The Fayette Citizen-Special Sections

Wednesday, January 7, 2004

News

‘We’re a council of change’

Judi-ann Rutherford, who quit her job as office manager of the Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater on Friday so she could legally accept her position on the City Council three days later, was unanimously elected mayor pro tem by the other councilmen Monday night, just moments after taking the council oath of office.

Teen killed with ‘unloaded’ gun

A 16-year-old Fayette boy faces criminal charges after he accidentally shot and killed one of his close friends with a revolver at a home in the Yates Crossing subdivision Wednesday, Dec. 31, police said.

Officials worry about rash of drug overdoses

Three deaths over the holiday period and the September death of a Sandy Creek High School student are being linked in part to overdoses on prescription drugs.

Golf club seeks liquor-by-the-drink vote

The Fayette County Commission is expected to decide tomorrow whether liquor by the drink in the unincorporated county should be put to the voters this year, possibly July 20 during the county’s general primary balloting.

‘Lifer’: This one's for the birds

It’s a first ever for Fayette County, a first documented in the state of Georgia, and probably the first in the Southeast.

Samaritans list top needs

Nearly 900 chief executives call Fayette County home, the overwhelming majority white and male, according to detailed information on employment and residency released Monday by the Census bureau.

Legislature opens Monday

Fayette County’s ranking state legislator, Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (R-Sharpsburg), believes the upcoming legislative session will be a short one.

PTC lawyer plans second bid for Superior Court judgeship

Local attorney John Mrosek announced his candidacy last week for a Superior Court judgeship.

New judge appointed to jail suit

As expected, an out-of-county judge will rule over the lawsuit between the Fayette County Commission and Sheriff Randall Johnson over the housing of prisoners arrested by the county-commission-supervised marshal’s department.

County library taking inventory

Fayetteville resident Qui Nidey homeschools her children. Recently, she was asked by her homeschool group to bring in the most indispensable item to a parent who homeschools their children and she brought in her library card.

Mold: A growing problem

“The classroom environment is a dirty secret,” said John Lyons, a former U.S. Department of Education facilities director. He could have been talking about some classrooms at Starr’s Mill High School.

Update: Mold stopped dead in its tracks at Starr’s Mill

Mike Satterfield, head of facilities services for the Fayette County school system, said Taylor DeBartola’s in-depth report in “The Prowler” on a mold outbreak at Starr’s Mill High at the start of the school year was mostly accurate.

Martin named to Sams School board

The Joseph Sams School, Inc. has announced the appointment of Arnold L. Martin III to its board of directors.

Westmoreland to address Fayette GOP breakfast

The Fayette County Republican Party will be holding its January breakfast meeting Saturday at the International House of Pancakes restaurant in Fayetteville, beginning at 8:30 a.m.

Fayetteville mayor to speak at ARC workshop

Fayetteville Mayor Ken Steele is one of the featured speakers at a workshop called “Quality Communities Created by Choice” that will be presented by the Atlanta Regional Commission next Wednesday.

Man arrested for statutory rape at PTC boat docks

A Peachtree City teen is charged with statutory rape after he was caught inappropriately ringing in the New Year at the Battery Way Boat Docks with an underage girl.

Fayette schools schedule 3 job fairs for teachers

The Fayette County Board of Education has scheduled three job fairs to help fill teaching positions for the 2004-2005 school year.

Daughter honors parents in support of education

Education has always played an important role in Betsy Getreu's life and now she is helping to spread it to others.

Fayette students at UGA are making movies

Eric Hanson and Alex Crawford attended different schools in different grades in Fayette County, but they are now working together in Athens on a short film called, “Teaching Marlow.” Hanson graduated from McIntosh High School in 1999, while Crawford graduated from Fayette County High School in 2003. Their love of film and making movies has erased any rivalry that was between them.

Patients flood emergency departments as flu season hits Fayette

With the entire metro Atlanta area battling winter illnesses including the flu and colds, it is important to recognize symptoms and understand treatment options. Fayette Community Hospital, which is experiencing an extremely high volume of Emergency Department patients, has provided the following information for area residents.

Motorists may now check insurance status online

Georgia motorists may now access the Department of Motor Vehicle Safety’s Web site, www.dmvs.ga.gov, to verify whether they are registered in the State’s mandatory automobile insurance database which is proof of insurance effective Jan. 1.

Questions and answers from Oxendine

Q: I cashed in a $5,000 paid-up life insurance policy and only got $1,200. Why?

Police Blotter

Obituaries

Birth Announcements

Wedding Announcements

Prime Timers

Get a move on — naturally

You might be getting older, but it sure doesn’t have to slow you down.

Needs grow with elders

Rosy Lopez was meeting with a vendor in her office three years ago when the call came from her mother. Again.

Home & Garden

Kitchens ETC starting second year

Kitchens ETC, on Millard Farmer Industrial Blvd. in Newnan, is just now completing its first year of operation.

Updating your cottage state of mind

Simple cottage styling blooms with myriad fresh looks

Learn to reclaim your rain at rain garden workshop

Even though spring is still weeks away, it is not too early to think about how your garden can be the envy of your neighbors this spring.

Help protect your home from the silent killer

Accidental CO poisoning claims about 1,500 lives annually and about one in five deaths involve heating or cooking equipment. The best defenses against carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning in the home are making sure that heating and cooking appliances are properly installed and maintained, and that CO alarms are installed on each level of a home-particularly near sleeping areas. Tips on how to check for carbon monoxide hazards and a room-by-room safety audit are available at www.firstalert.com.

A cost-effective way to keep your gutters clean year after year

Before you know it, spring showers will be setting the stage for May flowers, and if you haven’t cleaned your gutters lately, now is the time to do it. If your gutters are clogged with leaves, seeds and other debris left over from the fall, when the spring thaw and hard rains come, they may backup or overflow, and that could cause huge problems.

Here are some tips to keep your silver tarnish-free

Do you have a closet full of silver treasures you are afraid to use? Are you under the impression that the real thing shouldn’t be paired with plated silver or pewter? Don’t be so hard on yourself. Get your collection out, and set a stunning table.

Condition softwoods before staining

Q. I have to stain some white pine woodwork in my home. In the past, I have had nothing but problems when I stain wood. The color is not even, the grain disappears and colors are much darker than in the sample brochures. I must be doing something wrong. How can I get professional results from start to finish when staining woodwork? — S.B., Westland, Mich.

Shopping from home: Breaking down the online barriers

Congress is about to pass legislation that will give consumers new protections against identity theft, including free credit reports annually and a national fraud-alert system to minimize damage once a theft has occurred.

Studying the history of gardening devices

Gardening devices such as hoses and wheelbarrows have been around so long that we hardly think of them as having been innovations once. But George Drower hasn’t forgotten.

Business

Let the games begin

Playground a video game paradise for locals

World Airways gets $27 million federal loan

Peachtree City’s World Airways, Inc. announced that it has obtained final approval from the Air Transportation Stabilization Board (ATSB) for a $27 million federal loan guarantee in support of a $30.0 million term loan. The full loan was fundedat the end of last year. Simultaneously, World Airways has terminated its existing credit facility with Wells Fargo Foothill, Inc. The company will use the balance of the loan proceeds for working capital purposes.

As county mulls smoking ordinance, other city’s restaurants are booming in smoke-free environment

For the last few months of 2003, the Fayette County Commission considered the idea of creating a public smoking ban in the county. The county agreed to further study the issue and try and get an idea of the impact of such legislation.

Sports

Landmark’s Thorn enters Hall of Fame

Coach Bill Thorn, co-founder of Landmark Christian School, has been elected into the Track and Cross Country Coaches of Georgia Hall of Fame. The award was announced at the Atlanta Track Club’s annual Cross Country Awards Night Dec. 2. Ray Broadaway, the director of the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association, has also nominated Thorn for the National High School Coaches Association’s Coach of the Year and the National Coaches Federation's Coach of the Year awards.

Weekend


Theater of Stars kicks off new year with fan favorite, ‘Cats’

Audiences can debate which Andrew Lloyd Webber musical is the best back and forth, but one would have to give “Cats” a lot of consideration. Not only was it the longest running musical in Broadway history, but it earned seven Tony Awards and gave the world, “Memory,” which is one of the most famous songs in the world and has been recorded by hundreds of artists including Barbara Streisand, Judy Collins, Barry Manilow, Johnny Mathis and Liberace. If you have never seen “Cats” or wish to visit the old junkyard where it takes place once again, you’ll have your chance this week.

Horizon Theatre stages cult classic

Anyone who read Katherine Dunn’s National Book Award finalist novel “Geek Love” can tell you that they never thought they would see it outside of their imagination. Thanks to a dedicated director and crew, the Horizon Theatre in Little Five Points will stage the world premiere of the show through Jan. 25 and allow audiences to see the dark comedy come alive before their very eyes.

Are we headed for “The Matrix?”

Technology is going too far. The other day I pulled behind an SUV at a stoplight. Inside, the passengers were watching one of my favorite movies, “Billy Madison,” so I followed the vehicle to continue watching the film. When I ended up in South Carolina, I knew I was in some trouble. I also found myself wishing for headphones and some popcorn.

Performer-author addresses writer’s group

Abb Dickson is a nationally known performer who resides in Jonesboro. Having entertained in all 50 states and 29 countries, he recently spoke to the Fayette Writers. His many talents are corporate speaker, lecturer, author of four books, and a character actor. An interest in magic as a child led to his versatile career.

Line Creek seeks volunteers to clear trails

Nature lovers in Fayette and Coweta County are invited to the Line Creek Nature Area in Peachtree City this Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. to mark and clear trails. Line Creek forms the border between the two counties.

Notables

Religion

Getting to know the ‘brides’
By JOHN HATCHER
Religion Columnist

Because of God’s goodness in my life, as I negotiated adolescence my heroes were my pastors.

United Methodists, American Red Cross team up for blood drives during January

The North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church, in conjunction with The American Red Cross, has organized a statewide blood drive during the month of January 2004.

J93.3 adds Tesh to line-up

John Tesh moved from the glamorous life of television appearances, concert performances and record promotions to full-time radio, and began 2004 by opening the microphone on his syndicated John Tesh Radio Show at Atlanta’s J93.3 Monday night. The show will air week nights at 7 p.m.

Religion Briefs

Opinion

Looking back, looking ahead in Fayette
By CAL BEVERLY
editor@thecitizennews.com

Well, has the sky fallen on Peachtree City with the messy divorce of the Development Authority and its venues? Well, no, and no such celestial calamities are likely to befall the fair city of the West in the year ahead.

President’s tax cut plan worked
By DYLAN GLENN
8th District Congressional candidate

During this holiday season and on the eve an election year, it seems appropriate to take stock of the state of affairs in America, particularly as they relate to the economy. To that end, it is incumbent upon those still doubting the country is in the midst of an economic recovery, to understand some basic facts.

Insanity defense has no place in a free society
By SHELDON RICHMAN
Senior FellowFuture of Freedom Foundation

John W. Hinckley Jr., who in 1982 was acquitted by reason of insanity in his attempt to assassinate President Ronald Reagan, has been granted court permission to have unsupervised visits with his parents. Hinckley has been held in St. Elizabeth’s Mental Hospital in Washington, D.C., for more than 20 years. He’d been previously granted only supervised visits.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Attacks nothing but judgeship politics

Wow! For several weeks now I have sat by and read several letters to the editor concerning my use, as Fayette’s solicitor general, of a county car. As a servant of the people, I owe it to them and to myself to evaluate such criticisms as to whether or not they are legitimate.

Harris’s prosecutions motivated by politics?

The Georgia Constitution creates power that is supposed to “Perpetuate the principles of free government, insure justice to all, preserve peace, promote the interest and happiness of the citizen and family, and transmit to posterity the enjoyment of liberty.” That is a paraphrase of the preamble to the Georgia constitution.

Courts trample 1st Amendment

In response to Steve Stewman’s letter, I would like to add something I recently read concerning the First Amendment, and the Constitution as a whole.

Investigate coach firing

Subject: Whitewater Middle School Coach Dismissal

Pro-Bush letter was ‘cheap-shot’ setup

The world is full of cheap-shot artists, so I needn’t have been surprised by Mr. Beverly’s little stunt last week. Nonetheless, I was a little taken aback at its crudeness, and obviously amateur nature. He posted two letters under the title: “Iraq: 2 very different points of view.” One letter was from myself.

‘Croc Hunter’ thoughts

I have again been amazed by the situations about which some people become so seriously annoyed. Today the news commentators have been outraged by the situation with Steve Irwin (the Crocodile Hunter). He is being criticized for holding his month-old son, Bob, while feeding a 13-foot crocodile. His behavior has even been called child abuse by some.

Marines: Thanks for tots’ toys

The United States Marine Corps Reserve would like to thank the generous citizens of Fayette County and neighboring areas for participating in the Toys for Tots Program this holiday season.

Unneeded info on bar brawl

I thought it was unnecessary coverage in your story on the bar brawl in Peachtree City to mention that the owner was an unsuccessful candidate for a political race in PTC.

Gay marriage column: Thanks

Dr. Moffatt, you are probably going to get a lot of negative feedback from the liberals about your article on same-sex marriage (Dec. 31), so I felt you needed to hear from someone who agreed with what you said.

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