In an effort to preserve some of the history of our community, The Times is displaying photos of Henry County from the past. If you can tell us anything about the photo shown above, use this form. In the next edition, we’ll reveal the details of the picture and notes readers send to us.

Stephanie T. Carnell wrote, “The guys pictured in the photo are members of the A.L.E.R.T. (Air Land Emergency Response Team). This is a volunteer team that fixed and made repairs to houses within the City of McDonough that were in need of repair.” Blake Turner wrote, “The picture of the ALERT (Air Land Emergency Resource Team) traveling squad taken in May 1999 reminds us of how citizens in the City of McDonough take action in caring. In 1999 Community Committed to Character, a program started by Mayor Richard Craig to bring character development programs to the City of McDonough – this one “A Way of Life Improvement,” was contacted to help Mrs. Gladys Thornton with her deteriorating home at 254 Phillips Drive in McDonough. On April 23 ALERT (based in Big Sandy, Texas) sent this 6-man team (left to right: Randolph Doyer from Austin, TX, Dick Jerrell (back) – Big Sandy, TX, Joshua Horvath (front) – Waxahachie, TX, Rodian Cabeza – Bronx, NY, Joshua Inman – Seaman, OH, and Daniel Falkenstine – Houston, TX at the request of Mayor Craig to make the repairs to the home. These men, trained in outstanding character and construction skills, showed up to put a new roof on the home, repair the holes in the kitchen and bedroom floors, put in the non-existent bathroom floor, replumb and rewire the house, rebuild the back bedroom walls and floor, install new carpet, and install a central heating and air system. ALERT did not do all the work by themselves. Historical pictures of the project revealed volunteers such as Judge Ben Studdard working on the room, Jimmy Stroud providing electrical materials, Compton Heating and Air supplying and installing the central air system, Floors by April installing the carpet and linoleum, Stringer Lumber providing carpentry and roofing materials, Kiwanis providing cash, Shirley and Willie Holloway cutting grass, and Wayne Wilhoit and Jim Colman overseeing the project management. In addition, countless churches and individuals in and around the community provided clothes washing, meals for the team and a place for the team to sleep during their trip to McDonough.”