A family pet looking for a place to lay down jumps on the bed only to be startled at finding 9-year-old Kase Henderson already in the bed. In an instant, the dog reacts, and Kase is bitten on the face, tearing his nose. The family rushes to the emergency department at Piedmont Henry Hospital, where Dr. Takintope Akinbiyi, a Board-certified plastic surgeon with Advanced Aesthetics Plastic Surgery Center, is called in to care for Kase. Dr. Akinbiyi determined that Kase had suffered an extensive laceration to the left side of his nose that went through the nasal cavity, extending into...
Where You At?
“Where you at?” A phrase used in common slang it’s a question seeking someone’s physical location or someone’s position on an issue. It’s the first question put to every human beginning from God (Genesis 3:9). The Lord God called to the man and the woman and said to them, “Where are you?” They were hiding from God. We still do the same thing today in so many ways. We’ve eaten of the tree of knowledge of good and evil and we believe we know better than God. We use our knowledge to believe the church is no longer good and...
Dogs: The Everyday Heroes Who Make Life Better
On my recent trip to Mazamitla, Mexico running into the universal behavior of the most loyal companionship was no exception, and I had my camera to record it. Whenever I travel internationally, I always take the time to observe the behavior of dogs. It’s fascinating to see how they interact with people, and their surroundings. One stared at me through a balcony, another one protected the child outside the family business, and one waited patiently outside the restaurant hoping I had leftovers for him. No matter where I go, dogs always tell a unique story about the place and its...
Nonprofit Empowering Children Through Music
Jerry Hesselink founded Henry For Music Inc. in 2015 with a vision to provide children with access to musical instruments and quality music education. “He had a dream that music should be accessible to every child. So, he started collecting instruments to give to students at zero cost, and that was the foundation of Henry For Music,” said Kevina Love Franklin, president/CEO and teaching artist for Henry For Music. Ten years later, Hesselink’s vision has more than come to life and continues to flourish. Through generous donations, Henry For Music collects used instruments, restores them with the help of community...
‘A Guiding Light’
Ms. Neal is “comforting,” “inspiring,” “wonderful,” “encouraging,” “caring,” “trustworthy,” “like a mother,” “brilliant.” Students in Brandi Neal’s choral class at McDonough High School (MHS) shared these heartfelt sentiments, underscoring her transformative and impactful teaching style. Neal joined MHS in 2022 as director of choral and piano studies, quickly amassing an impressive list of accomplishments. Last October, she was named Henry County Schools (HCS) 2024 Teacher of the Year for her achievements and efforts to promote, strengthen, and expand fine arts programming at MHS, enrich the school culture, and ensure students have access to opportunities to develop their talents. Under her...
Call to Serve Others
Last year Caden Mirocha, who is a senior and 2025 Class Chaplain at Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy, went with his church, Salem Baptist, to do mission work in Honduras. While there he realized that basic supplies are lacking in the towns, schools, and villages. He and others who were on this mission trip gave the people items they had brought with them for personal use, but the people of Honduras needed more. Mirocha came home from this mission trip with ideas and goals in mind. Mirocha met with leaders at Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy, class officers, and his church and...
Perfect Blend
Tanya Jaynes, now Boatwright, grew up in New Haven, Connecticut in the 1970s and ‘80s and loved visiting the Italian, Jewish, and Polish delis in the area, as well as different bakeries, bodegas, and markets. Each one had their own feel, with unique menu items or certain products on sale. It encouraged a love of variety, as well as a love of food. “I started cooking when I was 18 or 19 years old, but I didn’t understand the power of food until I saw it help my son after a medical issue,” Tanya said. “His nurses told me to...
A Ministry is Born
In 2013 Pat Hembree took his son Chase to Uganda on a mission trip where the two would work at 15 orphanages. One orphanage in particular gave Pat the feeling that Christ was in this place – so much so he and Chase came home ready to focus their ministry on this specific area of Uganda. Two years later, the Hembree family, including wife and mom Jennifer, returned to Uganda and immediately felt the need for a school and home for the children who were living and learning in mud huts. Still, Jennifer was led to do more. She asked...
Fine Arts Takes Center Stage
“Our name defines who we are,” says Amy Davis, director of Fine Arts K-12 at Community Christian School (CCS). That is evident in CCS’s mission statement: “Community Christian School’s mission is to introduce students to Christ, to develop Christian character through academically challenging programs, and to build the next generation of dynamic leaders who will make a difference for Christ.” Community Christian School takes their mission very seriously. “We stand behind our mission,” says Davis. Fine Arts at CCS is just one way the school is helping young minds expand. “We really get them introduced to the elements and principles...
Improving Service through Technology
A couple of big changes in recent months are expected to greatly improve Henry County Fire Rescue’s service to local residents. For several months, personnel in all ambulances and paramedic quick-response vehicles have been wearing body cameras similar to what local police officers wear in the field. Footage on the HCFR cameras is used strictly for review by officials to improve service. “They are fairly new for us and new for the state,” said Deputy Chief Billy Petite. “We were the first in the state of Georgia to implement the system. We only use this video footage for our continuing...