2023 Summer Issue

community magazine 2023 SUMMER ISSUE

PUBLISHERS

Meredith & Scott Tredeau 678-852-2715 info@thenewtoncommunity.com SALES

Heather Bowman 404-583-2179 bowmanh23@aol.com

FEATURE 8 The Fruits of Labor

Maree Taylor 770-530-7837 sales@thenewtoncommunity.com EDITORS

Kari Apted Brian Knapp PHOTOGRAPHER

Michie Turpin CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

HEALTH & WELLNESS

SPORTS & RECREATION

18 Walk This Way 24 A Mission in Medicine

32 Blue Blood 36 Passion for the Arts

Michelle Floyd Rebecca McDaniel Avril Occilien-Similien Kurt Petersheim David Roten ILLUSTRATOR

Scott Fuss The NEWTON Community Magazine is published quarterly. All contents are copyrighted by The NEWTON Community Magazine. Reproduction, in whole or part, without permission is prohibited. The NEWTON Community Magazine reserves liability in error to a printed correction.

ARTS, EDUCATION & INNOVATION 42 Down to a Science 48 Cooperative Touch

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LIVING 56 Still Standing 60 Meet Your Neighbor

On the Cover

MAKING HAY

by BRIAN KNAPP

Tractors have always fascinated me, and they pique my interest to an even greater degree now that I have taken more than a few trips around the sun. I wonder about the stories behind those machines and the tireless workers who have sat behind their controls, working the land day after day, month after month, year after year. My maternal grandmother grew up on a farm in Bath, New York, at the tail end of The Great Depression. Life was fraught with difficulty, of course, but it was meaningful and rewarding. Marcia E. White—I called her Nanny—has been gone for more than a decade now, but the stories she told me about those times stick with me to this day. There were always jobs to be done.

There is still value to be found in a hard day’s work, and nobody embodies that belief better than the American farmer. Think about it. Have you ever met an unhappy farmer? Maybe Will Rogers was onto something when he said, “The farmer has to be an optimist, or he wouldn’t still be a farmer.” George Washington was a little less lighthearted and a little more matter of fact on the subject: “Agriculture is the most healthful, most useful and most notable employment of man.” More than 200 years later, something still rings true about his words. A part of me will think about them every time I pass one of those tractors on my travels.

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PUBLISHERS’ NOTE

If you’ve been following our story, you’ve probably guessed that the next chapter is about our days as new parents. Before I had kids, I was so self-assured in my ability as a future parent. I remember saying, “I would never do [fill in the blank with all the self-righteous things].” When I was pregnant with our oldest, Noah, I was confident that I was going to be the best mom ever. I read all the books, had all the gear. I was ready. I was prepared for everything. Except for Noah. He did not do things the way I expected. He was fussy and unsettled. He wouldn’t sleep for more than an hour at a time. Breastfeeding was impossible. During those long days and sleepless nights, I teetered on the edge of anger and despair. I remember feeling like a complete failure.

Eventually we found our groove, and he began feeding and sleeping like a champ.

Years later, I came across another book I wish I’d had back then: “Parenting,” by Paul Tripp. It reminded me that, like everything else God calls people to do, He doesn’t call us to be parents because we are fully capable. God calls people to do seemingly impossible things so that in our search for help, we find Him. God uses our struggles with things like marriage and parenting to expose our hardened hearts.

God uses my struggles with control, impatience and anger as a parent to show me that I still fall short of His glory and that I need His forgiving grace as much as my children do. Let’s take Tripp’s advice and stop beating up ourselves when we feel inadequate as parents and instead rest in God’s grace. “For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10).

May the Lord bless and keep you.

Scott and Meredith Tredeau

2023 Summer Issue 5

F E AT U R E

“You have to work with what you have, what you’re given, and make the most of that.”

Merlon Harper

8 The Newton Community Magazine

Scan to read more stories by David Roten.

THE FRUITS OF LABOR When Joe and Merlon Harper moved to the country, they had no plans to become farmers. However, once they bought their first two blueberry bushes, the seeds for Deer Creek Farm had unknowingly been planted.

by DAVID ROTEN “Farmers are the coolest people,” Joe Harper said. I had the same thought as I sat across from him and his wife, Merlon Bell Harper, listening to their stories of how they became farmers. For each of them, it had been a unique and circuitous path from suburban life to rural, ultimately leading them to establish Deer Creek Farm north of Covington. For Merlon, it was, in a sense, a journey home.

The youngest of nine children, Merlon was born and raised on a cotton farm in Winstonville, Mississippi. Beneath the surface of those flat, furrowed fields that make up a part of the Mississippi Delta, the roots of the Bell family tree reach deep and wide.

“My father was a cotton farmer,” she said. “All his brothers, my grandfather, my great-grandfather—they were all cotton farmers.”

The same land, first worked by her great-grandfather as a sharecropper, was passed down through the generations to her father and his siblings. While her dad tended the fields, her mother took care of home and garden, helping to put food on a busy table.

Memories of those early childhood days swirl around her head like buzzing mosquitoes and stick in her mind like a hot, humid summer day. “I remember my dad taking me to the cotton field as a little girl,” she said. “The cotton was higher than I was.” Eventually, Merlon and most of her siblings grew up and moved away from Winstonville, leaving behind life, as they had known it, on the farm.

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F E AT U R E

Joe grew up in the Gulf Coast town of Moss Point, Mississippi, and, like Merlon, shared a home with eight siblings. Though his family did not live on a farm, he has fond memories of an older brother who plowed a garden with his mule. “I can still hear the sound of the leather when he strapped it on and him telling the mule ‘whoa’ and ‘go,’” he said. A great-grandmother with a “green thumb” who canned and preserved fruits and vegetables the old-fashioned way also made a lasting impression. As for Joe and his brothers, they “grew up in construction,” following in the footsteps of their father. The skills Joe learned proved invaluable years later when designing and building his own house and farm.

When Joe and Merlon first met as sophomores on the campus of Alcorn State University in 1981, the attraction was immediate and mutual. “We just meshed,” she said. “We’ve been together ever since,” he added. A justice of the peace at the courthouse in Decatur married them on Jan. 22, 1985, which just happened to be the coldest day in Atlanta history to that point, according to Joe. “I remember being in his truck, and the heater wasn’t working. It was the happiest day, but it was the coldest day,” Merlon said. “We were on the ‘struggle bus,’” Joe added with a laugh, “just starting out.”

Both went on to have successful careers after college, Joe as a mechanical contractor who eventually owned his own firm and

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Merlon as a revenue agent and an analyst with the IRS. For many years, the Harpers and their children, Lawrence and Keallah, lived in Stone Mountain, but Joe felt the pull to a more rural setting. “We came here [to Atlanta] in 1984, and ever since, I’d been kind of looking for some land,” he said. In 2003, he found it on nine rolling acres, where County Line and H.D. Atha roads intersect. When he took his wife to look over the property, he was sincerely hoping she would approve. “He was telling me, ‘I love this property. It has this, it has that,’” she said.

“Then he looked at me and said, ‘Do you like it?’ I said, ‘Yeah.’

He said, ‘Good, because I already put a down payment on it.’”

Joe and his brothers began construction on the couple’s new house in 2007 and completed it the following year. Plans to quit mechanical contracting and go into construction had to be scrapped when the Great Recession hit and the housing market tanked. “The timing was awful,” he said. Fortunately, the home was built with an upstairs office, where Joe worked on some draft and design projects, along with operating a small home inspection business.

When the Harpers made the move from town to country, they had no intention of starting a farm. They just liked growing things, according to Joe. “It all started with a couple of blueberry bushes in whiskey barrels from Home Depot,” he said. Over the next few years, they planted more and more.

Taste Test

by DAVID ROTEN When Deer Creek Farm’s own Blue Harvest Tea made it to the finals of the Flavor of Georgia Food Product Contest, owners Joe and Merlon Harper joined an elite group of entrepreneurs in a competition designed to showcase the best food and beverages the state has to offer. The 17th annual Flavor of Georgia contest, put together by the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, concluded at The Classic Center in Athens on March 28 and attracted 124 entrants competing in 12 categories.

“The contest is the state’s proving ground for small, upstart food companies as well as established products looking for recognition or new markets,” a UGA press release stated. “This year’s finalists represent all corners of the state and the best of Georgia’s diverse culinary heritage.”

Entrants were given three minutes to pitch their products to food brokers, grocery buyers and other food product experts who judged their entry “based on their Georgia theme, commercial appeal, taste, innovation and market potential.”

The Harpers presented their Blue Harvest Tea as “a refreshing drink with the distinct taste of blueberry goodness married with the perfect black tea.” They further suggested that “the subtle taste of herbs will tickle your palate, reminding you of a summer day, sippin’ tea on the front porch.”

Even though the Harpers did not win the drink category for their tea, they gained plenty of perks. Along with a one-year membership in Georgia Grown, they were given a personalized press release, a featured spot in a product

directory with exposure to buyers and media outlets and permission to use the Flavor of Georgia logo on their label.

Merlon touted the connections made and valuable information received at the event. “It was an awesome experience,” she said.

The Harpers have already acted on the feedback received from the judges by redoing the label on their bottled tea.

“We just paid a design company to come up with a new design,” she said, “so we have a new label.” They expect the fresh look to increase sales and maybe even improve their chances of winning next year. “We’re going to apply again, of course,” she said.

“There’s just so much to learn,” Joe said. “You never learn it all, and it’s just a continuous thing to try to get better at it.”

2023 Summer Issue 11

F E AT U R E

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“We had so many blueberries,” Merlon said. “We ate all we could and gave the rest away.” Their daughter, who had since moved back home with her husband and four young sons, was somewhat less than thrilled with the bounty.

“Keallah hated picking blueberries,” Merlon said, “so she said, ‘Mom, dad, why don’t we start a U-Pick blueberry farm?’ And we did.”

Since that pivotal moment in 2020, the Harpers have used a two-pronged approach to making their organic farm successful.

“First, we started growing vegetables, and not just the usual vegetables,” Merlon said. “We also wanted to do unique vegetables like watermelon cucumber or white zucchini or lemon squash.” Then they tried to answer an intriguing question about their most abundant crop. “We asked ourselves, ‘What can we do with blueberries?’” she said. Joe began making blueberry muffins while she baked blueberry pies. “Then one day, I started experimenting with blueberries and iced tea,” Merlon said. “We blended two Georgia favorites and put them together with some special herbs and spices—and voila. People loved it.”

The Harpers do their best to balance farm and family, with a typical day starting with a breakfast-for-all, prepared by Joe and enriched by homegrown produce like spinach, onions, garlic, tomatoes and kale. The rest of the day unfolds according to plan, or as dictated by Mother Nature, with frequent assistance from the Old Farmer’s Almanac. When needed, the whole family pitches in to help with the chores. Even the grandchildren get into the act, with the oldest caring for the small flock of chickens and the younger ones hand-watering thirsty plants and each other.

“There’s always something to do—always,” Joe said. “And everything is timing,” Merlon added, “getting out there and getting things done on a timely basis to be successful.”

The to-do list is impressive: soil testing and amendment, tilling, seed starting, blueberry bush and tree planting, weed and pest control, irrigation, harvesting, administrative work and on it goes. In the past, the Harpers have taken their goods to farmer’s markets in Monroe and in Atlanta on a weekly basis during the summer and early fall. This year, they plan to market more from home, as online sales and on-site activities like Farm Tours and Family Farm Day continue to grow. On the scheduled Farm Tours, visitors are shuttled around the property on a golf cart, as they learn about the planting and growing process of blueberries and other in-season fruits and vegetables. They can pick and sample a variety of produce and blueberry treats.

Family Farm Day is usually offered twice a year, once in the summer and once in the fall. “Everybody is invited,” Merlon said. The event is designed to be educational and fun. “We may have a bounce house. Visitors can pet the chickens and try lots of products,” she said. “We may even invite other vendors to bring their products.”

The Harpers are purposefully growing their farm by taking advantage of every resource available through educational opportunities such as classes at the University of Georgia, conferences and seminars. They have also received support and helpful information through networking with other farmers and organizations like Georgia Organics and Community Farmers Market. Their efforts have earned them the right to be called organic as members of Certified Naturally Grown.

Future plans include maximizing space on the farm to accommodate more blueberry bushes and leasing two acres of land to plant even more. Lumber lies on the driveway in anticipation of additional improvements, including a store from which produce may be purchased, a kitchen and a covered demonstration and teaching area.

Life on the farm has many benefits but one stands out above the others, according to Merlon. “Being on the farm with our children and grandchildren has been the most rewarding thing,” she said, “teaching them about growing food and where food is coming from.”

Joe describes his wife’s approach to farming as “focused and driven,” at times to a fault. She concedes her husband keeps her “balanced and level.”

“I think nature’s in control,” Joe said. “She thinks she’s in control.” Husband and wife then shared a laugh together.

“I have a way of combatting nature,” Merlon said. “If nature’s going to give us this, this is what we have to do. You have to work with what you have, what you’re given, and make the most of that.”

For more on Deer Creek Farm, visit www.thedeercreekfarm.com.

2023 Summer Issue 13

H E A LT H & W E L L N E S S

Scan to read more stories by Kari Apted.

WALK THIS WAY

Marc Roach decided more than a decade ago to start putting one foot in front of the other in pursuit of better health. Now, the 75-year-old covers between 10 and 12 miles each day, rain or shine.

by KARI APTED Marc Roach grew up in Nashville, Tennessee, but after he graduated from Georgia Tech in 1971, he decided to settle in the Conyers-Covington area. In the spring of 2010, just one month before the electrical engineer was due to retire from AT&T, he injured his back in a car accident. His doctor told him he had to start exercising to regain his strength.

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Roach decided to take up bicycling. However, he felt unsafe sharing the road with drivers and opted to jog instead. He started slow but steadily progressed to running eight to 10 miles each day. Roach dropped a whopping 70 pounds, and his sleep apnea and high blood pressure also disappeared.

Roach kids that his daughter tricked him into getting serious about getting into shape.

“She decided to come to Atlanta to run a half marathon,” he said. “She said I should increase how far I ran each day and do the marathon with her.”

Roach worked his way up to jogging 13 miles per day.

However, his daughter discovered she was pregnant and could not run the race after all. Roach nevertheless decided to keep jogging around 13 miles a day and clocked considerably more sometimes.

In 2018, his knee began giving him trouble. “It doesn’t hurt unless I bend it too far,” he said, “but the doctor said there was no cartilage; it’s bone on bone. When he told me I would need to have knee replacement, I thought he meant right away, but he said that it could wait until I couldn’t handle it anymore.”

The next day, Roach walked 17 miles. He jokes that he keeps

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H E A LT H & W E L L N E S S

finding excuses to postpone the surgery. “I don’t want to take the time to go through that rehab,” he said. “In July, I’m going to Disney with the grandkids, so I can’t do it before that.”

Roach also does not want anything to interfere with his goal of walking 55,000 miles; he reached 52,000 miles on May 20, 2023. Roach still walks around 300 miles each month, mostly on level ground. He almost always walks alone, although his grandchildren have accompanied him on occasion. His favorite place to walk? The Kroger parking lot at Brown Bridge Road and Ga. 20. While that may sound like an odd location, Roach feels safer there than walking along Covington’s roads.

“I find that people are on the lookout for pedestrians in a parking lot more than they are when driving down the road,” he said. Roach admits a change of scenery can be important, so he sometimes drives to Snellville or Lawrenceville to earn his daily miles. “I’ll walk parks and trails sometimes, or at the Monastery. I’ll walk Denny Dobbs Park, but parks and trails tend to be hilly, though they are nice for shade.”

Chance meetings with snakes and hidden holes in the ground keep Roach away from most nature trails these days. He also avoids walking in neighborhoods because of a few interesting dog encounters.

“One day, I was walking through a neighborhood and these kids were playing in the front yard,” he said. “This big old dog comes bounding out straight towards me. He jumped at me and hit me. He didn’t bite me. He was just saying hello—and letting me know not to get near those kids.”

Covington’s Walking Man has been relatively lucky when it comes to facing potential hazards on his strolls. He does not mind rain, unless his shoes get wet and heavy, but lightning is the one weather condition that will keep him at home. Roach confesses to having fallen down a few times through the years, but he has never been seriously injured on any of his journeys.

“I’ve probably fallen flat on my face five or six times. One time I tripped on kudzu; another time I tripped over coat hangers,” he said with a laugh. “One day, I tried to walk on an

“I got started for my grandkids, and they’re still my motivation to stay healthy.”

Marc Roach

20 The Newton Community Magazine

ice-covered street and slipped and fell three times. Another day, I kept feeling something between my toes. When I took off my shoe, I saw a nail had come up between my toes.”

Roach goes through three to four pairs of Asics trail shoes every year and has worn out six iPods since he started walking. He enjoys listening to tunes from the 1970s and 80s.

“I like rock, Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Doobie Brothers—songs with a fast beat,” Roach said. “It makes me walk faster.”

The retired engineer admits to being somewhat obsessed with numbers and has used various Garmin GPS devices to track his steps. At one point, he had to wear two tracking devices because the battery on the first one would die before he completed his long walks.

“If you track your progress every day, you see what’s keeping you going,” he said. “It keeps me competitive with myself.”

Roach also quipped that walking has become a second source of income during his retirement years. “I have filled two water jugs with pennies I’ve found on the road,” he said. “Once, in McDonough, a 100-dollar bill came blowing up to me. That’s happened to me twice. It breaks up the monotony.”

While Roach does not have Facebook, Instagram or TikTok accounts, he can be found all over social media anyway.

“People often stop to ask me things or take a picture with me,” he said. “One time, someone sent my wife a picture of me walking with a cane and somebody had commented [that] ‘nothing stops him.’ That’s when I gave up using the cane.

I realized it was more of a mental crutch than a physical one.”

People often tell Roach they wish they could do what he does.

“I tell them, ‘You can. Just get started. Set yourself some small goals,’” he said. “I got started for my grandkids, and they’re still my motivation to stay healthy.”

H E A LT H & W E L L N E S S

Scan to read more from Grace & Truth.

GRACE & TRUTH

Cardboard Cake Jesus calls us to a much richer existence, where we can find freedom from the superficial clutches of the world and discover our true identity as believers by allowing Him to define us from the inside out.

by KURT PETERSHEIM My wife once showed me a Pinterest page full of beautiful wedding cakes. As I looked at them, she told me something surprising: They were all made of cardboard. Outwardly, these were extravagantly decorated, multi-tiered cakes. Yet underneath that fondant facade was nothing but cardboard. This idea was created in order to give one’s wedding guests the impression of a luxurious culinary experience while simultaneously sparing the expenses of the happy couple. To complete the illusion, these cakes have an edible top-tier, which the couple eats in front of everyone. The rest of the “cake” is then wheeled into the kitchen, where a sheet cake is cut and served to the unassuming guests.

Let’s be honest: We’ve all been like those cardboard cakes at one time or another. On the outside, we put on as much “decoration” as possible. Our jobs, families, clothes, stuff, skills, personalities—all of it can be used to simultaneously show the watching world what we want it to see and conceal from it what we do not. Just scroll through Instagram for five minutes.

There’s a lot of smooth frosting and buttercream roses. Rarely does anyone post the cardboard underneath. This is human nature; we would rather be pretty than real. Jesus, however, calls us to a much deeper life.

“Jesus must be the very center and substance of our lives, defining and directing our affections, thoughts and actions.”

Kurt Petersheim

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Jesus once said to His disciples, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through me” (John 14:6). In these words, Jesus is telling us that there is an alternative to a cardboard life. He is peeling back all the decorative layers of our lives and getting right at the very heart of the issue. The issue is this: If we want to be the complete person God created us to be, then His Son, Jesus Christ, must define us from the inside out.

When Jesus says, “I am the way,” He means that He is the One we must follow in order to know God. Therefore, our outward actions must be in line with His model and teachings.

However, that is just icing on the cake. Going deeper, He says, “I am … the truth.” Truth lives in our minds, and it determines our actions. We may be tempted to think of truth as a subjective thing that we make up for ourselves, but Jesus says He is “the” truth, not “a” truth. In other words, He is the objective reality of the universe, so we must not only follow Him but also believe in Him for who He really is: the eternal Son of God and Messiah. Still, He goes even deeper, saying, “I am … the life.”

Not only must we follow and believe in Him, but we must find our identity in Him. Jesus must be the very center and substance of our lives, defining and directing our affections, thoughts and actions. Then we will know God and experience the true life that He has for us, and we will finally be free from the fear and facade of just being another cardboard cake.

Kurt Petersheim is the campus pastor at Eastridge Church in Covington. For information, visit www.eastridge.church.

2023 Spring Issue 23

H E A LT H & W E L L N E S S

Scan to read more stories by Kari Apted.

A M is s i on i n Me di cin e While most teenagers are preoccupied with the latest TikTok trends, Madison Forsythe stays busy pursuing her future. She recently endured a stringent selection process to achieve a leadership position in a global student-led organization for future healthcare professionals.

by KARI APTED Madison Forsythe knows exactly what she wants to be when she grows up. She has plans to become a pediatric pulmonologist— a physician who helps children with problems related to breathing and the lungs. She excels as a student at Newton High School and the Newton College and Career Academy STEM Institute’s biotechnology pathway, having completed her junior year with a 4.0 GPA. It was not enough to sit at the top of her classes, though.

Forsythe is already making real-world connections in the medical field through the Health Occupations Students of America organization. As explained on its website, HOSA’s mission is “to empower HOSA-Future Health Professionals to become leaders in the global health community, through education, collaboration, and experience.”

There are over 15,000 HOSA members in the state of Georgia, and the NCCA has its own chapter. The organization hosts various competitive events each year, focused on topics like health

science and emergency preparedness. These events serve to provide healthcare students with opportunities to develop and enhance the skills they will need in the medical profession. Forsythe became interested in HOSA during the coronavirus pandemic when her trainer in the biotechnology program had students make Valentine’s Day cards for patients. She eagerly plugged into the group.

“We wore yellow for pediatric cancer patients, and we helped the pregnancy resource center clean out their shed,” Forsythe said. “It was also through HOSA that I had my first time helping run a blood drive.”

She had found her niche, and by the end of 10th grade, the natural-born leader became an officer in the NCCA HOSA chapter. The group hosted a “Kick the Habit” event, blood drives and programs centered on mental health issues. Forsythe also serves on her school’s health advisory committee to keep it updated on what the local HOSA chapter is doing for the students and the community.

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H E A LT H & W E L L N E S S

Forsythe’s next step was to apply for a state officer position with the organization. Although she felt a little hesitant over the weight of serving in a higher office, she decided to apply and see what happened. HOSA’s application process for a state position was extensive. Forsythe had to answer a series of initial questions in paragraph form, write a 500-word essay and prepare a speech about advocacy and why she wanted to serve. When she moved on to the next level, she had to take a quiz and go through a virtual interview. The final stage included an in-person interview in front of the nominating committee. Forsythe passed all the requirements and now serves as the Georgia HOSA Vice President of Membership on a team of diverse leaders from around the state. In addition to connecting to other future health professionals via HOSA, Forsythe continues to build relationships in the field by volunteering at Piedmont Newton.

“I started in the summer of 2022,” she said. “I was in the surgical department. I couldn’t do hands-on work, but I made beds and shadowed doctors and nurses.”

In the first semester of her junior year, Forsythe was allowed to shadow ICU nurses and see how they worked with patients.

During her second semester, she moved on to volunteer in wound care and her chosen specialty: pulmonology. “I got to see what respiratory therapists do, how BIPAP machines work, how they use cameras to see what’s inside the throat,” Forsythe said.

In fact, volunteering is what shifted her from her original plan of becoming a pediatrician. “I didn’t want to be a pulmonologist at first,” she said, “but when I got to see the different medical careers at Piedmont Newton, I realized I wanted to be a pediatric pulmonologist.”

HOSA is open to medicine-minded students from sixth grade through college, and college graduates can remain involved after graduation by serving on the alumni board. All stages of participation appeal to Forsythe. “I see myself doing that,” she said.

“I hope to attend Mercer University and join their HOSA chapter.” Forsythe also feels she has a good idea of what is required to pursue a career in medicine.

“You have to have your heart in it because it’s not something everyone can do,” she said. “You need to be passionate about being selfless and altruistic. You have to constantly advocate for other people. You can’t be selfish and seeking your own gains and be successful in medicine.”

“You can’t be selfish and seeking your own gains and be successful in medicine.”

Madison Forsythe

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S P O R T S & R E C R E AT I O N

Scan to read more stories by Brian Knapp.

BLUE BLOOD Newton High School’s Stephon Castle committed to play basketball at the University of Connecticut after he emerged as one of the nation’s top recruits. Some now project the 6-foot-6 do-it-all guard as a future Lottery Pick in the NBA Draft.

by BRIAN KNAPP If a laboratory set out to create the perfect basketball player in terms of size, athleticism, IQ and intangibles, the finished product might look a lot like Stephon Castle: a 6-foot-6 do-itall guard who lifted Newton High School to 43 wins over his final two seasons, with appearances in the Final Four and Elite Eight. The next chapter in the two-time Region 4-AAAAAAA Player of the Year’s career will be written more than 1,000 miles away from the comforts of home in Storrs, Connecticut.

Prior to his senior season at Newton, Castle had the foresight to commit to play at the University of Connecticut. The Huskies went on to claim their fifth national championship in April, as they cut through Iona, Saint Mary’s, Arkansas, Gonzaga, Miami and San Diego State in the 2023 NCAA Tournament, winning those six games by an average margin of 20 points. Against that backdrop, Castle serves as the centerpiece for perhaps the most acclaimed recruiting class in school history, which also includes Solo Ball, Jaylin Stewart, Jayden Ross and Youssouf Singare.

“Steph is one of the top-rated point guards in the class, and we expect him to be next in the line of great UConn guards,” Connecticut head coach Dan Hurley said. “He is blessed with unique positional size and strength, which gives him tremendous potential as a two-way player.”

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Infused with their next wave of talent, the Huskies will head to Europe in August to practice and play against various teams in France and Spain during a nine-day tour. From there, Connecticut turns its attention to defending its national title when practices begin in October; and Castle figures to be right in the middle of those plans.

(L TO R) SOLOMON BALL, JAYLIN STEWART, STEPHON CASTLE, JAYDEN ROSS, YOUSSOUF SINGARE PHOTO CREDIT: UCONN ATHLETICS

PHOTO CREDIT: UCONN ATHLETICS

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S P O R T S & R E C R E AT I O N

“He is blessed with unique positional size and strength, which gives him tremendous potential as a two-way player.”

Dan Hurley

“I’m an unselfish guard who can create for myself, when necessary,” he said. “I think I have an all-around game right now.

If I was asked five months ago what area needed most improvement, I would have said shooting, but I’ve really tightened everything up there the past few months.”

Castle admits he prefers to follow stern, no-nonsense leaders like Hurley, who has compiled a 104–55 record across his three seasons at Connecticut, including a stellar 31–8 mark in 2022–23.

“I really enjoy having tough coaches,” he said. “I believe they bring out the best in you, and I’ve seen that from Coach Hurley from Day 1.”

Castle made quite a footprint at Newton. He led the Rams to a 24–6 record, a region championship and a spot in the Final Four as a junior, averaging 16.6 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game. Hype built quickly, both at the local and national levels, and soon, he was a household name in recruiting circles. Castle donned the red, white and blue at the FIBA U18 Americas Championships in Tijuana, Mexico, the following June, scoring seven points in a reserve role as the United States routed Brazil 102–60 in the gold medal game.

“Playing with Team USA was a great experience for me,” he said. “Having to come off the bench and not be ‘The Guy’ helped me and the rest of my teammates understand the importance in believing in those around you.” Some two months later, the Covington City Council declared Aug. 15, 2022 as “Stephon Castle Day,” and he began to climb the charts as one of the nation’s top recruits.

As his senior season dawned and the anticipation reached a crescendo, Castle proceeded to answer all the hype with overwhelming substance. He put up 20.1 points, 9.5 rebounds and 4.8 rebounds per game, as he spurred Newton to a 19–11 record and a run to the Elite Eight. Castle was named the Atlanta Metro High School Boys Player of the Year by the Atlanta Tipoff Club and was selected to participate in the prestigious McDonald’s All-American Game—an honor bestowed to the top 24 high school players in the country— on March 28 in Houston. He scored 13 points and knocked down five of his six shot attempts, as the East beat the West 109–106 before a nationally televised audience on ESPN.

34 The Newton Community Magazine

Castle pointed to his father, Stacey, and outgoing Newton coach Charlamagne Gibbons as the key figures in his rise to prominence. Stacey played college basketball at Wake Forest and Central Florida in the 1990s and offered his son invaluable insight into the entire process.

“My career at Newton was a grind,” Castle said. “I have to thank my coaches for believing in me and making me earn everything. My high school coach pushed me just as hard as my dad, so having two great outlets to talk to on how to improve my game really helped in a big way.”

PHOTO CREDIT: UCONN ATHLETICS

Castle leaves behind a legacy at Newton rivaling that of any other play in the school’s rich history, from Tim Christian, Kantrail Horton and Mike Benton to JD Notae, Ashton Hagans and Isaiah Miller. In time, his exploits could exceed all those who came before him. Some talent evaluators already project Castle as a future Lottery Pick in the NBA Draft. The weight of such lofty expectations are not lost on the level-headed 18-year-old Covington native, who has long dreamed of playing in the NBA. “That’s the ultimate goal for everyone who plays basketball,” Castle said. “Every day, from now on, that’s what I’m competing for.”

S P O R T S & R E C R E AT I O N

36 The Newton Community Magazine

Scan to read more stories by Kari Apted.

PA S S I O N for the

A RT S

Gichin Funakoshi, known as the father of modern karate, once said, ‘Spirit first, technique second.’ Jim Fuller, owner and chief instructor of Jim Fuller’s U.M.A.S. Karate, shares the belief that character supersedes self-defense in the practice of martial arts.

by KARI APTED Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and Chuck Norris all drew Jim Fuller into his love affair with karate. Their presence on his family’s UHF TV, namely the Saturday afternoon movies on Channel 36, captivated him as a young teenager. As soon as Fuller could drive, he began taking karate lessons at the Academy of Sports in Atlanta and started fulfilling his dream of becoming a martial arts master.

He dove into his passion headfirst and progressed from white belt to black belt in just two years. At age 18, he was asked to teach at Joe Corley Karate—Atlanta’s first full-time martial arts studio. He soon developed his own curriculum: United Martial Arts Systems, which he still uses today.

“I also taught at dance schools, churches, daycares, anywhere that would let me in the door,” Fuller said. His first teaching position in the local area was at the Covington YMCA, but the demand for his classes soon outgrew the space. At the time, he was employed as a police officer for the City of Covington.

While on patrol one day, he drove by an empty building for rent on U.S. 278. “I pulled over, called the landlord, and from there, I was all in.”

Later, Fuller opened a second location off Salem Road in Conyers. Due to a Department of Transportation road-widening project, that studio had to relocate to a new space on Ga. 138 in 2023 Summer Issue 37

S P O R T S & R E C R E AT I O N

(L TO R) SONS NICHOLAS AND TIMOTHY WITH FATHER JIM FULLER

April. Each school is taught by instructors who grew up under the UMAS banner and later joined Fuller’s teaching program.

Fuller’s UMAS studio teaches American karate, which incorporates a mixture of different martial arts systems and styles.

“It blends things like boxing, karate and kickboxing but removes the Eastern religious aspects,” Fuller said. “That strong sense of discipline and respect remains, but we are in America, so we teach to fit American culture.” When he started teaching, Fuller had to answer many questions about the program’s philosophy. “Martial arts is very young in the U.S. It only began in the 1950s and 1960s. ‘Do you meditate?’ was one question parents asked a lot.

They didn’t want their child being taught things they didn’t teach in their house or that might be contrary to their faith.”

“Now, with TV, movies and social media, even if you’ve never taken karate, you already know a lot about it because you’re exposed to it constantly,” Fuller added. From the beginning, his attention has been on the people he teaches instead of a single martial arts style. “I teach my staff that it’s not what we teach, but it’s how we teach, and we always put people first. Our goal is making people better people, and making our community better by teaching positive character traits. Parents think their kids are just learning how to block-punch-kick, but they end up loving the discipline they learn.”

In fact, Fuller revealed that parents sometimes come to him with kids who struggle to keep their hands to themselves. The parents are worried that learning a martial art will just make the behavior worse. However, it almost always has the opposite effect, as karate teaches students the value of self-control.

Fuller calls karate a vehicle that allows him to do what he loves: teaching.

“I fell in love with teaching others,” he said. “I love character development, teaching people positive characteristics like focus, self-control, patience, courtesy, respect. Of course, the physical aspect, the self-defense, is what draws people in, but I think our focus on the whole person is why we survived COVID-19 when many studios didn’t.”

Fuller credits his wife Courtney with her many roles in making their venture successful.

“She is instrumental in keeping the business going,” he said.

“She does all our payroll, retail, memberships and advertising.

She does an amazing job.”

For many years, Fuller worked over 80 hours a week at the studio. Now, he has cut back to a more reasonable schedule.

The Fullers and their two young sons, Timothy and Nicholas, live on a small farm he calls “a daily labor of love.” Fuller is a self-described outdoorsman who enjoys riding horses, hunting and fishing when he is not at the studio or working on the farm.

He also enjoys being involved in his church and spending time with his two grown children and three stepchildren.

Fuller has one piece of career advice he shares with the young people he instructs: “I tell them it’s easy to get locked into a job that you don’t enjoy, so figure out what you love to do, then do that, and everything else will fall into place. I’m so grateful to be able to put my passion first.”

“Our goal is making people better people, and making our community better by teaching positive character traits.”

Jim Fuller

38 The Newton Community Magazine

A R T S , E D U C AT I O N & I N N O VAT I O N

42 The Newton Community Magazine

Scan to read more stories by Rebecca McDaniel.

DOWN TO A SCIENCE Briana Jones was stunned when she earned a coveted spot in one of the world’s largest competitions for high school students.

Once there, she faced stiff challenges from other top scholars from more than 75 countries.

by REBECCA MCDANIEL There was some small chatter among the contenders after Briana Jones and her peers received first place at the regional science fair competition. The judges then stood to announce the final award for the student who would move on to the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair. Jones, who admittedly had tuned out the remainder of the program because she felt she was not in position to receive the honor, was in complete shock when they called her name.

Jones grew up loving mathematics. It had always been her favorite subject. It was not until middle school that she acquired a passion for science. Jones began to consider which careers in science she could enter and the pathways that might lead her there.

Upon arriving at the Newton County College and Career Academy, she delved further into her love for science. Jones applied for and was accepted into the biotechnology program taught by 2022–23 Newton County “Teacher of the Year” Laura Lambert.

“There is not a lab like this anywhere else at any other school,” Lambert said, “so just being in the program is a huge opportunity to learn these new skills and push yourself.”

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A R T S , E D U C AT I O N & I N N O VAT I O N

During her junior year of high school, one of Jones’ biotechnology class assignments was to edit a bacterium by adding protein and trying to solve a problem with it. She chose to edit cyanobacteria, commonly referred to as blue-green algae. When introduced to runoff from fertilizers, cyanobacteria grow rapidly.

This overgrowth is a key ingredient in creating algae blooms— a prevalent problem in multiple community systems. The following year, Jones decided to revisit the bacteria experiment for her science fair project and see if movement affected cyanobacteria. She wanted to know whether movement caused it to grow faster or slow it down, perhaps even killing it. Her findings were the beginning of something more significant.

Jones credited Lambert for spurring her interest in science.

“Coming into the STEM program,” she said, “you’re told that it’s going to be very challenging, and of course it is, but with Mrs. Lambert, it wasn’t as challenging as it could have been.”

She then pointed to Lambert’s ability to explain difficult subjects in a way that was conducive to learning.

By using real-world techniques Lambert taught them, the students were able to swab their cheeks for DNA, build 3D models of DNA and RNA, make algae beads and pursue many other fascinating projects. “To commend Briana even more, she’s by herself,” Lambert said. “A lot of people are in teams.”

By the time Jones and her peers reached the regional competition, they were not confident they would advance further.

Though Jones believed the awards presentation was over, the judges stood to announce who would be moving on to ISEF. Her name was on the list.

“I remember people telling me I had to get up because I was in shock,” she said.

Lambert, who was unable to attend the ceremony, watched in real time via Zoom.

“I remember people telling me I had to get up because I was in shock.”

Briana Jones

44 The Newton Community Magazine

“They’ve announced all of the places, and I’m kind of tuning out,” she said. “ISEF is really big. I think they did well. I mean, I’m happy for their accomplishments, and then when I saw a Newton College and Career Academy name pop up, I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, we’ve done it.’”

The ISEF selection process is competitive and offers two options for students to place at the final event. At regionals, judges choose three projects to move on to the ISEF without the student having to compete at the state level. Jones was one of the three chosen to bypass the state competition. Students who were not selected to move directly on to ISEF can still compete for a spot at the state level. In all, fewer than 40 students from Georgia advanced to ISEF. ISEF was held in May in Dallas. It included five days’ worth of presentations, with placements being awarded on the final day. Jones is only the third Newton County student to be

chosen to participate at ISEF over the past 25 years. The honor was not lost on her.

“It’s not something you can just simply put on a resume,” Jones said. “It’s something you can talk about and show how much you know and how much experience you have dealing with and being in science and biotechnology.”

Jones plans to attend Seattle University in the fall, with a double major in business and science. She feels confident in her ability to handle the workload.

“I’m not worried about college,” Jones said, “because the level I’m at is a collegiate level.”

A R T S , E D U C AT I O N & I N N O VAT I O N

Scan to read more stories by Michelle Floyd.

BUSINESS HIGHLIGHT

The Meat House Childhood friends Daniel Leinweber and Savannah Holifield came together to create Newton County’s source for local specialty meats.

by MICHELLE FLOYD When Daniel Leinweber met Savannah Holifield in kindergarten, little did he know that they would one day run a family business together.

Although the two both attended Piedmont Academy in Monticello when they were young, they only started dating during their junior year of high school. Soon after, Leinweber began to work for The Meat House, which had been opened

by Savannah’s father, Booker, in the fall of 2012.

“It was just something I always wanted to do,” Booker said.

“I had seen things like it in the Atlanta market, so I thought I would see what I could do here as another source of income.”

Holifeld Farms had been in business since 1959, so The Meat House was a logical step for expansion. It sells Holifield sausage and a host of other fresh meats and fixings, including beef tenderloins, brisket, sirloins and ribeyes. All meats are freshly ground and cubed in-store or cut to size after being inspected by the Leinwebers.

Daniel, whose father is a musician and a professor at Oxford College, studied business at what was then the Georgia Perimeter College satellite in Social Circle. He worked at The Meat House to help pay the bills and eventually became more interested in the Holifield family business.

“We don’t give anything to customers that we wouldn’t take home ourselves.”

Daniel Leinweber

46 The Newton Community Magazine

“I started making money and didn’t know what I wanted to do otherwise,” Daniel said, “so Booker let me take the reins.”

Daniel and Savannah married in 2014 and eventually started taking over more of the family business, while Booker continued to run Holifield Farms and Holifield Deer Processing. In August 2022, Daniel purchased The Meat House, which he and Savannah now run with a handful of other employees.

“He needed it more than I did,” Booker said. “He was running it already, and he had a family to support. He’s done a great job.”

Booker still stops in from time to time to handle maintenance issues, but the Leinwebers run the business when they are not caring for their two children: son Dawson and daughter Marybeth.

“It’s been fun,” Daniel said.

Aside from Holifield sausage, The Meat House sells certified Angus beef that is United States farm-raised, U.S. pork that is not enhanced with saltwater brine and all-natural Spring Mountain chicken with no antibiotics. It also offers specialty items like The Meat House Burger, made from fresh ground, pre-seasoned brisket, short rib and sirloin steak. Moreover, customers can find exceptional meats that are difficult to find in grocery stores, like tri-tip steak, Brazilian Picanha and Tomahawk steaks.

“We don’t give anything to customers that we wouldn’t take home ourselves,” Daniel said.

For information on The Meat House, located at 10698 Covington Bypass Road, visit www.themeathousega.com or call 678-712-6623.

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Scan to read more stories by Michelle Floyd.

Cooperative Touch Runners, walkers and bikers enjoy exercising along the Cricket Frog Trail’s scenic path. Now, young artists from Eastside High School and the Newton Trails organization are joining forces to update its student-created mural.

by MICHELLE FLOYD Take a look around Newton County, and you are bound to see collaboration. It ranges from concerts in the middle of downtown Covington’s bustling business district to teenagers volunteering to carry food donations to the elderly, and churches giving away school supplies to children throughout the year. Suppose you find yourself on the ever-expanding Cricket Frog Trail at the trailhead along Elm Street, just off The Square

48 The Newton Community Magazine

near First Baptist Church of Covington. In that case, you will find another source of collaboration, perhaps unexpectedly.

You will see student art displayed on a large mural along a trail used by locals and visitors from all over the world for walking and biking.

“The students have delivered in a big way. It’s a source of interest and of pride. It’s certainly a beautiful part of the trail,” said Duane Ford, chair of the Newton Trails board of directors.

“It draws attention to the trail and highlights the work of local artists and students. It’s a win-win all around.”

Some seven years ago, lifelong Newton County resident Melissa Parker reached out to Newton Trails to see if her art club students at the Newton County Theme School could create a mural for the trail. Parker had graduated from Newton High School, earned a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from Georgia State University and worked in the design industry before becoming an art teacher.

“I thought it would be good community outreach and a fun opportunity for the students,” Parker said. “We worked it out with First Baptist Church on the placement and got to work.

It was a simple mural of bright, large flowers.”

(L TO R) HANNAH LOCKERMAN, BRIANA MAUGHON AND PHOEBE PHILLIPS

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A R T S , E D U C AT I O N & I N N O VAT I O N

“The students have delivered in a big way. It’s a source of interest and of pride. It’s certainly a beautiful part of the trail.”

Duane Ford

50 The Newton Community Magazine

Although the initial project was special and enjoyed by many for years, Parker began to notice how weathering had left the mural in need of some TLC. Now at Eastside High School, she contacted Newton Trails again to ask if her students there could work on a revised project in the same spot.

“I’m actually teaching students I had in elementary school again in high school,” Parker said. “It’s an opportunity to showcase the work of my art students, as well as an opportunity for them to paint a large-scale project.” Parker started to plan and had her art students come up with ideas and sketches for a new project. “One really stood out,” she said. “Hannah Lockerman, a junior here at Eastside, really followed through with her design. It incorporates symbols of why people use the trail: a bike for physical activity, direction via a compass, nature and the trail’s namesake, the cricket frog.”

UPPER LEFT: HANNAH AND ERIN LOCKERMAN BOTTOM LEFT: BRIANA MAUGHON, HANNAH AND ERIN LOCKERMAN RIGHT: JORDAN WILLIAMS AND BRIANA MAUGHON

Lockerman admits she wants people to see that a high school student’s artwork can be just as good as a professional artist.

“I hope the public sees that art is needed in this world, whether it’s abstract and unreadable or if it’s just a mural on a trail,” she said. “The colors and shape of art define society, as it’s the backbone.”

Parker hopes she can continue to partner with Newton Trails, the City of Covington, her students and other local artists to organize art installations along the trail. Newton Trails seems to be on track with that idea, too.

“The board of directors’ position is that we are glad to support the arts and have works of art along the trail,” said Ford, who encouraged anyone interested in participating to contact the board for permission. While “there are certainly places along the trail for it,” he concedes that space will eventually become an issue.

Ford revealed that some artists have proposed sculptures in the past that have yet to come to fruition, and the board remains interested in hosting a variety of art, pocket parks and garden installation projects along the trail. A local scout troop even built trail kiosks along the way for one of its projects. The Cricket Frog Trail is a once-traveled rail line that was paved in sections over the years for public use from Covington to Mansfield. There are plans to extend it even further throughout the county to host at least nearly 20 miles of paths.

“It’s quite lovely,” Ford said when asked about the trail. “We’re open to a variety of things, so we hope people will ask.”

For information about Newton Trails, visit www.newtontrails.org.

ART SPEAKS

by MARGARET WARFIELD - ARTIST

Artistic Journey – It is fascinating to discover the evolution of an artist’s artistic journey.

This “beginning” often changes because of life experiences, shifts in thought, subject matter, and choice of materials that are used to create their art form.

Laura Zierl began her journey in 2003, built on the foundation of the creative women in her life. Her mother, a prolific seamstress, and grandmothers that were excellent cooks, knitters, and crocheters, planted the creative seed of vision into her thought patterns.

Laura always liked sparkly things and the unusual. Desiring to create a cord for a pair of sunglasses, she began researching beads and discovered an array of fascinating shapes, colors, and kinds of beads, and soon, LiLi Designs, the name of her business, was born.

Her designs – jewelry and crocheted accessories, are available at WildArt Gallery.

Laura says, “We need to focus on creating when we are the LEAST inclined to create, those times of stress or busy-ness, that impede our ability to visualize, because creating ignites energy and helps us cope with the stresses in our modern-day lives.”

Wildart 404-455-1594 thewildart.com 1105 Washington St. Covington, GA 30014

LIVING

56 The Newton Community Magazine

Still Standing

Scan to read more stories by Avril Occilien-Similien.

Sara Vincent has endured some difficult life circumstances that ultimately resulted in her becoming an above-the-knee amputee.

Instead of focusing on her trials and tribulations, she chooses to spread messages of optimism and anticipation.

by AVRIL OCCILIEN-SIMILIEN Anyone who encounters Sara Vincent will be met with a genuine smile and leave with an uplifting message. Vincent now lives what she considers a “pretty sweet life,” but that has not always been true. Due to a condition named Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Vincent has endured some difficult life circumstances, from struggling with knee pain for most of her childhood to multiple knee replacements in her teenage years to navigating adulthood as an above-the-knee amputee. Despite these events, Vincent chooses to spread hope and positivity wherever she goes.

“After my amputation surgery, I asked for a stump socket that I could decorate,” she said. “I cover this socket with very uplifting and motivational messages because I figure people will be looking at me anyway, so I might as well give them something positive to look at.”

An Indiana native, Vincent and her husband moved to Newborn in 2010 to raise their daughter in the South. Vincent beamed when she expressed her gratitude for what the area offers.

“We are so happy we moved here,” she said. “Along with my parents-in-law, our family has expanded to include several critters—four cats, two chinchillas, nine chickens and five dogs, including my service dog, Lewey.”

Vincent credits her family and church community with helping her through tough times and calls her journey a “God thing.” She saw countless specialists before her amputation in February 2022.

“After the Mayo Clinic stated there was nothing more they could do, my husband and I knew what was next,” Vincent said. “We needed to pivot from finding a cure to adapting to a new normal without the bottom half of my leg.”

Vincent believes God has provided individuals, even strangers, to help her along an uncertain path. During her last vacation before amputation surgery, an encouraging amputee at the beach gave her hope. There was also the veteran amputee, Kendra Pieper, with whom her husband randomly connected.

Pieper owns a local construction company, Squared Away LLC, and visited their home to offer expert advice on making it more accessible. The Vincents eventually hired Squared Away to do all the construction, and they could not have been more thrilled with the finished product.

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LIVING

“As much as you try to prepare, you can’t prepare for something like this, but I’m thankful to no longer be in constant pain.”

Sara Vincent

58 The Newton Community Magazine

“The journey has been much harder than I thought it would be,” Vincent said. “As much as you try to prepare, you can’t prepare for something like this, but I’m thankful to no longer be in constant pain. I still have some nerve issues and have to deal with socket soreness, but it’s getting there slowly. I will get there.”

Vincent considers herself a creative soul and channels her talents through her first love: photography. Due to her altered mobility, she has had to slow down quite a bit with some aspects of her business (www.saravincentphotography.com). She also utilizes her gifts to reach the next generation. Vincent now teaches art and photography to kindergarten through middle schoolers at Summit Academy in Monroe and seizes every opportunity as an instructive moment.

“Kids are naturally curious and are so funny,” she said. “They have so many questions, and I’ll take the time to indulge them.

I’ll take my leg off if needed to show them how it all works. My little kindergarteners will ask crazy questions like if my leg will ever grow back. Some people may be mortified, but I don’t mind those questions. I embrace them and use each moment

to make a lasting positive impression that, hopefully, the children will never forget.”

Her creative pursuits extend further, as Vincent recently opened up an Etsy shop.

“My second love is crafting,” she said. “Since I couldn’t fully utilize my jeans, I took them all and started making things out of them. I am taking my old clothes and findings and turning them into jewelry, photo props and art, as well as making Mickey ears for all occasions. Disney always brings a smile, even on the cloudiest of days. I look at it as turning my lemons into lemonade. It’s a metaphor for my entire life, so that’s what I named my Etsy shop: ‘She’s Making Lemonade.’”

When asked what one message she would give to someone facing similar experiences, Vincent offered some poignant advice.

“Take one day at a time, one step at a time,” she said.

“Instead of asking yourself, ‘What can I do?’ ask yourself, ‘How can I do this?’ The possibilities are endless.”

LIVING

Scan to read more stories by Brian Knapp.

MEET YOUR NEIGHBOR

Mike Brown

Those looking for the affable Covington native on any given day are likely to find him in one of two places: cruising down a highway on his 2010 Streetglide FLHTX Harley-Davidson motorcycle or watching one of his two sons—Caden, a junior at Newton High School, and Justin, a junior at Berea College in Kentucky—play baseball.

by BRIAN KNAPP Mike Brown, an only child, was born and raised in Covington. A 1993 graduate of Newton High School, he went on to attend Georgia Southern University before returning home to put down roots of his own. Brown met Sonya Reed in high school, though the two never dated. They reconnected through mutual friends a few years later, started a relationship and married on May 5, 2001.

“I’m the luckiest person in the world to have her as my wife,” he said. “She amazes me in so many ways. She makes my world go ’round.” Brown works as a sales engineer and account manager for the McNaughton-McKay Electric Company, having been with the company for 25 years. It has offices in Covington, Norcross, Cartersville and LaGrange, along with other branches across the United States and in Germany. “I just walked in and applied one day,” Brown said. “We’re a full-blown automation and electrical distributor. We service all industrial sites. I’ve made lots of friends there throughout the years.”

In this exclusive interview with The Newton Community Magazine, Brown reflects on the Covington in which he grew up, discusses his favorite eateries around town and looks ahead to a potential trip of a lifetime on two wheels:

How has Newton County changed since you were a kid and how would you describe it to someone who did not live here back then?

A lot has changed. Many of the roads were dirt back then, and there were no places to eat. I miss the small town when it was less crowded and everybody knew you.

Once you were of age and out on your own, what made you decide to settle here?

My job and my family, which has a strong bond within Newton County and Covington. My dad’s family has been here for a lifetime. They were all are born and raised in Covington—multiple generations.

What are your favorite restaurants in Newton County and why?

I like the oysters and shrimp at City Pharmacy, Flo’s Filet at LongHorn and the pizza and wings at Amici.

60 The Newton Community Magazine

How long have you owned your Harley?

I got it eight years ago. It’s the second one I’ve had. It has about 10,000 miles on it. I’ve driven it to Panama City Beach [in Florida]. That’s the farthest I’ve gone on it. I don’t think about anything when I’m riding. Nothing. There are no worries. Riding is peaceful.

Do you have a dream trip you would like to take on it?

Sturgis, South Dakota. I’m planning to make that trip in the next five years. The adrenaline rush from the views you get in between here and there are enough to make me want to go.

“I miss the small town when it was less crowded and everybody knew you.”

Mike Brown

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LIVING

Scan to read what else is cooking.

W H AT ’ S C O O K I N G

Natalie’s Creamed Corn

by NATALIE WILLIAMSON

I hold this recipe dear to my heart. It brings back fond memories now that we are in summer corn season. My dad was also a chef. We owned a restaurant and a convenience store when I was a little girl.

One of my chores was to shuck the corn my daddy picked from his garden. After we shucked, washed and cut it off the cob, some would go to the restaurant and some would go to our family. My mom would use that fresh corn to make this dish. I added some twists to it, namely the poblano pepper and the basil. I grow both of those in my garden now. When buying fresh corn, make sure you choose plump ears. They need to look full, and the tassels should be brown and sticky. Bacon is optional if you prefer a meatless meal. I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as my family has through the decades:

Ingredients • 5 slices of bacon • 6 cloves garlic, minced • 1 poblano pepper, diced • 3 tablespoons salted butter • 1 cup onion, diced • 10 ears of corn, cut from the cob • Kosher salt • black Pepper • 1 tablespoon sugar • 1½ cups heavy whipping cream • 20 leaves of fresh basil Directions 1. Cook bacon in a large skillet over medium to high heat.

Remove bacon when done.

2. Melt in butter. Add onions and poblano peppers. Cook for about two minutes.

3. Add corn and cook, stirring often, until the corn is just cooked through. About five minutes.

4. Stir in cream and sugar and cook until the sauce thickens.

About three minutes.

5. Dice bacon, add back to the dish.

6. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

7. Turn off heat. Roll up basil leaves and slice into thin ribbons.

Stir basil into hot corn and serve.

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“I hold this recipe dear to my heart.”

Natalie Williamson 2023 Summer Issue 65