Archive for Wednesday, December 23, 1998

Wednesday, December 23, 1998

News

School board: No room in the funds for Starr's Mill: Try as he might, Santa could not squeeze the $3.1 million athletic facility designed for Fayette County School District's South Complex into his crowded funding sack this year.
Treehouses safe until Jan. in PTC: The City Council postponed a discussion on a proposed ordinance to control "structures in trees," following several weeks of discussion about television reception antennas clipped into treetops in the city.
Pine Trail fight now goes to F'ville Council: Concordia Partners Inc. will take its case to the Fayetteville City Council.
Planners seek compromise for100-home, 20-acre project: Representatives of Bob Adams Homes Inc. are meeting this month with residents of Beauregard Boulevard in hopes of finding compromise on the future of 20 acres at Beauregard and Grady Avenue.
Commercial, office developments approved by F'ville planners: More commercial and office development is on the way to Fayetteville.
Parking problem holds up Waffle House: If south Fayetteville residents are hungry for a Waffle House on their side of town, they'll have to wait a little while longer.
Viall sends Fulton County a check; DA clears him of voter fraud here: Former legislature candidate Rick Viall has paid about $1,170 in back taxes in Fulton County, though he doesn't admit to owing the tax.
Clayton drops charge against Riverdale police stemming from Watson case: A misdemeanor charge of obstructing a police investigation, initiated against Riverdale police by Maj. Bruce Jordan of the Fayette County Sheriff's Department, will not be prosecuted by Clayton County Solicitor Keith Martin.
Chief Roberts: Bogus degree hurt no one but him: "Two years of hard study down the drain."
Satellite problem solved without city involvement: A potentially precedent-setting variance request has been withdrawn, in effect taking the monkey off the Fayetteville Planning Commission's back.
New governor's spokesman commutes from Fayette County deep in GOP territory: Gary Horlacher says that in the statehouse he is often kidded about being a "closet Republican," but he gets a hard time in Fayette County for being a lifelong Democrat.
David Staats beats the odds so far with leukemia treatment: A southside family with many supporters in Fayette County has arrived home for Christmas, beating the odds that said David Staats' leukemia treatment would keep him in Seattle until January.
Line Creek Association meets Dec. 29: A special meeting of the Line Creek Association of Fayette County is set for Tuesday, Dec. 29, at 7 p.m. at the Peachtree City Library.

Opinion

We go from impeachment to incarnation CAL BEVERLY Small Talk Publisher: In the space of a week, we proceed from the historic drama of impeaching an American president to the celebration of history's ultimate drama.
Perfect timing in Iraq wasn't Clinton's DAVE HAMRICK Editor-at-Large: Yes, the timing was amazingly coincidental, but no, I don't think the president bombed Iraq in an attempt to stop the impeachment proceedings.
Do we really appreciate life's value? EDDIE THOMAS Guest Columnist: To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. Ecclesiastes 3:1, 2, 3, (8)
The 12 hours of Christmas BILLY MURPHY Laugh Lines: It's 1 p.m. Christmas day and you've opened all the presents and eaten all you can hold: What do you do now? Here are some activities to help you pass the last "12 Hours of Christmas."
The 'meaning' of Christmas: Some 2,000 years ago give or take four to six years, because of calendar changes and various scholarly interpretations a baby was born in humble circumstances in Bethlehem of Judea.

Letters From Our Readers

Solicitor explains school board open meeting ruling: In December 1997, Woody Shellnut, Debbie Condon, Connie Hale, Dr. Bob Todd, and Darryl Chaney conducted a meeting of the [Fayette County] Board of Education to review the school superintendent.
Suspicious timing?: Should we hit Iraq hard and without warning when Saddam breaks the rules? Absolutely!
Pro and con raised on PTC development at Banks/Hwy. 54: I attended the planning commission meeting Monday night, Dec. 14, 1998, in which the Mews proposal on Walt Banks Road and Ga. Highway 54 was discussed. Some of the points that were made gave me great concern.
Haiku to you: Poets duel: In response to "The president who '-ate' Washington"

Business

The Bottom Line to Exceptional Customer Service: At the front entrance of Stu Leonard's Dairy Store stands a large boulder.
Deadline draws near for Chamber award: The Fayette County Chamber of Commerce is currently taking applications for the 1998 Business Person of the Year.
Wyndham's offering a unique program for the holiday season: As the holiday season approaches, the Wyndham Peachtree Conference Center has announced a perfect gift for the holidays, a Signature Club membership.
EMC and Peachtree to provide gas service: When Georgia's Public Service Commission decided to deregulate natural gas, it did so with the consumer's best interests in mind.
Fayetteville company set to produce Peach Bowl special: For the second consecutive year, Seals Communication Corporation of Fayetteville will produce the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Preview Special for ESPN and ESPN2.
United Way taking applications for organizations seeking dollars: For more than 80 years, United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta has served the community by investing millions of dollars in programs that help people lead better lives.

Religion

For unto you is born ...: Nearly 2,000 years ago, a baby boy was born whose legacy lives on today.
Let me offer you some last minute suggestions to inculcate some spirituality in your final Christmas doings.: As you stand at the check-out counter at the grocery store, pay the bill for the person in front of you.
Religion Briefs
Christmas services & events: Moreland United Methodist Church has several events planned for Christmas Eve.
Father David Epps was installed Dec. 6 as Canon Missioner of Law Enforcement and State Guard Chaplaincy for the Diocese of the Armed Forces.: He will represent The Right Rev. Douglas Woodall, bishop of the Missionary Diocese of South Carolina and bishop of the Diocese of the Armed Forces, with permission and agreement of The Right Rev. John W. Holloway, bishop of the Diocese of Georgia.
Obituaries

Sports

Fayette track hopes to make strides in 1999: Last year the Fayette County Youth Track team held one practice before spring break.
Lady Lakers net first PBAC player of the week: Last week, Clayton State junior Joya Collier was named Peach Belt Athletic Conference player of the week.
Panthers 11-0 in duals, champions of the first Starr's Mill wrestling invitational: The Starr's Mill wrestling team hosted the Starr's Mill Invitational last Friday and Saturday.
Chiefs set seven school records, Panthers split with Marietta: The McIntosh Chiefs hosted Chattahoochee and Etowah on Friday evening at the Kedron Aquatic Center and the results were record breaking.

Weekend

Christmas columns don't come easy: When people ask if it's hard to come up with column ideas week after week, I snort derisively.
Use caution when burning leaves: Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John W. Oxendine has advised Georgians to use caution when clearing and burning leaves in the upcoming weeks.
Historian admittedly not a 'know-it-all': I was privileged to be appointed as the Official Historian for Fayette County in March, 1982, by the county commissioners.
Ice skate outside in Atlanta: Coke on Ice, located near Underground Atlanta, features the Southeast's largest outdoor ice rink (5,800 square feet) and a spectacular 50-ft. Coca-Cola Christmas tree donated by the State of Georgia.
Coping with grief during the holidays: Family gatherings. Tokens of thanks and gifts of joy. Food overflowing the tables.
Deeva Boleman headed for Colorado: Deeva Boleman, with the Fayette County Extension Service since May of 1994, is moving to Denver, where her husband Charles will be a fleet technical instructor for United Airlines.
Forestry service assistance free for Fayette landowners: Is a songbird, or a fawn, or a bobcat in competition with forest products? "No. They are forest products," said the Georgia Forestry Commission.
Start your resolution: Fayette Community Hospital's Rehabilitation and Fitness Center is offering its third series of Healthy Living Weight Loss classes to the community.
Humane Society of Canada helping starving Alaskan sled dogs: The Humane Society of Canada has offered to help Alaskans with their rescue mission to help starving sled dogs. Many native families are preparing for the long cold winter with only a handful of Chinook salmon in their freezers.
Madrigal Dinner is yearly celebration: The Chamber Singers of Landmark Christian School recently presented their fourth annual Madrigal Dinner to raise funds. Group members said they are looking forward to visiting New York City in the spring, thanks to the proceeds raised by the event.
Military Briefs
AAA predicts record numbers of travelers during Christmas: A record 45.2 million people expect to travel 100 miles or more from home this Christmas-New Year's, the greatest number of travelers for any holiday period, according to AAA Auto Club South.
Paddlers take on Cartecay: The Peachtree City Paddlers will be celebrating New Year's on the river.
'Chipper' makes live tree right choice: When the lights are gone, the ornaments stored and the garlands furled, Fayette County Christmas trees can still have a useful purpose, says Keep Fayette Beautiful director Deeva Boleman.
Babies bring own magic to the holidays: Finally, as a new mom, I get to join the ranks of the lucky ones who have that special page in their family scrapbook.
Postage rates to increase Jan. 10: Jan. 10 is the date when the United States Postal Service will require one additional cent for its first class postage on a one ounce letter.
FCHS student designs winning T-shirt: Erin Dutton, a senior art student at Fayette County High School, is the recipient of an award from Fayette Youth Protection Home for the new design for its 1999 Power Parade T-shirt.
Kiwanis Art and Talent Show applications available, auditions set: Applications are available for the 14th annual Kiwanis Art and Talent showcase, scheduled for Feb. 8 at the Willie Dukes Auditorium, Starr's Mill High School Complex.
Tips for traveling with youngsters: If you and your children are among the record 45 million Americans expected to take a trip during the Christmas-New Year's holiday, AAA Auto Club South offers these tips for arriving in a jolly mood.
Winter has arrived, make plans for storms: Winter officially began Dec. 21, amidst some uncertainty as to what we can expect.
Calling young authors: The Young Georgia Authors' Writing Competition is now under way.