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News
Dozens
expelled for nonresidency
Reacting to dozens
of reports that Clayton County parents had falsified addresses to get
their children enrolled in Fayette schools last August, Fayette administrators
and the county marshals’ office teamed during the fall to investigate
162 individual cases of suspected non-resident students, the Citizen
has learned.
County
marshals have role in finding nonresident students
When a Fayette County
marshal knocked on the front door of Michele Mitchell’s east Fayetteville
home after dark one night last October, the officer wasn’t there
to issue a warrant or serve a subpoena. Instead, the marshal was checking
to see if Mitchell’s 8-year-old daughter was in fact sleeping overnight
at that address.
‘Gold
Medal’ schools here are top business attraction
Thanks to its public
schools, Fayette County ranks at the top of the list of potential relocation
sites for corporate executives from around the nation, according to
a report this month in the trade publication Expansion Management Magazine.
Sports
ventures eye PTC
Is Peachtree City
ready to join the big leagues of Macon, Little Rock and Baton Rouge?
5th
worker resigns in PTC investigation
A fifth employee
of Peachtree City’s Public Works Department has resigned in the
wake of a criminal investigation into missing equipment and money.
Grammy
winner brings award back to Fayette
At least a share
of the top prize handed out Sunday night at the Grammy Awards will be
making its way home to Fayette County this week.
Wells:
No problem with ethics
Fayette County Commissioner
Linda Wells is disputing the charges of a “concerned voter”
about her participation in a recent discussion concerning liquor in
the unincorporated county.
PTC
Council OKs bond sale for $4.9 M library expansion
The $4.9 million
expansion of the Peachtree City Library approved by voters in November
remains on schedule, with the Peachtree City Council giving its approval
last week to the terms for selling a bond package to fund the construction
to a single investor.
Rapson
to contest dismissal of her equal pay suit against DAPC
Kristi Rapson, the
former director of the Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater, says she will
fight the potential dismissal of her federal equal pay lawsuit against
the Development Authority of Peachtree City.
Black
History Month events underway in Fayette schools
Sandy Creek High
School hosted a colorful opening ceremonies assembly last week to mark
the start of Black History Month, just one of dozens of events taking
place at each of Fayette County’s 28 schools in the month of February.
Foundation
awards local nonprofits
The Community Foundation
for Fayette County has announced its recipients of the 2003 Challenge
Grant program.
GOP
breakfast coming Sat.
The Fayette County
Repulican Party will convene its monthly meeting Saturday at 8:30 a.m.
at the International House of Pancakes restaurant in Fayetteville. The
guest speaker is John Mrosek, candidate for Superior Court Judge in
the Griffin Judicial Circuit, speaking about religion and the First
Amendment.
Book
sale a surprising success
The Friends of the
Fayette County Public Library were very pleasantly surprised last weekend
at the public’s overwhelming support of the used book sale. Although
the weather was at times rainy, cold and windy (some even reported seeing
snow flurries), the citizens of Fayette County and surrounding areas
came out and bought books by the bag and boxful.
Registration
day is coming
Dates set for pre-K,
kindergarten and after-school programs
Star
International students talk to counterparts in Scotland
From college tuition
to the Iraq War, Sandy Creek High students found that their counterparts
in Dalmellington, Scotland share many of their same views, concerns
and hopes for the future.
County
GOP convenes for precinct meetings
Republicans met
Saturday for the Fayette County precinct mass meeting, the first step
in electing delegates and alternate delegates to the Republican National
Convention this fall in New York City. There are multiple conventions
prior to the final convention, each one elects delegates and alternates
for the following convention.
Two
officers hurt after jail scuffle with inmate
A suspect awaiting
trial on drug charges fought with officers at the maximum security unit
of the Fayette County Jail last week as they tried to search his cell.
Collins
calls for Tenet to resign
During an interview
on the Fox News Channel on Saturday from Atlanta, U.S. Rep. Mac Collins,
a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, called
for the resignation of CIA Director George Tenet.
Tips
for managing natural gas bills
A free 12-page conservation
guide from Atlanta Gas Light Company is just the ticket for savvy consumers
who want to save money and energy on their natural gas bills this winter.
Police
Blotter
Obituaries
Birth Announcements
Wedding Announcements
Real Estate Review
Local
firm goes Hollywood
- Reading the
client list at Historical Concepts can sound like an episode of
“Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.”
After
a record-breaking 2003, home builders anticipate a prosperous 2004
By Mac
McKinney, President
Home Builders Association of Midwest Georgia
As we look forward
to 2004, builders and homeowners across the country can reflect
on 2003, a banner year for the home building and remodeling industry.
Home sales and consumer spending were the linchpins for the economy
when growth slowed in late 2002 and early 2003, and a strong finish
to what was a record-breaking year for home sales bodes well for
2004.
New
faces in new places in local real estateate
Builders
to meet Feb. 19
SunTrust Bank’s
annual economic forecast will be presented at the February meeting
of the Home Builders Association of Midwest Georgia.
Arnberg
named qualifying broker
Tom Lamberth,
president and COO of Russell Lands, Inc., recently named Steven Arnberg
director of real estate sales and qualifying broker for Russell Lands.
SummerGrove
advertising named nation’s best
While SummerGrove
is best known for its great amenities, wide range of home styles and
historic Newnan location, the community was recently honored on the
national level for its advertising initiatives.
Parks
& Mottola celebrates one year in Calumet Business Park
On Jan. 6, Parks
& Mottola, Inc. celebrated one year at its new office in the Calumet
Business Park.
Gramm
reports record-breaking year
Gramm & Associates
has announced a 29-percent increase in new home sales in the Atlanta
firm for fiscal year 2003 compared to fiscal year 2002.
Maple
Shade welcomes first new homeowners
North
Peachtree City’s newest subdivision, Maple Shade, recently welcomed
its first new homeowners.
Governors
Row unveils Galveston designer model in Peachtree City
John Wieland Homes
& Neighborhoods is now showcasing its newest designer model, The
Galveston, at Governors Row in Peachtree City.
Fulton
Court now open in Peachtree City
Richard Simms
has announced the opening of Fulton Park, a new office/warehouse park
on Fulton Court, which runs off Huddleston Road in Peachtree City.
New
condo community coming to Fayetteville
Harvest Communities,
LLC has announced construction of a single-level, ranch style condominium
community in Fayetteville. The community, known as The Village at
Gingercake, is located on Gingercake Road, less than two miles from
the center of downtown Fayetteville and will consist of 68 homes as
well as a beautifully equipped 3,000 sq. ft. clubhouse with fitness
center and a large heated pool and sundeck.
McKinney
named Builder of the Year
Mac McKinney of
McKinney Builders Inc. is the 2003 Builder of the Year for the Home
Builders Association of Midwest Georgia. McKinney has been building
homes since 1972.
Avery
Park posts record sales in 2003
While many Atlanta-area
communities struggled to meet sales goals in 2003, Avery Park in Coweta
County exceeded goals. In fact, Avery Park was the second best-selling
community in Coweta County.
SummerGrove
leads Coweta sales in 2003, poised for a successful 2004
The year 2003
was a good one for Newnan’s SummerGrove. The community had over
280 home sales for the year and is rapidly approaching 1,300 sales
since the community’s inception in 1998. The stellar great home
sales in 2003 landed the community with Coweta’s number ranking
and is one of the top-sellers in the Atlanta area
Lake
Windsong offers custom homes, lakeside amenities
Neighbors are
enjoying front porch conversations and friendly greetings at new neighborhood
Lake Windsong just north of Peachtree City. Custom homes from the
mid $300’s by premier builders and an impressive amenity area
underway are attracting homebuyers to the 167-homesite community on
Dogwood Trail in Tyrone.
Irish
Hill comes to Pike
Irish Hill Estates
in Pike County is the newest venture for Woodland Homes, Inc.
Summit
opens new phase
The Summit at
Eagle’s Landing and Oxford Homes have just opened their new phase
of 17 homesites.
Blackmon
named to head WCR chapter
Brayson Homes
has continued its record of community involvement with the election
of one of its representatives as a top officer of a Realtors group.
Upchurch
receives J.L. Christian Award
Jamie Upchurch
of Re/Max Advantage has received the J.L. Christian Award, presented
recently by Fayette County Board of Realtors President Sandra McCrary.
Pinehurst
offers country club lifestyle at affordable price
For those seeking
a country club lifestyle at an affordable price, Brayson Homes offers
Pinehurst, one of the neighborhoods in Heron Bay Golf & Country
Club, Minerva Properties’ 1,150-acre resort styled, master planned
community in Henry and Spalding counties.
Irwin
awarded CRS designation
Stacey Irwin has
been awarded the prestigious Certified Residential Specialist (CRS)
designation by the Council of Residential Specialists, the largest
not-for-profit affiliate of the National Association of Realtors.
Hawthorne
at Linden Park now open
Gramm & Associates,
a full-service real estate development and marketing company specializing
in new home communities, has announced the grand opening of M&M
Custom Homes’ newest new home community, Hawthorne at Linden
Park.
Jernigan
named Agent of the Year
For the 13th time,
Myra Jernigan has been named Agent of the Year fo Century 21 Scarbrough
Properties.
Stephens
named director of Bullard’s Relocation Department
Freda Stephens
has been named Relocation Director for Coldwell Banker Bullard Realty,
the largest Coldwell Banker franchise in Georgia.
Weekley
unveils new SummerGrove model
While SummerGrove
at Newnan has become known for its top-notch amenity package and unsurpassed
lifestyle, the community is quickly become known as Atlanta’s
designer model home destination.
Business
Author
wins award from educator’s magazine
Gallopade International
and author and Peachtree City resident Carole Marsh recently took home
the 2004 Teacher’s Choice Award from Learning Magazine for The
Carole Marsh Mysteries™ series.
World
Airways picks up $19 million contracts
World Airways, Inc.
announced that it has signed a contract extension with Menlo Worldwide
(formerly Emery Worldwide) valued at approximately $19 million. This
extends World's current contract through
December 2004.
Cheney
honored for anti-tobacco efforts
The Georgia Alliance
for Tobacco Prevention honored Kathie Cheney, Peachtree City resident,
for helping to pave the way for the group’s increasingly successful
campaign to protect public health.
Sports
Region
playoffs now underway
It’s not March
Madness — mainly because it’s not March — but the games
in the various high school basketball classifications are suddenly a
lot more serious.
Signing
day a busy one for Fayette athletes
High school athletes
in a variety of sports from local schools made their college choices
known officially last week as the signing period began Feb. 4, a date
known to sports fans as National Signing Day.
Good
state showing for local squads
Three local teams
recorded top-10 finished in last weekend’s GHSA state cheerleading
championships in Columbus.
Booth
rolling in hoops tourney
The eighth-grade
basketball teams from Booth Middle School are in prime position to close
out this season with league championships and a pair of stunning two-year
runs for the players on both squads.
Annual
FCHS banquet set for April
Fayette County High
School Sports Hall of Fame is looking forward to a new look this spring’s
induction.
Lacrosse
team gearing up
Peachtree City’s
high school lacrosse team has begun play for 2004, with eight starters
returning from last year’s team that won the postseason tournament
championship. The team competes in the North Georgia Lacrosse League.
Paddlers
to practice Sunday
The Peachtree City
Paddlers canoe and kayak club’s next indoor roll practice of the
season is scheduled this Sunday, Feb. 15, at the Kedron Aquatic Center
in Peachtree City. The practice will be from 5-7 p.m.
Weekend
Men,
take heed. That time of year is right around the corner when
a dozen roses and a candlelit dinner can be the key to unlocking
you beloved’s heart. Valentine’s Day has a very
special place in the world of courtship and woe to those who
mess it up!
Family
favorites grace the Alliance’s stages this month
The
Alliance Theatre is bringing a famous Cockney flower girl
and a famous flower loving bull to life this month in anticipation
of spring. “My Fair Lady” which opened on the Alliance
Stage Feb. 4 and “Ferdinand the Bull,” which started
at the Alliance Children’s Theatre Feb. 7 are both fun,
lighthearted musicals that have become classics the whole
family can enjoy.
Where
do I begin?
I
forced myself Sunday night to watch the three-and-a-half-hour
Grammys broadcast on CBS to see just what it is that the rest
of the world is listening to. I had a general idea about the
kind of clueless mega-commercial I was sitting down to endure.
I knew I would be rolling my eyes and making snide comments
under my breath, but somewhere deep down I was hoping I would
actually enjoy the show. Then again, who am I kidding? I hate
the Grammys!
Local
Journalist Speaks to Fayette Writers Group
Writing
is Michael Boylan’s forte. As a young student living
in Beverly, Mass., he began reading at a very early age, becoming
also an avid writer. He has many notebooks filled with his
writings. From that time on, his aim in life was evidently
to express himself through writing.
Actors
wanted for spring production
Offshoot
Productions has announced auditions for professional, non-Equity
actors for Shakespeare’s energetic “Comedy of Errors,”
to be presented at the Villages Amphitheater in Fayetteville
June 11-27.
Test
your black history knowledge
February
is Black History Month and Gallopade International, publishers
of Carole Marsh’s “The Black Jazz,” “Pizzazz,”
and “Razzmatazz” series, challenge you to some African-American
Heritage trivia. The answers are at the bottom.
Offshoot
looking for apprentices
Offshoot
Productions, the Fayette County-based professional theatre
company now in its eleventh season, is accepting applications
from adults and teens for apprenticeships associated with
the spring "Shakespeare in the Park" project, which
includes the performance of “Comedy of Errors” at
the Villages Amphitheater in Fayetteville June 11-27.
Democratic
Women meet Sat.
The
Fayette Democratic Women will host U.S. Senate candidates
Gary LeShaw, state Sen. Mary H. Squires, and state Sen. Nadine
Thomas during their February breakfast meeting Saturday at
9 a.m. at Right on Thyme Restaurant in Fayetteville. A continental
breakfast will be served for $3. The meeting will be called
to order at 9:20 a.m.
Etiquette
classes at Southern Oaks
A
series of etiquette classes will be taught at Southern Oaks
in Fayetteville during the public school break in February.
A class for junior and senior high school students will be
taught Feb. 18. In this class, teens will learn basic dating
etiquette and interpersonal skills, including table manners,
ordering from a menu, tipping, pinning on a corsage, etc.
The proper technique for writing thank-you notes will also
be presented. Students will be served pizza as a main course
while honing their dining skills.
Art
show opens this week
Opening
this week and sponsored by the Southern Crescent Alliance
of Visual Arts, Arts Clayton Gallery is presenting its third
annual juried art show.
Religion
Some
‘revealing’ thoughts about forgiveness
By JOHN HATCHER
Religion Columnist
“I know it’s
been a rough week on everybody. And what occurred was unintentional,
completely regrettable, and I apologize if you guys were offended.”
PTC
Greek Orthodox mission celebrates first St. Basil’s Day
The Very Rev. Fr.
George Tsahakis, Chancellor, welcomed a crowd of some 100-plus parishioners
of the Greek Orthodox Mission of Peachtree City, along with other Fayette
and Coweta County residents, to the first annual St. Basil’s Day
(Vasilopita) Dinner, held last month at the Gathering Place in Peachtree
City.
LDS
church explores black history with special events
In honor of Black
History Month, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS)
will once again celebrate Black Family History.
Prince
of Peace Lutheran members embark on 40-day ‘spiritual journey’
Beginning Feb. 21,
and continuing through April 18, members of Prince of Peace Lutheran
Church in Fayetteville, along with those in the community who wish to
participate, will embark on a 40-day spiritual journey called the “40
Days of Purpose.” The 7-week campaign seeks to answer the question,
“What on earth am I here for?”
Holly
Grove AME announces Black History events
Holly Grove AME
Church in Peachtree City will celebrate Black History on Sunday, Feb.
29, at 11 a.m. The guest speaker will be the Rev. Dr. Dennis Dickerson
from Nashville, Tenn. Dickerson is the historiographer of the African
Methodist Episcopal Church.
Rolling
Hills Baptist begins ‘purpose driven’ program
Rolling Hills Baptist
Church will begin a 40-day program Feb. 21, emphasizing the purpose
for each person of the church and its role in the community and world.
The program is based on the book, 40 days of Purpose, by Rick Warren,
a California minister.
Religion
Briefs
Opinion
On
Janet, discrimination and signs
By
CAL BEVERLY
editor@thecitizennews.com
Minor thinking on
middling to major events:
Supt.
Kathy Cox’s ‘Truth’ response was filled with misrepresentations
By
JOSEPH JARRELL
World History Teacher, McIntosh High School,Peachtree City, Ga.
In response to an
article I wrote outlining the “dumbing down” of the high school
history curriculum [The Citizen, Jan. 28, 2004], the state Department
of Education has released a statement entitled “The Truth about
Georgia’s New Curriculum” [by Georgia Superintendent Kathy
Cox, The Citizen, Feb. 4, 2004]. Unfortunately, it contains numerous
inaccuracies and misrepresentations. The following information details
my response to them.
WMD:Wardrobe
of mass dysfunction
By Dr. WARREN THROCKMORTON
By now, everyone
breathing has heard about Janet Jackson’s flashdance during half-time
at the Super Bowl. I didn’t see it. I had checked out to the food
table about the time P. Diddy came on. It was a simple choice: Feed
my body some seriously good fixings from Mrs. Throckmorton’s kitchen
or feed my mind trash.
- LETTERS TO THE
EDITOR
-
- When
world views collide, facts suffer
Upon returning
from Frankfurt, Germany, where I taught a seminar on biblical peacemaking
to Christian airline personnel, I encountered a less than peaceful
public debate.
Speaking
of dumber than dumb . . .
Peter Duran speaks
out of prejudice, not knowledge.
- No
evolution, no education?
Listening to evolutionists,
one would think that the study of this theory (yes, theory) is absolutely
critical to children if they are to have any chance to succeed or become
productive members of society.
Please,
let’s get our history right
While I disagree
with state School Superintendent Kathy Cox’s proposal on the teaching
of evolution, I do take some issue with the statements of Mr. Alfred
Brock in his letter to the editor. It seems that Mr. Brock needs to
study history a bit himself.
Open-minded
scientists begin to consider ‘intelligent design’ idea
I read with sorrow
an article in the newspaper recently which stated that the “mention
of intelligent design [being taught in the classroom] sparked criticism
by scientists who say it is religion masquerading as science.”
Furthermore, an assistant professor at a prominent university was quoted
as saying, “There is no science or evidence behind it,” and,
“It is an attempt to take the creation story from Genesis and make
it into science.”
A
humble plan for ‘visionary’
Kathy Cox, my muse,
my inspiration! Let me begin by stating that I write this in jovial
celebration of Fayette’s very own brilliant and insightful visionary,
who has, in one swift motion, turned us, the people of Georgia, from
the fervent tides of ignorance and redirected us towards an ocean of
enlightenment.
Theory
has gaping holes
Do you ever wonder
why there is so much uproar when someone suggests that conflicting ideas
about evolution be discussed in the classroom?
Let’s
have a little civility
I’m truly disappointed
with several of my fellow Fayette citizens. Aren’t we a nation
of discussion and representative democracy? Aren’t we allowed to
share different and unusual ideas in a respectful way and expect the
same in return?
Is
Kathy Cox over her head?
Our self-described
expert in education, State School Superintendent Kathy Cox, with 15
years experience in the classroom, now expounds that the word “evolution”
be removed from textbooks and teaching in our classrooms. She describes
the word as a “buzzword.”
Maybe
Bush knows why gas is so high
Each time I drive
into a service station and buy gas at the inflated prices we are paying,
I become irate. Our tax money is going to fight a war in one of the
oil-richest countries in the world. Daily, someone’s son dies to
help defend a country that hates Americans, and back home we are all
being assaulted with paying through the nose for gas, just to drive
to work, to the doctor, or to buy groceries.
Don’t
take short cuts in teaching history
I was so proud of
the stand Joseph Jarrell, history teacher from McIntosh High in Peachtree
City, has taken on the curriculum for history taught in schools. I agree
with him completely.
Proposed
new curriculum is style over substance
Mr. Jarrell says
it pretty well. Style over substance is eroding our public schools.
What used to be common sense is not so common these days.
Circus
should teach compassion for animals
Feb. 12 through
Feb. 22, Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus will be opening
its doors to thousands of people (mostly children) who are expecting
to be entertained by the people and animals that are part of the show
in Atlanta, Ga.
Virginia
educator supports fired Whitewater coach
I have followed,
with interest, the situation concerning the firing of Jill Collins as
coach of the girls basketball team at Whitewater Middle School and the
comments that have been published about this issue.
Objective
analysis of war on terror: Gloom, doom for al Qaeda
Recently we have
seen several articles in this paper written by individuals offering
their personal analysis of how the war on terror and operations in Iraq
are proceeding. John Munford on Jan. 28 with his opinion article and
Timothy J. Parker with his series of letters to the editor (Dec. 31,
Jan. 7, Jan. 21) all criticize the strategy of the military operations
and the Bush Administration in general.
Active-duty
army officer disputes writer’s downbeat Iraq opinions
Re: Timothy J. Parker’s
Iraq opinions.
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