Houston County Living - Winter 2016

SUMMER 2016 SUMMER winter2016 2016

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Overcomer

Diana doesn’t take anything for granted and is happy to be able to do things she had thought were impossible.

This precious family finds their way to happily ever after.

A Different Breed of Faith

Animals and families all over Middle Georgia have been impacted by the hard work of Alyssa Madon.

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Finding the Right Recipe

Michelle Rhoades began Mossy Creek Soap as a way to fund her new hobby. What she learned was the intricacies of a small, local business.

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Blended

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This precious family finds their way to happy ever after.

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Cooking up Tradition

Rikki Waite has turned a love for her grandmother’s traditional recipes into an up and coming restaurant using fresh and local ingredients, and a whole lot of love.

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Overcomer

Diana doesn’t take anything for granted and is happy to be able once again to do things she had thought were impossible.

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Building Dreams on the Diamond

Baseball has been good to Jason Brett, and he has been good for baseball, leading the Houston County Bears to become one of the top teams in the nation.

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About the Cover

The cover photo features Michael and Laurie Munn. Turn to page 28 to read about their sweet love story and their forever family. The photo was taken by Kelly McDonald Photography.

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urgical Associates S OF WARNER ROBINS

1701 Watson Boulevard, Warner Robins, Georgia 31093 phone: 478-923-0144 | surgicalassociatesofwarnerrobins.com advanced laparoscopy 1 newest techniques in breast cancer and breast cancer surgery 1 traditional hernia repair methods 1 comprehensive endoscopy and colonoscopy

Since 1976, we've been committed to providing

excellent surgical care.

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First Response

First Response Services in Warner Robins has been providing expert property recovery and restoration services to the Middle Georgia community since 2004.

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Portrait of an Artist

Few people can make a living at their art, but Deanna Griffin has done so for the last thirty-five years.

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Tasty Prayer

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Lisa bakes all her cookies in small batches to ensure quality, but also includes a sprinkle of a social mission as well.

Sweet Memories

One visionary brought something delicious she enjoyed from her childhood with her own spin added to her new hometown.

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A Different Breed of Faith Animals and animal-owning families all over Middle Georgia have been impacted by the hard work Alyssa Madon has put into this community.

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Project Giving

The funding, support and love provided by the Project Giving volunteers provide a bridge of hope between afflicted families and a better brighter tomorrow.

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Perry’s Pediatrician

Dr. Dan Stewart has cared for Perry’s children for 30 years, with faith and compassion.

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Reflections of an Ex-Con

The Best Tour I Ever Served and the One I Would Least Like to Repeat.

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Giving Back

A true act of kindness between a few good men in this county.

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From the Publisher

Houston County living

P u b l i s h e r With You In Mind Publications Jay and Patti Martin C r eat i v e | D e s i g n Elizabeth Beasley Russ Hutto Eric S. Love Stacey Nichols Robin T. Poole Robert Self Fran Sherman Ryan Sichelstiel Mandi Spivey

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ne of the special days that I most enjoy is writing this letter. The reason is that I review all of the articles that are in the issue and it is a reminder of the great people who exist and care about Houston County. They go about their lives quietly contributing to all of us around them in some way.

Aside from being able to write this letter, this has been a very special week. Patti and I received a number of pictures from our children of our grandchildren. One common theme leapt out at us. Smiles were everywhere. All of the grandkids were happy!! Some of the pictures were recent, some were several years old. Regardless, there was a smile on their faces and a twinkle in their eyes. We caught ourselves smiling and laughing at each photograph. A happy smile is contagious! The grandkids didn’t know we were smiling; they were just loving life. It struck me that whenever we smile and someone else sees us, it generally elicits good feelings.

What would happen if each of us genuinely shared a smile with someone? Use your smile to change the world, don’t let the world change your smile.

As always please thank the sponsors on page 192. Without them this publication woudln’t be possible.

off i ce M a n age r Nikki Burkhalter

A s s i s ta n t M a n age r s Kim Anderson

June Dixon P h otog r ap h e r s Brant Photography Dawn McDaniel Owens Heather Nguyen Janie B Photography Janie Sharpston Jessica Martie Photography JOMIII Photography Kelly McDonald Photography Sonya Sanders

C ov e r P h oto Michael and Laurie Munn, by Kelly McDonald Photography Sale s Dottie Hicks Patti Martin Dorothy Sichelstiel

Contributing

Wri t er s Gail Dixon

Hilary Hilgers Janice Hill Mike Klug Sherri Martin Kelly McDonald Brig. Gen. James E. Sehorn

“We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do.”

Mother Teresa.

“Children learn to smile from their parents.” Shinichi Suzuki

Blessings,

Jay and Patti Martin Sales: (912) 654-3045 Email: jay@wyimpublications.com www.hometown-living.com 8

houston county living

Houston County Living Magazine© is published semi-annually by With You in Mind Publications. www.hometown-living.com P.O. Box 55 • Glennville, GA 30427 (912) 654-3045 All rights reserved. Copies or reproduction of this publication in whole or in part is strictly prohibited without expressed written authorization from the publisher. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein. Advertising is subject to omission, errors, and other changes without notice.

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205 S. Pleasant Hill Road Warner Robins GA 478.922.5845 www.magnoliaparkcemetery.com

XX Abilene Living Magazine 205 S.Houston Pleasant Hill Road Warner Robins GA 478.922.5845 www.magnoliaparkcemetery.com XX Living Magazine 78 Abilene County Living

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2470 US Hwy 41 N, Fort Valley, GA 31030 | (478) 987-1239 12

Houston County Living

6 miles north of Perry on US Hwy 41 near GA 96

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Michelle Rhoades is a self-described jack-ofall-trades. She has been a flight attendant, a travel agent, and a home sales consultant. She is also an accomplished photographer. Her experiences in each of these areas and, more specifically, her ability to tackle a new idea and learn what is necessary to succeed, have been some of the ingredients in her recipe for business success.

Her first business, Mossy Creek Soap, began, however, as a hobby.

Rhoades and her husband Dan found Houston County on a map when they were trying to decide where to relocate after he retired from the U.S. Navy. He was stationed at a base outside of St Louis, Missouri, but she had grown up in Columbus, Georgia.

Tired of having no trees around, and wanting to be closer to her mom in Ashburn, Georgia, in large part so that their daughter Ivy could grow up close to her grandmother, Michelle took her stepfather’s advice and

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She was unable to find a teaching facility for soap making outside of California, so instead of flying crosscountry, they decided to teach themselves. “It was a comical process,� Rhoades says of their first attempts at soap making in 2009.

They bought books and the ingredients, attended soap making conferences, and soap consumed all available space in their home.

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looked at Houston County. What the Rhoades found in Kathleen was a warm welcome, a great school system, and proximity to Robins Air Force Base, through which Dan could do government contract work.

He had served overseas in Iraq, and when he came back home, they began making soap. Michelle had been working in direct sales at home, but her company stopped having that line of business. “I had customers, but nothing to sell,” she explains.

“So I said, ‘Let’s learn how to make soap!’”

She was unable to find a teaching facility for soap making outside of California, so instead of flying

cross-country, they decided to teach themselves.

“It was a comical process,” Rhoades says of their first attempts at soap making in 2009. They bought books and the ingredients, attended soap making conferences, and soap consumed all available space in their home.

“It takes four to six weeks for soap to dry to make a long-lasting bar of soap,” she says. “We didn’t eat off our kitchen table for nine months.”

From March to November that year they were consumed with making soap, and they enjoyed learning the process together. “It was a good thing for us to do together, especially with him being

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gone for so long,” she explains.

By November, however, they had outgrown their home space; the next step was to find a space for making and selling their soap. She contacted the Small Business Administration for help, something she says is so important for people to do when starting a business.

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She found space on Russell Parkway in Warner Robins, but soon learned an important lesson as a storeowner: having the right location can mean the difference between success and failure. “You love your products, but people aren’t going to rush your doors to buy it if they cannot find you,” she says.

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But the biggest ingredient to having downtown success was the addition of other gift items.

Instead of just selling soap, she created Mossy Creek Natural, a bohemian chic shop that carries handpicked clothes, accessories, and gift items, as well as Mossy Creek Soap, bath/body products and her new makeup line, Vintage Gypsy. All the bath/body/soap and the natural mineral makeup are made in the Northside Drive studio.

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In part to bring people to her door, she began teaching soapmaking classes. After three years, she had outgrown the 20X40 space, and began looking for something larger with a better location. She found it in Perry on Northside Drive, in a house that had previously been a hair salon. It had tile floors, plenty of outlets and sinks, and an inviting storefront.

By this time, things really began happening with her business; the next ingredients were falling into place. She became involved with a gifting company that would showcase her products in celebrity gifting lounges, and also joined online groups such as the Hive that helped promote her company. She also used social media to showcase her soaps. In 2011, Food Network picked up one of her photographs of her coffee soap and included it in their featured Gift Guides for Her. The next year, Southern Living featured Mossy Creek Soaps in their holiday edition. Georgia Family Magazine also wrote a review of the business.

Earlier on, she had joined the Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild, and did her homework by attending conferences and talking to experts. Before long, she was asked to speak at those conferences. “I became a leader in my field,” she says.

Her next step was to join the Perry Downtown Merchants Association. She made it known that she would be interested in a downtown storefront, and soon she had the opportunity to open a store on Carroll Street, a prime location. “This is where I wanted to be six years ago, but I wasn’t ready,” she says.

She had four months to prepare for her shop, knowing how important it is to key on people’s senses. “First of all, sight people have to like what they see,” she says. “You have three seconds to make a first impression.”

How the store is arranged is also important, with a key being not having too much or too little on display. Having customers walk freely to complete a circle pattern, she says, works best. Smell and sound are other key ingredients. Her soaps naturally add to the pleasing aroma, and Rhoades handpicks songs to create the right mood for her store.

But the biggest ingredient to having downtown success was the addition of other gift items. Instead of just selling soap, she created Mossy Creek Natural, a bohemian chic shop that carries handpicked clothes, accessories, and gift items, as well as Mossy Creek Soap, bath/body products and her new makeup line, Vintage Gypsy. All the bath/body/soap and the natural mineral makeup are made in the Northside Drive studio.

The store opened in October 2015. “We kind of built it as a ‘Made in Perry’ shop,” Rhoades explains. From the bath/ body, soap and makeup to labeling and website design, as much as possible is done in-house. It is a hometown buy local feeling that is being promoted largely to customers from out of town.

“Sixty-five percent of our business is tourists,” Rhoades explains. This is something she would love to see change.

Having local support is a final key ingredient to success.

“People need to understand that when you don’t support a local business, you’re hurting yourself in the long run,” she says. “It’s small businesses that support your local community. If people bought just one thing locally, businesses could stay open. It’s about community and knowing your neighbor.”

Rhoades has found the right recipe for her life in Houston County -- doing something she enjoys, and learning all she can to make that something a success.

“I feel lucky to be here,” she says. “I feel in life, things that are meant to be will fall into place, if you are prepared to meet them.”  HCL

In 2011, Food Network picked up one of her photographs of her coffee soap and included it in their featured Gift Guides for Her. The next year, Southern Living featured Mossy Creek Soaps in their holiday edition.

Georgia Family Magazine also wrote a review of the business.

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Story and Photos by Kelly McDonald

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Laurie has two wonderful children a son, Boston, who is 10 and Berkeley, a daughter, who is 6. A picture perfect little family. Laurie had a good job, her own home, and kept busy as a mom. She was not really looking to date, but isn’t that when it always happens?

“I promise to love these kids like they are my own. I promise to make us a family.” Michael’s vows are music to Laurie’s ears. As a single mom in her mid-30’s, she dreamed of one day finding a man who would accept and love her kids like she did. As most anyone that has ever found themselves in this situation, blending a family can be a challenge to say the least.

Laurie has two wonderful children a son, Boston, who is 10 and Berkeley, a daughter, who is 6. A picture perfect little family. Laurie had a good job,

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her own home, and kept busy as a mom. She was not really looking to date, but isn’t that when it always happens?

As a trainer at Geico in 2014, Laurie had worked there for years and now was in charge of all the new hires in her section.

She remembers quite vividly a large, handsome man walking into training with pants on that were too short. He had an accent that she couldn’t nail down, and seemed ok with his too short pants. “I found him so interesting from the first minute I laid eyes on him.”

Michael was most definitely interesting. Born in the United States, his mom moved him back when he was only two years old to her homeland of Wales. He grew up there and at 21

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Laurie assumed that there would be courtship nuptials as the couple decided to purchase a home together and that would account for much of their finances. Michael told her that they could have the intimate wedding ceremony she had dreamed of, and she booked a date at the “Grand Magnolia House� in Marshallville.

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made a decision few would have made. Michael had always wanted to return to America but thought he needed to “earn” his way back.

He enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served the Country he was born in. “I wanted to be a part of defending this great Country.” After many years in the Navy, Michael ultimately ended up marrying and settling in middle Georgia. Like Laurie, being recently divorced, he took on a new shift at Geico and that’s what brought him walking into Laurie’s class. What Michael thought was just a job would change his life. He remembers that first day as well. “I walked into a boring training room, dressed in my best pants, and was immediately intrigued by the beautiful instructor.”

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The two became quick friends. Michael would actually give Laurie advice on dealing with getting through the early years of a divorce. He would even joke about guys that hit on her or asked her out. He also got to know her as a mom with these 2 energetic kids that he found so much fun to be around. “We were truly just friends who really enjoyed doing things together.”

Months later, Michael finally asked Laurie out to a movie, just the two of them. Laurie thought, could this be an actual date? Much to her disappointment, Michael was the perfect friend and gentleman. No hand holding or arm around the shoulder moves, just a movie. So when he asked her out again the next weekend, Laurie thought maybe this is it. And again Michael held back and continued on with his best friend behavior.

One afternoon, Laurie got a text from an old friend inviting her out for a drink. This old friend was another guy and Laurie was conflicted by what exactly to do next. Rounding up some courage, she blasted off a text to Michael hoping he would tell her not to go… “this guy has asked me out for 36

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tonight. I know we already had plans to get together so I wanted to check with you first.” Laurie help her breath and waited. Michael quickly responded, “DON’T GO!” The next date was just that, a date. Michael finally confessed that he liked her so much that he did not want to move too fast or do anything wrong. He had been smitten from day one. The more time they all spent together, the more excited Laurie got for her kids. Laurie thought this man could be the love of her life. What could go wrong?

She had known for a while that her daughter, Berkley, struggled with speech and social interaction. Even at age three, she would just point and gesture. Being protective, Boston would talk and answer for her. Laurie took Berkeley from doctor to doctor looking for answers, but always got the same speech. Every child is different and develops at different stages and ages.

Finally, Laurie insisted that something was not right and she needed help. After months of appointments and doctor visits finally a diagnosis.

Berkeley was scoring on the Autism scale, and her mom had no idea what to do next.

She researched and made phone calls and talked to as many people as possible. Laurie knew there was a little girl in there that was perfect, she just needed a little help coming out. No one knows for sure what the outcome will be for an autistic child when all the rest are getting jobs, moving out, and going off to college. More immediately, what could she do to help her baby girl?

Instinctively, Laurie began to pull away from her new found love to focus on Berkeley. However, Michael became a huge advocate and set out to get Berkeley whatever she needed to progress. She started Speech Therapy and the school decided on a smaller, specialized class for Berkeley the following year.

Laurie gave Michael every out she could think of.

She just knew that no man in the right mind would want to voluntarily take on these responsibilities. Boy, was she wrong!

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Michael had already fallen in love with both Boston and Berkeley. He wasn’t going anywhere. This was his forever family.

It took Laurie a little longer to believe that this man was real. Michael didn’t second guess their future together and proposed soon after. Laurie assumed that there would be courtship nuptials as the couple decided to purchase a home together and that would account for much of their finances. Michael told her that they could have the intimate wedding ceremony she had dreamed of, and she booked a date at the “Grand Magnolia House” in Marshallville. The owner Tamara Joiner recommended a local photographer to help commemorate their special day. That’s when I met them.

The whole family showed up to meet me at Jekyll Island’s Driftwood Beach. We had agreed to do engagement pictures there, but that’s about all I knew about them. We shot for over an hour and several incredible things happened. The first was that I made a new best friend in Berkeley. The second was that I realized how in love they were and the third thing was I found out that this was going to be a blended family.

I was stunned. Michael had fallen so perfectly into his role that it seemed impossible that he was not their birth dad. I left feeling happy to have met them and looking forward to their wedding.

June 11, 2016 was the big day. Michael’s mom was there all the way from Wales. Friends and family filled up the stylish mismatched chairs to witness the ceremony. Right before they walked down the aisle, Laurie got worried that Berkeley wouldn’t walk down in front of all those people. As the procession began, Berkley walked half way down and froze. As soon as this happened, it was Mr.”Bunz”, Berkeley’s pet name for Michael, to the rescue. Michael calmly walked to her and escorted her the rest of the way, both smiling and twirling to the altar. Boston gave his mom away to the love of her life; four people became one family.

Everyone celebrated with cake and furbies, Berkeley’s prize for doing such a good job. Neither Mr. or Mrs. Munn know what the future holds for Berkeley or Boston, but they do know they will face it together.

When the night was over and I went to hug them goodbye, the last thing I heard the bride tell her groom was “thanks for wearing longer pants and letting me out of the friend zone!”  HCL

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Story by Sherri Martin Photos by Kelly McDonald

cooking up

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Rikki took her idea to the International City Farmers’ Market, which is open on Thursday afternoons on Watson Boulevard in Warner Robins. She cooked and sold empanadas to those shopping or selling at the market. It was a success.

Recipes passed down from generation to generation are precious. They connect people to their past and are filled with memories of special people. For anyone who has learned to cook by their grandmother’s side, they know what Rikki Waite means when she says about making her grandmother’s empanadas, “They are home to me.”

Now Waite has taken those recipes and is turning them into a growing business.

Waite’s grandmother, Evalia Mills, was born in the Cayman Islands but grew up in Panama, where her husband was chief of police in the Canal Zone. Many of their seven children and their families lived in Panama most of their lives. Waite’s parents, however, were in the U.S. Air Force, and when her mom’s last station was at Robins Air Force Base, they stayed in town. Rikki graduated from Warner Robins High and worked in the restaurant business during her high school and college years and early twenties, but never planned to make it a career.

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She sells a basic meat empanada at the market, but has several variations available. One favorite is the “market fresh” empanada, filled with spinach, mushrooms, and feta cheese. And she assures that all of her food is made with the best ingredients.

“It’s all about sourcing those clean ingredients, sourcing exceptional ingredients from local farmers and artisans, such as grass-fed beef and sunflower oil,” she says.

Instead, she worked in the software industry, finding a successful career away from the hard work of culinary service. Yet it was not what she wanted for her future. She says she thought, “I’m not going to sit behind a desk all day long for the rest of my life.”

She remembered how her family loved her grandmother’s food, and often asked her to go into business selling her specialties. But Waite says her grandmother, who passed away in 2005, only wanted to cook for her family.

Instead, it would be Waite who would go into business using the family recipes. But it was not without much planning and prayer, and a little trepidation. “I talked to my husband, and prayed

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about it a lot, a lot, a lot,” she says. “I left my software job, and six days later opened the stand at the market.”

Rikki took her idea to the International City Farmers’ Market, which is open on Thursday afternoons on Watson Boulevard in Warner Robins. She cooked and sold empanadas to those shopping or selling at the market. It was a success.

“I sold out the first day,” she says. “It was one of the best days – I cried the whole way home.

It’s really scary – you’re putting your heart out there. And then I sold out the second day, and the third, and the fourth… It just fell into place, like the best things do.”

An empanada is basically a savory turnover – usually a meat-filled hand pie with Latin flavors.

Waite says they are the “perfect street food,” often sold in Panama. “You can be driving in Panama, in the middle of nowhere, and there will be a shed, with people buying empanadas,” she says.

She sells a basic meat empanada at the market, but has several variations available. One favorite is the “market fresh” empanada, filled with spinach, mushrooms, and feta cheese. And she assures that all of her food is made with the best ingredients. “It’s all about sourcing those clean ingredients, sourcing exceptional ingredients from local farmers and artisans, such as grass-fed beef and sunflower oil,” she says.

“It’s become even more than sharing my grandmother’s recipes and that art, but also keeping it local, keeping it fresh, and taking it back to the old roots. We don’t have that these days. We have a lot of great commercial restaurants, but a lot of that is frozen food, not made with love.”

An empanada is basically a savory turnover – usually a meatfilled hand pie with Latin flavors. Waite says they are the “perfect street food,” often sold in Panama.

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“It’s become even more than sharing my grandmother’s recipes and that art, but also keeping it local, keeping it fresh, and taking it back to the old roots. We don’t have that these days. We have a lot of great commercial restaurants, but a lot of that is frozen food, not made with love.”

“A homemade delicacy is an art.”

As for where the name came from? Waite had entered a Localicious cooking contest, and was asked what the name of her product was. She said she didn’t have a name, but that “they’re my grandma’s empanadas.” The name fit.

And most recently, she took all of her empanada success and opened a restaurant in Warner Robins, at 120 South Armed Forces Boulevard, directly across the street from Robins Air Force Base. There, she serves the empanadas that have made her market stand a success, as well as other authentic offerings, such as corn empanadas, carimañolas, and stuffed avocados.

“I want to be a hole in the wall,” she says.

“I want to be a local's joint, something the city doesn’t have. Somewhere you can sit and see your food being made.”

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Opened in October, it is just a lunch place for now, open Monday through Friday, from 10 – 2. The location is important, as she is able to serve people from the base, many of whom are familiar with empanadas because of where they have served or because of their Latin heritage.

“Warner Robins is the International City,” she says.

So now, she and her crew, which includes her husband, Mark, mom Sharon, daughter Nevaeh, stepson Scott, niece Cora, goddaughter Brianna, and friends Ami, Reagan, and Collin,

will stay busy selling at the market and the restaurant, putting her grandma’s empanadas in the hands of loyal patrons and first-time customers.

“I’m a local person who just opened up a stand at a farmer’s market, and am now generating enough revenue to open a restaurant,” Rikki says.

Her family says her grandmother would be pleased. “Everyone has always wanted my grandmother’s food to be showcased,” she says. “They say she is smiling down from heaven.”

Smiling at her granddaughter, who is keeping a delicious family tradition alive and growing.  HCL

“I sold out the first day,” she says. “It was one of the best days – I cried the whole way home. It’s really scary – you’re putting your heart out there.

And then I sold out the second day, and the third, and the fourth… It just fell into place, like the best things do.”

Hometown Living At Its Best

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Diana doesn’t take anything for granted and is happy to be able once again to do things she had thought were impossible.

I

I am sure there is a medical term used to describe a person who only has one leg, but I would call her amazing. Diana Beechler would probably rather you just referred to her as Mom. Her whole life changed in an instant in 2011. “It made me who I am today. I always wanted my kids to know, no matter what life throws at you…. get up, be strong, and overcome!”

Diana was working on a farm in New York, just like she had since she was 17.

Now 24, she was in charge of feeding and milking cows, tractor keep up, and working the corn and hay fields. It was a chilly day and time to start cleaning the equipment to store for the winter. Diana was attempting to get the old corn out of the grain bin. It was not emptying properly, so she climbed in with a shovel to give it some help. Once the corn was going through the auger again, she went to pull herself out of the machine.

Countless doctors and nurses swarmed over Diana for hours. Her first surgery was an intensive 8 ½ hours.

Diana has been through six surgeries in all, but it wasn’t until right before her fourth surgery that she felt brave enough to look down.

Expecting the worst, Diana challenged herself to stay positive as she removed the blanket covering her right leg. It was gone above the knee. Determined to be strong, Diana replied, “It doesn’t look as bad as I thought it would.”

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“Using an innovative design, we were able to improve her stability, alignment, and comfort. I am so proud of what Diana has accomplished.

She now wears her prosthesis all day. She goes camping with the Cub Scouts. We love to see people restored to their maximum potential.

Diana is an inspiration,” says Paul.

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A small slip of her right foot quickly resulted in Diana’s leg being sucked into the rotating blades. Quick thinking, she pushed part of her heavy overcoat in desperately trying to stop it. The machine jammed. Diana lay in shock realizing the whole right side of her body was now wrapped in the grain bin.

A local hunter pulled up to check traps and saw the heavy machine smoking. He walked over to look inside and was shocked by what he discovered and immediately dialed 911. Help arrived shortly and for 90 minutes they tried to remove Diana from the grain bin. “I didn’t let myself look,” she recalls.

When the Fire Chief arrived and saw Diana, he instantly grabbed his radio and ordered a Mercy Flight helicopter to Life Flight Diana to the nearest hospital. Diana remembers

to the nearest hospital. Diana remembers thinking, “I don’t have time for all this. I need to get home and start dinner. I have homework. I just need to go home!”

Countless doctors and nurses swarmed over Diana for hours. Her first surgery was an intensive 8 ½ hours. Diana has been through six surgeries in all, but it wasn’t until right before her fourth surgery that she felt brave enough to look down. Expecting the worst, Diana challenged herself to stay positive as she removed the blanket covering her right leg. It was gone above the knee. Determined to be strong, Diana replied, “It doesn’t look as bad as I thought it would.” How would she even begin to explain this to her kids?

Adriana was 6, but Riley was only 3.

The first time she ever let the weight of it

The scars remain on her body, but the memories are slowly fading away. Nick has his wife and partner back, Adriana and Riley have their mom back, and Diana has her life back.

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all hit her was in a physical therapy session. The therapist had to help her sit up, move to the edge of the bed, stand, maneuver to the chair, and sit.

She couldn’t do anything for herself.

“I just wanted to go home,” Diana cried.

Nick had the responsibility of telling their babies that their mom had been in an accident and needed to be away with the doctors to make her better. Finally, on December 27, 2011 Diana got the OK to go home. Her husband rolled her wheelchair into their house after almost three weeks in the hospital. Adriana and Riley ran up to greet their mother. Riley, her 3-year-old son, looked down and slowly looked back up. “What happened to your leg,” he asked.

Diana tenderly told them that she was working and had an accident. She hurt her leg and the doctors couldn’t fix it, so she had to leave it at the hospital.

Not sure of the reaction she would get, she pulled her children close and heard Riley say, “It’s OK mommy, I will take care of you.”

It was quite an adjustment being home again. Diana had to have constant help with the kids, cooking,

After the move, Diana knew there had to be something better out there. She went online to search and eventually found Paul Boland’s name.

After a quick email and phone call, she had an appointment.

As soon as she got there and they started talking she knew she had found help. “Paul actually listened. He asked what my hobbies were and where I wanted to be.” The kind of socket he recommended for me was the same socket others had said would never work. Paul told her to trust him and it would change her life.

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The process took about four months, but it was worth every minute to Diana and her family. “I felt like a whole person again.” She can now do simple things like push her daughter on the swings at the park. She can also do more complicated things like her new job. She is now employed by Robins Air Force Base.

laundry, and their dogs. Their family and friends stepped up from the very beginning to take shifts and help. Towards the middle of therapy, Diana made a phone call to her father-in-law. When he hung up he turned to his wife and said, “She’s gonna be OK.” Diana’s mother-in-law asked what he meant. “She just fired me!” he exclaimed.

Diana had made the decision to get her life back.

That meant less help, more work for her.

The next morning was tough. She got her daughter up, dressed, and packed for school. As

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she sat on the front porch and watched her run down the drive to the school bus she felt proud. “It felt good to do it on my own again.”

Soon after, Diana set out to get a prosthetic and learn to walk again. She could never find one that worked. They were always uncomfortable and did not fit. The first prosthetic was heavy and bulky. She had to buy clothes two sizes larger to accommodate the way it fit. She would wear it only when she had to, “the rest of the time it sat on the backseat of my car.” Adding to her frustration

was the severe winter weather in New York.

The cold made her arm hurt worse, and her whole body ache. The final straw was in 2014 when she went to the bus stop to get her kids and fell on the black ice. When Nick returned home from work that night Diana told him, “We need to move.”

Nick made a trip to Georgia, where Diana had family, looking for work and a good school. Days into his search he called his wife and said, “I think I found the perfect place.” Warner Robins was his choice for their new home. “We have been together for 11 years, so I trusted him,“ says Diana.

After the move, Diana knew there had to be something better out there. She went

online to search and eventually found Paul Boland’s name. After a quick email and phone call, she had an appointment.

As soon as she got there and they started talking she knew she had found help.

“Paul actually listened. He asked what my hobbies were and where I wanted to be.”

The kind of socket he recommended for me was the same socket others had said would never work. Paul told her to trust him and it would change her life.

“Diana had an amazing attitude and work ethic. When she moved here she was limited only by her prosthesis and could not tolerate the socket for more than a few hours. Considering that she had two

Hometown Living At Its Best

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young children, this was not acceptable.

Using an innovative design, we were able to improve her stability, alignment, and comfort. I am so proud of what Diana has accomplished. She now wears her prosthesis all day. She goes camping with the Cub Scouts. We love to see people restored to their maximum potential. Diana is an inspiration,” says Paul.

The process took about four months, but it was worth every minute to Diana and her family. “I felt like a whole person again.”

She can now do simple things like push her daughter on the swings at the park. She can also do more complicated things like her new job. She is now employed by Robins Air Force Base. Diana is at work every morning by 6am loading and unloading trucks. “My first week of training was tough. I almost thought I can’t do this.”

Then she looked back at all she had accomplished the last five years and knew she could.

Diana has this to say about the two men in her life. “Paul is my savior. He listened to my love of the outdoors, and gave me the chance to do all those things again. He said he would change my life, and he did.”

“My husband is my rock. We have had our moments over the past five years since the accident, but we did it together. Never once did I ever think he would give up on me.”

Diana doesn’t take anything for granted and is happy to be able once again to do things she had thought were impossible.

The scars remain on her body, but the memories are slowly fading away. This weekend the couple spent the day setting up a new swing set together. Nick has his wife and partner back, Adriana and Riley have their mom back, and Diana has her life back.  HCL Diana has this to say about the two men in her life. “Paul is my savior. He listened to my love of the outdoors, and gave me the chance to do all those things again. He said he would change my life, and he did.” “My husband is my rock. We have had our moments over the past five years since the accident, but we did it together. Never once did I ever think he would give up on me.”

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478.987.1938

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hhc.org/checkin Staffed by Physicians and Registered Nurses at all times Houston Lake Med-Stop Lake Joy Med-Stop Pavilion Med-Stop Perry Hospital Houston Medical Center Because our Med-Stops and Emergency Rooms must treat patients based on the severity of illness or injury, your reservation time is not guaranteed. We will see you as close to your designated time as possible. If your symptoms worsen or you believe you are experiencing an emergency, please call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest Emergency Department as soon as possible.

Hometown Living At Its Best

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Story by

Sherri Martin

Photos by

Kelly McDonald

on the Diamond Baseball has been good to Jason Brett, and he has been good for baseball, leading the Houston County Bears to become one of the top teams in the nation.

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W

When Jason Brett was growing up in Perry, he lived practically in the shadow of the Perry High School baseball field. After leaving his front yard, he says, “I could jump the fence and be in left field.�

It is very fitting, then, that Brett would wind up spending much of his life on a baseball field, first as a player and now as a coach. And it has been a life filled with success on the diamond. Brett played baseball in college and was drafted to play professional ball. He is currently the head coach of the Houston County Bears, who last season won their second state championship in three years, and are ranked 15th in the nation by Baseball America. Not bad for someone yet to celebrate his 40th birthday.

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Brett played baseball in college and was drafted to play professional ball. He is currently the head coach of the Houston County Bears, who last season won their second state championship in three years, and are ranked 15th in the nation by Baseball America.

“Baseball is always changing. When you think you know it all, I think that’s when you become a poor coach.”

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Baseball has been about more than just chalking up wins, however; it has colored nearly every aspect of his life. “Baseball has been very good to me,” Jason explains. “It paid for my education, it helped me get jobs.

I don’t know if I would have met my wife if I hadn’t been playing professional ball.”

Growing up through Little League ball and then playing shortstop at Perry High, Jason dreamed of

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playing in the major leagues, just like many young boys. He started for two years at South Georgia College in Douglas after high school, and had signed to play at Valdosta State when he was drafted. “I was drafted in the 21st round by the New York Mets,” he explains. “It wasn’t much of a decision whether to go or not – to get the opportunity to play professional ball.

“I played for four years, all up and down the East coast, and had a lot of fun.”

Brett played rookie ball in Kingsport, Tennessee; short season A ball in Pittsfield, Massachusetts; high A in Port St. Lucie, Florida; and low A in Columbia, South Carolina.

“It was a great experience,” he says. “I learned a lot. I met and listened to a lot of great baseball people. It helped mold my baseball mind.”

Although he never made it to the majors, he says he has no regrets.

“God does things for a reason,” he adds.

One of those things was meeting his wife, Amy. He was home for the off-season, and his mom taught school with her mom, and thought they should meet. “We hit it off and we’ve been together ever since,” he says.

He returned to Valdosta State to complete his education and work as an assistant coach. “Major League Baseball paid for my last two years of school,” he says.

He got his undergraduate degree in communications, and then earned his master’s degree in instructional technology. He worked as a grad assistant and an assistant coach at VSU for six years, then he and Amy decided to move back to Houston County, where he would continue his coaching career.

He was hired as an English teacher and assistant baseball coach at Houston County High in 2008. In 2010, the then-head baseball coach resigned in the middle of the school year, and Brett got the head coaching

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“It was a great experience. I learned a lot. I met and listened to a lot of great baseball people. It helped mold my baseball mind.�

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job on an interim basis, but was soon named head coach.

He took a program that won nine games in his first season as coach to one that only lost nine games last season. “We’ve done okay,” he says with a laugh.

“Okay” includes those two state championships, four 20-win seasons in five years, 23 players in six years earning scholarships to play baseball in college, and several “Coach of the Year” awards.

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“I think part of God’s plan for me was to be a coach. I enjoy being around the game, and I really feel that’s what my calling has been,” he says. Along the way, he has also coached football and softball in addition to baseball at HCHS. Brett knows there are many components that make for a successful coaching career.

“Houston County is blessed with good athletes – good kids who work hard and expect to win,” he says. “They’ve got good parents behind them who support the kids and the program. The administration is very supportive, and I have really good assistant coaches. They’re kind of the heartbeat – they make practices run and keep things going. And the community comes out; it’s amazing the support they provide sports and high school kids in general.”

Although he is back to coaching only baseball again, Brett still has his full teaching load. In addition to coaching, he also teaches six classes every day, one weight class and five classes of 10th grade literature. He went through the TAPP program for his teaching certificate, and says he has really grown to enjoy teaching. “All coaching is teaching, and vice versa,” he explains. “I like seeing the kids learn, seeing the light come on.”

He says the classroom is a “different world” from the ball field, where he has only 50 athletes in the baseball program. In the classroom, he says, “You get to come into contact with a lot of different kids. You get to see a lot of different personalities come through, and see ones who have different interests. It teaches you to deal with different personalities, and not keyhole people into one learning style.”

In between coaching responsibilities and grading essays and tests, Brett also has to find time for his family, especially his two sons, Connor, 6, and Reid, 2. This can be hard because, he explains, baseball is a yearround sport. “It’s cyclical. You win a state championship, and take a day or so to enjoy it, and then start thinking about how to do it again.”

He also says it is important to stay current on baseball trends. “Baseball is always changing. When you think you know it all, I think that’s when you become a poor coach,” he says.

In order to make everything come together successfully, Brett relies on the blessings of good family and friends. “I have a very good support system – my in-laws are awesome, my parents are great. Amy is basically a single parent during baseball season, and they help her out.”

He appreciates that Amy is a school psychologist with the Houston County school system. “I have a psychologist at home,” he says. “She gives me very good advice. She is a good sounding board. She keeps me grounded and reminds me what’s important.

“God has really blessed me with a lot of success,” he continues. “I give a lot of credit to my parents. They raised me right; they taught me to work hard.”

He also credits the examples of his two older brothers, Jeff and Joey. “They were good big brothers – good role models and good examples.”

He adds that seeing them succeed in

their chosen areas – Jeff attended the Air Force Academy and was an Air Force pilot and currently flies for Delta, and Joey was a standout high school and college quarterback and is now athletic director at Mossy Creek Middle School – kicked in his competitive drive and made him want to work hard to succeed as well. And while they are still competitive, they are also close, getting together at least once a week. In fact, Joey will be giving Jason information about up and coming athletes, as the Mossy Creek program feeds into Houston County; and Joey’s daughter, Mary Kate, a senior at HCHS, is one of the managers for the baseball team. “It’s been cool having her around,” her uncle says.

So Coach Brett has his own team that has helped him succeed throughout his life at the sport he loves, and he loves being back home in Houston County to live life and play ball.

“I remember where all of my blessings come from,” he says – just like he remembers growing up in the shadow of a baseball field.  HCL

“I think part of God’s plan for me was to be a coach. I enjoy being around the game, and I really feel that’s what my calling has been,” he says.

Along the way, he has also coached football and softball in addition to baseball at HCHS.

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EVEN THREE IS A CROWD.

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Flint Energies is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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Powerful Rehab, Profound Results

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ANTIQUES, FURNITURE, ARTWORK, CHINA, BOOKS & MORE

2 Locations in Downtown Perry: Antique Theatre located in the Historic Muse Theatre 806 Commerce Street Perry, GA 478.224.MUSE (6873)

Art & Antiques on Carroll 813 Carroll Street Perry, GA 478.224.6539

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Open Monday - Friday 10am - 4pm Saturday 9am - 2pm 623 Courtney Hodges Blvd. Perry, GA | 478.224.6199

MYERS Construction Company

Myers Construction Company has been doing residential and commercial construction and repairs since 1975.

478.987.4824

1303 Forest Hill Dr. | Perry, GA 31069

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Land Loan Leaders

From the left: Matthew Moxley, Diane Hardy, Glynda Norwood, Emily Reece, Teresa Thompson, Morgan Grizzle, and Jed Evans

If you’re ready to invest in timberland, a farm, or just a place to hunt and fish, turn to our From theWith left: Matthew Moxley, Diane Glynda Norwood, Teresa Thompson, Morgan Jed Evans team. historically low Hardy, interest rates and Emily our Reece, unique ability to lock inGrizzle, ratesand longterm, there has never been a better time to buy that tract you’ve always wanted.

If you’re ready to invest in timberland, a farm, or just a place to hunt and fish, turn to our team. historically interestreal rates and our unique ability to lock in rates longLoansWith to purchase or low refinance estate: term, there has never been a better time to buy that tract you’ve always wanted.

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478-953-2922 | bolandpoc.com

Randy Toms, Mayor

Randy Toms, Mayor

478.302.5515 路 www.wrga.gov 路 700 Watson Boulevard, Warner Robins, GA 31093 478.302.5515 路 www.wrga.gov 路 700 Watson Boulevard, Warner Robins, GA 31093 Hometown Living At Its Best

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First Response First Response Services in Warner Robins has been providing expert property recovery and restoration services to the Middle Georgia community since 2004.

Story by Mike Klug Photos by Kelly McDonald and First Response

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Who do you talk to when you need help around the house? Maybe you can ask a neighbor to borrow a tool or ask your children for help setting up a new iPhone, but who can you call when you have a real disaster on your hands?

First Response Services are the family-owned hometown experts in Middle Georgia ready to respond to your disaster cleanup needs. Located in Warner Robins, the team at FRS is trained and equipped to address your worst case scenario. Whether the damage results from fire, flood, mold, biohazard or storms the FRS crew has the experience, and the expertise, to take care of you and your property.

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FRS was established in 2004 by Dale Richmond as a way of leveraging his twenty years of construction experience into new and exciting opportunities to serve his community. A Warner Robins resident since 1990, Dale has established deep ties in Middle Georgia. Both his sons, Kyler and Jonathan, were born and raised in Warner Robins and his wife, Janet, is a teacher at Bonaire Middle School. In addition, Dale has served on the Board of Directors for the Warner Robins Chamber of Commerce and the United Way of Central Georgia.

Dale started off in Warner Robins as a project manager for Chelsea Construction and initially

entered the cleanup business in response to a request to help clean carpets after a house fire. He became fascinated with the cleanup process and realized there was a large unfulfilled need in Middle Georgia for expert property restoration services.

Now if you are thinking that a cleanup contractor is just a guy with a bunch of mops and brooms in his truck, let’s take a look at the modern processes used by FRS to take property from ruined to restored.

Because of their local presence, FRS is able to provide one hour or less response time to service calls in the Middle Georgia area. They have crews postured to respond around the clock and a fleet of 15 vehicles ready to go.

Once a call is received, the response team loads drying and cleanup equipment from pre-built kits depending on the nature of the emergency. FRS maintains a warehouse with pallets of dehumidifiers,

The team at FRS is trained and equipped to address your worst case scenario.

First Response Services are the family-owned hometown experts in Middle Georgia ready to respond to your disaster cleanup needs.

Located in Warner Robins, the team at FRS is trained and equipped to address your worst case scenario. Whether the damage results from fire, flood, mold, biohazard or storms the FRS crew has the experience, and the expertise, to take care of you and your property.

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fans, generators, construction tools, cleaning chemicals, and all the others tools of the trade ready to load into their response trucks.

The FRS project manager will be the first, and constant contact with the client throughout the restoration process. These managers ensure the customer has a ready and reliable source of information about the status and progress of their project; from initial response to final delivery.

In many cases, household goods damaged by fire, smoke, water or mold are carefully packaged at the disaster site and transported back to the FRS service center for full restoration. It is at this service center where the real science behind property recovery is on full display. The certified restoration specialists at FRS use cutting edge techniques such as ultrasonic baths and deionized water rinses to clean contaminated materials, even including delicate electronics.

The cleaning solutions they use are organic and specifically designed to be safe for everyone from animals to children.

Water damaged items are disinfected and dried in rooms with specifically controlled humidity and temperature settings. Dale explains that by controlling the environmental conditions in the drying room they can ensure complete removal of not only water, but also the smell of smoke from all types of material, even plastics.

For property damage that cannot be taken back to the service center, FRS provides a full range of on-site restoration services up to, and including, demolition and construction. They also specialize in structural mold remediation and are one of the only companies in Middle Georgia to offer dry ice blasting to remove mold from

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We hope disaster never touches your life, but if it does, it’s good to know that Dale and his team at FRS are ready to help you get back to normal again.

BELOW Kitchen fire damage before and after.

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“We work really hard to make our customers happy.” crawl spaces. Dry ice blasting, which is similar to sand blasting, enables rapid and complete removal of mold from wood surfaces without damaging the underlying structure and without creating waste (since the dry ice evaporates upon use).

Realizing that most home and business restoration projects require repair or replacement of flooring, Dale opened Premier Floor Gallery in January 2015 as an associate business with FRS. The joint companies allow Dale to provide his customers a wide array of options and alternatives for damaged facilities.

Business for FRS has been extremely good since they opened their doors, with an average of about 150 service calls per year. They have responded to calls from both residential and commercial properties and have completed cleanups ranging from toilet overflows to million dollar commercial mold remediation. Dale’s initial crew of three has grown to a company of 15 employees with certifications in all aspects of cleaning and restoration services.

Dale and his staff are immensely proud of their ability to recover and restore sometimes priceless possessions that their clients had thought to be ruined beyond hope. Dale explains that there is a lot of emotion involved when responding to a traumatic event like a house fire or flood, but he is passionate about his customers. “We work really hard to make our customers happy,” explains Dale. “We have to rely on our reputation.”

How can you keep yourself safe? Dale reports that water damage is the most common residential disaster. He recommends checking and replacing any worn or damaged washer hoses or refrigerator water supply lines in your home. Lightning and cooking accidents are the most common sources of fire and smoke damage, so make sure your smoke detectors and household fire extinguishers are in good working order.

We hope disaster never touches your life, but if it does, it’s good to know that Dale and his team at FRS are ready to help you get back to normal again.  HCL

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Perry Memorial Gardens

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2 n Summerhill

Senior Community

Is Now Offering...

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Story by Janice Hill

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Photos by Kelly McDonald

Few people can make a living at their art, but Deanna Griffin has done so for the last thirty-five years. And though she has clients all over the United States, Griffin calls Houston County, Georgia home. Today, in her studio in Bonaire, she sits poised at the easel as she puts the finishing touches on her latest portrait, this one a child of six years. Both Griffin and the boy have sparkles in their eyes, and it is clear that she has a passion for what she does and is expert at it.

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Anyone who has ever tried drawing or painting will tell you that the human body is one of the hardest things to represent in art; however, Griffin has never felt that way. “The first time I drew another person, a classmate in fourth grade,” she recounts, “the girl said, ‘Hey! That really looks like me!’ That day, I knew I had found my life’s work.”

Griffin graduated from the University of Georgia, but not with a degree in art. As a woman in the 1960s, she was steered into teaching. “My advisor thought I would do better in education, but she never even looked at my art,” Griffin says. Her smile betrays the irony of this experience. “I majored in secondary education so I could teach art and French.

It was a good foundation, but I took classes in everything except what really interested me, portrait painting and sculpture. Only art majors could take those classes. They told me portraits were too complicated.”

Today, in her studio in Bonaire, she sits poised at the easel as she puts the finishing touches on her latest portrait, this one a child of six years. Both Griffin and the boy have sparkles in their eyes, and it is clear that she has a passion for what she does and is expert at it.

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Griffin never ended up teaching high school because she got married and had children after college. But art drew her in again. “People started coming to me for portraits, and I started doing shows. That’s when I realized I needed more instruction.”

For four years, every Saturday, Griffin drove

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to Atlanta to study with the renowned portrait artist Constantin Chatov and his father, Roman.

Years before, in the 1920s, the Chatov family had fled Communist Russia. By the 1960s they had settled in Atlanta, where they taught classes in their art studio. Constantin painted portraits of such Georgia luminaries as Margaret Mitchell, author of Gone with the Wind, as well as Clark Gable and Vivian Leigh, stars of the equally famous movie.

From the Chatovs, Griffin learned the finer points of using light, contrast, line, color and value to her advantage. This time was hugely influential on her. To this day, Griffin laughs, she can hear Constantin’s voice in her head: “‘Walues, walues, walues!’ he would say with his Russian accent.”

Of the hundreds of paintings Griffin has done, her favorite remains a nude that she did during those

classes, for one simple reason, “It was the first painting that Constantin didn’t alter.”

If you go to the city of Perry, you can see several of Griffin’s portraits. One of them is in the Eric P. Staples Memorial Building, which houses the Houston County Board of Education. Staples, in his day, enjoyed the reputation of being “America’s winningest coach.”

Staples coached the Perry Panthers basketball team from 1933 to 1969. In thirty-six years, he coached the team to an astounding twenty-five regional championships, with 924 career wins and only 198 losses.

On the day that Griffin and I were looking at Staples’ portrait, we were lucky enough to come across Jan Morton, who is the administrative assistant to the superintendent of the Houston County Board of Education. Morton was happy to tell us about America’s winningest coach and how much she enjoys looking at the portrait, which hangs in the central

“I use brush strokes to guide the viewer’s eye through the painting, from the background into the face, like a stream of movement. I want the face to emerge into a painting, not just a photograph.”

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In the portrait, Griffin has managed to portray Staples in a way that captures both the stately demeanor and kindness of this much-loved man. One of the ways Griffin has accomplished this is with her use of light. The background near the top of the painting is lighter in color, becoming white around Staples’ head. This has the effect of illuminating Staples as though there is a light source from behind the painting.

hallway of the building. And when Morton learned who she was talking to, she was thrilled. “You’re Deanna Griffin? I love your work! I’ve followed you for years,” she exclaimed.

In the portrait, Griffin has managed to portray Staples in a way that captures both the stately demeanor and kindness of this much-loved man.

One of the ways Griffin has accomplished this is with her use of light. The background near the top of the painting is lighter in color, becoming white around Staples’ head. This has the effect of illuminating Staples as though there is a light source from behind the painting.

Remarkably, Griffin had to paint him from only pictures, as Staples had died a few years before she got the commission. “Sometimes you have to combine pictures and work with what you have,” Griffin says.

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work is privately commissioned. Her long list of clients has included grandsons of President Jimmy Carter as well as the family of August Pabst, of the Pabst Brewing Company. “For the Pabst commission, they flew me out to Milwaukee in a private plane that was painted red, white and blue,” she says. Griffin stayed with the family in their thirty-five room mansion, painting the children’s portraits.

It was the middle of winter, the lake next to the home was frozen, and snow covered the landscape.

At the end of the day, after she finished working, the Pabsts would invite Griffin to go with them, snowmobiling or cross country skiing all over the estate. “When I finished the portraits, Augie was so pleased that he asked me to stay and paint his wife, Joanie. So I got to stay there for three weeks,” Griffin says.

Griffin works in both oil paints and pastels, but she says that most clients prefer oils. The exception is for her portraits of children. “Pastels have a lovely softness for babies and children. Over time, people liked my pastel portraits so much that I changed the way I painted. Now, my oil paintings are softer, to look more like pastels. But oils have more strength at a distance; you can see them better,” she says.

Having your portrait done should be a wonderful experience, and Griffin is skilled at making her clients feel comfortable. She invites them to her studio, which overlooks the lovely Lake Placid in Bonaire, to get to know them. They may walk around her garden or down to the lake, and Griffin will take a battery of photographs in various kinds of light.

From those, she and her client will choose a pose and a facial angle, paying close attention to the light.

“There’s a life time of study in light because it is so full of nuance. Light and shadow are what model the face and give it three-dimensional form,” Griffin explains. And perhaps most importantly, “It sets the entire mood of painting.”

The portrait process is three-part. Griffin begins with a sitting, then works from photographs. But the portrait is never complete without a final, live portrait session. “The final sitting is the most important. It’s where I breathe life into the portrait,” she says. Griffin attributes her success to her ability to bring out the best in her subjects.

“I love people and can see beauty in all faces. I want my portraits to look like my clients, but I also want them to be more than they are—to show their nobility.”

There is plenty of technique, plus years of study and practice behind that statement. Griffin explains portrait painting in two terms, tight and loose.

“Some portrait artists paint tight, like a photograph.

My preference is to start tight.” But once she captures the likeness of her subject, Griffin moves to a looser and more lyrical approach, to make her portraits come alive. “For example,” she says, “I use brush strokes to guide the viewer’s eye through the painting, from the background into the face, like a stream of movement. I want the face to emerge into a painting, not just a photograph.” She thinks of her style as poetic realism.

Even the background is painted intentionally because it all comes down to art. “I want the person to come out of the background, to be the center of interest,” Griffin explains. She describes the backgrounds of her portraits as impressionistic.

“I usually make the background indistinct, so the focus stays on the face. It’s another way that my portraits become art. I love the idea of painting something that will last after I’m gone. I hope people enjoy my paintings a hundred years from now, for the sake of art.”  HCL In addition to portrait painting, Deanna Griffin is active in several art associations. She was the founding president of the Fine Art Society of Middle Georgia.

You can take painting classes with Griffin at the Fine Art Society Gallery, located at 2507 Moody Rd. in Warner Robins, GA. Please visit the FAS website at www. fasmidga.org. If you are interested in having a portrait made, you may call Griffin at 478-714-0600.

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Thursday, December 1st 6:30 pm

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Georgia National Fairgrounds Miller, Murphy, Howard $200 per table of eight or $30 per ticket

perrygachamber.com

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Darla M. Stahl, FICF Dana Carpenter, FIC

INSURANCE. ANNUITIES. INVESTMENTS. Helping families prepare for the future.

308 Margie Dr. Suite B. | Warner Robins, Ga 31088

www.woodmen.org | (478) 333-3761 Woodmen of the World Life Insurance Society, Omaha, NE

You are the center of our attention.

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Building a lasting relationship with you and our community is important to us.

And, it all starts with listening and simply being there for you, anytime. It also means understanding your needs and responding with solutions to meet those needs. Like family. We wouldn’t have it any other way. Talk to us today.

478.929.1004 cbtbank.com Banking products are provided by Synovus Bank, Member FDIC. Divisions of Synovus Bank operate under multiple trade names across the Southeast.

Lashley Insurance Agency, Inc.

Quality service, strength and satisfaction Customers count on outstanding financial strength and superior claims service to help protect what they value most. Allstate delivers on their promise. Let us help you get the appropriate level of protection and make it easy to do business with Allstate.

Home, Life & Auto Insurance Call Us Today For A Quote

1112 Russell Pkwy, Ste A | Warner Robins, GA 31088 | (478) 922-3211 | kevinlashley@allstate.com 106

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appetizers salads subs samplers pizzas calzones dinners desserts beverages

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Where families get together!

(478) 929-0504

2507 Moody Road in Warner Robins myfathersplacepizza.com open Monday-Saturday 10am-10pm

Come visit our locally owned and family operated Pharmacy.

Where personal service, friendly caring people and a hometown presence make Perry Drug Company your best choice for all your pharmaceutical needs

478.988.1144

PERRY DRUG COMPANY

1036 A Macon Road Perry, GA 31069

Ask us about how you can order your refills using your smartphone.

Ben & Evonne Bartlett, Owners

www.PerryDrugCompany.com

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Story by Kelly McDonald Photos by Kelly McDonald and Lisa Vitale

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Walking through the Warner Robins International City Farmers Market yesterday, I was instantly drawn to the delicious cookie stand. These aren’t just any cookies. These are southern inspired handcrafted treats made in small batches of only the freshest, home town ingredients. “I am a local girl who loves to create gourmet cookies with the absolute best ingredients!” says owner and baker Lisa Vitale. Lisa bakes all her cookies in small batches to ensure quality, but also includes a sprinkle of a social mission as well.

“The idea came to me in 2005,” Lisa explains, “when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans.” She remembers watching the news coverage and having words like heartache, fear, and hopelessness fill her head. “I sat and wondered…. what did you give someone that has just lost everything?” Her Southern roots kicked in gear and her next thought was homemade cookies. Homemade Cookies and a prayer! These two simple things Lisa contributes to her family and being raised in the South. “They both seem to bring some kind of comfort to a broken heart”. And that was the start of Tasty Prayer… the Cookie Box.

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the cookie box “The idea came to me in 2005,” Lisa explains, “when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans.” She remembers watching the news coverage and having words like heartache, fear, and hopelessness fill her head. “I sat and wondered…. what did you give someone that has just lost everything?” Her Southern roots kicked in gear and her next thought was homemade cookies.

Homemade Cookies and a prayer! These two simple things Lisa contributes to her family and being raised in the South. “They both seem to bring some kind of comfort to a broken heart”. And that was the start of Tasty Prayer… the Cookie Box.

For the following 10 years, this was her hobby.

She baked for family and friends. It was her small way of giving back somehow to victims of traumatic experiences. She prides herself on always having a beautiful gift to give anyone who has had their own “Hurricane Katrina”. “An event that usually hits you on a random Tuesday afternoon while you’re not looking” “At the end of 2011, I had my own hurricane,” remembers Lisa. Again, she recounted those haunting words... heartache, fear and hopelessness. “I knew nothing in my life would ever be the same again.” After almost 20 years of marriage, she was face to face with a divorce.

Lisa was a devoted military wife and mother, who

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Where it began “My prayer collided with learning about this atrocity and in essence, made me understand the value of owning a socially responsible company.”

She first heard of Sex and Human Trafficking on a random documentary, but having a ten-year-old daughter at the time, the story struck a chord with this mom. It devastated her to imagine these little girls trapped and tricked into such evil.

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thought her skill set ended there. Her only other real job experience included bartending, “I was just too old for that anymore,” laughed Lisa. As a single unemployed mom, Lisa thought law school was the answer, but God had a different plan. Her love of baking and making people smile continued to tug at her heartstrings even in her own life turmoil.

She finally made her way back to Georgia, after being gone for more than 30 years. “It was God’s grace to prepare a place for me to catch my breath.” In the summer of 2012, Lisa knew she had to make some decisions about what she was going to do with the rest of her life.

Up until this point, she had been a stayat-home mom focused solely on raising babies. She spent a lot of time in prayer.

That’s when Lisa decided to go for it!

Tasty Prayer was going to go full time.

“Here I am a baker in the place where I grew up when I was a kid, God has brought me full circle.”

This is also the same year that the baker learned about Human Trafficking.

“My prayer collided with learning about this atrocity and in essence, made me understand the value of owning a socially responsible company.” She first heard of Sex and Human Trafficking on a random documentary, but having a ten-year-old daughter at the time, the story struck a chord with this mom. It devastated her to imagine these little girls trapped and tricked into such evil.

She found herself standing in a grocery store, staring at cookie and

For the following 10 years, this was her hobby.

She baked for family and friends. It was her small way of giving back somehow to victims of traumatic experiences. She prides herself on always having a beautiful gift to give anyone who has had their own “Hurricane Katrina”. “An event that usually hits you on a random Tuesday afternoon while you’re not looking”

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cake ingredients. “I have no idea where all these come from.” She decided at that moment, her first order of business would be to run her company completely free from Human Trafficking. “It was and still is extremely difficult.” Everything she picked up came from a country that had sweat shops and no laws against trafficking. She finally found her path.

Lisa first turned to only American companies, then only American social responsible ones, and then finally local town small responsible businesses to buy all her supplies. “I continued to learn, search, and be relentless in my search for products made with a fair wage at the end of the purchase.”

I initially gave proceeds to a local organization called Out of the Darkness.

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These beautiful individuals rescue, restore, and invest in relationships with those who have been caught in this nightmare called Human Trafficking.”

More recently she has started her own Baker’s Club in a local middle school.

God had plans for Lisa to be more on the preventive side of trafficking. This club meets once a month and eventually has a vision for a scenic retreat farm that will offer sanctuary for troubled kids. It would be an alternative to putting them into the juvenile system. They would learn life skills and responsibility. She has dreams of a property that could be the difference needed in a young life.

For the next few years Lisa baked and baked and baked. She gave away so many cookies…”my neighbors loved me!” With names like Oatmeal

Crème Pie, Sunshine Lemon, Chocolate Volcano S’mores how could you not love her? Her cookies truly look like incredible works of art on a plate. As of 2015, Lisa is officially a licensed and insured home baker. She continues to fill her days at farmer’s markets making a social difference, and in her kitchen perfecting her version of the traditional Chocolate Chocolate Chip cookie.

“Who would have thought something so sweet could have come out of such a tragedy?” While she is not sure how this will all work, Lisa knows and trusts that God has ordered her footsteps and will fight along with her. “It has been a long, chaotic, beautiful journey, however, I wouldn’t trade it for any other!”  HCL

Taste the Difference

W W W. T H E B U T C H E R S H O P W R . C O M

1080 Hwy 96 Warner Robins, GA 31088 478.988.9262

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With over 213 years combined experience in propane sales and services, we are standing by to meet your propane needs.

Providing service to most of middle GA, we have a wide variety of services for residential, agriculture and commercial propane.

We pride ourselves on having a highly trained, professional and friendly team of drivers and service technicians.

Gas Appliances • Logs & Grills • Appliance Conversions • New Appliance Installations • Gas Checks • Pilot Lighting Services • Above/Underground Tank Installations

149 Macon West Drive | Macon GA 31210 | (478) 476-4558 - 331 S Houston Lake Road | Warner Robins GA 31088 | (478) 953-0302

Over 60 Years of Exceptional Dental Care Laser Dentistry - TMJ/TMD - Invisalign® - Cosmetic Dentistry Gum Disease - Root Canals - Sedation Dentistry - Implants - Oral Surgery We have been providing exceptional dental care to residents of Warner Robins, Georgia and the surrounding areas now for over 60 years! We invite you to come and experience excellence in dentistry with a personalized touch and look forward to helping you and your family achieve optimum dental health.

Dr. Alex Bell Jr.

Dr. Jack Alex Bell, III

Dr. Ken Colson

FAMILY DENTAL ASSOCIATES 328 Margie Dr. • Warner Robins, GA 31088 • (478) 971-7701 Fax: (478) 971-7705 • www.bellfda.com • Se Habla Español

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2 n Open 7 Days a Week . 121 W. Forsyth St. in downtown Americus . 229.380.0765

If you’re looking for the best in hearing care, we invite you to discover the Beltone Difference.

212 A Hospital Drive | Warner Robins GA 31088 | 478-929-4567 1108-B Washington St. | Perry, GA 31069 478-224-9400 118

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DERMATOLOGIC SURGERY SPECIALISTS, P.C. Proudly Serving Middle Georgia since 1987 • Specializing in the management of all skin cancers and medical dermatology

Start today on the road to being a Younger Version of Yourself!

We offer the latest in laser technology including ablative and non-ablative skin resurfacing, the new Profound laser for the neck and lower face, micro-needling, bellafil for acne scarring, laser hair removal, the Viora skin tightening system, laser assisted lipo-suction for body contouring. *** Let us customize a treatment plan and skin care program that will enhance and restore your skin's beauty. *** CALL & MENTION THIS AD TO RECEIVE A FREE AESTHETIC CONSULTATION

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Todd Williams, NP • David J. Cohen, MD • Jason Cheyney, PA • David E. Kent, MD Chad Perry, PA • Caitlin Eilers, PA

Macon (Main Office) Monday - Friday 308 Coliseum Drive, Suite 200

After Hrs Clinic Tues Only: 5 - 7pm

Warner Robins Monday - Thurdsay 116 Tommy Stalnaker Dr

Gray Monday - Tuesday 260 W Clinton St

Cordele Monday & Thursday 910 5th St N

Hawkinsville Thursday 222 Perry Hwy

Forsyth Wed & Fri 120 N Lee St

Beth Anne Grant, MFS, LMFT Integrating Family Issues with Biblical Principles

(478) 953-0709 Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist Christian Counseling Marriage Issues Family Issues Mental Health Issues

300 South Houston Lake Road | Warner Robins, GA 31088 Hometown Living At Its Best

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Share the Dream...

Perry-Houston County Airport 478-987-3713 • 200 Myrtle Field • Perry, GA 31069

Do you need help with your tax preparation, payroll?

Better Income Tax & Accounting Service is here to help.

Accounting & Income Tax Service Individual & Small Business (478) 929-4291 | 2292 Moody Road, Suite 400 | Warner Robins, GA 31088 120

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BoBo’s

Raccoon

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Dance Supply

2352 Ingleside Ave | Macon, GA 31204 | (478) 738-0175

Stone And Tile Works raccoonstoneandtile.com

2347 Hwy 247 C Byron GA 31008 | 478.956.2222 | stoneguy31@aol.com Hometown Living At Its Best

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Story by Hilary Hilgers and Photos by Kelly McDonald

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We’ve all heard of “taking a leap of faith”, but have you actually ever done it? Disregarding what the world says, forgetting who might or might not believe in you, but taking a leap based on the faith in one’s self? Well, Alyssa Madon took this leap. And while she did, in her hand she held a dog leash.

In early 2012 Madon found herself at a crossroads of life and knew that change was needed. She did not have much to her name, besides an empty building which she leased and a dog - who at the time was getting sick. When worrying about her dog’s health, Madon’s sister

love & nurture Canine Clubhouse has powerfully flourished in Perry. She now has over six, passionate staff members and the business has tripled since it’s opening in 2012. Canine Clubhouse can love and nurture about 40 dogs at a time, but they get about 150 requests a week!

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commented about Alyssa and all her dogs. The moment the idea filled her mind, the empty building she leased filled as well and became Canine Clubhouse.

Madon has always found a strong connection with animals, for she has always owned many dogs and has rode horses all her life. She knew with animals as her passion she had to create a space dedicated to dogs. Madon took the last of her money and her mother’s inheritance and put it all into this empty building she soon would fill with her passion. With this love for animals, Madon found the cliff’s edge and took the leap to create a home away from home for dogs. To officially make the place her own Madon welcomed her new dream to the building by painting it a sparkling blue. “Blue is my mom’s favorite color. If she is going to support me from up there, I’ll have it her favorite color.”

In August 2012, Perry, GA had a dog-gone great day because Canine Clubhouse officially opened. Madon honors Perry itself for its support. “The Perry Chamber helped me a lot” and she is forever thankful for the guidance they gave her during this leap four years ago.

Her daughter, Carson (now 15 years old), has been there for Madon since day one and was a strong part of the opening. She is now on the Volleyball Team for Perry High School. Madon is also moved by the continuous support from her boyfriend, Marty Myers. “He is a great businessman… his support keeps me going.” Myers also has helped her and the company by helping with all upkeep, from maintaining the pool to fixing things the dogs break and “they do it with a smile on their face… I couldn’t do it without them”.

As Madon took the leap, she found

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her life dedicated to Canine Clubhouse. “I worked about ninety-five percent of the time… about twelve to thirteen hours every day”. She met with families, cleaned the kennels, fed, and trained the dogs. “No matter how much I smelled like dog, Marty always welcomed me home with open arms.” Since her days of people thinking her perfume must be dog, Canine Clubhouse has powerfully flourished in Perry. She now has over six, passionate staff members and the business has tripled since it’s opening in 2012. Canine Clubhouse can love and nurture about 40 dogs at a time, but they get about 150 requests a week!

“This is a different type of dog care facility.” While most animal care businesses tend to steer away energetic dogs, Madon embraces high-energy dogs from Border Collies to Labradors. “Play is the number one priority” and you can see that in their dog pool, outdoor group play areas, sand pit and themed suites for the dogs.

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Madon goes out of her way to connect with the dog’s families by posting their pictures on Facebook for the dogs to see – over 200 photos a day!

Madon also works closely with Take-A-Chance Animal Rescue, which promotes rescuing animals to help them find forever homes. She herself has four dogs that she rescued and fosters, continuously trying to give these animals the love they need. On top of that, Madon has seven wonderful, spunky, loveable dogs that she considers part of her family.

Animals and animal-owning families all over Middle Georgia have been impacted by the hard work Madon has put into this community. And it all started with a leap of faith. Faith, some blue paint and a dog.

“I love my job. And not every one gets to say that.

Every day I am blessed”.  HCL

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Project Giving provides the affected families the financial and emotional space to concentrate on their medical issues and each other instead of the worries of the world.

Story by Mike Klug Photos provided by Project Giving

One person with love in their heart and a passion for helping others can make a huge difference in the world. Don’t believe it?

Just ask Toni Henson Slade and her team at Project Giving.

Project Giving is one of Middle Georgia’s most successful private charity organizations working to bring comfort and relief to families and individuals who are frail, vulnerable and broken. Although Project Giving is a large operation now, it had a humble beginning.

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The Project started in 1997 when Toni was a teacher at a Title 1 school in Houston County and noticed her students weren’t all that excited about the upcoming Christmas holiday.

She soon realized that their lack of excitement was due in part to their families’ inability to provide Christmas gifts for their children. Toni took it upon herself to “adopt” one of her students’ families for Christmas that year, providing them love and prayer - and presents, what she calls “tangible love”, for the holidays.

Toni was intrigued to find that the joy she provided this family was, in fact, exceeded by the joy she felt in knowing that she could be the hands and feet of Christian love to her neighbors. Her excitement became contagious and the next year several of her fellow teachers The Project started in 1997 when Toni was a teacher at a Title 1 school in Houston County and noticed her students weren’t all that excited about the upcoming Christmas holiday. She soon realized that their lack of excitement was due in part to their families’ inability to provide Christmas gifts for their children.

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joined her in “adopting” families for the Christmas holidays. As the news, and the joy, spread about Toni’s operation, she realized that she had tapped into a basic desire that people have to help each other.

During the Christmas season, educators in the Houston and Bibb County school systems identify candidate families to the Project Giving volunteers and then the volunteers connect the candidates with donor families or organizations. Donors can support individuals, families or multiple families at all levels of involvement and participation – from just making cash donations to buying specific gifts and delivering them directly to the recipients. The goal is to create family-to-family connections and share not just tangible gifts, but a spirit of community and neighborly love between the donors and recipients.

The Christmas adoption program continues to grow to this day, serving over 200 Middle Georgia families

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during the 2015 holidays.

At the same time that the Christmas adoption program was taking off, Toni and her husband Lance, a Pediatrician working in Macon, wanted to find a way to actively engage in supporting their community more frequently than just once a year.

They established Project Giving as a non-profit organization with “an undying and fervent passion to ‘build bridges of hope’ for families in the local community” who are suffering from chronic medical illnesses. Most recently, they have supported families with children living with life-threatening brain tumors, mothers with sarcomas, fathers with renal failure, grandmothers with Alzheimer’s disease, and grandfathers with cancer.

Families with enduring and serious medical conditions that are experiencing financial, social or spiritual hardships are identified through participating medical practices or through on-line

Project Giving is one of Middle Georgia’s most successful private charity organizations working to bring comfort and relief to families and individuals who are frail, vulnerable and broken.

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Over the years Project Giving has assisted hundreds of families in the middle Georgia area, not erasing all their debt, but helping them see a way through their current circumstances and into a more hopeful future.

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applications for assistance. Once connected with the program families receive assistance that can include anything from mortgage/rental payments, funding travel expenses to and from medical treatments, supplying utility payments, repairing vehicles, renovating homes, and stocking pantries to just holding a family’s hands, praying, and loving on them. Project Giving provides the affected families the financial and emotional space to concentrate on their medical issues and each other instead of the worries of the world. Over the years Project Giving has assisted hundreds of families in the middle Georgia area, not erasing all their debt, but helping them see a way through their current circumstances and into a more hopeful future.

Toni explains that Project Giving is a 100% donor funded and volunteer run organization. Nobody involved in the administration or operation of the charity receives any salary or payment, assuring that all donations are directed to families in need. In addition to individual donors, Project Giving is supported by corporate sponsors including Sam’s Club, The ENT Center, Academy Sports, Primary Pediatrics and the Georgia Farm Bureau, and hundreds of volunteers.

The volunteers play the most important roles by being present and attentive to the supported families throughout their journey to wellness.

The Project’s largest annual fund raiser is their “Retro Night Glow” 5K/10K/1 Mile Fun Run, 80's Concert, Kids' Fest and Black Light Dance Party held in September each year. The party features live concerts and kids’ events such as inflatables, obstacles courses, slides, an electronic bull ride and a merry-go-round. The race kicks off with a fireworks show and consists of an evening run along a well-lighted and entertaining course with runners of all age groups and abilities.

Prizes are awarded for not only best run times, but also for best glowing costumes! This year’s run will take place on September 17th.

More information and registration information can be found on the Project’s web site at www.projectgiving.net “The community support we receive has been outrageously humbling,” says Toni. She is particularly touched when she sees past recipients return to the program as volunteers and donors, seeking to help families in the same way they were once helped. Toni explains that the Project Giving team works to make sure their supported families are not just recipients of one-time charity but instead “they become part of our family.”

Although she is incredibly busy with Project Giving, Toni is also incredibly grateful for the opportunity she has to provide hope and support to so many families in Middle Georgia. “I feel like this is why I was put on this planet,” she explains. Although you may be facing problems today that look like mountains, Toni remembers the words of Psalm 97.5 – The mountains melt like wax before the Lord. Keep praying and keep building bridges of hope into the future.  HCL

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Reflections of an

Ex-Con

AS TOLD TO | GAIL DIXON BY BRIGADIER GENERAL JAMES E. SEHORN PHOTOS BY | GAIL DIXON

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The Best Tour I Ever Served and the One I Would Least Like to Repeat 144

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Retired USAF Brigadier General James E. Sehorn was assigned to the 469th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Royal Thai Air Base Korat, Thailand. On 14 December 1967, while flying over North Viet Nam, General Sehorn’s plane was hit by hostile fire and he was forced to eject. He was captured and spent the next 63 months as a Prisoner of War in various prisons in North Viet Nam, to include the infamous Hoa Lo Prison, or as it came to be more commonly known, The Hanoi Hilton, a nickname for a brutal Vietnamese prison.

Following is his story, a love story...love of country and love of God. On 14 December 1967, I put the throttle of that old Thud in the front left corner and took off from Korat going to downtown Hanoi. I was filled with all the thrill and excitement of a first combat tour knowing full well I would be home in six months with Mig-kills, air medals, 100 mission patches, and a distinguished combat record. My, what a delusion! About 14:00 hours, coming off the target about half way between Haiphong and Hanoi, that dream ended. I didn’t come home with Mig-kills, etc., but I did 146

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come home with a greater appreciation and love for this country, the flag, and our Lord.

My plane was shot down and I hit the ground in the middle of the burning wreckage. I grabbed the survival kit, ran into a line of trees right below a dyke and tried to get a radio transmission out but the dyke blocked the signal. Pretty soon, a soldier came walking down from the dyke looking through the wreckage for signs of the pilot. He saw my tracks in the sand and started right toward me. I pulled the hammer on the .38 Smith and Wesson back and leveled it right at his chest. About that time, I looked to my right and saw what must have been about 50 Vietnamese. I looked down and said, “Mr. Smith and Mr. Wesson, we’re not gonna win this engagement.” I holstered my gun and he spotted me.

The whole crowd descended upon me. They stripped off my flight suit and shoes, leaving me barefoot and in boxer shorts. They tied my elbows together behind my back and we started marching. When we reached the top of the dyke, I got my first view of the value of human life in Southeast Asia.

Lying there was what looked to be a 10-year-old Vietnamese

girl bleeding from the throat. One of the guards put his foot in her back, kicked her out of the way, and kept right on going. I had more love and compassion for that little girl than her own people.

That night, they stood me up on a pedestal and incited the crowd. They then walked me through the crowd allowing the people to spit on me and hit me with their fists, sticks, and stones. Out of the village on a road lit by moonlight, guards on either side of me and followed by the crowd, there was a woman who came up out of a ditch. This woman, a senior and probably wife of a combat soldier, had a machete in her hand and vengeance in her heart. She ran toward me yelling and screaming; the guard on my right took his AK47 and butt-smashed her right between the eyes. She rolled off into the ditch and we kept on walking.

We went to a helicopter pick-up and into the prison cells of The Hanoi Hilton. My war of fire-power was rapidly turning into a war of willpower; heart and mind over those who would try to take both away from me.

The initial interrogations were brutal; a POW is guided by the Code of Conduct that says, “should I become a POW, I am required to give the enemy only name, rank, service number, and date of birth.” “Where did you take off from?” “Sehorn, James E, Captain, FV3132084, 18 June 1940.” “You will learn soon. Where did you take off from?” I gave him the same response.

This time there was no delay. They tied my ankles up behind my head, my arms were pulled up until the back of my triceps were almost at the back of my head, and a piece of iron rebar was tied in my mouth until the corners were split and bleeding.

After a few hours, they came back in and asked if I was ready to talk. I nodded yes. They took off the shackles and asked, “Where did you take off from?” I gave the same information and was tied up again. Two and a half

The initial interrogations were brutal; a POW is guided by the Code of Conduct that says, “should I become a POW, I am required to give the enemy only name, rank, service number, and date of birth.”

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The next time I was interrogated, the question was, “Who are the men in your squadron?” I certainly did not want to answer. I responded, “The Squad Commander is Babe Ruth, Ops Officer is Willie Mays”

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days later, in and out of those irons, I was paralyzed from the elbows down and below the knees, my mouth split on both corners, and with the threat of being shot, I began to think...if this is going to go on for years, I have got to figure out a way around it.

The next time I was interrogated, the question was, “Who are the men in your squadron?” I certainly did not want to answer. I responded, “The Squad Commander is Babe Ruth, Ops Officer is Willie Mays” continuing with names from athletics to entertainment as they wrote this information down. I finally realized what they wanted was not information; they wanted me to know they had control and they wanted to destroy my will to resist. I finished their interrogation and they threw me into solitary confinement. I had disgraced my God, my country, my uniform, and my fellow prisoners because I had done what I swore in my mind I would never do.

“Father, I ask not to go home. Give me the strength to endure the test that is before me.”

It was like someone put his hand deep in my chest and squeezed my heart, filling me with a sense of peace and confidence.

In solitary confinement, FebruaryMarch 1968, in a small cell, having frustrated every intent I could find for committing suicide, I got down on my knees with the cockroaches and rats. I turned my face to my God and prayed, “Father, I ask not to go home. Give me the strength to endure the test that is before me.” It was like someone put his hand deep in my chest and squeezed my heart, filling me with a sense of peace and confidence. Some would tell you there were 600+ prisoners in the prison cells of Hanoi. Whatever the number, add one, because our Lord Jesus Christ walked every cell, cell block, and solitary confinement cell. The men who endured that test were those that had a deep and abiding faith in their God. The Code of Conduct has six articles but I want to tell you how three of them were acknowledged, enforced, and practiced in the prison cell of Hanoi.

I have already talked about one...give your name, rank, service number, and date of birth.

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Article 4 says should I become a POW, I will keep faith with my fellow prisoners. I am here today because Lt. Col. Ed Atterberry kept faith with a fellow prisoner. The 10th of May dawned still and hot, the skies were clear and fair, but just before the sun went down, the lightning filled the air.

No sooner were the doors shut tight than on the wall there came a call for KT from two men, The Party Dolls, “it’s all just right.” Ed Atterberry and John Drames went through the ceiling, down the wall, over the exterior walls of the prison, and right into the middle of Hanoi. They were recaptured and back in camp before the sun came up. Over the next few days, I could hear the Vietnamese beating Ed. They beat him to death trying to extract information from him on a very sophisticated communication system, one that I too knew about. If they had broken Ed, I knew who would be next. I am here today because Ed Atterberry kept faith with a fellow prisoner.

Article 6 says I will never forget that I am an American fighting for freedom, responsible for my actions, and dedicated to the principles which made my country free. I will trust in my God and the United States of America. All of the rights, freedom of speech, religion, assembly, and the right to bear arms (somewhat limited), were exercised with a passion in the cells of Hanoi. Our freedom of speech was exercised through songs and quotes. The freedom of assembly...your God, your worship, your allegiance...some of the most meaningful worship services I have ever attended were in the cells of Hanoi and led by men with no more formal religious training than regular attendance in Sunday School.

We pledged the flag, sewn on the inside of a shirt, every

day. We would take the flag out, post it on the wall, and proudly pledge our allegiance to it. We had to be discreet because, if the flag was found, we would be tortured. One day, an enemy soldier spotted a group of American soldiers saying the pledge. The soldier holding the flag was dragged out of the cell and severely beaten. When he was returned to his cell, the first thing the injured American soldier did was crawl to his bunk and, using another shirt, created another flag. We were able to do all of this, but not without consequences. Those that were caught were pulled from the room, beaten, tortured, and thrown into solitary confinement.

December1972, air raid sirens went off, guns started throwing rounds in the air, and the missiles went off all over the place. One missile hit a B52 right over Hanoi and it was like a cascade of burning metal. In only a few days, it stopped. Three days later, they opened the doors and started moving guys around. We finally figured out that we were being grouped by shoot-down dates. This is a good sign.

Tojo, the Camp Commander for the camp known as “The Plantation,” came out one day, climbed up on his peach box and said, “We allow you, the American Imperialists, the killers of our women and children and old folks, to know that agreements have been signed in Paris and you will be going back to the United States.” Standing next to me was Lt. Col. Carl Lassiter, a man with whom I had lived in a number of different rooms. We turned to each other, put our arms around each other and said, “Maybe. Maybe this is the one that takes us home.”

14 March 1973, 63 months to the day after I was first captured, buses pulled in and we loaded with a degree of confidence that we were going home. Winding through the

To those who have fought for it, freedom has a special flavor the protected will never know.

Not meant to be a put-down for those who have never worn the uniform, it’s a simple statement of fact. We appreciate what we sacrifice for.

Are we ready to sacrifice for a great nation? I hope so...

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streets of Hanoi, we were laughing and joking. We drove a little while and then, all of a sudden, the bus went dead quiet. Looking out the front left window, I saw the USAF C141. Arriving at the exchange point, we were put into two lines. When my name was called, I stepped forward and said, “General Ogan, Captain James E. Sehorn reporting for duty, Sir, and I apologize for my absence.” He returned the salute and I boarded the plane, unable to speak because my heart was in my throat. With tears in my eyes, I found a seat and noticed the other men crying too. “Yes, we were going home!” Pretty soon, everyone was loaded, the doors were closed, and the jet was cranked. As the wheels came off the ground, every POW popped his seat belt, stood, and without rehearsal or command, began singing God Bless America like I’ve never heard it sung before.

Shortly thereafter, an enlisted man in a flight suit came down the aisle and I asked him to do me a favor. “Sgt., would you go in that cockpit and ask the pilot when the nose of this jet gets over the Tonkin Gulf, ask him to get on the PA system and say two words, ‘Feet Wet’?” Feet Wet, combined with a location, gave rescue crews an indication of where to start looking in the Tonkin Gulf for a downed airman. Getting “Feet Wet,” significantly improved the chances of being rescued. About 15 minutes later, the pilot

did as asked. “Gentlemen, I’ve been asked to announce at this point, ‘Feet Wet.’” The place went up for grabs, we’d waited a very long time to be able to say that. That was the start of the most memorable flight I have ever had in an airplane.

One of my fellow prisoners, Brig. Gen. Robinson James Risner, now deceased, while speaking to a group at the Air University in Montgomery said, “Ladies and Gentlemen, I don’t ask you to remember anything that I have to say necessarily, but I would ask that you consider this...to be born free is an accident, to live free is a privilege, but to die free is a responsibility.”

To those who have fought for it, freedom has a special flavor the protected will never know. Not meant to be a put-down for those who have never worn the uniform, it’s a simple statement of fact. We appreciate what we sacrifice for. Are we ready to sacrifice for a great nation? I hope so...

General Sehorn lives in Houston County with his wife, Jo, and is active in church mission work, community service, and enjoys fly fishing. Thank you, General Sehorn, for allowing me to talk with you and write your story.

Thank you for your faith and service in the military and may God truly bless you and the lives you touch as you tell your story!  HCL Hometown Living At Its Best 151

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Giving Back

A true act of kindness between a few good men in this county.

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Story and photos by Kelly McDonald

After devoting almost a decade to the same company, Ryan Walker suddenly found himself married, expecting a baby, and unemployed. Ryan was having no luck finding another job. Not sure of their next move, Ryan and his wife, Chelsea, chose to do something a little different this time around.

After much prayer and conversation, Ryan decided to pick up a few yards to cut and landscape. Trying to make ends meet was the only original goal. Ryan acquired lawn equipment where he could and prayed every night to wake up to new business each day. “I started in March of 2015 with two yards, and it has grown to about 20 now,� Ryan says with pride about his ever expanding business. Even with the pressure of finding new property to manage, Ryan knew he was meant for more. He mentioned to his wife

each new day After much prayer and conversation, Ryan decided to pick up a few yards to cut and landscape. Trying to make ends meet was the only original goal. Ryan acquired lawn equipment where he could and prayed every night to wake up to new business each day.

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The news in our Country really began to bother Ryan. “The treatment of police officers and lack of respect quite frankly made me mad.� Instead of engaging in some kind of Twitter War, Ryan remembered his business and personal policies and took to Facebook to do something positive about it.

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an idea he had and waited patiently for her response.

A struggling new businessman had just proposed to her that he pick up more lawns….for FREE! Without hesitation, Chelsea Walker had his back and encouraged her husband to follow his heart. Both had worked in the Celebrate Recovery Program at Southside Baptist Church. Both believe in paying blessings forward and doing God’s work. Both would do this together no matter the outcome.

JCR Property Management, LLC., was born in January and a Facebook page was created. He posted the exciting announcement with his 3 life policies…. 1.

Business, just care and be reliable always. 2. Family, Chelsea, Jaylin, and baby Rayna are most important.

3. Spiritually, Jesus Christ is returning. “I promised myself that from day one, I would pray and work for God every day.” Ryan continues his testimony with such excitement, “The last 11 months have been really trying but I have seen God in my family and business.

We have not quite made it a year yet however, this has been one of the most successful, maybe not financially, but personally rewarding years of my entire life.”

In true fashion for these two friends and business owners they stopped to pray one more time. They prayed for each other and the community they love so much. “If nothing comes from this experience but one thing, I pray it is for more businesses to be inspired to give back. Can you imagine if every business in this town just gave a little? What a light Houston County would be for the rest of the world.”

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“There is no better feeling in this world than to be able to help where and when we can.”

The news in our Country really began to bother Ryan. “The treatment of police officers and lack of respect quite frankly made me mad.” Instead of engaging in some kind of Twitter War, Ryan remembered his business and personal policies and took to Facebook to do something positive about it. Ryan posted, “In honor of our local Houston County sheriff’s office and WRPD, we would like to give one FREE lawn care service to all Houston County law enforcement. Just to say thank you for your service.” Ryan thought it was the least he could do to “Back the Blue”. It doesn’t seem like much, but don’t we all love to come home to a freshly cut lawn, all the trimming done, and driveway blown off to perfection? News traveled kind of slow, but he finally started to get some response and gladly headed out to cut the lawns of those police officers. His regular business began to pick up as well, and Ryan found himself a pretty busy man.

On August 11 at about 9:00 am, he posted on Facebook that his hydraulic motor went out and he would be a mower down that day. Less than seven hours later, Ryan posted again, “make that two mowers down… looks like I will be shopping tomorrow.” After work, Ryan went in and looked at new mowers. He browsed the showroom knowing two things for

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sure. The first was he did not have the money to buy a new mower and the second was, he knew God would make a way. Ryan even told his wife when he returned home that he had a feeling of peace that only God could give him.

On the other side of town, Matt Collins, owner of We Care Heating & Air, was busy dealing with summer time temperatures in the air conditioning business.

Matt happened to catch a glimpse of the posts Ryan had put on Facebook, and immediately knew he wanted to help. If you have ever had the privilege of watching Matt work, you know he can text with one hand, talk on the phone with the other, and answer the person standing at his office door all at the same time. It is amazing timing that he even noticed Ryan’s post. All throughout the day Matt wondered what he could do to help.

Matt and his brother, Zach, had planned for years to start a business in Houston County that would give

the best customer service and product while finding a way to give back to their community. We Care Heating & Air had opened for business on January 1, 2015.

“Don’t get me wrong, you have to be able to pay your bills, but it’s not just about the money,” says Matt. The business grew quickly based on their concentration of customer satisfaction. Their reputation also began to grow as a business that offered more than cool air on a hot day. “We offer our parking lots to local car washes, we are involved with the Special Olympics, and donate to good causes like Camp Little Shot, a camp specifically for children diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes.”

Matt also saw on WMAZ that this local business owner, Ryan Walker, was cutting the lawns for local police officers for free. “Your time is way more valuable than writing a check” Matt expressed about what Ryan was doing. A man like that would never just take money, so Matt got creative. His first phone

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call was to his brother Zach, who was also touched by the story. The brothers decided to reach out to long-time business associate and friend Raymond, manager of Powerhouse Equipment on Watson. At 10:30 that night, Matt’s second phone call was to Raymond who agreed to let Matt have whatever he needed at his cost.

The next morning, one more phone call to Ryan’s mother-in-law, and their plan was set. Ryan was asked to please come to Powerhouse to help her pick out a new mower. Like the good son-in-law he is, Ryan drove up to the equipment store and walked into the surprise of his life.

“I knew something was up the second I saw Matt.”

Ryan and Matt had briefly known each other in high school, but Ryan knew this was different. As the now famous Viral Video ran, Matt presented Ryan with a brand new 52” Gravely mower. “It’s the exact same mower that 164

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I had prayed over the night before in the exact same store.” Obviously surprised and humbled, Ryan said thank you several times. The video ends with Ryan stating that he hopes one day to be in the same position to do this for someone else.

A true act of kindness between a few good men in this county. “There is no better feeling in this world than to be able to help where and when we can,” Matt stated as we all got up from his office. In true fashion for these two friends and business owners they stopped to pray one more time. They prayed for each other and the community they love so much. “If nothing comes from this experience but one thing, I pray it is for more businesses to be inspired to give back. Can you imagine if every business in this town just gave a little?

What a light Houston County would be for the rest of the world.”  HCL

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story by Sherri Martin

photos by Kelly McDonald

memories

One visionary brought something delicious she enjoyed from her childhood with her own

spin added to her new hometown.

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When Stephanie Delcourt was growing up in Maine, she loved the excitement of the first time the local ice cream shop would open in the spring. “Back in Maine, homemade ice cream is a way of life,” she says. “The shops would close in the fall and open in the spring. I couldn’t wait for the lights to come on and for them to open.”

So after living in Georgia for a while, she found herself thinking of the delicious treat, and soon decided to do something about it. She opened her own homemade ice cream shop. “I had thought of it in the spring of 2014, because I got to the point I was disgusted with the frozen yogurt places,” she says. “I did some research, and found they are mostly tons of chemicals with milk added.”

She adds with a laugh, “I don’t know if it was a midlife crisis or what!”

Soon, though, she began practicing making homemade ice cream at her house,

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with good, simple ingredients. She and a friend partnered to find the right recipe, and she says it was “a lot of hard work, a lot of eating of ice cream…and it was a lot of fun.”

By July of 2014, they had opened an ice cream shop on Watson Boulevard, selling homemade ice cream, gelato, and sorbet. Later she and her partner parted ways, and she opened in her new location at 115 Russell Parkway in February of this year.

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“It’s been a great move,” she says. “It’s a larger space, with more indoor seating. It’s a good little community we have here.”

The shop is also conveniently located just a few doors down from Kroger, where Delcourt has been a pharmacist for eight years. “I love being a pharmacist, but it’s a very stressful job,” she says. “This job [the ice cream shop] is so much fun!”

Owning the ice cream shop has been a way to explore her creative side. She and her husband, Chris--also a pharmacist at Kroger, but the one on Highway 96—worked to turn the shop into a family-friendly place. Local art hangs on the walls, and is changed out every month.

Children are invited to use the chalk on the tables to decorate the smooth concrete floor, giving parents more time to enjoy their treats.

“Nothing matches, and that’s okay with me,” she says. “It’s kind of our style, laid back and not so serious.”

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Her staff is one of the secrets to making the shop run so well. “Everyone here enjoys their job,” she says. “I’ve been blessed with the best, happiest, most outgoing people. This job is so much fun!”

Stephanie and Chris, who met in church when they were five years old, are raising three boys: Brady, Kason, and Graham, and staying busy with two full-time jobs, school activities, Cub Scouts, karate lessons, and the ice cream shop. They originally moved to Georgia to be closer to Stephanie’s parents after she had a heart scare with her first pregnancy. Her parents had moved here after her dad retired from the Air Force and wound up doing contract work with Robins Air Force Base.

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While she enjoys Houston County, Delcourt says she misses the outdoor life in the Northeast, such as hiking and cross-country skiing. And she misses watching the snow fall, which would make the name of her business make sense, except that it actually came as a play on the words of the popular song “Let It Go,” from Disney’s movie Frozen.

Regardless of how the name originated, it conjures up images of delicious, cool treats, which in Georgia can be enjoyed practically all year long. Delcourt and her team of 10 part-time employees, two of whom are professional bakers, make a tempting array of flavors, from chocolate chip mint to raspberry cheesecake to cinnamon pear, and all kinds in between. They are constantly experimenting and adding to the menu, which includes homemade waffle bowls for serving, a variety of shakes, snow cones, and snow cream, which is half snow cone, half

As an added bonus, there are no added preservatives in the frozen concoctions. There doesn’t have to be, Delcourt explains, because they so often sell out of flavors before they come close to being too old to sell.

She adds that many of her flavors are for adults with sophisticated palates.

“It does cost a little more,” she says, “but you are paying for quality.

ice cream. Chamoyada is a sweet and spicy sorbet that is a house specialty, and frozen cheesecakes, caramel apples, and frozen bananas are all on the menu. Ice cream sandwiches are also, but not the premade kind.

These are pick your own cookie; pick your own ice cream style of ice cream sandwiches.

They will also make custom-made flavors, for a themed event, such as a wedding, and will sell by the one and a half gallon, four liter, and two liter.

As an added bonus, there are no added preservatives in the frozen concoctions. There doesn’t have to be, Delcourt explains, because they so often sell out of flavors before they come close to being too old to sell.

She adds that many of her flavors are for adults with sophisticated palates. “It does cost a little more,” she says, “but you are paying for quality.

“I enjoy making it,” she continues. “It’s like my art. I can’t draw, can’t sing, but I can make ice cream.”

In addition to selling the ice cream, the creamier, lower-in-fat content gelato, and the dairy-free sorbet at the ice cream shop, Delcourt and her employees also run a food truck, “Big Blue,” that they take to the International Farmers Market in Warner Robins, to the Mulberry Street Market in Macon, and to Food Truck Fridays at the base. They will do on-site birthday parties or parties in the shop, and hope to expand to adultthemed parties, such as crafting and painting parties.

Her staff is one of the secrets to making the shop run so well. “Everyone here enjoys their job,” she says. “I’ve been blessed with the best, happiest, most outgoing people. This job is so much fun!”

Those people are helping to make the shop what she wants – a place for families to enjoy a delicious time together. It’s a way for Delcourt to pay homage to her past – her grandfather’s first job was scooping ice cream, and he’s proud of her new business – and to bring something she enjoyed from her childhood home to her new hometown.

Perhaps one day a child will grow up and remember the excitement of seeing the open sign at the Let It Snow Creamery in Warner Robins, because it meant that a delicious treat was in store.  HCL

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Perry’s Pediatrician Dr. Dan Stewart has cared for Perry’s children for 30 years, with faith and compassion.

Story by Sherri Martin Photos by Kelly McDonald

When Dr. Dan Stewart first came to Perry to set up his pediatric practice, he says the first question he was always asked was, “Are you going to stay?” Two pediatricians had already come before him, but they did not last long.

He would answer the question with, “I guess if they don’t run me out of town.” That was 30 years ago. “No one has run me out yet,” he laughs.

Far from running him out, instead, at least two generations of parents in Perry and the surrounding areas have trusted Dr. Dan to care for their children, whether it is for regular wellchild checkups, runny noses and coughs, or more serious conditions. And through the years, he has been a calm, caring, and compassionate presence for new moms, worried parents, and hurting children.

However, if his original plans had come about, he would have been traveling in space rather than seeing sick children. “Growing up, I always wanted to be an astronaut. I always wanted to be the first man on Mars,” he explains, adding with a grin, “Nobody has beaten me yet.”

However, when he was in high school, the Apollo space program was ending, and the

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shuttle program was still a few years away.

With the space program in flux, he says, it did not make any sense for him to pursue his dreams, so he turned to another interest, medicine. And this choice is what would bring him to Perry.

Although he was born and lived the first five years of his life in nearby Macon, where both of his parents were also from, winding up in Perry took quite a circuitous route. Dr. Stewart’s father was a Southern Baptist minister, and after a stop in New Orleans for seminary, he and the family served in churches in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, near Cleveland, Ohio, and in Red Oak, Georgia, southwest of Atlanta. It was there that Stewart finished high school.

He earned a degree in biology and chemistry at West Georgia College, and then went to medical school at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta.

His first year residency was at Talmadge Memorial Hospital and University Hospital in Augusta, then he went to the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, for his second and third years of residency.

There, he says, he got to meet people from all over the world and adds, “I got a good taste of how medicine was done all over the world.”

It was during all of his training that he confirmed his decision to go into pediatrics, but it was not necessarily an easy choice. He says a big part of the decision goes back to serving with his father in ministry. “My faith and my church have always been the most important part of my life. Growing up, I was always very active in church. Ours was a family ministry, not just my dad’s,” he explains. Part of that was a bus ministry in Red Oak, in which he was very active, and he also worked with teens in youth “You couldn’t ask for a more caring or concerned doctor than Dr. Stewart,” says Maria Dixon, LPN, who has worked in the office for 11 years. “He goes above and beyond the call of duty when taking care of children, and that’s rare these days. There’s nothing he won’t do that he asks us to do.”

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“I don’t think I’ll ever quit, just scale down.”

Through the years, he has been involved in many areas of medical service, including volunteering at the crippled children’s clinic in Cordele each month (until it closed), to working at his church’s, the Vine’s, medical ministry. He has been involved with Mercer Medical School, helping with the pediatric residency program. “I have had many, many residents and nursing students in my office. I enjoy teaching,” he says.

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For parents who are still taking their children to him for care, that is good news. Just as it is a good thing the astronaut idea did not work out. Instead, Dr. Dan Stewart has spent three decades keeping a sacred trust with the community he serves.

groups and as a counselor at camps.

“I’ve always liked working with kids,” he says. “Kids are just fun and keep you young.”

Although he was leaning towards pediatrics, he decided he would keep an open mind and see which area of medicine he liked best. “The only problem – I liked all of them!” Stewart says. “There was not an aspect of medicine I did not enjoy.”

He enjoyed everything from psychology to obstetrics/gynecology to surgery. But he and his wife, Debbie, already had two children by the time he was in medical school, and pediatrics seemed like a natural fit. “Pediatrics is just basically internal medicine for small people,” he explains. “It was the right choice for me. I’ve enjoyed working with the kids, with new mamas and dads. You have to really like it. It’s too much of a time commitment not to like it.”

After medical school and residencies, it was time to pay back Uncle Sam. He went through the Air Force’s Health 186

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Profession Scholarship Program for medical school, and was obligated to serve for four years afterwards. “It was a good way to go through college without all of the debt,” Stewart explains. “I kind of liked the military – it didn’t bother me at all to go into it. My dad had scouted it out for me. He was a sergeant in the Army.”

The Air Force seemed a good fit, because of his interest in flying and space, but it was not until his second day of medical school that he got the confirmation that he had been accepted into the program. And because of that commitment, he wound up at Laughlin Air Force Base in Del Rio, Texas. “I had a good time. I enjoyed the Air Force.

It was fun. I like to think I gave good quality care. I saw a lot of sick kids there,” he says.

After the Air Force, he and his wife knew they wanted to come back to Georgia for him to set up a practice, but were unsure where. “I was looking at the suburbs of Atlanta, but this [Perry] came up,” he explains. “I liked it a lot.

My wife wasn’t so sure, but we thought we’d try it out.”

He had met Kathy O’Neill in the Air Force; she was a nurse practitioner who was retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel, and they set up the practice together, with her as the business manager. They opened the doors on August 1, 1986.

He says Houston County was very different then; it had not hit the growth boom of recent years. Also, health care dynamics were very different. “Highway 96 was a dividing line; those north of 96 and those south of it didn’t like each other. There was a lot of politics involved,” he explains.

He, however, had hospital privileges at both Houston Healthcare and Perry Hospital, one of the first to do so, and he has enjoyed seeing a change in the dynamics. “The medical community is a lot more harmonious,” Stewart says. “I always like to bridge gaps.”

Through the years, he has been involved in many areas of medical service, including volunteering at the crippled children’s clinic in Cordele each month (until it closed), to working at his church’s, the Vine’s, medical ministry. He has been involved with Mercer Medical School, helping with the pediatric residency program. “I have had many, many residents and nursing students in my office. I enjoy teaching,” he says.

He helped raise money for and orchestrate the pediatric intensive care unit at the Medical Center in Macon, now Navicent Health. He has served on two statewide medical committees: Gov. Zell Miller appointed him to the Physicians Workforce Board, and Gov. Sonny Perdue appointed him to the Physicians Advisory Committee.

His influence on young people, however, reaches outside of the medical community and goes quite often into the sporting one. Continuing in ministry, he served as head of the Royal

“People bring to me the most valuable thing in the world to them. I never forget that. It’s a big responsibility, but a big privilege also.”

After 30 years of practice, Dr. Stewart is now caring for the children of some of his former patients, and he has no idea how many patients he has cared for through the years, because they are not numbers to him. At the age of 63, he has no immediate plans to stop. “My plan right now is to go to 70,” he says, “as long as I have good health and the government doesn’t run me out of business.

Hometown Living At Its Best

187

Far from running him out, instead, at least two generations of parents in Perry and the surrounding areas have trusted Dr. Dan to care for their children, whether it is for regular well-child checkups, runny noses and coughs, or more serious conditions.

Ambassadors, a mission’s education organization for boys, at First Baptist Church in Perry for 20 years. He served as Region 5 RA Director for the state, and also was the state director for the RA track meet, a big part of the organization. He has also been the team doctor at the Westfield School ever since he has been in Perry.

“I love all sports of all kinds,” Dr. Stewart explains. His sons, Chris and Jake, “played nearly every sport” growing up, and then his daughters, Jennifer and Katie, came along to play softball. He was at the point where he was able to coach some, so he began coaching through the Perry Recreation Department, in the Dixie Softball League.

His first year head coaching, his daughter Jennifer’s team went to the World Series and came in second. His daughter Katie won the Dixie Debs World Series in 2001. “Katie was the 188

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winning pitcher on the mound,” her dad explains, adding that the same year, her softball team at Westfield would also win the state championship.

Through this involvement, he became state director for Dixie Softball in 2003, and has served in that position ever since. “It’s a lot of fun,” he explains.

“It’s just fun to watch the girls play.

We’re still trying to build the program, to make it big like other states. We try to give it structure, so that everyone has a level field to play. I like to see people succeed, especially smaller places.”

This character trait, of wanting to help people and see them succeed, is evident in how his staff feels about him.

“You couldn’t ask for a more caring or concerned doctor than Dr. Stewart,” says Maria Dixon, LPN, who has worked in the office for 11 years. “He goes above and beyond the call of duty when taking care of children, and that’s rare these days. There’s nothing he

won’t do that he asks us to do.”

She recalls when her mother was in the hospital and Dr. Stewart would visit while making his rounds, and pray with her mom. When her mother expressed worry about her daughter being out of work, Dr. Dan said, “She’s always got a job; she’s going to only have one mother.”

“He’s the best doctor/boss to work for, even on his bad days,” says Kathy Lewis, front office manager.

“I don’t think I could have ever found a better boss,” agrees Front Receptionist Vivian Simpson. “He’s just so humble… he handles people so mildly and calmly.

He doesn’t let things bother him. He’s very understanding towards his staff and very family oriented. We’ve all been here a long time, and that says a lot.”

After 30 years of practice, Dr. Stewart is now caring for the children of some of his former patients, and he has no idea how many patients he has cared for through the years, because they are not numbers to him. At the age of 63, he has no immediate plans to stop.

“My plan right now is to go to 70,” he says, “as long as I have good health and the government doesn’t run me out of business.

“I don’t think I’ll ever quit, just scale down.”

For parents who are still taking their children to him for care, that is good news. Just as it is a good thing the astronaut idea did not work out.

Instead, Dr. Dan Stewart has spent three decades keeping a sacred trust with the community he serves.

“The people have been very, very nice to me. I’ve always felt very supported,” he says. “People bring to me the most valuable thing in the world to them. I never forget that. It’s a big responsibility, but a big privilege also.”  HCL

Perry Presbyterian Playschool

HOUSTON COUNTY LIVING

Registering 3 and 4 year old children now for Fall of 2016.

p O

Dorothy Sichelstiel 478.396.2447 dorothysichelstiel@yahoo.com

Please call the church for more information 478.987.1403

JWS Construction

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Joe Shuttlesworth 215 Walton Chase, Perry, GA 31069 / (478) 256-3917 Hometown Living At Its Best JWS Construction.indd 1

9/19/11 9:28 AM

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The Local

Marketplace Houston County is growing and steadily becoming a central marketplace for our area.

We offer great retail shopping, restaurants and services.

If you haven’t done so lately, take the time to look around your hometown and discover all the wonderful things there are to find.

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Hometown Living At Its Best

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Index of Sponsors

10 Cent Title Pawn ….....................................................………... 181 Abreanne’s ……................................................................……... 190 AgGeorgia Farm Credit …………................................................... 81 Alfa Insurance - Audrey Davis - Daniel Harvill ………............…... 152 All Care …….....................................................................……... 128 Allen’s Tree Service ……...................................................……... 152 Allstate - Lashley Insurance Agency, Inc. …………...................... 106 Antique Theatre …………....................................…....................... 80 Bamboo Nails & Spa …...................................…...........………... 179 Beltone …………....................................…............................….. 118 Beth Ann Grant, MFS, LMFT ...................................……………... 119 Better Income Tax …………...................................….................. 120 Bob White Self Storage …………....................................…......... 189 Bobo’s Dance Supply …………....................................…............ 121 Boland Prosthetic & Orthotic Center ……...... 82, Inside Back Cover Canine Clubhouse ……...................................…...............……... 179 Cantrell Center …………....................................…........................ 79 Carlyle Place ………….....................................…......................... 117 CB&T Bank of Middle Georgia ……...................................……... 106 Center State Market …………....................................….............. 118 Central Georgia Heart Institute, LLC …………............................... 53 Cherokee Pines Golf & Fitness Club ………............................…... 26 Church Home LifeSpring …....................................………....... 12-13 City of Warner Robins …………....................................….............. 83 Clifton, Lipford, Hardison & Parker, LLC ……….......................... 179 Coldwell Banker Robbins & Free Realty ………….. Inside Front Cover Coldwell Banker Robbins & Free Realty, Amanda Fiebig ………. 178 Colony Bank …………...................................…........................... 155 Community Foundation of Central Georgia, Inc. …………........... 181 Computer ETC. ………...................................…....................…... 191 ComSouth ……....……...................................….....................……... 1 Cool Beach Tanning ………...............................….............……... 190 Cornerstone Medical Associates ........….................….....………... 91 Cossart Design ……………...................................….............…... 190 Country Financial ……………...................................…............…... 25 Davis Dental Care ……….......................................….....………... 143 Dermatologic Surgery Specialists, P.C. …….........................…... 119 Edward Jones - Barry Reese …………..........................….....……... 92 Edward Jones - Bob McCullough, AAMS ....................….....……... 92 Edward Jones - Parrish S. Jenkins …..............................….....…... 92 Edward Jones - R. Chris Kinnas, Jr., AAMS ……………................... 92 Edward Jones - Skip Malcom, AAMS ………….............….....……... 92 El Bronco Mexican Restaurant …….............................….....…... 155 Evergreen Propane ……………......................................….....…... 116 Family Dental Associates …………...............................….....…... 116 Farmers Insurance - Jeff Patterson …………............................... 176 Flint Energies ……………...................................…..................…... 78 Forest Hill Park ………...................................…................………... 50 Genesis Weight Loss and Body Sculpting …................….....…... 166 Georgia Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center …………….......…... 156 Glass Doctor ………………...................................….................... 142 Graphic Guys ….................……………........................................ 129 Green Acres Baptist Church ……………........................….....…... 154 Griggers Wealth Management …………....................….....……... 139 Hamby Automotive Network, Inc. ….......….....……... 2-3, Back Cover Heart of Georgia Hospice ………..................................….....…... 131 Heritage Memorial Funeral Home & Crematory ………...........…... 39 Hope’s Creation Flower Boutique …………................….....……... 191 Houston County Galleria ………….............................….....……... 176 Houston County Living - Dorothy Sichelstiel ………………........... 189 Houston Healthcare ………………...................................…..... 27, 67 Houston Lake Country Club ……………........................….....…... 139 Houston OB/GYN ……………........................................….....…... 181 Impressions by Carlton ……….......................................………... 191 Ink Shoppe ………………...................................…...................... 190 J. Andrews Salon …………...................................…...........……... 191 JWS Construction …………...................................….....…....…... 189 Kelly McDonald Photography ……………..................….....…... 22-23 Kerri Moore Interiors ……………...................................….....…... 157 Lasseter Implement Company ……….......................….....……... 153 Lemke Law Group ………….........................................….....……... 24

Loden Dental Associates ……………............................….....…... 41 Macon & Robins Bed & Mattress ……………........................... 156 Magnolia Park Cemetery & Mausoleum …..............….....……... 10 McCalls Taste to Remember …….................................…........ 191 McCullough Funeral Home & Crematory …………….................. 11 Meadowdale Learning Centers ………........................………... 131 Microtel Inn & Suites …………...............................….....……... 168 Middle Georgia Othopaedics …………...............................…....... 9 Mike’s Tree & Landscaping …................................….....……... 166 Mistletoe Market ……………….....................................…........ 178 Mobley Furniture & Bedding ………....................………... 168, 177 Moodie’s On Site ………….......................................….....……... 40 Moore Insurance ……………......................................….....…... 180 More Than Mail, Inc ………….................................….....……... 180 Mossy Creek Natural ……………................................….....…... 130 My Father’s Place …………...…….....................................…..... 107 Myers City Florist …………...……........................................…..... 50 Myers Construction Company ………..........................….....…... 80 Nine Hundred Ten by Jones + Company …………...............…... 190 Occasions at Lake Joy ………….……................................…....... 50 OdoBan Eliminates Odors - Clean Control Corporation ……..... 52 OrthoGeorgia Orthopaedic Specialists …................….....……... 95 Pearson Farm …..………….............................................….....…... 7 Pellicano Construction ……………….............................…........ 128 Perry Chamber of Commerce ……............................….....…... 104 Perry Drug Company ……………................................….....…... 107 Perry Memorial Gardens …………...................................…........ 93 Perry Presbyterian Playschool ……………................................ 189 Perry-Houston County Airport ………..................….....………... 120 Phillips Furniture ………………......................................…........ 115 Physicians for Women, PC …………........................….....……... 141 Planters First Bank ………….……...................................…....... 165 Portraits by Deanna Griffin ……...................................…........ 154 Raccoon Stone and Tile Works ……..........................….....…... 121 Randy’s Collision Repair Center ……….............................…... 140 Salon Fusion ………………...................................…................... 43 Satterfield and Dempsey ……………..................................…... 167 Servpro of Houston County …………......................….....……... 179 Shirts Like Mine …………..…….......................................…...... 190 Simply Southern Sweets Bakery ........................….....………... 191 Smith Animal Hospital ……….......................................…........ 181 South Georgia State College ………...............................……... 143 Southern Dynamic Realty ………….........................….....……... 180 Southern Lighting ……………....................................….....…... 167 Southwood Animal Hospital …………….....................….....…... 157 Spillers Orthodontics …………….................................….....…... 66 Spotless Cleaning Service Inc. …................................….....…... 65 Strato Menswear and Cleaners …………................................. 140 Summerhill Senior Community ………..................….....………... 94 Summer’s Landing of Warner Robins …..........................…..... 153 Surgical Associates of Warner Robins ………….…….................... 5 That Store ……….........................................….....….......……... 129 The Butcher Shop Fine Meats and Catering ………….……........ 115 The Eyewear Boutique ……………......................................…... 191 The Floor Store …………….........................................….....…... 165 The Swanson …………..............................................….....……... 63 The Westfield School ………….……................................…....... 117 Two Friends ………...................................….....…...........……... 191 Unique Landscaping | Weed Man Lawn .......................…...... 169 Upshaw General Construction & Roofing .....................…....... 191 Vision Savers ………............................................….....………... 177 Visiting Angels Living Assistance Services ………….…….......... 178 Wagner Services ………...................................…........………... 180 Walker-Rhodes Tractor Company ……….......................…........ 178 Warner Robins Building Supply Co. ……….……......................... 64 Warner Robins E.N.T. Associates ……………..............….....…... 141 Watson-Hunt Funeral Home ……………….................................. 51 Westmoreland Slappey Animal Hospital ………........….....…... 130 Women’s Health Care ……………................................….....…... 42 WoodmenLife …………..........................................….....……... 105 Your Grill Cleaner …………….....................................….....…... 142

Please thank these sponsors for making this publication possible!

192

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