🐣Good Friday Closures, GA Lawmakers Wrap Up, and Cancer Care Expansion in Henry

Happy Good Friday and the start of Easter weekend. ☀️

If you’ve got your coffee in hand, let’s get you caught up on what’s happening around Henry County.

First, a quick heads up before you head out. Henry County government offices are closed today in observance of Good Friday.

It’s also the start of a weekend many will spend with family, reflecting, and preparing for Easter. And if you’re looking for something to do, our Easter Edition of The Weekend Eye is packed with ideas for you, your family, and your friends right here in Henry County and beyond.

Now, let’s get into what else is happening today!

Georgia Lawmakers Wrap Session With Last Minute Decisions

Georgia’s legislative session officially wrapped yesterday on what’s known as “Sine Die,” the final day lawmakers can pass legislation. The day is typically a fast-paced push to get bills across the finish line before the clock runs out.

Some of the biggest issues down to the wire included data center regulations, property tax relief, and changes to how elections are conducted across the state. Lawmakers also worked through broader legislation impacting schools, healthcare, and economic development, with debates continuing late into the night.

Lawmakers are now adjourned until next January unless a special session is called, with attention shifting to which bills passed, which stalled, and what it all means for Georgia residents moving forward. Learn more at WABE.org

Stockbridge Names New Police Chief

STOCKBRIDGE - Stockbridge has named Orrin Scott Hamilton as its new police chief, bringing in a seasoned leader with decades of experience in law enforcement. He previously served as chief in Austell and held leadership roles within the Cobb County Police Department. City leaders say the focus will be on strengthening public safety and building stronger relationships with the community. His appointment comes as Stockbridge continues to grow and looks toward the future of its police department. Read more at Henry Herald

Henry County Schools Earn “Innovative District” Recognition

HENRY COUNTY - Henry County Schools are getting some well deserved recognition after being named an “Innovative School District.” The designation highlights how the district is using new approaches to improve student learning and outcomes. It’s a strong signal that the local school system is evolving and trying new things to better serve students. For families across the county, it’s a reminder that change is happening inside the classroom. Read more at Henry Herald

Program Helps Henry County Seniors Stay Safe in Their Homes

HENRY COUNTY - In Henry County, a program is helping seniors stay in their homes safely and with dignity. Through the Community Development Block Grant program, eligible residents can receive assistance for critical home repairs like roofing, plumbing, heating, and electrical issues. The goal is simple but powerful: ensuring homes are safe, livable, and up to basic standards for those who may not have the resources to fix them on their own. Priority is often given to urgent needs, especially when safety is at risk. For many seniors, this kind of support can be the difference between staying in their home or being forced to leave. Seniors who want more information or think they may qualify can contact Henry County Community Development at (770) 288 6000 or visit henrycountyga.gov.

Inside Ruth’s Jamaican Diner: A Story of Legacy, Faith, and Flavor

STOCKBRIDGE - There’s a stretch of North Henry Boulevard where traffic moves steady and fast. But right along that drive, a white brick building stands out. Bold black, gold, and green stretch across the front, the colors of the Jamaican flag, impossible to miss.

That building is home to Ruth’s Jamaican Diner, and the woman behind it is Karen Able.

The day I met her, she wasn’t inside. She was out front, hands in the soil, planting flowers and getting the patio ready for spring. Moving between pots, straightening tables, adjusting chairs. She wanted the space to feel like an escape. “I want it to feel tropical,” she said. “Like you’re in Jamaica.”

Karen’s story doesn’t start here. It starts in Jamaica, in kitchens filled with food, family, and tradition. “I grew up in food all my life,” she told me. “If it’s not farming, it’s cooking.” Her mother, Ruth, built a life through that same tradition, from airline catering in Jamaica to running a restaurant in New York for more than 30 years.

This diner carries her name and her legacy.

“When I look at my mom… she’s still working, still lifting,” Karen said. “I was like, Mommy, you got to give it up.” But Ruth wasn’t ready to stop. So Karen made a decision. She would build something new, not just a business, but a way for her mother to keep doing what she loves without doing it alone.

It hasn’t been easy. Karen still works full time as a nurse, balancing long hospital shifts with long days at the diner. “When I’m off from the hospital, I’m here… cooking, serving, cleaning, going to the market,” she said. And still, she kept going. “I don’t think anybody thought I could pull this off… it was just me and God.”

Inside, the food tells its own story. Rich, layered, and deeply authentic, from oxtails that fall apart to jerk turkey wings you won’t find anywhere else. Every dish is rooted in generations of knowledge and care.

But what stays with you isn’t just what’s on the plate. It’s the feeling. “What I want people to feel when they walk through the doors? Comfortable. Peaceful.” And somehow, she’s created exactly that, a place where culture, community, and care all meet at the table.

📍 5046 N Henry Blvd, Stockbridge, GA 30281 📞 (678) 272-7195 🌐 ruthsjamaicandiner.net

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.

Today, that care is expanding in a big way for residents of Henry County.

Piedmont Henry is growing its oncology services so more patients can receive advanced care without leaving the community. New diagnostic technology, including an ion robotic bronchoscopy system, allows doctors to detect lung cancer earlier and with less risk. The hospital is also upgrading radiation oncology equipment and working toward expanding treatment capacity right here in Stockbridge.

That expansion matters more than people may realize.

“Treatment takes a toll,” Woodie explained. “Even if you feel well enough to get there, by the end of the day, you may not.”
Being able to receive care close to home means less time in traffic, less physical strain, and more energy focused on healing.

Even when patients need a specialist outside of Henry County, they can stay within the Piedmont system, where doctors are connected, records are shared, and much of their treatment can still happen close to home.

That team includes nurse navigators, social workers, and dietitians who support patients through treatment and connect them to resources they may need. Wellness programs like yoga, support groups, and nutrition classes are also being brought back and expanded.

The hospital’s recent radiation oncology accreditation is another step forward. Programs like this recognize facilities that meet rigorous national standards for safety, coordination, and patient-centered care, giving patients added confidence in the quality of care they’re receiving.

Still, if there’s one message Woodie hopes the community takes to heart, it’s simple.

Get screened.
Pay attention to your body.
Don’t wait.

Because behind every piece of equipment, every program, and every expansion is one goal. Helping people not just fight cancer, but live fully, right here at home.

Check out the Easter Edition of The Weekend Eye that’s in your inbox now. It covers today, tomorrow, and Easter Sunday.

Bad Dad Joke of the Day 🤣

Did you hear the rumor about butter?

Well, I'm not going to go spreading it!🤣

And that’s your look at what’s happening in Henry County!

As we head into Easter weekend, it’s a good time to slow down, spend time with family, and take in everything happening around us.

Whether it’s big changes at the state level or small moments inside local businesses, these are the stories shaping Henry County every day.And we’ll keep bringing them to you.

See you Monday, and don’t forget to check out the Easter Edition of The Weekend Eye, which should be in your inbox now. Happy Holidays! 👁️ 🦅