🦅👁️🎀 Two Stories of Service, One Historic Vote and a Busy Weekend Ahead

🎀 Good morning, Henry County! 🎀

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and this morning we have a story about a woman who didn’t wait until she was well to start helping others. This Saturday, the McDonough Walking Club invites the community to wear pink for its Breast Cancer Awareness Walk. Details below.

We also have a Henry County firefighter who gave 31 years to this community and now needs our help, a historic vote in McDonough, and a voter registration deadline just three days away.

And if you haven’t checked out this weekend’s Weekend Eye, it’s right here. A lot is happening in our corner of Georgia.

Let’s get into it. 🦅👁️

HAMPTON - HAMPTON — The Georgia State Fair is back at EchoPark Speedway with carnival rides, games, fair food, live entertainment and family-friendly attractions. The fair runs through October 11.

📍 EchoPark Speedway · 🕐 12–11PM · 🎫 $15 adult gate · Get tickets and full schedule

HENRY COUNTY - Retired Lt. Kevin Gilham gave 31 years to Henry County Fire Rescue. Now he's battling leukemia, and his former department is asking the community to return the favor: donate blood platelets.

Platelets only last five days, so the need is ongoing. His son Mason serves with the same department today. "He's someone I have looked up to my whole entire life," Mason said.

Where to donate: Atlanta Blood Services, 220 Cobb Parkway N, Suite 100, Marietta, or ABS at Northside Hospital.

Why it matters: One of Henry County's own gave 31 years. Now it's our turn. Full story via Fox 5 Atlanta

MCDONOUGH- The McDonough City Council voted Monday to approve the Blacksville Historic Preservation and Community Action Plan, a blueprint for protecting one of the city's oldest historically Black neighborhoods.

The plan targets two immediate priorities: historic preservation and rehabilitating abandoned properties. Adopting it also makes McDonough eligible for ARC grants.

"We have a community of individuals who have lifted up this city over the last 40, 50-plus years," said Georgia Conservancy Program Director Nick Johnson. "As a city, we have to take responsibility."

Why it matters: Blacksville has been part of McDonough's story for generations. This plan says the city is finally investing in it. View the full plan · Henry Herald

HENRY COUNTY — If you're not registered to vote, Monday, October 5 is your last chance before the November 3 General Election. You can register online at Georgia.gov.

This Saturday, the Henry County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. will launch its Beauty, Barber and Ballots initiative, with members visiting beauty salons and barbershops in Hampton, Locust Grove, McDonough and Stockbridge to share voter information and encourage residents to register before Monday's deadline.

Early voting begins October 13.

Henry County voters will also see local referendum questions on the November ballot, including the FLOST referendum.

Why it matters: You can't weigh in if you're not registered. 3 days left.

STOCKBRIDGE - The first thing you notice about Rhonda Caldwell is her smile. The second is her energy.

Two years ago, Caldwell was bringing that same energy to Piedmont Henry while sitting in a chemotherapy chair.

Diagnosed with breast cancer in January 2024, she was still undergoing treatment when she found herself coaching the women around her.

“I would just be coaching everybody, and I would just be hugging everybody,” she remembers.

Her oncologist noticed. One day, his nurse called and told Caldwell there was another patient who needed her.

“What do they need?” Caldwell asked.

“They need your energy,” she was told. “They need to know how to get through this. They need to know how to survive.”

Soon, calls from other women facing cancer began coming in. Caldwell formed a breast cancer support group while still undergoing treatment herself.

“I created this group in the chemo chair,” Caldwell said. “While I was going through chemo, I was coaching other ladies who were going through chemo.”

Helping them became part of her own recovery.

Today, Caldwell is Piedmont Henry’s Cancer Wellness Program Coordinator, rebuilding a program designed to support people through the parts of cancer that extend beyond medical treatment.

The Thomas F. Chapman Cancer Wellness program has been part of Piedmont Henry since 2010, but had gone about four years without a coordinator. Now Caldwell is bringing that support back.

Cancer Wellness includes yoga and movement classes, nutrition and cooking programs, meditation, journaling and emotional support. Patients can also be connected with resources when finances or transportation become part of their journey.

“Just having a support system, that is wellness,” Caldwell said.

She understands that need from both sides.

“I can look at it from both sides,” she said. “The patient and the employee. What would I need? And then I can put it into place.”

Diane Spears knows what that kind of support can mean. Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2024, Spears connected with Caldwell after finding one of her flyers.

“You meet other people that understand you and where you’ve been and the things that you’ve gone through,” Spears said. “It’s a community.”

That may be the most important thing Caldwell now offers patients: the reassurance that the person sitting across from them understands the fear and uncertainty because she has lived it herself.

When someone asks whether she really understands what they’re going through, Caldwell answers easily.

“I do.”

Piedmont Henry’s Cancer Wellness program has a full schedule this month, with virtual and in-person activities including yoga, mindfulness, nutrition, writing for recovery, and support groups. October also includes Breast Cancer Awareness Tables throughout the hospital and a Cancer Wellness Meet and Greet.

For questions or more information, call 678-289-7717

THINGS TO DO

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2

Fall Georgia State Fair · 📍EchoPark Speedway, Hampton · 🕐 Oct. 2 – Oct. 11 · Multi-day county fair.

FoodeesFest · 📍 Tanger Outlet, Locust Grove · 🕐 Oct. 2 – Oct. 4 · Multi-day food festival.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3

Breast Cancer Awareness Walk · 📍 355 Jonesboro Rd., McDonough · 🕐 8:30–9:30 AM · Free · Wear pink and join the McDonough Walking Club for its monthly Weekend Wellness walk, hosted this month by Connecting Henry. A yoga-style warm-up with Sunja Dunnette begins before the walk.

Pet Soirée · 📍 North Mt. Carmel Dog Park, 307 N. Mt. Carmel Rd, Hampton · 🕐 Noon–3:00 PM · Free · Community pet event hosted by Henry County Parks & Rec and Animal Care.

Pickleball Palooza · 📍 Eagle's Landing Country Club Racquet Club, 100 Eagle's Landing Way, Stockbridge · 🕐 10:00 AM · Free, open to the public · All skill levels welcome, loaner equipment and refreshments provided.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4

Southern Soul · 📍 VyStar Amphitheater at the Bridge, Stockbridge · 🕐 7:00 PM · Ticketed · Sir Charles Jones, Calvin Richardson, and West Love.

Check out the Weekend Eye for more weekend events.

That's your Friday from the Eagle Eye Digest

Rhonda Caldwell's story is one worth sharing. If you know someone facing cancer, send them her way. And if you're not yet registered to vote, you have until Monday. Don't let the deadline sneak past you.

Know someone who should be reading this? Forward this issue to a friend and help us grow the flock. 🦅

And don't forget to follow us on Instagram @eagleeyedigest for updates between issues.

We'll be back Monday with the Morning Eye Opener. In the meantime, catch this weekend's Weekend Eye for more of what's happening around Henry County.

Until then, keep your eyes open and…

Stay sharp. Stay local. 🦅👁️