Archive for Wednesday, April 7, 1999

Wednesday, April 7, 1999

News

Burn victim believed tied to statewide drug case: A burned body found in an abandoned sport utility vehicle last Thursday is believed to be connected with a multi-state drug case.
Pair gets 10 years, pays $1.1 million in Medicaid fraud: Pleas for leniency fell on deaf ears in the Medicaid fraud sentencing of a Fayette County couple Monday.
Local schools host German students: By all appearances, the 20 students gathered in Mechtild Vogt's classroom at Fayette County High School could be from Brooks... or Berlin.
Fayetteville medians to bloom: Grassy medians on Ga. Highway 54 in Fayetteville will soon erupt in floral splendor.
Adams plan for 100 homes on 20 acres is withdrawn: A controversial plan to put 100 homes on 20 acres in south Fayetteville is off the table.
Fayetteville eyes $1 million budget hike: Fayetteville's budget for 1999 will be almost 10 percent bigger than when it was enacted last August if City Council approves.
Republicans hear state chair candidates: Fayette County Republicans will be faced with a tough challenge in the upcoming election for chairman of the Georgia Republican Party.
Council: Density is only issue with master plan for 110 acres: Fayetteville City Council members Monday told staff to move forward with an ambitious proposed master plan for 110 acres in the heart of Fayetteville, but to tone it down a bit.

Opinion

Liberty slowly being replaced by security DAVE HAMRICK Managing Editor: Tortured, bleeding, dying, William Wallace used his last breath to hiss out the one word that was worth such a sacrifice... freedom.
Let me rant please BILLY MURPHY Laugh Lines: At the risk of sounding like talk radio or a bad edition of The Vent, I want to riff on the county where I live a little bit, the greatest county in all of Georgia, but...

Letters From Our Readers

Prosecute the commissioners: Your March 31 edition contains an article that our Fayette County Commissioners once again flaut the law by violating the "Sunshine Law."
Time to pay the piper: Taxpayers beware. The Fayette County Commissioners have levied the first of what will be a nonstop series of tax increases.

Business

Cooper donates $28,000 to PTC nonprofit groups: The Cooper Lighting division of Houston-based Cooper Industries made grants totaling $28,128 to Peachtree City nonprofit organizations last year.
Coweta-Fayette EMC has expanded its customer service center: In response to the confusion resulting from the deregulation of the natural gas industry, Coweta-Fayette EMC has expanded its customer service center.
Unemployment rate is on the rise: Fayette County's unemployment rate rose slightly last month, but the 3.2 percent unemployment rate for the region was the lowest for February in 25 years.

Religion

Church of Fayette: A new couple visited our church two weeks ago. They said they had received our mailout and was coming in response to our invitation. I rejoiced with their presence but knew they had not received any mailout from River's Edge Community Church. They probably received mailouts from New Hope Baptist Church and/or Braelinn Church.
Fayetteville First UMC opens new family life center: The Fayetteville First United Methodist Church has just held consecration services for its new Family Life and Education Center.
Religion Briefs
First Presbyterian Church in PTC offering aging seminars: The First Presbyterian Church in Peachtree City is offering a series of seminars titled, "Aging is for everyone A celebration."

Home and Garden

Reliably romantic: Old-fashioned plants stand the test of time: Whether it's nostalgia or just plain common sense, gardeners today are looking to gardens of yesterday for inspiration. Considering the benefits of old-fashioned varieties hardiness, low maintenance, delicate color and fragrance it's no wonder that everything old is new again.
Butterfly gardening soars in popularity: It's hard to stay stressed in a butterfly garden. Just listen to the calm, happy voice of LuAnn Craighton, naturalist at Callaway Gardens near Pine Mountain.

Weekend

Easter's answers to tough questions: When a casual friend called me aside and began asking about my schedule for the coming week, it took me a few minutes to realize that she just wanted to arrange to meet and talk.
Bump-a-doo-da, bump-a-doo-da, Bump-a-doo-da, bump-a-doo-da...
90th birthday party in Brooks: There was a 90th birthday party in Brooks last week, and Evelyn Knapp Spaller was on the receiving end.
Briefs
Airport hosts 'Second Saturday' April 10: Saturday, April 10, the Civil Air Patrol PTC Falcon Field Composite Squadron will sponsor a day of aviation related activities as part of the Falcon Field Airport Authority's "Second Saturday" events at the Peachtree City Airport.
Depot Thank you: The City of Fayetteville and Main Street recently sponsored a reception at the Fayetteville Train Depot to thank those who had a part in the refurbishing of the facility.
FCHS Variety Show: The Fayette County High School Select Chorus' annual variety show, entitled "And The Winner Is..." will be presented April 15, 16 and 17 at 7:30 p.m. at F.A. Sams Auditorium.
FCT auditions set for April 9: Fayette Community Theatre Inc. will have auditions for their upcoming adult mystery/comedy dessert presentation of "Next Victim Please" Friday, April 9 at 6:30 p.m.
International Myeloma Foundation will present the Atlanta Patient and Family Seminar: This Saturday, April 10, the International Myeloma Foundation will present the Atlanta Patient and Family Seminar on multiple myeloma, a little-known, rare form of bone marrow cancer with no known cure.
Opening This Week
Raymer's romance: Although two of Kimberly Raymer's romance novels share their name with Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen movies, the subject matter is a tad more adult.
Earth Day in Tyrone is April 17: The Town of Tyrone, along with the Tyrone Kiwanis Club, Tyrone Elementary School, the Tyrone Garden Club, the Tyrone Rotary Club, local citizens, Scouts, businesses and clubs, will be participating in "Earth Day in Tyrone" April 17 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

PrimeTimers

Walking miracle wins Southland Pageant: Ms. Virginia Arnold is a "walking miracle," according to her doctor. Ten years ago, Arnold was being tube fed and was given 10 days to live. Today, Arnold is the proud winner of the 1999 Southland Beauty Pageant and has a good chance at going on to participate in the Ms. Georgia Nursing Home Pageant.
Ms. Nettie Knight is 102: Ms. Nettie Knight is 102, she's doing "alright" and she loves to be in the newspaper. Knight celebrated her 102nd birthday on April 1st at Southland Nursing Home in Peachtree City in style. She was dressed and ready to enjoy her special day before 9 a.m. on Thursday.
Annual pageant successful again: Twelve lovely ladies vied for the title of Ms. Southland Nursing Home and chance to go on to the Georgia State Nursing Home Beauty Pageant recently.
Information: Number for the Heart Association (Celebrity Celeb in May) is 770-730-8440.
Nutrition counseling available: Getting healthy and staying healthy can be a big step. In recognition of National Nutrition Month, Fayette Community Hospital offers ongoing nutrition counseling on numerous subjects, including weight management, cholesterol intake and cardiac care.
Calendar
Southland Nursing Home abounds in therapy programs, activities: Southland Nursing Home was founded in 1989 in Peachtree City. It is a nursing and rehabilitation center that is skilled and Medicare certified. They provide "comprehensive nursing care and aggressive therapy programs with plans of care created to fit each individual's needs."

Sports

Shootout at Shootout for the Lady Chiefs and Panthers: The McIntosh Lady Chiefs and the Starr's Mill Lady Panthers, ranked number one in AAAA and AAA respectively, got to face each other for the first time ever this weekend.
Kids taught to play golf from the "First Swing": The Peachtree City Recreation Department is sponsoring instructional classes in Junior Golf called "First Swing" beginning on Thursday, April 15 and on Saturday, April 17 and will continue for six weeks.
Babcock to speak at CCSU: Pete Babcock, the executive director and general manager of the Atlanta Hawks, will be the featured speaker at the annual Clayton College & State University Alumni Association Dinner and Meeting.
7/8 Braves playing Sharp: The 7/8 Fayette County Braves baseball team recently won the Sharpsburg preseason baseball tournament.
Irish soccer team to visit the Lightning '87 Gold team: The Stella Maris F.C. boy's U-12 soccer team from Dublin, Ireland will be visiting Fayette County during the first two weeks of April.
Kick it at The Soccer Centre for a summer of soccer fun: The Soccer Centre in Fayetteville is accepting registrations for the Summer Indoor Youth Soccer League that begins June 21 and ends August 22.
Two Fayetteville men win awards for officiating from Tip-Off Club: On Saturday night, the Atlanta Tip-Off Club honored two Fayetteville men, Bill Diprano and Andre Patillo, for their outstanding work as college basketball officials.