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Good morning, Henry County
The results are in from Tuesday's special election, and Georgia's 13th Congressional District is headed to a runoff after no candidate secured a majority.
In today's issue, meet the Henry County pharmacist whose determination helped bring Georgia's first Safe Haven Baby Box law to life.
Learn what investigators say caused June's South River fish kill.
Discover who's quietly protecting our local waterways, and find out how you can get a behind-the-scenes look at county government.
And don't forget The Weekend Eye. It’s packed with live music, family events, and the best things happening around Henry County and beyond.
Pour another cup. Let’s get into it. 🦅👁️
🦅 Eagle's Pick | Event of the Week
🎒 15th Annual Parent Expo — This Saturday in McDonough
MCDONOUGH — For 15 years, Henry County families have been showing up to the Parent Expo and this Saturday is no different. Hosted by Communities In Schools of Georgia at the Jason T. Harper Event Center in Heritage Park, the free event features backpacks and school supplies for families in need plus more than 50 community resource tables. School starts Monday August 3. This is your last chance to get what your family needs before the first bell rings. Learn more at Henry County Events →
📍 Jason T. Harper Event Center · Heritage Park · 99 Lake Dow Rd, McDonough
🕐 Saturday August 2 · 9 a.m. · Free
⚠️ Proof of Henry County residency required for backpack giveaway
Remember the South River Fish Kill? Georgia DNR Just Confirmed What Caused It
HENRY COUNTY — Back in June, we told you about a massive fish kill on the South River where 1,254 fish died. Georgia DNR has now officially confirmed the cause: a chemical spill from Atlanta's South River Water Reclamation Center upstream. The investigation is closed.
Why it matters: Henry County residents who kayak, fish, or recreate along the South River now have a confirmed answer. The South River flows directly through our backyard past Butler's Bridge Park. Full confirmed report at Georgia Trend →
Who's Watching Henry County's Waterways? More Than You Might Think
HENRY COUNTY — Henry County's Stormwater Division quietly spends hundreds of hours each year testing local creeks and streams for pollution, collecting samples, analyzing for contamination, and ensuring the county meets state and federal environmental standards. Most residents never see this work happening.
Why it matters: Stormwater runoff carries oil, chemicals, fertilizers, and trash into local waterways. Regular testing catches problems early and protects the streams and rivers flowing through Henry County. Learn more at Henry County Stormwater →
Wellstar Just Cut 761 Georgia Jobs
GEORGIA — Wellstar Health System laid off 761 administrative and corporate employees this week, 2% of its 35,000-person Georgia workforce. Frontline workers like nurses and physicians were not affected. Those impacted have already been notified.
Why it matters: Wellstar is one of Georgia's largest health systems and serves communities across metro Atlanta, including Henry County. If someone you know works in Wellstar's corporate or shared services division, this news hits close to home. Full story at Patch →
Georgia's Governor Just Ordered a State Spending Freeze
GEORGIA — Governor Kemp ordered state agencies to freeze spending as Georgia's financial reserves shrink following income tax cuts and reduced federal funding. The order affects agency budgets statewide.
Why it matters: State spending freezes trickle down. Henry County schools, senior services, and road projects that rely on state funding could feel the pressure if the freeze extends into the fall. Full story at AJC →
The Woman Behind Georgia's First Baby Box
What began as a conversation with her daughter became a three-year mission to give Georgia's most vulnerable newborns another chance.
Aime Anderson (left) and her daughter, Kerri, whose conversation about a surrendered newborn became the catalyst for a mission that would help change Georgia law.
STOCKBRIDGE - When Henry County pharmacist Aime Anderson answered her daughter's phone call in 2023, she had no idea it would change the course of her life.
Her daughter, Kerri, a pediatric nurse, had just cared for a newborn who had been safely surrendered by a young mother. Aime's first reaction was anger.
"I couldn't understand how a mother could surrender her baby," she recalled.
Then Kerri gently challenged her to see something she hadn't considered. What if that mother, despite her own struggles, had made the most selfless decision she could by giving her baby a chance at life? That conversation changed everything.
"It just got in my brain," Aime said. "It wouldn't go away."
She began researching Georgia's Safe Haven law and discovered other states offered anonymous Safe Haven Baby Boxes. Although she had never lobbied a legislator before, Aime spent the next three years learning the process, building support and refusing to give up until Georgia approved legislation allowing the boxes.
Watching her mother's determination gave Kerri a new appreciation for the woman she had always known.
"She is the most passionate, selfless and fearless woman I've ever met," Kerri said. "Once she starts, that woman does not stop."
When asked what she thought her legacy would be before any of this, Aime never mentioned changing laws or making history.
"I hoped people would remember me as a good person," she said. "A wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt and friend... someone who showed people she loved them, someone everyone could depend on, someone who did her best to honor God and lived her life to the fullest."
On Aug. 28, that legacy will take on another chapter when family, friends and community leaders gather at the Ellenwood Fire Station for the blessing and dedication of Georgia's first Safe Haven Baby Box.
Aime hopes it is rarely, if ever, needed. But if it helps save even one life, it will become part of the legacy she never set out to build. One rooted in compassion, faith and a simple desire to love others well.
Baby Box Dedication
When: Thursday, Aug. 28, 9:30 a.m.
Where: Henry County Fire Station 8, 2180 Fairview Road, Ellenwood
What: A public blessing and dedication of Georgia's first Safe Haven Baby Box, marking the first installation in the state following the passage of House Bill 350. Community members are welcome to attend.
Does Your State Have Money Owed To You?
Does your State Treasury Department have money that's owed to you?
Search your name and state to check if unclaimed funds may be listed in official records. State agencies hold unclaimed property when accounts, refunds, or deposits go uncollected.
Millions of records exist across the U.S., and your name could appear in one of them. This search reviews public records for possible matches tied to your name.
Start your search to see what may be associated with your name.
🤔 Good to Know: Henry County Citizens Academy
HENRY COUNTY - Ever wonder how the county actually runs? There's a free program that'll show you.
The Henry County Citizens Academy gives residents a hands-on look at how services such as Financial Services, Public Works, and Public Safety operate. Classes meet once a month for about two hours, and you'll get face time with the departments that keep the county running.
The next class runs the 3rd Wednesday of each month, August 2026 through May 2027, mostly at the county administration building in McDonough, with transportation provided for any off-site visits. Finish the program, and you get recognized at a Board of Commission meeting.
Here's the catch: the 2026 application deadline already passed on June 30. Spots are limited to 25 people, first-come, first-served, so it fills up fast once applications open.
Mark your calendar now. To apply next time, you'll need to be at least 18, live or work in Henry County, and have no felony or recent misdemeanor arrests. Contact the County Manager's office at (770) 288-6267 or [email protected] and ask to be notified when the next application window opens.
FRIDAY, JULY 31
"Legends of Rock" — 10 Tribute Bands in One Show · Griffin Opera House, Griffin · 8PM · $27.50–$45
Nathan Morgan Band — Classic Rock & Outlaw Country · Southern Roots Tavern, McDonough · 8–11PM · $15–$110
Tiny Tent Concert Series — Red Sugar Blues · 📍 130 MLK Sr. Heritage Trail, Stockbridge · 🕐 Friday, July 31, 6–8PM · FREE · A high-energy blues act closes out July's series, bring a lawn chair and settle in downtown.
Jazz in the Park: Billie Holiday by The Jazz Legacy Project · 📍 Newnan Centre Amphitheatre, 1515 Lower Fayetteville Rd, Newnan · 🕐 7:30PM · FREE, family-friendly · Featuring vocalist Maria Howell, food trucks arrive at 6:30PM. Straight from the City of Newnan's own cultural arts page, this is a well-run, recurring summer series.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 1
Weekend Wellness with the McDonough Walking Club · 📍 Sandra Vincent Children's Memorial Park, 355 Jonesboro Rd, McDonough · 🕐 8:30–9:30AM · FREE · A welcoming monthly walk for every fitness level, this month focused on mental health for dads with Daddy Everyday, Inc.
15th Annual Parent Expo · 📍 Jason T. Harper Event Center, Heritage Park, 99 Lake Dow Rd, McDonough · 🕐 9AM · FREE · A long-running Henry County institution (this year marks 15 years) hosted by Communities In Schools of Georgia, backpacks and school supplies for families in need, plus 50+ community resource tables. Proof of Henry County residency required for backpack giveaway.
Brave & Bold Motor Show · Rock N' Roll Sushi, Stockbridge · 11AM–5PM · FREE
Sticks Diagnostics & Healthcare Training Center Open House · 📍 5459 North Henry Blvd, Suite C, Stockbridge · 🕐 11AM–2PM · FREE · Tour the facility, learn about their state-authorized healthcare training programs, and explore enrollment options. Note: the actual confirmed time is 11AM–2PM, not the 8AM–1:30PM you had, worth double-checking wherever that time came from.
Love Experience · VyStar Amphitheater, Stockbridge · 6–11PM · Raheem DeVaughn, Vedo, Tone Stith
Classic Soul & Motown · Griffin Opera House, Griffin · 8PM · $32.50–$50
Keith Burns from "Trick Pony" Single Release Party · Southern Roots Tavern, McDonough · 8–11PM · $28–$193, 21+
SUNDAY, AUGUST 2
10-Mile Nature Trek · 📍 Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Center, Stonecrest · 🕐 8AM–1:30PM · FREE, registration required · A more challenging step up from the weekly hikes, 10-12 miles at a 2.5 mph pace, led by DeKalb County park rangers. Designed for adults, no dogs allowed.
Check out The Weekend Eye for more events
Good Newsletters Are Everywhere Now. Here Are Our Favorites
We put together a bundle of free newsletters worth your time. The kind that make you think, plan, or just breathe easier on a Sunday. No fluff. Check them out here
That's your Tuesday, Henry County
The Weekend Eye should be in your inbox now with everything you need to plan the weekend. From the Parent Expo and Brave & Bold Veteran Motor Show to free concerts in Stockbridge and Locust Grove, the Love Experience at VyStar Amphitheater, and even a few ideas for one last summer outing before school starts Monday.
Until then, follow The Eagle Eye Digest on Facebook and Instagram for local news and community updates throughout the day. And of course, please tell a friend about us. We want to continue growing this great community;
Have a story idea, community event, or tip? We'd love to hear from you at [email protected].
Thanks for reading, and have a wonderful weekend! See you next Tuesday!
Stay sharp, stay local. The Eagle Eye Digest