Visions 2019 magazine

VISIONS

A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE COVINGTON NEWS

Officer Matt Cooper named 2019 Community Spirit Award winner

James Wilson named 2019 Youth of the Year

ONE NEWTON APRIL 2019

Thank you to our

Newton County business and industry partners who hire our graduates

3 They repair your car.

3 They take your blood pressure

at the doctor’s office.

3 They are first responders in times of crisis.

3 They drive your bus.

3 They cut your hair.

3 They power up your air conditioning.

3 They fix your computer.

When our graduates go out into the world, they make it better. gptc.edu @gogptc

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THE COVINGTON NEWS | April 2019

NEWTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

We support “One Newton”

The goal of the Newton County Sheriff’s Office in the “One Newton” vision is to be recognized as the kind of professional organization that values, respects, and honors the rights and dignity of the entire community. Through various collaborative efforts, the Newton County Sheriff’s Office is committed to improving life for its citizens, businesses, schools, colleges/universities and visitors.

As we see it “One Newton” means:

Building a SAFER, STRONGER Community one citizen at a time.

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WWW.NEWTONSHERIFFGA.ORG | CONNECT WITH US: April 2019 | THE COVINGTON NEWS

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

INSIDE VISIONS 2019

INTRODUCTION Table of Contents .......................................... 4 Publisher’s letter ............................................ 5 Staff list ............................................................ 5 Statement of ownership ............................... 5 Index of advertisers .................................... 58 LEARNING ‘One Newton’ theme shows itself mightly in county’s school, athletic scene ......................... 6 Work-based learning program putting students a step above the rest ............................. 10 ENTERPRISE Development is down the road for Stanton Springs .............................................................. 12 Faith, food, fellowship remain staples in Walden’s success .............................................. 16 WELLNESS Emergency department expansion to offer more opportunities for care ........................... 21 Newton Pregnancy Resource Center provides support for community’s disadvantaged pregnant women ............................................. 22

COMMUNITY Banes sees ‘One Newton’ concept growing and changing the greater Newton County community ....................................................... 26 Man on the street: What does “One Newton” mean to you? ............................................ 31 FACES Matt Cooper: Still in the fight ................... 36 GPTC: Building Newton County’s future employees ......................................................... 44 James Wilson: A product of hard work and community spirit ............................................ 46 Denny Dobbs: Giving back was just what you did .............................................................. 49 Stevanie Reynolds: Giving back every chance she gets ................................................ 52 Gary Stevenson: Advocating for the community’s children ............................................ 55

ON THE COVER 2019 Community Spirit Award Winner Officer Matt Cooper is shown in front of his Covington Police Department patrol car.

PHOTO BY TORY BOUCHILLON DESIGN BY JACKIE GUTKNECHT 4

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Visions magazine is published annually by The Covington News, a division of Newton Newspapers Inc. No portion of this issue may be copied, scanned or reproduced in any manner without prior written consent from the publisher.

Visions Magazine is available free to subscribers of The Covington News. To subscribe, call 770-787-6397.

THE COVINGTON NEWS | April 2019

INTRODUCTION

‘One Newton’ means coming together Dear reader, “One Newton” is the theme for this year’s Visions magazine for The Covington News, our second-annual in-depth look at different aspects of the community that are working together to make Newton County a place we are happy to call home.

What does “One Newton” mean? For me, it means working together for a common goal of growth in the community. Flip through the pages of this magazine to see how that effort is translated throughout the county.

This year, you will find stories about the important areas in our community like schools, business and industry, heath care and the leaders who work to drive growth in our county. Plus, we have our special Faces section which includes honors for some of the county’s biggest and brightest stars. I think you’ll be impressed by what you learn about them.

It has been our honor and privilege to have the opportunity to share these stories with you in this 60-page progress edition magazine. I think you will agree these are some of the finest folks in Newton County.

I am proud to work in Newton County and I think after reading this magazine, you’ll be even more impressed with the great place this community has become.

Jackie Gutknecht Editor and Publisher The Covington News

CONTACT US Jackie Gutknecht

Lee Ann Avery

Claire Beiter

Editor and publisher jgutknecht@covnews.com

Legals Clerk lavery@covnews.com

News Intern cbeiter@covnews.com

Cynthia BlackshearWarren

Sydney Chacon

La’Nissa Rozier

Advertising Director cbwarren@covnews.com

Advertising representative/ photographer schacon@covnews.com

Amanda Ellington

Tory Bouchillon

Circulation Director aellington@covnews.com

Photographer/writer tbouchillon@covnews.com

News Intern lrozier@covnews.com

VISIONS is a special publication of

Gabriel Stovall Sports Editor gstovall@covnews.com

April 2019 | THE COVINGTON NEWS

Jason Mussell Photographer news@covnews.com

Published weekends by Newton Newspapers Inc., 1166 Usher St., Covington GA 30014.

Telephone 770-787-6397 Online covnews.com VISIONS 5

LEARNING

‘One Newton' theme shows itself mightily in county's school, athletic scene Gabriel Stovall Visions 2019 Ashton Hagans had already won before he stepped foot onto the court at Kansas City’s Sprint Center for the Kentucky Wildcats’ Sweet 16 game with the Houston Cougars on a Friday night in late March.

He won because, while playing on the biggest stage of his career to that point, he didn’t forget where he came from, and he didn’t forget how special the place he came from is.

If the former Newton point guard wouldn’t have reclassified as a senior, he likely would’ve been celebrating a state championship with the Rams. Instead, he was getting set to help the bluest of blue blood college hoops programs take the next step toward national championship number nine.

Kentucky squeaked by upstart Houston 6258. But Hagans’ first win that night came by paying homage to his high school alma mater’s principal, Shannon Buff.

If you’re from Covington and Newton County then you probably know the significance of why Hagans wrote the #BuffTuff hashtag on

his wrist tape before Friday’s game. If you’re not from here, let me bring you up to speed.

Earlier in the month of March, Buff decided to use her Facebook page to tell her own story. Buff has breast cancer. She talked about it at length on that Facebook video, expressing the expected mixture of fear and faith of the outcome.

From there, Newton County started doing what Newton County does in times of crises.

Support, “One Newton” style.

And the support began coming in droves, on and off social media from in and out of Buff’s Newton High family. And all of it touched her to the point of tears.

“I have been so moved by the outpouring of love and support,” Buff said. “I always feel so blessed to be in this community. But when you are fighting something, it’s unbelievable how people come through. It makes you feel like you have an army behind you pushing you forward.”

Hagans’ gesture was one of the last showings of support to Buff on that day which happened to be the last day of school before spring break and one of Buff’s last days of her abbreviated school year as she prepared to kick her fight to

beat breast cancer into high gear.

At this point, stories of Newton County’s response to traumatic moments in the lives of its citizens and workers have become like the sweetest of broken records — the kind that gets stuck on the hottest or most impactful lyric of your favorite song. The kind of story you never get tired of hearing. The kind of story I never get tired of telling.

And although everybody, including myself, would rather Buff remain in her Newton High office in perfect health for the duration of the school year, this difficulty provides us another opportunity to take a snapshot of the best this community has to offer.

This is what One Newton looks like in action.

Nobody cares about athletic rivalries or demographic differences between the schools or between the various segments of the community when it comes time to show love in the moments when love is most needed. Those things melt away in times of need.

And if those things don’t matter then, why should they matter in other, less serious or life threatening times?

Buff’s diagnosis isn’t the only time such a ral-

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THE COVINGTON NEWS | April 2019

LEARNING lying of support has happened this school year.

Of course we saw — and still see — how Covington and the Newton County community came out to massively undergird the family of Covington PD Officer Matt Cooper. But the same thing happened for Eastside boys basketball coach Brent Wren.

The school year’s athletic calendar hasn’t been completed yet, so there’s still time for Newton County to wow me yet again. But one of the most touching displays of camaraderie and support I’ve seen this year came from the #WrenStrong movement.

Before the school year began, Wren was diagnosed with stomach cancer. Stage four. And although he didn’t physically touch the sidelines to coach his team, his spirit was there. And not just on the Eastside bench.

All three of the county’s GHSA schools’ boys and girls basketball teams rocked #WrenStrong warmup apparel before games at certain times throughout the season, and definitely during the times when Eastside, Newton and Alcovy teams played against each other.

Opposing coaches wore #WrenStrong shirts and wristbands even as they coached the games. Newton even opened up its school gym to host a Dungeon Boxing Gym boxing showcase fundraiser in support of the Eastside coach. It was a show of solidarity that once again proved the kind of stuff this place is made of.

Former Newton boys basketball coach Rick Rasmussen talked about it back in January while the season was still going strong. Eastside and Newton played two pretty tight ballgames during the 2018-19 season. But despite the rivalry of a formidable opponent, Rasmussen felt more so the need to join in the gesture of community unity for a fellow coach.

“Coach Wren and I had gone against each other for four years as coaches on the basketball court, and I’ve known him for a while,” Rasmussen said. “I was glad to take part in the whole WrenStrong shirt wearing, along with our team.

Even our girls coach did it.

“During the season, I talked to coach Wren for about 30 minutes one-on-one and I talked to my April 2019 | THE COVINGTON NEWS

guys about it as a team. Just about everybody on our team has know someone, a family or friend, who’d battled with cancer. So it was natural for us to take part in the gesture.”

Two days after Hagans’ freshman season at UK came to an end at the hands of an Auburn squad that made an improbable journey to the NCAA Tournament’s Final Four. But there he was winning again on that day, pulling Kentucky’s Big Blue Nation further into the mix of the specialness of Newton County. It wasn’t breast cancer awareness month or anything like that, but Hagans stood out in that Elite Eight game by donning pink kicks on the court in another nod of support for Buff.

His bio says he’s from Cartersville. It’s his birthplace and pre-middle school dwelling. But through such #BuffTuff gestures, he showed his heart — at least a large part of it — remains in Covington and Newton County.

And why wouldn’t it be?

This place has a way of owning you — of claiming you as its own, even when you weren’t looking for that to happen. When I arrived here as sports editor almost three years ago, I knew literally nothing about Newton County except what I was told by others — that I would be pleasantly surprised to find out how much of a hidden gem it is

athletically.

And it has surprised me, and made this job one of the funnest in my little sports journalism career.

But the most pleasant surprise, by far, has more to do with the col-

lective heart of this place than its sports — and more specifically, how this county’s sports community embodies that heart, almost effortlessly and on a regular basis.

I wasn’t at Newton High Friday when the student body and school staff gave Buff her tearful send off. But watching the videos alone gave me goosebumps. Yeah, I’m a sucker for such shows of support, especially when it’s so easy to believe the exaggerated reports and suggestions that we’re all supposed to hate each other, be suspicious of each other while remaining irreparably segmented.

As a community, and as a society at large, do we still have some “unity work” to do? Yes. Plenty. But these moments should remind us of what we can be if we keep the same thoughts we have for each other in times of crisis in the forefront of our minds during times of good health, normalcy and prosperity.

I think everyone can agree that that’s what One Newton is all about. And when the county operates in that way, it becomes a much, much better place to live.

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Newton County School System 2109 Newton Drive NE • Covington 770-787-1330 www.newtoncountyschools.org VISIONS 7

LEARNING

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LEARNING

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VISIONS 9

LEARNING

WORK-BASED LEARNING PROGRAM

putting students a step above the rest Jackie Gutknecht Visions 2019 Dylan Alarcon, a junior at the Newton College and Career Academy, gave up extracurricular activities to pursue his future career goals through the work-based learning program with Nisshinbo Automotive.

Working alongside Nisshinbo Director of Plant Operations Razi Sheikh, Alarcon has obtained knowledge and experience that cannot be offered in the classroom setting.

“The key is hands-on training, right on the floor, because if he does not understand the product he cannot do that,” Sheikh said. “But some of the training he is bringing from the school.”

Alarcon is taking the engineering pathway of the NCCA STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) program.

“What my hope is, instead of giving very generic examples in the schools we

can take these products, get confidential agreements signed and give this to every student in real time,” Sheikh said. “Then they would have real time exposure to what we want them to do.

“Then they have a clear job in the future.”

Nisshinbo has worked with the school systems WBL program since 2011 and has since hired on former students who worked through the program.

“Keeping the talent local, that’s the key,” Sheikh said. “That’s what my vision is.

How can we keep the talent local?

“This experience can put them 10 times ahead of the people who have no

experience.”

Alarcon started working for Nisshinbo as a sophomore, before even enrolling in the WBL program.

“My engineering teacher told me about job opening here and I thought if I could boost my engineering knowledge why not do it?” he said. “I was really excited about it, it’s an engineering opportunity. Who doesn’t want to take a step forward?”

Alarcon has plans to go to college after graduation to pursue a degree in civil engineering.

“Everybody has a value, in my opinion, but some of them are extremely special, Sheikh said. “I am still watching him very

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LEARNING

“Everybody has a value, in my opinion, but some of them are extremely special. I am still watching him very closely, but I personally think he’s going to do something different.”

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closely, but I personally think he’s going to do something different.”

Alarcon said he gets his inspiration to be successful from his family.

“My dad went into construction and currently he is the area manager of a residential construction company,” he said. “I tell myself, if my dad can make all the way up in a high position, I want to be even higher than him. He wants to see his children succeed also.”

Alarcon said he sees success in his future and that drives him to continue working hard towards his professional goals, even if it meals missing out on some other high school involvement.

“Ultimately, I know I want to become successful and to be successful you have to start early and be ahead of everybody,” he said. “I stopped high school soccer to work here and travel and maybe at that moment I thought I’d miss it a lot, but now this experience is going to help me out in the future and I’m going to have work experience in high school at an engineering company.”

Sheikh said that drive and determination has given Alarcon a step above recent college graduates that are applying for fulltime positions with Nisshinbo.

“The company’s job is to provide opportunity,” Sheikh said.

“How to prevail is the employee’s task. I think to be so young and doing these things, that’s why I believe in these younger people.

They are the future. We have to embrace the future because we are not going to be here forever.”

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Development is down the road for Stanton Springs Jackie Gutknecht Visions 2019 After the world’s largest social media platform named Newton County as the location for its next data center, the group of four counties that worked to make the deal a reality started looking towards the future.

The Joint Development Authority of Jasper, Morgan, Newton and Walton Counties has worked to not only market but bring some of the largest names

in bioscience and technology to the community in the Stanton Springs, a master-planned industrial park.

“I think the biggest next step for Stanton Springs is expanding the parkway,” Senior Project Manager for Covington/ Newton County Economic Development Serra P. Hall said.

“Shire Parkway was established back in 1998 in a partnership that we received funding from the state of Georgia. We also worked with our utility partner

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to have utilities put in the road and that was a key part of recruitment.

“Now that we’ve come to a time where we no longer have availability of land along the current Shire Parkway, it’s time to go further out.”

Construction on that roadway will begin in April 2019 to extend the four-way roadway almost a quarter-mile, providing access to the remainder of the park.

“We’ve got a little bit over 600 acres available for development,” Hall said.

With two large companies – Takeda Pharmaceuticals and Facebook - currently calling Stanton Springs Home, interest in the area is high and Hall said growth is expected.

“We have seen other companies and other groups – all the way from commercial, such as hospitality and hotels to other competing data centers – reach out to find out what is going on at Stanton Springs,” Hall said.

“Facebook is a household name, it really resonates. Not

to shy away that Takeda really changes the game on global pharmaceuticals. It is a Japanese company. It really brings a whole different caliber to the community and the metro Atlanta area for what they’re doing.

“I think the opportunities for both of them are endless and I think the opportunities for us are endless because we have two of the most respected names in their field right now right here in the area,” she said.

That name recognition has helped bring other well-respected companies to the table.

The joint effort between the counties that make up the JDA has a proven record of success when it comes to shining a light on the opportunities available within Stanton Springs.

“Shane Short (Walton County Development Authority executive director) and myself have a wonderful relationship when it comes to economic development and seeing the potential in prospects and companies coming here,” Hall said.

THE COVINGTON NEWS | April 2019

ENTERPRISE

“We enjoy – and who wouldn’t? – showing off Stanton Springs with all it has.

“I will say this, we’re very busy at showing off Stanton Springs.

Due to the amount of attention the park has received, we have had future prospects come to visit and I don’t see that slowing down anytime soon.”

Marketing of Stanton Springs comes easy, however, because it offers a unique opportunity.

“We are unlike any other place,” Hall said. “We are not Atlanta.

We are not the coastal region. We are a unique environment.

“When working with prospects, one of the best and most valuable things that I like to share with them is this isn’t just a business transaction, this is a relationship.”

Hall said that relationship is apparent as the community continues to celebrate milestones with its longstanding industry partners.

“As we continue to grow, we want companies to understand that you can be a part of this relationship, a part of this family, a part of this partnership as we grow and this is a place that you can not only flourish and continue to grow your company, but continue to be a part of the development of Newton County,” she said.

“I will say this, we’re very busy at showing off Stanton Springs.

Due to the amount of attention the park has received, we have had future prospects come to visit and I dont see that slowing down any time soon. ”

- Serra P. Hall, Senior Project Manager, Covington/Newton County Economic Development

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Faith, food, fellowship remain staples in Walden’s success Gabriel Stovall Visions 2019 If you ever hear a person in Covington bemoan the idea that good catfish in the area is hard to find, chances are they’ve not been to Walden’s Restaurant.

Started by Peggy and Tony Walton, and daughter Amanda, as an outgrowth of a church fellowship group, Walden’s has been serving up tasty, fresh catfish to Covington residents and visitors for the last four and a half years, and the Walden family doesn’t plan on stopping any time soon.

“We actually got started by doing a family and friend church fellowship in our home every other Friday night just to have quality time with friends and family, and it got too big to keep doing it at the home,” said co-owner Peggy Walton. “So my daughter, husband and I decided to start a business.”

That business became one of the top spots to find hot, fresh catfish in Newton County. You can get in two-piece to fivepiece fillet portions — meal or snack — or get it whole in two or three-piece meal quantities.

The restaurant also serves popular favorites like chicken wings (buffalo, teriyaki, lemmon paper or barbecue flavors), chicken fingers and salads. But make no mistake, it’s the catfish that’s become Walden’s calling card.

The cheese grits aren’t too bad either. “(The catfish) is just one of the items we cooked at the house, and the people seemed to really love that,” Walden said.

“In our house fellowship, we alternated between the barbecue and the catfish, but I think we’ve been successful because there doesn’t seem to be very many places in this area where you can get good catfish.”

Because the Waldens began with a solid

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customer base from their church fellowship group, they didn’t have to work quite as hard to establish a reputation in the community as, say, an eatery that’s moving in fresh and new to the area.

But since its beginning, the word has steadily gotten out about the golden brown goodness that is Walden’s fried catfish. And the more people find out about it, the more it seems Walden’s footprint grows and people keep coming back for more.

Peggy Walden will quickly tell you that restaurant’s secret to success goes far beyond what happens in the kitchen. Some of the same spiritual fervor that birthed those initial fellowship meetings has followed the Waldens into their business venture.

“Our trust in God is the main thing,” Walden said. “We just like to do things according to His word. We like our customers to know that we have the love of

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Matthew Grimes | Visions 2019

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Matthew Grimes | Visions 2019

Co-owner Peggy Walden is prepared to serve a customer during a Thursday afternoon burst of business.

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THE COVINGTON NEWS | April 2019

ENTERPRISE Christ in us, and we want them to know that they are loved. I think people also love the food and they love the casual atmosphere, and they really do love our staff.”

That staff is made up of a good mix of family, friends and friends of the family, and Walden says its the backbone of their business.

“I have a wonderful staff. My family is very supportive, and we all kind of work together to make things happen,” she said.

They also got good help from church friends, including Jason Maddox who owned the property that Walden’s occupies. Having that relationship, Walden said, was key to their success, especially early on.

“He’s been an amazing landlord for us, and really instrumental in getting it going,” she said.

Walden said she now attends the Church at Covington where her son-in-law and daughter are family and youth pastors there. It’s been just

nine months since Walden’s been a member there, but already she’s had an opportunity to impact the congregation’s small groups ministries and fellowship with their food.

One unique aspect about Walden’s business culture is the fact that, despite the restaurant’s success, Walden’s is only open three days a week — Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m.

That’s not because they don’t believe the business couldn’t be successful six or seven days a week, but Walden said the way her family’s priorities are set up, quality time trumps business expansion for now.

“We just really cherish our family time, and at our age starting a business, we really treasure that quality family time over business,” she said.

“So we chose to keep it to just three days. My husband and I aren’t really considering expanding for now, but I don’t know, maybe in the future if we had a manager to go in with

“Our trust in God is the main thing. We just like to do things according to His word. We like our customers to know that we have the love of Christ in us and we want them to know that they are loved.”

- Peggy Walden, Co-owner, Walden’s Restaurant us and expand, maybe that would be possible.”

Regardless of what things may or may not change in the near future, one thing that will stay the same is the Walden’s commitment to serving the entire Covington and Newton County community with excellent food and customer care.

“The people, the community here. It’s special,” Peggy Walden said. “We couldn’t as for a better location. It’s close to the square and it’s convenient and just an easy area. So we just hope to continue to satisfy our customers, continue to grow this business and continue being a light in this Newton County community.”

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Jackie Gutknecht | Visions 2019

Piedmont Newton Hospital CEO Dr. Eric S. Bour reviews the new patient portal in the emergency department with ER Nurse Courtney Gardner.

Emergency department expansion to offer more opportunities for care Jackie Gutknecht Visions 2019 The long-awaited expansion to Piedmont Newton Hospital’s emergency department is set to open in May as the third phase of construction nears completion.

“We were delayed slightly with some unpredictable challenges with the infrastructure of the old ER,” Piedmont Newton CEO Dr. Eric S. Bour said.

“We’re now working in the old ER and just like any other renovation – whether it’s at home or in the emergency room – you just run into stuff that set us back.”

This expansion will double the capacity of the emergency department and cut down on the time spent in the waiting 18

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room.

“We’ve gone from 16 beds in the original ER, we’re now down to 14 in the construction and it will be 32 when we’re done,” Bour said. “The expectation is there will be less time spent in the waiting room and fewer patients that end up in a bed in the hallway because not having enough rooms.”

The design of the threephase expansion offers a brighter and fresher visual for patients who are needing emergency care.

While the hospital’s emergency department is receiving an upgrade, the Piedmont brand continues to stretch its wings across Newton County and provides continuous care for patients through the entire process.

A new edition of that care comes through the addition of a Piedmont WellStreet Urgent Care.

“The thought is once you open an urgent care, your ER volumes will drop,” he said.

“While that’s the thought, we’ve seen no change in the volume of our emergency room. In fact, the volume of the ER is probably higher now than it’s ever been.

“There are Mondays where we are seeing 150 to 180 patients in that emergency room.”

The new urgent care option offers a place for patients who have minor injuries, while the emergency room typically treats more serious conditions, Bour said. The continuation of the Piedmont brand across healthcare service providers

allows for a smooth transition between doctor’s visits.

“Our relationship with them is, if they see someone there that is perhaps sicker than they thought they were – for example someone who thought they had a stomach virus but might have appendicitis – then they send those people to the emergency department,” he said.

“That’s kind of how the process works.”

Not only does the Piedmont brand overlap when it comes to emergency healthcare, but it is also associated with a wide variety of specialties throughout the county.

“It is an enormous sense of pride,” he said. “Not pride for me, but pride for this town and I’m proud that Piedmont is able to make such a big impact THE COVINGTON NEWS | April 2019

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Photos by Jackie Gutknecht | Visions 2019

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April 2019 | THE COVINGTON NEWS

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THE COVINGTON NEWS | April 2019

WELLNESS

Jackie Gutknecht | Visions 2019

Piedmont Newton Hospital’s emergency department expansion will offer a fresh new look in its patient rooms.

Jackie Gutknecht | Visions 2019

Once complete, the emergency department expansion will double the number of beds, hopefully reducing the need for beds in the hallways.

on this community and an influence on this community.

“I think we are very purposeful in our involvement. We try to make sure we are doing what we need to do and what’s right for us to do as the healthcare provider for Newton County.”

Bour said he is constantly overwhelmed by the positive stories he has heard about improved patient experience since the Piedmont brand came to Newton County through the acquisition of the hospital three years ago.

“I’ve been here almost 18 months now and the goal was to reconnect our hospital with our community,” he said. “Whatever the reasons may have been, that is my focus. I am kind of a community hospital guy, that’s where I see my bandwidth.

“It really is important for us to be out there and be involved with the things that make sense strategically.”

Bour said it is that connection between the hospital and the community that continues to mold the healthcare industry in Newton County to make sure the community’s unique needs are being met.

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Newton Pregnancy Resource Center provides support for community’s disadvantaged pregnant women Tory Bouchillon Visions 2019 Newton Pregnancy Resource Center is a nonprofit organization run by women in and around the Covington community who volunteer their time and effort to provide an abundance of resources and be a support system for pregnant women in Newton County who don’t have either of those things.

Pregnancy is one of the biggest blessings one can receive, but for some, it can feel like one of the biggest burdens. NPRC is there to make it less of a burden and more of a blessing for those who need it.

NPRC is currently open two days a week (Monday and Wednesday), but just announced that in the next couple of months, it will open for a third day.

On those days, one can stop by anytime to receive counseling, a free pregnancy test, a connection to a resource in the community, information on options regarding her pregnancy and support from people who understand what she’s going through. She can even schedule an ultrasound with the center and meet with its resident registered nurse. NPRC

also offers an “earn while you learn” program where women can earn points to spend in the NPRC Boutique on items like baby clothes, cribs, diapers and more. Points are earned by watching educational videos about one's pregnancy and what to expect.

Rachael Long serves as the executive director at NPRC. She was born in Madison, Wisconsin, grew up in Lexington, Kentucky, and moved to Stone Mountain in high school. She graduated from Georgia State University in 1989, and in the same year, married her husband, Charlie. Rachael and Charlie have three children, all of them married, and four grandchildren with one on the way.

I had a chance to sit down with her recently, and what follows is the story of how perfectly her life prepared her to be the right woman for this job.

Q: How did you end up in this job position, and where did you hear about it?

Rachael: The way I ended up here was certainly not my plan. I'll just tell you the story.

So, I was working for another ministry, Bible Study Fellowship, and really thought that that was where I would stay. I had not volunteered with the pregnancy center or really

worked with the center at all.

But then, I would say probably early back in January of last year, God really started stirring up my heart for young women in this community—in Covington specifically. He gave me a couple of girls that I started discipling, one in particular from Bread and Butter that I just met at the coffee shop and just started meeting with her. And so God was moving my heart from what I had been doing, which was overseeing the children's program for BSF in the Southeast, to the women in our community.

So in about July, I received a call from someone saying that they thought I should apply for this job. And initially I told them no—that I was fine where I was. But the following week, two more friends called and said I think you should apply for this job. I really didn't want to because it was a part of my life that I really hadn't revisited in a long time, but as I began to pray about it, I knew that God was saying it's time. And that's exactly what He did.

So, my story is at 19, I was one of these girls.

I was pregnant, wasn’t married, and my boyfriend at the time bailed on me — completely bailed on me. And so, I went to my mom, told her I was pregnant, and she gave me one

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option. Just one choice. And the only choice my mom gave me was abortion. And at 19, when you don’t have anybody else, it’s not a real choice.

And I realized that had there been a center like this available to me, I would have made a different choice. Because I would have had people to support me even when my boyfriend and my family would not.

So, that’s why I'm passionate about what we do because we give women real choices. We serve women who find themselves facing an unplanned pregnancy, who want to keep the baby, but they don't know how to make it work.

And so, we promise to be with them every week until the baby's born and up to a year after the baby's born, even if nobody else in their lives will do that for them.

Q: What does this job mean to you?

Rachael: It means so much to me because it's an opportunity to be the hands and feet of Christ.

I don't think real believers are supposed to just sit back on the sidelines and do nothing. We're

WELLNESS

supposed to serve the Lord. We're not just supposed to sit in a pew on Sunday morning or just write a check. Those are important things, and we're supposed to go to church on Sunday morning.

We’re supposed to worship, yes.

We're supposed to give financially, yes. But if that's all we do, what are we really doing for the Kingdom?

It’s not really about giving back

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to the community. Although, I'm grateful that I can. It's about giving back to a Lord who saved me.

It's about doing what He’s called me to do. That’s what it means to me.

Q: How has it impacted your life?

Rachael: I have been impacted in ways I never expected. Because I'm seeing God work in ways I've

never seen Him work.

We pray for specific needs. And He meets them almost immediately, and I've never seen that or experienced that quite like this.

We have an opportunity to tell women about the Lord, to share the gospel, and we do that here as well. It's not just about offering choices. It's about being the church to women who would

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VISIONS 23

WELLNESS never walk through the doors of a church because they’re too ashamed. And so, we get to introduce them to Christ for the very first time and show them that they don’t have to be ashamed; Christ died for their shame.

Q: What kind of impact is it having on our community from what you can see?

Rachael: Well, this year we have already seen 45 clients. Now, the very first year we were open, we only saw 40. We've only been here two and a half years, so that's huge. If we continue at the rate that we are right now, we will see 208 women this year.

We are seeing the most vulnerable women in our community. The majority of the women we see are either unemployed or at the poverty level. They don't have resources, and they don’t have parenting skills. Of course a lot of us don't, you know it's not something you're born with, but a lot of times these women really have just nothing. And they might come from backgrounds where they have poor examples of parenting, so to be able to impact 208 women with that is huge.

We have had so far this year six women come here who were still considering abortion when they came here—when they first walked through the doors that was still an option.

After talking with us, after having the ultrasound, all of those women chose to continue the pregnancy because we're going to be here to support them.

You know I have yet — this is just me personally — I have yet to meet a woman who had an abortion, who just really wanted to have an abortion. The majority of women who make that decision simply can't figure out any other way. And we offer another way. If you really don't want to have an abortion, we can help you figure out a way to make it.

Q: What is the history of the pregnancy center? How did it come about?

Rachael: Yes. There were a few women in our community that God just began to move in their heart that we needed a pregnancy center. And so they kind of talked it up around town, planned meeting at a library, thinking that maybe a handful of people would come, and I want to say like over a hundred people showed up.

Q: How important is having something like NPRC in our community?

Rachael: We fill a space that no other organization in our community fills. There are great non- profit organizations here doing great work, but we specifically meet the need for a woman who has an unplanned pregnancy, women who are pregnant who don't want to be pregnant and need help. That's the specific need that we meet, and it's not met anywhere else in this community.

Q: What else would you like to community to know?

Rachael: I would just like the community to

know that we are here. We're dedicated to this; we're dedicated to the women in this community. And we need the community’s support to stay here. We're growing very fast. And it requires money to stay open, that's just the truth.

So, you know, I hate talking about money, but it's the truth. We have to have money to be able to do what we're doing. So as the Lord leads, I would pray that God would just bring more people in the community to be connected to us, to be a part of what God is doing here.

Q: How can the community support the organization?

Rachael: Lots of ways, it’s not just financial, though certainly that is a big part of what we need.

Prayer is huge. Our volunteers need prayer; our clients need prayer; we all need prayer.

That is the most important thing that we need.

We need volunteers. We always need volunteers. Right now we’re in a place where we have an abundance of volunteers, but as we grow, we’ll need more.

We need volunteers to help with events, to help with, you know, if we do move into a new building we’ll need volunteers to help us with that, so there’s lots of ways that people can help.

And donating diapers, oh my goodness!

Diapers and formula, those are huge needs always.

--Dawn Anderson is one of the center’s fre-

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quent visitors. She is originally from Denver, Colorado and moved here to pursue a career in TV and film. At 38 years old, Dawn found out she was pregnant. NPRC helped her through her pregnancy with weekly visits and counseling. On Jan. 5 she gave birth to her son, Debonaire Dereck. According to his mom, he loves music, and her hope for him is to start in acting and casting early in life.

The following will give you a picture of what receiving support from the center can do in someone’s life.

Q: What is your story/history with NPRC, and what was your experience like?

Dawn: Well, my story is I was expecting having a baby, and I am 39 years old. I found out that I was pregnant, and I didn't believe it, so I came. I googled free pregnancy test and on Google and this is what came up in my area.

When I came here, I met with someone, and they helped me do a pregnancy test, and I was able to read the results and see that I was truly pregnant. And they explained to me the program and how it works here, you know, you get educational experiences in regards to your child and different things to learn to look forward to every week to every month and then, you know, by doing that you get points for bringing somebody or participating in the class or the videos and then you get to accumulate points and get stuff out of the shop in there, and they have a lot of nice, really nice, good things for babies and moms.

And so I needed a support system because I'm always supporting everybody like my mom, my April 2019 | THE COVINGTON NEWS

family, and [NPRC] was 100% my support system for moral support and education.

Because my mother is a little older, everybody that I am friends with and family with our kids are grown, and it's been so long since they've had kids, so they didn't really know some of the new things that you should or should not do.

And so, by coming here, it was very educational and supportive and by bonding with a couple of the ladies here that I saw on a weekly basis, it really helped me get through not having depression and learning different things and, you know, giving me things that I never even thought that I would get.

And I know it was all part of the grace of God that had me to look that up on Google and to come here because I was praying and asking him to show me what to do and asking him to guide me and He guided me here. And not only did they help me, they also prayed with me and that's the kind of support that I really needed.

And so that's basically my story. I've been coming here as many times as I can. Even if I don't have a car, I find a way to come because they have been very supportive, and their doors are open for you.

And so I've been taking advantage of the opportunity and I mean, I wish I could do more to give back to them because they've been so generous.

I mean around Christmas I was, you know, getting ready to have my baby, and I didn't have a car seat. I didn't have a crib, and I told them I was believing God for that, and I open the door and Shelly, the coordinator, had a brand new car seat and a Pack-and-Play Play-

pen for me for Christmas.

And that was like, this is God. You know what I'm saying? And so, it was just, I think, everything that I put out there in life that it’s coming back to me now, by being here and being a part and having a baby and everything and I was a little afraid but, you know, putting my trust into God is what has given me peace because there's not anything that I've wanted for. They've helped provide. I mean everything. I haven't had to spend. The only thing that I spent, well my mom spent money on, was this [stroller] here. Everything else they’ve helped provide, and I've just been so thankful.

Like, this is crazy. So, that's my story with them.

Q: How important do you think something like this is in our community?

Dawn: I think it's super important. It is very, very, very much needed everywhere. There's a lot of people like myself that had no idea that it exists. And there's still some people that are here, and they don't even know that this is available.

And in some communities it’s not,

but I feel like it's very important, and it needs to be in every community because it would probably help, you know, people that are are maybe less fortunate, uneducated, or dealing with some mental or depression type things.

I just feel like, you know, it's a reward to have a baby — that God blesses us with children.

And so, in order to, you know, be confident in that, sometimes you need a support system. And it's needed; it’s super needed everywhere. There's no reason why there shouldn't be any of these everywhere. I think that it's exceedingly, abundantly above all things I could ask or think, you know what I'm saying? I mean, I don't know what I would have done without them. I'm telling you the truth. I really don't, so I think it's super important.

--As Rachael said, NPRC is always looking for volunteers and donations of money or items like diapers and formula. To become involved, go to newtonprc.org, give them a call at 770-415-1176, or visit them at 6142 Gordy St.

VISIONS 25

COMMUNITY

Banes sees ‘One Newton’ concept growing and changing the greater Newton County community Gabriel Stovall Visions 2019 Marcello Banes can pinpoint the exact moment when the phrase “One Newton” became a thing for him.

He was sitting in a board meeting on a Friday morning a little over two years ago, listening to Newton County Schools superintendent Samantha Fuhrey give an update on the things that were happening in the school system.

As she was talking about unity and being conjoined around one goal, the phrase, one Newton emerged, and it immediately struck a chord with Banes.

Banes, 43 and a lifelong resident of Newton County, was about a year into settling into his role as Newton County Commission Chairman. And in that time period, while adjusting to the roles of his new duty, one thing kept invading his universal to-do list — finding a way to unify the county from a positional leadership perspective.

“When I first came into office, I kind of felt like the communication piece was missing and didn’t exist with the local government, with the county officials and municipalities,” Banes said. “I was trying to figure out a way to address that.”

Enter Fuhrey’s comment about the school system becoming one Newton. Banes said he remembers walking away from that board meeting with a bit of pep in his step at the unexpected presentation of this concept.

“She was telling me that their goal was to be one Newton within

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THE COVINGTON NEWS | April 2019

the school system,” Banes said. “I thought it was an excellent idea. I thought about that for a while and it always kind of stayed with me.

It always rung in the back of my head.”

After a while, Banes said he was moved to expand the one Newton concept beyond just the school system to become a county-wide staple of unity and camaraderie. It has since become the best way to describe a renewed sense of connectivity and camaraderie within the county’s governmental structures.

“When we rolled it out, it really took flight and began to manifest itself to become our rallying cry,” Banes said. “We’re using it to bridge the gap within the elected officials of every city and town within the county. We said if we can make it work among us, it can do a lot to make our entire community stronger.”

Perhaps the biggest place the strength of the one Newton drive has been seen, Banes said, is in the county’s strategic plan. Instead of every governmental entity existing in silos and operating on their own and outside of the input of others, Banes said the one Newton focus created fresh opportunities for Newton County’s leaders to come around the same table and discuss together how to create an optimal future.

The litmus test for Banes’ strategy was in the actually construction of the county’s strategic plan. Banes said he and the commis-

sion met with over 500 people — everyone from active clergy to folks who work with the county’s homeless population, leaders of all the county’s response units, including the sheriff department and every individual police department in the county, all mayors and regular citizens — and it was through this exhaustive time of community exploration, Banes said, where he realized how much everyone in the county seemed to want a one Newton focus.

“Through these conversations, everybody was basically echoing the same sentiment, that we needed to be more unified and to do

COMMUNITY so intentionally,” Banes said.

As a result, for the first time in the 20 years Banes says he’s been following Newton County politics, he saw a different kind of cohesiveness and cooperation.

It was evident in an economic development trip that Banes and one of the county’s mayors took to Washington DC to meet with congressmen regarding the federal legislature. It was shown in the decision to bring together every city and county official possible together at the same time to discus service delivery strategies.

“There was a time — and I was told this

“When we rolled it out, it really took flight and began to manifest itself to become our rallying cry. We’re using it to bridge the gap within the elected officials of every city and town within the county. We said if we can make it work among us, it can do a lot to make our entire community stronger.”

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COMMUNITY happened before I came into office — that this didn’t happen,” Banes said. “I was told that this was the first time we could all come together and talk about our service delivery and how the components of it would affect every city in the community. That shows that a trust factor is being built. IT’s been a good thing and something that’s lacking. And now that it’s here, I think the mayors are glad to be able to have the opportunity to say, ‘hey, if we’re gonna talk about infrastructure and ordinances that can affect all cities, let’s all have a voice in it.’”

Banes said the county leaders’ bond has transcended the board rooms and meeting rooms.

“It’s starting to become noticeably to our community,” he said. “When you look at an event like our Family Fun Day, and you see all the elected officials come out and be in one place and on one platform to talk to the people, it’s amazing. To see the Newton County sheriff, the Covington, Oxford, Social Circle and Porterdale police departments, our local fire department, everyone in one place getting along and being happy to be there, talking to the citizens, it just shows you the great make-up of this great county.”

Banes said the way one Newton has affected the creation of the strategic plan is one of the movement’s high points, but the other he

mentioned was the way the community came out in support of injured Covington Police Officer Matt Cooper.

Cooper was shot and injured in the line of duty while trying to stop a shoplifter on Labor Day in 2018. After an extended hospital stay, Cooper has continued a slow but sure recovery process. Perhaps the community’s highlighted moment of unified support came during an Eastside football game when members of the sheriff ’s department and all Newton County response units walked out onto the field at Homer Sharp Stadium for a pregame tribute to Cooper.

That, Banes said, was a sign that the one Newton trickle down effect he had hoped for was starting to take shape.

“Again, I’ve been here all my life, and I’ve never seen anything like that,” Banes said.

“The Matt Cooper situation, we hate that it happened. It was a horrible situation for our community, but the way that our law enforcement community came together in that situation was amazing to me.”

Banes said he looks to promote the theme in every aspect of Newton County life.

“I’m a big college football fan, so when I turn on the TV on a Saturday and I see a kid playing at Georgia or at Georgia Tech or at Duke or at Clemson or maybe for the Jaguars at Southern, I don’t say that kid came from

the west side or the east side or the south side,” he said. “I simply say they came from Newton County.”

It’s getting to the point now where Banes says he can see the one Newton theme as a common thread among many of the county’s entities, including small businesses and even sports and recreation.

Now, with about a year left in his term as Newton County chairman, Banes said he wants to see one Newton expand.

“Newton County is a great place,” he said. “A great community. There are things that try to divide us, just like in every community. Right now there’s a lot going on with the monument in the square. I’m hoping that our one Newton theme can grow to the point where some of these things that try to divide us can be minimized if not completely eliminated.”

In order for that to happen, Banes said he’ll call upon the common, everyday Newton County resident to embrace this brand of unity.

“I want to encourage our community to consider one Newton,” he said. “For those who haven’t, I hope they do. It doesn’t matter to me what side of the line you’re on. I don’t really push for Democrat or Republican. That doesn’t matter to me. I push for togetherness, and I want to see us all push for that in a way that will make a great place even greater.”

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THE COVINGTON NEWS | April 2019

COMMUNITY

Anthony Banks | Visions 2019

The way Newton County’s law enforcement community showed support for injured Covington Police Department officer Matt Cooper is one way Newton County Commision Chairman Marcello Banes sees the ‘One Newton’ theme taking on a life of its own.

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VISIONS

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VISIONS 31

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www.TheWildArt.com 1105 Washington Street On the Square in Covington 404-455-1594 32

VISIONS

THE COVINGTON NEWS | April 2019

MAN ON THE STREET

COMMUNITY To make this year’s Visions Magazine possible, The Covington News staff reached out several community leaders throughout Newton County to find a theme that best represented the progress in the community. With that said, we asked them all the same question ...

What does ‘One Newton’ mean to you?

“What “One Newton” means to the me, that the entire community works endlessly around our leaders to “Eradicate all Poverty” and “Drive our Unemployment to Zero” within our county and region.”

- David Bernd, Vice President of Covington/Newton County Economic Development

“One Newton means Unity as a community.

I’ve seen it time and time again. When the County and the Cities and the School Board work together, good things happen. When they don’t, no amount of work by any individual can make things right.”

- Dave Belton, Georgia House of Representatives

“‘When I see or hear ‘One Newton’ the first thing that comes to my mind is everyone working together for the common good for the community regardless of race, religion, gender, sexuality and political affiliation. When Officer Matt Cooper was shot in the line of duty, I saw the Newton County community come together like no other. Its sad that it takes a tragic event to bring us closer to one another but over time we return to our normal lives and we forget the importance of how working together really impacts our community in a positive way. We have a phenomenal community and we can accomplish so much more. So, I challenge everyone to just do the right thing and lets work together for the betterment of Newton County. ONE NEWTON!!!”

- Chief Tyrone Oliver, City of Social Circle Police Department

April 2019 | THE COVINGTON NEWS

VISIONS 33

COMMUNITY “To me the phrase is predicated on certain assumptions. The most important assumption is that we are all Newton County citizens that want what’s best for our community. It is not not necessary to force commonality beyond that point. If so we are asking people to exist outside of how God created them as individuals. The significance of ‘One Newton’ is a diverse group living what’s comfortable to them while being part of a greater, flourishing community.”

- Stan Edwards, Newton County Board of Commissioners, District 1

“One Newton is our community pulling in the same direction to advance everyone as a collective group. That is citizens, businesses and government working to lift our people up.”

- Mayor Ronnie Johnston, City of Covington

“I think of One Newton as envisioning a community where the people’s business is conducted collaboratively, with transparency and in a spirit of fairness and equality of opportunity.”

- Mayor Jerry Roseberry, City of Oxford

“‘Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never—in nothing, great or small, large or petty—never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense’ ~ Winston Churchill I believe we have a great County and even a greater need for community more now than ever, we are growing faster now than Newton County has seen in many years. Our Children are our future and I feel that my mission is; to make it better for them in every way possible.”

- Chief Jason Cripps, Porterdale Police Department

“‘One’ means coming together in unity and I view One Newton as seeing beyond the now and being able to overcome the barriers we are faced with daily, whether it is political, racial, holistic, homelessness or hunger. Operating as One, is going beyond things that would hinder us from coming together. I believe the ‘Fraud and Scam Campaign’ concept that the Newton County Sheriff ’s Office has implemented, ‘If you See Something, Say Something’ is in line with the One Newton vision. This will help your friends and your community become safer. Neighbors have to become neighbors and families have to become families. We must always stand together for truth. Then we will become a One Newton.”

- Sheriff Ezell Brown, Newton County

“‘One Newton is defined as a force needed to accelerate a mass and in relation to our community One Newton is just that - a force whose strength is made up of our community members and organizations that want to move Newton County forward through positive growth. An individual or single organization can only do so much alone. By joining forces we gain more strength to accomplish our goals. That is what One Newton means to me - it’s our community joining forces to make our home a better place for the generations to come.

- Abigail Coggin, Board of Education Vice Chair and Operations Director of Arts Association in Newton County

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“I see One Newton as an achievable goal that must be facilitated through the coming together of all segments of our community in a spirit of good deeds and kindness to one another. Government must listen to the people and work to make Newton a place where families can flourish through excellent education and a vision of a bright future. ‘Reach out and touch somebody’s hand. Make it a better place if you can.’”

- Mayor Arline Chapman, City of Porterdale

High-Quality Air Conditioning Services Since 1986 34

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THE COVINGTON NEWS | April 2019

“‘One Newton means to me that all of the major and minor parts that make up this county understand the visions, what we have to offer, the opportunities in this county and we’re all moving in the direction to accomplish those goals.

We need to act together as a group, rather than independently serving our own interests. It also means a connection between county, cities, incorporated and unincorporated areas, government, politics, first responders, healthcare, business. All of us need to understand the huge opportunity we have with this community and work in unison to make this an even better place than it already is. ” - Dr, Eruc S. Bour, Chief Executive Officer, Piedmont Newton Hospital “One Newton means that we are all one community. It means that all neighborhoods, groups, and organizations are working together for the betterment of the community. I see this as direction on where we are going and how we are getting there. It is my hope that this will allow all community organizations, like the Covington-Newton Chamber of Commerce, to work together to obtain the main goals.”

- Ralph Staffins, Covington/Newton County Chamber of Commerce President

COMMUNITY

“‘Diverse groups of people from all over Newton County coming together to listen to each others ideas, acknowledge each other’s goals and find a way to connect through the conflict. We all have two things in common, we CHOSE to live here and we want to be in a community that helps each of us live our BEST life.”

- Katie Vaughn, Arts Association in Newton County Director of Finance

“As a young professional living in Newton County, I’m proud and encouraged by the ‘One Newton’ theme. This, to me, means that our community will continue thriving together and growing as one rather than divided. It also gives me hope to continue my career and raise my family in a place that has everyone’s best interests at heart. ” - Serra P. Hall, Senior Project Manager, Covington/Newton County Office of Economic Development

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VISIONS 35

COMMUNITY SPIRIT

Photos by Jason Mussell and Tory Bouchillon | Visions

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VISIONS

THE COVINGTON NEWS | April 2019

COMMUNITY SPIRIT

MATT COOPER

Still in the fight Jackie Gutknecht Visions 2019 Whether it is a “148” sticker on the back windshield of the car in front of you or a “148” banner hanging from the balcony of the historic Newton County Courthouse, Officer Matt Cooper’s badge number has become a staple in the Newton County community.

It was Labor Day 2018 when the Cooper family’s lives forever changed and the overall community spirit of Newton County would never be the same.

After growing up in Covington, Matt Cooper went off to North Georgia College and

April 2019 | THE COVINGTON NEWS

State University and joined the ROTC program. That is where he found his passion for service and decided to join the Georgia Army National Guard.

“It was about so much more to me, it was about helping the person next to me,” he said.

“I always loved that concept.”

By December 2005, he received orders for Iraq and later deployed again to Afghanistan after graduating sniper school. After the deployment was over, Matt’s military contract was complete and he knew his life of service had to continue.

“I then enrolled in EMT school through Georgia Piedmont Technical College and started working on the ambulance and emer-

gency room as a patient care tech.,” he said.

It was that EMS training that would come to save his life years later as he was serving in as a police officer with the Covington Police Department.

Once he returned to Covington, Matt met his wife, Kristen Osburn Cooper, who he calls the best decision he’s ever made.

“Matt had recently moved back to Covington and everyone was encouraging us to go on a date,” Kristen said. “We eventually did and I knew very quickly that I cared for him.

Matt and I got along effortlessly. It wasn’t long before I knew he was the person I was meant to marry.”

Together the two have two children, Na-

VISIONS 37

COMMUNITY SPIRIT talie and Noah.

On Sept. 3, 2018, Matt Cooper got up, got dressed and went to briefing a the Covington Police Department headquarters, just as he did every other morning for work. On that day, his patrol car was having a mechanical problem, which prevented him from returning home to eat breakfast with his family.

Once his car was repaired, he fueled up and was out on patrol responding to calls in Covington.

“I can’t really remember all of my calls,” he said.

In the meantime, Matt’s wife, Kristen, was spending the Labor Day holiday with their children.

“I pushed our kids in a stroller to the YMCA that morning,” she said. “I met one of my friends for a run around town. When I got back to the YMCA I was exhausted and instantly spotted Matt taking our daughter Natalie to the restroom. I remember being so thankful he was there, because I was exhausted from running. Like always Matt was there when I needed him.

“I had forgotten my water at home so he purchased me one. We sat on the couch in front of the vending machine for a little while and talked about our plans for after he got off work. Eventually, I cooled off and got Noah and Natalie and walked home.”

Kristen took their children to her parent’s

house to swim because Matt was working.

“I sent Matt a video of the kids playing on an inflatable water slide and that was the last time I heard from him,” she said.

Matt Cooper was one of several officers who responded to a shoplifting call at 12:24 p.m. at the Walmart on Industrial Boulevard with several suspects on scene.

“I remember getting the two juveniles and taking them to the Loss Prevention Office,” he said. “Then someone came in and said ‘We’ve got one running,’ so I went out to help out.

“I pulled across the street to the old Little Phillie’s and went around the left side of the building – between the woods and building – and I remember just looking around.

“I remember seeing him and I said ‘Show me your hands,’ and I remember rolling on my left side and thinking, ‘I think I was shot, my wife is going to kill me.’ Then I remember just waking up in the hospital.”

Kristen said she was unaware of what had occurred until CPD Assistant Chief Phillip Bradford approached her parent’s home.

“I was swimming with my mom, Denise Osburn, in the pool and I saw a car pass by,” she said. “I told her it sounded like they pulled in the driveway. About two minutes later, I saw Assistant Chief Philip Bradford at the fence. He told me Matt had been injured and that I needed to come with him.

“I jumped out of the pool and began

screaming. I got dressed and woke my dad, James Osburn, up. He works night shift at Emory and was sleeping. We rode to Atlanta Medical Center.

“During this time, I had a variety of emotions. I wondered the severity of the situation and I hoped he wasn’t in any pain. I remember looking at my phone and seeing messages, but none were from him. I knew then it was bad. I prayed a lot.

“I just wanted to be with him.”

Matt credited his EMS and public safety training to his survival. That, and the fact that he knew he still had memories to make with his family.

“I knew I didn’t want to choke on my blood,” he said. “I knew laying on your left was a recovery position, so I rolled to my left so I wouldn’t choke on my own blood. I knew just having the will power to fight and survive does a lot and that’s what I kept thinking.

“I want to watch my kids grow up and play baseball. I want to walk my daughter down the aisle and make new memories. That’s what kept me going.”

Since that incident, Matt has undergone numerous medical procedures and physical therapy to recover from the shooting. His battle is not over, but he’s still in the fight.

“The road to recovery has been a roller coaster,” Kristen said. “There have been sleepless nights and lots of tears. Even though

Thank you Matt Cooper for showing us all what

CO U R AG E , OPTIMISM, P E R S E R VA N C E and

FA I TI H

l oo k li k e .

We are honored to call you a fellow officer and friend.

Congratulations on being chosen as the 2019 Community Spirit Award Recipient.

Covington Police Department

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VISIONS

THE COVINGTON NEWS | April 2019

COMMUNITY SPIRIT

Congratulations

Officer Matt Cooper on being named Covington News

2019 Community Spirit Award Winner

April 2019 | THE COVINGTON NEWS

148

VISIONS 39

COMMUNITY SPIRIT

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VISIONS

THE COVINGTON NEWS | April 2019

COMMUNITY SPIRIT

there have been hardships the miracles have been amazing to witness. The most comforting part of recovery has been that God has been with us during each and every second of it.”

Matt’s daily routine no longer includes a morning police briefing or responding to calls. It is now his full-time responsibility to get stronger and continue to recover.

“I get up at 6:30 a.m. and leave at 8:30 a.m. for rehab at Shepherd Pathways. I get home at 5,” he said. “I do this Monday, Thursdays and Fridays. Saturdays I work out with a trainer. Sundays I go to church and the YMCA. In addition to my daily therapies I also do ESTEM at home and work on cognition and speech skills. I’m constantly rehabbing to get back.”

He will forever live with a reminder of this incident, as the bullet remains in his neck, right next to his carotid artery.

“The risks outweigh the benefits of removing it,” Kristen said.

“His body has kind of encapsulated it, so it’s not moving. If he got in a wreck, it wouldn’t move.

Your body, as a defense mecha-

nism, is protecting it in a way.”

Matt said his relationship with Kristen has grown through this incident.

“We’ve been through hell and back together,” he said. “It made me pray again, so it kind of brought me back to Jesus.”

Through the recovery process, the Newton County community has rallied around the Cooper family. Through lemonade stands, donations, raffles and other community events, the generosity and support has helped bring them through the fight.

“I was just trying to do my job and be a nice guy,” Matt said. “I had no idea I impacted all these people. It makes me feel really good and it makes it worth it in a sense.”

Kristen said the community response has not only helped through the recovery process, but helped validate what kind of man she knew Matt to be.

“I’ve always known Matt was special and had very special characteristics,” Kristen said.

“I’ve always known that and never doubted it. Really early on, I knew his character was very dif-

“How do you tell an entire community ‘Thank you?’”

- Matt Cooper,

2019 Community Spirit Award Winner April 2019 | THE COVINGTON NEWS

ferent and honest. You get what you see with him and you know he has integrity.

“When this happened and seeing everybody else who had seen it. As a wife, there’s nothing that can make you prouder and thinking that this is who gets to be our kid’s dad and who will eventually be a grandad for our family. It made me very proud.”

While Matt said he could not

fully understand the impact of the community’s response until about a month after the shooting, Kristen said he support helped her through some of the most trying nights at the hospital.

“It really took a lot of stress off of us and let us focus 100% on what we were doing at that time,” Kristen said.

“How do you tell an entire community ‘Thank you?’”

Congratulations to all the Visions Winners!

Mrs. Linda D. Hays The Clerk of Courts It is my honor to serve the citizens of Newton County NEWTON COUNTY CLERK OF SUPERIOR COURT 1132 USHER STREET, SUITE 338 COVINGTON 770-784-2035 • ALCOVY CIRCUIT.COM VISIONS 41

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Enjoy Live Theater, Shows and Concerts at the Paula Vaughn Black Box Theater. View Art by local Artists throughout the Community and take advantage of Art Camps throughout the year!

910 Center Street, Conyers, GA 30012 770-922-3143 • www.conyersarts.org 42

VISIONS

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Your Neighborhood Irish Pub & Eatery for 19 Years!

Great Food, Great Friends, Great Atmosphere

Wed: Open Mic 8:30pm • Thurs: Team Trivia 7pm Fri: Live Music 6pm-midnight • Sat: Karaoke 9pm-1am Sun, Tues, & Thurs: Texas Hold’em 8pm It’s always a good time at The Celtic Tavern!

THE COVINGTON NEWS | April 2019

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April 2019 | THE COVINGTON NEWS

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VISIONS 43

EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR Sydney Chacon Visions 2019

Pictured, from left, Dr. Tavarez Holston, Dr. Meghan McBride, Beverly Thomas, Kelli Owen and Dr. Irvin Clark.

Georgia Piedmont Technical College Preparing Newton County’s future employees Jackie Gutknecht Visions 2019 Whether it is opening its doors to area companies for a regional job fair, or helping local residents obtain certifications, Georgia Piedmont Technical College has its hand in creating the community’s next employee.

Founded in 1961 as DeKalb Area Vocational School, GPTC opened its Newton County campus in 1997 and offers a full-service education to its 44

VISIONS

students locally. Made up of four buildings, GPTC’s footprint in Newton County offers a variety of opportunities for Newton County’s future employees.

“We have credit and non-credit programs here,” Beverly Thomas, dean of the Newton Campus, said adding that the list of options is lengthy.

With more than 200 employees, Dr. Taverez Holston, GPTC president, is on a mission to reengage the commu-

nity’s GPTC calls home.

Through that, Holston said it is important that the college continuously reevaluates its programs to make sure it fits the needs to the community it calls home.

“Our whole purpose of existence is to get students a job,” he said. “When you boil it down, yes we want them to get a degree, a diploma, certificate or GED, but we exist to get a student a job. Our placement rate is around the 98th percentile so I pull up short of

saying ‘You will get a job,’ but the message is the community is hiring our students.”

And the jobs are come with a paycheck that students should be proud of, Holston said.

“Take welding, for example, those guys come out making $40,000 a year,” he said.

GPTC offers course at a rate of $89 a credit hour, which means students are not only leaving the campus with high-paying jobs, but they are also leaving with a low out-ofpocket cost.

THE COVINGTON NEWS | April 2019

EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR “The technical college is not a Plan B,” Kelli Owen, criminal justice instructor and Rick Perkins Instructor of the Year for GPTC, said. “You can get, in my opinion, a better education.”

The education offered at GPTC comes from professionals that have been in the field. While traditional four-year universities provide an education based on research and theory, GPTC offers an education based on hands-on experience.

“I’ve heard the saying before, ‘We’re not your daddy’s trade school,’” Thomas said. “We are a college that, in my opinion, is a lot better than a lot of the traditional brick and mortar four-year schools in that the instructors here have been in that field.”

Changing the mindset and offering a variety of career paths has helped GPTC become the connection students need to local industries.

“The traditional route is not for everybody,” Dr. Meghan McBride, GPTC dean of adult education, said. “For roughly 6% of the population of Newton County, finishing high school and going to college wasn’t how it turned out.

“The GED program is there for the student who doesn’t finish things the traditional way.

Our focus is still getting people to work.”

McBride said she has students who range in age from 16 to 93 and it is never too late to start down the path of becoming employed.

“There are a lot of unemployed and under-employed people who live in Newton County,” Dr. Irvin Clark, GPTC vice president of economic development said adding that GPTC offers programs to help boost certifications and qualifications to move residents into the most successful position for their futures.

GPTC serves across three counties – DeKalb, Rockdale and Newton – but Holston wanted to make clear that Newton County is GPTC’s home.

“This is a full-service location,” he said. “We have another full-service location in Clarkston.

“Our college is where our logo is and that’s everywhere across the three counties,” Jana Wiggins, GPTC executive director of marketing and communications, said.

Good things are on the horizon for GPTC as it continues to spread its wings across Newton County’s employees.

“When a learner walks through our door, I want them to have an unforgettable learning experience,” Holston said. “When they leave our college, or when they come into our college, they should feel welcome, they should feel the education is of high quality, they should know that we actually care about their success.

“Then, when they leave, we want them to think of us again.”

With around 800 students in Newton County, GPTC is planning for growth and community connections in the future.

With locations on Alcovy Road and Bob Williams Parkway, anyone interested in learning more about the offerings at GPTC are welcome to walk in the door, Holston said.

April 2019 | THE COVINGTON NEWS

VISIONS 45

YOUTH OF THE YEAR

JAMES WILSON A product of hard work and community spirit

Photos by Sydney Chacon | Visions

Claire Beiter Visions 2019 When his father passed away during the summer going into his sixth grade year, James Wilson recalls him saying “I don’t want you to check out. I don’t want you to fall by the wayside. I don’t want you to think that this is an excuse.”

Now a sophomore at Newton High School Wilson spends his free time preparing himself and his community for success, it is safe to say that he has done everything but check out.

46

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Wilson recalls in middle school, he began to become involved in as many extracurricular activities as he possibly could after his teachers encouraged students to begin preparing for high school.

“I made it my business to do the best I could do with whatever it was that I was doing,” he said.

He has certainly carried this attitude forward as he has expanded his involvement across all areas in his high school career. Wilson’s extensive extracurricular resume began when his mom encouraged him to sign up for ROTC.

He said, “the leadership training, the physical training, everything. It all comes together to make you a better person.”

Wilson uses these same leadership skills in a variety of other involvements outside of ROTC. He recently began golfing, and since his first season he has shown tremendous potential as an athlete. Wilson is grateful for Coach Rick Rasmussen, who he called, “absolutely incredible.”

He balances these commitments with a rigorous academic schedule, containing advanced placement and college credit courses. Wilson spends half of his school THE COVINGTON NEWS | April 2019

day at the Newton College and Career Academy where he is a part of the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) program which puts an emphasis on technology. He also serves on the NCCA Associate Board of Directors and assists in event planning.

One of the most admirable things about this year’s Youth of the Year is his dedication spans across a wide range of disciplines. He is a member of HOSA, for students interested going into the medical field, DECA, for young people considering a career in business, and FFA. Surprisingly, Mr. Wilson plans to go to law school but considers all of his professional development involvements to be assets to his legal aspirations.

“Even though I am not going into it, I still really want that background in it,” he says.

Wilson began to consider a career in law and politics after interacting with leaders in the field. Wilson served as a page for Sen. Brian Strickland at the state capitol and has shadowed local community leaders including Alcovy Judicial Circuit Superior Court Chief Judge John M. Ott and Covington Mayor Ronnie Johnston, whom he describes as mentors and examples of a commitment to Covington that he strives to emulate.

This dedication to the community stems from a genuine care for Covington and all of the people in it.

“I can’t promise that I’ll be in Covington my whole life, but I can promise that if I do leave, I will leave some type of positive impact,” he said.

This authentic love for the community motivates Wilson to do everything he can to give back to it, including volunteering for Main Street events like the Fourth of July and Christmas on the Square.

“When you just walk outside, and you just walk on the square, there are just so many different things, so many different ways you can be involved in Covington,” he said.

Wilson describes that the reasoning behind his variety of commitment is about much more than listing his activities on a piece of paper.

“I try to get involved in everything I can,” he said. “Not just to put it on the resume, but because it really does build you up,” he says.

Even if resume building was not his intention, it is safe to say that Wilson has done an excellent job of preparing himself for a bright future after high school. While he is only a April 2019 | THE COVINGTON NEWS

YOUTH OF THE YEAR

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YOUTH OF THE YEAR

“I can’t promise that I’ll be in Covington my whole life, but I can promise that if I do leave, I will leave some type of positive impact.”

- James Wilson,

2019 Youth of the Year

sophomore, Emory University, the University of Georgia, and Georgia State University are just a few of the institutions on his radar.

Despite all of his success, Wilson maintains a hum-

ble grateful attitude. He says that he would advise Newton County youth looking to get involved to “take the advice of your parents and your teachers.”

James expresses gratitude

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— Ephesians 3:20 48

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for his family, noting about his seven siblings, “They’ve got your back, if you ever need help with something at least you know one of them can help you with it.”

Wilson also attributes his success to the hard work and care he sees in his mother each day.

“She has been so great throughout my entire life,” he said.

A long-time Newton County resident, Wilson’s mother has been a critical part of building up the love of the community so fundamental to his involvement.

“She’s really stressed the importance of education, the importance of hard work, and the importance of being involved

in your community,” he said.

James considers the unconditional support of his mother and grandmother to be an integral part of his success.

James also thanks the teachers at NHS, the trainers at NCCA, and the Newton County School System as a whole for all of his success.

“If you’re in the Newton County School System, there’s a place and a chance and a time to use it for you to succeed,” he said.

If NCSS is the provider of the resources that enable students to succeed, then James Wilson is the textbook example of using hard work to embrace that opportunity and create a bright future for himself and his community.

THE COVINGTON NEWS | April 2019

UNSUNG HERO

Photos by Sydney Chacon | Visions

DENNY DOBBS

Giving back was just what you did Jackie Gutknecht Visions 2019 Former State Representative Denny Dobb said growing up with role models of service led him down a path of giving back to his fellow man and working to serve the community he has called home his entire life.

“I think that really my father and mother, I just watched how they lived. My daddy didn’t have a whole lot of wealth. He just April 2019 | THE COVINGTON NEWS

had the land and cows and it was ok, he didn’t have to have it all. He kind of knew what it took for him to be happy so that’s what he did.”

Dobbs said he didn’t really know what he was getting himself into when he first decided to run for the state office.

“I knew it would give me a way to give back,” he said. “My family had made their living in Newton County for a long time, since 1916 or before, so I figured this was a good way for me to give back.”

Dobbs said his initial election campaign taught him a lot about not only the community he was hoping to serve, but his family’s legacy.

“When I went out campaigning in Porterdale, I likely would never get out of Porterdale because my daddy had worked in the mill when he and my momma had first got married,” Dobbs said. “Everywhere I went in Porterdale older people had stories about my daddy buying cows.

“I was in somebody’s house one day and

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““I knew it would give me a way to give back. My family had made their living in Newton County for a long time, since 1916 or before, so I figured this was a good way for me to give back.”

- Denny Dobbs, 2019 Unsung Hero

Thank You Denny Dobbs for Your Service and Leadership!

this lady I’d known for a long time she laughed and said, ‘Let me tell you something, your daddy helped so many people, you’ll never know.’”

It was that legacy of giving that guided Dobbs as he started his political career.

“Learning all that, I thought why wouldn’t you give back if you can?” he said. “Once I got started it just made sense to do what was good for everybody.

“My thing was, when I got elected I felt that my job was to represent everybody in the county – it didn’t matter whether they voted for me or not, that was really secondary.”

Dobbs said he has seen a lot of change in his 73 years of life in Newton County. In that time, he has grown to appreciate the changes he sees and respect it for what it is.

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UNSUNG HERO

“I think there’s some people – not a big number – that change scares them,” he said. “One thing that’s for certain is that change is going to occur.

Speaking of change, Dobbs previously served on the Joint Development Authority of Jasper, Morgan, Newton and Walton Counties prior the introduction of what is now Takeda Pharmaceuticals. That service put him at the forefront of what would be major change in his rural hometown.

“Our vision was to have a technology park,” he said. “Not an industrial park. We wanted jobs.”

Now with Facebook coming under the JDA’s domain, Dobbs said the opportunities are endless in Newton County.

After helping start and serving on the first-ever Newton County Recreation Commission on top of his lifetime of service, the Denny Dobbs name will go on to show Newton County’s next generation what a life of service looks like through the Denny Dobbs Park.

April 2019 | THE COVINGTON NEWS

“I was the one who got pointed at, but it was so many other folks,” he said. “You can lead the parade, but in politics and local involvement, it’s not many ‘I’s, it’s a whole lot of ‘we’s. It just takes that to get it done.”

Dobbs, now retired, has closed his environmental business and provides consulting when needed.

“If someone wants me to help them do something, I’ll do it,” he said. “I just don’t want to be in charge of organizing it.

“The next generation has got to step in. I don’t mind doing it, but it is short-sighted for me to keep doing it and not train the next crowd that is coming along behind.”

Dobbs said he is encouraged by the changes he sees happening in the community and is looking for the next generation of Unsung Heroes to come forward.

“We need to start talking to each other again, sitting on the front porch,” he said. “We need to hear each other’s ideas.”

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UNSUNG HERO

Photos by Tory Bouchillon | Visions

STEVANIE REYNOLDS

Giving back every chance she gets Kaylyn Hopper Visions 2019 The day starts off by getting her five kids ready for school, doing as much as she can as a leader at work and leaving work to volunteer at a local clinic. The rewarding days go by fast, but Stevanie Reynolds, director of impatient nursing at Piedmont 52

VISIONS

Newton Hospital, would not have it any other way.

Reynolds first became infatuated with nursing when she studied with her mother as she was going through nursing school herself. Although she had a hard time in high school, Reynolds worked through her struggles and got her associates degree as a patient care tech. From there, her career took off. She then went back to school

became and nurse, a manager and now a director. She has served in the director’s role for nine years now.

Along the way she has had important mentors.

“I feel like Dr. Synder and a couple of the other doctors and nurses raised me as a nurse, and taught me to always do what is right even when it’s hard,” Reynolds said.

THE COVINGTON NEWS | April 2019

UNSUNG HERO Sometimes all it takes is one person to make a difference to someone’s life.

“I’m sure he doesn’t even remember he said it, but till his day I remember it,” she said.

When Reynolds was interviewing for the Director of Impatient Nursing the interviewer asked her, why do you think you are the right person for the job? She responded with, “This is my hospital, this is where I live, this is where my family lives, this is where we come when we are sick. I am the best candidate because it’s mine. I want to see good things for the hospital.”

Not only does Reynolds have a leadership role at Piedmont Newton Hospital, but she also volunteers often at the Willing Helpers Medical Clinic right here in Covington. The clinic is completely free to those who do not have insurance and who are low income.

“It is amazing to see the heart of the doctors we have in the community. It is just really cool. A couple of other nurses pick up shifts over there. We do a lot of health education, so I teach diabetic education to the willing helpers,” Reynolds said. “Willing helpers is by far my favorite. One of the nurses here who goes to Solid Rock told me about it. We now make appointments automatically for patients without insurance to follow-up at. It is amazing and they have so many supporters in the county that help with funding and supply. The caseworkers there are just miracle workers. To me, it is awesome.”

Aside from volunteering at the clinic, Reynolds also

speaks at Georgia State University, goes to Live Oak Elementary School areer days, gives Newton County Schools tips on cardiovascular health and talks to Bridgestone about diet and vending machines.

This is the short list of volunteer opportunities Reynolds is a part of. Whenever a volunteer opportunity introduces itself, she makes it happens.

Since she is a director she has the influence to start up educational classes for patients such as a total joint class, diabetic education classes, diabetic support groups and more.

“You can’t control what happens to a patient after they leave these walls. We want people to be healthy, but the need is always going to be there. We have a huge need for indigent care, and education in cardiovascular heath.

There is a lot of obesity in the county, [and] a lot of [people with] hypertension. I have taken blood pressures on people walking around that I thought they were going to drop right there,” Reynolds said.

Volunteering for Reynolds is not only an important aspect in her life, but she also wants it to be an important aspect in her children’s lives.

“I take my older kids with me whenever it’s appropriate.

If it’s after school or on the weekend, I want them to have a heart to give to others and have a heart to help. My husband is amazing, and I can just text him and say the clinic is short tonight, and I am going to be late and he will be like it’s okay, I got it because he knows I love it.” Reynolds said.

Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world, one child and one community at a time.

If making a positive impact in the lives of children and members of your community is something you have a calling for, we’d love to meet you.

The Kiwanis Club of Covington has been serving our community since 1927. We meet every Thursday at 12:30pm in the Fellowship Hall of the Covington First United Methodist Church. covingtonkiwanisclub@gmail.com www.covingtonkiwanis.org Kiwanis-Club-of-Covington-Georgia Serving the Children of the World

“I don’t feel like what I do is heroic. I’m the person behind the scenes who lets other people be heroes.”

- Stevanie Reynolds, 2019 Unsung Hero April 2019 | THE COVINGTON NEWS

VISIONS 53

UNSUNG HERO

“I don’t do things that aren’t important.

I think its important for them to see me serve because seeing my mom work as a nurse inspired me, so I want them to see it.”

Although Newton County is a small town, it is also known as a town that comes together, and it thrives on the phrase “One Newton.”

“One Newton is coming together to see the whole county succeed, and to see it get better. I just love it here. We have so 54

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many good things going for us and there is nothing we cannot do if we just band together. It is coming together to support one person and that is what we totally did with Officer [Matt] Cooper. Our ICU here fed the ICU where he was. When you can’t do everything, do one thing.

One person at a time, that’s all you can do, my approach to volunteering may seem scattered, but it is because I take every opportunity that is put in front of me. Whatever I can do to make a positive

difference in every life we touch,” Reynolds said.

When Reynolds found out she was going to be one of the 2019 Unsung Heroes she was flattered, but she responded with, “I don’t feel like what I do is heroic. I’m the person behind the scenes who lets other people be heroes.”

That is exactly why she was nominated.

She has the heart, passion and love, for not only her career and volunteering, but for this county.

THE COVINGTON NEWS | April 2019

UNSUNG HERO

Photos by Sydney Chacon | Visions

GARY STEVENSON

Advocating for the community’s children Kaylyn Hopper Visions 2019 Most residents in Covington have an idea of what foster care is, but many may not know about an organization called Alcovy Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children and the people involved.

Gary Stevenson is one of those people, also known as a CASA. When you have children in foster care there are the foster families, the social workers and then the CASA’s. The volunteers are there to help guide the foster kids and to be their voice April 2019 | THE COVINGTON NEWS

in difficult times.

“I am a voice for the kids, for those who are in foster care that are neglected or abused. I am an officer of the courts sworn in and an advocate for that child that are in foster care,” Stevenson said.

Stevenson currently works at The Center of Disease Control as an Emergency Management Specialist, but that is not where he got the idea to get involved in Alcovy CASA. While Stevenson was in the military he started with the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, and after serving the military for

24 years he wanted to give even more.

“I was [deployed] in Iraq and I was just thinking I want to give, I want to give back and it hit me to just find something,” Stevenson said. “I started a little bit of research and I found CASA and I thought hey, that’s right up my ally. I started in 2007 and that’s where I have been ever since.”

Alcovy CASA serves children in Newton and Walton Counties Department of Family and Children. According to its website children who have a CASA advocate will spend eight fewer months in foster care VISIONS 55

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than a child without a CASA. Right now there are roughly 21,000 kids in foster care in Georgia and only 11,440 kids in foster care have a CASA. Stevenson said, “We need the help. It doesn’t take a lot of time. It just shows you care. These kids are resilient. They just want structure, leadership and guidance. You make time for what you want.”

The problem with any CASA organization in Georgia is there needs to be more volunteers.

“It’s very easy to point your finger at a bad kid.

It’s not about the blaming, but picking up the pieces. I don’t’ care how you got here let’s get you back in the right direction. These kids are our future,” Stevenson said.

If anyone wants to get involved in Alcovy CASA they can simply go on the website and fill out the CASA volunteer application.

Aside from his career Stevenson is also busy raising his 16-year-old son, so he tries his best to balance everything in between including being a CASA. He is also very passionate about the Covington community.

“It’s not about color, it’s not about race, it’s not about gender, it’s about one community coming together. Newton County being one. Everyone is chipping in, and it’s a beautiful community regardless of where you come from it can be One Newton,” Stevenson said.

It takes love, courage and patience to be a CASA and Stevenson not only represents all of those things, but he also represents the community as an outstanding citizen.

CASA Volunteers are Everyday Heroes who speak up for the best interest of children in foster care.

Help a child in need.

Volunteer with CASA and proudly say I am for the child™ Contact us today to learn more!

Info@alcovycasa.org 678-625-1246 AlcovyCASA.org 56

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THE COVINGTON NEWS | April 2019

THE COVINGTON NEWS T H E STO RY O F YO U R L I F E S I N C E 1 8 6 5

THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR VISIONS ADVERTISERS FOR LETTING US SHARE WHAT ONE NEWTON MEANS TO YOU April 2019 | THE COVINGTON NEWS

VISIONS 57

INDEX OF ADVERTISERTS

Index of Advertisers Alcovy CASA ................................................... 56 Alexander Appraising .................................... 12 Beasley Drug Co. ............................................. 42 Benny C. Phillips, P.C. ...................................... 6 Bentley Academy ............................................ 48 Best Septic Tank .............................................. 13 Blackwell’s Grocery ......................................... 13 Blue Willow Inn .............................................. 33 Bradley’s Bar-B-Que ....................................... 32 Brendale’s .......................................................... 31 Cathy Dobbs .................................................... 51 City of Conyers .......................................... 15, 35 City of Covington ........................................... 39 City of Mansfield ............................................. 27 City of Oxford ................................................. 26 Conyers Arts Council .................................... 42 Conyers Jewelers, Inc. ..................................... 42 Conyers School of Ballet ................................ 42 Covington Hearing ......................................... 23 Covington News ............................................. 57 Covington/Newton County Economic Development ..................................................... 9 Covington Police Who Care ......................... 38 Covington Women’s Health Specialists ....... 60 Creamberry’s ................................................... 42 C-Town Bikes and Fitness ............................. 43

D&W Air Flow Inc. ........................................ 34 Dr. Donald J. Hillmen, D.D.S., P.C. ...............21 Edward Jones (Joey Montgomery) ............... 31 Frank’s Restaurant .......................................... 14 French Law Group .......................................... 43 Georgia Piedmont Technical College ............ 2 Hometown Reality .......................................... 17 Immediate MedCare ...................................... 24 JC Harwell & Sons Funeral Home ................ 27 Kelly’s Pool Service ......................................... 11 Kiwanis Club of Covington ........................... 53 Lester Lackey Funeral Home ........................ 32 Linda Hays ....................................................... 41 Maddie Mae ..................................................... 31 McKibben Music ............................................ 32 Natural Path/Family Health Food Store ...... 22 Newton County Board of Commissioners . 59 Covington/Newton County Chamber of Commerce .......................................................... 8 Newton County Recreation Department ... 50 Newton County School System ...................... 7 Newton County Sheriff Office ........................ 3 Olde Town Awards ......................................... 42 Peachtree Academy Covington .................... 10 Phil’s Pawn Bank ............................................. 43 Piedmont Newton Hospital .......................... 20

Plain Nuts Catering ........................................ 32 Ramsey’s Furniture ......................................... 14 Ramsey’s Produce ........................................... 31 Ready Rent-All, Inc. ....................................... 29 Rest Easy Mattress .......................................... 17 Revolution Casual Living .............................. 31 Ridge Avenue ................................................... 30 Rockdale Gymnastics ..................................... 11 Rush Tees & Signs .......................................... 50 Scoops ............................................................... 30 Sheer Bliss ......................................................... 32 Shelvie Jean ...................................................... 30 Sherwood’s Flowers & Gifts ........................... 30 Southern Heartland Art Gallery ................... 30 The Celtic Tavern ............................................ 42 The Pampered Puppy ..................................... 43 The Sandwich Factory .................................... 43 Town House Café ........................................... 30 Town of Newborn .......................................... 28 Town Square Olive Oil ................................... 30 Tropical Nails ................................................... 31 Walden’s Restaurant ........................................ 14 Westmoreland ................................................. 42 WildArt ............................................................ 32 Your Sister’s Closet ......................................... 30

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Newton

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