2024 Summer Issue

PUBLISHERS

Meredith

SALES

Heather

Maree

EDITORS

Kari Apted Brian Knapp

PHOTOGRAPHER Michie Turpin

CONTRIBUTING

D.J.

ILLUSTRATOR Scott Fuss

On

the Cover

HEALING PROPERTIES

by KARI APTED

Those who have driven down Hodges Circle in Mansfield have probably already seen the tall, colorful rooster that graces our cover. Its whimsical presence brightens the rural landscape as only art can, and I feel grateful for the creative soul who decided it needed to be there.

I’ve been writing for this magazine since its inception, but I’m also an artist. In fact, my degree is in art, not journalism. I run a small face painting and paint party business called Mini Masterpieces with Kari, and I also teach art at His Master’s Voice, an arts-focused homeschooling program in McDonough. It’s difficult to say whether I find writing or art more enjoyable. I love every minute of it all. If I had to choose a favorite activity, it would be turning self-proclaimed non-artists into bona fide creators. Nothing tops seeing that bulb of creativity light up, the relaxation as they slip into

their right-brain creative zone and that spark of pride when they see what they’ve done. I firmly believe that the world needs more artists and more people with the precious audacity to make lovely things and share them.

This world can be so dark, and it often feels darker by the day. I’m in the middle of walking through a midnight season with my dear sister, whose husband passed away suddenly just before Christmas. It has been absolutely heartbreaking to be unable to make this better for her, and I struggle to find ways to make her smile. We were together recently, and I brought supplies to make gem clusters for my face-painting customers. She joined me at the table, and for a few hours, she forgot about her new state of solitude. Her mind was blessedly paused from wills, bills and responsibility as she melted into making something beautiful with her hands. Then I placed her gems on a smiling young face two days later, compounding the joy.

That’s the healing power of art. It blesses both the creator and the recipient. Works of art are the twinkling stars sprinkled across the inky sky that distract us from our troubles. Even old art—like the big Mansfield rooster—can spread delight after rust freckles across it. Age doesn’t matter; art and artists are never too old to make the world better.

I challenge you today to create something, no matter how small. Zen doodle on a piece of paper and give it to a friend. Wear the cherry red shirt instead of the boring black one, then smile and snap a selfie to share online. Sit down for 10 minutes and finger-paint with your kids. And if you don’t have a homeowners’ association, maybe build a giant metal rooster and plunk him in your front yard. Right by the road, where everyone will see.

PUBLISHERS’ NOTE

Ah, time for what many consider the quintessential summer experience: the beach trip. I love the idea of a beach trip. I usually go with a plan to relax but never seem to be able to. It starts with the packing. I fill up my bag (plus the cooler and wagon that Scott so graciously lugs around for us) with all the things I think we’ll need: towels, sunscreen (various SPFs for face and body), drinks, snacks, kindle, phone, sunglasses, chairs, umbrellas, buckets and shovels and toys, oh my.

Once we’re there, I’m restless. I’m fixated on the sand, which is everywhere— on my towel, in my swimsuit, in my hair, even in my mouth. It’s so hot. Where’s the breeze? I try cooling off in the water, but I can’t see my feet. What did I just step on? I’ll just relax under the umbrella and read. There’s a nice breeze now. Is it too windy? Is our umbrella going to blow away? OK, I’ll build a sand castle with the kids. This is fun, until I uncover an old band-aid buried in the sand. Is it time to go yet?

Of course, there are those who relish the beach—like Fern and Wyatt, who can spend all day basking in the sun, chasing waves or just digging holes in the sand. This year, I’m going to try to get out of my own head long enough to live in the moment and enjoy the sounds of the waves crashing, birds calling and kids laughing. Whether you love it or loathe it, the beach will always be a rite of summer passage. Luckily, there’s plenty of seafood, air-conditioned surf shops, naps and Netflix to keep reluctant beachgoers like me coming back.

Have a great day today.

Meredith Tredeau

Stories by Kari Apted

THE COUNTY’S MOST INTERESTING MAN

Newborn resident Tony Pless looks like your average older biker, clad in black leather and tattooed, with a long, white beard. Like most bikers, he has been places—some good and some he would rather not talk about. Inside his rough exterior lives a retired artist with a damaged but softened heart who longs to share God’s redemptive love.

by KARI APTED

A conversation with Tony Pless feels similar to watching the movie “Forrest Gump.” Each story sounds more incredulous than the last, but they are all surprisingly true. In fact, Pless has received several offers to turn his life’s story into a book, but the Newborn resident has declined them all.

“They would focus on all the bad stuff, and I don’t want to go back to all that again,” he said. “I want to be remembered as the gracious old gentleman I am now.”

Despite a rough and rocky first half of life, the 64-year-old has enjoyed years of wealth and reclamation. However, a testimony of redemption cannot be fully told without mentioning “the bad stuff,” and Pless has experienced significantly more than most. Pless believes there is one primary reason his life went down a dark path as a preteen.

“I was rebellious,” he said. “It was pure rebellion. Nobody was going to tell me what to do. I hated my stepfather. He was abusive, overbearing and over-religious. I got kicked out of

school and had my first job at 11. I was living out on the streets at 14. I hated school, but I’ve always loved hard work.” In contrast to his stepfather, Pless remembers his mother as a pillar of strength and faith. “My mama was the best friend I ever had,” he said. Pless speaks fondly of her memory, of how grateful he was for her support and that she lived well into his adulthood. Before she died, she asked her son for one last favor. “She knew I didn’t like church back then, but she made me promise not to shed one tear at her funeral,” he said. “She asked me to just smile and be proud of her.” Pless did not cry at her memorial service. He stood at the church door, shook hands with everyone who entered and said, “Welcome to Mama’s last sermon.”

Pless knows his mother’s prayers covered him during some trying times. His rebellion grew as he did, and he connected with people whose influence led him to dark places. He shares very little detail when he talks about the years he spent as a self-described “wild gangster,” preferring to keep those regretful memories in the past. However, his exploits led to his receiving a life sentence for murder—which was ultimately pardoned. Pless met his wife, Laurie, while they were both incarcerated, and the couple built a relationship through letter writing. “Laurie started going to church services in jail and asked the warden to please not keep us apart,” he said. Eventually, they were allowed to have a jailhouse wedding in 1994. The couple lived happily together for many years after they were both released. Some of Pless’ most cherished memories happened during the huge house parties they hosted. They would invite hundreds of guests who were entertained by the Dixie Rebel Band, a musical group Pless managed. Laurie raised prize-winning German Shepherds,

while Pless worked as an electrician and an artist, specializing in leather. He made countless purses, wallets, gun holsters and belts, each artfully detailed with embossing and hand-painted dyes. “People think I must own a lot of the belts I made,” he said, “but I never made one for myself despite making thousands of them.”

The Plesses enjoyed traveling around in his hippie van and setting up displays at craft fairs to sell his leather wares. He also enjoyed creating oil and pastel paintings, many of them on commission. He painted one piece for rock star Elton John and another landscape for former Georgia Governor and United States Senator Herman Talmadge. Some of his and his wife’s

favorite pieces were his series of Native American portraits, which Pless often signed with Laurie’s name instead of his own.

“It was a way of keeping her alive forever,” he said.

In 2002, Pless’ cousin asked him to work alongside him on a major remodeling project for an Atlanta celebrity. The home belonged to musician and actor Chris Bridges, better known as Ludacris. Pless formed an ongoing friendship with Bridges and his extended family, and he still works for him today.

“You couldn’t ask for a nicer young man,” said Pless, who describes Bridges’ mother, Roberta Sheilds, as the loving big sister he never had. “The average person has no idea how much it costs and the hard devoted work these actors have to give their life up to. I’m personally proud to [have] had the pleasure of watching such growth in a person.”

As middle age came upon Pless, years of hard living began to seriously impact his health. To date, Pless has had seven major heart attacks and suffers from chronic congestive heart failure. He is unsure of exactly how many stents he has in his body but

estimates there are around 10. He has gone through multiple surgeries, including one to remove a third of his colon. A stroke disabled his dominant left hand, which brought an end to his leather crafting and painting.

In 2014, Laurie suffered a major stroke. Though the doctors gave her a poor prognosis for recovery, she lived another two years before she died on her birthday. Pless describes the years following her death as a deeply sorrowful season during which he spent a lot of time reading the Bible. Although he had always believed that God existed, he did not fully commit his life to Christ until he faced his own eternal fate.

Pless describes himself as someone who had never been scared of anything, but his near-death experience shook him to the core. During one of his many surgeries, he was pronounced dead. “I saw the team working on me and the flat line on the monitor,” he said. “I heard the surgeon say ‘he’s gone’ and saw them turn the bright lights off.” Pless is reluctant to say he went to Hell but describes the next place he saw as very dark.

Newborn: A Town Full of Characters

If you blink as you drive through rural Newton County, you might miss the tiny town of Newborn, and even if you see it, you’ll probably pronounce it wrong. You don’t say it the same way you’d describe a just-birthed infant. Instead, it sounds more like “NOO-burn.” It was first known as Sandtown, but a traveling preacher’s invigorating sermon inspired leaders to choose a name that reflected the Evangelical Christian concept of being born again. The Georgia General Assembly incorporated the Town of Newborn in 1894, 30 years after General Sherman marched through it on his way to the sea.

Though the town occupies just 1.6 square miles, it boasts a post office, town hall, adjacent park, a tiny library and even a traffic light. The Historic Newborn Schoolhouse—a circa 1923 school building now serving as an event center—is the heart of the area. People gather at the Schoolhouse every April for the annual Hornyhead Fish Festival, a fun event dedicated to an appropriately diminutive fish.

The Schoolhouse is a central meeting place for many regular events that unite Newborn’s residents. Spring and summer usher in monthly community yard sales, and community bingo games are regular events. Pickin’ in the Park is another frequently scheduled event where local musicians bring their acoustic instruments and play bluegrass music together.

However, Newborn’s real treasure is its residents—a motley crew of good people who all agree that their town and neighbors are special. Paul Zimmerman opened Newborn’s BBQ restaurant, ZimSkillet, after the pharmaceutical company he worked for decided to downsize. Zimmerman admits he was excited by the slogan on the Town Park gate: A Town With Characters.

by KARI APTED

“I was hoping the ‘s’ wasn’t a typo,” he said, “and it wasn’t.” In 2010, a fire destroyed the home Zimmerman had built with his own hands. He has only recently been able to talk about it without getting choked up. “We had six kids when we lost everything, but people just came out of nowhere to take care of us. It blew my mind,” he said. “They had people on shifts to bring us food. They took care of us for months. That was Newborn.” Zimmerman and his wife once considered moving back to Florida, where they were from originally. “I started getting sad and realized we can’t leave Newborn,” he said. “There’s nowhere we’d rather live. The seasons are good; the people are great.”

Dave Norton has been a “Newborn Character” for about 20 years and also plans to stick around. He owns Turkey Strut Farm, where he breeds heirloom turkeys and ships them around the nation. Those who have been to the

Hornyhead Fish Festival might have played a round of his hilarious game of Turkey Poop Bingo.

“Newborn is one the few remaining true small towns left in America,” he said. “We love it here.”

Bonnie Martin moved to Newborn from Fayetteville, North Carolina, 11 years ago and has no desire to ever go back. She loves how everyone to whom she says “hi” says it right back.

“It’s such a kind and friendly town,” Martin said.

Ernest Horton and Elisa Rowe work for the Town of Newborn and agree that it is an enclave where everybody looks out for one another.

“I love this little place,” Horton said. “It’s very quiet, everybody is very nice and it’s a place where people try to help one another.” Rowe agrees that there is a strong sense of community in Newborn: “I’m very proud to represent this great town and its great people.”

“Terrified is no word to describe what I felt there,” he said. “I was surrounded by this evil power.” He described a structure like a staircase, or perhaps an altar, illuminated by a bright, colorful light. A large figure in a black robe kept walking by, and in his terror, Pless began begging God for forgiveness. “I told God if he sent me back, I’d never let another day go by without telling people how good He is,” Pless said. It would be another two days before he became fully conscious again, but he remembers hearing what people around him were saying.

“I could hear people talking,” Pless said. “I heard the doctor say he had already called my brother to tell him I’d died.”

Years ago, Pless’ doctors told him he would not live for three more months. He continues to defy their predictions. He has suffered through multiple episodes where chronic congestive heart failure caused his lungs to fill with fluid.

“Every time, I’d have this last thought before passing out, that if I could have a drop of air the size of a BB, I’d be OK,” he said. The last time it happened, Pless could feel an episode coming on as he backed out of his driveway. His neighbor heard him lay down on his horn and called 911. Pless got out of the truck and fell on his face. “It’s like being drowned alive,” he said. “Water was gurgling out of my mouth, and I said, ‘God, I know you’re fixing to take me. Please take me to see my mama.’” Then he passed out. Help arrived within three minutes, and it turned out he had a collapsed windpipe. “Every time I leave the house,” Pless said, “it wouldn’t surprise me if I died backing out of the driveway.”

Earlier this year, Pless was told that he would need to have another invasive cardiac procedure. However, no doctor was willing to take the risk of putting him under anesthesia again. Pless accepted his fate. “I told the doctors, ‘You can’t keep putting me together again like a mechanic,’” he said. Nevertheless, he continues eating healthier and staying active by doing maintenance work and various projects for Ludacris and his family. He frequently attends Rushing Wind Church in Newborn with other Bikers for Christ and has kept his promise to tell people about God’s goodness.

“I grew old, and I chilled out,” Pless said. “I am ready to die as a peaceful old man. At the end of the story, I just want people to know that God is real.”

“I want to be remembered as the gracious old gentleman I am now.”

Tony Pless

BUSINESS HIGHLIGHT Building Blocks

Mike Denney brought his vision for Piedmont Steel to life in 2007 and now employs more than 150 workers. Having experienced the good, the bad and the ugly associated with his industry, he strives to create a family atmosphere for colleagues and customers.

by MICHELLE FLOYD

Mike Denney views his business as a family endeavor, a sentiment he would not trade for anything. As president of Piedmont Steel in Covington, Denney founded the company in September 2007 after nearly 30 years in the industry.

“I swapped my Harley for a work truck,” he said. Today, he works alongside his wife Tammy, two sons-in-law, an uncle and several cousins, all of whom contribute to his expanding business.

“It’s a great family business,” said Denney, who resides in Oxford. He started Piedmont Steel to spend more time with his family, attend church more frequently and enjoy hunting. However, his family’s involvement only goes so far. Starting with just a few employees, Denney’s workforce now exceeds 150. He has recruited former colleagues and aims to hire locally whenever possible.

“I try to promote from within. If someone works hard and contributes to the team, we’ll reward them,” said Denney, who relocated his operations to Industrial Boulevard in Covington from Old Atlanta Highway in January 2024. By doubling his property to 10 acres and quadrupling his facility’s size, Denney ensures that he is “always hiring.” Senior Project Manager Jerry Couch Jr. notes that Denney has driven the team towards sustained success. “I like the team we’ve assembled. Many have been with us for years,” said Couch, who has known Denney for nearly three decades and joined Piedmont Steel in 2010. “It’s easy to stay and be happy when the company is successful and growing.”

The company fabricates, ships and erects structural steel buildings nationwide. While it has worked on projects in the industrial park on Iris Drive in Conyers, warehouses in

Lochridge Industrial Park in Covington and expanded C.R. Bard’s facilities in the industrial park, the majority of Piedmont Steel’s projects are shipped outside the local area.

“We’ve grown to a good size. I’ve got a really good facility,” said Denney, recalling the 70-hour weeks at the start. The company assists in building design, purchases raw materials, fabricates components and then bolts, welds and assembles pieces in their local factory before shipping them out. A crew then goes on-site to complete the final assembly. “We make every piece,” Denney said. “We’ve invested significantly in state-of-the-art equipment to elevate us to the top tier of the industry.”

Piedmont Steel’s buildings are found in Atlanta, Savannah, and as far afield as North Carolina, Maryland, Texas and South Dakota. “It’s grown massively in such a short time,” Denney remarked. “When you have a vision, you must keep moving forward.” Denney appreciates the opportunity to give back to the community through his business’ growth, frequently donating to Solid Rock Church, local politicians, CURE Childhood Cancer and St. Jude. Looking ahead, he aims to increase engagement with local schools and the community.

“Tammy and I firmly believe in giving back. The more God blesses us, the more we see it as an opportunity to give,” Denney said. “I try to help out as much as I can. We’re here, and we want to be involved in our community and beyond.”

For information on Piedmont Steel, visit piedmontsteel.com or call 770-786-4928.

“It’s easy to stay at the same place and be happy if the company is successful and growing.”

Jerry Crouch Jr.

(L TO R) ZACK CALLAWAY, JERRY COUCH JR., HANK STEELE, DYLAN MADDOX, DAVID TONEY AND MIKE DENNEY

‘THE ESSENCE OF OUR Y’

Sisters Carmen Brown and Beverly Burton consider the Covington Family YMCA a second home, whether they are partaking in a fitness class, utilizing the exercise machines, enjoying a brisk game of pickleball or volunteering through one of the organization’s outreach programs.

by MICHELLE FLOYD

Those who do not find Covington Family YMCA regular Carmen Brown on the pickleball court on a given day might find her sister, Beverly Burton, using one of the elliptical machines. “I go every day. My car even has the Y labeled as my job,” Burton said with a laugh. The two women visit the YMCA to take classes, enjoy a game or simply to walk. It hosts wellness programs for various ages and fitness levels. Additionally, the YMCA features a childcare center, as well as afterschool and summer programs for kids.

“I love that it has a small, family feel to it,” said Burton, a Jamaica native who has lived in Newton County since 1994. “I just love the staff. They are awesome, and they’re my family.”

Brown revealed that even though the facility has grown in terms of actual space and membership size since they first joined in October 2002, it still has a small-town family feel to it.

“I enjoy the atmosphere and the people and the employees,” said Brown, who retired from the United States Postal Service in 2020. “They are great, the members are friendly and it just feels like family.”

Before moving to Oxford in 2000, Brown was also active at the YMCA facility where she lived in New York. In Georgia, she especially enjoys the newer outside pickleball courts. When not at the Y, she uses the courts at Turner Lake Park and City Pond Park. Sometimes she drops her grandson off at school— he participates in the soccer and basketball programs at the YMCA—and plays some pickleball before she returns to pick him up.

Stories by Michelle Floyd (L TO R) BEVERLEY BURTON AND CARMEN BROWN

“They truly believe in the mission of the Y. They see the impact the Y has on our community and desire to support us in any way possible.”

Louly Hay-Kapp

“I always make sure I do the Y,” said Brown. Surgeries have delayed her activities at various times over the years, but she continues to push through the difficulties in an effort to stay active. Outside of walking, Brown also enjoys various fitness classes and using the exercise equipment. Open daily on Newton Drive, the YMCA boasts tennis and pickleball courts that guests can reserve online, group fitness programs, an outdoor pool and multiple state-of-the-art exercise machines.

“Beverley and Carmen are the essence of our Y because of their care for our staff, involvement in all programs and desire to volunteer wherever there is a need,” said Louly Hay-Kapp, executive director of the Covington Family YMCA. “They truly believe in the mission of the Y. They see the impact the Y has on our community and desire to support us in any way possible.”

Burton, who has endured some surgeries of her own over the years, makes her daily schedule based on course availability at the Y, often participating in bootcamp, stretching and core, kickboxing and cardio classes. While there, she often sees other regulars—affectionately called Y rats—she enjoys socializing with while exercising.

“I just love going there,” said Burton, who retired from the Georgia Department of Corrections. “It’s a great place to be, and it’s a safe place. I know that if I leave my phone, that I can go back and it will still be there.” Burton has become so familiar with the facility and what it offers that she now assists fellow members. “If somebody comes in and doesn’t know how to work something there,” she said, “I just show them how.”

During those rare times when they are not using the facility, the sisters also enjoy volunteering at various YMCA events and donating to special causes the organization supports throughout the year. Brown has assisted with helping kids with disabilities play sports on Legion Field, and both usually help with the annual Cheerios Challenge race in Covington— sometimes by just being on the course route to assist racers along the way.

“I’ve volunteered since I started,” said Burton, who, along with her sister, gives to Christmas toy drives and donates necessity items for children over the summer. “If they need me, I’m there.”

For information on the Covington Family YMCA, visit www.ymcaatlanta.org/locations/covington-family-ymca.

“God has given you a name and a purpose.”

Michael Stephens

GRACE & TRUTH

Hurts, Hang-Ups and Habits

Pride and shame too often keeps us from answering God’s calls, but even Forrest Gump discovered he could not run from his past forever.

by MICHAEL STEPHENS

Joshua 1:9 says, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

One of my favorite movies is “Forrest Gump.” I can watch that movie every week. There’s a scene in it to which I can connect. It’s when Forrest realizes Jenny isn’t coming back. What does he do next? He starts running for a long time. He runs from his past hurts, hang-ups and habits. Does his story sound familiar? It does to me. I used to run from my past, acting as though it never happened. However, I couldn’t run far enough from my hurts, hang-ups and habits. I was still carrying all the pain and guilt of my past, and unfortunately, it eventually had an impact on my relationships with family, friends and ministry. I allowed my codependency and anger to control me, and sooner than later, my past became a part of my everyday life.

There was a point in my life where I was running from God. I thought He was done with me. However, God kept on chasing me. You can’t outrun God; He’s faster than you. You can’t change your number fast enough. He’ll find you and keep on calling. I wasn’t answering His calls because I was too ashamed and too prideful.

There’s a scene later in the movie where Forrest stops running all of sudden. He tells the people that were running with him that he’s tired and wants to go home. Forrest could run only so long from his past. He got to a point where it was time to face it. This is where a lot of us are right now. We’re tired of running, but we don’t want to face the past, because we’re afraid of doing it alone. I’m here to tell you that you aren’t alone. Yes, it took me a while to accept the truth that people do care about me.

More importantly, I am a child of God, and God wants the absolute best for me and for you.

God has given you a name and a purpose. Your purpose isn’t to suffer with your hurts, hang-ups and habits any longer. You’re not reading this by mistake. It’s time to let go. It’s time to stop running from the past. It won’t be easy, but it’s so worth it.

God doesn’t want you to go through life continuing to carry the heavy chains of your past. Jesus Christ died on the cross and defeated death, so you no longer have to live in your past hurts, hang-ups and habits.

There are so many great churches in our community. I hope you run to one of them. That’s what I had to do. At first, I wasn’t too sure, but nothing else was working. Even though I tried, I couldn’t fix myself. Find that church where it’s OK to say you’re not OK. Find that church where the pastor says “come as you are, and we are going to love you where you are at,” where it’s not a slogan but at the heart of their ministry. Find that church where people truly want to care for and love you. Find that church where you can grow closer to Jesus through worship, discipleship and service to others.

You’re not alone.

Matthew 11:28–30 says, “Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.’”

Michael Stephens is the pastor at Starrsville Church in Covington. For information, visit starrsville.church.

Stories by Gabriel Stovall

A DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE

A desire to serve God, family and community led Dr. Norris Little to a 40-year career in medicine. The beloved physician retired after nearly a decade as Piedmont Newton’s chief medical officer, having helped steer the hospital through various challenges, including the coronavirus pandemic.

by GABRIEL STOVALL

A love for science and service sustained Dr. Norris Little during an illustrious 40-year career in medicine. However, he believes that it was divine intervention that initially opened the door.

Little on May 31 worked his last day as chief medical officer for Piedmont Newton—a position he had held for the past eight years. That day also meant the end of a four-decade-long season of patient care, with 32 of those years spent practicing in Newton County. Ask Little when he first felt the pull to be a doctor, and he will point you to his early childhood and to God.

“From the time I was 6 years old, it’s what I wanted to do,” he said. “I don’t know. It had to be a God thing. I had no family members in medicine. I was very much interested in the outdoors, science and nature as a child, but I don’t know how you know that this is what you want to be at age 6 unless God just puts it on your heart to do.”

God, family and community have been Little’s staples during his long and successful career. Born in Dalton, not far from the

Georgia-Tennessee border, he set out on his path to the medical field right after high school graduation. After he received an undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, he earned his medical degree in 1981 from the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta. It was in Augusta where he met two other medical students: Henry Patton and Timothy Park. The three of them were in residency together in internal medicine at Memorial Medical Center.

“They finished a year ahead of me,” Little said.

Once Little completed his residency, he looked for a place to put down some roots, both in medicine and with his family. Prior connections led him to a cardiologist in Covington. He met with him at a physicians recruitment fair and found work in a group practice with Patton and Park.

“We started as three physicians, and then over the years, we expanded to ultimately six physicians and several nurse practitioners,” Little said. “We built the office building over on Newton Drive and did that for 32 years.”

“I’m a little tired, but I also think God has some other things for me to do now.”

Dr. Norris Little

Success during that time positioned Little in such a way that he could have gone wherever he wanted in order to further his career. However, the Newton County community had a magnetic effect on him and his family.

“We raised our three children here,” Little said. “We have a son and his wife and children who all live here, and we’re very strongly connected with the community through our friends, neighbors and our church. We really found Covington to be home.”

The ability to see patients, neighbors and colleagues in grocery stores, in schools or at church, along with the chance to watch their families grow and expand over the years, provided Little with a purpose he could not bring himself to walk away from.

“I guess I’m of the mindset that being an integral part of a community is really, really important,” he said. “To be able to live there, work there and also serve there, that’s what makes communities thrive. You’re able to give back and make things better. That’s why, I think, we’ve been—and wanted to be— very committed to Covington since we moved here.”

Little’s career took a significant shift when he left his practice as a private care physician to lead Piedmont Newton in 2016. “I’d always been involved in medical staff work here at the hospital,” he said, “so when there was a need, I was at a point in my career where I just felt I could do something different.” Little called it a rewarding job, although the last

(L TO R) LINDSEY PETRINI, CEO AND NORRIS LITTLE, M.D., CMO

eight years were fraught with unprecedented difficulties, headlined by his trying to help an entire hospital navigate the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Hospital work is very complex,” he said. “We have 700 employees here, 100 physicians, 100 patients. All kinds of things going on. It’s a very intense work environment and a complicated place, and it requires a lot of energy. Having served through the pandemic, that was a difficult couple of years for hospitals and healthcare.”

Little admits he feels blessed to have been able to remain in his position for as long as he did. He sees it as the “right time” to close one chapter of his life to start another.

“They say an average CMO’s life span in this position is only about five years,” Little said, “so I’m fortunate to have made it eight years and have the success we’ve had. I’m a little tired, but I also think God has some other things for me to do now.”

For starters, Little pointed to a three-year stint teaching chemistry at Piedmont Academy in Monticello. It was gratifying work to which he would be open to returning someday. “I really enjoy young people,” he said, “so I might pick back up the teaching mantle a bit and do some teaching.” In addition, he remains “very active in the church I go to” and serves on the board at Willing Helpers—an appointmentonly charitable medical clinic in Newton County. Because his faith tie-in to science has always seemed innate, he wants to continue finding ways to explore and share that conviction in the days, months and years ahead.

“It’s one thing I think about quite often,” Little said. “From a philosophical standpoint, I think that the belief in a Creator is the only thing that brings goodness into the world. Otherwise, we’re just animals. Philosophically, I think that is what brings benefit to the things that we do, such as caring for one another, our families and serving. Without that belief, I don’t know how you find anything that’s good.”

While he acknowledges the vast changes to the world of medicine over the last 40 years, he still believes it to be a career worth pursuing, especially for those who approach it with a desire to serve others. A servant’s heart allowed Little to push through the inevitable difficulties associated with his profession, and it will push him to stay busy and productive in retirement.

“I’m not a believer in retiring so you can play golf and go fishing all the time,” he said. “We should probably continue to serve in some way. My mother is 93. She doesn’t drive anymore, but once a week in Dalton, the city bus picks her up to volunteer at the local hospital’s gift shop. It’s that example my parents gave to keep serving and keep contributing as long as you have something to contribute; and even though it may shift forms or emphasis, I still think I have plenty to contribute.”

BUSINESS HIGHLIGHT

Body Language

Covington Family Chiropractic and Wellness meets a variety of needs for patients who are pursuing a better quality of life.

by MICHELLE FLOYD

Dr. Jamie Adams always knew she wanted to help others, but she admits her calling took her down an unexpected path.

“Even as a little girl, I knew I wanted to do something to give people a better life,” said Adams, who originally hails from upstate New York.

After earning a chemistry degree from Georgia College, she studied chemotherapy drugs while working on her PhD at Clemson University. When Adams could no longer work in a chemistry lab after she found out she was expecting her first child, she decided to shift her focus to chiropractic studies— a field she had previously considered.

“It’s about letting the body heal itself and letting people be the best they can be,” said Adams, who earned her doctorate of chiropractic from Life University in 2011.

Adams started working alongside Dr. Bob Remes in October 2013. Upon his retirement a couple of years later, she opened Covington Family Chiropractic and Wellness in the space at 2125 Pace Street in Covington. So began her journey into the unknown.

“I never thought it would be like this,” Adams said. “I knew there wasn’t any or a lot [of chiropractors] seeing a lot of families, kids and pregnant mamas in the area, so I felt like there was a need for that.”

Now, she owns the practice, along with Solid Ground Chiropractic and Wellness in Monroe. Adams works with Dr. Mercy Gonzalez, Dr. Ansley Hardy and Dr. Diones Valentin Ramirez to provide chiropractic care to patients of all ages.

“We see people from day one of life to super seniors and anywhere in between,” said Adams, whose facility also offers massage and red-light therapies, along with a wellness shop. “We feel like everyone needs chiropractic care so they get the best quality of life. There’s no age limit.”

In addition, Covington Family Chiropractic and Wellness offers doula services and prenatal and postpartum care, along with

fertility and pediatric care. Adams is also being certified as a lactation consultant, while Gonzalez plans to offer yoga soon.

“I really want to make it a one-stop wellness center,” said Adams, who has lived in Newton County with her husband and two children since 2016.

Adams revealed that her facility sees people with no problems who simply want to be proactive with their health but also treats children with latching problems and ear infections, expectant mothers with breech babies or normal pregnancies and adults with vertigo and TMJ.

“I’m proactive by continuously going,” said Wendy Williams, one of the practice’s original patients who still visits every two weeks. “If I start feeling symptoms of whatever, I go to the chiropractor before my regular doctor to see if it lets my body heal naturally before going to medicines. It should be our first line of defense.”

Office manager Kara Sugg, who has worked at CFCW for more than five years, enjoys the times she gets to pray with patients.

“I love that it’s a Christian office and it’s a joyful and positive environment,” she said. “It’s not just for neck and back pain; it’s a function-based practice that helps with so many things to keep you well.”

Patients start off with a consultation and will generally move on to get X-rays and other tests before receiving adjustments based on a specified treatment plan.

“A lot of people may think of us as pain relief or for pain management, but it’s more about having the best quality of life possible and achieving that health and wellness goal,” Adams said. “If their health challenge is affecting their life, we want to be able to give them a solution.”

For information on Covington Family Chiropractic and Wellness, visit cfchiropractic.com or call 770-786-2818.

(L TO

R) DEANNA SIMS, KARA SUGG, DR. MERCY GONZALEZ, DR. JAMIE ADAMS, DR. ANSLEY HARDY AND OLIVIA REESE

“It’s about having the best quality of life possible and achieving your health and wellness goal.”

Dr. Jamie Adams

Stories by Kari Apted

Field of Dreams

Many individuals were involved in creating The Miracle League of Newton County, including Kimberly Walden—an educator who has been connected to kids with special needs for most of her life. Active in the league since its inception, Walden’s passion for the program only blossomed when her own child was diagnosed with autism.

by KARI APTED

The familiar crack of the bat rang through the air and radiated across the meticulously manicured field. Curiously, both teams cheered wildly for the hitter, even though the pitcher had tossed the ball from just 10 feet away. Players circled the bases with a buddy holding their hand or pushing their wheelchair. No one cared about outs or strikes, and genuine smiles shone on nearly every face. The scene captures the joy present during every baseball game associated with The Miracle League of Newton County. It is a contagious type of happiness, one that led Kimberly Walden to volunteer with the acclaimed program well before its first game in 2015.

“My sister, Kelli Rebholz, and I helped raise money for the league, helped build the playground and were the first coaches of the Cubs team,” she said. Walden felt led into her work with special needs children. “I had no intentions of getting involved, but when God calls you to do something, that’s what you do.” Walden originally went to college to become a social worker, and her sister studied criminal justice. However, both obtained degrees in special needs education. “My mom was a paraprofessional in a severe/ profound special needs class and just retired last year after 30 years,” Walden said. “When we were younger, teachers could bring kids home, and one of her students actually became our Godsister.”

Walden originally began helping the Miracle League as a way of giving back to her beloved students. She now serves as the principal of Our World School—a private, non-profit K-12 school in McDonough for children diagnosed with special needs. Her work with uniquely challenged children infuses every part of her life.

“I coached a game the day before my wedding,” Walden said. “We had to change our rehearsal dinner to Thursday because we had a game on Friday and our wedding on Saturday.” Walden and her husband soon discovered they were expecting their first child, and true to form, she coached baseball until the day before Kayden was born. Kayden was diagnosed with autism at 18 months old. “I didn’t realize how that would impact our family later on,” Walden said. Two more children soon followed: Jaxon, then Gracelyn. When Kayden was 4, he started playing Miracle League baseball with his mother, adding a new dimension to her love of the sport. “That league means so much to the kids,” she said. “They hit the ball, and it goes over the fence. They take so much pride in it. These kids don’t often feel successful in many aspects of life, at school or because of social deficits. Here, they get a chance to feel pride.”

Kechia Morrow, the recreation therapeutic coordinator for Newton County, sees The Miracle League as the perfect setting to improve the quality of life for many special needs individuals.

“I was a special education teacher for a large metro Atlanta school district for about 15 years,” Morrow said. “I witnessed

many of my students unable to take part in sports because of their challenges, and as they aged out of the school system, there were essentially no recreational experiences afforded to them.”

Children as young as 4 can join a Miracle League team, but there is no upper-age cutoff. Newton County’s players currently range in age from 4 to 39, and each team is structured to include a variety of ages, genders and abilities. As the official league motto says, “Everyone deserves the chance to play baseball.” Morrow finds herself smiling and laughing the entire time whenever she attends a game. “I have never met a more dedicated and deserving group of athletes in my life,” she said. “Every week, regardless of their disabilities or skill level, they show up ready to play ball, and their enthusiasm is contagious.”

Another favorite aspect of the game experience involves the diverse playlist of walk-up songs players chooses for themselves. Sports announcer DJ Seals plays the league’s vast collection of carefully chosen songs, which include hard rock, rap and

cartoon themes. “The kids know which song is theirs. If I’m late playing it, they’ll just stand there and look at me until I do,” he said with a laugh. Seals has volunteered with the league since Day 1, and his positive, lighthearted banter gives a whole new definition to the term “color commentator.” When one young boy ran straight from second base to home plate, Seals praised his choice to save time by bypassing third. Later, when a teenage girl struggled to connect with the ball, Seals attributed her difficulty to the coach’s pitching ability. As several balls zoomed past her bat, Seals relayed to the crowd that they were not the pitches she was looking for. “This game is the happiest place on earth,” he said. “This is the purest form of baseball.”

Newton County’s Miracle League grows each year, with the Spring 2024 roster boasting 103 players from four surrounding counties. Registration for the spring season begins in January,

and fall registration generally opens in mid-July. “It’s only $35 to play,” Walden said. “It’s very affordable.” While Jimmy Dugan famously put forth the idea that “there’s no crying in baseball” in the 1992 film “A League of Their Own,” if you look closely, you are bound to witness a happy tear or two at every Miracle League game. Friends, family, and fans are moved to see parents high fiving and hugging their children after circling the bases together. Many of those emotions are rooted in years of playing together.

“I have students now that I had when they were in kindergarten. One of them is graduating from high school this year,” Walden said. “A lot of the players and coaches have been here since the first season. It really is like a big family.” Morrow agreed. “Baseball brings us together,” she said. “Inclusion makes us stronger.”

(L TO

R) JUDD REBHOLZ, KAYDEN WALDEN, KIMBERLY WALDEN AND KELLI REBHOLZ

“I had no intentions of getting involved, but when God calls you to do something, that’s what you do.”

Kimberly Walden

Stories by Brian Knapp

TICKET TO RIDE

A

quarter of a century has passed since the 1999 Newton High School baseball team set out on a remarkable journey to the state semifinals, galvanized a community and made Riverside Park the site of destination viewing. Enduring memories and firsthand accounts of that dream season still warm the hearts

of those who were lucky enough to witness

it.

by BRIAN KNAPP

Because of my ongoing decades-long love affair with the game of baseball, I often mark milestones through my experiences with the sport. No dot on my timeline stands out more than the four months I spent covering the 1999 Newton High School baseball team. Those kids, their parents and their coach changed my life in ways I never could have imagined and altered the trajectory of my career forever. The fact that 25 years—yes, a quarter of a century—have now passed blows my mind. I had not yet completed my first year as sports editor of The Covington News at the start of that historic season. Still very green and unsure of myself, I had heard rumblings that something truly special was afoot at Newton. The Rams were returning eight seniors and looked to be a perfect storm of talent, guile, character and experience under second-year head coach Michael Davis, a former Cleveland Indians farmhand who once roomed with future hall of famer Jim Thome in the minor leagues.

Though there were other main characters, the season revolved around those eight seniors: Bradley Dobbs, Joey Smith, Kerry Gilstrap, Brad Herring, Nick Stanford, Richard Stahl, Brian Owens and Dustin Peck. When spring sprung,

(L TO R) FRONT ROW: JOEY SMITH, RICHARD STAHL, BRIAN OWENS BACK ROW: BRAD HERRING, BRADLEY DOBBS, KERRY GILSTRAP, NICK STANFORD AND DUSTIN PECK

however, the Rams sputtered out of the gate, losing four of their first nine games. They soon righted the ship, pieced together a dizzying 24-game winning streak, captured a region championship and entered the state tournament as one of the odds-on favorites. Their magical run ended in the semifinals, where they lost a best-of-three series to Greenbrier. I can vividly remember Stahl’s three-run homer—his sixth in seven state tournament games—sailing over the left center field fence and Jimmy Stanford blaring Kiss’ “Rock and Roll All Nite” over the loudspeaker, as he had done countless times before. Stahl’s blast highlighted a six-run first inning for Newton, which raced out to a 6–2 lead in the winner-take-all third game with Greenbrier. The Rams could not hold the fort, surrendered nine unanswered runs and lost 11–6. Greenbrier won its second straight state championship the following week.

I had never been so hurt for a team. I approached a tearyeyed Davis afterward. Overcome by emotion, I was unable to interview him. “I just want to shake your hand,” I said. Standing next to me was Sam Mann, who I had hired as a sports writer a few months earlier. That season spurred a

“Those kids, their parents and their coach changed my life in ways I never could have imagined and altered the trajectory of my career forever.”

Brian Knapp

lifelong friendship between us. As I looked Davis in the eye and shook his hand, Sam burst into tears. I followed suit and broke down myself, overwhelmed by an odd combination of sadness and gratitude. In hindsight, the reality that Newton’s march toward its first state championship since 1979 ended short of the mark was perhaps fitting in some respects. Baseball has a way of stealing your heart and breaking it over and over and over again.

In terms of individuals, two stood out for me.

Gilstrap was a true multi-sport phenom and one of the best athletes Newton County has ever produced. He played shortstop and batted leadoff for the baseball team, rewrote the record book as a dual-threat quarterback for the football team and anchored one of the state’s premier backcourts as a dynamic two-way guard for the basketball team. His talents were simply breathtaking, and the fact that Davis penciled him in at the top of the lineup tells you everything you need to know about what he could do on a baseball field.

Stahl, a 6-foot-7 left-handed pitcher with a mid-90s fastball who had committed to Georgia Tech, was the axis on which everything spun. One of the top prospects in the country and a projected first-round pick in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, he was greeted by 48 scouts when he made his first start. Stahl went 11–0, broke a 37-year-old school record for wins in a season and recorded 148 strikeouts in 79 innings pitched. He was drafted 18th overall by the Baltimore Orioles. His parents invited me into their home and allowed me to be there to witness the moment when the Orioles called. I could never repay their graciousness. Stahl made it to Double-A before injuries cut his professional career short.

The memories from that season are too many to recount. The streak. The game-winning squeeze bunt from Herring to beat Lithonia in the first round of the state playoffs. The post-game fried pies from Owens’ grandmother. Smith’s grand slam and 14-strikeout complete game in the quarterfinals against Ridgeland. Hours-long talks with Davis as he oversaw his P.E. classes.

Chris Hays’ story of rebirth, from troubled teen to key run producer. Ron Manson’s world-class photography. Gameday runs to Captain D’s for jalapeno poppers so spicy they burned the taste buds off your tongue. A community unified. Shoulder-to-shoulder crowds at Riverside Park. Heather Miller’s national anthems. A coach’s superstition-fueled obsession with Minute Maid orange soda. What a time it was.

My last story on the team appeared in the pages of The Covington News mere days after the Rams were eliminated. It highlighted the eight seniors that made it all possible. After the photo shoot, I asked them if they would sign a baseball for me. All eight graciously agreed. The ball still sits in a prominent place on a shelf in my office, their signatures frozen in time as a constant reminder of the magic they created during those four months in the spring of 1999. Thank you, gentlemen, from the bottom of my heart, for giving me a ticket to ride.

PHOTO CREDIT: RON MANSON

HEAD COACH MICHAEL DAVIS

“Keep going, don’t give up on yourself and believe in your dreams.”

Kanikka Lewin

Stories by Avril Occilien-Similien

LASER F C US ED

Kanikka Lewin showcases her boundless creativity through intricate wood and acrylic art pieces. Her journey from humble beginnings to overcoming self-doubt illuminates the power of passion, perseverance and unwavering support.

by AVRIL OCCILIEN-SIMILIEN

Kanikka Lewin is a laser artist extraordinaire whose journey from The Buckeye State to the world of wood and acrylic artistry is as inspiring as it is captivating. At 33 years old, she is more than just a small-business owner. She is a devoted wife, a loving mother of three and a beacon of creativity in her community.

Lewin’s story begins far from the warm Georgia sun, in the vibrant city of Dayton, Ohio, where she spent her formative years surrounded by the sights and sounds of a bustling metropolis. Growing up, Lewin never considered herself particularly artistic, but she had an undeniable passion for all things handmade and creative. It was this passion that would eventually lead her down the path to laser artistry.

The year 2020 brought unexpected challenges for Lewin and her family, as the COVID-19 pandemic forced both her and her husband to work from home. The constant close proximity resulted in tension within their marriage, prompting Lewin to seek a creative outlet for her emotions. During this tumultuous time, she discovered the world of laser artistry, and she has not looked back since.

Starting with a humble Cricut machine, Lewin began experimenting with unique designs, each a testament to her rapidly increasing creativity. However, it was not until she stumbled upon laser crafting that her true passion was ignited. Entranced by the precision and versatility of laser technology, Lewin dove headfirst into creating intricate pieces that defied convention and sparked the imagination. From purses and wall art to even birthday cakes, Lewin’s creations knew no bounds. With wood and acrylic as her canvas and a trusty laser machine as her brush, she transformed ordinary materials into works of

art that captivated the eye and stirred the soul. Behind every masterpiece lay countless hours of hard work, dedication and unwavering determination.

Joining laser artist groups on Facebook provided Lewin with the support and expertise she needed to take her craft to the next level. With the encouragement of her newfound community, she upgraded to a full desktop laser machine, enabling her to

meet customer requests more efficiently and effectively than ever before. Even so, running a small business was not without its challenges, and Lewin has faced her fair share of them. From finding a suitable space in her home to learning the intricacies of the machine itself, she encountered obstacles at every turn. Overcoming self-doubt and learning to trust her instincts proved to be her biggest hurdles.

Through it all, Lewin credits her husband as her rock, biggest cheerleader and unwavering support system. His encouragement and understanding have allowed her the time and space to pursue her passion, ensuring she has the freedom to create amidst the chaos of family life. When asked about the source of her inspiration, Lewin credits her surroundings, nature, fellow artists and even online images. Her creations have garnered attention at monthly pop-up events and among random strangers who stumble upon her work and fall in love with its uniqueness. Her growing online presence has also contributed to her success as she showcases her artwork through her Instagram page at @nikkskustomline.nkl.

As Lewin continues to blaze a trail in the world of laser artistry, one thing seems certain: the future looks bright for this remarkable woman and her boundless imagination. With discipline, consistency and a healthy dose of confidence, her journey proves that anything is possible.

As Lewin continues to focus on her craft, her story serves as a testament to the power of passion, perseverance and the unwavering support of loved ones. In the ever-changing landscape of small business, she stands as a beacon of creativity, inspiring others to pursue their dreams while never settling for anything less than the extraordinary. For fellow small-business owners navigating the turbulent waters of entrepreneurship, Lewin offers sage advice: “Keep going, don’t give up on yourself and believe in your dreams.”

Stories by Gabriel Stovall

True Calling

Eastside High School and Emory University graduate

Wendy Rodriguez has found her home. She plans to make impactful connections through her two businesses and her work as a board member of the Newton Education Foundation.

by GABRIEL STOVALL

Wendy Rodriguez considers Newton County home, which is saying something for the 29-year-old Eastside High School and Emory University Graduate when considering her upbringing, family lineage and experiences. Rodriguez has lived in Covington since she was 7 years old. Before then, it was Norcross. Before then, it was Miami. Her parents are from Bogota, Colombia. She admits to an intriguing background, but it also meant finding it difficult to feel like she belonged.

“You feel like an outsider to a degree,” Rodriguez said. “I don’t fit in the box. When I’m here in America, people say, ‘You don’t look American.’ When I go to Colombia, where my parents are from, they’ll say, ‘You’re saying all the right things, but you don’t sound like you’re from here.’”

To underscore that notion, she recalls a time when, while working at Scoops and still in high school, she answered the phone to speak with a customer. When the customer actually came into the store to see her in person, it was difficult for them to hide the mild shock on their face.

“They came in and said, ‘Oh my God. You’re not what I was expecting. Your voice didn’t match, and I was expecting to see a white woman,’” Rodriguez said.

As an adult, it can be easier to glorify being contrarian—the piece that does not seem to fit. That is not the case when you are finding your way as a teenager and future first-generation college student. It may be why Rodriguez participated in virtually everything when she was at Eastside.

“I was an honor grad,” Rodriguez said, “but I was involved in so much. Tennis. Marching band. Everything except maybe football. It was literally everything the yearbook could fit.

“I hope to connect with students and give them tools that I either didn’t have or didn’t know I could have.”

Wendy Rodriguez

The yearbook editor actually told me, ‘I can’t put you in every single thing and on every single page,’ and I was like, ‘Why not?’” She found her place collegiately at Emory thanks to her father’s suggestion. “Because of my upbringing, I knew there was a thing called college,” she said. “I knew it was a thing I had to do before med school, but it was very abstract. My dad came to me my junior year of high school and said, ‘Wendy, Emory has the best med school. You should go there.’”

Turns out, it would be the only school to which she would apply, and despite some doubts from others who tried to advise her on college choice, she got in. Rodriguez graduated in 2017 with a degree in neuroscience and behavioral biology. She proudly donned an Emory T-shirt while speaking on her experiences, so there is certainly no shame in it, but in hindsight,

Rodriguez admits she wishes she would have broadened her collegiate horizons just a bit.

“Sometimes I wish I hadn’t limited myself to just one school,” she said. “Now, I’d tell high school students here to look beyond Newton County. Look beyond the state of Georgia. Sometimes I think about what would’ve happened if I applied to a school like Harvard or something like that. I want students now to know their options.”

Enter Rodriguez’s current, post-grad life and the place where she has finally found her fit. After school, she returned to the area to take a job at a med-tech company. She has since found new ways to make her old stomping grounds feel like home all over again, from her photography business, W. Rodriguez Photography, to a small-business consulting company, Herencia Solutions. Rodriguez started both entities to scratch her creative itch and to provide help and connections to resources to everyone from small businesses to high school and collegebound students. In the process, she bought a house in Newton County and has been recently appointed to the board of the Newton Education Foundation. It gives her an opportunity to give back to the community that provided so much for her.

“When I was in Newton County as a student, I didn’t realize how much of a different person I was compared to my peers,” she said. “Not just socio-economically, but I clearly didn’t look like my peers. I never realized the difference until just recently I saw myself in some prom pictures, and I was the only person of

color. It didn’t hit me until I went to Emory where there were so many people from different cultures and I had the chance to see that. Here in Newton County, when I was a high school student, diversity was just white and black. At Emory, I saw other cultures that were so different.”

Upon returning to Newton County, Rodriguez has seen an uptick in that kind of diversity settling into the area.

“It’s so different than just six or seven years ago,” she said. “You’re seeing this growth in diversity, and it’s not just Latinas coming in. I walk and I see Middle Eastern families, and you can tell their culture by what they’re garbing. You can hear families talking to each other in different languages, and I just think it’s so beautiful to see some of that kind of diversity here.”

Still, she loves the familiarity of Newton County just as much, along with the opportunity to run into people she has known since childhood.

“I love that I can walk my dogs and run into my childhood third grade teacher,” she said. “I love that I can run into my mentor, Nancy Schultz. I can run into the chairman. I run into the different commissioners [and] the mom-and-pop shops that have been around forever, and they recognize me.”

Rodriguez wants to contribute to the mix of new and old. She calls it a perfect balance.

“I came back here not only because of a job or family or community,” she said, “but I want to pour into the community that poured so much into me.”

That means using her photography business to capture untold stories in picture form around the county and using her consulting firm to help small business navigate tricky legal waters. It also means using her position on the NEF’s board to give students more education on what is available to them in Newton County and beyond. Because of the area’s shifting demographics, Rodriguez will not be surprised to see other first-generation college students trying to find their fit, just as she did. Now armed with her own sense of belonging and opportunities to know her community in fresh ways, she cannot wait to make a more profound impact in the place she calls home.

“I just want to be able to give back in any way I can,” Rodriguez said. “Maybe it’s not always monetarily but providing a fountain of knowledge. I hope to connect with students and give them tools that I either didn’t have or didn’t know I could have. I want to connect them, not just to alums but to each other. In the last year of just sort of trying to figure out what’s next, I’m finding things that bring me joy, things I’m passionate about: connecting people and helping others. We have so many bubbles we can connect people to around here. I just think that that’s what I’m good at and that’s why I’m here. This is home, and where I plan to stay.”

For information on the Newton Education Foundation, visit newtoneducationfoundation.org.

(L TO R) MONICA PONCE, RUSSELL HONDERD, DEMETRIUS MILLING, JUDITH WINFREY, JOSEPH REYNOLDS

REVOLUTIONARY APPROACH

An equitable, worker-owned operation in Mansfield, Love is Love Cooperative Farm models a different way to distribute food. It provides certified organic produce, flowers and seedlings to customers across metro Atlanta, all while priding itself on being a global steward.

by D.J. DYCUS

Have you ever had a neighbor who was a big deal without your knowing it? Here in Newton County, a member of the community is helping to change this corner of the world. Love is Love Cooperative Farm is a worker-owned cooperative—meaning it is collectively owned and operated by five individuals, with the intention to add more worker-owners—located on 70 acres in Mansfield. It is modeling a different way to distribute food in the United States, as it works to reduce global carbon emissions. It grows food in a way that protects our natural resources, keeping pollutants from the land and waterways and permanently preserving the ground for farming. It is also developing alternative models for ownership and equity in business.

Love is Love Cooperative Farm is worked and owned by Judith Winfrey, Joe Reynolds, Demetrius Milling, Moncia Ponce and Russell Honderd, who collectively manage the farm, make decisions about what to grow, where to sell and who to hire. All of these questions are settled by consensus. While they work as a team, each person has primary areas of responsibility. Ponce cuts flowers and oversees the greenhouse that provides starts and seedlings; Milling operates as the field manager; Honderd co-manages the outdoor fields, as well as the wash-pack operations; Winfrey manages sales, marketing, communication and behind-the-scenes administrative responsibilities; and Reynolds serves as co-manager of the greenhouse and harvest

manager, in addition to sales and marketing. Since its inception, the group has held a vision to on-board new worker-owners as employees express interest in participating.

To acquire the land in Mansfield, Love is Love worked with The Conservation Fund to utilize their Working Farms Fund (WWF). It is the first farm in the world to participate in the program, which “permanently protects at-risk farmland, creates opportunities for ambitious, diverse farmers to scale up local food production” and which helps farmers own their own farms. WFF purchases the development rights to the land, which lowers its cost, making it more affordable for farmers to purchase. The result for Newton County is a productive farm that is permanently protected from the encroachment of developers.

“Many farms don’t have greenhouse capability of their own, so we partner with them to provide seedlings to bolster their rates of productivity.”

Joe Reynolds

Stories by D.J. Dycus

Winfrey revealed that the WFF “not only made the farmland accessible, but it did this in close proximity to substantial markets. Both of these aspects are vital to the success of a farming operation.” Ultimately, the goal of the Working Farms Fund is to restructure the food system in the United States by supporting local small- and mid-sized farms, thus reducing the carbon footprint created by transporting crops throughout the country. Another one of the goals of Love is Love Cooperative Farm is to change the way farming operations are conceptualized and run.

In regard to Love is Love, “cooperative” carries several different meanings, all of which are layered. In the narrowest sense, it means the worker-owners form a team, each member of which guides and directs the development of the farm. There are many different types of cooperatives. Some are consumerowned—a setup often seen in grocery or health food stores, such as Sevananda in Atlanta—and some are marketing cooperatives. Land-O-Lakes and Organic Valley Milk, for example, are marketing cooperatives owned by groups of dairy farmers. Others are community owned, such as the Green Bay Packers, an NFL team owned by its’ fans. Those behind Love is Love Cooperative Farm chose the worker-owner model because they want to provide opportunities for their employees to become owners of the farm and have a stake in the decision making and governance of the business. More expansively, though, the term refers to the fact that Love is Love Cooperative Farm thrives because it supports farmers, communities and individuals, all of whom, in a reciprocal manner, support the worker-owners. They are purposeful in this regard, mindful of their role to serve as a neighbor in Mansfield, Newton County, the Atlanta metro area and the state of Georgia. Winfrey indicated that the workerowners are “thankful to be operating in Newton County [and doing] work that benefits this plot of land and the community, as well as the planet.” The co-op’s conception of being a good neighbor even extends to a global scale.

On a scale slightly smaller than the global one, Love is Love cooperates with organic farmers across Georgia. The farm provides certified organic produce, flowers and seedlings for Newton County and beyond the metro Atlanta area, doing so with transparency and integrity. According to Reynolds, some plants and vegetables need a protected environment at the beginning of their growing cycle. Many types of produce have a much greater chance of viability after six or nine weeks of being raised in a greenhouse. Reynolds explained that “many farms don’t have greenhouse capability of their own, so we partner with them to provide seedlings to bolster their rates of productivity.” The farm also purchases meat, eggs, grains and other products from local farms to include in its Community Supported Agriculture, including milk and cheese from Rockhouse Creamery just down the road.

Another way that Love is Love serves as a good neighbor is by providing work opportunities in Newton and surrounding

counties through full- and part-time positions that pay $15 per hour. Those who are employed by the farm also receive a weekly CSA share during subscription periods that provides “a wide range of delicious produce each week.”

After nearly two decades of hard work, Love is Love has achieved a position of economic viability, largely due to its cooperative model. The worker-owners and those who support the vision of the farm do not see unbridled profitability as their primary goal. Love is Love exists to support its community. Toward this end, the farm partners with nonprofits like Wholesome Wave Georgia to give SNAP recipients access to fresh, locally grown food. Furthermore, SNAP benefits have twice their value when shopping with Love is Love.

Often, the best types of neighbors are those who do not make a fuss or clamor about their presence. Love is Love Cooperative Farm is tucked away in the quiet, southeast corner of Mansfield, on Ga. 11. From a visit to the farm or by talking to the owners, you would never guess that this business has been featured in the Atlanta Business Chronicle, Atlanta Magazine, the Atlanta JournalConstitution, Creative Loafing, Project Drawdown, Forbes and The New York Times. Despite the exposure, there are likely many Newton County residents who do not even know about its existence.

In addition to the other qualities already mentioned, the worker-owners at the co-op are invaluable resources on a tremendous range of topics like soil quality and development, organic agriculture, different varieties of local plants and

vegetables and where they thrive, irrigation, the attributes of a successful farm, cooperative development and many more. They would love nothing more than to share information and ideas with members of the public who visit during their plant sale, September 7 from 10am to 3pm or join the CSA to participate in what they offer the community.

Once you get a feel for their commitment to improving this corner of the world, it becomes apparent that even Fred Rogers would proud to call them neighbors.

For information about Love is Love Cooperative Farm, visit loveislovefarm.com.

PHOTO CREDIT: ADDISON HILL PHOTO

Stories by Kari Apted

A LOVE WITHOUT BORDERS

Construction specialist Carlos Jaramillo was perfectly content with his life in Rutledge until he learned about a way to use his skills for a greater good. He has since made multiple trips to build simple homes for people along the United States-Mexico border.

by

KARI APTED

Carlos Jaramillo entered the mission field somewhat reluctantly. He is the son of a first-generation American with grandparents who immigrated from Panama. Jaramillo’s family only spoke English at home, and he jokes about being the white guy with the Hispanic name who had to teach himself how to speak Spanish to better communicate with his construction industry coworkers. A lifelong resident of Georgia, Jaramillo’s contentment with his life here meant he had no urge to travel.

“I always had this mindset, ‘Everything I need is here. Why leave Georgia?’” he said. “But it’s funny how God moves. I didn’t grow up in a Christian home—I got saved as an adult— but before I even knew Him, God was preparing me for this.”

Jaramillo has always loved to work with his hands.

“I wasn’t a school person at all,” he said. “It’s not a coincidence that I do construction work. Even when I’m not at work, I love to be busy working with my hands. I learned that in God’s economy, what the rest of the world calls work, He calls service.”

Jaramillo cites Ephesians 2:10 as the verse God used to call him to mission work. It says, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Jaramillo says this verse made him realize that service to others was not optional and that he should perhaps reconsider expanding his horizons. His friends had gone to build houses for Mexican people in need through a charity called Casas Por Cristo (Homes for Christ), based in El Paso, Texas. In 2018, the organization invited Jaramillo to come along, and he accepted.

Casas Por Cristo began building homes along the United States and Mexico border in 1993. First, it focused on needs near Ciudad Juarez, but the charity has since expanded to other areas in Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras and the Dominican Republic. It only takes four days for a team of 18 to construct these simple two-bedroom houses. To date, the charity has united construction workers, local families, pastors,

“It’s beautiful to see community come together with service and missions.”

Carlos Jaramillo

churches and missionaries to provide over 6,500 homes to needy people. This type of ministry was custom-built for Jaramillo.

“I really enjoy it. Juarez is known as an area of high crime, but this poor desert city just has my heart,” he said. “There is nothing more gratifying than seeing the joy in the face of the home receiver. It really is a blessing both ways. I ended up going to Juarez twice that first year.” Jaramillo felt a drive to form stronger connections with the people of Juarez. “I thought, as great as it is to build a house to benefit a family, it didn’t fulfill me,” he said. “It was like, ‘Here’s a gift. I’ll never see you again.’ I wanted to do more.” Jaramillo connected with Zach Bryan, a missionary who introduced him to David and Michelle Gatis. They are part of a church in Juarez called Algo Mas (Something More) that provides hands-on ministry to the local population. In 2020, Jaramillo did a build with Casas Por Cristo through Algo Mas. “That time, I saw a community, not a one-time build,” he said. “It did my heart good, to say the

least, to know I’d see them again. It’s beautiful to see community come together with service and missions.”

His connections to Juarez deepened when he went on a non-build trip with his father. Algo Mas had electrical difficulties, and his father spent a week rewiring the church building.

“It was a real joy to share that with him,” Jaramillo said. “He spent his free time playing with the kids. He said, ‘Man, these people are so nice here. This atmosphere is different.’ I told him we had the same kind of fellowship at church in Georgia.”

Jaramillo and his wife, Natalie, met and married at Church 213 in Covington. In 2023, Pastor Ryan Wyatt organized a missionary trip to Juarez, and Natalie joined her husband in Mexico for the first time.

“We had a big group of 18 that went with us,” Jaramillo said. “I had been waiting to experience this with my church family, my community.” Natalie enjoyed playing with the kids at Algo Mas and learned how to apply stucco siding, even though she

did not know what stucco was when she arrived. “The first time I tried, everything came falling down. They had to show me how to do it a couple of times, but then it finally stuck,” she said with a laugh. Her favorite memory was the dedication service they held when the simple home was complete. “I’m a drummer, and we sang in both English and Spanish,” she said. “The praise team from Algo Mas was there. It was a beautiful connection between their congregation and our team.”

Jaramillo has now taken seven trips to build houses in Juarez, but 2024 will be the first year he will not add another Mexico stamp to his passport. His desire to serve has not faded, but his focus is needed at home. He and Natalie are expecting their first child in July.

“God puts us all through seasons, some when you can go on mission trips and others when you’re needed at home, but I know I’ll go again,” Jaramillo said. “God gave me a heart to serve and a willingness to say, ‘I’m here, Lord. Use me.’”

What’s Cooking

WHAT’S COOKING Nanny’s Carrot Cake

by WANDA POLK

Every year when I was growing up in Porterdale, my Mama baked carrot and coconut cakes for Christmas. Her carrot cake was my favorite, because it didn’t have all the extra ingredients that most people put into them, like raisins and a lot of spices. In fact, the only spice she used was cinnamon.

After I married and moved to our farm in Newborn, I cooked a lot, but I never attempted to bake one of Mama’s cakes until I needed one for a coworker’s birthday. It turned out that my coworker wasn’t a fan of carrot cake because of the raisins and other add-ins, so I told her she really needed to try my mother’s version. Well, she loved it, and everyone else did, too, because I came home with an empty plate. I still felt a little apprehensive about my baking skills but decided to try making another one to take to church.

Mama—everyone called her Nanny—had been in heaven for a while, but I talked to her while I was mixing the batter. “Ok, I’m making this,” I said. “I hope I make you proud.” My friends at church loved it and said they were certain I had indeed made her proud. Mama always grated the carrots by hand, and I do the same. She also always said to make everything with love, and that’s exactly what I try to do. Maybe that’s the real secret ingredient.

INGREDIENTS (CAKE) INGREDIENTS (ICING)

• 2 cups flour

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• ½ cup softened margarine

• 1 eight-ounce package

• 1 teaspoon baking soda cream cheese, softened

• 1 teaspoon baking powder

• ¼ teaspoon salt

• 1½ cups vegetable oil

• 2 cups sugar

• 4 eggs

• 2 cups freshly grated carrots

DIRECTIONS

• 1 teaspoon vanilla

• 1 pound confectioner’s sugar

• 1 cup chopped nuts

Prepare three round 8-inch baking pans by greasing and flouring them. Set aside. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Mix flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a mixing bowl and set aside. In another bowl, use a hand mixer or stand mixer to combine the oil and sugar. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually add the flour mixture to the bowl, mixing continuously. Stir in carrots. Spoon the batter equally into the three prepared cake pans. Bake for approximately 30–35 minutes or until the top of the cakes spring back when lightly touched. Allow to cool for 10 minutes before removing from the pans. Cool fully before frosting. To make the nut icing, use a mixer to cream the margarine and cream cheese together until light. Add vanilla, then gradually add powdered sugar, beating constantly. Stir in nuts then spread over cooled cake layers, stacking them together to make one three-layer cake.

“I hope I make you proud.”

Wanda

Polk

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LOVE IS LOVE COOPERATIVE FARM

We are a certified organic, worker-owned cooperative farm providing produce, flowers and vegetable, herb and edible flower seedlings for our community through our plant sales and subscriptions to our community supported agriculture group. 101 Loyd Road, Mansfield, GA 30055 www.loveislovefarm.com

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