the night.

For more information on weather preparedness,visit: www.co.henry.ga.us/911/ or contact Henry CountyEmergency Management Director Don Ash at 678-725-8720.

Sunday's Tornado Confirmed in Henry County

Join District 3 Commissioner Gary Barham, Georgia State Senator RickJeffares, Georgia State Representative Dale Rutledge and School Board

Representative Mike Griffin for a “Barn Hall Meeting”Tuesday, May 7, 2013 at 6 p.m. at Southern Belle Farm

1767 Turner Church Road in McDonough.


a.m. Water will be available throughout the morning, and apicnic lunch will begin immediately following the walk. Toadd to the festivities, DJ J.T. (James Townsend) will bespinning the latest tunes entertaining the crowd. Walkerswill also have a chance to win fun door prizes.

All walkers get a free t-shirt and meal ticket for lunchincluded with their $25 donation. For a $75 donation,walkers receive lunch, a t-shirt, designer cap and acommemorative Miles for Meals Walk pin. Groups and

individuals that raise the most money will be recognized atthe event.

The Jason T. Harper Event Center is located inHeritage Park, 101 Lake Dow Road, just off Highway 81 Eastin McDonough. For walker envelopes and information, or tosponsor the event, please call 770.288.7010 or [email protected]. For more information onHenry county Senior Services, please visitwww.henrycounty-ga.org/seniorservices.

MILES FOR MEALS From Page 1

Henry County Transit has experienced astonishinggrowth over the past few years, with ridership up 30 percentsince 2009, and the agency, which operates 25 vehicles,was looking to increase efficiencies in order toaccommodate that growth without adding more vehiclesand staff. In an effort to enhance servicesaround scheduling and dispatching, andincrease ridership, the Henry CountyTransit Department has beenemploying a software programcalled RouteMatch, whichenables the department toimprove the rider experience.

The department usesRouteMatch’s automatedsolutions to reduce or eliminatepaperwork, schedule more triprequests and verify reservations,enabling them to accommodate more riders and developmore efficient routes.

According to David Williamson, a NotificationModule provides riders automated outbound informationphone calls the night before a scheduled trip, giving therider an opportunity to confirm or cancel. He said it hasbeen a great tool in helping to streamline service. Moretelling, the agency has measured a significant decrease insame day rider cancellations, as riders have grownaccustomed to using the Interactive Voice Response (IVR)

technology to cancel trips in advance, thus allowing HenryCounty Transit to add in more trips and fill seats on the busfor same day rider requests.

“The Notification Module has changed the way weinteract and contact passengers,” said David Williamson,Henry County Transit Director. “It has been very beneficial tous and our riders and their ability to cancel trips. The greatthing about RouteMatch is if you insert the data, there is

almost no limit to the amount ofinformation you can get back out of it

in terms of ad hoc reporting, andthat has been very useful.”

Another newer feature of thesoftware is the automatic vehiclelocation (AVL) which allows fornotification calls to be provided

based on real-time vehicle arrivalestimates, giving customers a friendly

reminder and reducing dwell time and unnecessaryvehicle idling.

Henry County Transit provides safe, reliable,accessible and affordable transportation to the citizens ofHenry County, with curb-to-curb service provided on a first-come, first-served reservation system. For moreinformation on the Henry County Transit Department, or toschedule a trip, call 770.288.RIDE or visitwww.henrycounty-ga.org/transit.

Henry County Transit Uses Specialized Software To OptimizeService to Citizens

District V Commissioner Bruce Holmes will hold hismonthly Town Hall Meeting on Saturday, May 25, 2013 at 9 a.m. at Crossroad Christian Church in Stockbridge.

The May Town Hall will focus on the state of theCounty’s Criminal Justice System. Henry County SolicitorGeneral Trea Pipkin will be on hand to share statisticalinformation about the courts and the types of cases beingheard, provide an overview of how all the different agenciesinteract to see that justice prevails, and explain the newAccountability Courts and how they are serving to reducerecidivism, decrease costs, and restore lives.

Progressive Citizens of Stockbridge will also be onhand to share information about their organization, whichworks to promote a vibrant community that is safe andeconomically viable, with good schools, in order toencourage people to bring their families to live and work inthe city of Stockbridge.

The Town Hall Meeting is open to the public and allare encouraged to attend.

Crossroad Christian Church is located at 5365 NorthHenry Blvd. in Stockbridge.

Commissioner Bruce Holmes to Host Town Hall MeetingFocus will be on the Henry County Judicial System


The next SPLOST IV Committee meeting will be held at theHenry County Administration Building at 140 Henry Parkway

in McDonough on Thursday, May 9, 2013 at 4 p.m.

Public input regarding the proposed SPLOST IV program can be submittedhere: henrycounty-ga.org/SPLOST/SPLOSTIV_Comments.shtml


The Henry County Emergency Management Agencyis extending the deadline to register for its upcomingEmergency Preparedness Training Conference for churches.Interested congregations now have until May 13 to enroll inthe workshop, during which attendees will have theopportunity to learn more about emergency preparedness,disaster counseling on the scene, public health volunteeropportunities and more.

They will also have a chance to tour the variousemergency vehicles, such as the Health Department PODtrailer, the CERT trailer, fire department emergency vehiclesand the 911 Command Vehicle. Lunch will be provided to allregistered attendees.

“When you think about volunteers, the biggestresource for volunteers is through our faith-basedcommunity so what we’re hoping to accomplish is to getour faith-based community some additional training, someresources and some networking opportunities to let themknow their role in a disaster in emergency management. Wealso plan to touch on topics that are relevant to them,” said

Ash. Through the one-day workshop, Henry CountyEmergency Management Agency is reaching out to the faith-based community to elicit their help in preparing for adisaster in our own community. Officials hope to engage theCounty’s many caring churches, train volunteers in how theycan assist during a disaster, and ultimately establish asupport network that can be called upon to assist whendisaster strikes.

This faith-based Emergency Preparedness Trainingconference will be held on Saturday, May 18, 2013 at GraceSummit Church in Stockbridge from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m.Check-in begins at 7:30 a.m. on the day of the event and acontinental breakfast will be provided from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.

Those attending must register by May 13 byemailing Shelita Broomfield, Henry County EmergencyManagement Specialist, at [email protected] Summit Church is located at 5295 Highway 155South, Stockbridge, GA 30281.

Henry County Emergency Management Agency Extends Deadline forEmergency Preparedness Conference for Faith-based Community

IT’S KITTY SEASON!It is kitty season once again and we have many kitties here atthe shelter, lonely, and without a home. They are all lookingfor a lifetime companion that will give them the love that theyso deserve. Come meet them here at the shelter or (770) 288-PETS.

Lost and stray animals are held at the Henry County AnimalCare and Control Shelter for four (4) calendar days (excludingSundays and county holidays) in order to give their owners achance to reclaim them. After that time period, adoptableanimals are held as long as space allows.

The Henry County Board of Commissioners, togetherwith the SPLOST Department, will hold a ribbon cuttingceremony celebrating the completion of the Rock QuarryRoad Bridge on Tuesday, May 7, 2013 at 2 p.m. Theceremony will take place at the Rinker Materials lot adjacentthe bridge, and the public is invited to attend.

In appreciation of the local businesses which havebeen affected by the lengthy construction process, HenryCounty is inviting area merchants to offer “Bridge CrossingDay” specials, which the County will list free of charge on itswebsite for the month of May, and will promote via theCounty’s Update e-newsletter, Henry TV and Twitter.

“The Board of Commissioners and the Henry CountySPLOST Department are extremely grateful for the patience

and understanding both citizens and businesses have shownthroughout the construction process, and we wanted to dosomething as a way to show our appreciation and celebratethe bridge opening at the same time,” explained Julie Hoover-Ernst, Henry County Communications Director. “We feltpartnering with local businesses for a special Bridge CrossingPromotion would be a great way to accomplish that.”

Rinker Materials is located at 148 Rock Quarry Road.To see the special discounts offered by area merchants incelebration of “Bridge Crossing Day,” visitwww.co.henry.ga.us/SPLOST/RockQuarryRoadBridge.shtmlIf your business is interested in participating, please call770.288.6020.

Ribbon Cutting Scheduled for Rock Quarry Road


2013 PARKS & RECREATIONSUMMER CAMP AND

TEEN CAMP FIELD TRIPSCall (770) 288-7300 or visitwww.hcprd.org for details


Special Olympic Tennis Team Medals at Alabama Tournament

Members of Henry County Parks and Recreation’s Special Olympics Tennis Team with their unified partners and coach at the Southeast Tennis Competition held inDothan, Alabama. Front Row (l. to r.) Jennifer Maddox, Brittany Hagelthorn, Paige Copeland, Rebecca Heaton, Tammy Baker, Melissa Dodgen, Charles Minnix andunified partner Jim Hagelthorn; Back row (l. to r.) Coach Bonnie Hunt, unified partner Connie Dodgen, Darrell McEver, Jonathan Mink, Chris Lewis, and unifiedpartners Terry Nash and Babbie Spain.

The Henry County Parks and Recreation SpecialOlympics Tennis Team traveled to Dothan, Alabama to playin the Southeast Tennis Competition where they enjoyed agreat weekend of fun and competition. Collectively, theteam, with the help of four unified partners, brought homethree gold medals, seven silver medals and ten bronze medals.

“We appreciate all the support and dedication fromCoach Bonnie Hunt,” said Terry Nash, Henry County Parks

and Recreations Therapeutic Recreation Coordinator. The next competition for the tennis team will be at

the Special Olympics State Summer Games held at EmoryUniversity in May. Athletes will also have the opportunity tocompete in volleyball, athletics, soccer skills and aquatics.

For more information on the Henry County Parksand Recreation’s Therapeutic Recreation Division visit www.hcprd.org.

Follow the Henry CountyFire Department on

www.co.henry.ga.us/Fire/Facebook

Follow the Henry CountyPolice Department on

www.facebook.com/HCPDGA

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Henry County Commission District 5Henry County Commission District 5Henry County Commission District 5 Safety and Protection NightSafety and Protection NightSafety and Protection Night

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Fun Night Out With Your Fun Night Out With Your Fun Night Out With Your Public Safety ProfessionalsPublic Safety ProfessionalsPublic Safety Professionals

For More Information Contact: Sgt. Jimmie Spence 770-288-7141 or Sgt. Jason Duffey- 770-288-8275

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MUSIC DJ Family

Fun! Displays

Commissioner Bruce Holmes

Meet with Henry County’s Public Safety Meet with Henry County’s Public Safety Meet with Henry County’s Public Safety Professionals and Local Elected Officials To Professionals and Local Elected Officials To Professionals and Local Elected Officials To Get to Know Them and Ask Questions To Get to Know Them and Ask Questions To Get to Know Them and Ask Questions To

Learn More About the Services They ProvideLearn More About the Services They ProvideLearn More About the Services They Provide

District 5 Safety Night 4-9-2013

the henry county update - may 3rd, 2013

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