Members of the McIntosh Brass Ensemble are shown performing the National Anthem and other patriotic music during the Veteran's Day Ceremonies at Peachtree City’s City Hall. Photo/Special.

Royal Learners in Tyrone is collecting various baby items for the Good Samaritans for Christmas. Parents are bringing in items such as diapers, baby food, juice, wipes, hangers and many other items that can be used to take care of the little ones.

Atlanta was host to the recently held annual Celebration of Wishes for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The black-tie gala celebrated the many wishes granted by the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Georgia and Alabama in 2006. Held at The Intercontinental Hotel, approximately 400 attendees filled the ballroom to experience a magical evening.

• Air Force 2nd Lt. Michael T. Handy has graduated from Undergraduate Pilot Training at Vance Air Force Base, Enid, Okla. The student completed 190 flying hours in either the T-37, T-38, or T-1A aircraft, 62 flight simulator hours, 342 academic hours, and 105 officer training hours, weather training for flight plans, and fundamentals of aircraft handling, instrumentation, formation, and night flying. At the end of training, the officer received an aeronautical rating of pilot in the Air Force, competent and qualified to perform the duties and responsibilities thereof. Handy's next assignment will be at Luke Air Force Base, Phoenix, Ariz. He will be flying the F-16 Aircraft. He is the son of Douglas and Deborah Handy of Peachtree City, Ga. The lieutenant graduated in the year 2000 from McIntosh High School, Peachtree City, and received a bachelor's degree in 2004 from the University of Georgia, Athens.

The Fayetteville First United Methodist Church is once again sponsoring a Christmas Tour of Homes this Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 2 and 3. The homes will be open from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Tickets are $15 and the proceeds will go the church's transportation fund.

Atlanta author Mary Louise Floyd will visit the Fayette County Public Library Nov. 29 at 7 p.m. to talk about her book, “Retired With Husband: Superwoman’s New Challenge.” The book speaks particularly to couples from the first wave of the Baby Boom generation, who are now entering-or thinking about entering-retirement. However, anyone from the Baby Boom on down can find food for thought in Floyd’s approach. She identifies challenges, lays out strategies, and uses the multiple-intelligences paradigm, role-playing, humor and other means to motivate both husband and wife to plan on making the most of their life as a retired couple.

The Fayette Family YMCA is proud to announce Andre DeLorenzo as its 2006 volunteer of the year. DeLorenzo was honored at the Nov. 9 annual volunteer recognition dinner at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta.

DeLorenzo is a board member and serves as chairman of the Y’s Family Festival of the Arts. He spends time creating event and promotional materials for the Y. His volunteer service helps to expand the Y’s programs throughout the Fayette community.

John Thomas Piribek, a resident of Peachtree City and a 2006 graduate of McIntosh High School, was awarded Scouting’s highest award of Eagle Scout. The ceremony was held earlier this year at Peachtree City United Methodist Church.

Participating in the ceremony were Reverend Chuck Hodges, Reverend Tom Roan, former Scoutmasters Ty Shepherd, Chip Beard, Assistant Scoutmaster Dave Niebes, and members of Troop 309.

Kelsey Clark, an 11 year old fifth grade student at Peeples Elementary, was in second grade at Peeples when her teacher, Paula Cheeks, passed away from cancer. Clark decided to grow her hair in memory of Mrs. Cheeksand this spring will mark the third anniversary of her she passing. Recently Clark had her hair cut at Peeples in front of a portrait of her teacher to donate to Locks of Love. Photo/Special.

The Huddleston Elementary chorus perfored on Friday, Nov. 10 at the annual Veteran's Day program. The chorus is under the direction of Allison Adams. Photo/Special.

Teachers across Fayette County were surprised with gift baskets, balloons and Bright Idea checks ranging from $357 to $1,500 in late October when representatives from Coweta-Fayette EMC and Operation Round Up showed up at schools to announce this year’s winners. The Trust Board awarded $22,849.78 in Bright Idea grants to 20 deserving classrooms throughout the EMC’s service area leaving excited teachers at every school they visited.

Health science students from McIntosh High School in Peachtree City, Ga. got a first hand look at how college chemistry can be fun via an exploding Cheeto during a recent visit to Gordon College in Barnesville, Ga.

Peachtree City native Jessica Merrick was recently nominated to Florida State University’s 2006 Homecoming Court. Merrick is one of six individuals to be appointed to the court as Homecoming Princess. Merrick was selected by a panel of her peers and other members of the FSU community on Sept. 29. Candidates had to meet university requirements including amount of course hours earned and grades. School spirit, leadership, academic excellence and service to the community were also taken into consideration.

The Peachtree City Chapter of New Neighbors League Club (NNLC) awarded Louise Noyes-Trantino with the New Neighbor of the Month award for November. Noyes-Trantino originally hails from Wisconsin, but moved here from California in 2004 with her husband, John. As a self-proclaimed “culture vulture,” she quickly had NNLC going to the theatre, ballet, concert and even the opera. She served as president from Nov. 2005 to May 2006 and is currently serving as the NNLC tour guide.

Mayor Harold Logsdon has signed a proclamation for the month of November urging all citizens to observe National American Indian Heritage Month with appropriate programs, ceremonies and activities. Fayette-Starr's Mill Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, is sponsoring this observance and has placed a display at the Tyrone Public Library. They have placed a copy of the proclamation at the Peachtree City Library. Mayor Logsdon is shown with the chapter commemorative events chairman Judy Hughes when he presented the proclamation on behalf of the City Council. Photo/Special.

Midshipman John Brookes and Midshipman Ryan Stille are currently serving as the Battalion Commander and Battalion Executive Officer for the Georgia Institute of Technology’s Naval Reserve Officer Training Command. As the two highest ranking midshipmen in the battalion, Brookes and Stille are responsible for overseeing the day to day operations of the battalion and the training of incoming freshmen. Furthermore, they are the public face of the 100-strong midshipman battalion.

Falcon Aviation Services, Inc., has added three new members to its staff of aviation professionals. Lidden Pate has joined the Falcon management team as Chief Financial Officer (CFO), while Ray Sluk has joined the company as Director of Business Development and Andrea Van Buren has joined Falcon Aviation as Operations Manager.

Eighteen students from nine states and one foreign country have embarked on a journey called IMPACT 360 that not only will prepare them for college, but also will equip them to develop a biblical worldview that could change their life and the lives of those around them.

Georgia Southern University student Matt Garrett, of Fayetteville, was selected as a resident assistant (RA) for the 2006-07 academic year.

Fayetteville native, Todd H. Cox recently joined the law firm of Capell & Howard, P.C. as an associate in its Montgomery, Ala.

• Air Force Airman Joshua B. Dailey 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. Dailey is the son of Clark and Selina Dailey of Fayetteville, Ga. The airman is a 2006 graduate of Fayette County High School, Fayetteville.

Sugar Plum Faries and Nutcracker Princes abound

Thanksgiving is upon us and with it comes the beginning of the holiday season and all the season brings with it. Shopping, decorating, family gatherings, party giving and party going fill our days and evenings from this week until the beginning of January. These are the things that pull us into the holiday spirit, but they can also deplete our energy and test our ability to maintain the holiday cheer.

The Fayette County 4-H Shotgun Club hosted a Step Outside® event Oct. 14 for over 100 individuals to introduce them to shotgun use and trapshooting. Step Outside is a program of the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) who provided funds to the Amateur Trapshooting Association (ATA).

When Sheri Waynick was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer in March of 2000 she was given a slim survival rate after five years.  Well five years have come and gone and Waynick is alive and kicking!  That is she’s kicking open the doors to a brand new clothing store for young women; Lizard Thicket, and re-opening the door to a career in retail that seems to be in her blood. 

With 52 sponsors, 170 shooters and 15 volunteers, The Joseph Sams School Sporting Clay Tournament hosts, Wayne Bylsma, Allen Harp, and Brent Scarbrough, gathered in Gay, Ga, on Oct. 13 for a morning of shooting sporting clays for a cause. The shoot lasted about three hours and raised more than $50,000 for The Joseph Sams School.

Students representing McIntosh High School competed successfully in the 34th annual Declamation Contest at Clemson University on Oct. 28.

Delta Clipped Wings helped make a 'Dream Come True' for Bryson Amos of College Park, Ga., on Oct. 23. His dream was to go to Best Buy in Fayetteville and shop for a camcorder and computer.

The Fayette Humane Society received a $10,000 grant recently to help with the pet overpopulation problem in the Fayetteville, Ga. area.

This year’s Main Street commemorative ornament is the city’s gazebo known as Jack Day Park located at Stonewall Village. In the background of the ornament is the city’s mural painted by local artists Patsy and Ed Gullett of Gullett Designs.

The Colorful Arts Society’s annual fundraiser gala was held on Sunday, Oct.15, at the Atlanta City Hall Atrium. The event featured jazz trumpeter, Gregorie “Milkshake” Mayfield and The Milkshake Quintet.