| ISSUE# 088 | TUESDAY, June 16, 2026 | HENRY COUNTY GA |
GOOD MORNING, HENRY COUNTY!
The world's biggest sporting event is happening right up the road in Atlanta.
Juneteenth celebrations are getting underway across the region.
And one remarkable man who grew up on a sharecropping farm in Lithonia will share the story of how he helped change the South.
We've also got national recognition for the healthcare system behind Piedmont Henry, a possible break for drivers at the gas pump, and a full lineup of events happening across Henry County this week.
Let's get into it. 🦅👁️
Body Found in South River After Kayaker Makes Grim Discovery in Henry County
HENRY COUNTY — Henry County Police responded to the area of Highway 81 East and River Road Monday evening after a kayaker reported finding a body in the South River near a concrete dam. Officers arrived to find an unidentified person deceased in the water. Emergency responders recovered the body and investigators were called to the scene. The circumstances surrounding the death remain under investigation and no additional information has been released. Follow updates at WSB Radio
Piedmont Earns National Innovation Recognition
GEORGIA — Piedmont Healthcare, the parent system of Piedmont Henry Hospital, has been named one of Fortune's Most Innovative Companies for 2026.
Piedmont ranked No. 124 out of 300 organizations nationwide and was the only Georgia health system to make the list. The health system is also placed among the top healthcare organizations recognized for innovation.
For Henry County residents, it's national recognition for the healthcare system many rely on every day. See why Fortune recognized Piedmont among America's most innovative companies
Could Gas Prices Finally Start Heading Down?
GEORGIA — After months of uncertainty tied to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, drivers may finally be getting some relief at the pump.
Oil prices fell sharply on Monday following news of a U.S.-Iran agreement aimed at reopening the vital shipping route, which carries roughly one-fifth of the world's oil supply. Energy analysts say gas prices typically lag behind oil prices, but if the agreement holds, drivers could begin seeing lower prices within the next couple of weeks.
That doesn't mean gasoline is heading back to pre-conflict prices overnight. Experts caution that clearing shipping backlogs and restoring normal oil flows will take time, and some forecasts suggest prices could remain elevated through much of the year.
Still, after months of watching prices climb, this is the first piece of genuinely encouraging news drivers have received in a while. See why analysts think gas prices could finally be moving lower
The World Is Playing. Henry County, Pull Up a Seat
HENRY COUNTY — Yesterday, Atlanta hosted its first-ever FIFA World Cup match.
Few expected the result. Cabo Verde, a small island nation of roughly 500,000 people making its World Cup debut, battled Spain to a stunning 0-0 draw at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Their 40-year-old goalkeeper, Vozinha, turned away chance after chance and became one of the tournament's early heroes.
Jerseys. Flags. Chants in a dozen languages. All of it is happening less than an hour from Henry County.
More than five billion people follow soccer worldwide, and for the next month, Georgia is part of that global conversation. Atlanta will host eight World Cup matches, including a semifinal, bringing visitors from around the world to our backyard.
And here's the good news: you don't need a ticket to be part of it.
The Arena at Southlake in neighboring Morrow will host a free World Cup watch party for the semifinal on July 15. The official FIFA Fan Festival at Centennial Olympic Park is also free throughout the tournament. And every match airs on Fox and Telemundo.
In a world that often feels divided, the World Cup remains one of the few events that brings people together across borders, languages, and cultures.
The whole world is watching. We should be, too.
⚽ WATCH PARTY WANTED
Henry County bars, restaurants, breweries, coffee shops, and community groups: Are you showing World Cup matches?
Let us know.
We're putting together a roundup of places where local fans can gather to watch the world's biggest sporting event without leaving Henry County. We'll feature participating locations in an upcoming issue of the Eagle Eye Digest.
A Juneteenth Conversation With a Civil Rights Pioneer
Some of the most remarkable stories in American history begin in places that seem ordinary at first glance.
Howard Nathaniel Lee was born on a sharecropping farm in Lithonia in 1934, at the height of Jim Crow segregation. He attended the Lithonia Colored School, now preserved as the Bruce Street School Ruins, DeKalb County's first public school for Black students.
From those beginnings, Lee went on to earn a degree from Fort Valley State College and a master's degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In 1969, he made history when he was elected mayor of Chapel Hill, becoming the first Black mayor of a majority-white city in the South.
This Wednesday, Lee returns to his roots as the featured guest for the Arabia Alliance's Fourth Annual Juneteenth Storytelling Festival.
This year's theme, History In Your Hands, explores the power of local history and the stories that shape our communities. Lee will join Arabia Alliance historian Brigette Jones, Bruce Street School alumni, and audience members for a virtual conversation about his memoir, The Courage to Lead, and the lessons he learned along the way.
The evening will also feature Jones and co-author Jeff Dingler discussing their new book, Images of America: Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area, which highlights the people, places, and events that helped shape this corner of Georgia from the Civil War through the Civil Rights Movement.
As Juneteenth celebrations take place across Henry County and the region this week, Lee's story serves as a powerful reminder that history isn't something that happened somewhere else. Sometimes it begins right here in our own backyard.
📅 Tomorrow, Wednesday, June 17
🎟️ Learn more and register
Looking for more Juneteenth events? You'll find a full roundup of celebrations happening across Henry County and around the region in our events section below.
TUESDAY, JUNE 16
Stage Players Arts Camp · 📍 Nash Farm Park, 4361 Jonesboro Rd, Hampton · 🕐 9AM–4PM · Ages 6–11 · $125/week · In session all week June 15–26. Lunch not included. Register at hcprd.org.
Fortson Cookbook Club – Island Flavors & Traditions · 📍 Fortson Public Library, 61 McDonough St, Hampton · 🕐 2:30–3:30PM · FREE · Cook a dish inspired by island flavors at home, bring it in, and swap stories with fellow food lovers at the library.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17
Juneteenth Storytelling Festival Featuring Civil Rights Pioneer Howard Lee
📍 Virtual Event · Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area 🕐 1 PM - 3 PM . FREE with registration. Civil Rights pioneer Howard Lee, born on a sharecropping farm right here in Lithonia and later elected the first Black mayor of a majority-white city in the South, discusses his memoir The Courage to Lead.
Geranium Park Master Plan — Public Open House · 📍 City Council Chambers, 136 Keys Ferry St, McDonough · 🕐 6:30–8PM · FREE · Henry County is planning a new park and they want your input — this is your chance to shape what gets built in your own backyard.
Walk It Out Wednesday · 📍 Arabia Mountain Nature Center, Lithonia · 🕐 4–6PM · FREE · A peaceful midweek reset on the trails — just 25 minutes from McDonough.
THURSDAY, JUNE 18
2026 Innovation Summit – The Talent Catalyst · 📍 Merle Manders Conference Center, Stockbridge · 🕐 8AM–1:30PM · Tickets required · Presented by Georgia Power — keynotes from Kim Greene and Piedmont Henry CEO David Kent, plus interactive leadership and AI sessions. A rare chance to hear from two of the region's top leaders in one room.
Local Farmers Market · 📍 97 Lake Dow Rd, McDonough · 🕐 10AM–2PM · FREE · Fresh local produce, good conversation, and sunshine — your Thursday tradition through August 27.
Concert on the Green in the Grove · 📍 Locust Grove area · 🕐 7–8PM · FREE · Bring your lawn chair and settle in for a free outdoor concert — one of those easy summer nights worth showing up for.
Tuned Up Thursday – Karaoke Night · 📍 1942 On The Square, 30 B Keys Ferry St, McDonough · 🕐 8PM · Grab the mic or just grab a drink — either way, Thursday nights on the Square deliver.
FRIDAY, JUNE 19 — 🖤❤️💚 JUNETEENTH
Juneteenth at The Bridge – Featuring Common 🚨 · 📍 VyStar Amphitheater, 4650 N Henry Blvd, Stockbridge · 🕐 Gates 6PM | Show 8PM · FREE — tickets at the door · Grammy Award-winning artist Common headlines a night of freedom, community, and culture — hosted by Big Tigger and Francesca Amiker, with performances from Jevon Dewand and Trap Starz. Admission is free and tickets will be available at the door. Ticketmaster
City of Hampton Juneteenth Celebration · 📍 Downtown Hampton · 🕐 12PM–6:30PM · FREE · An all-day community celebration in the heart of Hampton — good food, live music, and family memories in the making.
Juneteenth Artist Market · 📍 Depot Park, Hampton Train Depot · 🕐 11AM–6:30PM · FREE to attend · Shop handcrafted goods from Black artists and makers while honoring the spirit of Juneteenth in one of Hampton's most beautiful outdoor spaces.
Freedom in Our Voices — Juneteenth Open Mic Night · 📍 Awaken Drip Coffee Lounge, Hampton · 🕐 7:30–9:30PM · FREE · Sign up to perform or just come to listen — a Juneteenth celebration of voice, community, and culture right here in Hampton.
Father's Day at The Sensory Lab · 📍 Altura Coffee, McDonough · 🕐 6PM · Tickets required $150 · Guided rum tasting, premium cigars, and live music — presented by The Cigar Bank, made for the dad who likes the finer things.
Friday Nights with DJ Jada Byrd · 📍 1942 On The Square, 3B Keys Ferry St, McDonough · 🕐 7PM · Cap off Juneteenth with good music and good vibes on the Square.
Bad Dad Joke of the Day 🤣
What did one traffic light say to the other?
Stop looking. I'm changing.🤣
That's your Bird's Eye View this Tuesday
Whether you're keeping an eye on today's runoff election results, learning about a Civil Rights pioneer who helped change the South, planning for Juneteenth celebrations later this week, watching gas prices, or deciding where you'll catch a little World Cup soccer, plenty is happening across Henry County and beyond.
Got a tip, a story, or an event to share? Email [email protected].
Stay sharp, stay local. The Eagle Eye Digest 🦅👁️