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‘In God We Trust’ decals placed on sheriff’s department cars By CLAY NEELY clay@newnan.com
Recently, the Coweta County Sheriff ’s Department made headlines with its decision to place “In God We Trust” decals on the back of their cruisers. Sheriff Mike Yeager said that the stickers are simply a reflection of the beliefs of the majority of his staff and the community he serves. “Our deputies had seen other departments doing it and that’s what started the conversation,” Yeager said. “This seemed to be something they wanted to do and I had no problem with it.” Recently, Paulding County and Douglas County have adopted the logo for their patrol cars. According to Capt. Mark Fenninger, many deputies had placed the “In God We Trust” license plate sticker on their cruisers years ago and it never seemed to be an issue. Several months ago, Fenninger sa id t hat deputies bega n ta l king about placing the “In God We Trust” logo on patrol cars and the
best way to do it. In an effort to find a happy medium, issues regarding the size of the decal and terms of placement were discussed among the staff before Yeager gave the final approval. “Frankly, the biggest discussion was how we would pay for it,” Fenninger said. “Once that was taken care of, we had deputies rushing over to get it done,” Fenninger said. The decals for the cruisers were donated by High Speed Signs, the company that is contracted to do the graphics for the sheriff’s department. No taxpayer dollars were used, according to Fenninger, who added the graphic is not mandatory and only one deputy has declined to have it put on his car. Many took to social media to state their support for the stickers, but some also took issue with the motto – citing the separation of church and state. The Coweta County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page blew up with opinions ranging from “love it” to “very disappointed.” The original post was ultimately taken down. Lt. Deputy Danny Wheat said he
PHOTOS BY CLAY NEELY
Since placing the decals on the vehicles, deputies say the response from the public has been positive. From left are Corp. Michael Lanier, Capt. Mark Fenninger, Lt. Danny Wheat and D.S. Jack Hollis.
was shocked about the controversy the decals produced. “I think it gives most of the public the idea that we have a belief – this premise of doing right,” Wheat said. “In law enforcement, we have serious issues regarding our image right now and that’s what we’re trying to fix.” Fenninger and other deputies attested to the relationship between law enforcement and the religious community.
White Oak teacher creates a Lego wall for her classroom
PHOTO BY CELIA SHORTT
White Oak second grader Anna Hulsey recreates a gingerbread house on the classroom’s Lego wall.
By CELIA SHORTT celia@newnan.com
A Coweta teacher is using her passion for Legos to bring more creativity to her students, by creating a Lego wall in her classroom. “I am always looking for innovative ways to engage students,” said Paula Corley, REACH teacher at White Oak Elementary School. “A few years ago, my pas-
sion for Legos was reignited with my own child and his interest. Then, I began teaching Lego robotics for the first time last year. At Coweta's STEM Conference last year, I went to a class about Makerspaces, which is a movement related to STEM that reinforces innovation, design, logic, and problem solving in students. I began to plan my own Makerspace, and in searching for ideas, I stumbled about this amazing wall that a librarian had added in a middle school.” The REACH program is for gifted students, and in her REACH classes, Corley teaches students from every grade level. All of them are able to utilize the six foot by six foot Lego wall, which consists of 49 Lego baseplates and can build directly on it. “It is not for decor but is a true working Lego space,” she said. “The activities are endless,” she added. “Math especially is connected because we measure using ‘studs,’ which are the little dots on Legos. With the younger grades, I am focusing on improving reasoning and visual-spatial skills, symmetry, addition/
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phrase as a way of starting a conversation between law enforcement and the general public that might not happen otherwise. “Law enforcement has a stigma about us being the bad guys,” he said. “This gets us talking and it develops into a conversation that is always good in the end. People approach us looking for a reason to talk and this provides it.”
DECALS, page 6
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Easy as Snack Ideas
INSIDE
Recipe for Lemon-Blueberry Parfait-tini and other ideas! ➤ PAGE 4
FAMILY FEATURES
When you’re snacking, it can be tempting to skip the fuss and grab a bite on-the-go. Keeping healthy and convenient snacks at the ready helps you stay disciplined without sacrificing taste and enjoyment. These three-step healthy snack ideas show how easy it can be to serve up a variety of tasty treats in just a few minutes while adding more fruit to your diet. Make the most of your snacking experience with this advice: • Stock the pantry with versatile options that let you prepare a range of snacks, from sweet to savory combinations. Choose
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When a family in crisis comes to their attention in the middle of the night, Fenninger says that it’s the churches in the area who often save the day. “If we have a homeless or broken down family, who do we call? It’s always a church who comes to help at the drop of a hat,” Fenninger said. “So many churches in our area work between our department and the community.” However, Fenninger views the
options such as DOLE Jarred Fruit, which offers delicious, ready-to-eat fruit in five varieties that are fat-free, cholesterol-free and packed in 100 percent juice for maximum healthy snacking versatility. • Look for quick solutions that help trim prep time and skip the cutting, peeling and mess. • Avoid worrying about waste or spoilage with convenient, re-sealable lids that let you use what you need for a single serving and save the rest for later. Find more quick and easy snack ideas at dole.com/jarredfruit.