🦅 Drought Declared, Lawmaker Honored, and a Piece of Stockbridge History Lives On

Good morning, Henry County ☀️

A lot landed yesterday and overnight.

Georgia is now under a Level 1 Drought Response, and Henry County is on the list. The late Congressman David Scott will lie in state at the Georgia Capitol this Friday.

And as wildfires continue to impact communities across South Georgia, one Locust Grove resident is stepping up powerfully, rallying support from right here at home.

We’re also revisiting a story that still resonates today. What once looked like a collapsing building became a mission to preserve a piece of Stockbridge history.

Let’s get into it. 🦅

HENRY COUNTY — On Monday, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division declared a Level 1 Drought Response, and Henry County is among the 53 counties included. It's the first formal step in Georgia's drought response system, and it kicks off a public information campaign about water conservation alongside enforcement of the existing outdoor watering schedule.

What changes for you, outdoor watering is only allowed between 4:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m., meaning no watering lawns, washing cars, or running sprinklers between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. The Henry County Water Authority is enforcing the schedule. New plantings get a 30-day exemption. Read more at Atlanta News First · Henry County Water Authority

GEORGIA — The late U.S. Rep. David Scott, who represented parts of Henry County in Georgia's 13th Congressional District for more than two decades, will lie in state in the Georgia State Capitol Rotunda on Friday, May 1, 2026. Governor Brian Kemp signed the order over the weekend, calling it a fitting honor for a man who served Georgia for more than 50 years between the state legislature and Congress. Read more at Atlanta News First · FOX 5 Atlanta coverage

LOCUST GROVE — As wildfires devastate parts of South Georgia, a Locust Grove resident is stepping up to help. April Hale, through Harvest Point church, is organizing donations to support families who’ve lost homes, with the community quickly rallying behind the effort.

The group plans to send supplies south this week, continuing a pattern of disaster-response work they’ve undertaken before. It’s one of several Metro Atlanta efforts supporting wildfire victims as the crisis grows. Read more at Atlanta News First

STOCKBRIDGE - Diane Miller did not buy Green Front Cafe to make a fortune. She bought it to protect its legacy.

When she talks about preserving the building and what the neighborhood could become, there’s a twinkle in her eye. It’s not nostalgia. It’s vision. She saw possibility in a place others didn’t.

When Diane first walked into the small wooden house that once fed Stockbridge’s Black community, it was in rough shape. Floors buckled. Termites had settled in. The roof was one storm away from collapse.

“It was a piece of Black history that I felt if someone did not intervene, it would be lost,” she said.

The cafe began serving as a restaurant in 1947 under Carrie Mae Hambrick, who cooked and fed the neighborhood for 60 years. Diane and her husband Tony Strachan made their decision at the closing table. They would reopen it not to chase profit, but to honor Carrie Mae’s memory.

Today, plates of candied yams, greens, and fried fish move steadily out of the kitchen. Tony, who led the renovation and now serves as chef, uncovered beautiful wood beneath years of neglect and painted the small wood-frame house green again, just as it had been in the 1940s.

One afternoon, when a couple expressed disappointment that dessert had run out, Tony disappeared into the kitchen. By the time they finished their meal, a fresh dessert was ready. That’s the kind of place this is.

Carrie Mae Hambrick’s descendants have even visited. They’ve eaten the Southern comfort dishes and Jamaican flavors that are now on the menu, grateful the building still stands.

Diane hopes the city recognizes the importance of preserving this historic corridor, which she calls the Stockbridge Heritage District.

Some people open restaurants. Diane reopened a piece of history.

📍 Green Front Cafe
Address: 112 2nd Street, Stockbridge, GA 30281
Phone: (678) 643 5724
Website: greenfrontcafe.com
Facebook: @HistoricGreenFrontCafe

TUESDAY, APRIL 28

Henry Business Builders 📍 Henry County Chamber of Commerce · McDonough · 🕐 See Chamber calendar for time · Chamber members The Chamber's regular networking program for local business owners and managers. Check the Chamber events page for the exact time, location, and registration.

ServiceMaster Ribbon Cutting 📍 McDonough · 🕐 See Chamber listing for time · Henry County Chamber of Commerce A new local business officially joins the Henry County Chamber. A great low-effort way to meet other small business owners in the county.

Spring Georgia State Fair continues — EchoPark Speedway, Hampton

Early Voting Day 2 — Henry County polling locations

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29

Line Dancing Class — City of Stockbridge 📍 Merle Manders Conference Center · 111 Davis Rd, Stockbridge · 🕐 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM · Free · All ages · No sandals Hosted by Councilwoman LaKeisha Gantt. Instruction by JP with YK Line Dancers. BYOF (bring your own fan). A weekly community favorite.

Henry County Game Night 📍 Via 14 Restaurant · 14 E Main St, Hampton · 🕐 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM · Free A casual community game night in downtown Hampton. Food, drinks, and a relaxed social vibe.

Spring Georgia State Fair continues — EchoPark Speedway, Hampton

THURSDAY, APRIL 30

McDonough Farmers Market 📍 Heritage Park · Jason T. Harper Event Center, McDonough · 🕐 Thursday afternoon (check Facebook for current hours) · Free admission Fresh produce, plants, and goods grown and made in Henry County. A long-running weekly market and a great low-key way to spend an hour.

Looking Ahead: First Thursday of May = Bike Night at Sweet Auburn BBQ in McDonough — Mark your calendar for next week (May 7).

Spring Georgia State Fair continues — EchoPark Speedway, Hampton

FRIDAY, MAY 1

Spring Georgia State Fair 📍 EchoPark Speedway · 1500 Tara Place, Hampton · 🕐 Friday evening · Tickets at georgiastatefair.com Two days left after today before the fair packs up Sunday. If you've been putting it off, now's the time.

Plus: This Friday's WEEKEND EYE drops with the full May 1–3 weekend lineup, including the State Fair's closing weekend, Saturday markets, and what's worth the trip.

Bad Dad Joke of the Day 🤣

Why did the lawn sprinkler get put on a schedule?

…Because it had a drinking problem. 🤣 🤣

That’s your Tuesday briefing, Henry County.

Skip the midday watering, keep an eye on drought conditions, and if you’re heading into Atlanta on Friday, the Capitol is where Congressman Scott will be honored.

And from wildfire relief to preserving local history, today’s stories are a reminder that this community shows up, whether it’s for people or for places that matter.

We’ll be back tomorrow. Got a tip or a story we should know about? Send us a note at [email protected]. We read every one of them.

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