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| ISSUE# 077 | WEDNESDAY, June 3, 2026 | HENRY COUNTY GA |
Good morning, Henry County.
Summer break is officially settling in across the county, and for many families, that means adjusting to a new routine. Henry County Schools is bringing back free summer meal sites for children across the area, while new data shows food insecurity across Georgia is now worse than during the height of the pandemic.
We’re also looking at why data centers are quietly becoming a bigger issue in Henry County and introducing a new partnership with Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area that highlights local stories, history, and hidden gems connected to one of Georgia’s most unique landscapes.
Let’s get into it. 🦅👁️
Free Summer Meals Return Across Henry County
HENRY COUNTY - Summer break is here, but for many families, school cafeterias remain an important source of meals.
Henry County Schools is once again offering free breakfast and lunch to all children 18 and younger through its Summer Meal Service Program. No registration, paperwork, or proof of income is required.
Meals will be available at select locations across the county throughout the summer, helping ensure children continue to have access to nutritious food while school is out. See the full list of participating sites and meal schedules.
Why Data Centers Are Becoming a Bigger Story in Henry County
HENRY COUNTY - Artificial intelligence is fueling a massive demand for data centers across Georgia, and Henry County is already feeling the effects.
Environmental activist Erin Brockovich is among those raising questions about the rapid expansion of these facilities, which require significant amounts of electricity and, in some cases, water. The conversation hits close to home as Hampton continues to see proposed data center development projects and residents debate their long-term impact on local resources.
As Georgia positions itself as a technology hub, data centers are quietly becoming one of the state's fastest growing development trends. Why data centers are drawing attention across Georgia.
Food Insecurity in Georgia Is Worse Than During COVID
GEORGIA - New data suggests more families are struggling to afford food today than during the height of the pandemic.
A recent survey found that food insecurity levels in 2026 have surpassed those recorded in 2020. In Georgia, roughly one in three families with children report difficulties accessing enough food. At the same time, many lower-income households say they are skipping meals or cutting back on groceries as costs continue to rise.
The numbers help explain why programs like Henry County Schools' summer meal service remain so important for many local families. Read the full report.
We're proud to launch Bird's Eye View, a new monthly column featuring original stories from Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area, one of Georgia's most remarkable and underappreciated natural and cultural landmarks, right in our backyard.
Henry County Voices Rise in Arabia's First Writing Contest
Katy King and Gabrielle Richmond receive their runner-up awards from author Jeff Dingler at General Ray Davis Middle School
By Jeff Dingler
Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area just wrapped its first-ever Field Note Writing Contest, and two writers from right here in Henry County walked away with runner-up honors.
The contest invited writers across Georgia to submit personal essays and field observations inspired by the Arabia Mountain landscape, its trails, granite outcrops, history, and living ecosystems. The goal was simple: put into words what this remarkable natural and cultural landmark means to the people who experience it. Entries came from across the state. Two of the strongest came from the same school in Stockbridge.
Katy King is a visual arts teacher at General Ray Davis Middle School. Her runner-up essay traces a lifetime of experiences along the Arabia Mountain PATH, from childhood visits to the Monastery of the Holy Spirit with her parents, to leading her own students on field trips to Arabia Mountain, to watching her brother-in-law be laid to rest on the Monastery's Honey Creek Woodlands natural burial grounds. It is a moving essay about how a place becomes woven into a life.
Gabrielle Richmond is a rising 7th grader at the same school. Her essay takes a completely different approach, digging into the science and history of Arabia Mountain's signature Tidal Grey granite, the same stone used to build the Brooklyn Bridge, Bancroft Hall at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, and the historic Bruce Street School right here in the region. She also uncovered that the granite was once ground into chicken feed, making the Davidson Granite Company the largest chicken grit producer in the world.
Two writers. Two very different voices. One mountain that clearly leaves its mark.
About the Author: Jeff Dingler is the Communications Manager at the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area and an Atlanta-based writer with an MFA from Hollins University. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, New York Magazine, WIRED, and Newsweek.
10K Steps Is a Myth–Try This Instead
When motivation is lacking, jumping into heavy routines is the fastest way to burn out. That’s why millions of people are turning to walking as the foundation of their fitness journey.
Walking lets you enjoy the outdoors, clear your head, and practice mindfulness. It’s simple, sustainable, and can support lasting weight loss if you know how much you need. The “10,000 steps a day” rule is outdated; everyone’s lifestyle is different.
With Simple, you’ll get access to habit-based coaching that’s helped users lose over 18 million pounds. Take the quiz to discover your personalized walking target.
THURSDAY, JUNE 4
Local Farmers Market – Season Opens · 📍 97 Lake Dow Road, McDonough · 🕐 10AM–2PM · FREE · Every Thursday through August 27 · Henry County Master Gardeners kick off the season with perennials, vegetables, and native plants — proceeds support local 4-H scholarships and community grants.
Bike Night at Sweet Auburn BBQ · 📍 Sweet Auburn BBQ, 1828 Jonesboro Rd, McDonough · 🕐 5PM–9PM · FREE · Chrome shining, engines humming, BBQ smoking — Henry County's community bike night rolls in every first Thursday with live music, local vendors, and a parking lot full of impressive rides.
Arabia Reads ONLINE – Images of America: Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area · 🖥 Virtual via Zoom · 🕐 6PM–7:30PM · FREE · Co-authors Jeff Dingler and Brigette Jones present the first-ever book on Arabia Mountain and Lithonia .
FRIDAY, JUNE 5
The Mostly 80s Band · 📍 Southern Roots Tavern, 15 Griffin St, McDonough · 🕐 8PM–11PM · Doors 6PM · $13–$97 · 21+ after 8PM · A full night of 80s hits live on stage at Southern Roots — the decade that refused to be subtle.
Family Movie Night – Zootopia 2 · 📍 Stockbridge Main Street · 🗓 Friday, June 5 · FREE · Stockbridge Main Street brings back outdoor movie night under the stars — grab your lawn chairs and blankets for Zootopia 2.
McDonough Storytellers Film Festival · 📍 McDonough Square · Friday & Saturday, June 6 · Two days of film screenings, panels, workshops, and live performances across Story on the Square, Queen Bee Coffee, Macon Street Tacos, and Southern Roots.
Friday Nights with DJ Jada Byrd · 📍 1942 On The Square, 3B Keys Ferry St, McDonough Square · 🕐 Every Friday at 7PM · The weekend starts early on the Square. DJ Jada Byrd brings the energy every Friday night with food, flowing drinks, and a vibe. No cover mentioned so call ahead at 678-586-5590 to confirm.
SATURDAY, JUNE 6
Neighborhood Garage Sale — Parkside of Eagles Landing · 📍 Corner of Eagles Landing Blvd & Hwy 42, Stockbridge · 🕐 9AM–5PM · Multiple homes, multiple finds — furniture, tools, home décor, clothing, and more. Come early for the best picks.
Fur Marshal Low-Cost Pet Vaccine Clinic · 📍 Claude Gray Park, 99 Frances Ward Dr, Locust Grove · 🕐 10AM–Noon · $20 for first 100 Henry County pets · Full package includes exam, rabies, microchip, and more — food trucks, free pet food, and spay/neuter vouchers while supplies last. Register at helpspayneuter.org.
Arabia Reads – Walk & Talk at Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve · 📍 Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve, Lithonia, GA · 🕐 10AM–11:30AM · FREE · Co-authors Jeff Dingler and Brigette Jones lead a guided walk through the preserve while discussing their new book Images of America: Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area — register at arabiaalliance.org
Stereo Superstar – Hits from the 70s to 2000 · 📍 Southern Roots Tavern, 15 Griffin St, McDonough · 🕐 9PM–11PM · Doors 6PM · $18–$129 · 21+ after 8PM · Three decades of radio hits in one night — disco to grunge to early 2000s jams. The kind of show where every song triggers a memory.
Bad Dad Joke of the Day 🤣
I used to have a job at a calendar factory,
but I got fired because I took a couple of days off.🤣
That’s your Bird’s Eye View this Wednesday. 🦅👁️
Summer in Henry County is getting underway, but today’s stories are also a reminder that growth, rising costs, and community support systems are all becoming bigger conversations across Georgia and right here at home.
Got a tip, a story, or an event to share? Email [email protected].
Stay sharp, stay local. The Eagle Eye Digest 🦅👁️