Sponsored by
Good morning, Henry County. Pour the coffee. This one's full.
A $170 million investment is bringing 160 new jobs to McDonough.
We're also taking a closer look at the data center projects reshaping Henry County and what communities across the country can teach us.
Plus, the C.O. Polk Interactive Museum is reopening on the McDonough Square, gas prices are climbing again, we'll introduce you to one of Henry County's most unique hidden gems, and the Weekend Eye is packed with ideas for the days ahead.
Let's get into it. 🦅👁️
McDonough Just Landed a $170 Million Investment. And It's Already Creating Jobs
MCDONOUGH — Highline Warren, an American distributor of automotive and industrial cleaning products, is investing $170 million in a new logistics and operations center at 830 Highway 42 South in McDonough — the former Zinus building. The Memphis-based company will occupy over 1.1 million square feet and expects to begin operations by the end of 2026, creating 160 new jobs in the process.
Why it matters: This is one of the largest single investments in McDonough. If you're looking for work or know someone who is, keep an eye on Highline Warren's hiring announcements later this year. Find out how McDonough landed this deal and what it means for local jobs →
Downtown McDonough’s Interactive History Museum is Reopening
MCDONOUGH — The City of McDonough is reopening the C.O. Polk Interactive Museum this Monday July 20, in the historic 1940s Post Office building right on the Square. The free museum blends local heritage with modern technology including a 15-foot digital timeline, custom projection-mapped displays of the town square's evolution, a multi-screen object theater built inside the building's original post office vault, and a documentary preserving the history of the Blacksville community. Admission is completely free and the museum is open to residents, visitors, and school field trips.
Why it matters: McDonough's history is rich and this museum makes it accessible to everyone at no cost. Whether you've lived here your whole life or just moved in, this is worth a visit.
📍 34 John Frank Ward Blvd, McDonough, GA 30253
🕗 Opening days: Monday July 20 and Tuesday July 21, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
🕗 Regular hours starting July 27: Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Closed daily for lunch 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.
📞 (470) 878-1105
🌐 Learn more at City of McDonough →
Gas Prices Are on the Rise Again, and Henry County Is Already Feeling It
HENRY COUNTY - We don't need to tell you as many of us are already living it. Georgia gas prices are climbing again after the fragile U.S.-Iran ceasefire broke down last week, sending oil prices up 9% on Monday alone. The Georgia average now sits at $3.57 per gallon and experts at GasBuddy warn prices for regular and diesel could jump another 10 to 25 cents over the next week — right at the peak of summer driving season.
Why it matters: Henry County commuters are already stretching their budgets. This surge couldn't come at a worse time for families heading into back-to-school season. Full story at AJC →
The Data Center Debate
Tracking the technology boom that could reshape Henry County for decades
HENRY COUNTY - This may be the most significant infrastructure story Henry County has ever faced. Multiple data center buildings have been approved near Hampton, with more proposed nearby. Decisions being made right now about water, power, land, and community character will shape this county for decades.
Our goal is simple: to give you the information you need to understand one of the biggest issues facing our community. Data centers bring investment, jobs, and tax revenue. They also bring real questions about water consumption, power demand, eminent domain, and what kind of community Henry County wants to be. Both sides of that conversation matter, and both deserve to be heard.
What we are committed to is keeping you informed. We'll track what's happening in other communities so Henry County residents can learn from their experiences. And we'll keep a close eye on what's unfolding right here at home so you're never the last to know.
Here's what other communities are dealing with right now:
Atlanta Said No to a Data Center. Henry County Is Still Deciding
A $500 million data center proposed near Atlanta's West End MARTA station has been tabled after the Atlanta City Council Zoning Committee voted 6-1 to sideline the project. Digital Realty needed a special exemption from Atlanta's existing ban on data centers near MARTA stations and the Beltline and couldn't get it. The company says it will return with a revised proposal after building more community support.
Why it matters: Atlanta has a ban. Henry County doesn't. As developers face resistance in urban areas, they'll keep looking toward suburban communities like Hampton, where land is available, and regulations are still catching up. Full story at AJC →
Georgia Families Say They're Being Forced Out of Their Homes to Power Data Centers
Georgia Power is building a new transmission line to help power the state's growing network of AI data centers and is acquiring more than 300 parcels of land to do it, including family homes. Ansley Brown, whose mother was told Georgia Power could pursue eminent domain if she refused to sell their family's childhood property, told CBS News, "it's literally a billion-dollar company stealing land from smaller people."
Why it matters: Henry County residents have already been watching data center development expand near Hampton. This story puts a human face on what happens when that expansion requires new power infrastructure and who bears the cost. Full story at CBS News →
A $50 Billion Data Center Transformed a Small Louisiana Town. Henry County Should Read This
When Meta announced plans for a $50 billion data center campus in rural Louisiana, many residents celebrated the economic opportunity. A local steakhouse saw customer traffic jump 30%. But rents that used to cost $700 a month jumped to $2,500. Roads got congested. And economists warn that the sales tax windfall could disappear the moment construction workers pack up and leave.
Why it matters: Henry County is already in the middle of this same conversation. The Louisiana story isn't a cautionary tale or a success story. It's both. And it's worth understanding before the next approval vote. Full story at Blockspace Media →
Mark Your Calendar: Conserve Henry County is hosting a public meeting on August 8 for residents who want to learn more about the data center expansion in Hampton and what the community can do about it. Follow updates at Conserve Henry County on Facebook →
Your K-Cup Has Been Sitting in a Warehouse for Months
That grocery store pod? It was roasted long before it hit the shelf. Coffee starts losing flavor within weeks of roasting — which is why your morning cup tastes flat, no matter how nice your machine is.
Angelino's does it differently. A third-generation roaster in Los Angeles, they roast, grind, and seal every pod in-house for peak freshness, then ship it to your door within days of roasting. The difference is the first thing you'll notice: real aroma, real flavor, no bitterness.
Mix and match from 50+ specialty coffees, teas, and flavored blends — all Keurig®-compatible — and save more with every box you add, up to 34% off at 12+. Order once whenever you're running low, or subscribe for an extra 5% if that's easier. Entirely up to you.
New customers get 15% off their first order — applied automatically, no code needed.
Georgians Grapple With Statewide Feral Hog Problem
We're pleased to share another feature from our partners at the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area. This week, Communications Director Jeff Dingler explains why feral hogs have become a growing problem across Georgia, including right here in Henry County.
Talk about going hog wild! Feral hog sightings are on the rise throughout Georgia and much of the Atlanta metro area. Sus scrofa, feral or wild hogs or swine are an invasive species rapidly spreading across large parts of the US. Reported in each of Georgia’s 159 counties, hogs reproduce fast, are illusive and difficult to control. But where did they come from?
Since settlers introduced domesticated pigs in the 1700s, hog populations have gone feral due to escapes or abandonment. Once in the wild, the hogs grow pointier ears and rougher hair, tusks, and become aggressive, characteristics that aid them in their survival outside of their domesticated environment.
These hogs are responsible for ecological and agricultural damage through their foraging behaviors, even eating rare and endangered species like baby sea turtles. They also carry diseases and can pose a potential threat to humans who encounter them because of their aggressiveness. And due to their impressive intellect and ability to reproduce starting at just 6 months, wild hogs are seen as a major threat to rural and suburban communities. They’ve become such an issue nationally that they were recently the topic of the popular HBO satirical news show Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.
Back in March, the Georgia legislature passed HB 946, a bill making it legal to trap and kill feral hogs without a license. The aim of the bill is to help quell the state’s invasive swine population. However, its language has led to some confusion about what is or isn’t permitted on state, public and even private land regarding trapping and killing hogs. The Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area recently published this informative Field Note about feral hogs (or swine) as well as this Field Note about a recent Feral Hog Workshop in Stonecrest.
The Tiny Art Trail Henry County Didn't Know It Had
HENRY COUNTY - Next time you're at a park in Henry County, look down. You might spot a tiny picnic table, just big enough for a squirrel, hand-painted by a local artist and signed with their name.
That's the Bushy Tail Art Trail, a self-guided public art project from Henry County's Artist Consortium. What started with just 10 tables has grown to around 30, tucked into parks and public spaces across the county, from Panola Mountain State Park to the Henry County Welcome Center to EchoPark Speedway. No two tables look alike. One tells an aviation story. Another reimagines Alice in Wonderland. Each one is its own tiny piece of local pride.
It's free, it's self-guided, and there's no wrong way to do it. Walk it, drive it, or turn it into a weekend scavenger hunt with the kids. Just remember, these tables are for squirrels only. Look, don't touch.
Find one, snap a photo, and see how many you can spot around the county. Discover the full Bushy Tail Art Trail →
Daily news for curious minds.
Be the smartest person in the room. 1440 navigates 100+ sources to deliver a comprehensive, unbiased news roundup — politics, business, culture, and more — in a quick, 5-minute read. Completely free, completely factual.
FRIDAY, JULY 17
Tiny Tent Concert Series — Week 2 · 📍 130 MLK King Sr. Heritage Trail, Stockbridge · 🕐 6–8PM · FREE — reservation required · Live local music in the heart of Downtown Stockbridge — bring a lawn chair. Runs weekly through August 14.
Caleb Gordon: The Eden Experience · 📍 Relevant Church, 4770 GA-42, Locust Grove · 🕐 Doors 6:15PM | Show 7PM · Ticketed · Christian hip-hop artist Caleb Gordon brings The Eden Experience to Locust Grove — dynamic production, striking visuals, and a live show described as both energetic and sacred. VIP packages include a Q&A, photo, and signed item. VIP doors open 5PM.
SATURDAY, JULY 18
Guided Mountain Hike · 📍 Panola Mountain State Park, Stockbridge · 🕐 9AM–12PM · $10 plus parking fee · A close-up look at Panola's unique rock outcrop ecology, moderately strenuous, about 3.5 miles, register in advance.
Goat Yoga · 📍 Heritage Park, 101 Lake Dow Rd, McDonough · 🕐 11AM–12PM · Monthly all-ages session with friendly dwarf goats roaming free while you stretch, hosted by Henry County Parks and Rec.
Ice Cream Social at Welcome Home Creamery · 📍 22 E. Main St, Hampton · 🕐 2–4PM · FREE scoop of ice cream for everyone, plus a chance to win an Amazon gift card, hosted by Your Home Team Realty as a fun way to connect with the community and support a local favorite.
Sweet Magnolia Farmstead — Sunset U-Pick 🌸 · 📍 141 Austin Dr, McDonough (Ola area) · 🕐 5:30–8:30PM · Tickets via website · U-pick flowers at golden hour with a free ice cream sundae included. 📞 (678) 618-7289
Summer Breezes Opening — Georgian Gallery · 📍 10 Macon St, McDonough · 🕐 6–9PM · FREE · Live music, good food, and a fresh gallery exhibit to kick off a summer of community art nights.
Jazz Fest: Avery Sunshine, Gerald Albright, JUBU & Julian Vaughn · 📍 VyStar Amphitheater at The Bridge, 4650 N Henry Blvd, Stockbridge · 🕐 8PM · From $74 via Ticketmaster · Four of contemporary jazz's most celebrated voices on one stage right here in Stockbridge — smooth, soulful, and worth every seat.
Fire Lake — A Tribute to Bob Seger · 📍 Southern Roots Tavern, 15 Griffin St, McDonough · 🕐 9–11PM · Doors 6PM · $23–$161 · 21+ after 8PM · Night Moves, Old Time Rock & Roll, Against the Wind — every Bob Seger classic performed live to close out Saturday night.
SUNDAY, JULY 19
Free Guided Nature Hike · 📍 Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Center, 3787 Klondike Rd, Stonecrest · 🕐 8–10:30AM · FREE · ~25 min from McDonough (Close to Home)
MONDAY, JULY 20
McDonough City Council Meeting · 📍 McDonough City Hall, 136 Keys Ferry St, 2nd Floor · 🕐 6PM · Open to the public, agenda posted online in advance.
Jurassic Breakout Escape Room — All Week · 📍 Fairview Public Library, Stockbridge · 🕐 All day, July 20–24 · FREE · Solve puzzles and crack codes to escape before the dinosaurs break loose; drop in during library hours.
Public Safety Town Hall with Commissioner Dee Anglyn · 📍 Henry Parkway, McDonough · 🕐 6:30PM · FREE · Get the latest on crime rates, response times, and fire station updates countywide, then ask your own questions.
McDonough Street Construction Alert · 📍 McDonough St at Shelby St · 🕐 Begins July 20 · Local traffic only, North Avenue detour in place while crews finish the Hampton-Locust Grove & McDonough intersection project.
TUESDAY, JULY 21
Chief Hamilton's First 100 Days Address · 📍 Merle Manders Conference Center, Stockbridge · 🕐 6:30PM · New police chief reports on his first hundred days and shares what's next for the department, confirmed straight from the department's own site.
There’s a lot more happening across the county this weekend. Check out the Weekend Eye for more happenings.
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
Bad Dad Joke of the Day 🤣
Why did the math book look sad?
It had too many problems. 🤣
That's all for today's edition!
If you found something interesting, forward this email to a friend who loves Henry County. It helps us grow and keeps local journalism thriving.
Check your inbox right now. The Weekend Eye dropped this morning alongside today's issue. Your full weekend guide is waiting with live music, community events, family activities, and hidden gems happening right here in Henry County.
Got a tip or a story we should know about? Send us a note at [email protected]. We read every one.
Stay sharp, stay local. The Eagle Eye Digest 🦅👁️