Henry County Update - Newsletter

October 29, 2014

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

Students Honored for Artwork on Display at County Administration Building

Regular Meetings November 4th - 9:30 AM November 18th - 6:30 PM Meetings held at: Administration Building Community Room 140 Henry Parkway McDonough, GA 30253

Regular Commission meetings will air Fridays, Saturdays, Mondays and Wednesdays on Henry TV Channel 180 and AT&T U-Verse Channel 99, at 9 a.m. & 7 p.m.

Elementary school students were recognized by the Henry County Board of Commissioners for their outstanding artwork, which now hangs in the atrium and halls of the County Administration Building.

The Henry County Board of Commissioners and Henry Government continue to support the arts through its gallery of student artwork, with the next installation of students’ artistic creations adorning the walls of the Henry County Administration Building, thanks to the Arts Initiative launched in 2010 by the Henry County Board of Commissioners in partnership with Henry County Schools.

The program is designed to highlight the extraordinary artwork being created in our schools by displaying select pieces in the County Administration Building.

The art is on display, gallerystyle, in the atrium of the Administration

Building and in the hallway on the first floor, outside the Tax Commissioner’s and Tax Assessors’ offices. The pieces were selected by various art teachers, and the array of artwork not only showcases the amazing talent of Henry County’s public elementary, middle and high school students, but also demonstrates the wide variety of media and artistic styles being taught in the school system.

The newest collection features pieces by these 38 Henry County students: Mya Acra, Tiana Andrews, Jordann Barrow, Tito Buitrago, Kasie Cain, Amber Cameron, Kayley Chosewood, Gabriella Gibson, Laura Kate Gleaton, Continued on Page 3 the henry county update

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October 29, 2014 Henry County Stormwater to Offer Free Guided Tour of South River Watershed

What better way to spend an autumn day than to tour some of Henry County’s lovely creeks, streams and rivers? The Henry County Stormwater Department is offering residents an inside glimpse into Henry County’s waterways with a free, guided tour of the South River Watershed, to be held on Saturday, November 1, 2014.

This is a great opportunity for homeowners, small and beginning farmers and others to see some of Henry County’s pristine waterways and hear about how land uses impact water quality in the community.

Participants will also learn valuable information about available resources such as RC&D Grant for Best Management Practices and NRCS EQIP Grants,

Henry County Thinks Pink

Henry County Government employees show their support for Breast Cancer Awareness Day by donning pink and putting on their best smiles. October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month and there are campaigns nationwide to bring awareness to this devastating disease. For more information, visit the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org.

An explosion of pink for breast cancer awareness.

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HOA Workshops and outreach events and septic tank maintenance practices.

Check-in starts at 8:30 a.m. at Salem Park at Salem Baptist Church located at 1724 Highway 155 in McDonough. Departure will be at 9 a.m. and the tour should end at approximately 12:30 p.m. Sponsored by the Henry County Stormwater Management Department, the Upper Ocmulgee River RC&D Council, Inc. and the city of McDonough, the tour is free, however space is limited and reservations are required. Please visit www.henrycounty-ga.org/stormwater and click on the registration button to the right, fill in the contact form and choose South River Tour from the dropdown box. For more information, call 678-376-9518.

Students Honored from page 1

Middle school students who were recognized by the Henry County Board of Commissioners for their outstanding artwork as part of the Arts Initiative.

High school students who were recognized by the Henry County Board of Commissioners for their outstanding artwork as part of the Arts Initiative.

Jordan Greenwood, Ezra Hilderbrand, Marshall Jones, Ryan Jones, Sierra Jones, Keren Julmisse, Rachel Little, Allyson Martinez, Aiden McPhillips, Chloe Mevissen, Isabella Morris, Nicole Mulkey, Hannah Nguyen, Somtochukwu Onyegu, Josie Orihuela, Skylar Patten, Eugene Pelissier, Allison Rautmann, Enrique Ruiz, Lexi Shah, Cameron Southard, Avionne Steele, Eric Suarez, Olivia Summey, Marisa Turner, Gabrielle Waterhouse, Casey Weaver, Brittany Whitmer and Anastasia Winfield.

The students were recognized at the Board of Commissioners regular meeting on October 21, 2014, where they were each presented with a Certificate of

Appreciation for their creativity and artistic talent, and for sharing their incredible work with the community.

District 4 Commissioner Reid Bowman introduced the recognition ceremony at the meeting where he urged those in attendance to enjoy the beautiful artwork and the efforts of local school children.

“I can’t say enough about how much the students’ artwork brightens the walls of this building and makes such an incredible impact. We are truly honored that the students, their families and their teachers share this art with us and we are in awe of the students’ talent,” said Bowman.

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October 29, 2014 Commissioners Proclaim October As Fire Prevention Month

The Henry County Board of Commissioners recognized the month of October as Fire Prevention Month, to coincide with the national observance of Fire Prevention Month, by issuing a proclamation at the October 21, 2014 Commission meeting.This year’s theme for Fire Prevention Month is “Working Smoke Alarms Save Lives. Test Yours Every Month” and residents are urged to protect their homes and families

by heeding the important safety messages of Fire Prevention Month, particularly by checking and testing their smoke alarms at least every month and supporting the many public safety efforts of Henry County’s Fire Department.

For more information on the Henry County Fire Department, visit www.henrycounty-ga.org/fire.

Henry County Fire Chief Bill Lacy accepts a proclamation from Henry County Commission Chairman Tommy Smith, surrounded by members of the Henry County Fire Department and the Henry County Board of Commissioners.

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Retired Educators Recognized

The Henry County Board of Commissioners proclaimed November 2, 2014 as Retired Educators Day, recognizing the contributions retired educators have made to their communities. The action came at the October 21, 2014 Commission meeting.

Through the proclamation, Commissioners recognized the contributions of educators who have “touched and influenced the lives of generations of young people, motivating and inspiring their students to use their innate talents and abilities to the fullest and to become responsible, contributing citizens.” They also encouraged citizens to honor those who have dedicated their lives to education and recognize the contributions that retired educators continue to make in our community.

Henry County’s observance of Retired Educators Day coincides with the state of Georgia’s observance honoring retired teachers.

Chairman Tommy Smith presents a proclamation in recognition of Retired Educators Day to Kathy Hill with the Henry County Retired Educators Association. Pictured are: front row (l. to r.) Kathy Hill and Chairman Smith; second row (l. to r.) District V Commissioner Bruce Holmes and District I Commissioner Bo Moss; third row (l. to r.) District IV Commissioner Reid Bowman, District III Commissioner Gary Barham and District II Commissioner Brian Preston.

Public Information Meeting Regarding Jodeco and Blackhall Rds. Intersection Improvements Set for October 30

The Henry County SPLOST Department will hold a public information meeting regarding the Jodeco Road and Blackhall Road intersection improvement project, on Thursday, October 30, 2014 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Red Oak Elementary School in Stockbridge.

The meeting will be “open house” format where

people can come to view the plans and ask questions.

Red Oak Elementary School is located at 175 Monarch Village Way, Stockbridge, GA 30281.

For more information on the SPLOST Department, please visit www.henrycounty-ga.org/splost.

The Henry County Police Department is now using YouTube! The purpose is to work in partnership with our citizens in solving and reducing crime.

www.youtube.com/user/HenryCountyPoliceDpt

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October 29, 2014 Juvenile Probation shows support for two important causes

The Henry County Juvenile Probation Department wore pink and purple in support of Breast Cancer Awareness and Domestic Violence Awareness,

shining a light on two pervasive issues that affect so many. October is Breast Cancer Awareness month as well as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Christmas Program in Need of Volunteers and Donations

Although temperatures are still warm and trees are just beginning to lose their leaves, the folks with Connecting Henry are already starting to see “visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads” as they prepare to make sure that Christmas is bright for area children in need. Preparations for the annual Community Cares Christmas Toy Shop, to be held on December 11 and 12, are underway and officials are looking for donations of toys, money and gift cards as well as volunteers for a number of positions.

The toys and donations collected will stay right here in Henry County and go to some of our youngest residents to make Christmas a little brighter for those that might not otherwise have anything under the tree.

The Community Cares Christmas Toy Shop helps provide Christmas gifts and other resources for families in need. In years past, this holiday event has been a huge success, thanks in part to the generosity of donors and volunteers who made a difference in the lives of henrycounty-ga.org

thousands of Henry County children. Unfortunately, the need this year is expected to be just as great.

The Community Cares Toy Shop is a unique program in that it enables parents a place to “shop” for Christmas gifts for their children, while the youngsters enjoy cookies and juice and a visit with Santa. More than just a toy giveaway, the Community Cares Christmas Toy Shop helps to empower families to feel like part of the community, restoring pride and giving hope for the holidays.

Helpers will be needed in a variety of ways, from pre-event volunteering (sorting toys, decorating the warehouse, putting up temporary walls, etc…) as well as for the days of the event, to be held on December 11 and 12.

To find out how your time and talents can make a difference this Christmas season, or for more information, call 770-288-6230 or email scrumbley@co.henry.ga.us.

Sheriff McBrayer Warns That Telephone Fraud is on the Increase

Telephone calls attempting to deceive Henry County residents are on the rise. For over a year there has been an epidemic of telephone fraud sweeping the metro-Atlanta area including Henry County. It starts when residents receive telephone calls from dishonest persons identifying themselves as Law Enforcement Officers or members of a Court System. Be wary, this is an attempt to intimidate their victims into paying the scammer hundreds of dollars. No phone number is immune, whether a cell phone or landline, all numbers are being targeted.

This scam is perpetrated by using a variety of deceptive scenarios to make the potential victim believe they owe money to the law enforcement agency or court where the scammer pretends to work. They use a method to camouflage their telephone number to look like a local law enforcement phone number. They then tell the persons who answer that they were sent a notice in the mail and failed to show up for Jury Duty or pay a traffic ticket. They tell their intended victim there is a warrant out for their arrest for failure to appear or pay. If the victim believes the story they are told that the warrant can be dropped if they will pay the fine of several hundred dollars. They are frequently aware of personal information which makes the call seem even more credible.

If the victim agrees, the caller then tells them to go to a retailer that sells Green Dot prepaid cards. It could be another prepaid card but this method is preferred because of the ease to transfer funds from one card number to another and the difficulty for officials to track the transfers. If the criminal called the victim’s cell number they will often stay on the line to insure the money is put on the Green Dot card.

As an alternate method, if the potential victim says they can’t get to a Green Dot card outlet, the scammer may then ask for a credit card number.

The victim may be given a telephone number by the scammer and instructed to call them after the money

has been placed on a Green Dot card. The scammer will answer that phone using the agency designation and the fake rank and name to insure the victim believes it is official. The scammer then asks for the number of the card containing the money. The criminal electronically transfers the funds using the card number provided by the victim to a separate card number they established.

Sheriff Keith McBrayer wants residents to be aware that the Henry County Sheriff’s Office does NOT solicit payment of fines via telephone and does NOT take payment of fines via Green Dot prepaid cards. The Sheriff is unaware of any other law enforcement agency or court system that does this form of transaction.

If a credit card number was provided in a scenario such as the one mentioned, you are urged to call your credit card company as soon as possible and report this as a fraudulent transaction. Sheriff McBrayer also advises anyone receiving this type of call to hang up and report it to your local law enforcement agency immediately.

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October 29, 2014 Henry TV Program Wins National Award

Pictured in the first row (l. to r.) Broadcast Producer Kevin Williams, Agricultural and Natural Resource Agent Frank Hancock, Extension Office Director Susan Howington, Broadcast Specialist Edward Gore, District V Commissioner Bruce Holmes and Chairman Tommy Smith; second row (l. to r.) District IV Commissioner Reid Bowman, District I Commissioner Bo Moss, District III Commissioner Gary Barham and District II Commissioner Brian Preston.

The Henry County Board of Commissioners gave a special recognition to the Henry County/UGA Extension Office and the Henry County Communications Department for their collaboration on an award-winning cooking program.

Together, the two departments produce the show Garden Delights, a cooking and gardening show hosted

by Extension Services Director Susan Howington and Agricultural and Natural Resource Agent Frank Hancock, and taped, edited and produced by broadcast specialist Edward Gore and broadcast producer Kevin Williams.

The show combines local gardening tips with simple delicious recipes and a little humor as well. A new edition is taped and aired monthly.

Last month, the show was awarded this year’s National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences Communications Award for Television and Video. This informative and entertaining program first

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won at the state level, then the regional level and came out on top at the national level.

Developed at no additional cost to the County, Garden Delights adds to the variety of programming available on Henry Television. Other programs in the Henry TV lineup include the Henry County Commission meetings, Zoning Advisory Board meetings, Henry Insider, a monthly talk show featuring Henry County Commissioners and showcasing projects happening throughout the County, Silver Tone, an exercise program for homebound seniors, and special announcements from various County Departments and each of the cities in Henry County.

Garden Delights airs daily on Henry Television channel 180 on Charter Cable and channel 99 on AT&T U-verse at noon and 4 p.m. and is available on demand through the County’s website at henrycounty-ga.org.

Henry County is the First in South Metro Atlanta to Offer Self Service Kiosks For Vehicle Registration Renewal

Henry County Tax Commissioner David Curry has just made it easier for residents to renew car registrations with a new kiosk system that will reduce wait times and improve service, eventually allowing for renewals to take place after hours at a variety of locations. Henry County is one of only four counties to offer the self-service kiosks within the State of Georgia and the first one in South Metro Atlanta.

To celebrate this momentous occasion, the Henry County Tax Commissioner’s Office will be hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony on November 5, 2014 at 11:00 a.m., in the lobby of the Tax Commissioner’s McDonough in the Henry County Government Administration Building, officially opening the new service in Henry County.

The first of a proposed four kiosks is located in the McDonough location in the Henry County Administration Building, for a trial period. After the trial, the first kiosk will be installed at the Kroger Store, located on Fairview Road in Ellenwood, and additional machines will eventually be installed in several other strategic locations within Henry County, allowing taxpayers to renew their motor vehicle

registrations or insurance lapse fees in the convenience of existing retail locations.

The new kiosks will offer the user the ability to enter the tag number, VIN number or Driver’s license number to retrieve registration. The kiosk will then provide instructions to renew the registration and offer the taxpayer the option to pay with a credit or debit card. Upon approval, the renewed registration will print out, including the new sticker, which can be placed immediately on the vehicle.

This service will not only allow a taxpayer to renew while they shop, but will be available outside the normal operating hours of the tax offices.

Presently, a citizen must renew in their county of residence, however the plan is to allow citizens to renew in other counties as the program expands across the state.

The Henry County Tax Commissioner’s McDonough Office is located at 140 Henry Parkway, McDonough, GA, 30253.

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