I McDonough, Georgia

Double traffic trouble.

You can have your cake and shake it, too, thanks to Cake ‘n Shake opening soon in Ola!

A reminder to count your blessings.

Condolences to the family, friends and coworkers of Eagle's Landing Christian Academy History Teacher Steven Henderson. May his memory be a blessing to all those lives he has impacted in a positive way.

Your continued prayers are appreciated for County Commissioner Gary Barham.

To celebrate 20 years in McDonough, McDonough ATA Black Belt Academy is changing its name to AIM Martial Arts! The new name and logo represent the benefits of martial arts: STRENGTH: Is represented by the triangle, one of the strongest geometric shapes, connecting students, families and instructors... MOVING FORWARD: the upward arrow of the triangle reminds us to look up and move forward in our lives. AIMING HIGH: "AIM" is for aiming high in our goals, and staying focused on what we want in our lives. Five classes for $55!

Learn from a recognized leader in Six Sigma education right here in McDonough. Classes starting soon! Visit Six Sigma Certification for enrollment details.

Important message: The Georgia District 4 Department of Public Health has advised that there are no more appointment time slots open at the vaccination site at ...the Atlanta Motor Speedway for the first round of Phase 1A COVID-19 vaccinations. Please contact the Department of Public Health’s call center to inquire on when the next round of vaccinations will be available or for additional information. The number to call is 1-800-847-4262, press Option 1. Call center hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Please do not come to the Atlanta Motor Speedway vaccination site unless you have an appointment. See more

Awesome gesture from BonDo's!

The initial round of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines in Henry County were administered Friday afternoon at Piedmont Henry Hospital. Dr. Stephanie Gordon, a Piedmont urogynecologist, was one of the first to receive the vaccine. Frontline health care workers and EMS providers are among the groups that get the vaccine in the first phase of distribution.... Dr. Gordon is also the proprietor of Story on the Square, a bookstore, wine and beer bar, and special event center in downtown McDonough.

Please join Sheriff Reginald B. Scandrett, as we extend our sympathy to the family, friends and co workers of Telecommunications Operator Michael "Mike" Delay. ... Mike passed away Sunday, January 10, 2021 at Piedmont Newton Hospital, due to complications of Covid-19. Arrangements are still being made and will be shared when completed. Please keep the family as well as the Henry County Sheriff's Department in your thoughts and prayers. See more

It’s the little things.

UPDATE!! PLEASE READ!! Please check this page frequently for updates. district4health.org/covid-19-vaccine/

May peace, love and joy be yours during this Festival of Lights!

Word on the street is Thompson Market has juicy red tomatoes like these ready for a sandwich slathered with lots of your favorite mayo!

It’s not too late to visit Chic & Shabby for 10% off all furniture 75% off all Christmas 25% off all lanterns ... 85 Claire Court McDonough, GA 30252

Get a slice of this pizza delivery action from Crust & Craft!

Being a responsible driver is the gift that keeps on giving, Clark!

Reports of a bomb threat at the Walmart off I-75 Exit 218 in McDonough. Heavy law enforcement presence. Access restricted to some neighboring businesses.

The camels are coming to Queen Bee Coffee Company Friday!

Take your Macon Street Tacos home to your street!

Perfect post for Kindness Week! Great job, Crust & Craft!

Appreciation is never wasted!

"Copied and pasted from Dave Ramsey"

Marine Corps members are proud to say they’re the first in and last out during military conflict. If you know one, thank them for their service.

The Times has moved to a bimonthly schedule and will be printing the first and third Wednesday of each month. But never fear, we will continue to publish Hey Henry comments and timely news stories on our website. Thanks for your support Henry County!

Hot chocolate is the bomb!

Sgt. Crumpler lost his life today. He is the third local law enforcement officer our community has lost in recent weeks. He was well-respected and universally loved. He retired in 2015 after 21 years as an officer with the Henry County Police Department. He re-joined the force in 2018. ... Prior to being a Henry County officer, Crumpler spent four years with the McDonough Police Department. During his approximately 24 years in the department, Crumpler held many different titles and duties working in internal affairs, uniform patrol, criminal investigations and was a member of the Henry County Police Bomb Squad. Crumpler spent 17 years on the Henry County SWAT Team and was a Community Oriented Policing Unit commander. Crumpler received several awards, as did his family, who supported him during his career at the department.

I needed a good chuckle. The Culver's digital sign is stuck on "TURTLE."

My 4-H Dog Club delivered 500 stuffed animals this week to area Henry County charities Connecting Henry - Community Toy Program Kindness Works Christmas Part...y Eagles Landing First Baptist Church Sparkles Mission Toys for Tots Program See more

Celebrating Kindness Week!

You've asked why I haven't posted much lately.

Condolences to the family and friends of Henry County entrepreneur Ward Gordo Sweat.

JOB SEEKERS: Dole Packaged Foods announces new frozen fruit facility in McDonough, Georgia. Dole has partnered with Atlanta CareerRise, the Georgia Department of Labor, and WorkSource Atlanta Regional, who will be hosting a virtual recruitment event on January 7, 2021 for a variety of jobs. For more details on this announcement and the virtual recruitment event, click the article below. https://choosehenry.com/dole-packaged-foods-to-open-new-fr/

Park your sleigh for FREE now until January 1, 2021 in downtown McD!

Cream of potato soup is piping hot and topped with leeks and bacon. Stop by Pasta Max Cafe for this bowl of comfort!

We can also tell if we have moved into political idolatry by how we treat people with different opinions, be they on the left or right of the political spectrum. We must be better Americans.

Donations being collected now through Friday, January 8. Please give if you are able.

Daylight savings time can be ruff!

On Monday, teachers at Stockbridge Elementary School will remember their colleague LuAnn Klein Burns, who died last week of COVID-19.

Came home and this guy was trying to get me to switch my insurance from Brian Brakefield State Farm Agent to Geico.

Good evening, HCS Community Members, The link below is to a message from Superintendent Davis ahead of the start of the 2nd semester. In this message, you wil...l find updates pertaining to this week's focus and activities taking place ahead of instruction resuming on Monday, January 11. https://bit.ly/358GQAi #KeepHenryHealthy #MaskUpHCS

Crust & Craft has taken one of your favorite sandwiches and transformed it by beefing it up and loading it with melty cheese, traditional Philly toppings, and FRIES!

Get better soon, Eric!

When you live a stress free life! via Jukin Media #Cute #Baby #Funny

Condolences to the family, friends and coworkers of Henry County Sheriff Department Deputy Nicholas Howell. Deputy Howell was 36 years old and the father of six children.

Develop life skills for your child’s safety and success with martial arts instruction from McDonough’s premier school. Test drive the program with a free class from McDonough ATA Black Belt Academy!

Congratulations, Mayor Billy!

Henry County Kindness Week starts next week. But maybe we should start early. #kindnessworks

I bet there’s a Ram parked in the garage.

As we start a new year, many of us will be making resolutions. Many of us will try to be better people than we were last year. I know I will. If I could advocate for one thing it would be for more grace. I’ve noticed that more and more people these days think the worst of each other. People are extremely pessimistic; we judge the motives of other people as harshly and as negatively as possible.... Unfortunately, pessimism can blind us to the best in others. And then we are increasingly quick to besmirch and mischaracterize each other. Look at the various community crime watch pages, for example. Many are quick to call their neighbors thieves and criminals. The first thing we do is post a photo of someone, or a name, and then let the Facebook mob sort out the details. A while back I drove off without paying for gasoline. I took a business call while pumping the gas, got distracted, and totally forgot to pay. I realized it hours later. Can you imagine if that store owner had quickly posted a photo of me or my vehicle online calling me a thief? Luckily, I realized my mistake and went back to pay. But I could’ve easily become the latest Facebook crime BOLO! And there would be hundreds of people calling me a scumbag and every other nasty name online. That may not be the best example in the world, but let’s do our best to be more graceful in 2021. Instead of making negative assumptions and jumping to conclusions about your neighbors, find out what happened first. Had a bad meal at a restaurant? Maybe allow the proprietor to make it right for you before visiting Yelp and dinging their online reputation with a negative review. And when you are wrong, gracefully admit that you were wrong. I have never in my life ever regretted an apology. I’m not asking anyone to be foolish or naive, of course. Psychologists have already shown that we often pay more attention to the negative or dangerous aspects of others’ behavior than the more positive aspects. But assuming the worst when it comes to others’ intentions opens the door to internal conflict. You can never expect to have satisfying relationships or a sense of peace in the world when you always feel like other folks are bad. Yes, sometimes offering grace to someone may not be what they deserve. But I think receiving grace and offering grace are intertwined. Grace brings freedom. And whether the person acknowledges our extension of graceor even has awareness of itwe should do it anyway. With a McDonough heart Beau Kelley

As we welcome in a new year, and 2020 is hindsight, reflecting on happier and more hopeful times is a good thing. In 1996, approximately 55,000 people gathered in unity and celebration in the McDonough Square and along Highway 42 to witness the Olympic Torch Relay. McDonough was the third to last city through which the torch passed and was the only city in which the Olympic Committee allowed seven special citizens to touch the famous token of the games. Jim Bradshaw was one... of the lucky McDonough community heroes identified through judging panels facilitated by local United Way organizations to lead the torch through our city. Standing in Alexander Park on July 17, 1996, Bradshaw waited nervously as his Olympic torch, made of aluminum and wood from a Georgia pecan tree, was touched to the previous runner’s flame. It burst with golden fire that began in Mt. Olympiad, Greece, some 82 days earlier. The flame remained lit, passing from one hand to the next, traveling nearly 16,000 miles, until finally Bradshaw was holding it. It was the most awesome day in the history of our city, said McDonough Mayor Billy Copeland. Copeland said in the all the years he’s lived in McDonough, he’d never seen so many people packing the Square. Thank you to Jim's sons, Hunt Bradshaw and Jared Bradshaw, for sharing this special video!

However you choose to celebrate, please do it safely.

Came across this dumpster fire and can’t remember what it reminds me of. Happy New Year, everyone!

It’s the end of the year, and I’m taking a few days off from the page. Please enjoy this holiday. It’s been a tough year and I know many are rightfully stressed. Make an effort to be pleasant to others on social media. Count your blessings. Be the good neighbor that you expect others to be. I truly believe that kindness works and that good things come back to you.... Merry Christmas, McDonough. With a McDonough heart Beau Kelley

When you need a camel for your church’s Christmas production, but you live in Georgia.

One good thing about this page is that I learn a lot from you. And I hope it works both ways. Sunday I posted a photo of a local doctor/surgeon being administered the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination by a nurse at Piedmont Henry Hospital. The nurse wasn’t wearing gloves.... Many of you rightfully asked why. Part of my responsibility administering this Facebook page is to inform. So I did some research. I learned something. Gloves are not required by the CDC or OSHA when giving an injection. I assume that Piedmont Henry Hospital abides by CDC and OSHA regulations. I hope so, at least. No, this doesn’t mean that you have to be comfortable with it. You have every right to request a medical professional to wear gloves when injecting you. But insinuating that the nurse was doing something wrong is incorrect. So when you see another photo of a nurse giving a shot without gloves, you’ll know why.

If you are seeking a gift that gives twice, consider a gift card from a locally owned small business. Most consumers end up spending more than the card’s value when they redeem it at a store or restaurant. So not only are you enticing that person to visit a local business, but that person may also wind up putting some more money back into a purchase.

I didn’t know anyone personally that had been diagnosed with COVID-19 until recently. Today I know over a dozen people. All with varying degrees of sickness. I post this to let you know that coronavirus is indeed surging in Georgia. One of the people I know is a child under the age of 10 with a fever of 102 degrees. As we approach the holidays, don’t let your guard down. ... If you see me out in public, I will be wearing mask. I know masks are not 100% effective. But wearing one costs me nothing. And I would rather have some protection than no protection. With a McDonough heart Beau Kelley P.S. If you think that COVID-19 is a hoax or a deep state conspiracy, please keep your comments to yourself. This page will not be used as an outlet for propaganda.

This is a friendly public service announcement that the McDonough Post Office is completely slammed. The line of customers wraps around the entire P.O. Box area all the way to the back of the building. The self service kiosk is not printing postage to mail packages at the moment. It will dispense stamps. Also, the post office closes for lunch from 11:45am to 1pm, Monday through Friday. The overall hours of operation are also limited. ... I hope having this information makes your holiday shipping potentially less frustrating. If you do choose USPS, please be friendly. Unfortunately, the Christmas season tends to bring out the worst in some people.

Many of you (and me!) look forward to McDonough native Jared Bradshaw's annual Bing Crosby Christmas concert at the Henry County Performing Arts Center. Since he isn't touring this holiday, he and his uber-talented wife and precious daughter (aka The Broadway Bradshaws) are bringing an all-new Christmas special into your home! It’s a fun and festive way to spend an hour. This will be a big hit with your whole family and will only cost you $20! ... Available to view until December 28 at: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/bradshawchristmas2020

Forgot to post this Henry County traffic report earlier today. Sorry about that.

Will we have a white Christmas? Probably not, but... A week out, long range weather prediction models suggest possible rain changing to snow on Christmas Eve.

More food truck fun at The Shoppes at Thompson Market this Saturday, 10am until 3pm!

Aloha! Check out the Flyin' Hawaiian pizza from Crust & Craft to take your tastebuds on a trip to the tropics!

McDonough was founded on this day in 1823. Happy 197th Birthday, McDonough!

How generous is this? #henryheart

Is your business a good neighbor? Thanks to Kroger for serving our men and women in blue!

Whose child needs a little coal in their stocking for Christmas? Coal is hoping to find his forever home. Hurry, Christmas is almost here!

Overheard: Christmas must be next week. Folks sure are extra angry and impatient!

Tomorrow should be a city-wide day of celebration for McDonough. This project has been decades in the making and years of construction. Now let’s get that area beautified!

Some of you did not like my sharing the post from Monica Pearson regarding her experience at a local chain restaurant in McDonough. I get it. This page is normally a positive place. I pride myself on being an ambassador for good things in this community. I have deleted the shared post. This is another one of those instances that I have encountered over the years of administering this page where maybe it would’ve been better just to mind my own darn business.... But I will tell you this. You should expect more from the businesses in your community. Like it or not, businesses are the face of your community. How they treat you and how they serve you are a reflection of this community. Bad businesses make bad impressions. And that encourages bad attitudes. Bad businesses will discourage good businesses from locating here. As many of you know, I own and operate a local real estate company. I have potential clients that come in from out of town seeking to plant new roots here. I have had situations in the past where these potential Henry County residents are in town for the weekend viewing properties. They want to get a feel for the area. They might have dinner or lunch somewhere. They might do some shopping. And I’ve had people tell me that they’ve not had a good experience. And, you know what? They sometimes decide to look for somewhere else to live. That’s disappointing. Because I love this community. And I personally like to see other people love it, too. You should want your community to represent the best. Not perfection. No one is perfect. But to at least meet (or exceed) someone’s basic expectations. I don’t always get things right, either. I have bad days. But I do my best to listen and improve. Thanks for your continued support of I Love McDonough. With a McDonough heart Beau Kelley

Way to go, Bellamy Strickland Chevrolet Buick GMC! Another fine example of the McDonough Heart!

Henry County Schools Calendar Adjusted for Second Semester The Henry County Board of Education took formal action to amend the 2020-2021 school year calendar during the December Business Session, a decision that moves the start of the second semester for students to Monday, January 11 and adds seven days designated as teacher workdays. Board members heard reports and updates from members of Superintendent Mary Elizabeth Davis’ executive cabinet regarding a longer window to co...ming back from the semester break. After hearing from teachers regarding the need for additional planning time to adequately prepare for the complexities of teaching in a hybrid environment, board members supported the move to push back the return from the break for students to allow teachers more time to prepare. Our teachers have done an amazing job during this school year, said Davis. Starting with delaying the beginning of a regular school year just weeks before the original start date and moving all learning to remote, the educators in our school district have adapted to more changes than are common in order to meet the evolving needs of teaching during a pandemic. With classes not starting back until January 11, there will be three teacher workdays from January 6 through January 8. Also added to the amended calendar are full teacher workdays on January 29, February 12, March 12, and April 23. These are days when there will be no on- campus or remote learning for any students. Board members know how crucial these extra days of preparation will be to teachers who have been working non-stop to ensure that student learning continues and families are supported. Our teachers have worked harder than ever to provide a high-quality education during this uncommon school year, said Vice-Chair Holly Cobb. These extra days for our educators will ensure they have plenty of time to prepare for the rigors and challenges of teaching in a hybrid setting to reach every student. Henry County Schools’ newest calendar adjustments still meet all state instructional days requirements. State guidelines guide districts primarily on the amount of time spent in a classroom as opposed to the number of days. As approved, the new calendar does not otherwise impact any dates outside of those already mentioned. The 2020-2021 school year is still slated to conclude on Wednesday, May 26, and Class of 2021 graduation ceremonies have already been approved by the board of education to commence at Atlanta Motor Speedway starting May 19 and running through Friday, May 28.

Local COVID-19 cases are increasing. * Piedmont Henry Hospital has cancelled all elective surgeries requiring a hospital stay. Also, beds are limited. Patients that are admitted may not have a private room.... *This is not meant to turn into a debate in the comments section as to whether or not you feel coronavirus is real, whether or not it’s deadlier than the flu, or whether or not you think vaccines or masks are effective. Thank you.

Looking for a family style martial arts program? Join the McDonough ATA Black Belt Academy team! Call 770-320-7206 or visit www.ata-bba.net Here's a fun warm-up from the Turkey Ninja!

Put your money where your house is. Be intentional. Support the local businesses in your own community this holiday season.

Do you have a favorite Pasta Max Cafe pizza?

Stop by the Shoppes at Thompson Market today, featuring Sweet Ashley's and Loyal-Nichole's, for a Christmas Open House featuring Big Papi’s Food Truck!

Thank you #HenrySchoolHeroes!

Tax Commissioner Michael Harris explains the process of renewing your tag at one of the kiosks located at the Kroger on Jonesboro Road (McDonough) and Fairview Road (Ellenwood).

Naughty or nice, Santa shops at Bellamy Strickland for the best price!

It was bound to happen!

Congratulations, Gayle!

"Kidnap the Sandy Claws Lock him up real tight. Throw away the key and then Turn off all the lights."

On this day, we remember the heroes who lost their lives during the #PearlHarbor attack in 1941 and the survivors who were forever shaped by the events on that day.

I was informed over the weekend that I Love McDonough was voted top honors for the "Henry County Best of the Best" community poll conducted by the Henry Herald. Thank you so much for your support. I am very appreciative for this recognition. With a McDonough heart... -- Beau Kelley

Hands of Hope Clinic doing great things with amazing partners!