Archive for Wednesday, January 13, 1998

Wednesday, January 13, 1998

News

Tough ethics rules eyed: County commissioners and key employees could be fined up to $1,000 for ethics violations if a proposed new ordinance is adopted by the Board of Commissioners.
Mews misses: PTC denies rezoning for city's biggest shopping center
Mayor on Mews vote: 'Hope you don't regret': When 11 p.m. rolled around last Thursday, the Peachtree City Council was bound by ordinance either to take a vote or suspend debate on "The Mews" shopping center, postponing it until the Jan. 21 meeting.
County puts senior center on back burner: Senior citizen advocates are hoping that consultants working on plans for a new Fayette County jail and judicial complex will work quickly. Their hopes for a new senior center have been put on a shelf until that planning work is done.
Bost named commission chairman; Wells, Dunn sworn in: Fayette County Commissioners have named Harold Bost their chairman for 1999, with newly elected Commissioner Greg Dunn vice chairman.
BOE's Condon: 'We're willing to listen': After her surprise election last week to head the embattled Fayette County Board of Education, The Citizen's Pat Newman asked newly elected Chairman Debbie Condon to share her thoughts and opinions on current issues facing the board Friday.
Fayetteville to consider office complex: A new medical/professional park just east of Fayette Community Hospital will be on the way if the Fayetteville City Council approves Hayes Development company's annexation and rezoning request Monday.
F'ville has rash of burglaries: Fayetteville police are investigating a rash of burglaries over the past week, including three at homes on Landing Drive.
Fires damage 2 Fayette homes: A firefighter was treated for smoke inhalation as a result of the first of two major residence fires in Fayette County last weekend.
Planning panel nixes Wieland rezoning: John Wieland Homes won the support of the Wood Creek Homeowners Association for its plans to add 77.5 acres to the subdivision, but couldn't convince the Fayette County Planning Commission.
County eyes Sumner Rd. office park: Fayette County commissioners will consider the fate of 3.33 acres on Sumner Road, just off Ga. Highway 54, again tomorrow night.
PTC Lutherans complete 3rd church expansion: Finally, the addition has been completed.
Corrections
FCHS to induct members to school's Athletic Hall of Fame: The Fayette County High School Booster Club is launching its Hall of Fame with the 1999 Sports Hall of Fame Banquet.
Rep. Collins holds town hall meetings today and tomorrow: Town hall meetings with U.S. Representative Mac Collins are continuing today and tomorrow in the Third District.

Opinion

Will we see a true vote of conscience? DAVE HAMRICK Editor-at-large: As the Senate moves on with its historic, unwanted task, I'm struck by the lack of original thought on either side of the aisle.
King: deep convictions along with a deep faith By SHAUNNA HOWAT Real Answers: His wasn't the first voice for freedom. His wasn't always the loudest call for civil rights. But his was the voice that changed our world.
Murphy's Annual Movie Ratings the winner is . . . BILLY MURPHY Laugh Lines: It's time for my annual rating of the best local movies theaters. As fast as you can whip out $7.85 to pay for a coke and popcorn, I can tell you THE best place to go for that fun (and affordable) inside movie experience.

Letters From Our Readers

Starr's Mill students being held hostage to a grander school plan?: I read with dismay the latest comments by our new school "chief" regarding her desires "to improve the board's image and find ways to pay for new construction."
PTC Council made right call on Mews: On Jan. 7 the Peachtree City Council made the decision to turn down [developer John] Callaway's rezoning request at Walt Banks Road and Ga. Highway 54 (The Mews).
School board is right to question expensive Starr's Mill athletic project: I have read with great interest the articles and letters regarding the building of a stadium complex at the South Complex, particularly the recent letter by Mr. Cary Rogers.
South school complex situation is better than many schools in Fayette: I am writing in response to a letter in your paper from Carol Jenson-Linton concerning athletic facilities in the county high schools.
PTC police seem to be rough on teenagers: "To Serve and Protect" is the motto on the side of each police car in Peachtree City. Have they lost sight of their job?
Too many able-bodied drivers are using handicapped spaces: Last October, my daughter (who is wheelchair bound) and I went to Wal-Mart. When we arrived, there were no vacant handicapped parking spaces.
Former reporter heartened by selection of Bost as chairman: As a former Fayette County reporter for The Citizen and as a former county resident, it's tremendously heartening news to hear that Harold Bost is the new commission chairman by the election of his peers.

Business

Synovus is country's top place to work: Synovus Financial Corporation was named the best company to work for in America, according to the Jan. 11 issue of Fortune magazine.
First Citizens set to pay higher dividends this week: First Citizens Corporation an president Tom Moat announced it will pay dividends Jan. 15 to shareholders who owned the company's stock as of Dec. 31.
Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting: If you're looking for an out of this world evening, you won't want to miss the Fayette Chamber of Commerce annual meeting set for Jan.30 at the Wyndham Peachtree Conference Center.
Business Briefs

Religion

Wish you were here ...: As you read, I'm in Israel, the land of the Bible. It's my first trip. Not until four or five years ago did I begin to thirst to see the land of Jesus, always believing and still do that where the Spirit of the Living Lord is, it is Holy.
Y2K Overcoming Uncertainty: In Matthew 24:37-39, Jesus said, "For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, they were marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so shall the coming of the Son of Man be."
Y2K seminars teach preparing for the worst: When Joseph of the Bible received word from the Lord that there would be a seven-year famine in the land after seven years of plenty, the king gave him the responsibility of preparing.
Obituaries
Colombian speaker leads Women's Aglow: The Peachtree City chapter of Women's Aglow Fellowship International is featuring special guest speaker Cecilia Lozano, a native of Colombia, South America, next week.
First Baptist hosts women's studies: All women in the community are invited to participate in Wednesday Bible studies, from Jan. 13 to May 13, at First Baptist Church of Peachtree City.
Births
Davis, Ellison: Mr. and Mrs. Steve Davis of Fayetteville announce the engagement of their daughter Teresa Renee to Mr. Walt Ellison, son of Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Ellison of Tyrone.
Religion Briefs

Sports

Tigers wrestlers take second in Murray duals, sixth place in regular tournament: Fayette County traveled to Murray County for a dual tournament on Friday and a regular tournament on Saturday. Murray County, ranked first in AAA, took first place on Friday, as the Tigers captured second place.
Wild night for Chiefs and Tigers: McIntosh traveled to Fayette County High School on Friday night for what is typically their biggest game of the year.
Panthers fight but drop two: Coach Tim Miller is pleased with the direction of the Starr's Mill Panthers in their first varsity season. "We are competitive in every game and never stop fighting." On Friday night, the Panthers faced Woodward Academy.
Panthers win the Yellow Jacket Invitational: Starr's Mill's wrestling team is off to an impressive 17-1 start. The Panthers traveled to the Yellow Jacket Invitationals this past weekend and won it all.
Chiefs take third at War Eagle meet: The McIntosh Chiefs put their first loss ever at the county duals behind them last weekend and traveled to Woodward Academy for the War Eagle Classic.

Real Estate

Board of Realtors installs new president: Carolyn McCullough was installed as the new president for 1999 by the Fayette County Board of Realtors, last Thursday in the annual inaugural ceremony.
Home ideas revealed at the Garden & Patio Show: Southerners are just as enamored with backyard living as the rest of the country seems to be perhaps even more so, when you consider that we spend more on lawn and garden products than any other region of the United States.
The Real Estate Scene...
Four agents join Easter Seals' Circle of Givers: Four real estate agents from Century 21 Southern Crescent in Fayetteville have joined the Circle of Givers program for the Easter Seals North Georgia.
Board of Realtors presents check to youth protection home: The Fayette County Youth Protection Home Inc. received a generous holiday present from the Fayette County Board of Realtors in the form of a $15,000 check.
New branch office to open in Newnan: Griffin Financial Services Inc. has announced that its new Newnan branch office will be open by Friday, January 15.
Home Builders Association discusses 'smart growth': Members of the Home Builders Association of Midwest Georgia received a presentation on "smart growth" at the organization's recent meeting, held at WhiteWater Country Club.
Professional home builders construct homes worth buying: Everyone interested in buying a new home wants to find a quality house built by a professional. But professionalism is one of thise concepts where you know it when you see it, but you may have trouble defining it.
Centex Homes named 'Builder of the Year': This month, Centex Homes was the recipient of high honor. At the 18th Annual Professionalism Awards, Centex Homes was named Builder of the Year by the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association.
Atlanta-based company wins top honors for remodeling: The year 1998 continues to bring top honors to Atlanta-based SawHorse Inc., for its work in the remodeling industry.
Professionalism Awards Banquet honors Tim Jones Communities: Tim Jones Communities Inc. of Jonesboro was the recipient of a top award at the annual Professionalism Awards Banquet, held recently at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta.

Weekend

Neckties: Trying to get Dave gussied up
for his role as father of the bride, and with Christmas as an excuse, I bought him a couple of neckties to go with his new gray suit.
Children's ballet has a beet with feet: The green onion has escaped! The tomatoes on guard were asleep! Whatever shall we do?
Bus drivers quietly show big hearts: He's come to trust her, through several years of looking at the back of her head twice a day on his school bus because when he does see her face, she smiles and he knows she cares.
Celebrate: fine amnesty, new programs: The Fayette County Public Library celebrates its second anniversary in its new building today.
Lots to do at the library: Scheduled events at the Fayette County Public Library, located at 1821 Heritage Park Way in Fayetteville, are as follows:
McIntosh H.S. open house set for Feb. 22: McIntosh High School will host a Second Semester Open House on Monday, Feb. 22, from 7-8:30 p.m. Open House will begin in the gym with a brief presentation by the school's principal, Stuart Bennett.
Jan. 21 program features music to be presented at Savannah conference: Sandy Creek High School and Fayette County High School will present a joint choral program at Sams Auditorium Thursday, Jan. 21, at 7:30 p.m.
Notable
Peeples hosting 'Dads and Doughnuts' Friday: Peeples Elementary School will host a "Dads and Doughnuts" breakfast Friday, Jan. 15, from 7:45-8:30 a.m. in the school cafeteria. This is an opportunity for fathers and their children who are students at Peeples to begin their day together and for the dads to get a little flavor of what their children's school life is like.
Military Briefs
Workshops offered for area thespians: Offshoot Productions begins its winter series of acting workshops with "Making Characters Come Alive," set for Jan. 17, from 2:30-5:30 p.m. at The Gathering Place in Peachtree City.
Robot Rally at SciTrek Jan. 30: SciTrek, the Science & Technology Museum of Atlanta, will be hosting the third annual Robot Rally Jan. 30 from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
It's Tea Time!: The David L. Harris Jr. Foundation Inc. will host the 4th annual Teddy Bear Tea Party on Saturday, Feb. 6, at The Gathering Place in Peachtree City.
Free thyroid screenings set: Thyroid disease affects between six and eight million Americans; as many as four million remain undiagnosed and untreated because of the condition's slow onset and insidious symptoms.
Veterans: keep copy of DD 214 at court house: The most important document for veterans applying for federal or state veterans benefits is their military discharge form DD 214, which they were issued when they left military service.
YMCA offers tips for turning resolutions into reality: According to Pam Young, branch executive of the Fayette Family YMCA, a recent study revealed that only 10 percent of Americans keep the New Year's resolutions for a whole year. To help ensure a better success rate, she has offered the following tips: