Governor-elect, first lady receive Cabbage Patch look-alikes

ATLANTA - Governor-elect Nathan Deal and his wife Sandra became new parents Friday...parents of look-alike "babies" created by Babyland General in Cleveland.

Babyland's Margaret McLean traveled to the State Capitol in Atlanta for the presentation of the Cabbage Patch originals.

"We made him [Deal] take the oath of adoption...he and Mrs. Deal," said McLean.

She said that in addition to Babyland General representatives, the mayor of Cleveland, and officials from Georgia's Tourism Department attended the event at the Capitol.

"Cabbage Patch and Babyland brought so much to the economy of that small rural community," said McLean, noting the boost in tourism that company has brought to Cleveland and White County.

Original Appalachian Artworks, the company that creates Cabbage Patch Kids, was founded in 1978 in Cleveland by Xavier Roberts.