2022 Winter Issue

community magazine 2022 WINTER ISSUE

PUBLISHERS

Meredith & Scott Tredeau 770-788-6795 info@thenewtoncommunity.com

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DIRECTOR OF SALES

Maree Cronan 770-530-7837 sales@thenewtoncommunity.com

FEATURES 6 A Way With Words 10 From Patients to Purses 14 Salt of the Earth

EDITOR

Brian Knapp PHOTOGRAPHERS

Emma Camfield Michie Turpin CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

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HEALTH & WELLNESS

SPORTS & RECREATION

22 A Transformative Triumph 28 Open Arms

36 Family Tradition 38 Fanning the Flames

Kari Apted Chris Bridges Michelle Floyd Nat Harwell Harold Miller Jr. Terri Webster ILLUSTRATOR

Scott Fuss The Newton Community Magazine is published quarterly. All contents are copyrighted by The Newton Community Magazine. Reproduction, in whole or part, without permission is prohibited. The Newton Community Magazine reserves liability in error to a printed correction.

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ARTS, EDUCATION & INNOVATION 44 Wise Beyond His Years 48 Creative K9 Cuisine

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LIVING

56 Starting Over 60 Full Throttle

On the Cover

REMEMBERING CHERYL LYN DELK by SCOTT FUSS

With reverence and respect, the past was tended and preserved for new eyes to see or that more familiar minds might revisit. Ideas became tangible under the skillful shaping and a deliberate pace of determination to make something beautiful and better. A community was cultivated, passions were shared, and the sun cast shadows on our paths in new and wonderful ways.

PUBLISHERS’ NOTE

We’ve been struggling with uncertainties lately. They usually just come from change: Our oldest started high school, and jobs changed. We know that change and uncertainty are the only constants in life, so we’ve been looking for ways to increase our capacity for dealing with them. We received some wise counsel from a friend this summer: Do one thing every day that makes you uncomfortable. Whether it’s something you don’t want to do, something you’re afraid to do, or something you don’t think you can do, “if it makes you uncomfortable,” she said, “do it.” In the beginning, it was tough. As easy as it would’ve been to stop, we kept going. Miraculously, difficult things became easier. When we realize it feels good to go beyond what we assume we’re capable of, it makes us want to do it again. It builds our endurance and tolerance for being uncomfortable. Our experience this summer helped us recognize the wisdom of doing things that make us uncomfortable. Deliberately making small changes in our habits and routines helps prepare us for the big changes when they come. The stories in this issue of The NEWTON Community Magazine are about people who stepped outside their comfort zones and experienced or accomplished the unexpected—people who discovered they were capable of more than they thought. Maybe we all are. Let’s get comfortable being uncomfortable and find out. May God bless and keep you. Scott and Meredith Tredeau

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F E AT U R E S

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A WAY WITH WORDS Bryson Jamal Stevens’ vivid imagination, talent for writing and love for sports allowed him to become a self-published author at the age of 9. His debut book follows the exploits of the Net Rippers, a fictional basketball team that turns to hard work in the face of long odds. by TERRI WEBSTER “With commitment, dedication and accountability, there is no way a team can lose.” The motto belongs to the Net Rippers, a fictional basketball team at the heart of young Bryson Jamal Stevens’ first published work of fiction: “Creating the Winning Team.” Available on Amazon. com, the 83-page book hit shelves on July 9, 2021. A story brewed in Bryson’s mind when he was 8, and the plot sprang to life when he used his Xbox to put together a dynamic team of players and saw them work hard to achieve success. He loosely selected some characters from his actual life and made up the rest for fun. By the time he turned 9, Bryson had authored and self-published his book while at home during the COVID-19 lockdowns. He now enjoys his dream of being a published author.

“I didn’t know I was going to write a book like that,” Bryson said. “I just wanted to write something about how to create a winning team.” Bryson started writing when he was 6. When he traveled with his family on vacations, his mother Taticasejuana always encouraged him to write down his thoughts. It was during this time when ideas filled his mind and his imagination developed. She often repeats one of her favorite quotes for him: “He who holds the pen, owns the story.” Taticasejuana encouraged him to create his own story in his voice, while she served as illustrator for the cover and the inside of Bryson’s book. While Bryson has played a variety of sports, from baseball and soccer to football and golf, he admits he loves basketball the most. He considers himself a fan of the Los Angeles Lakers and pays attention to what it takes to put together a successful team. “I love winning,” he said, “but the players are important.” Bryson believes every player on a team serves an important role and should be given the opportunity to compete. “Creating the Winning Team” follows a few friends, ranging in ages from 8 to 10, who form a basketball team called the Net Rippers. Another 2022 Winter Issue 7

F E AT U R E S

team—the Bull Gang—with bigger and older players, ranging in ages from 11 to 13, carries a reputation for bullying opponents. The story begins with all the children being released from school for an early spring break due to a pandemic. The Net Rippers decide to use their time wisely and make plans to practice every day in preparation for the inaugural 2020 Basketball All-Stars Tournament and an eventual showdown with the Bull Gang. “They believed in themselves and practice,” Bryson said, “and they encouraged each other a lot.” He speaks about some of the fictitious characters as if he knows each on personally, perhaps because he does. While the Net Rippers practiced and organized themselves, their opponents saw no need to work on their skills because they were bigger, better and meaner. Instead, the Bull Gang chooses to rely on their usual intimidation tactics to achieve victory. Finally, game day arrives, and the Net Rippers face the Bull Gang with determination and confidence. Bryson leaves the outcome and the details surrounding it to those who read his book, though he did admit readers could expect a sequel in the not-too-distant future. Bryson enjoys being homeschooled alongside younger brother Brinceton. Their parents compare them favorably to the two siblings on “Leave it to Beaver,” a popular 1960s sitcom both boys like to watch, along with “Garfield,” “Alvin and the Chipmunks” and Marvel-related shows. Bryson spends some of his free time reading to his younger brother, creating science experiments with his family and learning about financial literacy with his mother. Bryson and Brinceton even attended a business and public speaking class geared towards children in Grades 1–4 and Grades 5–8.

The young author dedicated his first book to God for giving him the desire to read, expressed gratitude to his mother for teaching him the importance of understanding what he was reading and thanked his grandmother for trusting him with her credit card to purchase books online. Bryson also remains forever grateful to his father, Alfred, who has worked with the City of Atlanta Police Department for 10 years and agreed to fund his son’s writing endeavors while providing additional support and encouragement. Bryson found influence outside of his immediate family, too. He credited Dan Moore, owner of the Apex Museum in Atlanta, where he met a 6-year-old author. Bryson recalls standing in line for an autograph, reading the book and realizing soon after that writing was an adventure he wanted to take. Bryson and Brinceton’s love for books can be traced back to before they were born when their mother started a personal library on their behalf. It now houses hundreds of books, including “Creating the Winning Team.” Taticasejuana describes Bryson as a delightful kid who always looks out for others. When she finished reading his book, she asked him why he made some of the choices he made as they relate to the Net Rippers and the Bull Gang. “Mom,” he said, “we all win when your team wins.”

“I didn’t know I was going to write a book like that. I just wanted to write something about how to create a winning team.” Bryson Jamal Stevens

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2022 Winter Issue 9

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FROM PATIENTS TO PURSES Lifelong trauma caught up to Shannon Monique once she became a nurse, leading to a stunning diagnosis: complex PTSD. Now an advocate for mental health care and wellness, she tapped into to her creative side as a means of treatment and hopes to lead others down the same road. by KARI APTED If Shannon Monique were to write a book, it might be titled, “Tales of a Nurse Turned Artist.” What sounds like a simple career change has actually been a long, complicated journey full of drastic ups and downs. Monique has an unusual reply for anyone who feels sorry for what she has endured. “I’m not,” she said. “I came out the other side a whole different person.” Originally from New Haven, Connecticut, Monique grew up in poverty. Though her mother did the best she could, there were many nights of going to bed hungry and many days of doing without. Even so, Monique excelled in school, calling it the one outcome she could control. She continued to do well academically, even as she dealt with the challenges of a teen pregnancy. “I had a lot of childhood trauma,” Monique said. “I just wanted to grow up and help my mom out. I’ve always gravitated towards helping people, but I thought the dream of going to college was beyond me, that I couldn’t do more than work at the corner store.”

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She could not afford to buy her senior yearbook, but she had dreams of becoming a nurse and had that goal printed beneath her picture. Five years later—after putting herself through nursing school—a friend showed Monique the yearbook. For the first time, she saw her photo with the words “plans to become a nurse” below it, and she was filled with pride over accomplishing what had once seemed impossible. Monique moved to Georgia in 1999, when her cousin encouraged her to come work as a travel nurse. She married and had another son but soon realized she was in a domestic violence situation. As had been the pattern her whole life, she persevered, sacrificing her wellbeing for the sake of others. Several years later, while working in the interventional radiology department at Emory, the stress from the abuse— from everything—caught up with her and she suffered a major gastrointestinal bleed. “The GI bleed kept me out of work for weeks,” Monique said. “At first, they thought I had Chron’s [disease]. I didn’t realize the depth of what was going on.”

“I’d like to see police officers, nurses, doctors, firefighters and EMTs get the help they need. A lot of them don’t even know PTSD is what they’re suffering from.” Shannon Monique

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She credits the crisis that nearly took her life with saving it. At a follow-up visit with her doctor, she broke down in tears. He insisted that she stop working altogether and referred her to a psychologist. Monique was diagnosed with complex PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder. Often thought of as a condition that primarily affects combat soldiers, PTSD can occur after any traumatic experience. Complex PTSD describes the condition when it stems from more than one type of trauma. In addition to childhood trauma and domestic violence, Monique’s nursing job added another layer. “I was always in the ICU, the ER, a burn unit or another high-stress environment at work,” she said. “A lot of people don’t realize the things we see every day when we help others. We almost never get to see the happy ending, to see our patients well and healthy again.” Monique’s psychologist wanted to admit her to an inpatient women’s treatment center, but she was unable to do so, as she needed to be at home with her sons. Instead, she went into the outpatient program at Skyland Trail in Atlanta. There, her inner artist emerged. “I started crocheting first, to stop biting my nails,” Monique said. “I was drawing like a 5-year-old, but we found out that I did really well with art therapy. My uncle was an artist—he would paint on the porch—and my mother would make all my clothes. She even drew her own patterns on paper bags. She didn’t teach me how to sew, but the creativity was already there inside me.” Monique has been in therapy and creating art ever since. She started doing self-portraits as a way of caring for herself and overcoming patterns of perfectionism and negative self-talk. “I wasn’t working as a nurse anymore—I wasn’t helping anyone else—so I started painting myself to learn who I was all over again. I had to learn that I’m worthy, I’m not stupid, I’m a beautiful person, I am not ugly,” Monique said. “I had to learn how to overcome all of that stuff. Perfectionism can be paralyzing. Excellence over perfectionism.” Monique has always had a love of purses, which began as a child when her mother used to buy little handbags for her. She decided to try her hand at making designer bags. Her new passion took her on what she calls a “mental walkabout” of world travel. “I had the opportunity to go to Italy and take classes on leather bag production and design. I also studied oil painting portraiture there,” Monique said. “I did an internship in New York with a celebrity bag maker and, in 2018, was invited to India by The Leather Council. I was sitting there in India, surrounded by all these great people and thinking to myself, ‘Wow… and people used to tell me I was nothing.’” Monique now teaches others how to make designer bags via Zoom classes. She has collaborated with a friend from Italy to teach a new bag pattern together, and her Curvy Clutch bag pattern has been bought by people around the world. She plans

to do more publishing, and though she faithfully renews her nursing license every few years, she has no plans to return to her previous profession. “I keep getting all these job offers, and it’s very tempting to go back into that, but I can’t do it, not right now,” she said. “It’s not therapeutic for me.” Monique still struggles with anxiety, night terrors and insomnia. Looking back, she realizes that the signs of PTSD were there long before she knew it was afflicting her. “I dissociated a lot,” she said. “Like, I would get ready for work but not remember getting dressed. I would dream about patients, ventilators, alarms and wake up not knowing if I was at home or at work. I thought I was crazy, but I never thought anything above myself. I thought, ‘It’s just you being you, Shannon.’”

Monique has become an ardent advocate for mental health care. She believes that since the brain runs everything, if the brain is not healthy, nothing else can be. She would like to see more mental health care services and facilities available to medical personnel and first responders suffering from job-related PTSD. “I’d like to see police officers, nurses, doctors, firefighters and EMTs get the help they need,” she said. “A lot of them don’t even know PTSD is what they’re suffering from. I’m willing to help out and do my part. I consider that nursing from a different realm.” Monique encourages people to go after what they need to achieve mental health and wellness, and she urges them to embrace the journey. “Drawing the stick figure—that’s part of the process,” she said. “Learn to appreciate and enjoy the process. There are too many people in this world to cry alone. We are all connected in this universe. We’re all in it together.” 2022 Winter Issue 13

F E AT U R E S

SALT OF THE EARTH As a sixth-generation farmer, Fred Greer set out long ago to leave the land better than he found it. His life and career may have taken many unexpected twists and turns, but the 6-foot-3 Southern gentlemen never strayed far from his roots. by NAT HARWELL I have always loved the land. As a social studies teacher in one of my lives, my favorite pursuit was to study geography in magazines like National Geographic, reference books like Encyclopedia Britannica, atlases, contour relief maps and now Google Maps via the Internet. As a Boy Scout, I was taught to “pack out your trash” and to “leave the campsite better than you found it,” along with many other invaluable teachings. Growing up in the Deep South, my favorite time of year was the dead of winter. That was when I could actually see the hills and the lay of the land and clearly follow water’s course, as the summertime foliage no longer obscured the view. A couple decades ago, I wrote a newspaper column in which I talked about the different sound the wind makes as summer departs and autumn announces its arrival. I had been sitting on an eastern Newton County hillside near the Charlie Elliot Wildlife Center wondering what to write, and I heard that distinctive sound of the wind rattling the leaves. That sound and the slant of the sun in the late afternoon—it brings an ethereal yellow-orange glow, almost like a fog—inspired the column. It came as a soothing balm the following week when I took a phone call from a fellow by the name of Fred Greer. He told me the column really spoke to him, which led to our having lunch together and launching a lasting friendship. I knew before we met that there had to be something special about someone who would call me out of nowhere, and I could not wait to see what manner of man would be so appreciative of a few hundred words expressing a love for the land.

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FRED WARREN GREER JR. WITH DOC AND BABE

As it happens, Greer is still a ramrod-straight, 6-foot-3 or so spitting image of what a genteel Southern gentleman looks and acts like in everyone’s imagination. A sixth-generation farmer, his family—the family for which the Hayston area is named— first settled near Mansfield in 1820. After school in his younger days, he toiled alongside his father on the family farm. While using a mule to help pull stumps out of a hollow as he helped build a pond, he learned the value of a strong work ethic and that the most important traits he could pursue were to build good personal character and unquestionable integrity. “Along the way,” Greer said, “I developed a deep-rooted love of the land. I love the way it interacts—literally—with

FRED WARREN GREER JR. WITH SON FRED WARREN GREER III

everything. I wanted to always be a good steward of this land and to leave it better than I found it.” Greer can consider that mission accomplished. He has cattle, timber holdings and hay fields, and he manages the entire sprawling farm with such a pure ecological intent that there is no fouled water to be found anywhere, even in the fenced areas where his cows feed and water. People in Greer’s position do not receive accolades by being less than the absolute best at what they do. In 2006, he was recognized as the national winner of the Environmental Stewardship Award by the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Resources Conservation Service, having been nominated by the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association. 2022 Winter Issue 15

F E AT U R E S FRED WARREN GREER SR. WITH SON FRED WARREN GREER JR.

“I credit God and my Daddy and the support of my wife Peggy for that honor,” Greer said. “We’re a partnership, Peggy and me, as we have been from the first time I ever laid eyes on her. She got on the school bus after moving to Mansfield from Augusta when we were in fourth grade.” Fred and Peggy Greer were sweethearts right from the start, from Mansfield graduation in eighth grade and Newton High School to his time at the University of Georgia and his 1957–65 enlistment in the United States Army. He built his academy legacy, and Peggy worked in banks such as Clark Federal and Newton Federal. Married for 61 incredible years, they have two children—Fred III and Lee Ann—and four grandchildren. I had not known about Greer’s military service, so I asked him about it once. “The Army is why I wear these hearing aids,” he said. “I was in the artillery, the 81st Anti-Aircraft unit, and was based at Fort Jackson on active duty and then did years of reserve duty at Fort Stewart down in South Georgia.” During his time in the military, Greer matriculated to UGA, where an entirely different and incredibly remarkable chapter of his life began to be written. While moving toward earning his bachelor’s degree in Agriculture and Environmental Sciences and eventually adding his master’s degree through the application of

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those tenets learned from his father, Greer attracted the attention of some of the movers and shakers who helped build Georgia agribusiness into the formidable force that fuels much of the state’s economy today. To list all the luminaries with whom Greer crossed paths would fill a small book, but he was twice Student of the Year in his division at the University of Georgia and earned the respect of people like J.W. Fanning, who headed the Agricultural Economics Department and later built Leadership Georgia. W.A. “Bill” Sutton, the man who built Rock Eagle in Putnam County as head of the Extension Service, enlisted Greer for the extension staff in Morgan County. By then, C&S Bank President Mills Lane, a major 4-H supporter, decided to create an agribusiness division within the bank and chose Greer to run it. Greer initially planned on being there for a little more than three years, but three turned into five and five turned into 28-plus. “C&S became like a family to everyone there,” he said. “No matter how large the division and the bank became, we ran it with our word as our bond. We expanded into government relations, as we knew virtually all the farmers and the bankers who financed those farmers across the state, and it grew from there.” 2022 Winter Issue 17

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“Along the way, I developed a deeprooted love of the land. I love the way it interacts—literally—with everything.” Fred Greer

However, when the era of mergers approached and C&S was about to become part of a larger enterprise, Greer decided it was the right time to call it a day. He had served on the agribusiness board, been President of the University of Georgia Agriculture Alumni Association and was the youngest member to be elected to the UGA Agriculture Hall of Fame on the first ballot. “My intent was to come home to farm,” Greer said with a chuckle, “but then Rob Fowler called one day and told me I needed to drop in on him at the Bank of Covington.” From that casual meeting, Mainstreet Holding Company was formed, and Greer served as president and CEO of Mainstreet Banks for another five years. “It was fun,” he said. “We were able to do business the old-fashioned way, with a handshake and by letting folks understand that our word was our bond.”

These days find the Greers enjoying life on the farm. On Sundays, Fred remains a fixture on the back right pew of Luther Hays Presbyterian Church in Hayston. They have restored some of the old buildings on their property, including the old store where they keep Coca-Colas and peanuts on hand, and they make sure they have a little something extra for a small herd of deer that visits regularly. I am eternally grateful that I ran across a case of writer’s block some 20 years ago and drove my old Jeep out to eastern Newton County, that I sat there on a hillside and heard the wind announce summer’s departure and autumn’s imminent arrival, that I wrote a simple column about loving the lay of the land and how much I love geography. Had it not happened, I doubt that I would have ever had the privilege of meeting one of the most truly remarkable people I have ever known. 2022 Winter Issue 19

H E A LT H & W E L L N E S S

A Transformative Triumph Traci Mask battled an aggressive brain tumor eight years ago, unaware that it was preparing her for another major battle ahead. Now cancer-free, the perseverant eternal optimist uses her experiences to help kids in need. by KARI APTED Traci Mask blamed the chairs at first. Working as a kindergarten paraprofessional at South Salem Elementary School in Covington, she felt sure that perching atop tiny plastic chairs all day was the reason for the odd numbness that came and went in her right arm. Still, she mentioned it to her doctor, who ordered an MRI. When her insurance refused to pay for the test, she brushed it off and kept living life as a working mom to son Ryan and daughter Lauren. When the symptoms continued, Mask’s doctor again requested an MRI, but coverage was denied a second time. As she worked out one day, the weight she was holding simply fell out of her hand. The bothersome right arm had gone completely numb. Soon after, Mask was talking to her husband, Shane, while driving to work. “I was talking so fast [that] he couldn’t understand what I was saying,” she said. Afraid that his wife was having a stroke, Shane told her to pull over immediately and raced to her location. The incident was enough for her insurance company

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to finally cover her MRI. They put her into the machine— then pulled her right back out and informed her that she needed to go straight to the doctor’s office. There, she learned that she had a softball-sized brain tumor that needed to be removed immediately. Her neurosurgeon diagnosed her with meningioma, a fast-growing but non-cancerous tumor that grows in the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord. The surgeon told Mask it was the best kind of brain tumor from which to suffer, except for the fact that it would likely grow back. The surgery went well, and it was not long before she was back at work doing what she loved. Unfortunately, the prediction of tumor regrowth came true. Within two years, Mask had to undergo 25 rounds of radiation and a painful gamma knife procedure to halt its growth. It left her exhausted and without any hair. Though she was understandably hesitant, Mask realized it was time to turn in her notice at South Salem.

“People tell me I’m strong, that I’m stronger than them, but that’s not true. I have bad days, too. I didn’t think I could’ve gone through all of this, but the more I went through it, the more I saw what I could endure and the more confident I felt.” Traci Mask

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“I was so sad, but everyone there was so supportive,” she said. “They all did so much for me.” Mask knew that once she was well enough, she wanted to volunteer and find an avenue through which to continue her passion for helping children. “I googled ‘kids volunteering.’ That’s when I learned about Alcovy CASA,” she said, “but I had no idea what it was initially.” CASA—an acronym for Court Appointed Special Advocates—representatives are appointed by judges to advocate for the best interests of children in foster care or difficult family situations. Volunteers undergo an extensive training process before being assigned to a child or sibling group. They work with birth and foster parents, educators and social workers to ensure that judges have all the information they need to make the best choices for each child. Mask was eager to begin her training, but the coronavirus pandemic put those plans on pause. While rubbing lotion onto a sunburn on yet another fateful day, life brought Mask a new challenge. At first, she felt sick, because she knew that the lump her fingers slid across on her

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left breast was cancer. A week later, a mammogram, ultrasound, biopsy and MRI confirmed her instincts were correct. “It was Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, or IDC—Stage 3,” she said. “Thankfully, we caught it early enough that it hadn’t gone into any of my lymph nodes.” Mask did not have time to mentally process everything, as she plunged into another extensive treatment program. Her care team reassured her that she would be good to go in a year. However, the breast cancer treatments were, in some ways, harder than her brain tumor recovery. Because breast cancer runs in her family, Mask opted for a double mastectomy. It was followed by four rounds of chemotherapy. “I lost all my hair again,” she said. “The bone pain—it was like every bone in my body hurt. I only had to have four rounds, and I really don’t think I could’ve handled five. That was the only time through all of this that I felt like I couldn’t handle something.”

CASA was still on Mask’s mind as she endured chemo and breast reconstruction surgery. “I told myself that if I got through that last round of chemo, ‘I don’t care how I feel, I’m going to do this CASA class,’” she said, “and the day after the last chemo, I did the virtual CASA class, even though I felt awful.” Mask completed the required 30 hours of training and was assigned her first case in July 2021. She describes the experience as challenging but rewarding. Mask credits her family for keeping her motivated. “If it wasn’t for their confidence in me, I don’t know where I’d be. They have literally kept me alive. People tell me I’m strong, that I’m stronger than them, but that’s not true. I have bad days, too. I didn’t think I could’ve gone through all of this, but the more I went through it, the more I saw what I could endure and the more confident I felt.” Mask’s prognosis remains good. She is now breast cancer-free and undergoes an MRI every six months to track the meningioma’s growth. She still struggles with motor-skill issues, and cancer treatment threw her into early menopause. At age 50, she has already reached the lifetime limit allowed for radiation. Even so, she tries to wake up with a positive attitude every morning, thankful just to be alive. “Huge challenges are life-changing, but they change it for the better,” she said. “I always tell people they can get through this, and they’ll never be the same. If I’ve gotten through it, you can, too.” For more information about Alcovy CASA, and how to volunteer, visit AlcovyCASA.org.

H E A LT H & W E L L N E S S

GRACE & TRUTH

The Secret to Answered Prayer The lack of a personal relationship often stands between God and people simply because they have taken neither the time nor the effort to establish a connection to Him. by HAROLD MILLER JR. In 1 John 5:14–15 (KJV), we read the following: “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.” This passage contains one of the great secrets to answered prayer. However, the sad reality today is that there are many so-called Christians who lack confidence in prayer, and one of the reasons they lack confidence in prayer is because they lack confidence in God. Why is that the case? Why would people lack confidence in God? Well, you cannot have confidence in someone you do not trust, and you cannot trust or have faith in someone you do not know. You cannot know someone without having a relationship with them, and you cannot have a relationship with them if you have no communication or interaction with them. As mentioned, many people lack confidence in prayer because

“God is knowable, and God desires to have a personal relationship with all of us. We can know God through His word because that is how God reveals Himself to us.” New Hope Baptist Church Pastor Harold Miller Jr.

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they lack confidence in God; and they lack confidence in God because, contrary to the doctrinal creeds they espouse, they have no real personal relationship with God. God is knowable, and God desires to have a personal relationship with all of us. We can know God through His word because that is how God reveals Himself to us. Just as we can know any person through their word, we can know God through His word. The text I cited states that if we ask anything according to God’s will, God hears us. How can we know what we ask is according to His will? By reading His word, which reveals His will. Now, the prime prerequisite to confidence in prayer is that we have a proper relationship with God. Contrary to popular belief, God does not hear every prayer a sinner prays. The only prayer God hears from a sinner is the prayer of repentance. Until we repent of our sins and turn to God for forgiveness and salvation, we have no basis for a relationship with God. In fact, even after we are in a right relationship with God, He still does not hear our prayers if we are out of sorts with Him because of unconfessed sins or out of sorts with one another because of strife or unforgiveness. Prayer is not just the matter of a magical chant. There are certain preconditions that must be met and maintained. Once the prerequisites are met and maintained, we can have confidence that God will hear and answer our prayers. Harold Miller Jr. is the pastor of New Hope Baptist Church in Covington. For information, visit NewHopeCOV.com.

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O P E N

A R M S

The Covington First United Methodist Church Food Ministry serves anywhere from 60 to 100 families three times a week, oftentimes extending the hand of goodwill to those who need it most. by TERRI WEBSTER As the current director of food ministry at Covington First United Methodist Church, Megan Hulgan makes a bold promise: “No one leaves empty-handed.” What began in a closet many years ago at the behest of a small Sunday School class led by Buster Gregory has blossomed into a full-time food ministry. In the early days, food distributions were every other month, with each family receiving one bag of canned food and one bag of dry food. Eventually, Elizabeth Holcomb was brought in to grow Covington FUMC Food Ministry and Resources, and in 2016, it became a partner agency of the Atlanta Community Food Bank. Today, it serves anywhere from 60 to 100 families three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. A mobile food pantry serves the community, as well, usually on the first Saturday of each month. God’s calling remains the pulse behind the continual growth of the program, along with a heart to help feed those in the community who

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may be vulnerable to food insecurities. With the full support of Covington FUMC Senior Pastor Douglas Gilreath, the outreach offers no-strings-attached, non-discriminatory service administered by those who volunteer under Hulgan’s direction. Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, only Newton County residents were eligible to participate in the weekly food distributions. However, food needs became greater and broader during the global health crisis, so the ministry expanded to include Butts, Jasper and Morgan counties. The partnership with the Atlanta Community Food Bank allows the ministry to purchase items at extremely low costs under two government-funded programs. The Emergency Food Assistance Program and the Georgia Nutrition Assistance Program require that participants qualify by meeting several risk factors, such as low income and having a child under 18 years of age living in the home. “The food has helped us fill in the gaps as far as meals for us,” an anonymous participant in the GNAP program said. “The food and goodies are a big help. I appreciate y’all.” The FUMC ministry puts an additional safety net in place. “Even if someone doesn’t qualify for food under either of those programs, we always have emergency food bags prepared from private donations,” Hulgan said. “No one who comes to us will leave without food.”

“I walk away from every day knowing that we have worked together to make our world just a little bit better for God’s glory.” Megan Hulgan

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Covington First UMC on Oct. 23, 2021 hosted a Change the World event—a community outreach affair through which the food ministry gave away 27,000 pounds of food. Their efforts have not gone unnoticed. “Your pantry has helped so much,” another anonymous recipient said. “My daughter and I are so blessed that we can pay her medical copays because we are able to save money because of the generosity of your food pantry.” The ministry has grown other branches since its inception, including Pet Food Recovery. Volunteers meet at Rescue Ranch in Rutledge, where they pack bags of dog and cat food, then deliver it to the pantry for distribution throughout the week. Outreach does not end there. The ministry also works with the Society of St. Andrew and Oxford Organic Farm to collect leftover crops after harvest and further buoy the food pantry. “The most rewarding aspect of my job is being able to work with a diverse community to help our neighbors in their time of need,” Hulgan said. “Anytime I’m tired or exhausted or having a bad day, I will, without fail, have an encounter with either a food pantry guest or a volunteer which reminds me of the great opportunity I have been given to serve God and my neighbor.” The ministry tends to a variety of other community needs. Hulgan estimates she deploys between 20 and 30 volunteers on a regular basis and can always use more help. Opportunities abound.

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“There are daily phone calls from neighbors facing homelessness or a medical emergency or transportation emergency, and there is a constant shuffle to try to meet those needs,” Hulgan said. “I walk away from every day knowing that we have worked together to make our world just a little bit better for God’s glory. There is never a slow day at the office.” For information on the Covington First United Methodist Church Food Ministry, visit CovingtonFirst.org/FoodMinistry, by phone at 770-786-7305 or by email at foodpantry@covingtonfirst.org.

S P O R T S & R E C R E AT I O N

34 The Newton Community Magazine

FAMILY TRADITION Kyla Stroud’s father played football for the legendary Pat Dye at Auburn University in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Now, more than two decades later, she plans to follow in his footsteps, albeit on another field of play. by CHRIS BRIDGES Family means a great deal in the Stroud household. It certainly comes into play when Horace Stroud and his daughter, Kyla, talk about Auburn University and the qualities that drew both of them to the school. Horace, who works as the athletic manager for the Newton County Recreation Commission, was a standout football player at Rockdale County High School in the 1980s and continued his academic and athletic pursuits at Auburn (1988–91). Kyla, meanwhile, already has her path mapped out once she graduates from Newton High School. She committed as a seventh grader to play fast-pitch softball for the Lady Tigers. The decision was hers and hers alone. Horace remembers his own courtship with Auburn. “For me, Auburn had a hometown feel to it,” he said. “It felt more like home than any other place I considered. There was just a strong family vibe when I went there. Of course, I was also a big Bo Jackson fan, so that probably influenced me some. I was a homebody. I didn’t want to go to school so far away that my parents could never see me play, and I didn’t want to be so far away that I couldn’t go back home if something happened. Auburn was ideal because it was far enough away that I couldn’t run home every day, but it was not too far from home, either.”

Horace also felt an immediate connection to hall of famer Pat Dye, who led the Tigers to 99 victories, four Southeastern Conference championships and five Top 10 finishes during his 12 seasons as the school’s head football coach. “Coach Dye was such a father figure to me,” he said. “He was a great man.” Not long before Dye’s death in June 2020, he met Kyla and assured

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her that she would be taken care of at Auburn. “He told her that I was like a son to him,” Horace said. “The enthusiasm that Coach Dye showed me and Kyla is something that is hard to overlook. He was just a great person, as well as a great coach.” Kyla’s athletic interests were difficult for her father to decipher initially. When she was 4 years old, she played for a co-ed baseball team but let it be known that it was not for her. Horace thought his daughter was looking elsewhere, so he enrolled her in gymnastics and ballet. “What it turned out to be was that she did not want to play baseball with boys,” he said. “Softball was her passion, even early on.” Kyla established a Newton County Recreation Commission record when she blasted 16 home runs as an 8-year-old. Her prodigious skills only developed further from there, and she made her college intentions known at 13 while still at Cousins

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Middle School. Horace at first encouraged his daughter to consider possibilities other than Auburn, fearing many would believe her decision had been based solely on past history. “I told her not to go just because I went there,” Horace said. “I told her to make the decision that best fits her. She has always been an Auburn fan—we were dressing her in Auburn clothes almost as soon as she was born—but this had to be her choice. Once we drop her off, she has to be comfortable enough to stay.” There was significant interest from other major programs, including Georgia, Georgia Tech, Oklahoma, Washington, Notre Dame and LSU. However, Kyla cited the family environment that was present when she visited Auburn as one of the strongest selling points. She claims she would have made the same decision, regardless of whether or not her father had once attended college there.

“I told her to make the decision that best fits her. She has always been an Auburn fan—we were dressing her in Auburn clothes almost as soon as she was born—but this had to be her choice. Once we drop her off, she has to be comfortable enough to stay.” Horace Stroud

“I was very impressed with the facilities, as well,” Kyla said. Kyla helped lead Newton to the state playoffs as a junior in 2021, splitting time between first and third base. She battled a shoulder injury throughout the season but still batted .419 with 33 runs batted in and a .761 slugging percentage. Kyla figures to enter her senior campaign as one of the most feared hitters in the state, although she and her father understand the journey has only just begun. “She worked to get to this point,” Horace said, “but she has to keep working.” Kyla speaks with a confidence that belies her youth and sounds willing to embrace the challenges that remain in front of her. “I really enjoy the sport,” she said. “I guess you have to love it to have done it for as long as I have. I can’t imagine not playing. I’m glad the decision on where to go to college has been made. Now I concentrate on getting back to 100% and continuing to improve my game.”

S P O R T S & R E C R E AT I O N

FA N N I N G THE FLAMES Paul Passmore has spent a lifetime searching for avenues through which to stoke his competitive fires. Nearly a decade ago, he settled on professional arm wrestling. by CHRIS BRIDGES Paul Passmore admits to having an unusually strong competitive nature. It drove him into a variety of sports, from wrestling and football to boxing, karate and even mixed martial arts. Passmore has never been able to shake the desire to test himself. In a quest for a new challenge, he eventually turned to the sport of arm wrestling. He threw himself into the endeavor and, as one of the few competitors who excels both right-handed and left-handed, has spent the better part of a decade building a resume and involving those closest to him. “My whole life I have been extremely competitive,” Passmore said. “Arm wrestling has now become a family thing for me.” He took a circuitous route to the table. Passmore, who was a 189-pound state wrestling champion in high school, went to Valdosta State University to play football. However, he suffered a torn ACL in college, which prompted him to take a new turn. Passmore worked as a bouncer, and the bar that employed him hosted regular cage fighting events. After watching others compete, he decided to give it a go.

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“This was before anyone really knew about MMA,” he said. Passmore climbed the ladder and ultimately captured a championship in a regional promotion. By the time he reached his early 30s, he new he needed to step away from combat sports. His job as a Newton County firefighter ate up much of his time and cut into his training, and he was now married. Passmore’s wife, Cathy, was supportive of his pursuits, but when he elected to leave MMA in his rearview mirror when the couple’s oldest son, Daniel, was born. While his goal of someday competing in the Ultimate Fighting Championship never materialized, Passmore takes pride in what he accomplished as a mixed martial artist. However, his competitive thirst remained unquenched. Passmore entered his first arm wrestling tournament in 2014. “I needed something to push me,” he said. “I needed to be motivated to stay in shape and to eat right. I seemed to have a knack for arm wrestling. I will say it is a giant step going from amateur to pro. I compare it to going from high school football to the NFL.”

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“It’s the type of sport that many men in their upper 60s are dominant. They will go up to the table and rip someone arm’s off. I figure I can stay highly competitive until my 50s. You just have to put in the work.” Paul Passmore

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As with any athletic endeavor, the risk of injury exists. Passmore had already won four national championship and was in search of his fifth when he broke his right arm during a competition. “I did something a little risky since so much was on the line,” he said. In arm wrestling, competitors are divided by weight. Passmore won his first two national championships as a heavyweight, then decided to move down in weight to compete at a lower weight class. Later, he moved back to heavyweight. “In the last three years,” he said, “the heavyweight division has become very competitive.” Passmore’s wife has also entered tournaments, along with Daniel, now 12. He has already registered victories against teenagers and some adults. “Arm wrestling is really a technical sport,” Passmore said. “At first I thought, like most people, that you just grab your opponent’s arm and went after it.” After his time as a firefighter, Passmore moved into the construction field. He and his wife welcomed a second son, Henry. Through it all, Passmore continued to compete and his

list of accomplishments continued to grow. He won the 2018 American Armsport Association 242-pound national championship, going undefeated with both arms. Passmore also captured the Power House Arm Wrestling Federation super heavyweight national championship and the Carolina Carnage, Worley Classic and Tennessee Tri-State heavyweight titles. His exploits do not end there. Passmore placed first in the Alabama state tournament, the Kansas City World Armwrestling League event and PAF Atlanta in 2019. Most recently, he won the 2021 Dahlonega Goldrush championship, running the gauntlet with perfect performances with both arms. Passmore believes he can continue to compete for several years. “It’s the type of sport that many men in their upper 60s are dominant,” he said. “They will go up to the table and rip someone arm’s off. I figure I can stay highly competitive until my 50s. You just have to put in the work. Tendon and ligament strengths are the keys.” Passmore has long turned to a famous quote from Aristotle when it comes to stoking his competitive fires: “You are what you repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.”

A R T S , E D U C AT I O N & I N N O VAT I O N

“The reception to what I am trying to do has been great. There has been a great deal of interest from people I talk to.” CJ Harris

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CJ Harris, 17, has drawn national acclaim for his tireless efforts in raising awareness about how 3D printing technology can produce prosthetic limbs for children who need them. He was named a STEM Pillar finalist by the National 4-H Youth in Action program in September. by CHRIS BRIDGES CJ Harris seems to have his priorities in order. The 17-year-old likes to meet tasks head-on and devote plenty of time and energy towards his goals. Through his efforts in 4-H, Harris has been named a STEM Pillar finalist by the National 4-H Youth in Action program for his work in raising awareness about how 3D printing can produce prosthetic limbs for children. The noble cause has required a great deal of time, but Harris has never been discouraged or steered away from his vision. The 3D printer allows for the creation of a physical object from a three-dimensional digital model, typically by laying down many thin layers of material in succession. “Back in seventh grade when I was getting involved in 4-H, I enjoyed technology and graphics,” Harris said. “I wanted to bring 3D printing into 4-H to raise awareness to help those who need it. I was eager to spread the message to people there [that] this is something that can be done to help people.”

Harris has taught classes on 3D print design, making bracelets and other smaller items. However, he has never been one to think small. Harris aims high with his ideas and visions while working hard to make them realities. He became a standout member and leader in the 4-H organization early on. Harris has served on the Northwest District 4-H and the Georgia 4-H State boards of directors, and he was named a Master 4-H’er while also competing in a STEM challenge with Bill Nye the Science Guy. STEM challenges are activities where students design and build solutions to problems using a combination of science, technology, engineering and math skills. The National 4-H Council named Harris a runner-up for the 2022 4-H Youth in Action Award for STEM, citing his efforts in using 3D printing to effectively and cheaply produce prosthetic limbs for children. 2022 Winter Issue 45

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“Youth like CJ Harris are an asset to the 4-H program in Georgia,” said Mandy B. Marable, faculty advisor for the state 4-H board. “He has taken the challenge of leadership and served as an officer at the district and state levels, earning the respect of his peers and the adults who lead this program. His passion for science and leadership are a great combination and allow CJ to lead with innovation, enthusiasm and a sense of discovery. His impact in his county, district and state have led him to be selected as a national influencer in the STEM area.” Harris’ efforts began with teaching 4-Hers about service opportunities through the e-NABLE foundation—a volunteer organization that uses 3D printers to make free and low-cost prosthetic upper-limb devices for children in need. He has taught classes on 3D printing and the intricacies of the human hand, and he helped his local 4-H club purchase a 3D printer. Now a freshman at Georgia State University, Harris wants to someday become a mechanical engineer. While achieving that goal will take a tremendous amount of time and effort, he has never been one to back down from a challenge.

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Harris, who was homeschooled until he entered college, started his 4-H journey when he was in the fourth grade. By the time he reached middle-school age, he had increased his involvement in the group dramatically, and it did not take long for others to take notice. Harris claims a light switch flipped on for him in high school. He began speaking at various 4-H events and conferences, his speeches centering on awareness as it related to using 3D printing to assist those in need of artificial limbs. Harris begged his parents for a 3D printer, and upon realizing how much community service meant to 4-H, he continued to push to bring his ideas to fruition. “To be honest, I never thought it would go this far,” Harris said. “My 4-H agent likes journalism. When I did my first project, she wanted to write an article about it. I didn’t think that article would get picked by the Associated Press and then the New York Times and The Washington Post.” His online story in The Washington Post has drawn more than 1 million views. Harris has spoken to several groups about his desire to help those who need prosthetics. “The reception to what I am trying to do has been great,” the 17-year-old said. “There has been a great deal of interest from people I talk to.” Harris credits his family for its support, pushing his desire to learn and encouraging him to expand his knowledge with each project he undertakes and each step he makes. He has already made a positive impression on countless others. “CJ is a delight to work with,” said Dr. Lori Bledsoe, development coordinator for the Northwest 4-H program. “I can ask him to do anything and he does it with a smile. He is dependable and shows initiative in all he does.”

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CREATIVE K9 CUISINE Amanda Yu-Nguyen was unexpectedly bitten by the entrepreneurial bug and has since turned what she first passed off as an insignificant idea—charcuterie boards for dogs—into a burgeoning business that has impacted the lives of countless four-legged friends across the country. by KARI APTED In a world where doggie day spas, Louis Vuitton pet carriers, and sapphire-encrusted collars exist, its time had come: charcuterie for dogs. Those who have been to a party recently have probably eaten from a charcuterie board. The word “charcuterie” originated in France and describes the art of preparing and assembling meats, cheeses and other types of food into artful designs. Amanda Yu-Nguyen and her husband, Tony, were enjoying such a spread one day when the avid dog lover had an idea. “People love their meat and cheese boards,” she said. “What if we made one for dogs?” After her husband responded enthusiastically to the idea, Yu-Nguyen texted her sister in Cleveland to ask what she thought.

“She loved it—and replied in all caps,” she said, “so I thought, ‘Maybe this is a thing.’” Although Yu-Nguyen had never thought of herself as an entrepreneur—she works as the director of the Center for Healthy Living at Oxford College—she jumped right in on designing dim sum baskets and other creative “barkuterie” boards for her own dogs, Tokyo and Nali. “Tokyo is a husky-shepherd mix, and we call Nali our generic farm dog. She’s probably a collie-lab mix, but we haven’t done DNA testing to find out for sure,” Yu-Nguyen said. Her dogs are named for two places the Yu-Nguyens have visited: Tokyo and Denali, Alaska. Although Barkuterie sounds like something exclusively for the canine elite, Yu-Nguyen’s heart remains geared toward providing healthy snacks for every dog to enjoy. “I’ve found that there are many ways we express love for our pets. We like giving them things that are for humans,” she said. “I’ve been reflecting a lot about how hard it’s been to live through the pandemic and how being able to come home to our pets, who love us unconditionally, has done so much for our mental health and well-being. We recognize that our dogs have been there for us and they deserve something special.” Yu-Nguyen’s Barkuterie boards include a mix of dried treats and preservative-free baked snacks, such as antelope jerky, dried shrimp and grain-free peanut butter discs. Locally delivered boards add fresh produce, including strawberry flowers and cucumber roses that Yu-Nguyen creates by hand. Customers can even personalize the board with their pet’s name made from 2022 Winter Issue 49

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“Sometimes people bring their dogs when they pick up boards. I’ve connected to other dog parents and small businesses that I’d never have met otherwise.” Amanda Yu-Nguyen

MYLO TREDEAU

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cheese letters. While the fruits and vegetables come from local supermarkets, Yu-Nguyen has a wide range of suppliers for other Barkuterie board ingredients. She admits she is quite selective in choosing her pet treat sources. “This is my child, my baby, and I’m very passionate about it,” she said. “The learning curve has been steep. The more I’ve learned, the more I understand about how pet foods aren’t regulated like human foods. I only support businesses that have gone through the regulation processes. They really have to go through a lot.” Yu-Nguyen committed to partnering with eco-conscious businesses and buys locally whenever she can. “I source regional if I can’t get local products, because it’s a lower carbon footprint for shipping,” she said. “As an Asian woman, it’s also important to me to buy from woman-owned or BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color)-owned businesses. I like knowing the people who make the food I buy.” Yu-Nguyen’s love for animals certainly influences where Barkuterie Board’s treats come from. She thoroughly researches each potential vendor and sources ingredients from regenerative farms whenever possible. Regenerative agriculture is more encompassing than organic farming and focuses on practices that preserve the health of the ecosystem as a whole. Humane treatment of livestock is one of the concepts it embraces. “I always think about finding places I can source from who use humane practices,” Yu-Nguyen said. She was relieved to find a venison distributor who sends representatives out into the hunting field to certify that the deer was procured in a humane way. Barkuterie Boards’ customers admire Yu-Nguyen’s attention to detail. She started taking orders for boards in January 2021, mostly from people she knew. On April Fool’s Day, the New York Times featured Yu-Nguyen in an article about this new trend in canine cuisine. “I woke up to a flood of emails and texts asking me if I ship,” Yu-Nguyen said. “I started shipping in June and have now sent over 200 packages to over 30 states.” Because of her full-time position at Emory, Yu-Nguyen has kept Barkuterie Boards a weekend-only job from the beginning. In fact, she still only makes local delivery and pick-up appointments on Saturdays and Sundays. Although business continues to boom, Yu-Nguyen considers sales figures just one part of her definition of success. “The community aspect is so important to me,” she said. “Sometimes people bring their dogs when they pick up boards. I’ve connected to other dog parents and small businesses that I’d never have met otherwise. The dog community in Atlanta is so wonderful. Leaning on your community, building relationships— that’s been the best.” For more information on Barkuterie Boards, visit BarkuterieBoards.com.

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“I have had the opportunity to work with the SCB team over the last six months on a series of video productions for tourism in Covington. They made the entire process smooth for our group from contacting potential locations, having a professional production team, and making our requested edits in a timely manner. Overall, I was blown away by the quality of the filming and how well they were able to capture an image of Covington.” Nic Matthews Downtown Coordinator, City of Covington

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Starting O ver Life was forever changed when Beth and Jimmy Rogers decided to become foster parents. Spurred by faith, they now work to help other families discover the blessings associated with fostering and adoption. by KARI APTED

Beth and Jimmy Rogers were not exactly planning to expand their happy family of four prior to 2012. Parents to teenagers Cole and Cori, the empty nest was visible on the distant horizon, and they were looking forward to a quieter stage of life. Then came Andre, with his heart-stealing liquid brown eyes and mile-wide smile. Everything changed. The Rogers family now includes Andre, Karyn and Riley—three beautiful children adopted from the foster care system. In retrospect, it had always been in the back of Beth’s mind. “When I was a child, I loved reading a series of books about a foster child who got adopted,” she said, “and I knew people who were foster parents.” Many years later, when the Rogers’ friends adopted from China, Beth—a teacher at East Newton

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Elementary School—began thinking about adoption again. “Beth prayed harder than me,” Jimmy said with a laugh. “She was already there mentally, but I wasn’t. Then I did the ‘Experience God’ workbook. It taught me a new level of Christian service and obedience, which led me to being open to it.” The Rogers also had friends who had started fostering, which allowed them to see the reality of introducing a new child to a family. Their focus soon shifted. In 2012, they became licensed foster parents through the United Methodist Children’s Home in Tucker. Now called Wellroot Family Services, the program trains new foster parents and provides support throughout the process. The Rogers’ first placement involved two girls who lived with them for one year and two days. Beth and Jimmy still hold a special place for them in their hearts. “So many people say, ‘I could never foster because I would get too attached,’ but these kids deserve someone who will love them like that,” Jimmy said. “The love they receive is more important than anything you might go through.” Their next placement stayed for three months. Then the agency called to inform them that it was bringing a 1-monthold infant. However, instead of the baby, 2-and-a-half-year-old Andre arrived, his belongings stuffed in trash bags. The social worker told them Andre was already slated for adoption. When it was time to for the social worker to leave, she beckoned Andre to come tell her goodbye. He ran into her arms and said, “I want to go home.”

(L TO R) JIMMY, KARYN, ANDRE , RILEY AND BETH ROGERS

“When she told him that this was his new home, his face just fell,” Beth said. “It was his third move in two years. Our hearts broke for him.” In that moment, adoption was back on the table for the Rogers. “We were open to giving him a permanent family to keep him from the trauma of moving again,” Jimmy said. “Of course, we grew to love him, too, but initially [deciding to adopt] was because we thought that would be best for him.” The following day, the Rogers accepted the placement of a spunky 5-month-old named Karyn, the energy level in their home increasing exponentially; and several months after Andre and Karyn arrived, the Rogers took a newborn placement straight from the neonatal intensive care unit. Riley was far different from the other children. “She was so lethargic,” Beth said. It was later discovered that Riley suffered from chronic urinary tract infections due to kidney reflux—a condition in

“It doesn’t take anyone special to foster or adopt. We just put ourselves in a position of being used. Anything good that happens is because God has done it.” Jimmy Rogers

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LIVING

which urine backs up instead of flowing out. She spent 20 days in the hospital. Those weeks were a blur, as the Rogers struggled to balance full-time jobs, two teenagers, a toddler, an infant and a hospitalized newborn. Once Riley returned home, they all worked to adjust to their new normal. Adopting the girls was the natural next step for the Rogers. “Relatives had considered adopting Karyn, but that didn’t work out,” Beth said. “That was pretty much it. She was just ours.” Social workers also attempted a family placement for Riley, but it fell through. When her birth parents suddenly relinquished their parental rights, the Rogers knew she would be their daughter, too. “We had kids in diapers for five straight years,” Beth said. When Riley’s younger birth sibling was temporarily added to the mix, they found themselves juggling five children under the age of 5 for six months. Their incredible journey only deepened from there. The Rogers now have a new focus: Kaleo Family Services. “Kaleo” is Greek for “the call,” and the organization was birthed out of the Rogers’ desire to see others answer the call to foster and adopt. “Once you see what these kids go through, you can’t unsee it. I think my job is red-pilling the church,” Jimmy said. “Honestly, it’s hard to get people to care about fostering and adoption. They say they’ll care—but not to the point that they’re willing to have it affect their life. There are a few scriptures that really began to change how I thought about things: James 1:22–27 and 2:14–17 and 1 John 3:16–18. I couldn’t read and know them while continuing to follow my own thoughts.”

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Kaleo will focus on the hundreds of foster children in DFACS Region 5, which includes Newton, Rockdale, Walton, Morgan and eight other counties. The organization is currently completing the documentation required to work directly with the state. It will promote children ready for adoption, recruit potential foster and adoptive parents and connect them with training programs. The Rogers have a special desire to help teenagers at risk of aging out of the system. “People don’t realize that we have foster teenagers staying in hotels because there’s such a need for foster homes in our region,” Jimmy said. Although people often praise the Rogers for their work, they are quick to give credit to a higher source. “We’re not anybody great,” Jimmy said. “It doesn’t take anyone special to foster or adopt. We just put ourselves in a position of being used. Anything good that happens is because God has done it.” For information in Kaleo Family Services, visit KaleoFamilies.org.

LIVING

FULL THROTTLE

Oak Hill Elementary School third grader Shelby Hammons transformed her love of cars into a Hot Wheel-fueled philanthropic pursuit that has drawn interest and support from as far away as Montana and California. by MICHELLE FLOYD With Tim and Nikki Hammons running Rob’s Performance— a custom body shop that works on Hot Rods—in Conyers, it stands to reason that their daughter would share their love of cars. Oak Hill Elementary School third grader Shelby Hammons has collected thousands of Hot Wheels cars, trucks and other vehicles over the years. She races some of them with friends but displays the “very special ones” in her Covington home. Shelby has also shared her passion with others, all while helping various causes around the state. For the last few years, she has sold Hot Wheels and some Matchbox diecast toy cars at classic car shows around the area. “It was something we came up with,” Tim said. “We just put a few cars in back of the car to sell one time and it got positive feedback, and it’s just kept growing and growing.”

“We just put a few cars in back of the car to sell one time and it got positive feedback, and it’s just kept growing and growing.” Tim Hammons

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Tim, who showcases vehicles and emcees at car shows, admits they have lost count of how many Hot Wheels they have sold and how much money they have raised. They decided when they started selling cars that they would donate a portion of the funds raised to certain causes each car show was supporting. The rest of the funds go to purchasing more Hot Wheels, so the process can start all over again at the next event. “If anything, we’ve lost money on this,” Tim said. “Sometimes at shows, we will raise $1,200, but some are only $30.” Groups like JB Diecast in Great Falls, Montana, and Norcal Collectables in Chico, California, have assisted the family with raffles and donations, as have local businesses. Others follow them to shows to offer support. “We have friends who will come sit with us all day,” Nikki said. The Hammons started their philanthropic pursuits by supporting friends Kale and Marissa Waddleton through Caleb’s Cause, which raises money to relieve financial burdens of families with sick children. They have since expanded to other organizations. Some of 9-year-old Shelby’s favorite causes involve police officers, firefighters and other first responders. “They need equipment and lots of things to help us survive,” she said. Sometimes, the Hammons family attends specific shows to support a given cause. Other times, someone contacts them. “We have about 15 people who follow us around,” Tim said.

2022 Winter Issue 61

LIVING

The family acquires its Hot Wheels through day-to-day shopping, purchasing cases of cars from wholesalers or retailers, finding special collections and through public donations. Mattel even provided a case of cars one Christmas. Most items sell for a few dollars, but true collector pieces can go for exponentially more. Tim has been known to buy Hot Wheels that look like the actual cars he works on at his shop—a quirk his customers appreciate. He can see no rhyme or reason in who buys what at shows, though he believes nostalgia does play a role in it. “Sometimes, it’s collectors, and recently we had a 25-year-old buy $140 worth at one show,” Tim said. “Some car show people buy them for their kids, and some just start collecting.” Beyond raising money for those in need, the experience has taught Shelby, an only child, valuable life lessons. “She learned quickly to be a good talker,” Nikki said. “She has learned how to be compassionate to others and respectful to other people. She’s learning how to be a money manager and have conversations. I just hope she inspires other children to be helpful.” In addition to participating in hometown car shows in Covington, the Hammons family has traveled to Loganville, Conyers, Social Circle, Winder and Gainesville. They often

62 The Newton Community Magazine

set up in the back of a truck or a trailer, but they have started running Hot Wheels tracks during shows to allow children to play with some of the cars they sell. “It’s just neat and fun for the kids,” Tim said. Shelby hopes to one day attend the Hot Rod Run in Tennessee to raise “lots of money to help lots of people” and so her cause can continue to grow in the years to come. Even with the coronavirus pandemic canceling some shows and slowing down the schedule, the family remains grateful to have been able to keep the project alive. “I like that I can see the kids’ faces when they get Hot Wheels and see the fun and cool Hot Wheels they like,” Shelby said. She aspires to eventually turn her passion for helping others into an even more hands-on endeavor, aiming to become a surgeon when she grows up. “I want to help people live.” For information, visit the Shelbys Helping with Hot Wheels on Facebook at Facebook.com/ ShelbysHelpingWithHotwheels.

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