Archive for Wednesday, May 5, 1999

Wednesday, May 5, 1999

News

Fayette sends sympathy card: A five-foot sympathy card bearing the names of 200 Fayette County High School students was placed among the mountains of flowers, pictures, balloons and love tokens outside Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo. last weekend by a former resident of the devastated community, 17-year-old Chris Durr of Fayetteville.
Hundreds to pray in Heritage Park Thurs.: More than 1,000 people are expected to participate in the National Day of Prayer Thursday at the fountain in Fayetteville's Heritage Park.
SUV murder suspect arrested: A man believed to be the mastermind behind a drug conspiracy that resulted in a local murder is now in custody after his arrest Monday in the parking lot of the Fayetteville Police Department.
F'ville planners eye annexing 144 acres: Should office development continue northward on the west side of Ga. Highway 314?
Citizen seeks Kosovo connections: The Citizen is attempting to make contact with military bases in the Baltic region in hopes of finding anyone with Fayette County connections involved in the war in Kosovo.
Traffic violations net jail time: Two men have been sentenced to prison on multiple felony counts after arrests based on separate incidents earlier this year.
Fayetteville police warn of phone scam: The Fayetteville Police Department has passed along a notice telling citizens to be on the lookout for the latest telephone scam that is sweeping the country.
Fayetteville beautification project a late bloomer due to DOT red tape: Main Street Fayetteville's plans to beautify downtown medians with a profusion of flora is bogged down in red tape, and time is growing short.
Impact fees return to the Fayette County Commission agenda: Impact fees return to the Fayette County Commission agenda today, along with continued discussion of the county Development Authority.
Meet the commissioners Tuesday: The last in a series of "Meet the Commissioners" receptions is scheduled for Tuesday, May 11 at 10 a.m.
Local residents win 3rd District Republican seats: Two Fayette County residents were elected to serve as officers of the nine-county Republican 3rd District.
County planners consider Rockwood Rd. industrial park: Integrated Science and Engineering wants to put 15 light industrial lots on 28 acres on the south side of Rockwood Road between Tyrone and Peachtree City.
Teacher pay fuels proposed school bd. budget increase: More students mean more teachers and support staff which translates into more money for the Fayette County Board of Education to budget into its 2000 financial plan.
Commissioners to open tap on south loop: Fayette County commissioners will gather an hour before their regular meeting time today to ceremonially open an extensive new set of water lines to serve the county's south side.
Wheat: Tensions high as ARC struggles with new transportation plan: Counties like Fayette may be fighting for scraps as the Atlanta Regional Commission doles out transportation funding for the next decade, said Fayetteville Mayor Mike Wheat this week.
Locally owned banks sprouting in Fayette: By this time next year, bank patrons may have two more options of locally owned banks in Coweta and Fayette counties.
College program gives high school students a head start: "The best way to make the transition from high school to college is to take college classes," said Dr. Steven Nape, director of enrollment services at Gordon College.
New judge names staff: Christopher C. Edwards officially assumed his elected position as a Superior Court judge of the Griffin Judicial Circuit Jan. 1. Since taking office, Edwards has conducted 14 trails during eight weeks of jury trials, and has heard over 500 non-jury cases.
Tyrone tackles Wieland over trees: The Town of Tyrone takes its trees seriously.
After first 100 days, Tyrone's new mayor pleased so far: Even though the traditional 100-day "honeymoon" has passed, Tyrone's mayor is extremely happy with the way her administration has been received.

Opinion

It all boils down to making a choice DAVE HAMRICK Editor-at-large: No need to get too excited or upset by all the groups pointing fingers at each other and accusing each other of "using" the Columbine High School tragedy to push an agenda.
Cliche king takes on advice role BILLY MURPHY Laugh Lines: I am a middle child and we are typically peacemakers. So with no more qualification than that, I offer this advice on how to get along with those around you.

Letters From Our Readers

4-H shooter, 13, defends range near McCurry: I am one of the shooters at the 4-H trap shooting range across from McCurry Park. I would like to discuss [Brendan Wilson's letter to the editor, "Firing range too close to McCurry Park" (The Citizen, April 28)].
Change must begin with each of us: I just want to support everything the Rev. John Hatcher said in his column April 28. If we don't change, then [events like the Colorado school shootings] will continue and grow worse with each episode.
Thanks to faculty, police for making MHS safer: I am writing this letter to thank the faculty at McIntosh High School.
Parents, help keep our schools safe: In response to Steve Hester's letter on zero tolerance in our Fayette county schools [The Citizen, April 28], I agree!
Reader mourns loss of old trees from new Tyrone subdivision: Please allow me to clarify that developer John Wieland removed not just one but three majestic oak trees without permission from the "old home place" only a few yards from the street.
Environmental nuts pose bigger threat to U.S. than China: Thank you for running the editorial by Michael S. Berliner in the April 23 edition.
Love & marriage need horse & carriage: I am getting married in September and am trying to find anyone who has a horse and a carriage.
Questions about Fayette's ITI curriculum need some answers: Our county school administration has approved the ITI program. Tax dollars were spent to bring the author of the program here to explain and sell her program and books.
SCHS Spanish teacher's gun skit is indefensible: As parents who expressed concern in last week's Citizen newspaper about a skit in a Spanish class at Sandy Creek High School, we watched and listened with great interest as various interpretations of the skit were purveyed and as school administration jumped to the defense of the teacher responsible for the incident in question.
Has anyone been looking at Haiti lately?: Why has there been no recent reporting on the situation in Haiti? Is anyone aware that in February, General Charles E. Wilhelm, commander of U.S. troops in Haiti, told congress that U.S. forces there were in danger from lawless elements?
'Conservative tree hugger' laments loss of trees, blight of empty buildings: I am a conservative tree hugger who is extremely distressed by what I see happening in Fayette County.
Better biking opportunities now mission: It's been almost a year since a car hit me while I was riding my bike. We are very grateful to those who blessed us with their visits, gifts and support of my family while I was incapacitated.
More gun control laws would not have prevented Colorado deaths: The massacre at Columbine High School a few days ago was shocking to most every person in the country. But, the reaction of liberals such as Bill Clinton was almost as outrageous. "More gun control laws will solve the problem" is the response from the typically lame leftists.

Business

The U.S. Department of Commerce announced recently that the 2,000-acre Peachtree Industrial Park has been approved as a foreign trade zone.: The designation makes the industrial park one of the largest in the Southeast and was approved as an expansion of Atlanta's current trade lone located at the Atlanta Tradeport.
Many of the county's most prominent builders spent an afternoon recently with a nationally-known speaker in the building business. public last week: Al Trellis conducted a seminar called "Who Killed the Profit?" for members of the Home Builders Association of Midwest Georgia.
Gold's Gym Fayette County, formerly Club Peachtree, donated over $7,000 of weight lifting equipment to Starr's Mill High School.: Starr's Mill Principal Dr. Dennis Chamberlain was very happy with the donation.
Cooper industries: Cooper industries, the parent company of Peachtree City-based Cooper Lighting, announced an increase in earnings for this year's first quarter.

Religion

Join with diverse believers in praying for our nation: Tomorrow, May 6, is the National Day of Prayer.
Bethany UMC preschool: Preschool registration for the 1999-2000 school year has begun at Bethany United Methodist Church in Fayetteville.
Hatcher tapped for human relations award: The Rev. Dr. John Hatcher, pastor of River's Edge Community Church in Fayetteville and columnist for The Citizen, received an award April 24 for "outstanding work in human relations" from the Christian Council of Metropolitan Atlanta.
Area churches plan unity 'March for Jesus' May 22: Preparations are coming together for the southside's second annual March for Jesus, May 22, in the streets of Fayetteville.
New Hope Baptist, Newnan, has revival: A Spring Revival at New Hope Baptist Church in Newnan is scheduled for Wednesday, May 19 through Sunday, May 23 at 7 p.m. Bro. Clarence Ledford, missionary to Europe, will be the guest speaker.
Rummage and bake sale at Bethany UMC: Members of the Circle of Love at Bethany United Methodist Church are having a rummage and bake sale Friday, May 21 and Saturday, May 22.

Weekend

Courtroom humor: Sometimes this job is too easy. Ideas may not fall off the trees, but they sometimes do arrive by mail.
The building of Fayette County's first courthouse: Fayette County was created in 1821 from land ceded from the Creek Indian Nation.
Adopt a pet this weekend: Four local humane societies (Fayette County, Georgia Heartland, Griffin/Spalding, and Good Shepherd) are joining with PETsMART Charities and the North Shore Animal League (NY) to present Adoptathon '99 on Saturday, May 1 and Sunday, May 2 at the Fayetteville PETsMART in the Pavilion Shopping Center.
The Adopt-a-Highway program is well known and respected.: The Adopt-a-Highway program is well known and respected. A community group will adopt a highway and maintain it's appearance, keeping it clean and safe.
Fiddler on the Roof coming to Starr's Mill Auditorium: The Starr's Mill High School Fine Arts Department will present the classic Broadway musical, Fiddler on the Roof, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, May 6, 7 and 8 at 7:30 p.m in the school's Duke Auditorium.
Lightfoot creepin' around PTC's backstair: My father is a Gordon Lightfoot fan. We would listen to his greatest hits when we took Sunday drives in the country, while I was growing up.
Americans and Germans come together in exchange: Students at Sandy Creek High School had some visitors recently.
McIntosh to perform play about Sojourner Truth: McIntosh High School S.T.A.G.E. Works will present "A Woman Called Truth," a play about the life of abolitionist and women's rights advocate Sojourner Truth, on Friday-Saturday, May 6-7, 7:30 p.m., at the McIntosh Black Box Theatre.

Sports

Chiefs lose in playoffs, Lady Chiefs live on: The McIntosh Chiefs boys soccer team had a three year run of making the state semifinals.
Tigers end season with losses: The season has ended for the Fayette County Tiger baseball team.
Tiger soccer teams make Final Four: The Fayette County Tigers boys soccer team is headed to the final four for the third year in a row.
Landmark boys take the region track title again: The Landmark Christian School boys track team won the region meet last week with 171 points.
Starr's Mill returns to the Final Four: The Starr's Mill Lady Panthers, ranked first in the state and 12th in the nation, faced the Heritage Lady Patriots on Saturday night.
Fayette Youth Track Team heading to states: The Fayette Youth Track Team had an outstanding showing on Saturday in the district track meet held at Lovejoy High School.

Prime Timers

Wilcock proves it's never too late to learn or to teach: Judy Wilcock, a "registered nurse from the old three-year diploma program," went back to school a few years ago to obtain her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing.
Arthritis Foundation's Aquatic Classes Offered: The Georgia Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation will be offering the Arthritis Foundation's Aquatic Program in conjunction with Gold's Gym Fayette County starting June 1st. The Aquatic Program is a recreational series of gentle activities designed to help relieve the pain and stiffness caused by arthritis, fibromyalgia and related conditions.
Local Church offers Programs for Seniors: 1999 has been designated as the International Year of the Older Persons by the United Nations. As part of its commitment to supporting older persons, the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church adopted a similar resolution.
It's getting easier to stay at home longer: If the recent boom in new assisted living facilities and service businesses geared toward seniors in Fayette County is any indication of the future, the area is fast becoming a senior Mecca. More banks and businesses are developing special "clubs" for those age 50 and older. Churches are focusing on reaching the senior population.