At Encompass Ministries, independence is celebrated every day. This celebration started in 1998 after Lynne Saunders, founder of Encompass (originally Papa’s Pantry), and a friend returned home from a life-altering mission trip to India. “Here I was, back in the good ol’ U.S. of A,” Lynne said. “Billboards boasting expensive watches and fashion (that) contrasted old … [Read more...]

At the time of this writing, I was nearing the end of one of the most distraction-filled weeks that I’ve had in recent memory. I began with a to-do list of about 26 items, and ended the week with two more items on that list! Every day brought unexpected events and challenges, and absolutely nothing went according to plan. A one-hour task took three hours, while other tasks … [Read more...]

The cooler fall weather is an excellent time to plant trees and shrubs. Maintaining an eco-friendly yard by xeriscaping — landscaping in ways that don’t require supplemental irrigation — with native trees and shrubs is time- and cost-effective. This drought-tolerant landscape uses less water because two-thirds of the yard is trees and shrubs, which call for seasonal … [Read more...]

We have experienced hotter-than-usual heat this summer and, when this happens, boaters often head to the water for some relief. However, some might be unprepared for what it takes to withstand an extremely hot day, particularly when high humidity is added into the mix. Below are five tips from the BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety. Create shade. Direct sunlight can make … [Read more...]

In a world where technology rapidly is transforming the way we live, work and connect, it’s no surprise that law enforcement agencies are embracing these advancements to better serve and protect our communities. Here in Acworth, we are fortunate to have a dedicated team of professionals committed to maintaining our city’s safety and security. Besides sworn peace officers, we … [Read more...]