A Henry County Christmas Story

“A Henry County Christmas Story”

It was Christmas 1975 in McDonough, Georgia and it was a cheerful season for most.  Times were good and the town and county looked like something from a Norman Rockwell painting.  Nostalgia was everywhere.  The people decorated with all the Christmas cheer that could be brought forth in this small town atmosphere.  All seemed right with the world, but something was wrong.

There was a family in town whose father had lost his job the week before Christmas and it being a small town word got around about the condition of the family.  He needed what money he had to keep a roof over their heads and the utilities paid.  There wasn’t enough to buy Christmas toys for the kids.  It was a time before food pantries and the such and no one really knew about the family in the quaint little neighborhood where they lived.

But all wasn’t lost that Christmas of 1975 as a young man whose parents knew of the problem decided to dip into his savings and do something really good for a family that year.  His problem was he couldn’t drive because he was an epileptic.  But he found a driver for the Christmas Eve run that year.  This young man had bought presents for boys and girls as the family had both.  He even bought a Christmas tree.  There was a ham and all the trimmings for the meal and something else a small stocking with a few dollars inside.  Then the run was made late on Christmas Eve and quietly the tree and gifts were placed on the porch with the ham on ice in a cooler with all the other food.  Then the special little stocking was placed on the screen door that read, “Merry Christmas from Santa.”  Then off the young man and his driver went to their homes for Christmas Eve.

The next morning to the surprise of the family a great Christmas for the family was to be had.  Toys for the children, new kitchen tools for the mother (blender, mixer, and coffee pot), the dad had a set of tools, a flashlight, and work gloves.  And in the special little stocking were $100.00 in one dollar bills.  And the ham and food made the day as the family had a Christmas from Santa. The parents cried and the kids squealed with joy.

They wondered who the special Santa was that cold Christmas Eve night in 1975, but no one ever came forward to admit to the special deed.  It was a special Christmas of Christian kindness to a family long ago in McDonough, Georgia where the people were special and always had wonder in their eyes.  I was glad to have known of the Christmas Eve ride of two young men who brought something special to a family in need.

Thank you and Merry Christmas to All and May God Bless,
Pastor Dr. Mike Moon
“Always remember no one is a failure as long as they have friends.”

Warring Factions on the Henry County BOC

Warring Factions on the Henry County BOC

It has not been a secret for sometime that there has been friction between the Chairman of the BOC Mr. Tommy Smith and the Board of Commissioners and the County Manager Mr. Walker whom they hired.  The question has been about the powers and authority of the Chairman verses that of the County Manager.  There is an excellent article in the Henry County Herald over the matter that as promised will be in two parts because it is such a long extended piece.  It looks as though the Chairmanship is being reduced in power by the BOC and the County Manager.  There have been vocal exchanges such as the one by 5th District Commissioner Mr. Bruce Holmes on December 16th when he said the following: Quote “Having a title does not make you a leader,” said Holmes. “In the last two years, I have not seen any leadership from the chairman, nor have I seen any vision. The entire region thinks we’re a joke of a county with everything that’s going on in Henry County.
 All I’ve seen over the last two years is different employees being attacked and intimidated, and I guess that’s the reason why the chairman seeks to have executive powers — so he can fire everybody.”  Mr. Holmes may have to remember all that and prove it on the witness stand at the Superior Court of Henry County where Chairman Smith has filed a suit against the BOC.
At the BOC meeting of the 16th it was voted 5-1 to ask the Legislature to decide about the duties of the Chairman and the County Manager.  The problem will be where will the authority come from to decide the matter the Court system or the Legislature.  The Legislature cannot override the outcome of a court proceeding.  That is why the BOC is trying to manuveur itself in this fashion.  If they wanted to avert a lawsuit why didn’t they suggest this in the first place?  Again trying to manuveur around the system.  There will be a lot of hard feelings about this case especially in the districts of the county.
There is one key element of the whole process that the BOC has forgotten.  They were elected by their respective districts to serve in those districts. Mr. Smith was voted in by the majority of the voters in the entire county to serve as the Chairman of the BOC.  They may not like the man, but personalities do not get the job done.  The BOC tried to manuveur against Mr. Smith right after he took office by trying to get Senator Jeffares to limit his authority and he ended up looking wrong in the Senate.
Remember that personalities do not get the job done.  Mr. Smith has done the best he could with little support since he took office. He knows about the behind the scenes talks and dealing with the government of the county and he knows that they don’t want him in office because he does not conform to what they want.  Remember also that there will be others in those districts who can replace each and every one of you come election time.  The people are being left out of this whole affair. They are the ones who decide what will happen in that building on Henry Parkway in McDonough.  The people know what is happening because they are not as dumb as some would like them to be.  They know that there is a group out of the northern part of the county who want to build a coalition to try and take over and create a lifestyle like they have in Clayton County. They know about the special private meetings on the subject and those in Henry County don’t care for
 it.  This is Henry County not Clayton County.  If they love the style of Clayton County then move to Clayton County and leave the people of Henry County alone. That is why there has been such turmoil in the City of Stockbridge for several years now.  It is because those who want it to be like a city in Clayton County or Fulton County and the people don’t want it.  Jeff Turner was a good police man in Henry County and he probably is what the people of Clayton County want for a Chairman, but he has no authority in Henry County.  But there will be changes soon to what is happening because the people of Henry County are getting enough of this infiltration of people who want to disrupt the government of  this county. But the people here haven’t seen nasty and ugly yet.  What happened at the meeting of the 16th was just a child’s play to what is on the horizon.  People are tired of all this and when it all comes down there will be a lot of new faces in
 the governmental complex of this county.

A Fed Up Citizen of Henry County

The owner of this blog makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or found by following a link on this site.  Any article sent by citizens are their own property.

Lack of Respect for a Cemetery

Lack of Respect for a Cemetery
Sometime back in the summer my senior researcher for the CRG contacted the 5th District Henry County Commissioner about a cemetery in his district that needs to be cleaned.  This cemetery is very old and has a historical person buried there from Stockbridge.  He is Mr. Gossett one of the first town commissioners when it was a township and founder of the Stockbridge Presbyterian Church.  The cemetery is the Gossett-Dodson-Hanson Cemetery on Flat Rock Road.  A couple of years ago a teacher from Stockbridge got some class members together to help clean the cemetery, but he can’t do this all the time.

The 5th district commissioner got with DOT and other parts of the Henry County Government and they said it was not their problem. Well it is according to the laws of the State of Georgia pertaining to abandoned cemeteries.  The chairman of the board wanted to help, but was maneuvered around by the county manager.  This all looks bad and there is no other way to state it but they don’t care.

They are supposed to clean the cemetery and have a group such as the Juvenile Court to keep it clean a couple of times a year.  This is a situation where the people of the community will have to take action by contacting the BOC and raise the roof about the lack of respect for the dead.  It is time.

Alfred Britt, Founder of the CRG

The Passing of a Friend

The Passing of a Friend
It is official now the Henry County Board of Education voted 4-1 to do what they call re-purpose a school.  McDonough Elementary will now go to the pages of history as the school will become Patrick Henry Academy from Stockbridge.  The superintendent of schools felt it would be cheaper to move the school than to update the current one and put the elementary students in three other schools.

By moving the Patrick Henry school those students who have problems with school anyway many will drop out.  The parents who have to take them to school in Stockbridge will have to back track in the mornings trying to get to work.   And those students who once could walk to McDonough Elementary will have to be bussed to those other schools.  All because of money. McDonough will be losing another part of their history with the closing of this school.

And what will become of the Old Stockbridge High School that is Patrick Henry currently?  No one will answer that question.  Hopefully, there isn’t some under the table deal to let it go to some private group.  If they want to really make a difference, use the school as a satellite campus for one of the larger Universities in the area. That would make sense to give people who must work a chance to go to evening classes to further their education.

But in all that has gone on about this, no one really listened to the parents and alumni of the McDonough Elementary School.  No real thought was put into how they felt.  But that is where elections play a key role in the future.  Find candidates that will truly listen to the public to run against those who don’t.  Time will tell.

McDonough Elementary Alumni


The owner of this blog makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or found by following a link on this site.  Any article sent by citizens are their own property.

Henry County and L.L. Bean

Henry County and L.L. Bean

I got a L.L. Bean Christmas Catalog in the mail. As I was looking it over it came to me that I cannot afford anything in it at all. The truth be told they are overpriced on all they have in my book. It also has come to me that this Christmas season will be a bleak one at my house. You see being on disability and having a few medical problems I live Month to Month and sometimes not to the next Month. But I do what I can and try not to complain but this year I have to let it out. I have been watching people and they as a human race are losing what it is to be human. It’s the same way with companies also, they forget they serve humans.

There is a war going on and people don’t even know it is happening right in front of them each day. It is class warfare, the people well to do against the people who have very little or nothing.
It is getting old to see the way people are treating each other. I have heard people with tons of money say they don’t need to help people that don’t have much. What would these same people say if they were the ones needing help?

What has really got me mad is the people that don’t have much are being forced to help the ones with lots of money and they will not see any benefit from it. The County Commissioners decided to lie to the people when they ran for office when they told them they would not raise taxes. The Commission had a chance to let the people know that they work for them. But they chose to not roll back property taxes where they should be and help the people. They chose to line the County wallet and the hell with the people especially the poor people of the County. We the people that this action has hurt will never see anything out of this increase tax money we are forced to pay.

There will be no Christmas decorations up this year at this house, my money went to the greedy County Commissioners agenda that don’t include me. So remember me and all the poor people you screwed when you open your presents and have fun knowing you put sad faces on so many people in this County. Hope you have a good Christmas knowing all this and by the way what are you celebrating? True Christians are celebrating the birth of Jesus who believed in helping his fellow man. So what are you and please tell us the truth this time.

Alfred Britt
Blog owner            

Commission Chairman Files Suit Against Commissioners

Hello there at the Henry County Community News Blog.  I have some information to share that is of importance to the people of Henry County.  As of Friday last Henry County Board of Commissioners Chairman Tommy Smith filed with Henry County Superior Court a request for an injunction for relief against the five current Commissioners on the Board.  Chairman Smith is asking for the court to allow him the authority that was given by the Georgia General Assembly.  The voters gave the Chairman certain powers to run the job in 1990.  Chairman Smith has tried for two years now to be the CEO of the County Government.  It seems that this Board and previous Boards have been unconstitutionally allowing the county manager to be the CEO the same powers granted to the Chairman by referendum in 1990.  This process goes all the way back to 1974.  Apparently, the Board members of  1992 took it upon themselves to make a change because they didn’t like what the General
 Assembly had done by creating an Ordinance giving the powers to the Manager.  This was done in an unconstitutional manner and could be considered illegal.  Thus, Chairman Smith is seeking to rectify the problem through the Superior Court of Henry County.  This is a problem that should never have arose within the government of Henry County because the Board in 1992 went against a legal vote by the citizens in 1990.  Every Board since that time has had a chance to fix the problem created in 1992, but have chosen to leave it alone.  The job of the Chairman of the Board of Commissioners also rises to the level of CEO of the county and to not allow that right and power to the Chairman should be grounds for a Chairman to seek help through the Court System of Henry County, Georgia.

A Concerned Citizen of Henry County, Georgia

The owner of this blog makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or found by following a link on this site.  Any article sent by citizens are their own property.
 

The March To The Sea 150 Years Ago Today

Today the March to the Sea started 150 years ago. Click on link below to hear Dr. Mike Moon
talk about the march and the effects it had in Henry County Georgia. We hope you enjoy this part of our history. 
The Staff of the News Blog.

Video link

A survey about the City of Stockbridge Georgia

A survey about the City of Stockbridge Georgia City Council voting it's self a pay raise.

Take the survey here.

Pay Raises, Politicians and the People

Pay Raises, Politicians and the People


Pay Raises



If you’re not already in the “know”, the City of Stockbridge City Council will be voting on whether or not to give themselves a pay raise from their current salaries: $8,700 a year for council members and $10,700 a year for Mayor Tim Thompson. I wonder what the line would be on the likelihood of this measure passing if Las Vegas odds makers were to get involved. Would you take that bet?



Following in the most hallowed traditions of our U.S. Congress, Georgia State Legislature and the City of Atlanta, the newly elected members of the Stockbridge City Council have found themselves facing the incredibly difficult task of judging their intrinsic worth 11 months into their new term.



This seemingly innocuous agenda item will be voted on this coming Monday, November 11th, at 6:00 pm during the regular monthly session.



Since the City of Stockbridge so graciously allows citizens three (3)-minutes to speak to council members on any subject they wish, I was a little surprised to find that I was the only person to get up and speak to the mayor and council on this topic.



I started off by saying that theirs is one of the only professions that I know of where the “employees” get to vote on if they deserve to be paid more. We should all be so lucky!



Then I sincerely acknowledged the fact that I know all of them on a personal level; I know that each of them came to the “job” not motivated by how much money they could make, but by their dedication to the community and desire to serve.



You see, part of the reasoning that went into the decision to propose a pay increase, is the fact that, compared to the other 14 or so municipalities that have a similar population to the City of Stockbridge, our city council members on average are paid roughly about $900 a year less. And our mayor is paid about $1,300 less annually.



But since we are “comparing ourselves among ourselves”, the Stockbridge City Council got wind of what they pay Mayor Billy Copeland and his council members down in McDonough. Well, not to be “outdone”, they felt that since the City of Stockbridge has a slightly higher population, they should be paid at least as much as our neighbors to the south, which is $12,000 a year for each council member and $18,000 a year for Mayor Tim Thompson.



The problem with this, I pointed out with the two minutes I had left, was that this comparison wasn’t really apples to apples. First of all, the City of Stockbridge pays for the medical insurance premium of the mayor and city council members that gives them and their spouses’ full coverage, which is not included as part of their compensation package for salary calculations. “How ‘bout them apples?”



My second point was, what exactly have they done to deserve a pay raise? I’m not suggesting that they haven’t been working hard. However, from everything I know, it’s the city attorney, the city manager and other appointed lawyers who do most of the heavy lifting.



Also, let’s consider the four (4) lawsuits that the City of Stockbridge is embroiled in: 1) a suit brought by former City Clerk, Ronda Blackmon, for wrongful termination, 2) another suite brought by the Downtown Development Authority (DDA), 3) a countersuit against the DDA by the city and 4) former Councilman Richard Steinberg’s lawsuit against the city for excluding him from executive session. You may begin to appreciate the price-tag the citizens will end up bearing: nearly $750,000 in legal fees this year alone with no end in sight. And city council is considering a pay raise?



Going back to the now infamous eminent domain case against the Meeks’ flower shop, to the removal of Mayor Stuart by City Council, to the more recent ceding of property and slightly over $26-million dollars given away to the DDA, and finally the forced resignation of a council member, the City of Stockbridge continues to engage in activities in which tax payers are not gaining any tangible benefits, but are certainly paying the price.



Politicians



Most would agree that the negative impact of these self-inflicted wounds that our city’s politicians have brought upon us over the past several years is incalculable. The brand that is Stockbridge has been severely tarnished.



So, with one minute to go I offered a suggestion. Since any council-approved vote on a pay increase doesn’t take effect until the next election cycle year (2016), why not pose the question to the public in the form of a referendum? In other words, what’s the rush? A community vote, if you will, on whether or not our elected officials have actually done enough in the minds of the citizens to warrant a pay raise would go a long way to re-establishing trust.



I finally ended my comments by stating my belief that if they voted on the measure without a referendum, then they were just like typical politicians in Washington, D. C. or Atlanta.



As you could probably imagine, my comments were received by a deafening silence (if only looks could kill). But if you don’t agree with your friend from time to time, isn’t the whole point of being a “real” friend that you tell them the truth, even when they may not want to hear it? And continue being their friend even when they don’t agree with you?



The council members may think a raise is merited given the incredible amount of time needed to “fix” the mess left by the last administration. Time spent away from family. Time spent going to Georgia Municipal Association and Atlanta Regional Commission meetings to learn how to be good government servants. But when you run for office, you should know the requirements of the job before you “apply”, and an “employee” shouldn’t have to self-promote for a raise. Their actions and tract record will warrant one.



Now, in all fairness to Mayor Tim L. Thompson, he doesn’t actually get a say in this matter, because he doesn’t vote unless there’s a tie. But he hasn’t spoken out against the measure either.  I mean, why speak out against a measure on which you have no say? The council might just spite you and increase their pay, but not the mayor’s. Oh, what a tangled web we weave!



The People



I respectfully challenge the mayor and city council members of Stockbridge to ask any citizen in the city limits, “Name one thing that the newly elected mayor and council have done to materially improve your situation?”



As a property owner, I see the value of my home being negatively affected by the general appearance of the Hwy 138/ North Henry Boulevard corridor. Homeless people inhabit the area off of the I-75 and I-675 exits. Trash and unkempt landscaping all dissuade real estate professionals from bringing clients to view the homes in the north end of the city. For all of his faults, Ted Strickland spent our tax dollars wisely and kept Stockbridge looking clean, which is one of the things that attracted so many transplants like me to move here in the first place. Incidentally, I raised these same issues over a year ago.







I’m going to go out on a limb and imagine what some of the residents of Stockbridge might articulate if asked:



If I’m jobless, help me to find a job by hosting a job fair. McDonough has one every year. Why don’t we? If we’re going to start comparing ourselves to McDonough, maybe we should start by doing some of the things they do in McDonough to make life better for citizens.



If I’m a parent, give me options! How about an early childhood development option, like allowing Head Start to use the old police station that’s sitting there on Burke Street collecting dust? Or allowing the Boys & Girls Club to use the old fire station on Berry Street to promote programs that provide at-risk teens after school alternatives?



If I’m an adult, with no high school diploma, how about using some of the un-used space at the Merle Manders Conference Center to provide access to G.E.D. classes taught by the Southern Crescent Technical College? I think many residents would be shocked to know that it’s been about three (3)-years now since they stopped providing this valuable resource to the community since the library started its furlough days.



Not one of these ideas actually “costs” us any more than what we’re already paying for in taxes. Each of the aforementioned buildings either has the space, or is already being maintained by the city -though they are not being utilized, or both. And if Rudy Kelly and Ted Strickland could figure out a way to amass a $20+ million dollar Reserve Fund and keep the city looking clean every day, then surely our politicians can figure it out, considering all the money we’ve seen walk out the front door lately!



Again ask the people, what exactly have they done to deserve a pay raise? If the people vote, “Yes”, then I’m all for a pay increase. If not, then it’s back to the people’s business.



You know what? Come to think of it, I should be getting paid for writing this article.







-by Houston E. Nelson, III
A resourceful, penny pinching, outside-of-the-box thinking, unconventional suggesting, fiscally conservative and socially progressive, tax-paying, family-focused, God-fearing, concerned citizen of Stockbridge, Henry County, Georgia



The owner of this blog makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or found by following a link on this site.  Any article sent by citizens are their own property.

Henry County Goes Democratic in 2014

The 2014 November 4th Midterm Georgia Election—Henry County



The election was held on a beautiful day in Henry County.  Of the 120,143 registered voters in Henry County, 29,788 cast votes thus 24.79% voted.  That is better than the usual 15% that will vote.  The people should when voting vote for the person they feel will do the best job.  For decades Henry County had voted hard shell Democrat until the mid-1980’s, thus creating a Republican stronghold in Henry County.  That stronghold would last until the election of 2014.  This year the county voted Democrat for Senator with Nunn receiving 53.75% and Perdue receiving 45.16%.  The Libertarian Ms. Swafford received 1.09% of the vote and was no decisive factor in Henry County.  Then, for Governor, Carter the Democrat took Henry County with 53.51% and Deal received 44.97% of the vote.  The Libertarian Mr. Hunt got 1.52% of the vote and was no factor between the two in Henry County.  For Lt. Governor, Stokes the Democrat received 51.04% of the vote and Cagle 48.96% of the vote in Henry County.



For Secretary of State the Democrat Carter received 51.74% and Kemp received 48.26% of the vote.  For Attorney General Greg Hecht the Democrat received 52.98% and Sam Olens received 47.02% in Henry County.  For Commissioner of Agriculture Democrat Irvin received 51.05% and Black received 48.95% in Henry County.  For Commissioner of Insurance Democrat Johnson received 51.16% and Republican Hudgens 46.48% and the Libertarian Metz 2.36% not a factor in Henry County.  State School Superintendent Democrat Wilson 53.22% and Woods 46.78% in Henry County.  The Labor Commissioner Democrat Shipp 52.21% and Butler 47.79% in Henry County.



Dist. 4 PSC Republican Everett 61.66% and Liberatarian Monds 38.34% in Henry County.  Dist. 1 PSC Democrat Blackman 51.28% and McDonald 45.15% and Liberatarian Gilmer 3.57% in Henry County.



US House of Rep. Westmoreland Republican 100% no opposition.   US House of Rep. Dist. 10 Republican Hice 69.48% and Dious 30.52% in Henry County.  State Senator Dist. 17 Republican Jeffares 100% no opposition.  State Rep. Dist. 73 Republican Yates 53.64% and Driver 46.36% Henry County.  State Rep. Dist. 76 Democrat Scott 100% no opposition Henry County.  State Rep. Dist. 78 Democrat Douglas 75.19% and Deraney 24.81% Henry County.  State Rep. Dist. 90 Democrat Stephenson 100% no opposition Henry County. State Rep. Dist 109 Rutledge 100% no opposition.  Henry County.  State Rep. Dist. 110 Welch 53.10% Republican and Shipley 46.90% Henry County.  State Rep. Dist. 111 Strickland Republican 50.32%  and Nichols 49.68% Henry County.  State Rep. Dist. 130 Knight Republican 100% no opposition Henry County.



Henry County District 3 Commissioner Republican Barham 60.76% and Payton 39.24%.  Henry County District 4 Commissioner Republican Prince 100% no opposition.

Henry County District 5 Commissioner Democrat Holmes 100% no opposition.

Henry County Soil and Water  No Party—pick 3  Rollins 30.70%; Turpin 25.42%; McQueen 22.19%.



Amendment #1  Yes-74.83%  No-25.17%

Amendment #2  Yes-70.83%  No-29.17%

Referendum A   Yes-76.61%  No-23.39%



The results are unofficial and do not count the provisional Ballots.



Out of the 27 votes taken in Henry County for Party affiliation, 16 went to the Democrats and 11 to the Republicans.  This is a significant shift in the voting record for the county.

At the time of this printing Deal and Perdue were winning handlely in the State as a whole.  But Henry County is interesting.

Update as of 1045pm the provisional ballots came in and Gov Carter took Henry County. Senate Nunn took Henry County. Cagle came back and took Henry County. Kemp took Henry County. Olens took Henry County. Black came back and took Henry County. Hudgens took Henry County. Woods took Henry County. Butler took Henry County. Mcdonald took Henry County. 
Just over 50% of the voters voted in the County. This is a good turn out. That is 64,065 Citizens came out to vote.  

A Labor Of Love

A Labor Of Love

Many of you know Dr. Mike Moon as the lead researcher for the Cemetery Research Group of Henry County. Some of you may know of his work in the field of science in the U.S. Air Force Space Command. And you may know him as a Pastor of the Gospel. I know him as Cousin Mike. Of the many Ph Ds he holds one of them is in history. Mike loves history of all kinds and he worked with some of the best people in the world in the field of Civil War history in Georgia. As a teen many years ago he worked with Mrs. Vessie Thrasher Rainer who wrote the “Mother of Counties Book” in 1970-1971. She told him that one day someone would have to add to the book as time went on. And so for the past few years Mike has been gathering information and putting it all together. For the past few Months he has put together history books for all four cities in Henry County and one for the County as well. All told he has put together over 1,200 pages of history. Mike has done this as he has said “It’s a labor of love” for the County the Cities and the people that make up the community.

And when Mike says it’s a labor of love, it is. Mike has done all this work as he fights for his life. He has Lupus and has had 5-6 blood clots in his lungs and many in his legs. His heart is failing and he is fighting cancer all at the same time. How many people you know could do all that work and with a smile on his face. Due to his health Mike chose to present the books to the largest City in Henry County by population Stockbridge in person at a City Council Meeting. And to the County as a whole at the October Board of Commissioners Meeting. The other Cities he mailed them their histories.

Below you will see a few photos and links to two videos. I hope you will take the time and watch them and see what inspires a lot of people including myself.

Alfred Britt.

Dr. Moon And County Commissioners.

Dr. Moon And Stockbridge City Council

Henry County video

















Stockbridge Video

The Truth About Panthers In Henry County

Over the years it has been a known fact that animals migrate through Henry County to the south in the Fall and to the north in the Spring.  The panther is one of those animals. They are dark brown and some are tan in color.  They follow the water ways to the south.  Many of them will stray away from those paths in search of food.

Most of these animals are nocturnal and will be seen just after sunrise and just before sundown.  In 1977, a panther got upon my neighbors car in Stockbridge.  The sheriff’s deputy had to chase the panther from the car.  The only reason a person is allowed to shoot an animal such as this is if it is endangering your life, your child, or animals on your property.  These cats are endangered species.

Think about this: Panther Creek in Northern Henry County was named that for a reason.  Just as Panthersville was named for a panther in south DeKalb County.  At one time there were more of these large cats than today because of man and his growth in the area.

If you see one make sure to call and identify where it was seen.  Keep in mind that they usually will run from you just as you will from them. 

The Staff Henry County Community News Blog

Great History At Risk

Governor Deal announced that the State of Georgia is proceeding on the nearly $700 million port of Savannah project.  The plan is to make the port larger to accept the 1200 ft. tankers that will be able to pass the Panama Canal soon.  One part of this is the CSS Georgia.  The Civil War warship that guarded the Savannah River and Fort Jackson.  The wreck was found in 1968 and has been marked so dredging would not harm it.  The CSS Georgia is now complicating the $653 billion project further, as the project will have to become a fullscale, $42 million underwater archeological dig before massive dredgers can begin deepening the port.
Built with money raised from a local women’s club, the CSS Georgia became a testament to the South’s industrial weakness compared to the North – its steam engines were too weak to push the prow through the river’s current. Meanwhile, it was the approach of an icon of that industrial superiority – General William Tecumseh Sherman – that caused Confederates to quickly scuttle and sink the CSS Georgia upon the Union Army’s approach.
By its ignominious end, the Georgia had become a floating cannon platform on the river. It never fired a shot in battle.
Broken into pieces on a bottom littered with cannonade, the Georgia remains an important part of Southern history, even as it remains classified in Washington as a captured enemy boat.
Part of the ship was raised in November 2013, but a good bit of the ship remains to be salvaged.  This is a vital piece of Georgia’s history from the Savannah area that must be preserved.

Deal said that the project will likely begin late next year.  This project is going to take some years to complete.  Much of the warehouse space waiting in Henry County will have to be refurbished before anyone moves in.  And another part of the mix is what will be in those 1200 ft tankers.  Container ships are freighters not tankers.  So, does this mean that oil will be off loaded at Savannah?  If so a large area of tanks will have to be built in the area for the crude if that is the case.  At least our children and their children can look forward to this future task.

In the meantime, underwater archaeologists will have their hands full recovering the CSS Georgia.  It might even take more than $42 million to complete the project.

The Staff of the Henry County Community News Blog
 

Yearly 5% Rate Hike On Your Water Bill On It's Way

Something to remember for everyone who lives in Henry County and that is our water prices will be going up 5% in November.  Every year now for some time the Henry County Water and Sewerage Authority has raised automatically our water rates by 5% each year.  Why do the rates have to continue at this rate?  For example: If you are paying currently $40 a month it will go up $2.  Now that doesn’t sound like a lot, but in time that is a good deal of money especially when there are about 50,000 residential customers in the county alone.  At this rate the HCWSA is getting a larger increase than those who are retired and disabled in the county.  The COLA is seriously lagging for those people and even for those who are still working.  Many of them have not had a raise in years.  And that includes many workers for the county and the hospital.  Yet that steady 5% increase is there for the HCWSA and no one challenges that increase.  Maybe the county should take another look at the policies of that department that has taken own its own governmental base.  Water is an essential part of life. If you don’t have water in your body you will die.  That is why the county should see that the people are not unjustly treated for the price of that water.  If you cannot afford it they turn your water off.  And then that will put a sentence of death upon the person they have cut off especially if they have lost a job and cannot afford it.  No part of government should have the right to decide who lives and dies because of the lack of water.  Keep that in mind the next time you go to the polls to vote.


Update We have learned that the Water Authority Board Suspended the 5% increase for this year.

The Staff at the Henry County Community News.

Stockbridge Councilman Steinberg Resigns His Seat

Councilman Richard Steinberg who had been charged and was to have a hearing before the Stockbridge City Council that would likely lead to his removal has resigned.  He announced his resignation at the end of the City Council Meeting of October 13, 2014.  In the written resignation he said it would become effective at 8:45am on October 14th. That is 15 minutes before the hearing to remove him from office was to take place.  Apparently, he felt that it would be better for all concerned if he resigned his seat on the Council.  Mr. Steinberg ran on the platform that he was the voice of the people.  He hasn’t been that voice since his swearing ceremony in January 2012.  He and the council seated that year had the former mayor removed from office during a long hearing into his case and he was removed from office in December 2012.  Councilman Steinberg had been caught giving information to the former DDA leadership of information that was in executive session on a court proceeding between the city and the DDA.  The Henry Daily Herald reported on the matter as they found the emails between Steinberg and J.T. Williams.

The Staff of the Henry County Community News Blog

Southlake Mall Says No To Legal Firearms On Property

Hello there at the Henry Community News.  I read today where South Lake Mall has been bought by a holding company who is in the process of refurbishing the mall.  They said they will deal with crime with a new set of rules.  One of those rules being you cannot bring a firearm on the premises.  That is so un-American.  Against the second Amendment and just plain egregious.  They don’t understand that the criminals will not pay that any attention and will give them an incentive to bring arms to rob and harm people in the mall and in the parking lot.  The crime figures for that general area are horrible.  The only people who will gain from this would be the criminal because they would know there is no one there to fight back.  I haven’t taken my wife to that mall in over 25 years and it will be in another 25 or more that we will not patronize that feeding ground for crime.  There is word also that they want to build a domed stadium next to the mall where the old towne was to be a hit.  The citizens got screwed on that one.  Even McDonough who has an old home that is there that was once on Griffin Street.  That will only draw more problems for a beleaguered community.

Josh Hayes

The owner of this blog makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or found by following a link on this site.  Any article sent by citizens are their own property.

Know Your Rights to Peaceful Protest

“Know Your Rights to Peaceful Protest”

The right to join with fellow citizens in protest or peaceful assembly is critical to a real democracy. But it is also very true that governments and police can violate this right.  They use mass arrests, illegal use of force, criminalization of protest, and other means intended to thwart free public expression a clear violation of the Constitution of the United States.
Standing up for your right to protest can be challenging, especially when demonstrations are met with violence from the police. But knowing your rights is the most powerful weapon you have against police abuse. Read on to learn what you need to know before heading out to exercise your constitutionally protected right to protest and free assembly.

    1.      The First Amendment prohibits restrictions based on the content of speech. Police and government officials are allowed to place certain narrowly drawn "time, place and manner" restrictions on the exercise of First Amendment rights as long as they are clearly posted and not made up as they go along.
    2.      All types of expression are constitutionally protected in traditional "public forums" such as streets, sidewalks, and parks.
    3.      The general rule for private property is that the owners of private property can set rules for speech on that property. If you disobey the property owner's rules, they can order you off.
    4.      If marchers stay on the sidewalks and obey traffic and pedestrian signals, their activity is constitutionally protected even without a permit. Marchers may be required to allow enough space on the sidewalk for normal pedestrian traffic and may not maliciously obstruct or detain passers-by.
    5.      You may approach pedestrians on public sidewalks with leaflets, newspapers, petitions, and solicitations for donations without a permit.
    6.      Picketting is permitted as this is also an activity for which a permit is not required. However, picketing must be done in an orderly, non-disruptive fashion so that pedestrians can pass by and entrances to buildings are not blocked.
    7.      If Stopped by Police Don't argue, resist, or obstruct the police, even if you are innocent or you believe that the police are violating your rights. In some states, you must give your name if asked to identify yourself, but you do not have to provide an ID or other paperwork. Make sure to keep your hands where police can see them. Point out that you are not disrupting anyone else's activity and that the First Amendment protects your actions. Ask if you are free to leave. If the officer says yes, calmly and silently walk away.
    8.      Do not resist arrest, even if you believe the arrest is unfair. If you are under arrest, you have a right to ask why. Otherwise, say you wish to remain silent and ask for a lawyer immediately. Don't give any explanations or excuses. Don't say anything, sign anything, or make any decisions without a lawyer. You have the right to make a local phone call, and if you're calling your lawyer, police are not allowed to listen.
    9.      You never have to consent to a search of yourself or your belongings. Police may "pat down" your clothing if they suspect you have a weapon, and may search you after an arrest.
    10. Remember: the street is not the place to challenge police misconduct. Don't physically resist officers or threaten to file a complaint. As soon as you can, write down everything you remember, including officers' badge and patrol car numbers, which agency the officers were from, and any other details. Get contact information for witnesses. If you are injured, take photographs of your injuries (but seek medical attention first). Once you have this information, you can file a written complaint with the agency's internal affairs division or civilian complaint board; in many cases, you can file a complaint anonymously if you wish. You can also seek the assistance of an attorney or the ACLU.
    11. When you are lawfully present in any public space, you have the right to photograph anything that is in plain view. That includes pictures of federal buildings, transportation facilities, and the police. When you are on private property, the property owner may set rules about the taking of photographs or video. Police officers may not confiscate or demand to view your digital photographs or video without a warrant, nor may they not delete your photographs or video under any circumstances. However, they may legitimately order citizens to cease activities that are truly interfering with legitimate law enforcement operations.

The Staff of The Henry County Community News Blog

Stockbridge Georgia has lost one of its great citizens

Stockbridge Georgia has lost one of its great citizens in Mr. Hans Broder, Sr.  The following is the obituary of this passing.  I am my wife Linda send our sympathy to the family at this time.

Hans Melchior Broder, Sr, age 94, of Stockbridge, joined his beloved wife, Margrit Maria Ackermann on Monday, October 6, 2014. A celebration of his life with a Funeral Mass will be held on Monday, October 13, 2014, at St. Philip Benizi Catholic Church in Jonesboro at 10:30 am, with Father John A. Koziol serving as celebrant, with a reception and meal to follow in the church hall. Interment will follow at Fairview Memorial Gardens in Stockbridge at approximately at 1:30 pm

In 1919, Hans was born in Sargans, Switzerland, and there met the love of his life Margrit, (married 1946). Hans received an Ingenieur Agronom Degree from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich in 1946 and was a vocational agricultural professer. He held the rank of Oberluetnant in the Swiss Army Artillery Corps. He and Margrit had three children before moving to Stockbridge, GA to dairy farm in 1951. Once in the US, they had five more children. His life was filled with hard work and love, devotion to his family and his community were unspoken truths. He and his wife together left a legacy with many organizations as founding members of the Swiss-America Society of Atlanta, long-standing members of the Henry County Farm Bureau and founding members of the St. Philip Benizi Catholic Church in Jonesboro.

He is survived by his sister, Paulina Grueninger of Bernek, Swizerland, brother, Josef L. Broder of Sargans, Switzerland, children: Hans M. and Lyndy Lynberg Broder of Stockbridge, GA, Dr. Josef M. and Diane Brownlee Broder of Bishop, GA, Michael F. and Jacueline Dale Broder of Florence, AL, Charles U. and Susan Krupavickas Broder of Stockbridge, GA, Patrick W. and Sandra Cole Broder of Stockbridge, GA, Peter C. and Margaret Stuckel Broder of St. Louis, MO, and Peter and Angela Broder Nemeth of Dubai, UAE, son-in-law, Kirk and Sheila Scruggs of Huntsville, AL.

He was preceded in death by Margrit Maria Ackermann his wife of 57 years and daughter, Margrit Broder Scruggs.

The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 pm and 6 to 8 pm at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to: St. Philip Benizi Catholic Church, 591 Flint River Road, Jonesboro, GA or to the Hans and Margrit Broder Educational Enrichment Fund in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at the University of Georgia, 706-542-3390. Condolences may be offered at www.HorisAWardFairviewChapel.com. Horis A. Ward Funeral Home - Fairview Chapel, (770) 474-1231.

Henry County Is Not South Atlanta

Streets that make up the South Atlanta area are as follows:

Highways in this neighborhood:
State Rte 54 (Jonesboro Rd SE)
Length: 0.79 miles
Directions: N-S, SE-NW
Address range: 1200 to 1630
Roads and streets:
Lansing St SE
Length: 0.57 miles
Directions: N-S, SE-NW
Address range: 1356 to 1619
Crogman St SE
Length: 0.48 miles
Directions: E-W, N-S, SE-NW
Address range: 1400 to 1699
Murray St SE
Length: 0.37 miles
Direction: N-S
Address range: 1406 to 1569
Meldon Ave SE
Length: 0.35 miles
Direction: E-W
Address range: 1 to 81
Park Ave SE
Length: 0.33 miles
Direction: E-W
Address range: 1 to 127
Moury Ave SE
Length: 0.31 miles
Direction: E-W
Address range: 1 to 87
Brown Ave SE
Length: 0.29 miles
Direction: E-W
Address range: 37 to 199
Bowen Ave SE
Length: 0.28 miles
Direction: E-W
Address range: 1 to 205
Turman Ave SE
Length: 0.27 miles
Direction: E-W
Address range: 1 to 199
Thirkeld Ave SE
Length: 0.26 miles
Direction: E-W
Address range: 37 to 151
Hardwick St SE
Length: 0.25 miles
Directions: N-S, SW-NE
Address range: 1 to 99
Thayer Ave SE
Length: 0.24 miles
Direction: E-W
Address range: 32 to 199
Bisbee Ave SE
Length: 0.21 miles
Direction: E-W
Address range: 25 to 199
Dorothy St SE
Length: 0.18 miles
Direction: E-W
Address range: 1 to 57
Burton St SE
Length: 0.14 miles
Directions: N-S, SE-NW
Address range: 1588 to 1699
Lethea St SE
Length: 0.11 miles
Direction: SW-NE
Address range: 1 to 9
Bird St SE
Length: 0.08 miles
Direction: N-S
Address range: 1600 to 1699
Martin Ave SE
Length: 0.07 miles
Direction: E-W
Address range: 82 to 109
Gammon St SE
Length: 0.06 miles
Direction: E-W
Address range: 68 to 99
Lakewood Ave SE
Length: 0.01 miles
Direction: N-S

Percentage of population below poverty level:
South Atlanta:
       
49.0%
   
Atlanta:
       
26.2%
   

Median year owner moved in (as recorded in 2010):
South Atlanta:
       
2005
   
Atlanta:
       
2003
   

Median year renter moved in (as recorded in 2010):
South Atlanta:
       
2005
   
Atlanta:
       
2005
   

Percentage of married-couple families with both working:
South Atlanta:
       
75.8%
   
Atlanta:
       
57.9%
   


There has been a lot of talk as of late of wanting to call the Southern Crescent of counties and municipalities as part of what they are calling South Atlanta.  The true South Atlanta area is north of Hapeville and East Point.  The above streets are the streets that mark South Atlanta.  Above are some statistics for South Atlanta next to Atlanta.  People have moved to Fayette, Clayton, Henry, Rockdale, Newton, Butts and Spalding counties to get away from Atlanta.  These people who came here over the past 2 decades don’t want to be associated with the name Atlanta and would rather not be a part of the ARC.  There is a division of Central Georgia known as Three Rivers that would be more suitable for our area.
Remember you and the rest of the people in Henry County do not live in South Atlanta.  It is 20 miles from Stockbridge to Hartsfield-Jackson Airport.  Then another 4 miles to the southern end of South Atlanta.  That is not next door.  For years Atlanta has tried to claim much in our area such as the raceway in Hampton, Lion Country when it existed, other various entities they have tried to connect to Atlanta.  Just concentrate on making Henry County a fine place to live and not some bordello infested haven that will ruin our young people.  Keep your sights on making Henry County a good home for anyone and without have a connotation of being connected to Atlanta.
The Staff of the Henry County Community News.

The Army Was Surrendered Not The Government

Over the years since the War Between the States ended many people have thought that the Government of the Confederacy surrendered the day General Robert E. Lee surrendered his Army of Northern Virginia.  General Lee only surrendered his army not the government of the Confederacy.  Here are the exact words to which General Lee and Union General Grant set their hand to on that day in April 1865.

“In accordance with the substance of my letter to you of the 8th inst., I propose to receive the surrender of the Army of N. Va. on the following terms, to wit: Rolls of all the officers and men to be made in duplicate. One copy to be given to an officer designated by me, the other to be retained by such officer or officers as you may designate. The officers to give their individual paroles not to take up arms against the Government of the United States until properly exchanged, and each company or regimental commander sign a like parole for the men of their commands. The arms, artillery and public property to be parked and stacked, and turned over to the officer appointed by me to receive them. This will not embrace the side-arms of the officers, nor their private horses or baggage. This done, each officer and man will be allowed to return to their homes, not to be disturbed by United States authority so long as they observe their paroles and the laws in force where they may reside.”

Richmond had fallen on 2 April and President Jefferson Davis and the Confederate government had evacuated the city. Davis and his cabinet temporarily located themselves in Danville, Virginia but they were soon forced to flee before the advancing Union forces and travel through as yet unoccupied portions of the Carolinas and Georgia.

Following Lee's example, other Confederate generals also began to surrender in the next few weeks. But Davis continued to urge armed resistance right up until he was captured by Union troops on 10 May. On that date, Andrew Johnson, the recently inaugurated American president, declared armed resistance in the South had effectively ended.

Johnson's announcement was a little premature. Confederate troops in Palmito Ranch, Texas launched a successful attack on 12-13 May and it was not until 23 June that Stand Watie became the last Confederate general to surrender his forces at Doaksville, Oklahoma. The American Civil War officially ended on 20 August 1866 via a Presidential declaration.

But you'll notice that while the war did effectively end by the various military capitulations, the Confederate government never formally surrendered. Davis certainly did not and, as far as I can tell, the Confederate Congress was too disbursed by April 1865 to issue a surrender.  On August 20, 1866, President Andrew Johnson signed a Proclamation—Declaring that Peace, Order, Tranquillity, and Civil Authority Now Exists in and Throughout the Whole of the United States of America. It cited the end of the insurrection in Texas, and declared
... that the insurrection which heretofore existed in the State of Texas is at an end and is to be henceforth so regarded in that State as in the other States before named in which the said insurrection was proclaimed to be at an end by the aforesaid proclamation of the 2d day of April, 1866.
And I do further proclaim that the said insurrection is at an end and that peace, order, tranquillity, and civil authority now exist in and throughout the whole of the United States of America.
As it says above President Johnson of the United States said that the insurrection was over, but no where does it say the Confederate Government signed any formal surrender.  They cannot make it so until a formal surrender is signed since the Confederate Government was a sovereign Government with a Constitution and President with its Congress.  No where does it say they relinquished these.  President Davis was imprisoned for two years at Fort Monroe as a pure act of vengence.
Because Congress was not sure that white Southerners had really given up slavery or their dreams of Confederate nationalism, a decade-long process known as Reconstruction expelled ex-Confederate leaders from office, enacted civil rights legislation (including the right to vote) that included the freedmen (ex-slaves), and imposed conditions on the readmission of the states to Congress. The war and subsequent Reconstruction left the South economically prostrate, and it remained well below national levels of prosperity until after 1945.  The legacy of the Civil War and Reconstruction Era, as seen in thousands of lynchings (mostly from 1880 to 1930), the segregated system of separate schools and public facilities known as "Jim Crow", that lasted until the 1960s, and the widespread use of poll taxes and other methods to frequently deny blacks of the right to vote or hold office until the 1960s. In more modern times, however, the South has become the most integrated region of the country. Since the late 1960s blacks have held and currently hold many high offices, such as mayor and police chief, in many cities such as Atlanta and New Orleans.  So, the War Between the States and it’s aftermath lasted at least a hundred years; and it continues to be a factor even in 2014 as the South has had lower percentages of high school graduates, lower housing values, lower household incomes, and lower cost of living than the rest of the United States. These factors, combined with the fact that Southerners have continued to maintain strong loyalty to family ties, has led some sociologists to label white Southerners a "quasi-ethnic regional group".  The South in the past 50 years has seen a larger influx of people from the North moving here to live, African American Communities growing and people of other international races moving here especially in the bigger cities.  But there is still the strong influence of a separate South in the rural areas.
The Staff of the Henry County Community News

Cemetery Law Mis - Spoken At Stockbridge Meeting

At the Called Meeting of the Stockbridge City Council for September 22nd, it was discussed in the SDS meeting by Mr. Buddy Welch about the Cemeteries in the area.  He tried to split the issue of who takes care of which cemetery whether it is the county or city.  He spoke of the city taking care of municipal cemeteries and the private cemeteries that are considered abandoned are handled by the juvenile court or the private citizens groups.
This is far from the truth.  According to the State Laws of Georgia pertaining to Cemeteries it clearly states that if any cemetery that is abandoned and no one can be found who takes care of said cemetery then the county or municipality is to handle management of the cemetery.  If someone is located they can be billed for clean up or eminent domain can be used to take the cemetery and it will be taken care of by the local governments.  The Georgia State Laws are specific in this matter and there is no gray area.  If these issues continue about the cemeteries in Henry County by people throwing smoke and mirrors on the issue then the next step will be to file a formal complaint with the Georgia Attorney Generals Office and Secretary of State who handle such matters.  Then the press will be notified and it will make Henry County and its cities look bad once again.  This should not have to happen, but that is something that is on the table as a last resort.

Alfred Britt, Founder of the Cemetery Research Group

3 Hour Called Meeting In Stockbridge

The Meeting of the City of Stockbridge on Sept. 22, 2014 was a long 3 hour called session for house keeping purposes.  There was a briefing by attorney Buddy Welch on the Service Delivery Strategy (SDS).  He told them that they must sign the document in agreement with the county before the end of the year.  The Mayor told him that the council had already done so.  The measure must be sent to the State General Assembly if not there would be penalties levied by the State on the County and Cities.  The items discussed were the following:

    Administration
    Annexation
    Building Permits inspections and impact fees
    Opt in or Opt out
    Buildings and ground maintenance
    Cemeteries
    City Prisoners
    Code Enforcement
    Comprehensive Plan
    Coroner Service
    Defense for Municipal Courts
    Court Security
    Animal Control
    Detention
    Development Authority
    Court Authority
    Transport of Prisoners
    Development Plan Review
    Elections
    Electricity-Hampton only
    911
    EMA
    EMS
    Fire
    GIS and Mapping
    GBI handling investigations of police
    Housing Authority
    Library
    Park Construction and Maintenance
    Planning and Zoning
    Police Services
    Prisoners Details
    Purchase of fleet vehicles and equipment
    Roads and Street maintenance
    Senior Citizens
    Senior Citizens Transportation
    Police Precinct
    Taking care of grass cutting
    Soil Erosion Control and Inspection
    Solid Waste
    Storm Water Management
    Vehicle Equipment Maintenance
    Water and Sewer Services with HCWSA


Reported by the Henry County Community News

Council Request Charges Against Steinberg To Be Removed From Office

At a Special Called meeting of the Stockbridge City Council for September 22, 2014, the Council had an executive meeting and returned to note that they are requesting the law firm of Wilson, Morton & Downs to file charges against Councilman Steinberg for violation of the charter.  They want charges specific to section 2.17 of the Charter to be invoked and a hearing set accordingly.  They also said that the attorneys for Steinberg and Councilwoman Buschman can see the documentation that was received by the council about these actions.  Below is the wording of the charter under section 2.17 and 2.16.

Section 2.17. Removal of officers.
(a)
The mayor, a councilmember, or other appointed officers provided for in this charter shall be removed from office for any one or more of the following causes:
(1)
Incompetence, misfeasance, or malfeasance in office;
(2)
Conviction of a crime involving moral turpitude;
(3)
Failure at any time to possess any qualifications of office as provided by this charter or by law;
(4)
Knowingly violating Section 2.16 or any other express prohibition of this charter;
(5)
Abandonment of office or neglect to perform the duties thereof; or
(6)
Failure for any other cause to perform the duties of office as required by this charter or by state law.
(b)
Removal of any officer pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall be accomplished by one of the following methods:
(1)
By the vote of three councilmembers after an investigative hearing. In the event an elected officer is sought to be removed by the action of the city council, such officer shall be entitled to a written notice specifying the ground or grounds for removal and to a public hearing which shall be held not less than ten days after the service of such written notice. Any elected officer sought to be removed from office as provided in this section shall have the right of appeal from the decision of the city council to the Superior Court of Henry County. Such appeal shall be governed by the same rules as govern appeals to the superior court from the probate court; or
(2)
By an order of the Superior Court of Henry County following a hearing on a complaint seeking such removal brought by any resident of the City of Stockbridge.
………………………………………………………………………………………………

Section 2.16. Prohibitions.
(a)
No elected official, appointed officer, or employee of the city or any agency or political entity to which this charter applies shall knowingly:
(1)
Engage in any business or transaction or have a financial or other personal interest, direct or indirect, which is incompatible with the proper discharge of his official duties or which would tend to impair the independence of his judgment or action in the performance of his official duties;
(2)
Engage in or accept private employment or render services for private interests when such employment or service is incompatible with the proper discharge of his official duties or would tend to impair the independence of his judgment or action in the performance of his official duties;
(3)
Disclose confidential information concerning the property, government, or affairs of the governmental body by which he is engaged without proper legal authorization or use such information to advance the financial or other private interest of himself or others;
(4)
Accept any valuable gift, whether in the form of service, loan, object, or promise, from any person, firm, or corporation which to his knowledge is interested, directly or indirectly, in any manner whatsoever in business dealings with the governmental body by which he is engaged; provided, however, that an elected official who is a candidate for public office may accept campaign contributions and services in connection with any such campaign;
(5)
Represent other private interests in any action or proceeding against this city or any portion of its government; or
(6)
Vote or otherwise participate in the negotiation or in the making of any contract with any business or entity in which he has a financial interest.
(b)
Any elected official, appointed officer, or employee who has any private financial interest, directly or indirectly, in any contract or matter pending before or within any department of the city shall disclose such private interest to the city council. The mayor or any councilmember who has a private interest in any matter bending before the city council shall disclose such private interest and such disclosure shall be entered on the records of the city council, and he shall disqualify himself from participating in any decision or vote relating thereto. Any elected official, appointed officer, or employee of any agency or political entity to which this charter applies who shall have any private financial interest, directly or indirectly, in any contract or matter pending before or within such entity shall disclose such private interest to the governing body of such agency or entity.
(c)
No elected official, appointed officer, or employee of the city or any agency or entity to which this charter applies shall use property owned by such governmental entity for personal benefit, convenience, or profit, except in accordance with policies promulgated by the city council or the governing body of such agency or entity.
(d)
Any violation of this section which occurs with the knowledge, express or implied, of a party to a contract or sale shall render said contract or sale voidable at the option of the city council.
(e)
Except as authorized by law, no member of the council shall hold any other elective city office or other city employment during the term for which he was elected. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to any person holding employment on the effective date of this Act.
……………………………………………………………………………………..
The Staff of the Henry County Community News

Save Henry's Rural Life Style

Why does Henry County want to completely destroy any vantage of the rural life here? Many families moved here from the hustle and bustle and wanted a quieter place to live. Destroying the country atmosphere where crops grow, cows graze and chickens crow is a crime against all that is wonderful about country life.

Bringing a Dollar General Store to Old Jackson Road and Leguin Mill Road will only destroy further more and more of that ideal of life.  Why continue to strip away at the quiet life for our children.  We moved here to raise a family in a quiet setting with fresh air and little noise.  Bringing commercial properties to the country is a really stupid idea.

For some strange reason the county leaders are condoning the rape of Henry County by commercial entities.  What does this say about those leaders?  There are only small pockets of the rural life left in Henry County and more is being encroached upon in the dealings of the backrooms of Atlanta.  We didn’t need a Family Dollar on Walt Stephens Road in Stockbridge and we surely don’t need this Dollar General on Old Jackson Road.  The farmer made this county what it became and we are letting those in power and in business sweep them under the carpet.  They are treated like second class citizens to these people.  Just remember if this is allowed by the Zoning Advisory Board and the Board of Commissioners then you know what to do at the polls next time.

Neighbors Trying to Save Old Jackson Road.
NTSOJR

The owner of this blog makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or found by following a link on this site.  Any article sent by citizens are their own property.

A new milestone

Hello friends and neighbors.  The Henry County Community News Blog has now set a new milestone.  There have been 100,123 people to visit the site.  Alfred would like to thank everyone for they’re readership.  He intends to keep bringing the news to everyone.  It is hard sometimes to turn away articles, but some are just too inflammatory to be written.  Thank you again and keep them coming.
The Staff at the Henry County Community News

Three Henry County Schools are in the top tier of schools with improved learning

The new list of Title 1 schools has been released and three Henry County Schools are in the top tier of schools with improved learning.  Hampton Elementary, Walnut Creek Elementary and Tussahaw Elementary are new on the list for 2014.  They join McDonough Elementary which is already on the list.  Wait a minute, this is the very school they are wanting to close and bring in the Patrick Henry Alternative school. This looks very bad.

Why take out a school that is doing so well and bringing accolades to the Henry County?  What is so important about that property that Patrick Henry High Alternative School resides upon?  They tried this same process earlier this year in trying to close Smith-Barnes Elementary on Tye Street in Stockbridge and wanting to move Patrick Henry there.  Now it is McDonough Elementary they are trying the same thing with and this school is one of the best elementary schools in the State of Georgia.  People need to go to those meeting and ask some serious questions and get to the point and ask what is so urgent about moving Patrick Henry High from Stockbridge.

Concerned Citizens for McDonough Elementary School

 The owner of this blog makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or found by following a link on this site.  Any article sent by citizens are their own property.

Dollar General Site Is Historical Site In Locust Grove Georgia

I am sorry for not having this ready before now.  I had to locate it in my records from over 30 years ago.  The property on Old Jackson Road at Leguin Mill Road has a historical significance to it.  This is the site of a camp for the Union Army during the March to the Sea.  Below is the record as it was recorded from our Survey of the site.

November 1983—We were notified by a Mrs. Childs of Old Jackson Road at Leguin Mill Road just outside of Locust Grove.  There had been some Civil War items found on the property.  She contacted the Atlanta Historical Society and were instructed by Dr. Jackson to survey the area with screening methods and metal detection devices.  According to records provided by the AHS by the late Wilbur Kurtz this area was a campsite for the 68th Ohio Regt. under Col. Robert K. Scott of the 17th Corps of General Francis Blair.  Col. Scott covered the right flank of General Blair who was on Keys Ferry Road.  Col. Scott was on Jackson Road.  He also commanded the 20th Ohio, the 32nd Ohio, and 78th Ohio who were camped at Philadelphia Church and Philippi Church.  These records were compiled by Mr. Kurtz in 1927.  The campsite was part of the March to the Sea located here on November 16th –17th, 1864.

The Artifacts that were located:

    47 dropped .69 cal. Balls
    31 dropped .58 cal minie balls
    1 U.S. Box Plate
    1 Ohio buckle
    1 eagle breastplate
    7 eagle buttons
    3 brass gromlets
    1 bullet mold
    broken cook pot
    1 picket pin
    1 folding knife
    1 Jews harp
    several pieces of lead


The above items were tagged and sent to the AHS for the Beverly Duboise Collection.  The area examined covered a spot 20 feet by 50 feet and items were dug from a depth of from 2 inches to 8 inches.
According to records these brigades of Ohio troops made up a force of just over 1,600 men for Col. Scott.  At this site at Old Jackson and Leguin Mill there were approximately 366 men in camp.
This whole area on all corners of the roadway are potential historic areas from the Civil War.
On the opposite side of the road stood an old store which is no longer there today.  And according to records that opposite corner where the old store once stood is owned by the Henry County Government for the Tussahaw District.  The area is .13 acres.   But it is not a good idea to bring this store to this particular area because of the location and the fact that the surrounding neighbors will not support the store.  I hope all works out for the best.
Pastor Dr. Mike Moon
Senior Researcher for the Cemetery Research Group and B&M Civil War Research Group.

Watching Henry Move Backward

There is one sure thing in this life and that is the fact we have bills..bills..bills.. and to pay those bills we have to have jobs.. jobs.. jobs..  Then in order to have those jobs..jobs..jobs.. we must work..work..work.  And to find work..work..work.. we must allow companies..companies..companies.. to build.  If we protest..protest..protest against companies..companies..companies then they won’t come..come..come.  There are other localities that will love to have them to help their tax base.  Stand alone business is better than strip malls and bars which will come.  Then crime..crime..crime will rule the day..day..day.  There has been a mistake..mistake..mistake in the northern part of the county and it is because of a child..child..child minded person who wants press..press..press.  Ignorance has become a virtue and is growing like a wildfire to the extent that it will only have to burn itself out because no one has sense enough to get a hose.

Watching Henry Move Backward

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