Carlotta Harrell's State of the County: The Numbers, The Plans, The Fine Print

Good Morning Henry County!

Hope your Easter weekend was everything it should've been. Good food, good people, and maybe a nap you actually earned. Welcome back!

Today's issue is packed. We're breaking down the biggest news from Chairwoman Harrell's State of the County address, plus a new Tales from the Perch profile, Piedmont Henry Oncology news you may have missed Friday, the What's Happening events calendar, and the return of EYE Q. Our AI column is back after 68% of you said last week's was worth your time.

And if you've got kids at home this week, Henry County Schools is on spring break through Friday, so we've got you covered on local things to do.

One heads-up: The Eagle Eye has grown to 1,400 subscribers, and we need to do some backend housekeeping to keep up. We're taking Tuesday through Friday off this week, but we'll be back with the Weekend Eye Friday morning so you've got your Henry County weekend guide right on time.

Now let's get into it!

Carlotta Harrell's State of the County: The Numbers, The Plans, The Fine Print

STOCKBRIDGE- Carlotta Harrell took the stage Thursday morning and delivered her sixth State of the County address to a record-breaking crowd of more than 400 people at Stockbridge Community Church. The word she chose to define Henry County in 2025? Resilience. We're breaking down the biggest news to come out of the address all down below. Read more at Council for Quality Growth

$883 Million Came Into Henry County Last Year. The Bigger Question Is Where It Landed

STOCKBRIDGE - According to Chairwoman Harrell's address, the Henry County Development Authority attracted 920 new jobs and $883 million in capital investment in 2025 alone, with Nexus Circular, Brava Roofing Tiles, and United States Cold Storage among the major players. Henry County also led Georgia's 12 largest counties in year-over-year employment growth per the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The county says workforce partnerships with Henry County Schools and Southern Crescent Technical College are designed to make sure those jobs actually go to residents who live here. Read more at Council for Quality Growth

200 Roads Are Getting Repaved. Is Yours on the List?

HENRY COUNTY- Henry County is putting $43.8 million toward resurfacing 200 roads between now and next spring, funded by SPLOST. That's a lot of pothole relief, but the full list of streets isn't something we can print here. The good news: you don't have to wonder. Head to Henry County's Public Works Department website to find out if your road made the cut and what the timeline looks like in your neighborhood. Read more at Council for Quality Growth

The November Vote Every Henry County Driver Should Care About

HENRY COUNTY - Chairwoman Harrell announced plans to put T-SPLOST 2 on the November ballot, continuing the county's dedicated funding stream for roads, signals, and mobility improvements. The original SPLOST already paid for $43.8M in road resurfacing and infrastructure upgrades across Henry County. If T-SPLOST 2 passes, that momentum continues. If it doesn't, the pipeline for future projects could dry up, and so does the best shot at meaningful congestion relief anytime soon. Read more at Council for Quality Growth

Georgia Cut Income Taxes. Your Property Tax Bill Didn't Get the Memo

GEORGIA - On the final night of the legislative session, Georgia lawmakers voted to accelerate the state income tax rate drop from 5.19% toward an eventual 3.99%, and made tips and overtime under $1,750 tax-free. Good news on paper. But the sweeping property tax overhaul that Speaker Burns was calling "historic" back in January? Quietly gutted to near-nothing by 1 a.m. Friday. If you're a Henry County homeowner watching your assessment creep up year after year, the legislature saw your problem and mostly looked the other way. Read more at Georgia Recorder

McDonough Wants to Hear From You, and There's an App for That

MCDONOUGH — The City of McDonough is reintroducing SeeClickFix, a free app that lets residents report non-emergency issues directly to city officials in just a few taps. Potholes, graffiti, abandoned vehicles, overgrown lots, drainage problems, and traffic signal issues are all fair game. If you see it, you can report it. Download the app on the App Store or Google Play, or file a report directly at seeclickfix.com/mcdonough.

Where Fresh Meets Familiar in McDonough

MCDONOUGH - By the time most of McDonough is just getting their day started, Monterey Thompson has already been up for hours.

She’s been at the farmers market since 5 a.m., handpicking the produce that will fill her shelves. But when you walk into Thompson’s Market, you’d never guess it. She’s right there in the middle of it all, moving easily from one customer to the next. She greets someone by name, answers a question about tomatoes, rings up a purchase, then turns back to you like the conversation never skipped a beat.

That rhythm feels effortless. Nothing about it is rushed or mechanical. It’s warm, familiar, and deeply personal, like this is exactly where she’s meant to be. The market carries that same feeling. It reminds you of an old general store, the kind of place where people come not just to buy what they need, but to talk, to learn, and to feel connected.

Monterey doesn’t just sell produce. She shares it. Where it came from, why it tastes better, what’s in season, and what’s not. Sometimes she’ll even stop you mid-purchase and gently tell you not to buy something because she knows it won’t meet her standard. For her, it’s never just about the sale. It’s about trust.

More than 25 years ago, that trust started in a much smaller space, with just two boxes of tomatoes and a bushel of corn. What’s grown since then isn’t just a business, it’s a community. Her customers come back week after week, and over time, many of them have become something closer to family.

“I love my customers. They make me happy,” she says.

And you can feel that in every interaction. You don’t just leave with groceries. You leave knowing a little more than you did when you walked in, and already looking forward to the next time you come back.

Visit Thompson’s Market
📍 218 John Frank Ward Blvd, McDonough, GA 30253
📞 (770) 957 3383
📱 Facebook: Thompson’s Market

Piedmont Henry Hospital: Bringing Care Closer to Home

STOCKBRIDGE - At Piedmont Henry Hospital, oncology isn’t just about treatment. It’s about walking with people through some of the hardest moments of their lives and making sure they don’t have to do it alone.

For Ashley Woodie, Director of Oncology, that calling started early. “I’ve always been someone who enjoys taking care of other people,” she shared. What began as a path into nursing has grown into more than a decade in oncology, a space she describes as both deeply emotional and deeply meaningful. Read More Here

Welcome to EyeQ, a weekly Monday feature in The Eagle Eye Digest. AI is already changing how people work, plan, and solve everyday problems. The people learning it now are getting ahead, and that's exactly what EyeQ is here to help you do.

If you haven't downloaded a free AI assistant yet, start there. ChatGPT, Claude, and Google Gemini all work in similar ways. Not sure which one? Just pick one. That's the whole trick

This Week: Let AI Write the Message for You

You don't have to stare at a blank screen anymore. Open your AI assistant and type a prompt. That's just the instruction you give it. Try something like:

"Write a friendly but professional text asking for Friday off" or "Help me respond to this email clearly but politely."

It works for emails, texts, even the messages you've been putting off. You should still make it your voice. The AI just gets you most of the way there in seconds. Try it once this week.

EyeQ Glossary: Terms You Now Know

AI Assistant: A free tool like ChatGPT, Claude, or Google Gemini that answers questions, writes, and helps you solve problems.

Prompt: The message you type to tell the AI what you want. Think of it as giving someone clear instructions.

MONDAY, APRIL 6

Mystery Monday — Cold Case Club 📍 Fortson Public Library, McDonough 🕐 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM · Free · Adults Work with fellow patrons to solve a fictional cold case using evidence analysis, teamwork, and logical reasoning. All materials provided.

Let's Make Bath Bombs! 📍 McDonough Public Library — Meeting Room 🕐 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM · Free · Adults · All materials provided A fun DIY session

Family Yoga — Beginner Yoga for All Ages 📍 Cochran Public Library, Stockbridge — Dr. Flynn Community Meeting Room 🕐 7:00 PM – 7:30 PM · Free · All ages welcome. A 20-min beginner yoga session followed by a 10-minute cool-down with an audiobook.

TUESDAY, APRIL 7

2026 Financial Summit — Georgia Business Council 📍 Henry County Chamber of Commerce 🕐 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM · Registration required A full-day financial summit presented by the Georgia Business Council. Good content for business owners and professionals across Henry County.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8

Ribbon Cutting — Boot Barn 📍 Henry County (confirm exact address with Chamber) 🕐 Time TBD Grand opening celebrated by the Henry County Chamber of Commerce.

THURSDAY, APRIL 9

Beginner & Intermediate Crochet 📍 Fairview Public Library — Meeting Room 🕐 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM · Free · Adults Crochet lessons for beginner and intermediate skill levels. A relaxed, social crafting hour at the library.

Adult Arbor Day Tree Block Print Art 📍 McDonough Public Library — Meeting Room 🕐 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM · Free · Adults · All materials provided Learn the basics of linocut block print art in this hands-on Arbor Day workshop. We're making trees!

Spring Break Ice Cream Social 📍 J.P. Moseley Park, McDonough 🕐 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM · Free · All ages welcome Hosted by Jessica Rowland Williams. No agenda — just ice cream and good company. 📌 Source: The Best of Henry County Facebook

FRIDAY, APRIL 10

Adult Water Safety Class 📍 Fortson Public Library, McDonough 🕐 1:00 PM · Free Hosted by Henry County Fire Department. Learn to recognize drowning signs and build water safety confidence before pool season.

Line Dancing Class — Vivid Affairs LLC 📍 Vivid Affairs Event Center, 747 Davis Rd, Stockbridge, GA 30281 🕐 6:30 PM – 7:45 PM · $15 advance / $20 at door Cash App or Zelle accepted for advance tickets.

SATURDAY, APRIL 11

Spring Festival in the Park — QNOVA 📍 Fairview Recreation Center, 300 Simpson St, McDonough, GA 30253 🕐 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM · Free to attend Live entertainment, kids zone, bouncy houses, food, and vendors. Rufus Stewart performs at 4:00 PM. Adult section on site. 📌 Source: Stockbridge-Atlanta South Facebook

Jeep, Truck, Car & Bike Show — Davinci's NY Style Pizza 📍 Davinci's NY Style Pizza, McDonough 🕐 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM · $25 entry fee · Free for observers · Vendors on site Benefiting HavenHouse. 📌 Source: Facebook flyer

Bad Dad Joke of the Day 🤣

Why doesn’t the sun need to go to college?

Because it already has millions of degrees.🤣

That’s your Monday briefing, Henry County!

A lot of big news dropped last week and we wanted to make sure none of it got lost in the Easter shuffle. Whether you're back at your desk this morning or home with the kids on spring break, we hope this gets your week started on the right foot.

We'll be quiet Tuesday through Friday while we do some necessary work behind the scenes, but we'll be back in your inbox Friday morning with the Weekend Eye. Everything you need to know about what's happening in Henry County this weekend, right on time.

Got a tip or a story we should know about? Send us a note at [email protected]. We read every last one.

Stay sharp, stay local. The Eagle Eye Digest 🦅👁️