Seventeen Years Of Heartache

It has been 17 years since the attacks of 9/11, it seems to me that it only happened yesterday, the day I lost the love of my life.  I have seen so much change in America and most of it not for the good. I see too much of the Muslim influence gaining strength in America. We must remember on 9/11 we were attacked viciously without provocation and over 3,000 of our citizens were murdered on that day. As we remember the 17th anniversary of this tragic event please remember that the victims of that day are still hurting from the loss of their loved ones. A few of the victims have since went on and decided they could not live any longer with the hurt that they have suffered at the hands of those animals.

I was part of a group on a forum for people that lost their fiance's in the event. When I started in the group we had about 30 to 35 individuals that was active in the group. The group disbanded about a year ago after only 10 individuals were left. Some moved on with their rehabilitation, about 15 committed suicide because they could not handle the tremendous loss and change of life they had experienced. As for me the past 17 years has been a living hell of loneliness and despair of what could have been if it was not for the animals that took my loved one’s life.  I get angry every single day I wake up alone and remember what was done to so many people and myself. Friends do not understand the loss of this type, the type that we see on the news everyday reminds us of our loss. It is like the loss of the loved ones from the attacks on Pearl Harbor back in 1941. I sit everyday thinking about my Lisa. Friends and family cannot understand why I have not moved on. It is because my life was destroyed on that day 17 years ago the life we had planned, the children we were going to have, the ranch we were going to start and the love of each other to pull us through that is gone. People that say they are friends do not come by to see me they do not even call me I wonder sometimes if it is because they do not know what to say or do they just not give a damn.

My darling I think of you everyday and my love for you is just as strong as it was when I asked you to marry me. I wonder every day what we would be doing if we were together and it saddens my heart that I will never truly know. You brought a ray of sunshine into my life a brilliant golden light that went straight to my heart and down into my soul. As I travel down this lonely road of life alone and full of despair the only saving grace I have are my memories of you and I. We had good times and bad times, but together our love for each other pulled us through. We always stood by each other no matter what the circumstances. I remember when I got hurt and could no longer work for the bureau. You told me that you would stand by me no matter what, that  we had been living by the wedding vows that we were going to be taking in June of 2002. You told me you would be by my side and support me in anything I would do. So sweetheart on this 17th anniversary of me losing you please remember I love you with every fiber of my being and you are still and will always be my Love of a Lifetime.

Alfred Britt.  

We are getting the giant screw to the back once again

"We are getting the giant screw to the back once again"

Yes, Henry County residents we are going to get screwed and tattooed all at the same time thanks to the Henry County Board of Commissioners and County Manager.  They apparently have no feelings for the poor, the working people, the elderly or the well to do.  Since, they raised the assessments on our homes and did not lower the millage rate, which they could have done so, our taxes will be higher.  They apparently have no compassion for the citizenry.  The tax digest has gone up considerably in the Henry County and they are going to make good use of it.  Think about this folks.  If you own a mobile home, stick built home or even rent a place you will pay.  Those in the mobile homes will pay in some cases more than the home might be worth.  The stick built homes will definitely see a sizeable increase in their property taxes.  And even if you rent, your landlord will be paying a premium on the property tax since they do not live in the home and guess what, they will pass that along to the person renting the property.  The only people doing well in the scenario are those people who can't seem to handle money.  And we definitely do not want to hear about them being conservative.  They have no idea what the word means.  They are liberal spending politicians and those that carry the moniker of Republican are just closet Democrats and some of the Democrats are Socialists.  Spend, spend, spend and spend some more like there is no tomorrow.  While you sit in traffic on I-75, Hwy 42, Hwy 155 and other roads just remember that they will only be doing token work on any roads for the foreseeable future.  You feel that screw tightening.   And with the rise in property taxes on the homeowners the Atlanta Motor Speedway and other large properties will be getting a tax break from the county.  Yes, folks while you go to work and eck out an existence and those on Social Security and Disability hang on to life, you will be paying the line share of the taxes.  Feel that screw now.  Yes, a business that takes in multi-million dollars per year will get a break.  Bless their little hearts.  No wonder Henry County has been changing as of late.  Those moving here think it is something different and it is nothing more different than what they just left and could be worse than where they moved from to here.  The bottom line is that the whole thing sucks.  And now they are out pining for SPLOST V.  Yes, just think they want to extend that 1 cent sales tax to cover their slush fund on parks and things that the county has too much of today.  And there is even talk that they want to possibly have a 1 cent tax for bus and train service.  Think about sitting in the already horrendous traffic behind that big fat bus.  And train service would be years down the road at best.  They are over five years behind in sending the train to Lovejoy.  Yes, the politicians promise everything under the sun to get elected and then they go off like misers figuring ways to get more money out of the people.  If they reduced some of the bureaucracy in the county that would save a lot of money.  Plus, quit buying properties that will cost the taxpayers for years to come and their children as well.  Think about how much money goes from your taxes to the Henry County BoC, BoE and the Henry County Water and Sewerage Authority.  They take in more than most of the other counties in metro Atlanta.  And what do you really have to show for it.  They will take this county down the slippery slope to a place they will never be able to crawl out of in the decades to come.  As things continue to change more of the people who built the county are dying or leaving and that will leave a whole new face on the county that will not have the same feelings as those who worked so hard to get the things they have today.  But remember that screw in the back.  That is your destiny.

A tired tax payer.

Our Chain Got Jerked Once More, Time To Revolt!!!

"Our Chain Got Jerked Once More"

It looks like we have been doubled talked once again by those sitting on the Board of Commissioners.  These people have said time and again that they would not increase our property taxes.  Well, this is over on the BoC website and this was posted over a week ago.  Nothing has been seen in the paper yet.  This is another shaft the citizens will have to carry upon their backs.  For some, the increase would not affect them much, but for the elderly and disabled it will because every penny is needed just to survive.  We are getting the proverbial screw in the back this time.  Since the tax digest has risen considerably in Henry County they stand to make quite a haul.   This leads to further mistrust of those elected to serve the people and this is not good service.  The citizens should revolt at tax time and not pay their property taxes.  Withhold them from the county.  You would see something change dramatically overnight.  It looks like the only thing they have on their minds is money.  When you get a selective few who garner and broker the funds generated by taxes in the County and Municipalities that have agendas not in keeping with the public trust, then you have a serious problem.  And Henry County has a big problem that runs deep.  There are too many power struggles right now in the county that are not helping with this matter at all.  Smoke and mirrors that have been used widely over the years by the county and cities.  Look at the debacles in Hampton, the fights in Stockbridge, the undertow in McDonough and the slow consumption of Locust Grove.   The Board of Education has already got the millage rate maxed out and the appraisals being higher they will garner a vast amount of money from your paycheck.  If you like what you see and are living with, then by all means just let the status quo continue, but if you want to see a change vote those who would rather deal away their honor out of office in November.  The future of the county is riding on the next few elections and it is teetering on a disaster in more ways than one.

July 10, 2018

NOTICE OF PROPERTY TAX INCREASE

The Henry County Board of Commissioners has tentatively adopted a millage rate which will require an increase in property taxes by:

County Unincorporated      4.25% increase

McDonough                         3.11% increase

Stockbridge                          4.48% increase

Hampton                              4.72% increase

Locust Grove                        3.79% increase

All concerned citizens are invited to the public hearings on this tax increase to be held at the County Administration Building, 140 Henry Parkway, McDonough, GA on the following dates:

July 24, 2018 at 9:00 am

July 24, 2018 at 6:00 pm

Times and places of additional public hearings on this tax increase to be held at the County Administration Building, 140 Henry Parkway, McDonough, GA on the following date:

July 31, 2018 at 9:00 am

The Staff

A Whining Commissioner in Henry County

Here is the 5th District Commissioner of Henry County, GA philosophy on political parties.   Spoken by him, "Bruce Holmes-- It’s the system. If you don’t figure out a way to win within it, you will never get that boot off your throat. Winning comes from people uniting around a common interest, dissenting from things in which they strongly disagree and participating in the process. If you’re in-line with helping yourself and friends who only benefit you; you are a republican. If you believe that a raising tide lifts all boats; you’re a democrat. Republicans only advocate for non-partisan elections when minorities become the majority, then sale you how it’s such a great thing. The real purpose is maintaining power so they can continue to maintain control of the allocation of resources."  This is spoken like a true communist and not a democrat or republican.  But he does believe in a Capitalist form of government because he doesn't refuse any money.  And isn't it interesting that it always comes down to race?  The system of being non-partisan was created by the democrat party in Henry County and Georgia long before it was run by the blacks.  Yes, those were the white democrats that started that.  He can't make that ship float because he has no water to hold it up.

Maurice Jones

Sounds OF Summer Not Liked By All

Hello, I am sending this to your news blog because you don't mind posting the truth.  My name is Aiesha Lemark-Brand and I am an African-American woman who attended the Sounds of Summer Concert in Stockbridge on June 16, 2018.  What was billed to be a huge event for the city was not impressive at all.  I felt really out of place there, because the diversity is non-existent which shows the poor quality of the event.  I know you all have heard white people call lower class whites, "white trash," well I saw plenty of "black trash" at this event.  Until you start having real groups, with real name recognition you will not have quality people come to these events.  This reminded me of the hood.

Ongoing Problem At The Veterans Wall Of Honor

This article is about an ongoing problem at the Veterans Wall of Honor at Heritage Park in McDonough, GA.  For several years the Wall has needed some TLC.  Looking at some recent photos of the Wall in 2018 you can see where the stone has become more discolored,  there are stars missing from the plaques on the Wall, the stanchions that hold the flag poles are still in bad condition, the pavers are not looking good and some of the ink is missing from the names, and the main flagpole base on all four sides has ink missing from the words of the Pledge of Allegiance.  Back over eight years ago, the county was to start and do something about maintaining this site for the Veterans.  They did some work at that time and it is appreciated, but the time since then has taken its toll on the wall.  At that time stars were bought to fix those missing from that time and they had enough to last a while, but as you can see in the photos those stars are once again missing.  The Henry County government should take more of a role in taking care of this site for the Veterans and loved ones of those Veterans.   Henry County is lax in that department.  Any monument or memorial to our Veterans should be maintained especially when it is on County Property and the families who paid for those pavers and there are many would like to see them maintained.

Blog Staff.

Below you will see photos of the problems at the Veterans Wall Of Honor. Photos courtesy of Henry County resident 

Jody Provost. 

Henry Daily Herald

Courtesy Jody Provost

Courtesy Jody Provost

Courtesy Jody Provost

Courtesy Jody Provost

Veterans Wall Of Honor In Bad Shape

A friend had a person from out of town to visit for the weekend who wanted to go to the Veterans Wall of Honor at Heritage Park in McDonough.  So, they took him and he was taken aback by some things he saw there.  This man is a Veteran of the United States Navy and he is an electrician and electrical inspector where he lives.  He said that there is some shoddy electrical work that was done at this site.  He could not believe that it passed inspection.  He also noted that the plaques on the Wall are missing some stars that hold them on the Wall.  He walked down the Walk of Honor and noticed that the black is coming off several of the names.  He said that there needs to be some serious maintenance done to this Veterans military site.  He said the Wall needs a thorough cleaning and wondered if there is regular inspections on this area.  Our friend really did not know how to answer him.  Our friend was embarrassed by what this man found at the Wall of Honor.   Maybe the county needs to look into maintaining this area better than they have in the past.  This place that is used to honor those who have served and died for this nation should have better care.  It looks like those at the County leadership level have different priorities and agendas instead of keeping up what they have already.

A Henry County Resident