At a university near Linyi, China, Beau Sides blew on his freezing hands and shivered as he taught the students English. He could see his breath fog the air each time he spoke. His cold students sat at rapt attention without gloves, and some without enough warm clothing, carefully listening to his instructions.

On Sunday, Jan. 21, five girls from Service Unit #617 in Peachtree City were honored in a formal ceremony with the Girl Scout Silver Award. This is the highest award a Girl Scout can receive between 11-14 years of age.

The award is earned when a Girl Scout uses her leadership skills to help improve her life and the lives of others by affecting positive change in the community. Among other things, the award’s components require the girl to build skills, explore careers, gain leadership experience and work on self improvement. In addition, each girl must spend approximately 35 hours or more on her chosen project.

The 2007 Fayette County Chamber of Commerce Leadership Fayette Hospital Team assisted in donating 14 rocking chairs to the new maternity center at Piedmont Fayette Hospital and a golf cart trailer to the auxillary.

"We are thrilled to accept these rockers for the mothers and babies of the Piedmont Fayette Hospital Maternity Center,” said Ingrid McIntyre, BSN, RN, director of Women’s Services. “As a family-focused birth center, we encourage practices, such as rocking, that help the family bond together. The sense of calm and peace that comes with rocking a baby is wonderful and beneficial to the entire family. We deeply appreciate the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce Leadership Fayette class, The Amish Place and generous community donations for making this possible."

The Peachtree City Fire Department celebrated its successful past year with awards and the installation of the new slate of officers for the Volunteer Firefighter’s Association on January 27 at Glendalough Manor in Tyrone.

Members were honored by the presence of Mayor Harold Logsdon, City Manager Bernie McMullen, Councilwoman Judi-Ann Rutherford, Chief Stony Lohr, their spouses and former Mayor Bob Lenox who spoke to the more than 100 in attendance.

Cassandra Eldredge, a 5th grader at Peachtree City Elementary School, has been named the winner of the Augustin Clayton Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution 5th Grade Essay Contest for 2007.

In addition, her essay was forwarded on to the NW District of the Georgia Society DAR, and it was announced recently that her essay took top honors as well. Eldredge is now one of four finalists for the state, with the winner of the Georgia Society DAR to be announced in March at the state conference.

Peachtree City Elementary School Spelling Bee winner Anna Barfield with Dr. Kiawana Kennedy, principal. Photo/Special.

Rotary Interact is the high school level of Rotary International. The club encourages young people to participate in good fellowship while planning and executing community projects. Last year McIntosh Interact Club donated all the proceeds from their annual projects to help Katrina victims.

Education is taken seriously at Coweta-Fayette EMC. That’s why the company believes it is among their corporate responsibilities to support local students and the educational systems within their service area.

Gordon College is looking for alumni of its nursing program for a reunion planned for May.

“This is the first reunion that we have ever had for the graduates of the nursing program and we have a fun evening of socializing, getting reacquainted and memories planned,” said Lynn Yates, Gordon College coordinator of alumni affairs. “We have reached many alumni but need to reach many more. Some nurses have moved or changed their names and we are unable to reach them through our list of graduates. We want to reach as many of the nursing graduates as we can find.”

Bronwyn Johnson, a Rotary Youth Exchange student, spent a day at Counterpane School during a stopover in Atlanta recently. Johnson was ending her yearlong stay in Houston, Texas, and was in town for one night before returning to her home in Durban, South Africa. Counterpane students were eager to meet a teen from the other side of the world and find out what she was like.

Primrose School at Summit East, located at 160 Hwy. 92 South, celebrated their one year anniversary on Saturday, Jan. 20.

Franchisee owner Jerry Gross delivered an inspirational dedication address and Fayetteville Mayor Ken Steele spoke on partnering with private schools to improve educational delivery. Sheila Studdard, Fayette County Superior Court Clerk and PTA president, spoke about her Primrose experience and Clarice Howard with the Fayette County Board of Education spoke about the importance of Primrose being a part of the Fayetteville community.

• Air Force Airman Daniel J. Thaxton has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. During the six weeks of training, the airman studied the Air Force mission, organization, and military customs and courtesies; performed drill and ceremony marches, and received physical training, rifle marksmanship, field training exercises, and special training in human relations. In addition, airmen who complete basic training earn credits toward an associate degree through the Community College of the Air Force. He earned distinction as an honor graduate. Thaxton is the son of Walter Thaxton of Fayetteville, Ga. and a 2003 graduate of Fayette County High School, Fayetteville.

Pam-G gets ‘Vision and Mission Driven’

Born and raised in Fayetteville, Ga., Pam Glass, or Pam-G as many call her, is on a mission to improve the lives of those less fortunate.

Beautiful, talented and only 24, Glass has the passion and drive of someone who is called by a higher power to do for others what they can’t do for themselves. Her calling has lead her to found a Christian based production company, Get Vision and Mission Driven (VAMD) Productions, as a way to raise funds for the people God has placed on her heart.

Third grade students at Spring Hill Elementary collected approximately 200 new books during December to share with third grade students at Upson-Lee South Elementary School in Thomaston, Ga.

Girl Scout Troop #451 performs community service hours by picking up trash on the beach at Dog Island, near Carrabelle, Fla.

Before the holidays, students at both J.C. Booth Middle School and McIntosh High School enjoyed lively, informative and inspirational presentations from Space Shuttle Mission Commander Colonel Rick Searfoss, who was in Peachtree City visiting longtime family friends, Ron and Cele Eifert.

"Music Alive," a non-audition, mixed choral group, under the direction of Linda Hooper, recently announced an open call for new members for their upcoming 2007 performance season.

Dedication to his community and unselfish support of numerous efforts that make a difference for those who need assistance earned Allan Vigil of Allan Vigil Ford in Morrow, Ga. and Allan Vigil Ford of Fayetteville in Fayetteville, Ga. a nomination for Ford Motor Company’s 2007 Salute To Dealers award.

Plans are being finalized for McIntosh High School's first-ever Partners in Education Appreciation Breakfast, scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 8.

It’s Girl Scout cookie time! Perhaps a Girl Scout has already come to your door in January selling Thin Mints, Samoas, Tagalongs, or other favorites? If not, don’t worry. There will be another chance to buy cookies on March 4, 2007.

The Peachtree City Chapter of New Neighbors League Club (NNLC) recently announced their winter/spring officers. Pictured from left to right; past president France Chamberland; new president Dorte Rasmussen; first vice president Marilyn Carlson; second vice president Melodie Rauhof; and recording secretary Eileen Hampton.

On Jan. 13, members of the Fayette County Area Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. joined with the NAACP to march in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King's birthday.

Parents and expectant parents are invited to attend several informative classes offered by the new Maternity Center at Piedmont Fayette Hospital (PFH). Community members are invited to take part in the following classes:

Chitose Sasaki, chairperson of the Women’s Committee of the Japanese American Friendship Society, presented English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher Nancy Ricker with a $500 donation to be used for classroom teaching aids at a recent ceremony. Ricker teaches ESL at the Gazebo at the recreation center in Peachtree City.

Gwen Denham of Fayetteville, AARP 2936’s newest member, found that attending the chapter’s meeting on Jan. 16 was a good thing to do.

Imagine her surprise when she won the best door prize: roses developed exclusively for Rona’s Florist of Peachtree City. Rona’s donates the roses for each meeting’s give away.

The Metro Atlanta Alumnae chapters of Phi Mu Fraternity recently announced that they are organizing the first ever all-Atlanta Founders’ Day memorial and celebration on March 3.

• Michael Lethbridge, a sophomore in the A.J. Palumbo School of Business Administration, has been named to the fall 2006 dean's list at Duquesne University. The dean's list recognizes full-time students who have maintained at least a 3.5 grade point average on a 4.0 scale, with no grade lower than a C. Lethbridge is the son of Mark and Linda Lethbridge of Fayetteville, Ga. and a 2005 graduate of Our Lady of Mercy High School.

The Dapranos: Worth their weight in gold

Bill and Jeanne Daprano are not your average retired couple. The twosome, who moved into their home in Fayetteville, Georgia five years ago, are anything but average.

The Dapranos have each brought home over 100 gold medals in national and international competitions over the last 25 years, and there seems to be no end in sight for the two Master athletes. The pair have set American and World records and, what is quite possibly even more remarkable, is that they continue to compete at the top of the heap at each event in which they participate.

Winter may be in full swing, but area high schools are gearing up for spring with fund raisers of all shapes and sizes. Some of the events have been around for just a few years while one has been an annual event for over two decades!

Congressman John Linder, sponsor of HR 25 (The FairTax Act of 2007) was the guest speaker at a volunteer info and training meeting in Newnan recently.