Sons of Confederate Veterans Robert Byers and John Quinn stand at the Confederate Memorial in the McDonough Square where possible banner guidelines may be changed. File Photo

  On Thursday, April 3, the McDonough City Council will begin discussions concerning a change in the signage ordinances during their workshop session beginning at 7:00 p.m. This matter was tabled from a previous council meeting in order to investigate ways to gain more public opinion since the issue appeared to be the cause of varying opinions in the community. Although the recommended changes involve a number of items, the main focus seems to be the limitations to be placed on the display of the Confederate flag at the memorial statue in the McDonough Square.

  According to Ray McBerry, State Chairman of the League of the South and active member of the Sons of the Confederate Veterans, says, “there has never been any restrictions prior to this and it is not clear why the Mayor and City Council are considering changing this. Under the new ordinances, an individual or group could only fly the Confederate flag on the Square twice during the year. Considering that April is Confederate Heritage month, any group could only fly the Confederate flag two times during the month.”

  A point of contention between many opponents of the ordinance change is that if the monument is a memorial to the Confederate dead, why should the flag be restricted from being displayed. “This is  a Confederate city with a Confederate memorial statue,” continues McBerry. “How can this not be allowed?”

  Those in favor of the changes feel that it would keep the Square from accumulating too many signs and banners with no control over the length of time on display. One point that will need to be considered is that the square is owned by Henry County, but leased to the City of McDonough.

  At the intersection of Mill and Mt. Carmel roads, there is a small white cross marking the site where two young lives were lost in a car accident July 17, 2004. On Saturday, April 26, the Truett’s Grill Run of the Mill 5K, presented by Dick’s Sporting Goods, will take runners past that site as they remember someone they may never have had the chance to meet.

  The Atlanta Drum Line will drum up the excitement starting at 7:00 a.m. before the race begins at 7:30 a.m. This particular group was asked to perform because James Everett, one of the young people killed in the car accident, loved to play the drums.

  The registration fee is $15 through April 23 and $20 after that date through race day. Race participants will receive a t-shirt, goody bag, gift certificate from Dick’s Sporting Goods and Chick-fil-A biscuit from Truett’s Grill. Proceeds from the race will go to a scholarship fund established in memory of James by his parents, Brooks and Monica Everett. The top three  finishers in each age group will receive a trophy.

  The Truett’s Grill Run of the Mill 5K will be followed at 9:00 a.m. by the Get Chicken Fit 60K Bike Ride, sponsored by Epic Bikes. Cyclists will be provided with a guide as well as vehicle support as they complete a 60K or optional 100K loop and end up back at Truett’s Grill. A $15 registration fee includes a t-shirt, goody bag and lunch.

  For more information on both of these events, please contact Rhonda Jagus of Truett’s Grill at 678-432-2221 or go to www.TruettsGrill.com to download registration forms.

Oompa Loompas practice their steps in rehearsal for the upcoming Henry Players production of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” Special Photo

  Hot on the heels of the success of their last production, The Henry Players are hard at work with the upcoming show, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” This is the children’s play adapted from the book by Roald Dahl, and features all the classic characters, Charlie, Grandpa Joe, Augustus Gloop, Violet Beauregarde, Veruca Salt, Mike Teevee, and of course, the incomparable Willy Wonka.

  Join the characters as they use their Golden Tickets to gain access to and possibly win the chance to inherit the wild, weird, and wonderful world of Wonka’s Chocolate Factory.

  Director Rebecca Dingbaum has enthusiastically cast this show and looks forward to one of the largest ensembles including upwards of eighty Oompa-Loompas. “Not only did we have the largest audition turnout in Henry Players history, we also have the largest cast of children ever used in a Players’ production,” she stated.  “The staff and the cast are using their imagination to bring this story to life. I was thrilled to see how many kids (and adults) were willing to risk looking or sounding silly…it has been a play full of ‘play,’ and I think our audiences will really enjoy this one.”

  The one act play will grace the stage of the Henry County Performing Arts Center Thurs-day to Sunday, April 10 to 13, with an added  2:00 p.m. matinee on Saturday (Saturday matinee tickets can only be ordered online). Tickets can be purchased at Moye’s Pharmacy, Damon’s Design Team in McDonough, Gloria’s Hallmark in McDonough, Mail ‘n’ More on Eagle’s Landing Parkway, and Goin’ Postal. For more information or to order tickets online, visit the Henry Players website at:  www.henryplayers.com.