The Fayette Citizen, Fayette County Georgia

Wednesday, December 9, 1998

News

County eyes lots of lame duck rezoning: Fayette County commissioners face a rash of rezoning requests tomorrow before closing up shop for 1998, as two of the five officials mark their final days in office following summer election defeats.
PTC to regulate kids' tree houses?: At least two Peachtree City Council members don't want to aim a proposed ordinance at children's treehouses, though they would like to shoot down television antennas clamped to treetops in the city.
Expert: F'ville's Holliday House is direct link to history: The Holliday-Dorsey-Fife House can be a central tool in telling Fayetteville's history, restoration consultant Tommy Hart Jones told the city's Main Street Board of Directors Tuesday.
This census is for the birds: For nearly a century, the National Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count has provided valuable insight into the status and health of continental bird populations as well as the general health of the environment.
Starr's Mill zoning fight goes to commission: Battle lines are drawn for tomorrow night's Fayette County Commission meeting, with the future of Starr's Mill at stake.
Cable company vow: Service will improve: Cable television service in Fayette County is going to get better, and in fact already is getting better, MediaOne representatives promise.
MediaOne says upgrade will begin by spring: Expect to see MediaOne crews tearing out old cable and replacing it with new fiber-optic lines early next year, says Reg Griffin, director of communications for the cable company.
Fayetteville woman, 29, becomes county's 10th traffic fatality: A 29-year-old Fayetteville woman died Sunday when her car left the roadway and overturned on Ga. Highway 314, according to Fayette County Sheriff's Department reports.
5 burglary suspects in Fayette, PTC arrested: 'Tis the season for burglaries as well as for happier things, local law enforcement personnel can attest.
Voters to elect chairman?: Questions about whether Fayette County voters should choose a chairman for the County Commission will wait until next year.
Tornado warning system to start small: Fayette County will soon have a new severe weather warning system.
Fayetteville council reverses planning panel on Valvoline: Residents of McIntosh Commons subdivision will have a new Valvoline oil change facility as a neighbor after all.
County Commission to vote on tower locations Thursday: A proposed new ordinance governing communications towers in Fayette County may not satisfy anyone, but it's fair to everyone and its the best they can do, Planning Commission members say.
County, cities negotiating below market rates for gas: Fayette residents may be able to get the lowest possible rates for natural gas service by hitching their wagons to the county or their city service.
Brooks celebrates opening new fire station: After so many years of putting up with a 20-year-old building, says firefighter-EMT Robert Sumner, it's only fair that he get to serve at the new fire station in Brooks.
Georgia Youth Ballet presents 'Nutcracker': The classic tale of the Nutcracker will be presented this Saturday and Sunday by the Georgia Youth Ballet, directed by Magdalena Maury. Performances are at 2:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Creekside High School Auditorium in Fairburn.
Collins taps 12 from Fayette for academies: Twelve Fayette County students and two from Coweta County have received nominations to the country's several military service academies.

Opinion

Economy may just be a little too good DAVE HAMRICK Editor-at-large: Friday, Dec. 4, 1998: The stock market is back up a bit today with the news that unemployment in the U.S. remains low in spite of the poor economy in Japan.
Saving 'Private Ryan's' legacy while there are still Ryans left By KENDALL WINGROVE Real Answers: Many watching Steven Spielberg's film "Saving Private Ryan" are getting their first realistic look at the brutalities facing soldiers in World War II.
Songs you won't be singing this Christmas season BILLY MURPHY Laugh Lines: Here are my annual carols rewritten for that contemporary Christmas:

Letters From Our Readers

Parents should be aware of and thankful for Fayette Head Start: I am a certified prevention specialist (in a grant-funded position) who provides in-kind consultation and education to communities and schools about what actions and programs make a difference in preventing problems experienced by youth problems that include school failure, juvenile crime, teen pregnancy, violence, and substance abuse.
Philanderer in Chief continues to skate: I watched with great interest the latest impeachment hearing of the House Judiciary Committee that contained the testimony of a woman convicted of obstruction of justice.
Our adopted daughter is now just simply 'ours': Six months ago we brought home our adopted daughter, Melanie Jia Lu Garlock. She is now fully in charge.
Help preserve legacy of WWII vets and workers: I would like to ask your cooperation in my effort to reach as many World War II veterans and defense workers as possible.

Business

Do you have beepilepsy?: Every industry that I have worked with has their own unique vocabulary. Usually there is the authorized version and then there is the unauthorized version. The unauthorized version is always the more interesting version.
Noel November raises more than $10,000 for Brooks youth home: The Fayette County Board of REALTORS® has once again exceeded its fund-raising goal for its annual "Noel November A Celebration of Trees and Wreaths."
Immigrant's dream to come true Sat.: The children of Fayette County may have a cuddlier Christmas this year if Como Kim and her two sisters have anything to say about it.
Holiday Shopping: Shorts and sandals may have replaced sweaters and scarves as the fashion de riguer this holiday season, but Fayette's retailers are still saying this has proven to be a good shopping season.
Business Brief
Saturn redefines coupe with three-door model: Webster defines radical as effecting revolutionary change. Saturn, whose identity is built on the image of being a "different kind of company," is introducing a new product that's a "RAD-ical" departure from the everyday coupe.

Religion

Victory and unity for Christ and families: One of our south metro divorced pastors was married again Saturday, December 5, in what had to be one of the most inspiring, moving, and God-honoring weddings I've ever attended.
Eagles Way soars into Fayette County: The Rev. Buren Goss' message was perfectly suited for the service as he preached on "An Attitude of Gratitude" at the first worship service of the new Eagles Way Church in Fayetteville.
Starr's Mill gets New Hope sod: The grounds at the Starr's Mill High School complex are getting a makeover with a little help from friends at New Hope Baptist Church at Starr's Mill.
Religion Briefs

Weekend

Stirring it up: What's the fun in having a forum like this if not to stir things up once in awhile?
Our Fayette Heritage: In previous articles, we have discovered that our Creek Indians originally came into Alaska from North China and South Russia, beginning about 20,000 years ago, and finally reaching Georgia about 10,000 years ago.
Doll shop caters to the 'little girl' in everyone: Bunny Rogers sometimes holds back a doll or two, hoping they might not sell in her shop there's still a lot of "little girl" in her.
A jazzed-up Nutcracker in Fairburn: "The Jazz Nutcracker--Swing Style" will be presented this weekend by the Phoenix Project and the Doris Russell School of Performing Arts at the Southside Theatre in Fairburn.
Christmas Seals on the Web: Sending Christmas and Chanukah greetings and buying holiday gifts are all just one mouse click away, thanks to the American Lung Association's Christmas Seals® (http://www.christmasseals.org) and Chanuka Seals® web site (http://www.chanukaseals.org).
Remember: Pets 'can't be thrown away': When the "new" wears off a child's Christmas toys, there's an option to stash them on a closet shelf for a while or throw them away. Not so for kittens and puppies, said Fayette County Animal Shelter manager Bill Newman.
GYB set to entertain with a twist: The classic tale of the "Nutcracker" will be presented this Saturday and Sunday by the Georgia Youth Ballet, directed by Magdalena Maury. Performances are at 2:30 and 8 p.m. Saturday, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Creekside High School Auditorium in Fairburn.
Shoppers not affected by weather: Shorts and sandals may have replaced sweaters and scarves as the fashion de riguer this holiday season, but Fayette's retailers are still saying this has proven to be a good shopping season.
Downtown Fayetteville prepares for Dec. 12 Santa Stroll: Santa Claus and his elf helpers will arrive in downtown Fayetteville Saturday, Dec. 12, to help spread holiday cheer and to listen to children's wishes. He will be strolling through shops (marked with a Santa poster in the window) between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Newly renovated Sams Auditorium site of FCHS annual Christmas concert: The Fayette County High School Select Chorus traveled to Shorter College to perform at the "Feaste of Caroles" Dec. 6 and all of the FCHS choruses performed at the State Capitol Dec. 8.
Direct line to Santa set for Dec. 15: Call-A-Claus, a special holiday hotline, will be open Tuesday, Dec. 15, from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Telephones at Fayetteville City Hall will be answered by "Santa" "Mrs. Claus" for children to call and say "Hi" or to give the jolly couple their Christmas wish lists.
Volunteer mentors sought: Community Schools operates a mentoring program for students in the Fayette school system. Volunteers serve as adults and role models to students in need.
New take on a classic: The story "The Night Before Christmas" is as much a part of the holiday season as caroling, gift-giving and eggnog.
Military Brief
Notable
Parade draws crowds downtown: The Main Street-sponsored Fayetteville Christmas Parade drew an entry of 60 various participants, from walking Christmas trees and beauty pageant contestants to Scout troops and a cavalry.
Red Cross offers tips for a safe holiday season: The most festive time of the year is here. Decorations are going up, trees are being adorned with bobbles, bangles and lights, candles are being lighted, fireplaces are being used to bring a special warmth and glow, and parties are appropriately honoring the season.
Starr's Mill holiday concert Thursday: The Starr's Mill High School Choruses will present their annual Holiday Concert Dec. 10 at 7:30 p.m. in Duke Auditorium at the school complex in Tyrone.

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. Some games your team will draw a weaker opponent from a smaller division and other games your team will draw a contender for a state championship. Either way, the experience is invaluable.
Give gift of life this Christmas: The American Lung Association of Georgia is selling their 1999 Golf Privilege Card.
Sports Calendar
Local teams face off in basketball action
Honorable mention for local athlete
Peachtree City Lazers finish Fall Season Undefeated: The under 10 boys Lazers from Peachtree City recently went undefeated in their fall season.
Panthers make splash, swim at first home meet of season: Starr's Mill hosted their first swimming match of the year last Friday at the Kedron Aquatic Center against Holy Innocents and Salem High School.
Waggoner doctors defense for Alabama Crimson Tide: Six years ago, a young man from Fayetteville began attending Landmark Christian School in Fairburn.
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.

Real Estate

Working together to benefit the community: Our fourth annual "Noel November A Celebration of Trees and Wreaths" proved to be an excellent example of the people of this area working together to benefit our community.
Keep winter out of your home: This year when you find old man Winter on your stoop, make sure he is knocking on a storm door.
John Wieland sweeps 'Best Home' category in 1998 awards ceremony: Award-winning John Wieland Homes recently took home 12 awards at the 1998 Professionalism Awards.
Frances Stone Interiors: Did you ever wonder how to create the charming, inviting home everyone else seems to have how to decorate and accessorize so that a surprise seems to be hidden in every nook and crevice in the house without your home appearing cluttered or overly filled?
Large turnout for recent Realtor Open House: Approximately 100 area Realtors turned out for a recent Agents Open House/Luncheon at River Trace, Wall & Associates' 45-home community on Jonesboro Road it the city limits of McDonough.
Meyer-Sutton reports success with two Henry County communities: Sales continued at a brisk pace at Emerald Pointe and Dickerson Cove, two Henry County communities, where Meyer-Sutton Homes, one of the South Atlanta area's premier builders is constructing homes.
Reaching Hispanics: Century 21 Real Estate Corporation's Hispanic campaign has expanded this year to include an advertising focus on professional sports venues of significant appeal to the Hispanic community.
The Real Estate Scene...
Agency announces deadline for 'Toys for Tots' drive collections: Coldwell Banker Bullard Realty has revealed that Monday, Dec. 21, is the deadline to drop off toys at the company's offices for this year's U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots campaign.