The Fayette Citizen, Fayette County Georgia

Wednesday, December 2, 1998

News

Industries: Good help hard to find: Eighty-three percent of industries in Fayette County have a hard time finding qualified employees, according to a survey just completed by the Chamber of Commerce Existing Industry Committee and the Development Authority.
Senior subdivision, office complex on F'ville P&Z agenda: Fayetteville Planning Commission will consider plans for a high-density subdivision for seniors at Grady Avenue and Beauregard Boulevard, and a 12-unit office development at Gingercake Road and DeVant Street during their work session next week.
County eyes subdivision expansion, Pine Trail Rd.: Rezoning for a 20-home subdivision on Antebellum Way off S. Jeff Davis Drive and new regulations for communications towers will top the agenda as the Fayette County Planning Commission meets tomorrow.
Empty store spaces getting attention from F'ville: The growing amount of empty store space in Fayetteville has not escaped the notice of city leaders.
New clean fuel rules aim for10+ company vehicles: When a faxed survey marked "URGENT Please respond by Monday, Oct. 26, 1998" crossed his desk last month, Phil Jackson, co-owner of Nature's Nursery, didn't.
Finding fleets of 10 or more easy? Not here: Considering that the state registers motor vehicles, you'd think it would be easy to turn up fleets of 10 or more by computer cross-referencing. Not so, says Marlin Gottschalk, who is trying to run the EPD's Clean Fueled Fleet Program without much information to go on.
Fairburn Hwy. 74 mixed-use development under ARC review: Fayette Countians have had time to comment on a mixed-use development on Ga. Highway 74 in Fairburn, but the Atlanta Regional Commission has not yet determined whether the project is "in the best interest" of the area, ARC review coordinator Beverly Rhea says.
Council to hear businesses' appeals of Planning Commission decisions: Two companies bent on opening businesses in Fayetteville will take their cases to City Council tonight and again Monday.
Tyrone's future up for discussion Thurs.: Residents who want to get a glimpse of the future of Tyrone should head to town hall this Thursday.
PTC Council to hear rezoning request: A public hearing on rezoning for Cardiff Park, a new 28-home residential area across Planterra Way from the Tennis Center in Peachtree City is on the agenda for Thursday's City Council meeting.
Area man, 28, killed in Tenn. car wreck: A Coweta County resident who attended Fayette Christian High School died over the holiday weekend after his car apparently ran off an exit ramp on Interstate 75 near Chattanooga.

Opinion

Now What? DAVE HAMRICK Editor-at-large: We've had the Starr report and we've had the elections, and with the end of Thanksgiving we are well into the Holiday season, during which time there will be very little activity to occupy us nationally.
Let's all be sunny and share! By JAMES J. JACKSON Real Answers: A Nevada mom was arrested for leaving a baby in a car in summer heat to go gambling. A Midwest mother was arrested after a bystander saw her swat her kid on the bottom, and called the police. Both women were sentenced to attend "parenting classes."

Letters From Our Readers

PTC resident objects to Mews shopping center: After over 10 years of developers' attempts to rezone the Ga. Highway 54 and Walt Banks Road property, resulting in several lawsuits which were ruled in favor of existing zoning, the citizens of Peachtree City are again being subjected to another developer trying to rezone and complicate this property.
Headstart program wasting money?: I am writing this article in hope that as Fayette County citizens you will read and address this problem. My concerns are based on facts.
Something fishy about new middle school attendance lines?: In June, [Fayette County School Superintendent] Dr. Dave Brotherton was charged with forming a rezoning committee for the middle schools. "He said it would consist of residents of subdivisions that could be affected" (Atlanta Journal/Constitution, June 18, 1998, p. JM3).
Hate crime law would send message: I would like to respond to David Constans sarcastic letter which was headlined "Hate-filled, bigoted killers vs. plain old dispassionate killers."
Impeachment proceeding in Congress the ultimate farce?: I sent this off to a talk radio host this a.m. I guess I am getting cynical.

Prime Timers

Realtor Irene Schoene: To many, reading a short one-sentence synopsis of Irene Schoene's life would seem unremarkable. Schoene is married, has three children, lives in Fayetteville, is active in her church and is a Realtor.
Resources abundant for tax break information for seniors: "It would be to the benefit of anyone purchasing a home to stop by or call our office to find out the various benefits. We will be glad to mail information to anyone who calls," said Tax Commissioner George Wingo.
Prime Timers Calendar
Fayette Senior Services collecting donations for Hurricane Mitch victims: Fayette Senior Services is collecting donations for victims of Hurricane Mitch.
Seniors get fit through exclusive exercise class at Club Peachtree: A Senior's Exercise Class has begun at Club Peachtree as a part of its senior membership program.
Tips for Seniors on Buying and Selling a Home: Some of Fayette County's leading real estate agents are lending tips to seniors looking for a new house.

Religion

Fake it: you just might make it in the 'church zone': Vince Lombardi counseled his football players that upon taking a ball into the end zone to score a touchdown, don't act like you've never been there before.
Religion Briefs
Christian churches present plays: The children of Heritage Christian Church are presenting their holiday performance, "The First Christmas," 6 p.m. Sunday at Braelinn Elementary School.
National Heights Baptist members author annual Advent booklet: Members of National Heights Baptist Church in Fayetteville have completed their annual Advent Devotionals booklet.
Holy Trinity presents 'Messiah': Holy Trinity Catholic Church is hosting an ecumenical performance of the oratorio, "Messiah" by George Frideric Handel, at 3 p.m. Dec. 13.
Youth to learn witnessing skills at seminar: Cahill says 60-80 percent of the believers who hear his message share their faith within 24 hours, feeling 'totally empowered by God to reach the lost.'

Sports

Tigers ready for B-ball: Though they are not as deep as last year's team, the Fayette County Tigers are ready for their upcoming regular season.
Thanksgiving tournaments over, regular season tips off this week: Thanksgiving tournaments give teams time to gel with each other before they enter the rigorous regular season.
Honorable mention for local athlete: Ben Simpson, a senior defensive lineman for the Navy Midshipmen, from Fayetteville,Ga., earned an honorable mention for the All-Collegiate Sprint Football League.
Waggoner doctors defense for Alabama Crimson Tide: Six years ago, a young man from Fayetteville began attending Landmark Christian School in Fairburn. The young man was quite athletic and committed to his academic achievements. His name was Clint Waggoner and he wanted to be a doctor.
Chiefs win first meet but are not pinning hopes on a state championship this year: The McIntosh Chiefs have had a strong wrestling program for the past several years but Coach Marty Hutsell does not want to oversell his team this year.

Weekend

Holiday priorities: Tipping over sacred cows...
Toys for Tots: 'What the holiday spirit is all about': As a Toys for Tots sponsor, Coldwell Banker Bullard Realty, in cooperation with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, is once again collecting toys to benefit children in need at Christmastime.
Parade to feature Santa, angels, music and more: Main Street Fayetteville's annual Christmas parade is set for Dec. 5, offering plenty to hold the attention of parade-goers of all ages: angels, elves, beauty queens, bands, floats, fire trucks and more will be helping to get people in the holiday spirit.
Fayette literacy program in need of volunteers: Community Literacy Action is a tutoring program designed to help students who have been identified as behind in grade level in reading ability or adults from the community working on their G.E.D. Currently there are more students than volunteers to work with them.
Share the spirit of the season in Fayette: >With the frenzied rush of holiday shopping and celebrating in full swing, it's easy for the less fortunate to be forgotten. Yet the community here in Fayette County has pulled together to bring the joy of the season to those without.
Integrative Studies degree program expanded at CCSU: The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia has announced the unanimous approval of Clayton College & State University's proposal to expand the university's offerings of both the BA and BS degrees in Integrative Studies (IS) via distance learning.
Santa hotline set for Dec. 15: Call-A-Claus, a special holiday hotline, will be open Tuesday, Dec. 15, from 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Brooks bottle benefits complex: Looking for an unusual gift idea? Advance orders for the Brooks Commemorative Coke Bottle, a fund-raiser to benefit the future Brooks Recreation Complex, will be taken through Dec. 31.
Military Brief
Notable
Notable
Cast announced for Offshoot's winter production: Fayette County-based Offshoot Productions has announced its professional cast for the winter theatrical presentation of "What Doesn't Kill Me...," which consists of three dark comedies by artistic director Susan M. Steadman, Ph.D. All of the performers have previously worked with Offshoot.
Southland's Stocking Tree lets people 'Give-A-Gift': Southland Nursing Home is sponsoring a "Give-A-Gift" Christmas program using a Stocking Tree located at the main nurses' station.
Toy time: the 'I want' pressure is on: Today's kids still like the "tried and true" stand-bys under the tree, but collectors seem ready to get Mattel's Barbie out of her pink palace and into a leather jacket.