Archive for Wednesday, March 24, 1999

Wednesday, March 24, 1999

News

Watson investigation gears up: Now family, friends and law enforcement officers know the answer to their 2-year-old question: Where is Beverley Callaway Watson?; Watson-related lawsuits proceed in federal court; Jordan rebuts charges
DeCotis defends ITI curriculum: Are instructional techniques becoming too radical in some Fayette County Schools?
Forgotten zone?: Older shopping centers fade as new superstores flourish
Hopes ride on new rules for Fayetteville development: The commercial strip shopping centers in Fayetteville between Courthouse Square and the Fayette Pavilion are becoming known as the "forgotten zone" as tenants move out in favor of newer, nicer shopping centers north and south of town.
A Chronology of the Beverly Watson Case: The gripping story of a missing Fayette County woman came to a partial end Monday afternoon as Fayette County Sheriff's Department officials announced the remains of Beverley Watson had been discovered in a wooded area in south Fulton County.
F'ville begins talks on McElwaney plan: A dialogue has begun between Fayetteville residents and their government over the future of 110 acres in the heart of the city.
PTC Council grapples with 'build-out' population requirements: Peachtree City is in good shape financially, but badly in need of millions more dollars to meet the city's governmental, health and safety needs for a "buildout" population, City Council members learned at the annual retreat last weekend.
Fayette students tackle the Iowa tests: Third, fifth and eighth grade students in Fayette County Schools are tackling the Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS) this week.
Fayette high schools top state grades: Fayette County High Schools are ranked tops in the state, based on a new grading system now in place.
Fayette delegation scrambling in hectic close of session: Fayette's state legislative delegation members are digging through mountains of proposed bills and pushing for passage of their own measures as the end of the 1999 session approaches.
County hearing on E911 tax set: You're invited to give your opinion on Fayette County's proposed new tax on cell phones to help pay for enhancements to emergency dispatch facilities.

Opinion

Clinton legacy may be a cold surprise DAVE HAMRICK Editor-at-large: It's become clear in recent months and years that few of the values that most Americans hold dear duty, honor, truth, trust are of any importance at all to our president.
Vacation at home with 2 youngsters BILLY MURPHY Laugh Lines: I have spent a month at home this week (on vacation) and I am ready to go back to work. In the ongoing argument on which is harder, staying at home with the kids or juggling work and the kids, staying at home is much, much, much harder! Did I say much harder?

Letters From Our Readers

Supt. DeCotis will be 'fair, open, honest': As I write this letter, the [Fayette County] Board of Education has selected Dr. John DeCotis as its candidate to be Superintendent of Schools. At the time you read this I assume he will have been named to that high office.
'We admire, respect John': I wonder why some Peachtree City pilots of the 1990s have not followed the example of the pilots of the 1970s and '80s?
Law officers enforcing traffic laws save many lives; here are the stats: It's popular nowadays to bad-mouth the police and to believe officers are interested in traffic enforcement for its revenue instead of protecting public safety. The facts are in and they are sobering:
Even teens have constitutional rights: In its laudable zeal to ascertain no gangs gain a foothold in Fayette County, the Fayette County Sheriff's Department needs to remember that we all have certain rights guaranteed us by the United States Constitution...even teenagers.
Fayette Follies was the 'Bomb' (That's good!): [Recently] I was treated to the Fayette Follies at Sams Auditorium. I went specifically to see my granddaughter Haley Murphy sing "Wishin" in her "Mother's Wedding Gown."
If ITI curriculum helps kids adapt to today's world, I'm all for it: Your 17 March letter from your readers, Ron and Chris Baran, was well researched and presented. The thrust of the Barans is to point out that they were "deceived" as a result of three meetings with Mr. John DeCotis, the current assistant, and now future Superintendent of Fayette County Schools.
ITI charges ought to ring alarm bells for parents: The letter from Ron and Chris Baran seemed well researched and heartfelt. If true, it should ring very large alarm bells about the possible appointment of Mr. DeCotis to Superintendent of Schools.
Supt.-to-be DeCotis educator of highest character, integrity: In response to the letter (i.e., attack) on Dr. John DeCotis by Delta pilot Ron Baran, and as someone that has worked with Dr.DeCotis for the past 20 years, I would like to point out some untruths that were printed.
Photocircuits has record of problems in 2 cities: The Citizen Review article on Photocircuits (March 12) brought us some interesting points.

Religion

Do you want to get well: Jesus asked a chronically sick man, "Do you want to get well." The man had been in his condition for 38 years.
Engagements/Weddings
HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE -- Christ Our Shepherd Lutheran Church
Fayette Community Church hires new youth pastor: Fayette Community Church, a church described by many as a haven for the unchurched, recently hired Brad Wilcox as their full-time youth pastor.
Jesus video update corner

Sports

Teams play tough on diamond: The Fayette County Tiger baseball team kept rolling along this weekend, improving their record to 13-0 and 3-0 in the region.
Conley is All-American: Robert Conley was named to the NCAA Division II All-America Third team last week.
Local soccer teams are alive and kicking: The Lady Tigers soccer team from Fayette County is off to a good start.
Fayette Youth Track off to quick start: They only had a few practices this year, but the Fayette County Youth Track Team arrived ready to race at the Cobb County Track League Invitational at Sandy Creek on Saturday.
Sheppard back with the Hawks: This is getting harder to follow than any soap opera. Jeff Sheppard, former McIntosh Chief, Kentucky Wildcat and Atlanta Hawk, is a Hawk once more.
Help make a special day: Volunteers are needed for the Fayette County Special Olympics annual Track and Field Event on Thursday, April 1.
Panthers break a number of school records: The Starr's Mill track team was scheduled to run at the Patriot relays at Sandy Creek High School, but because some of the runners would be taking the SAT, they ran at LaGrange instead.

Weekend

STILL MORE MARRIAGE NOTES: Recently I've been musing on the weighty subject of Why Some Marriages Work and Others Don't, and found among my own notes yet two more variations on the theme.
Applegate/PTC library: Stan Applegate, Peachtree City resident and author of "The Devil's Highway," will appear at the Peachtree City Library Saturday at 1:30 p.m. "Natchez Under the Hill," Applegate's second novel in the series, is scheduled to be available April 1.
Braelinn fund raiser: "Reach for the Stars," a family fun night and fund raiser for Braelinn Elementary School in Peachtree City will begin at 4 p.m. Saturday.
Notable
Festival seeks vendors: The Brooks Festival is scheduled for May 8, from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. The day kicks off with the 17th annual Brooks Day Festival 10-K Road Race and ends with the Pavilion Dance.
Hopping down McIntosh Trail: Breakfast Munchies with the Easter Bunny will be Saturday, April 3, from 8:30-10:30 a.m. at The Gathering Place, 203 McIntosh Trail, Peachtree City.
Golf Cart Rallye: Golf Cart Rallye is March 28
The "Egg"leston "Egg"stravagnza Golf Cart Rallye is ready to roll Sunday, March 28, in Peachtree City. It is being sponsored by the Peachtree City chapter of TWIGS, a fund-raising group for the Egleston and Scottish Rite Children's Medical Centers, as a way to support the new transplant program at the centers.
Our Fayette Heritage: The land creating our county was ceded from the Creek Indian Nation in January of 1821.
New support group takes aim at crime's legacy: Beyond the Bars a support group for those with incarcerated loved ones, for those who are ex-prisoners and for those who have been victims of crimes will begin meeting in April. Meetings will be 4th Tuesdays at 7 p.m. at the Fayetteville Holiday Inn Express.
Find out 'whodunit' at MHS: The McIntosh High School Advanced Drama Class will present "Ten Little Indians" by Agatha Christie tomorrow through Saturday, March 25-27, at the school's theater.
Military Briefs
Points of Light Foundation makes volunteering easy: Do you want to make a difference in someone's life?
Pooh/Easter Bunny: All the lovable characters from the Hundred Acre Woods will be helping to celebrate spring time when the Fayette Community Theatre Inc. presents the adaptation of "Winnie the Pooh and the Easter Bunny,
Stars on Southern Crescent: The Saturday, March 27, Stars on the Southern Crescent coffee house will feature Nashville singer/songwriter Kim Kalman.
West Side Story Opens Tomorrow At Sandy Creek: Two rival gangs, the Jets and the Sharks, are scheduled to rumble tomorrow night at Sandy Creek High School when the curtain goes up for " More than 50 students, under the direction of drama teacher Kathy Andersen, are involved in the theatrical production which will be presented at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday's Youth Arts Festival features variety of talents: The 3rd annual Fayette Youth Arts Festival will be Saturday from 11 a.m .to 6 p.m. on Shakerag Knoll in the McIntosh Recreation Administrative Complex off McIntosh Trail.
Opening This Week

Special Section

New Wholesale Plant Business Opens: Because her father set such a good example, Lynn Henning has set up her wholesale plant business, Covered in Bloom, to do much more for the community than provide greenery.
Consumer Questions
Don Hastings to speak at Omega: Don Hastings, author of the definitive three-volume gardening series, "Gardening in the South," will present "Rich Harvest," a booksigning and reading at Omega Books in Peachtree City, March 27 from 2-4 p.m.
Gardening in Fayette County: The Fayetteville Pavilion Home Depot store was pleased to hold a recent class on Vegetable Gardening in Fayette County.
Georgia Gold Medal Winner's - They are winners in your landscape: Each spring the Georgia Plant Selections committee, which is a no profit organization composed of environmental horticulture professionals and faculty from the University of Georgia, selects an annual flower, a perennial, a shrub and a tree to receive its coveted Gold Medal Award for exceptional performance.
Home Depot design center: In Fayette County, there are few places that offer the one-stop shopping of Home Depot for building and remodeling and now, the home improvement store has expanded their services to include all of the design and decorating advice you need.
Landscape Makeover: Landscapes, like hairstyles, need updating now and then.
Millennium Home Trends: The mantra for the millennium home might be "less is more, and there's more of it."
A new look in landscaping Vegetables and flowers make great bedfellows: There's a fresh look in landscaping today, but it harkens back to the kitchen gardens of our colonial ancestors.
NewWay USA Inc.: When it comes to remodeling, the kitchen is the number one choice followed closely by the master bathroom.
Redecorate your home's interior: While doing your spring housecleaning this year, you might notice that your decor needs a face lift.
Selling a home?Curb appeal sells: Compare two identical houses in the same neighborhood, and the one with the best landscaping will sell first.

Business

Leadership lessons for war and peace: Sometimes a technically qualified employee may attain a managerial position but lack training or experience in the skills required for a successful manager.
Galleries offer something for everyone: Just down Ga. Highway 74 in Peachtree City lies a virtual treasure trove for shoppers.
The Hampton Hotel in Peachtree City recently announced the appointment of Todd Tullis as the hotel's new general manager.: Tullis joins the hotel after having served as the general manager of the award winning Hampton Inn Hotel in Pensacola, Fla.