newnan-coweta magazine, september/october 2010

September/October 2010 | $3.95

Alec and ZanderOgletree

M A G A Z I N EA Times-Herald Publication

10_0910_1-7 8/20/10 11:24 AM

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MAGAZINEEstablished 1995

A publication of The Times-Herald

President William W. Thomasson

Vice President Marianne C. Thomasson

Publisher Sam Jones

Editor Angela McRae

Art Director Deberah Williams

Contributing Writers Nichole Golden, Holly Jones,

Meredith Leigh Knight,

Katherine McCall, Alex McRae,

Tina Neely, Elizabeth Richardson

W. Winston Skinner,

Jeremy Williams, Kenneth Wilson

Photography Bob Fraley, Jeffrey Leo,

Katherine McCall,

Tara Shellabarger

Circulation Director Naomi Jackson

Sales and Marketing Director Colleen D. Mitchell

Advertising Manager Lamar Truitt

Advertising Consultants Doug Cantrell, Mandy Inman,

Candy Johnson, Norma Kelley,

Jeanette Kirby

Advertising Design Debby Dye, Graphics Manager

Sandy Hiser, Jonathan Melville,

Sonya Studt

FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION, call 770.683.6397 or e-mail [email protected].

Newnan-Coweta Magazine is published bi-monthly by The Times-Herald, Inc.,16 Jefferson St., Newnan, GA 30263.

Subscriptions: Newnan-Coweta Magazine is distributed in home-deliverycopies of The Times-Herald and at businesses and offices throughout Coweta County.Individual mailed subscriptions are also available for $23.75 in CowetaCounty, $30.00 outside Coweta County. To subscribe, call 770.304.3373.

Submissions: We welcome submissions. Query letters and published clipsmay be addressed to the Editor, Newnan-Coweta Magazine at P.O. Box 1052,Newnan, Georgia 30264.

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© 2010 by The Newnan Times-Herald, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction inwhole or in part without written permission is prohibited.

Member:

WINNER OF FIVE 2009 GAMMA AWARDS (for issues published in 2008)

Gold Award for Best Series, Silver Award for Best Single Issue, Bronze Award for Best Single

Cover, Bronze Award for Best Profile, Bronze for General Excellence

MAGSMAGAZINE ASSOCIATION OF THE SOUTHEAST

4 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE

On Our Websitewww.newnancowetamagazine.com

On Our Cover

Brothers Alec and Zander Ogletree of Newnan are in theirfirst year of playing UGA football.

– Photo by Jeffrey Leo

Special FeaturesBook giveaways

Contests

Recipe Box

Podcasts

Blogs

Links of local interest

Web extras you’ll find only online.Look for the computer icon throughout everyissue to lead you to the special content at newnancowetamagazine.com.

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8 48

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6 NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE

7 EDITOR’S LETTER

64 THE BOOKSHELF

65 ADVERTISERS INDEX

66 I AM COWETA

In everyissue

8 BROTHERS AND BULLDOGS

Newnan’s Alec and Alexander (“Zander”) Ogletreeare more than just brothers. They’re also teammateswho are hoping for a successful first year with theGeorgia Bulldogs.

14 INTERCEPTING OPPORTUNITY

Georgia State University is fielding its first footballteam this year, and Newnan High standout JamalRansby is part of the lineup.

20 COWETA COOKS

Some local football fans say there’s an art totailgating. Find out how they watch football games instyle and what they’re eating when they do!

26 THE CHAIN CREW

Working the chains, the Ragan family is a familiarsight at East Coweta High School’s football games.

32 STRIKE UP THE BAND!

The Northgate Viking Band, Newnan High’s MarchingCats and East Coweta’s Marching Indians are busymaking sure the sounds of excitement fill localfootball stadiums this fall.

38 EATING DIRT

From Little League to rec league ball, Coweta youthare learning important life lessons along with footballplays.

44 LOCAL HERITAGE

In the late 1940s, Newnan was home to aprofessional baseball team, the NewnanBrowns, which at one time brought thousandsof visitors to Pickett Field in Newnan.

48 THE THOUGHTFUL GARDENER

Is it crape myrtle or crepe myrtle? Fans maynot agree on the spelling, but they do agree onthe beauty of this classic southern plant.

54 TINA’S TIPS

If fall has you in the mood for a homerenovation project, don’t miss Ada Cornwell’swonderful kitchen redo on a budget.

60 SADDLE UP

Meet horse trainers Nick Cwick and LindseyRairden of Capstone Eventing.

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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010 | 7

aralson County High School must havehad absolutely no standards for PepClub officers back in the early eightiesor I’d never have made it to president.But when you weren’t a cheerleader

and weren’t in band but you wanted an excuse tohave to go to ballgames on Friday nights and supportyour football-playing classmates, well, let’s just say Icould be peppy with the best of ’em.

I did not then and do not now understand the gameof football, so in this football-themed issue of themagazine I figure it’s best to just go ahead and getthat out of the way. But what I will say is this: ThoughI’m much better at following basketball, baseball,tennis and NASCAR, I must say that few sports I’vewatched seem to inspire as much devotion as foot-ball, particularly college football.

Not long after I married, I was upstairs sewing oneSaturday afternoon in the fall when I heard my hus-band yelling “Oh no!” I flew down the stairs to seewhat was wrong. He was banging on the sofa andyelling at the TV because some football player hadmade a bad play. So this is how it’s gonna be, Ithought.

Alex follows UGA football, so each week I like to findout who “we” are playing and who “we” are foramong all the other match-ups. Then, for the sake ofmy marriage and general household harmony, I make

myself scarce. I plan to get a lotof crafts done this fall.

I like to tell people politics is myfavorite sport, and truly there area lot of similarities. There areteams and colors and mascots,regularly-scheduled competitions, offensive anddefensive strategies, and the occasional cheats andsore losers, to say nothing of some bad calls. Unlikepolitics, though, football is better and faster at com-ing up with the results, and I think it’s good for thecountry to be reminded there are winners and losersin life. They don’t show up at the end of a ballgameand give awards for Friendliest Linebacker or MostImproved Quarterback. One team wins, one teamloses. Game over.

So I’ll never be a huge football fan, but I still say foot-ball rivalries can be fun to watch, even for someonewho doesn’t have a dog – or a “dawg,” yellow jacket,tiger, gator, etc. – in the fight, and I don’t. Except forchampionship time when, I hear, God is always forthe SEC.

Fondly,

Angela McRae, [email protected]

{ From the Editor }

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Ogletree twins in first year with UGA football

By Alex McRae | Photos by Jeff Leo

Alec and Zander Ogletree8 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE

10_0910_8-13 8/20/10 10:45 AM

Football players

dream of making the

big play that will

bring the crowd

roaring to its feet,

but spend most of

their sports lives in a world of pain and

pressure, willing to pay a huge price for

a shot at gridiron glory that can vanish

with one bad performance.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010 | 9SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010 | 9

But they never endure the agonyalone. When the battle begins,teammates are always there to share theburden, the joy and the tears.

Two members of the University ofGeorgia’s freshman football class havetoiled beside countless teammates overthe years, but know that one thing iseven better ... a brother.

Twins Alec and Alexander “Zander”Ogletree arrived in the world two

10_0910_8-13 8/20/10 10:45 AM


minutes apart, with Zander winningthe race from the womb. For 18years, the two have been inseparablein life and sport, working their wayfrom youth league ball to prepstardom at Newnan High School.

Before his senior year at NHSAlec, a 6’ 3”, 215-pound safety, hadscholarship offers from every majorcollege in America. He committed toUGA early to avoid the pressurecooker of recruiting during his senioryear.

Zander, a 5’11”, 200-poundlinebacker, completed his seniorseason at NHS before being offered ascholarship to join Alec at UGA.

“I always knew he’d be playingsomewhere,” Alec says, “but havinghim come to Georgia was a dreamcome true.”

The brothers knew playing at thenext level would be tough, and itdidn’t take long for the challenges tosurface.

“When you get there, the olderplayers test you to see how you’regoing to respond,” Zander says. “Butwe were used to that. It wasn’t a bigdeal.”

“It’s still football,” Alec says.“You work hard and go out there andeither step it up or stink up thestadium. It’s always that way.”

But they admit they’ve alwayshad an extra edge.

“No matter what happens orhow I play,” Alec says, “I can alwaysdepend on my brother to give mesupport. That’s a good feeling.”

The brothers admit they haven’tdone all their damage on the footballfield. Like the time they were eightyears old and tested their new BBguns on a camper top in a neighbor’syard.

“Man, we blew that thing tobits,” Zander says. “Glass and all.”

Things were fine until the boys’father, Al, saw the damage andadministered some rough justice to a

Al, Alec, Allyson and Alexander (“Zander”) Ogletree enjoyed some time together inNewnan before the twins returned to Athens to play UGA football.

10_0910_8-13 8/20/10 10:45 AM


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pair of rear ends.“We still laugh about that

one,” Alec says.Zander loves to talk about the

time Alec was acting up at O.P.Evans Jr. High and the boys’mother, Allyson, sent her mother,known as Big Mama, to straightenthings out. Big Mama reducedAlec to tears before making himread scripture aloud to his class.

“That really changed mywhole attitude about school,” Alecsays. “And about being a betterperson.”

Good character isn’t anafterthought for the brothers. AllysonOgletree constantly reminds her sonsthat their success carries a price.

“I tell them that they are rolemodels whether they like it or not,”she says. “They need to be goodpeople, not just good players.”

The brothers have gotten themessage.

“We both realize how lucky we

Right now,

football is their

main focus but the

brothers are

determined that

they will not be

defined only by

their athletic

achievements.

Zander Ogletree, at top, and his brother Alec, at right, want to be goodexamples as well as good football players at UGA.

10_0910_8-13 8/20/10 10:45 AM

are to have two parents at homewho love us and care about what wedo,” Zander says. “You don’t getmany opportunities like this, andI’m making sure to do a good job ofrepresenting where we’re from.”

In early workouts at UGA, Alechas already impressed his coaches.Zander knows his time will come.He was not recruited heavilybecause some teams felt he was toosmall. Georgia coaches should haveknown better. Last year theBulldogs’ defense was led by 5’ 11”,230-pound Rennie Curran, whoearned All-American and All-SEChonors before being drafted by theNFL’s Tennessee Titans.

Zander met Curran thissummer. It didn’t take him long tosize up the situation.

“I’m taller than he is,” Zandersays. “And I can get bigger.”

After spending the summerwith the twins, UGA head coachMark Richt is more impressed thanever.

“Alec and Alexander are tworeally fine young men and I knowthe Newnan community isexceptionally proud of them,” Richtsaid. “Both are tough, hard-nosedfootball players and I’m sure theywill make outstanding contributionsto our University and footballprogram.”

Right now, football is theirmain focus but the brothers aredetermined that they will not bedefined only by their athleticachievements.

Zander says, “I’ll do my best tohelp the team, but if we don’t makeit, I still want to be a goodexample.”

Alec agrees, saying, “My goal isto win a national championship, butwe don’t dwell on just one thing.We try lots of stuff and make thebest of whatever we do.” NCM

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Jamal Ransby of Newnan is playingon Georgia State University’s firstfootball team this fall.

10_0910_14-19 8/20/10 2:44 PM

After years of hard work, freshman

Jamal Ransby and GSU finally get

to play college football

Sitting near the door ofGolden’s cafeteria, Jamal Ransbylooks at his phone – giving it thetwo-thumb treatment. As he standsto shake hands, a tinge of anxietyescapes his eyes from beneath thebrim of his baseball cap. Hedisplays impeccable manners andprojects confidence, but nervousenergy lurks behind that cap.

Maybe his nervous energy stems from the potentiallytoxic combination of leaving home, transitioning to college,playing college football for one of the sport’s icons, playingfootball at a school that’s never played football, maintaininggood grades, answering questions from journalists, andknowing that within a few months he will line up against lastyear’s NCAA National Champions. There are many reasons

By Kenneth Wilson | Photos courtesy of The Times-Herald and Georgia State University


10_0910_14-19 8/20/10 2:44 PM


Jamal Ransby, shown here playing with the Newnan Cougars football team last year, will be among thosekicking off the inaugural football program at Georgia State this fall.

10_0910_14-19 8/20/10 10:49 AM


why Ransby should be nervous as heprepares for the next four years, andhe admits, “It’s going to be tough.”

On August 3, Ransby beganhis collegiate football career byreporting to Georgia StateUniversity (GSU). The followingday, he donned a crisp blue jerseyand stepped onto a new greenpractice field.

Back in April 2008, there wereno jerseys and the practice field wasa vacant paved lot in downtownAtlanta. Now there are lockerrooms and the smell of plasticpermeates the equipment roomthat is stocked with new pads,cleats and helmets. Thanks to thepersistence and hard work of thecoaches and staff at GSU, Ransbyhas everything he needs to succeedon and off the field.

Earlier this year on a chillyFebruary day, Ransby signed GSU’sscholarship offer in a ceremony atNewnan High School. His mother,Melissa Smith, says, “I just look atthe educational part of it. It’s notevery day that a full ride is offeredto students.”

The four-year renewablescholarship in the amount of$20,498 per year covers hisacademic expenses in exchange forhis athletic talents. Ransby alsounderstands the importance of thescholarship. “You have to get aneducation. You always need an ace.I may break a leg and not comeback.” The agreement requires thathe keep a minimum 2.5 grade pointaverage. It provides an educationand insures his opportunity tosucceed after football.

Long before Ransby placed theblack hat with the electric bluepanther on his head for the camerason national signing day, he stoodout as a fast defensive back atNewnan High. On signing day,

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GSU Assistant Head Coach GeorgePugh told the media, “I was alwaystold that speed kills, and (Ransby)gives it to us.” Using his speed, Ransbypunished quarterbacks by snatching sixinterceptions from the air and returnedtwo punts for touchdowns whileconstantly threatening the opposition’sspecial teams during his final season atNewnan, despite his five-foot, eight-inch height. He insists “size ain’teverything,” and the scouts at GSUagreed.

What makes GSU’s programunique is the promise of success atthe hand of Coach Bill Curry. As anathlete, Curry played center andsnapped the ball to legendaryquarterback Johnny Unitas,participated in three Super Bowls,and played for the iconic VinceLombardi. Curry eventually went on

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With Jamal Ransby on signing day in February are, at front, parents AntonioRansby and Melissa Smith, and at back, Newnan High Principal DouglasMoore, Athletic Director Stephen Allen, Newnan Co-defensive coordinatorLaVarrett Pearson, Rose Mary Smith, Jalen Bolton and Newnan head footballcoach Mike McDonald.

10_0910_14-19 8/20/10 10:49 AM


to coach at his alma mater, GeorgiaTech, and later at Alabama andKentucky. Rarely, if ever, has such anicon and scholar of the gameaccepted the burden of creating anew program.

Ransby says of Curry, “I’ve seenhim on TV a lot from when hecoached at Georgia Tech andAlabama.” Although there are anumber of reasons why a potentialplayer would choose to play ball atGSU, there is no doubt Curry’sreputation sweetens the pot. Ransbysays, “A lot of guys look up to himand they see what he has done.”

In November, Curry’s new GSUteam will face the team he led to aSoutheastern Conference title in thelate eighties, Alabama. The Panthersare undoubtedly outmatched but havegood reasons for challenging last year’s

champions. The game is worth$400,000 to GSU and will bringattention to GSU’s new program.

Ransby understands the game is anuphill battle, but says “everybodyknows that Alabama is a money game,but we’re still out there to win.”

On September 2, Ransby, his

teammates and coaches went to theGeorgia Dome to take part in theschool’s first gridiron football game.

The Panthers will play all of theirhome games in the menacing71,250-seat indoor arena, andRansby likes the idea of using thesame locker room as the AtlantaFalcons. “I’m pretty excited aboutit,” he said. “I might be in MichaelTurner’s locker!”

Win or lose, when the finalwhistle blows at these first footballgames, Ransby will know what it islike to be part of a college footballteam and GSU will officially be a

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Win or lose, when

the final whistle

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football games, Ransby

will know what it is

like to be part of a

college football team

and GSU will officially

be a football school.

10_0910_14-19 8/20/10 10:49 AM


The “professionals” will tell you it’s about striking theright combination of food and beverage, amenities and, ofcourse, enthusiasm for your team.

John Stuckey – the constituent service representativeat Congressman Lynn Westmoreland’s office – was born aLouisiana State University fan. He’s been sporting team

By Elizabeth Richardson | Photos by Bob Fraley

Tailgating.

In the South, it’s a rite of passage -

a tradition as sacred to some as

church on Sundays. The art of

tailgating has become a competitive

sport in its own right.

{ Coweta Cooks }

John Stuckey is readyfor LSU football at“Stuckey’s Pub” in

Newnan.

10_0910_20-31 8/20/10 10:53 AM

colors since he was an infant thanksto his father, John Sr., who attendedthe university from 1957 to 1961.

That tradition is about to passonce more as John and his wife,Nicole – a Florida Gator fan –prepare to welcome their firstchild, William, this fall.

Stuckey remains an LSU fanthanks to the food.

“There’s nothing like Cajunfood,” said Stuckey.

There are the most obviousdishes, like étouffée, crawfishand gumbo. Then there’s eggsbenedict, bananas foster andoysters rockefeller.

The other reason he’s anLSU fan – “the fans are alwayspleasant.”

“They invite you to eat and hangout,” he said. “It’s the southernhospitality.”

These days, Stuckey travels thenearly 500 miles to Tiger Stadium fora game only about once a year. Buthe has access to “Stuckey’s Pub” allthe time, and so he brings the gamesto him.

The Stuckeys wanted a space toentertain, and a few years of hardwork later, their basement nowfeatures a full, custom-built bar. No

detail was overlooked. You visitStuckey’s Pub and you will get anauthentic bar experience right downto the bar peanuts and Mardi Grasbeads.

“We wanted that bar feel.Coming down here is likeentering a totally differentworld.”

The eclectic space is filledwith LSU paraphernalia fromfloor to ceiling – literally. On thefloor is a hand-painted LSU sealdone by a local artist. The spacealso has an LSU tribute wall, acustom beer pong table and atelevision room with a big screento watch the games.

“The beauty of it is that wedon’t have to go anywhere,” saidStuckey.

Stuckey is part of a local LSUfollowing of about 30 people who


An LSU fan since he was an infant,John Stuckey of Newnan has abasement and custom-built bardecorated in his team’s colors.

10_0910_20-31 8/20/10 10:53 AM


“I haven’t seen anything that cantouch our trailer,” says tailgatingenthusiast Rob Estes, above at left,who co-owns this custom-madetrailer with Walter Arnall, aboveright, and friend Jimmy Rich.

10_0910_20-31 8/20/10 10:54 AM

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rotate hosting games. The groupfrequents Stuckey’s Pub.

“Everybody loves to come overhere,” he said.

Rob Estes and Walter Arnallhave many titles. Estes is a landscapearchitect. Arnall is an attorney. Bothmen are husbands and fathers – butboth would say that they’re first andforemost Georgia Bulldogs.

The two have been friends“forever” – or at least for 35 years.They were 1990 graduates ofNewnan High School. They werecollege roommates at the Universityof Georgia, and they were fraternitybrothers in Lambda Chi Alpha.

As UGA students, they “nevermissed a game,” according to Estes.

“Tailgating has always beensomething that’s a big part of thegame for us,” said Estes. “It’s aboutmore than just being with our groupof friends, it’s about generations.Our parents did it before us andtaught us their way of doing things.”

And every generation takestailgating to the next level.

“Tailgating is a bit of an art,”Estes continued. “You’ve got tooutdo the next guy with a biggerTV, bigger grill. I haven’t seenanything that can touch our trailer.”

Estes, Arnall, and now theirfriend Jimmy Rich co-own acustom-made trailer covered with allthings Georgia. The trailer features a42-inch LCD flat screen, stereospeakers, satellite television, a full-sized grill, a keg tap for beer, a wetbar and, best of all, a privatebathroom.

“If you don’t have tickets, it’s thebest place to be,” said Estes.

Arnall said they are always on thelookout for “tailgate moochers” whowant to take advantage of their digs.

“We don’t allow someone withthe opposing team’s colors to use therestroom – unless she’s really pretty

10_0910_20-31 8/20/10 10:54 AM


or it’s a close friend,” Estes joked.But, what do their wives think

about all this?“They didn’t want us to do it,

but when they’re there and get to usethe bathroom, they appreciate it,”said Arnall.

“The ladies get involved makingfancy desserts and hors d’oeuvres anddecorating tables,” said Estes.

The cuisine varies depending onthe opposing team. If they’re playingthe South Carolina Gamecocks, theymight eat chicken. When it’sArkansas, they have pork.

Their tips for the perfect tailgateare to arrive early to claim a spot,bring enough food and beverages,and always have a designated driver.

These lifelong friends admit it’s

harder to go to games now that theyhave children.

“If we don’t go, we still set upsomewhere and tailgate,” said Arnall.“We just like hanging out andsocializing.”

“It’s like a reunion every year,”said Estes. “We share pictures andstories of our growing families. It’s achance to reconnect.” NCM

“We just like hanging out and socializing,“ says Walter Arnall, at right with friend Rob Estes, left. Their tailgatingtrailer is also a real hit for its handy bathroom.

10_0910_20-31 8/20/10 10:54 AM


Join us Friday, October 22nd,from 5-9 pm for the chance

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In oven-safe pot, brown the ground beef (or othermeat) and drain juices. Pour in all of the cans ofbeans, chiles and tomatoes and stir in vinegar,sugar, ketchup and seasoning. Salt to taste. Bake inoven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. When ready toserve, heat on stove top and serve with corn chips,cheddar cheese, diced onion and sour cream.

Cool off with a cold PBR and let the border warsbegin!

10_0910_20-31 8/20/10 10:54 AM


Every home game, fans flip throughthe football program to see the storythis picture tells. But they never getthe full story. Look carefully and youcan find an army of people who neverstrive to have their faces in the picture

By Jeremy Williams | Photos by Bob Fraley and Sue Ragan

around the beginning of August

each year, a local tradit ion

continues. High school football

teams get dressed in their game

gear and smile for the annual

team photo.

yet play a big role in helping makeeach football season successful.

The Ragans are one such family.Tom and Barbara Ragan moved to

Senoia in 1976. Ragan was a helicopterpilot in Vietnam and after the war was

The Ragan family worksthe chains at an East

Coweta football gamethis spring.

10_0910_20-31 8/20/10 10:57 AM


Chain crew regulars Rob and TomRagan are dedicated fans of the EastCoweta High School football team.

10_0910_20-31 8/20/10 10:57 AM


The Ragans watch from the sidelinesas an East Coweta ballgame isunderway.

A familiar sight at EastCoweta home games,the Ragan familyincludes, clockwisefrom top left, Rob,Ricky, Barbara andTom Ragan.

10_0910_20-31 8/20/10 10:58 AM


hired as a pilot for Eastern Airlines,ending up at the Atlanta hub.When the family settled in easternCoweta, they enrolled their threesons, Ricky, Rob and Brian, at FlintRiver Academy.

“The boys wanted to playfootball,” Ragan recalled. “And sinceat that time Flint River didn’t have afootball team, we moved them toEast Coweta.” Ricky played from1977-1981, Rob from 1979-1983

and Brian from 1981-1985.Tom and Barbara Ragan

faithfully attended all their sons’games, home and away, but theyweren’t content to just watch. Theyquickly became involved in thefootball booster club, Ragan evenserving as president for a stint.

“We would work to raise themoney for the boosters’ financialcommitments,” Ragan said. “And inthe days before restaurants wouldserve a team meal, we would alwaysprovide a meal for the team on theway home from away games.”

Their youngest son graduatedin 1986, and for most that mighthave been the end of the story, butnot for the Ragans. They continuedsupporting the booster club andattending games, both home andaway.

“We had so many friends whosekids were involved on Friday nightsthat we kept going,” Ragan said.Barbara Ragan explained, “We

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We always sat in

the same place, and

all the kids we knew

would always stop

and talk to us. We

didn’t want to stop.

— Barbara Ragan

10_0910_20-31 8/20/10 10:58 AM

always sat in the same place, and allthe kids we knew would always stopand talk to us. We didn’t want tostop.”

In 1990, Tom and BarbaraRagan’s support became a legacy.

“After finishing college, I decidedto come back and watch somefootball,” Rob Ragan remembered.“Carl McKnight needed help with

the chain crew, and I volunteered tohelp.”

For each home game, the schoolhas to provide a team to hold thechains. Members of the team holdthe down markers which sit at theline of scrimmage and show thecurrent down. The chains are a 10-yard length of chain with an orangepole at each end to show how far a

“When I walk

off the field after

a game I see lots of

kids that I coached

in Rec League ball

playing for EC.

When one of them

comes up to me and

says, ‘Hey, coach,’

it makes it all

worth it.”

— Rob Ragan


Rob Ragan displays thedown marker along thesidelines at an EastCoweta game.

10_0910_20-31 8/20/10 10:59 AM


team must go to get a first down.But it wasn’t just working the chains that

Rob Ragan had gotten himself into.“Carl was taking over the recreation

department and could no longer coach his RecLeague football team,” Rob Ragan said. “So hebegan pushing me to coach the team. The nextyear, I was the coach of the Red Braves.” He hasbeen coaching ever since.

The family involvement didn’t stop there. By1994, Rob Ragan’s brothers, Ricky and Brian,had joined him. “He needed someone,” RickyRagan recalled, “and it is the best seat in thehouse.”

Many referees have horror stories about reallybad chain crews, but with the Ragan boys, it’salways cheers from the line judge. A referee evensaid that he loved getting to work the EastCoweta home games because he knew how goodthe chain crew would be.

Rob Ragan is in his 21st year of working thechain crew, which he now leads. His experienceshows, as he quite often spots the line ofscrimmage well before the referee marks it. But itisn’t just volunteering for the chains that bringshim satisfaction.

“When I walk off the field after a game,” saysRagan, “I see lots of kids that I coached in RecLeague ball playing for EC. When one of themcomes up to me and says, ‘Hey, coach,’ it makesit all worth it.”

Tom and Barbara Ragan never began theirsupport of the Indians with the idea that throughtheir family, they would touch the lives of somany kids that play football at East Coweta.They simply wanted to make it fun for theirboys, and for the boys who followed.

In their 30-plus years of support they havegotten to see their grandkids participate in Fridaynight events. And whether home or away, youwill still find the Ragans in the stands. For thehome games, they are in the same seats they’vealways been in. But if you want to talk to themyou might have to get in line. They have loved somany, and are certainly loved by many more.

So this year when you open your footballprogram and see that same picture that will endup in the yearbook, remember that behind eachplayer and coach, even though you can’t seethem, is a Ragan. NCM

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The Northgate VikingBand performs last fall.


10_0910_32-37 8/20/10 11:03 AM

There’s a reason

preachers don’t schedule

revival services on Friday

nights in the Deep South.

They know they

can’t stand the

competition.

By Alex McRae | Photos by Bob Fraley and Jeffrey Leo


10_0910_32-37 8/20/10 11:03 AM

East Coweta Marching Indians

Elizabeth Domzalski, above, and A.J. Samples, below,performed last year with the Northgate Viking Band.


10_0910_32-37 8/20/10 11:03 AM


High school football may not be a religion, but itranks a close second and some consider Friday night’sfootball wars almost as sacred as Sunday morningservices.

Every good battle deserves a soundtrack, andfootball games are no exception. Coweta County hasthree world-class marching bands to keep the musicand adrenaline flowing all game long, especially athalftime, when fans are treated to spectaclesguaranteed to keep them in their seats or on their feet.

“It’s a big deal,” says John Erdogan, who becamean assistant director at Newnan High in 1989 andhas led the Marching Cats since the fall of 1996.

“People expect to be entertained at halftime andwe work hard to make that happen.”

The role of marching musicians has evolveddramatically since Joshua’s trumpet players helpedbring the walls of Jericho tumbling down.

Today’s marching band shows resemble Broadwayproductions, complete with sets, props and tightly-choreographed dance moves.

Putting the pieces together is brutal work.Students come to high school with horn-blowingbasics down pat, but learning to play on the moverequires a whole new skill set.

Band members sweat, strain and march throughendless hours of rehearsal, toting everything fromfeather-light piccolos to shoulder-straining bassdrums and back-bending tubas.

The pressure is huge, the commitment anddedication required to succeed is immense. ButCoweta’s marching musicians are always up to thechallenge.

As he enters his 10th year as director of EastCoweta’s Marching Indians, Robert Owens says loveof music isn’t the only motivation.

“Some students enjoy the social interaction or theapplause after a good show,” Owens says. “But what

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they cherish most is the sense of sharedaccomplishment. When they finally putthe music and marching together...well,seeing that light go on is wonderful.”

Alan Armstrong has headed theNorthgate Viking Band since the

school opened its doors. The band’strophy case is overflowing withchampionship trophies, butArmstrong says he is most proud oftwo performances that didn’t result infirst place honors.

“Both times when the kids cameoff the field, we knew it was the bestperformance they had ever given,”Armstrong says. “They had neverbeen more proud of themselves andthat’s what it’s all about.”

Newnan High’s Marching Cats

10_0910_32-37 8/20/10 11:03 AM


Most of the high school bandyear is spent indoors, honing themusical skills that have enabledCoweta’s high school bands toconsistently earn top scores at concertband festivals and competitions.

But the directors are keenlyaware that marching band is thehigh-profile activity that recruitsfuture musicians and pays the bills.As soon as one season’s last marchingshow is over, directors and staffbegin planning for the next year.

The schedule is brutal forstudents and staff, but the work hasits rewards. Success brings invitationsto perform around the world, andCoweta’s student musicians haveearned enough frequent flyer miles tomake a Fortune 500 road warriorjealous, traveling to California,Arizona, New York, Washington,D.C. and all the way to London,England and Rome, Italy.

East Coweta will travel to Hawaiilater this year.

Whether the trip is across theocean or across the county, movinghundreds of students and tons ofequipment would tax the military’s toplogistics experts. A huge effort isrequired to make sure all theinstruments, equipment and studentsarrive on time and in shape to perform.

“You have to be prepared to dealwith anything from a sick student to abroken down bus or truck,” Erdogansays. “Luckily, there is always plenty ofhelp from parents and band boosters.”

Years after the last note has diedaway, band students still remember agreat performance or an especiallyappreciative crowd. The directorsremember more personal moments.

“The best thing is watching howthe students grow as musicians andleaders,” Erdogan say. “Seeing themlearn to make something out of

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nothing is like nothing else.”This fall, the Northgate, East

Coweta and Newnan bands willagain send the fans home with coldchills. And do it in a way that bringscredit to their schools.

“From the day the uniforms areissued, we remind them they areambassadors for the school, thecommunity and the county,” Owenssays. “There’s nothing moreimportant.”

Reaching new musical milestonesis exhilarating, but the directors arenever more gratified than when astudent contacts them years later tosay how much they appreciate thelessons they learned in band. And notjust about music.

“We’re music educators,”Armstrong says, “but we’d rather theyleave here a better person than abetter musician. When that happens,it’s all worth it.” NCM

10_0910_32-37 8/20/10 11:03 AM


Across Coweta, parents are

learning that sometimes, as my son

informed me during his first Little

League football season, boys “just

have to eat dirt.” And, they’ll soon

learn that it’s good for them.

Young football players learnlife lessons out on the field

By Meredith Leigh Knight

Quinn Inman and Mekhi Hibbler

10_0910_38-47 8/20/10 11:06 AM


Carson Knight (above right) was so proud of his first sweaty football practice that he refused to showeruntil his mom got home to smell him. Below, Stewart Rand (#4) enjoyed playing rec league football andis now on the team at Evans.

10_0910_38-47 8/20/10 11:06 AM


Carson Knight

StewartRand

10_0910_38-47 8/20/10 11:06 AM


My son was so proud of hishard work that after his practicewith pads, he refused to take ashower until I got home because hewanted me to see, feel and smellhow sweaty he was.

Other local parents I spokewith felt the same.

“My son, Stewart, had awonderful experience playingrecreation league football,” said localmom Lissa Rand. “He wasn’t one ofthe bigger guys out on the field, sothe first year he played, of course, Iworried. Fortunately, there areweight restrictions and safetymeasures in place to help keep alevel playing field. Practices were hotand tough, but Stewart loved feelinglike he had conquered something.He would get in the car afterpractices and say ‘That was so hard,’grinning all the while.”

Rand said Stewart had “supercoaches who taught them thecorrect techniques of the game andalso watched over his grades andbehavior at school.”

“The threat of having to doextra running at practice was better

than anything I could have usedto motivate him!” said Rand.

“Although I still don’t liketo see my ‘baby’tackled, I felt proudand excited that he

got so muchsportsmanship,

camaraderie and good old-fashionedexercise out of his rec leaguefootball experience. He’s playing8th grade football at Evans now,and he still loves the work, but

those rec league years will alwaysbe special.”

Mandy Inman’sson, Quinn, age seven,

played with the CowetaCounty Cobras YouthEnrichment Association for

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the 2009 season and is returning forthe 2010 season.

“2009 was his first year playingtackle football,” said Inman. “Myhusband heard of the Cobras from afriend, and we decided to try it out.We made a great decision. Not onlydoes this association offer footballbut also free tutoring to all playersthrough their study hall program andcommunity enrichment activities.”

Quinn went into the 2009season skeptical of football, said hismom.

“We had many days of cryingduring practice, but league CoachDeAndre Franklin and assistantsCoach Maurice, Coach Kenyatta,Coach Bryan and Coach Grant(a.k.a. Daddy) focused on raising

Above left, Mekhi Hibbler and QuinnInman take a break while playing forthe Coweta County Cobras. LanierWright, above, enjoys recreationleague tackle football and is a fan ofUGA’s Alec Ogletree of Newnan.

10_0910_38-47 8/20/10 11:06 AM


Quinn’s self-confidence and gave him the individualattention he needed to get there.”

Inman said she was impressed with how eachcoach managed to give each and every player theyencountered some individual attention.

“These coaches are teaching these boys skills,morals and lessons that will carry them throughout lifeand school,” Inman said. She said nothing less thanabsolute respect is tolerated from players, whether it’stoward coaches, parents, teammates or opposingteams. At every practice the focus is on leadership,teamwork, discipline and fun.

“Quinn has made lifelong friends and role modelsplaying with the Coweta County Cobras,” said Inman.

Speaking of role models, during (then) eight-year-old Lanier Wright’s first season of recreation tacklefootball, he requested to be number 39 in honor of hisrole model, Alec Ogletree. The former Newnan Highplayer and his twin brother Zander are now in theirfirst year of playing football for the Georgia Bulldogs.

“Although we live on the east side of the county, Iwent to Newnan High School and played footballthere,” said Jon Wright, who assisted coaching his son’steam in the fall and plans to head coach this season.“We’d go to the games on Friday night as a goodfamily activity.”

“Lanier’s been a big fan of Alec’s for about twoyears,” Wright said. “The twins grew up playing inrecreation league little league and worked at the gameson Saturdays running the chains. One of thehighlights of the season for Lanier was getting hispicture taken with him.”

Wright praised the positive influence players likethe Ogletrees have on younger boys.

“It’s a great sport for teaching discipline,teamwork and sportsmanship,” said Wright, whoadvises parents to remember that the boys may notalways be the quarterback or be the player parentswish they were.

“It’s not for everybody,” he said, “but it’s my jobas a parent to introduce him to different things. Hemay choose to play the trombone – my mom had meplay the piano. It’s just good for them to do somethinginstead of sitting on the couch.”

It may make moms a little nervous (and as Wrightsaid, “Dads, too. We just won’t admit it”), butfootball, whether it be flag or tackle, is a great sportfor your sons to try.

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n warm afternoons, Lynnand I often hear pleasant

sounds – a ballgame atPickett Field.

There will be thatunmistakable crack of ball against

bat, accelerating cheers of fans and teammates, thetriumphal shout when someone makes it to homeplate. We may also hear music or murmuredconversation from some gathering at Willie J. LynchPark or muted splashing and squeals from the pool onRichard Allen Drive.

When we made plans to move to Temple Avenue17 years ago, we didn’t give much thought to therecreational facilities at the back of our lot. We did likethe yard, including a huge pecan tree that was plantedby Mrs. Kate Fuller when she lived at our house yearsago. “It really has grown,” she remarked during a visitsoon after we moved in.

Path toPickettFieldreminder oftimes past

{ Local Heritage }

By W. Winston Skinner

10_0910_38-47 8/20/10 11:06 AM


In this 1947 photo are, from left, front, batboy Hamilton Arnall Jr.; first row, James Whitney,Buck Matthews, Bob Astin, Johnny Hill; second row, unidentified player, Ted Browning, BobStanley, two unidentified players; back, George DePillo, Chester Skalski, Paul Brock,unidentified player, Duane Krohn, Claude Shoemake, Jake Daniel, Don Stoyle.

10_0910_38-47 8/20/10 11:06 AM


Around the pecan tree, there is anarrow path of concrete that runs throughour back yard. I learned, soon after webecame Newnanites, that the path is apiece of Coweta sports history. While themain entrance to Pickett Field was onWesley Street, residents of the College-Temple neighborhood in years past wouldsimply walk to what is now our home andgo through the back yard along that pathto whatever game or event was takingplace.

Before Pickett Field existed, the landbelonged to Mr. and Mrs. Len Millians.Catherine Wood, who gave us a warmwelcome to Temple Avenue, was theirgranddaughter. As a member of theMillians family, she had a pass thatallowed her to attend any event at PickettField free – a privilege she used frequently.

Many different teams have played atPickett Field over the years. Since we havemoved to College-Temple, thecompetitors have tended to be pint-sized– playing on age specific teams.

Newnan High School’s athletesplayed there decades ago, and for severalyears, Pickett Field was a site for games ofthe Newnan Browns, a team in the ClassD Georgia-Alabama League. The Brownsplayed at the field from 1946-1950.

Lamar Potts, the sheriff whoseheroism was a central focus of Murder InCoweta County, was the manager for theBrowns. I have seen the space in the oldcourthouse where Sheriff Potts arrangedfor the team members to bunk.

The accommodations were anythingbut lavish, but the pay apparently madeup somewhat for the discomfort. I amtold a typical contract was $100 permonth.

In my years at The Times-Herald, Ihave been fortunate to work with twosports journalists who earned places inNewnan Browns’ history – Johnny Brownand Tommy Camp.

Johnny was the sports editor when Ifirst came to work at The Times-Herald.During the Newnan Browns’ era, Johnny

These vintage tickets once were used by fans to attend ballgames of theNewnan Browns. Below, 18-month-old Clair Lynn Kight discovers a basketof baseballs while walking down the path that leads to Pickett Field in hergrandparents' back yard.

10_0910_38-47 8/20/10 11:06 AM


and Joe Norman, another onetime newspaperemployee who later became the town’s photographer,founded The Georgia-Alabama Sportsman, apublication which became the official “voice” of theNewnan Browns.

Johnny spent many hours at Pickett Fieldcovering the Newnan Browns and their rivals – as wellas every other baseball and football team who playedthere for decades.

Tommy Camp, who grew up in Newnan, is nowthe newspaper’s sports editor. Back in 2006, he wrotea series detailing the history of the Newnan Browns.From Tommy’s outstanding reporting, I pass along thefollowing:

• Some $10,000-$15,000 had to be raised tolaunch the Browns. The Newnan Baseball Associationwas formed with Roy Brown, president; HamiltonArnall, vice president; with Brown, Arnall, Potts, W.W.Kirby, Carl Attaway and George Barron, directors.

• The team’s name was in honor of Joseph Brown,Roy Brown’s son, one of Coweta’s first servicemenreported missing in World War II.

• A record 107,000 people came to Pickett Fieldto see the Browns play in 1946, a number thatdropped to 80,000 in 1947, 56,500 in 1949 and only37,500 in 1950 – as television made it possible forCowetans to watch big league games from the comfortof their own living rooms.

Tommy noted Pickett Field is the only Class DGeorgia-Alabama venue from six decades ago still inuse today as a baseball facility. And my friend RandallHarrison wrote in a 2003 letter to the editor abouteating peanuts when his father would take him to seethe Browns play. “I haven’t eaten parched peanuts thattasted that good in years,” Randall reminisced.

A while back, someone gave me some tickets forthe Newnan Browns’ 1949 season. They were colorcoded and cost 60 cents for adults and 30 cents forchildren. I plan to have my friend Nancy Roy putthem into a shadow box as a reminder of the folkswho tromped through my back yard to cheer theirhome team to victory.

The concrete walkway is broken in some places.The roots of “Miss” Kate’s pecan tree have taken overpart of the path, but there are two good stretches of itremaining.

The path to Pickett Field is no Hadrian’s Wall,but it is a tangible reminder of time past in Newnan –of our town’s onetime status as home of a baseballteam. Lynn and I are proud to be its caretakers. NCM

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10_0910_48-53 8/20/10 11:10 AM


t began with a smile. A smile thatwas returned. Next a comment

was made and laughter shared. Thena question asked and answered andcommon threads revealed; a friendship

formed. I, unexpectedly, was spending themorning following my youngest son in a golf

tournament. She, too, had last minute changesand had stayed for the tournament. The airclung heavily to our skin like only a southernJuly morning can do, and heat could be seensimmering off the course like a smoking skillet.

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In the landscape, the crape myrtle can be used as a

tree or shrub and is effective as a hedge or screen.


10_0910_48-53 8/20/10 11:10 AM

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For the back nine we shared a cart, and as theboys came off number 10 tee a soft breeze sprung up,momentarily lifting the hair off our necks. The breezecaught the crape myrtles lining the fairway, and atantalizing shower of pink and white danced acrossthe greenness. The falling blossoms were anaccompaniment to our hushed conversation. Wetalked of many things, but one thing stood out,which I repeated later to my husband, the account ofher son being bitten by a water moccasin two weeksprevious. As our conversation drifted like the blooms,she told of the bite, the trip to the local ER, themove to the trauma center, the swelling, and a twoday stay in ICU. Her son was OK. Living in thesouthern landscape – a land of snakes – I had seenmany but never known anyone actually bitten by asnake. That tiny word “never,” is it like the proverbialgauntlet thrown down?

But I digress. This is an article about thecharming Lagerstroemia indica, more commonlyknown as crape myrtle, that was such a presence thatmorning. This group of deciduous shrubs and treeshas several distinctive features which endear it togardeners. The graceful arching panicles that coverthe tree from midsummer into fall can last up to 120days, establishing it as one of the longest lastingblooms. The tissue-like flowers are available in abeautiful array of colors including white, lavender,purple, pink, watermelon and red. When the bloomsfade, they give way to attractive brown seed podswhich are usually coupled with vibrant fall color. Thebranching trunks lend interest with lovely exfoliatingbark that reveals a smooth underside of brown andgray.

In 1759, the crape myrtle was introduced toEngland from China with the hope of cultivating it,but England’s cool, wet climate hampered theblooming. Eventually, the Frenchman AndréMichaux brought the tree to Charleston in 1786.There the crape myrtle began its illustrious career as afixture in our southern land. When the famedbotanist and naturalist Carl Linneaus picked anamesake for this showy tree, he chose his naturalistfriend and director of the Swedish East IndiaCompany Magnus von Lagerstroem. (Interestingly, itis the spelling of the common name that gives peoplefits more than the botanical name. The spellings“crape” and “crepe” are found throughout theliterature and although there are plenty of strong

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Common name: Crepe Myrtle, Crape Myrtle,Crapemyrtle, Indian LilacBotanical name: Lagerstroemia indicaDescription: Group of deciduous shrubs and treeswhich have branching trunks and a graceful canopy ofleaves. The crape myrtle is distinctive for its long-lastingblooms and textural exfoliating bark.

Blooms: The arching panicles of flowers are available inwhite, lavender, purple, pink, watermelon and red. Whenthe blooms fade they give way to attractive brown seedpods which are usually coupled with vibrant fall color. Cultivation: The crape myrtle is particularly susceptible

to mildew and aphids; planting in full sun with room forgood air circulation will provide the best foil for thesepests. It can be propagated by hardwood or softwoodcuttings and seed. It tolerates drought but does best inmoist soil, especially as it becomes established.

Special notes: In the landscape the crape myrtle can be used as a tree or shrub and is effective as a hedge or screen. The

textural bark and resplendent blooms make it striking as a single planting or a mass planting.

{ The Thoughtful Gardener } Plant Index

CrapeMyrtle

WEB EXTRA:The Thoughtful Gardener Plant Index

Go to newnancowetamagazine.comto download your next garden journal page,Crape Myrtle.


opinions, no one is able to verify ifeither is correct.)

In the landscape, the crapemyrtle can be used as a tree or shruband is effective as a hedge or screen.The textural bark and resplendentblooms make it striking as a singleplanting or a mass planting. Ittolerates drought but does best inmoist soil, especially as it becomesestablished.

The crape myrtle is particularlysusceptible to mildew and aphids;planting in full sun with room forgood air circulation will provide thebest foil for these problems. It canbe propagated by hardwood orsoftwood cuttings and seed. Otherthan the spelling of the name, themost controversial thing about thistree is the practice of overpruning.Many horticultural experts not onlyrecommend but beg us to limit ourpruning to some thinning in winteror early spring. The Southern LivingGarden Book gives this advice: “Onlarge shrubs and trees, remove basalsuckers, twiggy growth, crossingbranches, and branches growingtoward the center of the plant. Alsogradually remove side branches upto a height of 4 to 5 feet; thisexposes the handsome bark of thetrunk.” Many sources recommendnever to chop off the branches.Hmmm. That little word “never”...

That night, as the twilightfaded, I heard the boys and agroup of friends return from theircanoe trip down the creek. One ofthe boys ran up to the back doorand thrust out his baseball-sizehand. “Miss Katherine, a snake bitme!” I almost felt the gentle brushof falling pink and white bloomsas my new friend’s words echoedfrom that morning. “I know justwhat to do and where to go,” Iassured him as we walked out thedoor to the ER. NCM

10_0910_48-53 8/20/10 11:10 AM

By Tina Neely | Photos by Bob Fraley

{ Tina’s Tips }

Fall into aFabulousKitchen!


Ada Cornwell has become anexpert do-it-yourselfer whileredoing her kitchen.

10_0910_54-59 8/20/10 11:12 AM


hen my friend Ada calledto talk about a kitchen

redo, I had no idea she hadso many projects in mind!

Painting, wallpaper stripping,drapery making, cabinet

staining, furniture refinishing andmore — this girl has enough projectsto fill an entire HGTV show.

When her husband asked whatshe wanted for her birthday, withouthesitation she requested money toredo the kitchen. After living in herLake Redwine home for nine years,along with the toil that two wildlittle boys can create, her kitchenneeded some serious updates andspace-saving techniques. Herbirthday wish was granted: $1,000 todo whatever she wanted with herkitchen, but on one condition – shehad to do it on her own withnothing added to her husband’s“honey do” list.

With her money, greatdetermination and a grand vision inmind, she set out to accomplish whatwould turn out to be all she dreamedof and more. Now Ada is a seasoneddo-it-yourselfer who shares how shedid it along with some extra tips tosave you time and money!

Before photos

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Step #1: Find your inspirationand prioritize your wishes,wants and needs. In Ada’s casethis meant more space for storageand less clutter in a kitchen that’swarm, welcoming and stylish yet canwithstand the onslaught of twogrowing boys. Dark colored cabinetsand a red wall would make itcomplete. Ada’s fabric was herinspiration, and her great chocolatebrowns, reds and oranges came fromthe local hobby/craft store. Swatchesin hand, she set off for the homeimprovement store to choose paintcolors.

Step #2: Strip the wallpaper andpaint the walls. After spending $30 onwallpaper stripper and tools, trial anderror taught Ada to return all the fancystuff and just use soap and water and aninexpensive scraper. Walls prepped andready, she painted the accent wall RedPepper by Behr in a satin finish, usingthree good coats to get the desired color.For the remaining kitchen walls, twocoats of Plateau with good neutral tonescompleted the look.

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Step #3: Strip, prep, paint and stain thecabinets. Perhaps one of the most time consum-ing but cost effective ways to change the look of akitchen is to paint or stain your kitchen cabinets.Sand and clean your doors before painting. Adarecommends buying or renting a paint sprayer for asmoother finish, and don’t forget to label doors andhinges before taking them down. Each door waspainted on each side. Three coats were required,and to help them pass the scratch test she addedtwo coats of polyurethane. To give it that yummychocolate color she used French Roast by Behr forthe bottoms and Light Incense for the creamy topcabinet color. (Be careful leaving your dark cabi-nets in the hot Georgia heat and sun to dry. Thedark color can absorb heat quickly and warp thedoors in no time.)

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Step #4: Add a back-splash. A cost effective wayto change to look of yourkitchen is to add a back-splash. This do-it-yourselferchose a 12 x 12 glass tile thatshe adhered to the walls withtile glue, then grouted with theneutral color Haystack. A firsttimer at tiling, Ada said the tilewas one of the easiest partsof the project.

Step #5: Redo the kitchen table andchairs and treatments to enhance thedecor. To give her more storage and extraseating at her table, we enlisted the help of myDaddy to build her a new window seat thatspans the length of the windows but also hasan opening latched top that gives the storage oftwo to three more cabinets. Wanting to stick toher budget and knowing her 4-year-old is still abit hard on furniture, she decided to redo their16-year-old table and chairs. Sanding it down toremove all finishes, she used her paint sprayerand the espresso brown cabinet paint. Whenpainting a tabletop, place the top down flat andnot propped up to avoid runs in the paint.

As an accent on her blank wall sherefinished an antique piece in red to give agreat splash of color. Wall words inspired by ICorinthians 13:13 gave her the blessing of “Mayour home always be seasoned with love.” Thechocolate brown words are a daily reminder toAda and her family of their foundation.

For a new rug to go underneath the kitchentable, she took indoor/outdoor carpet andbordered it with leftover drapery fabric. That$16 of fabric, an iron and hot glue makes for asimple, low-cost project that adds a great look!

In addition to changing out the cabinethardware, another great way to update is tochange out the light fixtures. Ada replaced theold brass fixtures with new ones in an antiquebronze finish.


10_0910_54-59 8/20/10 11:13 AM


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A fresh batch ofcookies and a warm pot ofcoffee fill up thisbeautifully finishedkitchen with the yummysmells of home and a jobwell done. If you’ve beenin your house for a whileand are looking for a newlook, consider some ofAda’s great ideas. Thisformer first-timer hasturned herself into a DIYexpert, and with someresearch, elbow grease anda bit of patience, you cando it too! NCM

For a more detailed list of instructions for all stages of this project, check out our online web extra atnewnancowetamagazine.com where Ada tells you all you need to know to do it! Check it out – and fall intoa fabulous kitchen of your own!

Will and Grayson Cornwelland mom Ada Cornwell enjoy

hanging out in the family’snewly renovated kitchen.

10_0910_54-59 8/20/10 11:13 AM


{ Saddle Up }

10_0910_60-68 8/20/10 3:18 PM


orse trainers NickCwick and Lindsey

Rairden arevictims of their

own success: Just as they reach theupper levels of competition with ahorse they are training, where riding awinning horse can bring fame andglory and the chance to represent theUnited States at the internationallevels of their sport, they sell it.

Despite a down economy –which has cut demand for what someconsider luxury items on hooves –Cwick and Rairden have sold eighthorses since January. There are emptystalls in their Coweta County barn,but they have no regrets. Seeing aformer race horse go on to success in

Horse trainers Lindsey Rairden andNick Cwick enjoy seeing former racehorses go on to second careers ineventing or show jumping.

CapstoneEventing

By Martha A. Woodham | Photos by Bob Fraley

10_0910_60-68 8/20/10 3:19 PM

a second career in eventing or showjumping is worth it.

“It’s such an expensive hobby,”says Cwick, who has been rankedamong the top 40 riders in eventingin the United States and who hascompeted in 19 U.S. competitionsgoverned by the Federation EquestreInternationale. (The FEI is theinternational governing body ofeventing, show jumping anddressage.) “We’ve gotten good horsesto the three- and four-star levels andhad to sell them. We would both loveto have four-star horses, but we lovethe young ones.”

Bringing along inexperiencedhorses or retraining Thoroughbredswho didn’t make it at the track andseeing them succeed is the impetusbehind the formation of Cwick andRairden’s partnership, CapstoneEventing, named after a horse thatRairden once rode.

“We liked what it represents, thesummit, the highest point ofsomething,” says Rairden.

And then there is the satisfactionof helping people with their horses.

“It dawned on me early in life, atage 15 or 16, that this is what Iwanted to do with my life,” Cwicksays.

He and Rairden both rode aschildren. Cwick, who grew up inCalifornia, started riding at age 6,and his parents bought him a horsewhen he was 7. By age 12, he waseventing, a sport that is a horsetriathlon of dressage, cross-countryjumping and show jumping takingplace over two or three days.

Rairden, who as a child livedbriefly in Atlanta and trained withRoger Brown, did not come from ahorsey family, but her parentsallowed her to take lessons and toshow hunter ponies. She never reallyrode a horse until she was 10, whenher family moved to “horse heaven” –


Training inexperienced horses or retraining former race horses isthe impetus behind the formation of Capstone Eventing, Nick Cwickand Lindsey Rairden’s partnership. Capstone Eventing is namedafter a horse Rairden once rode.

10_0910_60-68 8/20/10 3:19 PM


Louisville, Ky. Ultimately, like Cwick, she turned toeventing. She has spent much of her professional careerretraining Thoroughbreds who didn’t make it asracehorses and giving them second careers.

“Few people are lucky enough to do what they lovefor a living,” says Rairden. “I was lucky enough to havethis talent. But even if I didn’t train, I would still havehorses in my life.”

The couple first met in 2004 at a horse trial onGeorgia businessman/Belgian Olympic rider CarlBoukaert’s farm in Chatsworth. Although Rairden hada crush on 21-year-old Cwick, the relationship didn’tblossom until years later: She was just 16.

In 2008, Cwick moved East, which has morecompetitions than the West, in order to further hiscareer, eventually connecting with Pennsylvania riderand trainer Buck Davidson. At a horse trial later thatyear in Florida, Cwick and Rairden bumped into eachother again, and their relationship was rekindled. In anironic twist, Rairden was showing a horse, Cosmo, whohad been trained and shown by Cwick at one time.

By 2009, both Cwick and Rairden were in aposition to move on from their previous jobs when theylearned that Roy and Margaret Knox’s Swamp FoxFarm in west Coweta was available as a training facility.Mike and Emma Winter, the professional trainers whohad occupied the facility for about nine years, haddecided to return to Emma’s home country, England.

In August, the young couple moved in and couldn’tbe happier. Not only are the Knoxes terrific landlordswho “adopt us on holidays,” but they say CowetaCounty is ideally situated: Capstone Eventing hasattracted clients and students from Alabama as well asGeorgia.

In addition, the Southeast has competitions almostevery weekend, and there are at least three major venueswith cross-country courses within a few hours drive. Oneis Bouckaert’s Chattahoochee Hills farm, a gorgeousfacility in South Fulton County that will be the site ofthe American Eventing Championships in 2010 and2011. Capstone Eventing already has several horsesqualified for the national competition, which will attractmore than 500 horses vying for thousands in prizes.

For now, the couple is concentrating on trainingthe nine horses in their barn and working with theirstudents, but they keep an eye out for that specialhorse, the one with the athleticism and drive to make itto the top, like the name, Capstone Eventing, says.

For more information about Capstone Eventing, visitwww.capstoneeventing.com. NCM

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The Devil Amongst the Lawyers By Sharyn McCrumbThomas Dunne Books, $24.99Reviewed by Holly Jones

“The devil amongst the lawyers”might mean the influx of big-shotreporters descending on the ruralmountains of Wise County, Va. Thedevil might be Erma Morton – ontrial for murdering her father and thereason for the reporters’ presence. Ormaybe the devil is Erma’s family –determined to use her new celebritystatus for their financial gain.

Whoever the devil might be, TheDevil Amongst the Lawyers is SharynMcCrumb’s latest novel – a mysteri-ous tale of families and secrets.

The story primarily revolvesaround the reporters, Henry Jernigan,Rose Hanelon, Shade Baker and CarlJennings. Henry prides himself onbeing a gentleman – “a gentleman ofthe press, perhaps, but still a gentle-man.” From a wealthy Philadelphiafamily, Henry considers himself well-

traveled and world-weary. Inthe heart of the Depression,his shoes are hand-stitched, hisshirts the finest linen, and hiscoat heavy wool seldom seenin rural Virginia. But Henry ishaunted by ghosts that followhim throughout the trial.

Female reporters in the1930s were stereotyped as “sobsisters” for overplaying stories’emotional angles, and Roseleads the sisterhood. With “adumpling face framed by frizzyhair” and “a short-necked, full-bosomed, stubby-legged body,”Rose can’t get by on looks, buther intelligence and determina-tion take her wherever shewants to go. Unfortunately,where Rose wants to go isn’tthe trial of a beautiful allegedmurderess.

Slade Baker is a photo-journalist with an eye for

scene-setting. His photos accompanyHenry and Rose’s stories. The prob-lem is, they don’t want an honestdepiction of Wise County.They want stereotypes—“oldmen whittling on sticks andswapping lies, and big mon-grel dogs sleeping in everypatch of shade.”

Carl Jennings is the localreporter on his first majorstory. He works at a smallEast Tennessee paper andwants to hobnob with thefamous reporters. However,Carl realizes the bigger papersaren’t printing the truth;they’re creating stories “thereaders want” – a sensational-ized account of a beautiful,tragic heroine.

Carl is the only reporterinterviewing townspeople, theonly one truthfully depictingthe trial. So why is Carl’s jobon the line when his storydoesn’t match those of theother papers?

Seeing the town and the trialfrom the viewpoint of jaded sensa-tionalism versus forthright eagerness,and reading the truth behind thecrime from Erma’s perspective, makeThe Devil Amongst the Lawyers a taleof perception – and things are defi-nitely not what they seem.

Hold Up The SkyBy Patricia SprinkleNAL Trade, $15Reviewed by Holly Jones

Billie Waits, Margaret Baxter,Mamie Fountain and Emerita Gomez– four women with four sets of prob-lems. Each woman feels the weight ofthe world on her shoulders. Mamiecalls it “holding up the sky.” Thewomen aren’t willing to admit theirproblems, at least not to each other.That would admit weakness andinvite pity.

Patricia Sprinkle has created thesefour women with intertwined lives inher appropriately titled novel Hold Upthe Sky.

{ The Bookshelf }

10_0910_60-68 8/20/10 11:17 AM


Mamie’s doctor told her she needs totake better care of herself and slowdown.

Emerita immigrated from Mexicowith her husband Jose. They put alltheir money in a truck to get themfrom the Texas border to Dalton, Ga.where they could get jobs in the car-pet mills. Unfortunately, the truckbreaks down in every other townthey’ve driven through, keeping themaway from their goal while they workoff repair bills.

What happens when Ben decideshe doesn’t want to be married toMargaret anymore, and the landscapecompany is struggling? When Porter’schecks completely stop coming andno one can tell Billie where he is?When Mamie starts experiencing thepain of congestive heart failure? Orwhen Emerita ends up on Billie’sdoorstep when the truck breaksagain?

Will these women turn to eachother? Will they see how their livesare woven together? Or will they con-tinue believing they have to “hold upthe sky” alone? NCM

Billie and Margaret are sisters,and polar opposites. Margaret is theolder sister, the perfect one. Margaretis married to the love of her life Ben,and together they built a landscapedesign business. They have two won-derful sons, a house they love inMarietta, and friends at the countryclub.

Billie, on the other hand, hasn’tseen her husband Porter since the daytheir days-old daughter Michelle wasdiagnosed with cerebral palsy.Michelle is five now and in a wheel-chair. Porter sends part of his pay-check every month, but he hasn’t seenBillie or Michelle since he walkedout. And this month, his check hasn’tcome. Despite her family and friends’opinions, Billie still loves Porter andstill believes he wouldn’t abandon hisfamily.

Mamie used to clean house forBillie and Margaret’s parents. Sherecently bought herself a PT Cruiser– a car she’s always wanted. She stilltries to help Billie with Michelle, andchecks in on Billie and Margaret’swidowed father Bill occasionally.

{ Index of Advertisers }Bank of Coweta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68BB&T . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18Carrollton Eye Clinic, P.C. . . . . . . . . . . . . .47Center For Allergy & Asthma . . . . . . . . . .5The Centre For Performing

& Visual Arts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35Chin Chin Newnan Chinese

Restaurant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43The Cotton Pickin’ Fair . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25Coweta-Fayette EMC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67Coweta Medical Center . . . . . . . . . . . . .18Crossroads Podiatry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37The Dinoff School for the

Gifted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29Downtown Church of Christ . . . . . . . . . .57Farm Bureau Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . .17Farm & Masonry Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . .31Franklin Road Animal Clinic . . . . . . . . . .29Georgia Military College . . . . . . . . . . . . .11Heritage Retirement Homes

of Peachtree . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47The Heritage School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23Hollberg's Fine Furniture . . . . . . . . . . . . .57Landmark Christian School . . . . . . . . . . .41Lee-King and Lee-Goodrum

Pharmacies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51Main Street Newnan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25Maritime Air Charters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31Mercer University . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35Morgan Jewelers/Downtown . . . . . . . .41Newnan Academy of Preschool &

Child Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43Newnan Station Tire & Service . . . . . . .19NGTurf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53Phillips Dental . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59Piedmont Newnan Hospital . . . . . . . . . . .2Radiation Oncology Services . . . . . . . . . .3The Ritzy Roost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51Savannah Court of Newnan . . . . . . . . . .23Southern Crescent Equine

Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63StoneBridge Early Learning

Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37Super Sand Professional

Topdressing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63Uniglobe McIntosh Travel . . . . . . . . . . . .19University of West Georgia . . . . . . . . . . .13Wesley Woods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17Wedowee Marine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

November/December 2010 Ad Deadlines

Published: November 5, 2010; Contract Ads: September 29, 2010;

New Ads: October 8, 2010. Call 770.683.6397 for details and

advertising information.

Congratulations to Jonnie Porter of Newnan,the winner of our July/August book giveaway.Jonnie has won a copy of Savannah Style by

Foot Network star Paula Deen.

10_0910_60-68 8/20/10 11:17 AM

{ I am Coweta }

Avid traveler and insurance agent Tommy Hooks was raised in Macon, graduating from Mercer University. After abrief career in education, Tommy earned a Chartered Life Underwriter designation in 1979 from the American Collegein Bryn Mawr, Pa. He has been a State Farm Agent in Newnan for 24 years. He and wife Anne have been married for44 years, have three children and one grandchild. When not traveling or working, Tommy enjoys volunteering withthe Newnan Carnegie Library Foundation as the vice-president of the board. He recently presented an ArmchairTravelers program on Ireland for library patrons.How long have you called Coweta home?My family moved to Newnan in 1987, and two of my children graduated from Newnan High School.When did you first become interested in travel?After attending company conventions in Bermuda, Mexico, Germany, France, Canada and Hawaii, as well as other

U.S. destinations, we began to travel independently in 1996. Since then, we havebeen to Scotland (twice), England, Australia, Italy and Ireland (four times), as well

as Oregon, South Dakota, Michigan, Texas, Arizona, Montana, Nevada, Utah,New York, Pennsylvania and New England.

What is your favorite travel destination internationally and why?Obviously, after going four times, Ireland would be our favorite. Thescenery is spectacular, particularly the coastline. The weather has alwaysbeen great, although you can get rain quite often. Historical sites areeverywhere, dating as far back as 3000 B.C. Some of my ancestors camefrom Ireland. However, the people of Ireland are its greatest charm. Theyare friendly, witty, cheerful folks, eager to please and make you welcome.Our first trip was a home exchange with an Irish family from Kilkenny, andwe became and remain friends. We have visited with them on two otheroccasions since. The Irish people tend to be very friendly with Americans,

which is not the case everywhere you go.What is your favorite spot within the U.S.?

The American West, with Oregon and Montana tiedfor first and South Dakota a close second.

There is no more spectacular sceneryanywhere I’ve ever been. The Southwest iswonderful as well, particularly Arizona. Wewent to Yosemite and San Francisco inAugust.Do you have a dream trip, somewhere you’vebeen unable to go?Actually, no, but we are going back toIreland next year. That’s how much welove it, and that’s about the longest planetrip I want to make.Can you share any travel tips for rookietravelers?Get off the beaten path. Some of thegreatest experiences we’ve had have beenin areas where a lot of visitors don’t go.Don’t be hesitant to travel on your own.What do you enjoy doing when at home inCoweta?Entertaining my grandson, and planningthe next trip!

For more information on the ArmchairTravelers program, which coversworldwide travel topics, visitwww.newnancarnegie.com.

Tommy HooksBy Nichole Golden | Photo by Bob Fraley


10_0910_60-68 8/20/10 11:17 AM

At Coweta-Fayette EMC Natural Gas, we’ve built our reputation on taking all of the hassles out of natural gas

service. Which means you’ll enjoy some of the lowest rates around. Along with price plans that don’t take

an advanced degree to understand. And if you ever do have any questions, our friendly and knowledgeable

Customer Service Representatives are here to help. For the best in natural gas, sign up today at

cfemcnaturalgas.com or call 770-502-0226.

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770-253-1340www.bankofcoweta.com

Anne B. BellBank of CowetaPresident and Chief Operations Officer

Come see me or any of your friends at Bank of Coweta.We’ve been here since 1972 to serve you.

Visit any of our Synovus® Bank locations in Georgia,Tennessee, South Carolina, Alabama or Florida.Go to Synovus.com/locations for a division near you.

Synovus® Bank, Member FDIC, is chartered in the state of Georgia and operates under multiple trade names across the Southeast. Divisions of Synovus® Bankare not separately FDIC-insured banks. The FDIC coverage extended to deposit customer is that of one insured bank.

We’re dedicated to learning about your business andbuilding a long-term relationship with you.

And because we make decisions right here in the

Communityyou call home, we can provide the responsive service and

fast turnaround your business demands. After all, that’s what you expect from your local bank. Our goal is to

exceed your expectations. We have the expertiseand resources to meet almost any business

Bankingneed you have. We offer a sophisticated array

of financial products and services – capital markets, corporate investments, international banking,

cash management and more. Our team ofknowledgeable and friendly bankers can

Powerfullydeliver an unrivaled customer experience –

based on trust and superior service.So whether your business is large or small, get

Connectedto Bank of Coweta,

your local division of SYNOVUS® BANK

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newnan-coweta magazine, september/october 2010

Documents

specialized care

combiningcompassionate

excellent cancer care

radiation oncology services

bay postanesthesia care

bed labor

bed level

hospital roadnewnan