09.01.10

Hey Henry, someone needs to seriously check into what that smell is in the library in Stockbridge.

Hey Henry, hope all the commissioners that voted for the warehouse on King Mill Rd. got a chance to see the Clorox plant fire on TV. Welcome to your future.

Hey Henry, to the person who is misinformed regarding the newly appointed school superintendent. Check your facts, as previously recorded in this paper. Dr. Hildreth's children are not home schooled. While they were at one time, they were sufficiently prepared such that his son graduated from ELHS last year and is currently attending Georgia Tech. We should all hope to raise such bright children! Way to go, BOE for your wise decision.

Hey Henry, hate to break it to you, but that chicken biscuit you ordered is not pure chicken any more than that bologna you bad mouthed is a pork chop!

Hey Henry, ethics regulations for the BOC? Rules only reinforce an honest person's behavior. Like locks keep honest people honest. The problem with our BOC is living and acting by the principles they preach. Tar & feathers may serve as a good reminder.

Hey Henry, why do the elementary schools no longer use textbooks to teach grammar and math along with other subjects? Are we that broke that we have to buy the schools supplies, but they can’t splurge a dime to buy textbooks to teach my child? It would be much simpler to help study with my child if I knew what the teacher was teaching in class.

Hey Henry, Facebook may cost some Henry County employees their jobs. They have been warned but they did not listen.

Hey Henry, fried bologna biscuits are something many of us grew up with. Spam can also be fried or served right out of the can. Neither may suit the palate of folks who only eat the choice cuts.

Hey Henry, what's going on at the BOC? One set of minutes said "physical year" rather than "fiscal year" and also "the dog was rabbitt" rather than "the dog was rabid". Someone needs to proof those minutes before they are put in the County record.

Hey Henry, to the guy in line at Hardees. I was raised eating fried bologna sandwiches and biscuits. They are delicious. Anyway, who decided that chicken was a breakfast food?

Hey Henry, I was on the Square tonight and heard the music on the Square. Job, well done. It was very relaxing and loved watching my little kids dance and sing. Thanks, City Council and Tourism Board.

Hey Henry, what's it going to take to have something done about the horrid septic smell in the library in Stockbridge. It's getting worse every day! Can't be healthy for patrons or employees.

Hey Henry, to the person who flew past my son's bus as he was getting off on Coan Dr. (on 8/16), if you can't see those lights you shouldn't be driving, and if you hit a child, you'll never forgive yourself. Stop for the buses folks!

Hey Henry, you should not wait until 9/11 to show your appreciation for your local fire department. During this horrible time of budget cuts and downsizing, the fire department is often hit the hardest. These men and women are there 24/7 to protect you, your family, and your belongings. A furlough day for you might be 8 hours but for them it is 24 hours of pay when they are already paid very little. Stop by your local fire department and let them know how much you appreciate them. A kind word can mean the world.

08.25.10

Hey Henry, this morning I thanked my hens for not having their eggs recalled.

Hey Henry, the new superintendent of schools appointee in Henry County home schooled his children and we’re supposed to trust him to educate ours? Another brilliant move from our school board whose chairman lives in Florida and gave us this crazy schedule we now operate on.

Hey Henry, I would like to point out that while everyone is complaining about jobs and so forth., how about us seniors on social security and living alone. We don’t get raises anymore and our food, taxes, gas and everything have gone up. It is really getting hard to live from one month to the next. Just a concerned senior.

Hey Henry, to the person in the August 11 issue of the Times who was sitting on the Square staring at the statue and complaining about it. Maybe, instead of looking at the statue you should try looking for a job. Good Luck.

Hey Henry, it was so nice to see two young men being gentlemen and letting two young ladies get onto bus #62-1 first today at the stop on Hwy 81 and Mayo Road. I hope they keep up this fine example and, even though the parents may not have seen this kind act, I did. You can never tell when someone is watching.

Hey Henry, I know what's wrong with the world today. Nobody wants to get up and go to work. Nobody has any volition anymore.

Hey Henry, I would like to say thank you to Scott, the gentleman who stopped to help me when I ran out of gas Thursday on Eagles Landing Parkway. He very kindly pushed my car out of the street and happened to have some gas on his van. I truly appreciate this act of kindness.

Hey Henry, we would enjoy a bridge or decking (with rules) over the preserves on Hudson Bridge Road. A sidewalk leading to already established parking would also be nice. The ecology would give the schools a great local and creative learning outlet, not to mention using it for family time.

Hey Henry, yes, school has started back and of course there is more traffic. Everyone please take a couple of extra seconds and be careful. So glad Officer George wasn't hurt more seriously yesterday in an accident that could have been tragic. He's a great friend and a great cop and we love him! So glad the other person wasn't hurt either. Get well soon, George!

Hey Henry, I have lived on Hwy 155N right outside the city limits since I was twelve years old. The traffic is so bad I can hardly get out of my driveway. I have come close to being hit 2 or 3 times. Please don’t speed up after you pass the city limits and don’t throw your trash in my ditch.

Hey Henry, to the woman in the black Yukon XL in the Ola Elementary car rider line, if you want to be first in line why don't you try getting there the earliest. The rest of us were there thirty minutes before you shoved your way to the front. You should have been taught in kindergarten to take your turn.

Hey Henry, a guy in front of me in the Hardee’s drive-thru this morning asked if they had fried bologna biscuits. I threw up in my mouth a little bit when I heard that. Dude, it’s 7 a.m.! Get a chicken biscuit or something normal!

08.18.10

Hey Henry, the article by Melissa Robinson, "Threads of Love” was wonderful. We are especially thankful for having the opportunity to read the article since our very dear friend, Susan Bowers, is a charter member of “Threads of Love.”

Hey Henry, I think the ethics regulations for the Board Of Commissioners are way overdue...

Hey Henry, I am sure everyone is wondering why we don't have the Kroger on Hwy. 81. It is because the county hasn't fixed Racetrack Rd. like they said they would. There has to be a stop light there before the store can come in. Come on Henry County, this is a "horrible"intersection with or without a grocery store!

Hey Henry, to the person who found the Confederate Monument so tacky and distasteful, I feel it only worthwhile to remind them that Highway 42 runs both North and South, and that Delta is ready whenever you are! A monument can mean most good or bad to anyone. It's our right to free speech that we all fight for everyday.

Hey Henry, to the parents that have to drop off and pick up their kids at school, please show a little common courtesy to the crossing guards. They are there to do a job that helps keep our kids safe. It makes no sense to verbally abuse these men and women, this only sets a bad example for everyone's children.

Hey Henry, if you're so disgusted and insulted by the history of the state/area, that you chose to live in, then please feel free to move.

Hey Henry, to the person who said they "loathe and detest it" (the Confederate statue on the square); May I suggest that you stop sitting in the park and looking at it? Maybe you will feel better. You are not likely to change the fact that the statue is there and will more than likely remain there. Your rantings will probably only cause more answers like the one I am giving to your poorly described reasons for "loathing it."

Hey Henry, a very special thank you to Officer P. Pressly and Detective Stotts for the fine work you did this week. My good friend's granddaughter stole her car and bank card. These two policemen were very concerned for my friend's well being and the safety issue for her granddaughter as well. They kindly kept my friend informed and were swift and relentless in following all leads. Sad she had to go to jail, but she is out of harm's way. Thank you Henry County Police for a job well done!

Hey Henry, ever since you said it, I can't un-see the ugliness of that statue on the square. Jebediah Springfield it ain't!

Hey Henry, it's an insult to all police, fire, EMS and military personnel to construct that Mosque at the site of the 9/11 incident. I know politicians allow some stupid things to go through at times, but did all of the ones who approved that smoke crack that morning? Come on folks, realize who put you in office and start thinking for us instead of against us ! Look at the polls---we're slowly but surely voting all of you out. And there is a reason!

Hey Henry, the eighth annual Mr. and Miss Special Henry County Pageant was an awesome experience! A lot of tears and smiling faces! Congrats to all the winners.

Hey Henry, I wish the city council of Stockbridge would get over their buddy losing his Mayorship by the people voting him out. Get on with business and work with the new Mayor or the people will speak again next election for city council. The people of Stockbridge deserve better than this.

08.11.10

Hey Henry, I believe it was Mark Twain who commented, “There is nothing as irritating as a good example.” That must explain why I like the Hey Henry so much!

Kudos to officer W. Barnett of the McDonough PD. My truck was stolen at 1:23 a.m. I reported it at 1:29 a.m. and within 15 minutes he had the truck at my door and the perps in hand. He did it single handed. He’s got to be the best officer in McDonough and possibly the best in the world.

Hey Henry, I have been running (jogging) Hwy. 42 between Eagles Landing and the Square since 2002. There is a car that passes me almost every morning between 3:40 a.m. and 4 a.m. It’s a black SUV and as he/she passes me he/ she gives me a gentle two honks of the horn. I know this is a sign he/ she is saying hey to me and sending me encouragement. Thanks to this person for being so kind to do this, it makes my day! Even with head phones on I know the sound of this car. Would love to know this kind person.

Hey Henry, what’s the deal with Peeksville Road? Did we run out of money for asphalt? I wonder if these tax-paying residents enjoy eating all that dust?

Hey Henry, you know the little White house on 81 - the one there by the feed store. It added a whole bunch of parking places. Well, it’s going to be a used car lot - not what we need here.

Hey Henry, thank you Henry County Library System for the fun magic show to start off the summer reading program! But please use the big, new, spacious room and don't try to fit the whole county in that little room in the front. Isn't that why we have the addition?

Hey Henry, Amen to the person that wrote in to get Mt. Bethel Road off Hwy 81 paved. While they are paving down there…..could they please pave the upper end of Sandy Ridge Road? You have to ride in the resident’s yards just to keep cars going in the opposite directions from colliding.

Hey Henry, the parking meters around McDonough Square are a detriment to encouraging shoppers to have lunch and stroll around. It's hurting the businesses that are trying to be successful. If nothing else, they should put a 4 hour limit on them (presently 2 hours). Some of my customers have complained that they can't even sit down for a leisurely meal without running out to the meter! I've had others tell me that they have quit shopping the Square because of the aggravation of the meters.

Hey Henry, in light of the AMS announcement that there will be only one NASCAR race yearly beginning 2011, I hope that the Henry County BOC passes a unanimous resolution at the next meeting to change the name of Bruton Smith Parkway to “Thanks for Nothing Parkway” since he has turned his back on us, and done away with a lot of jobs and tax revenue for Henry County.

Hey Henry, after sitting on a bench on the Square and studying the Confederate statue, I've decided that I loathe and detest it and everything it stands for. My reasons are that it's ugly, obviously made assembly-line ... it looks like a molded-concrete lawn ornament; it's not even accurate, except for the rifle-musket, all the figure's clothes and equipment are from the Spanish-American War; and it glorifies as bad a cause as has ever been, a disastrous, futile war we should have been smart enough to avoid, fought to preserve a hideous system which still poisons our society; and it's a continuing insult to our black population. ... a more realistic statue would show a slave being whipped or a freedman being burned at the stake.

08.04.10

Hey Henry, the evil, sadistic man who privately humiliates his employees every Friday morning stooped so low to publicly humiliate one last week. It's time he knew that Karma comes for all!

Hey Henry, forget about trying to get the OHS Marching Mustangs sent to London. Tonight after their practice the band found out that THE TRIP GOT APPROVED! So every Friday night go watch them and go to their competitions especially October 30th at the Georgia Dome for the Bands Of America competition! Congrats OHS for all your hard work it pays off in the end.

Hey Henry, I just wanted to give a great big THANK YOU to my husband Ben, who is always there for me no matter how much of a pain I am (sometimes).... Luv you, Tu Gorda

Hey Henry, to the lady that saw me stop for the Geese. I stop for the Geese for two reasons: 1. If I hit them it will damage my vehicle. 2. It's against the law to intentionally kill the nasty stinking things. If you don't think they are nasty and stinking, just wait until 50 of them take up residency in your backyard!

Hey Henry, just a quick lesson in life - when you're loyal to an employer and are dismissed, it's an extra slap in the face when they try to keep you from collecting your rightfully earned unemployments benefits until a new job can be secured. Be nice and play fair. It could be you or your family member who is unemployed. Just try to respect your fellow man. Even if you think you're smarter than they are.

Hey Henry, to the person complaining about a Realtor not driving you around in their car to look at homes. It's a safety precaution that must be taken in the world we live in now. You may be a very trustworthy person but, not everyone is and it is one of the ways we can protect ourselves. We already have to take precautions when showing homes. People have been known to set up showings with agents just to get them out to a house while the other person will be there waiting on them to get there and rob, rape or kill them or the homeowner(s)... or all of the above! Please try to see it from our point of view. It's unfortunate that we can't trust people as much as we used to.

Hey Henry, I thought people were doing "staycations," guess not, everyone I call is on vacation out of state, seems folks still have plenty of the green stuff.

Hey Henry, The blame for the kids not passing the CCRTs is shared - budget cuts, crowded classrooms, uncaring teachers, and parents who aren't helping their child at home. The kids deserve better.

Hey Henry, PARENTS, PLEASE put a little sun hat on your babies/toddlers head when you're out during the day. Do you not realize how harmful the strong sun can be to them?

Hey Henry, would someone please tell me when people work. I am retired and everytime I go into a store or restaurant in the daytime they are full. I find it difficult to shop for basic needs these days.

Hey Henry, It is a shame that the people who are working in the Square and trying to make it a better place are finding it harder and harder to find parking. The space between the Welcome Center and the Chafin Building is now being rented for $30.00 a month.

07.28.10

Hey Henry, we just spent a week at Shingleroof Campground (off Campground Road in McDonough) for the annual "camp meeting." We want to offer our sincere gratitude to the Henry County Sheriff's Reserve officers who so patiently and thoroughly patrolled the area during this time. We walked our three dogs as late as 11:00 at night and always felt safe. Thanks, again, Henry County.

Hey Henry, realtors need to learn to give some customer service, it has been years since one has actually taken me in their vehicle to look at a home.

Hey Henry, please let me know the identity of the local official who wants to demolish Toby Springs so that I can vote for him in any and all coming elections!

Hey Henry, please ask the Board of Education why they won't approve a trip to London by the Ola High School Marching Band. The band has been invited to march in the New Years Day parade in 2012. The entire trip would be paid for by the students-not cost the school board or the taxpayers a dime-yet the BOE thinks it will make the county school system look bad. How can one of our schools being invited to participate in such a prestigious event make the county look bad?

Hey Henry, I’m so tired of hearing about Obama's golf outings, basketball games, and vacations! Another one scheduled for August on the Gulf Coast. Good photo op I guess. No wonder our country is not improving. He never works!

Hey Henry, it does my heart good to see drivers stopping to let a family of geese cross a four-lane road.

Hey Henry, just because I leave my job for lunch......it does not mean that I want to stop by a fast food place and get your lunch. Go get it yourself...why should I spend up to 15 minutes of my time in a drive through while you are kicked back resting on your lunch break. At least offer to get me a coke or something.

Hey Henry, I just want to make a comment about how some people leave their goods out front at the Salvation Army Store on Racetrack Road after it is closed. Whoever you are, you should be ashamed. This store does not deserve this kind of treatment. There are a lot of people, including myself, that shop there and when this happens, its as if you are just throwing your leftovers to the dogs. Have more pride for the American person. Remember this is America, not some third world country.

Hey Henry, if you can't contact your commissioners, then who can you contact?

Hey Henry, to the wonderful person who found my mobile phone (Sony Ericsson, western boot on back) at the McDonough library and turned it in, MANY thanks! My budget is too tight to buy another one.

Hey Henry, 38% of Henry’s schools did not make AYP. However, by September that number should go down due to retakes and appeals. If you want to blame someone, look in the mirror, not at the schools, and especially not the teachers.

Hey Henry, why does the county keep raising the starting pay on some jobs but does nothing for the people that have been there for a while? Keep compressing the pay scale...real smart.

07.21.10

Hey Henry, who is in charge of furlough days for the County? Apparently no one. What a mess.

Hey Henry, we need an indoor pistol/ rifle range in Henry co. We should not have to drive to Clayton Co. to be able to enjoy shooting our guns. My wife and I wanted to go shoot last Friday and of course traffic north on 75 was stopped, and it took us an hour to get to the range in Forest Park. When we got there at 7:08 they told us the range closes an hour before the store at 8. Needless to say we weren't happy. It would be great to have one closer to home. I know a lot of people who would use it.

Hey Henry, since counties are making many cutbacks perhaps the Henry County Water Authority could cut out its one week stay each year to Savannah while we the taxpayers pay for them to bring their wives and stay in luxury.

Hey Henry, most citizens know the four lane Jonesboro Road is nothing but a "honey hole" for the local police to collect revenue. The ridiculous 45 m.p.h. speed limit is strictly enforced. Set your cruise control when you hit that road and don't give them your money.

Hey Henry, I think the bring-your-dog-to-dinner outside at PJ's is a great idea! Finally the Square has something new.

Hey Henry, someone recently asked why the residents of Toby Springs can't get some safe way to walk to town or the shopping center. Well, here's why--A local official sitting across a conference table from me said that he'd like to have all the housing there demolished because it's "blighted." This was the third or fourth housing area for which he used that word; they all just happen to be full of non-whites.

Hey Henry, as back to school season starts, how about helping out all of us furloughed school teachers by sending in the kleenex, hand sanitizer, and other donations we ask for, so we don't have to use our furloughed paychecks to buy it ourselves. Because that is exactly what all of us do!

Hey Henry, save our tax dollars and disregard the suggestion sent in last week to put out signs reminding drivers to 'stop for pedestrians in marked crosswalks' as, it's pretty much common knowledge, the majority of Henry County residents can't read.

Hey Henry, is the take gap give gap just too hard for some of you to figure out when traveling through the square? or are many of you like some of the Henry Co Police when coming through there, it just doesn't apply to you! Pay attention people and TAKE and GIVE the gap. As for the police, if you're on a call, turn your lights on.

Hey Henry, thank you Henry County Times and People First. The Special Pagent is a big part of what makes Henry County special! Melissa Dodgen thank you for daring to believe and dream big dreams! This year my granddaughter Sherrie is living her dream because of special people like you and your mom.

Hey Henry, The Henry BOE Maintenance Department lost one of its workers (electrician) by the name of Darin McGahey last week in Florida. He saved some children from drowning in an undertow and lost his own life. The maintenance department and close co-workers will be praying for his family through these tough times. Even though Darin is not with us anymore, we will always be turning our heads towards that white county van with the big H on the side, Darin and his partner rode in and wondering why? God Bless the McGahey family.