Haven House has been a vital resource in Henry County for nearly four decades, and it is as busy as ever. It was founded to help women going through domestic violence situations who needed support when going to court. A shelter was opened in 1999 as the organization recognized the need for more services, which now include case management, counseling services, support groups and legal assistance. “We don’t just accompany victims to court,” said Haven House director Katie Tucker, who has been with the agency for 17 years. “We help with the whole temporary protective order process.” Just off the...
Recipe: Key Lime Cake
I started working on this simple recipe after visiting St. Simons Island and having a lime cupcake from a local dessert shop. It is so simple to throw together and always a crowd favorite in the spring and summer at cookouts, although I think my favorite way to enjoy a slice is with a fresh cup of coffee in the morning. I hope you enjoy it as well and share it with all your friends and family! Key Lime Cake Ingredients: 1 box of Duncan Hines lemon cake mix 3 eggs 1/3 cup vegetable oil 1/2 cup lime juice 1/2...
It Takes an Army of Angels
“No man, woman or child should go without basic human needs. It takes an Army of Angels to meet the greater need,” says Rhonda Miller. Born in Alabama, raised by a single mother, in a house with seven siblings, Miller experienced all too well the pangs of hunger. One of her most impactful childhood memories was when local high school students came to her house to deliver “bag after bag of groceries” right before Thanksgiving. Miller was 10, but she understood that the community had come together to help them. This event, years later, would inspire Miller to open a...
A Life in Color
Since the age of five, Bernard Gore of Hampton has daydreamed vivid images in vibrant color. Captivated by the countless possibilities for creativity in his elementary art class, Gore eagerly picked up a pencil and paper and began bringing to life the images and stories in his mind. “I’ve always been a daydreamer,” said Gore. “When I went into art class and I saw all the compositions on the boards – purple, red, blue, green, yellow, white – I was blown away.” As a child, he did not mind when the weather was bad, as he could stay inside and...
Soaring to New Academic Heights
A new program at Creekside Christian Academy is helping students to reach their full academic potential. The new Learning Solutions program began this school year with a focus on reading interventions through Creekside’s STARS (Support To Achieve Reading Success) program. “Research tells us that 90% of students who struggle in reading at the end of first grade will continue to struggle with reading by the end of fourth grade,” explains Creekside Christian Academy’s Learning Solutions Director Angela Smith. With this in mind, Creekside Christian Academy (CCA) went to work assisting students struggling academically by offering 30 minutes of...
From the Stadium to the National Stage
Countless hours of preparation in the form of practice, rehearsals, and fundraising have led to an exciting opportunity for Ola High School’s Marching Band. On Saturday, April 13, 2024, the Ola High School Marching Band, made up of 90 students from the 9th through 12th grades, will be performing in The National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade in Washington, D.C. Mike Bearden, the Director of Bands at Ola High School, said that he is proud of his students and the dedication that they bring to the classroom each day. “The band program consists of some of the highest academic scholars. We...
A Miraculous Place for a Miracle Young Man
Before he was born, 17-year-old Mekhi Floyd faced life-threatening challenges. His mom, Altovise Floyd, became concerned about a month before her due date, having noticed limited movement by Mekhi. Seeking medical care, it was determined that she would need to have her baby boy right away and so labor was induced. Mere hours after his birth, Mekhi would undergo surgery. Doctors discovered he had necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a serious illness that causes tissue in the large intestine to become inflamed, killing tissue in the colon. He spent the next seven months at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta undergoing multiple surgeries and...
50 Years of Serving Henry County
Sure, being a firefighter involves risking your life to help others in the event of an emergency, but it’s also about finding your second family. “Hanging out at the kitchen table with the crew is the most comfortable place in the world,” explains Billy Petite, current assistant chief of EMS operations with the Henry County Fire Rescue, where he has worked for the last 21 years. “It’s where healing happens.” Operations staff get assigned to a shift that includes 24 hours on starting at 7 a.m., then 48 hours off. Team members also can sign up for overtime shifts since...
The Beauty of Wood
Chris Bradley sees wood differently from the average person. “I’ve always loved the artistry of the natural product that wood is, and the entirety of its lifespan – from a tiny little seed into a full tree, into processed lumber, into furniture or houses, after which the wood can then be reprocessed again and turned into more things,” he said. “It’s this continuingly renewable resource that we have available to us, and it’s an amazing product to be able to utilize. I’ve always had a fascination with it.” It should be no surprise that someone with that kind of perspective...
Creating Leaders
Students from Strong Rock Christian School got the opportunity to attend Student Leadership University where these young minds experienced leadership training from exceptional leaders. “It teaches kids how to be leaders. They learned what it means to be a leader and think critically,” says Dr. Jay Sanders, Strong Rock teacher, chaperone, and parent to one of the students. Student Leadership University (SLU) comes in four installments: SLU 101, SLU 201, SLU 301 and SLU 401. SLU 101 is what some Strong Rock Christian School students embarked on this go-around in Orlando, Florida. First impressions of the event? “It was way...