POWERGRAMS

18 University graduate. "We want to inspire them to reach their full potential. Growing up, I had no idea that I was walking down the same streets as astronauts, world-renowned doctors, Olympic gold medalists, NFL and Hall of Fame baseball players." Music created by area standouts such as Chet Atkins, Big Mama Thornton, Hank Williams and Otis Redding will play in and outside the ATTA. Behind History Hall will be a research room with three computer stations. Killebrew says it took three years to scan documents, including Larry Smith's area history collection, that will allow visitors to search by family name, dates and locations in Henry County. Documents from surrounding counties are being scanned for inclusion soon. Adjacent to History Hall will be the largest open area of ATTA, which will house interactive rotating exhibits that introduce the latest technologies and engage visitors in hands-on STEM activities, with presentations loaned by national libraries and museums for educational opportunities seldom afforded rural Americans. The ATTA includes a 180-degree interactive three-screen theater set up by Sound Vision Technical of Troy and designed by a company that created similar theaters for Disney. Through a 22-foot sliding glass partition, the theater opens to a high-tech conference room that has the latest web conferencing equipment and LG monitors. Killebrew says even the walls of ATTA tell a story: Bare brick in some rooms was revealed after old stucco was removed inside the 121-year-old structure; wood in other rooms was taken from the old floors and ceilings during remodeling. The new building front features a clock tower inspired by the 1889 Henry County Courthouse demolished in 1965. "We want to show the magic behind math and science, to change people's ideas toward STEM and history," she says. "Our primary goal is to inspire people from every background to dream and realize that they can accomplish great things." PROVIDING A SAFE HAVEN FOR DOGS They arrive neglected, flea-bitten, diseased, hungry and disheartened by inhumanity. Most would die on the streets in traffic or from disease and starvation were it not for Safe Haven Animal Rescue and Kennels. Since 2008, volunteers have taken in abandoned and mistreated dogs around Abbeville, giving them a second chance at life through kindness and adoption. In 2019, SHARK took a new direction, devising plans for something far better for dogs than in previous years. The all-volunteer organization isn't quite where it wants to be, but board president Gordon East says they are getting there. SHARK took minimal bids from local contractors who support the cause to transform a former auto body shop and sloping property into the new SHARK Center in Industrial Park. Their efforts have replaced three bare-bones facilities around Abbeville that came about after founder Ethel Woods wanted to stop stray dogs being captured and euthanized by animal control. She and others took the dogs, kept them as best they could in their homes and elsewhere, hoping to find adopters. She continuously sought aid in the community but it was never enough to match the problems. Maribeth Herndon, East and others took over those efforts – and eventually closed all of the remote kennels after the new, modern and efficient kennel complex was built in 2020. "Our other kennels were like Third World countries," says Herndon, owner of Southern Trader Shell stations across the Southeast but who also does the kennel laundry each week. "There was no option of rebuilding what we had," adds East. SHARK's no-kill facility now houses a maximum 48 dogs – 16 each in three 40-by-24-foot buildings where each dog has a bed, water and food bowl in its 5-by-10-foot accommodation. Each building has three circulating cooling fans and side-screen shading for summer; and heat lamps, blankets and retractable side covers for winter. A 12-inch grated drainage system surrounds each row of kennels where the floors are sloped to move water away from each dog. East has helped revamp shelter. Lacey Phillips and Killebrew provided information during Yatta Abba Festival. Jay Eller of J&N Enterprises helped with renovations. PHOTO BY MEG McKINNEY PHOTO COURTESY KATE KILLEBREW

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