Are you a Fayette woman who practices law and appreciates networking with other women in the field? If so, the Georgia Association for Women Lawyers (GAWL) has established a forum for you in Fayette County.

The newest Kiwanis Club of Georgia held its charter ceremony on Tuesday, June 26 at the Flat Creek Country Club. Charter president Phil Boswell is seen here accepting the official charter documents from the Kiwanis Georgia District Governor Dewey Smith. The name of the group is the Kiwanis Club of McIntosh Trail and is the third Kiwanis Club in Peachtree City. The club is sponsored by the Peachtree City club and meets every Tuesday at the Original Pancake House at noon for lunch. The club is now recruiting new members to their group that focuses on helping the children in our community and around the world. For information about the club go to their website at www.kcomt.org.

Grace Christian Academy of Fayetteville held its first high school graduation on May 26. The commencement excercises for the senior class of 2007 took place at McDonough Road Baptist Church. Pictured are salutatorian Hannah Callaway, L, daughter of Clay and Maria Callaway of Fayetteville and valedictorian Antonina Kerner, daughter of Felix Kerner and Mary Kerner of Riverdale. Callaway will attend Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville and plans to major in elementary education. Kerner will attend Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan and plans to major in philosophy and history. Photo/Special.

On June 23, High Noon Toastmasters Club 5834 from Fayetteville, Ga.

The Peachtree City Chapter of New Neighbors League Club (NNLC) awarded Carole Pakulski with the New Neighbor of the Month award for May.

Peachtree City School of Dance recently announced a newly developed dance cirriculum to introduce elementary school aged children to the art of ballet. First Flight Ballet is a unique program specifically designed by Artist -In-Residence Brenda Hotard, to explore movement in a fun-filled environment while preparing the student for training in Classical Ballet Technique. Hotard holds a master of fine arts degree in dance and brings her vast experience as an educator and innovator in the arts to the children of our community. Due to the specialized training, class size is strictly limited and classes will be held in the newest dance facility in Fayette County behind the Peachtree City Ace Hardware on Peachtree Court. Enrollment is now being accepted by phone at 770-632-1544.

Georgia Southern University recently awarded local students scholarships.

Following is a list of area recipients: Andrew Coffman, of Fayetteville, $2,000 Regents Scholarship; Jessica Fortner, of Fayetteville, $1,000 Southern LEAD Scholarship; Andrea Johns, of Fayetteville, $1,000 Southern LEAD Scholarship; Kelsey Johnson, of Fayetteville, $1,000 Southern LEAD Scholarship; Taylor Koren, of Fayetteville, $1,000 Southern LEAD Scholarship; Bradley Langston, of Fayetteville, $1,000 Southern LEAD Scholarship; Trevor Martin, of Fayetteville, $4,000 President’s Scholarship; Ryan Stubbs, of Peachtree City, $4,000 President’s Scholarship.

• DiGiusto decorated with medal

Army Sgt. Darren P. DiGiusto has been decorated with the Army Commendation Medal. The medal is awarded to individuals who, while serving in any capacity with the Army, have distinguished themselves by acts of heroism, meritorious achievement or meritorious service. DiGiusto, a food service sergeant, is assigned to the 696th Forward Support Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Field Artillery Regiment, Fort Sill, Lawton, Okla. He has served in the military for 15 years. He is the brother of Daniel E. DiGiusto of Tyrone, Ga.

• Shelton has graduates from basic combat training

Army Pvt. Samuel K. Shelton has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. During the nine weeks of training, the soldier studied the Army mission, history, tradition and core values, physical fitness, and received instruction and practice in basic combat skills, military weapons, chemical warfare and bayonet training, drill and ceremony, marching, rifle marksmanship, armed and unarmed combat, map reading, field tactics, military courtesy, military justice system, basic first aid, foot marches, and field training exercises. He is the son of Alicia Shelton of Senoia, Ga. and a 2005 graduate of Starr’s Mill High School, Fayetteville, Ga.

Helping animals find a home

When he was growing up in Venezuela, people used to say that Miguel Abi-Hassan was born with a kitten in his hands. Now he likes all animals, which is certainly a prerequisite for the job he has had the last three years. Abi-Hassan, having worked in animal welfare in Venezuela, Ohio, and Florida, is the Director of Animal Control in Fayette County. His office is at the Animal Shelter on Ga. Highway 74 in Peachtree City, where his lifetime of experience with animals and degrees in animal welfare and industrial psychology are put to good use.

Ben Morrell, having completed the requirements for and having been examined by an Eagle Scout Board, was found worthy of the rank of Eagle Scout. In honor of his achievement, an Eagle Scout Court of Honor was held on Sunday, June 10, at Christ or Shepherd Church, Peachtree City, Ga. The Eagle Award is the highest rank in Boy Scouting and for his project Morrell constructed a puppet theatre and mobile school store for the Crossroads Program at the Lafayette Education Center in Fayetteville, Ga. Morrell is a senior at Starr's Mill High School and is the son of Jan and Scott Morrell of Fayetteville. Pictured with Morrell are Phil Carson, Scoutmaster, and Steve Powell, former Scoutmaster. Photo/Special.

Brian Jack Ellis, son of Duane and Marilyn Ellis of Tyrone, has earned the Eagle Scout award. Ellis, 17, is a member of Troop 79 in Tyrone. For his Eagle project he assisted with the Atlanta Breast Cancer 3-Day project in October of 2005. He assisted by coordinating and directing volunteers in setting up nearly 1000 tents at the North Perimeter College Campus, to greet and assist walkers in locating their personal belongings as they arrived at the end of a day of walking. The Breast Cancer 3-Day is a national philanthropic project to benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Photo/Duane Ellis.

Four young rockers from Peachtree City joined with a keyboardist from Atlanta and enjoyed a week at the Atlanta-based rock and roll day camp known as Camp Jam.

New York Times bestselling author Sharyn McCrumb is slated to headline the first-ever Peachtree City Literary Festival to be held July 27-29.

The next in the series of free family films is coming to the Villages Amphitheater this Friday with the family favorite, “Charlotte’s Web.”

The Fayette-Starr's Mill Chapter DAR has new officers and have begun planning for the new year. The DAR Motto is “God, Home and Country; the Society works in Historical Preservation, Educational endeavors, and Partiotism.” Since it was organized on December 6, 2003 in Peachtree City, it has presented nine National Community Service Awards to worthy individuals in Fayette County. It also has presented a National Conservation Award to a Fayetteville man. Each month the chapter highlights an "Outstanding Member" at the meeting. Meetings are held in members' homes. For membership information, call Carol Abadie at 770-632-9553. Genealogical assistance provided.

Over the week of June 19th through June 24th, 2007, Julie Wolf, the Healthcare Science teacher from Whitewater High School, took fifteen students to participate in the Healthcare Occupation Students of America (HOSA) National Leadership Conference in Orlando, Florida.

On February 1, 2007 World News with Charles Gibson broadcast a report from Pailin, a village in rural Cambodia, about the Overlake School, a facility that has been financed by students at a school of the same name in Washington. Fortunately for the 300 or so children in Cambodia who will at some time in the next year begin attending a new school, Whitewater High School rising senior Brittany Enterkin was tuned in that evening. The report’s portrayal of the plight of Cambodian children and the altruism of the students from Washington so affected Enterkin that she embarked on a fund raising campaign that has been both monetarily lucrative and personally transformative.

Rich Little, the undisputed master of mimicry, will take stage this Saturday, July 21 at the Fayetteville Villages Amphitheater.

David Alexander Herrmann reached the rank of Eagle Scout and was presented with this award on April 15. Special guests included the Reverends Chuck Hodges, Betsy Haas, Sean Robinson and Mr. Brian Loper, all of Peachtree City United Methodist Church.

Four members of the Peachtree City-Falcon Field Composite Squadron were recently decorated for finding a downed aircraft. On Saturday, April 28, 2007, while preparing to participate in a statewide practice search and rescue exercise, these members scrambled on an actual mission to locate a missing aircraft. They found the downed aircraft with only minimal information as to its route of flight.

Students enrolled in the top-tier gap year program known as IMPACT 360 just got a taste of what it takes to run a billion dollar restaurant business—a servant’s heart. Fayette County resident Zach Fallon was one of the 18 students enrolled in the inaugural class.

Christopher A. Taylor, son of Col. Chip and Kim Taylor, graduated from the United States Air Force Academy on Wednesday, May 30 in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Taylor, a 2003 graduate of McIntosh High School, was a distinguished graduate and ranked fifth in a class of 977 cadets. He received a bachelor of science degree in astronautical engineering and was awarded the top student in his engineering field.

On June 7 Hallene Minter and Barbara Seger presented Police Chief Steven D. Heaton of the Fayetteville Police Department with a $500 grant from the Allstate Foundation. Minter and Segar, both of Fayetteville, were awarded the Agency Hands in the Community Award for their commitment to volunteering in the community.

Primrose School at Summit East was recently caught in the act...of doing something good, that is. On Saturday, May 19 they hosted a free spring health fair and carnival. While visitors were learning some interesting information on subjects from organic foods to organ donation, money was being made. It wasn't going into anyone's pockets, though. It was all part of a fund raising effort for The Promise Place and The Reach Out and Read Foundation. Owner Jerry Gross and his wife, Cheryl, were sincerely touched by the generosity of these local businesses. From left, Jennifer Bolson with her son Christian, Felicia Tillman, Fayette Middle School orchestra teacher Saskia Chowdhuri with her children Gaurav and Vishal. Photo/Special.

The Marquis De LaFayette Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution celebrated its fifth year by thanking Heritage Bank’s Fayetteville branch for providing a monthly meeting place since their founding. The chapter presented the bank with a certificate of appreciation and an engraved statue of the liberty bell as a token of their appreciation and community partnership.

Art Ayres, Master Gardener of the Fayette County Extension Program, has been awarded the DAR National Society Conservation Award for starting the Plant-A-Row Garden in Fayette County which provides free fresh vegetables year round for Fayette Charity organizations. The award was sponsored by the Fayette-Starr’s Mill Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution. Ayres stated that he accepted the award for all the volunteer Master Gardeners that work in the garden and those that have assisted him.

An end-of-year celebration, sponsored by the PTO, was a huge success due to the many Booth parent volunteers, including the youth ministers from Peachtree City United Methodist Church. The PTO would like to thank the event sponsors including local businesses that helped make the party a success. Photo/Special.