The Fayette Citizen-Special Sections

Wednesday, January 5, 2000

News

Bost reappointed commission chairman

Harold Bost will serve as chairman of the Fayette County Commission again this year. Commissioners Wednesday voted unanimously to reappoint Bost as chairman and Greg Dunn as vice chairman. The commission chooses its own leadership each January for the coming year. More information on the group's year 2000 organizational structure will be in The Citizen Wednesday, Jan. 12.

County saves $64,000 a year: Result – better phone service

Fayette County will spend $30,000 for improved telephone service, but will save almost $64,000 a year in the process. The County Commission Wednesday approved the expense after learning that market pressures will make new technology available at reduced prices. With the new system in place, automated equipment will provide basic information to callers so that workers at the county Animal Shelter and in the Recreation Department can be involved in duties other than answering the phone during the day. More information on this story will be in The Citizen Wednesday, Jan. 12.

Dispute about jail to be aired

If you have any thoughts on the controversial plans for a new Fayette County Jail and courthouse in downtown Fayetteville, tomorrow night is the time to air them.

Teen center planned for old A&T

Fayetteville's old A&T grocery building, vacant for two years, will soon come to life as an after-hours youth entertainment center called The Market.

Y2K is NBD – no big deal – here

As far as Fayette County is concerned, the window for potential Y2K-related glitches has apparently come and gone without a problem.

To some Y2K = F-L-U

Holiday traumas, accidents and the flu all contributed to Fayette Community Hospital's Emergency Room (ER) treating a record 125 patients Sunday, Jan. 2.

A different perspective: 1 child in public, 1 child in church school

A family that has a child in public school and another at a church school might have a distinct perspective on the differences — as well as the similarities — between the systems.

Fayette legislators see education as big issue

State Rep. Kathy Cox is preparing for a busy legislative session starting Monday, Jan. 10 with an eye on the multifaceted education reforms expected to be key issues.

Tobacco, ethics top prices list

Proceeds from the tobacco settlement and ethics guidelines are among the topics that should be on the front burner during the upcoming 2000 session of the Georgia General Assembly, according to one local legislator.

Hecht: Education high priority for year 2000 session

Making schools and school systems accountable for their students' progress will be at the forefront as the Georgia General Assembly starts its year 2000 session next week, says Greg Hecht, who represents north Fayette in the Senate.

Westmoreland agrees: It's 'education year'

With the Georgia General Assembly set to open next week, Rep. Lynn Westmoreland is looking forward to the “education year.”

Fayetteville eyes law to protect historic properties

Owners of historic properties in Fayetteville will have to get “certificates of appropriateness” for any changes to the sites under a proposed historic preservation ordinance.

Tree ordinance vote set Thursday

Fayette County's Planning Commission will have a public hearing with plans to take a vote on its proposed new tree protection ordinance tomorrow at 7 p.m. in room 212 of the County Administrative Complex.

DeCotis looks to keep standards high in new year

Maintaining high academic standards and dealing with growing needs for housing students tops the list of Fayette school superintendent Dr. John DeCotis' priorities for the 2000 school year.

City says tearful goodbye to Wheat

There weren't many dry eyes in the house Monday night as outgoing Mayor Mike Wheat stepped down from his post and handed his gavel over to incoming Mayor Kenneth Steele.

Fayette's first master teacher says program helps

Linda Brem has been teaching Shakespeare's “Hamlet” for many years at Fayette County High School.

Residents urged to 'Bring one for chippper' Saturday

Keep Fayette Beautiful, the local affiliate of the national Keep America Beautiful program, is inviting local residents to “bring one for the chipper” Jan. 8.

Fayette firm fined $10,000 for pollution violations

Georgia's Environmental Protection Division has issued an order fining Marnelle Mobile Home Park in Fayetteville $10,000 for water pollution violations.

Church relocation plans would require rezoning

Plans for expansion of Fayette Baptist Church will receive scrutiny from the Fayette County Planning Commission Thursday as the group considers its first set of rezoning requests during 2000.

Fayette's historic areas recognized

It was a nice community celebration, complete with a tailgate party.

School system offers free help in math

Free math help is being made available to students by the Fayette County Board of Education, which has announced upcoming sessions at McIntosh and Starr's Mill high schools and Fayette County Community School.

Prime Timers

Some Fayette millenium wishes
Local Prime Timers and leaders were asked to share a “millennium wish” with our readers. While the wishes varied based on the individual's perspective, there was a consistent message of hope for a positive future for the county and the world.
How they rang in the new year
Fayette Countians rang in the new year in a variety of ways.
 
New years plans and predictions
The New Year is a time of reflection and a time to look forward. We asked some of our local leaders and Prime Timers to share their plans for the future and to make some predictions.
 
Negative stereotypes prevent those with hearing loss from taking action
An estimated 28 million Americans suffer from some degree of hearing loss.
Business

Retail sales dominate 1999 business headlines

The last year in Fayette's business community can best be described as transitional.

Is it time to switch jobs?

Eannie meanie miney mo. Is it time to stay or time to go? A decision on whether to change jobs is one that all people in the work force face at some point. You begin to wonder whether you should move on—a change for the better, you hope.

Southland wins award

Southland Nursing Home in Peachtree City was named a “Gold Center of Excellence” in the Care More corporate awards program for 1999.

Sports

Local boy races well in first season

You can attribute Kyle Stinchcomb's success in the Junior Stock WKA Dirt Series to the daredevil attitude of being 13, or you could call it beginner's luck.

Patriots and Chiefs have a good grip on season

The Starr's Mill and McIntosh high school wrestling teams each competed in one final meet before the end of the 20th century.

Patriots on right track as 2000 begins

The Sandy Creek Patriots played in the Osborne-Campbell basketball tournament over the holidays.

Church league hoops ready to begin

The Fayette County Recreation Department will launch its 2000 Church Basketball League this week with practice games.

Lady Lakers and Lakers split conference opener

The Lady Lakers and Lakers opened their PeachBelt Conference slate against the University of North Florida with a doubleheader Sunday at the Athletic Center at Clayton State.

Flash sends eight to nationals

Eight members of the Fayette Flash track team made their mark recently at the USATF National Cross Country Championships in Spartanburg, S.C.

Sports Calendar

Little League signups soon

Registration for boys little league and girls softball in the town of Brooks will be held Feb. 12, 19, and 26 from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. at Brooks Park. Registration is open to boys and girls ages 5-16. For more information, check out www.brooksrec.com or call age group coordinators

Weekend

Boat show returns to Atlanta for 38th year

January is a bit early to think about boating and summer fun, but with last weekend's unusual warmth, it seems right to think about maritime merriment.
First coffee house of the century to be a musical affair
Offshoot Productions will kick off the new year and the new century with the Stars on the Southern Crescent coffee house.

Musings on a new century
By SALLIE SATTERTHWAITE
Lifestyle Columnist

So. We've passed through a sort of portal, like the time warp of science fiction films (think “Final Countdown”).

'Plant Doctors' show hidden life of plants

Living in a world inundated with pop culture, we have seen many works recently that show us the secret lives of things many of us take for granted.

Atlanta Boy's Choir headed to Rome

The Atlanta Boy Choir has accepted an invitation to sing in June at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome during the Catholic Church's Jubilee 2000.

Savor each minute of the year 2000

For all of you entering the new year with 50 gallons of bottled water and a 10-pound tub of peanut butter, I told you so.

Movies

Religion

'Back to the Bible' is the key to America's greatness
By Rev. Dr. John Hatcher
Religion Columnist

The church needs to make a significant course correction or we will drift into total irrelevancy. It involves getting the Bible back into church.

Precious Gems
By JUDY KILGORE

Gee. We're still here. Computers work and everything. Lights are on. Gas works. Telephone rings. Clocks are still ticking. Welcome to the 21st century. Glory be!

River's Edge Church offers membership classes Jan. 5

River's Edge Community Church will offer a class in church membership, C.L.A.S.S. 101, Discovering Church Membership, the first in a series of classes known as Christian Life And Service Seminars, beginning Wednesday, Jan. 5 and continuing each Wednesday through Jan. 26.

Marsha Gootee to present program at CDM in Tyrone

Carolyn Driver Ministries Teaching and Training Center will welcome Franklin, Tennessee's Marsha Gootee for a one-day program on Sunday., Jan. 9 from 10 a.m. until noon.

Senoia's Open Door Baptist welcomes the Perrys Jan. 6

Open Door Baptist Church in Senoia will present its first Gospel Sing of the new millennium on Thursday, Jan. 6, when it welcomes back The Perrys for another evening of Southern Gospel music.

Religion Briefs

Hadassah Group will meet in P'tree City on January 11

Abby Price, management consultant for more than 10 years, will offer tips and techniques to “balance your family, your work and your life” at the New Hadassah Group's January meeting scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 11 at 7 p.m. in Peachtree City. The emphasis will be on making a productive start to the new year.

Opinion

Future rides on shot, so take careful aim
By DAVE HAMRICK
Editor-at-large

When Fulton County built its new government administration building back in the late '80s, observers quickly began using the name “Taj Mahal.”

Bush wises up in New Hampshire
By LEE N.HOWELL
Politically Speaking

Traditionally, the ending of one year and the beginning of another is often considered a good time to make resolutions about how to change one's life.

A visit to Out of This World Gym
BILLY MURPHY
Laugh Lines
 
(Note: All the names in this article on World Gym have been changed, not to protect the innocent but to protect me; as most of the people that workout there could whip my butt. And I'm just talking about the women!)

Letters to the Editor

Will commission really listen to jail objections?

Dave Hamrick, shame on you!

Location, future size of new Fayette jail remain big problems

While I can appreciate Mr. Hamricks “opinion” regarding the Fayetteville jail, there are a number of things he should consider before addressing a community that he doesn't reside in. Please note, I'll stay away from the concerns he dismisses rather easily, such as community fears. I would, however, like to discuss the Clayton County Jail comparison

State ethics decision: Avrit was no Paul Revere

I read Mr. Paquin's amusing letter in the Dec. 29 edition defending Mr. Carl Avrit. Paul Revere was certainly a patriot and Mr. Avrit may be very patriotic but that has nothing to do with following state law and the guidelines established by the state Ethics Board.

Maybe Rocker has a point

Double standard?

Church school series: Is Satterthwaite a paid lobbyist for teachers union?

Ms. Satterthwaite's recent articles about education in Fayette County should either have been put in the Editorial section, or the Lifestyle section, or The NEA Today — not on the front page of The Citizen. In Ms. Satterthwaite's article she wonders, “Why would parents pay $4000 a year or more to send their children to private or parochial schools when then could be sending them to our highly rated Fayette County Government School (FCGS)?”

Hatcher column on Dollar get dunce's award

Reference Dr. John Hatcher's church section column Dec. 29 about pastor Creflo Dollar:

In Home Depot dispute, whose rights are at stake?

Steve Brown's letter in response to my support of property rights in Peachtree City in 1999 was highly imaginative.

Fayette has been one great gift

I have received a great Christmas gift. It is bigger than any box and more priceless than anything that can be bought. It is given to be by many and will be treasured for as long as I live.