Mercer University presented Nicole F. Nather of Fayetteville, Ga., with the Louie D. Newton Award for General Excellence during commencement on May 13 in the University Center.

Roger Menta is a Georgia Rotary Student Program (GRSP) scholarship recipient from Brazil, sponsored by the Peachtree City Rotary Club.

• Air Force Cadet Jonathan G. Ferro has earned honors with placement on the commandant’s and dean’s lists at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo. The merit lists recognize cadets for achieving outstanding military performance and academic excellence by maintaining a 3.0 or better military performance grade and grade point average for a semester, respectively.

Army National Guard Pvt. Jimmy Terrell 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.

Air Force Reserve Airman 1st Class Ashley T. Hanshaw has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.

It was the summer of 2002 when a group of young men decided that, while volunteering for Habitat For Humanity took them to interesting places, they saw many needs in Fayette County, where they lived. Charity, they decided,

On July 7, 8, 14, and 15 Pyke and Associates, P.C. and The Twilight Theatre will present “A Few Good Men” at the Frederick Brown, Jr. Amphitheater in Peachtree City. Having found a few greatly talented folks to fill the various roles in the show, the group now looks to the community for help.

The Starr's Mill High School Choral Boosters presented two graduating seniors from SMHS with scholarships totaling $4,400 at their recent Spring Concert. These scholarships will be used to help the students continue their study of music in college.

The 2006 Miss Pride of Fayette County Queens welcome guests to the kick off party for the summer reading program at the Fayetteville library.

Students from Peeples Elementary School held a food drive to help their community.

Rachel Mittelman and Jeanette Smith of Girl Scout Troop 288 planned, organized and taught Camp Little Einsteins, as their Girl Scout Gold Award Project, a day camp for boys and girls in grades 2-5.

You’ve probably heard about the aerobic and strength training workout just for women that’s taken the exercise world by storm- Curves International. Curves provides women a place to work out in a community of women who are seeking the same thing- good health.

U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) recently announced that two local students whom he had nominated to the United States military academies have now received appointments to the prestigious schools and U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) announced that four local students he had nominated received appointments.

The Fayette-Starr's Mill Chapter of the DAR observed Memorial Day with the Veterans Chairman, Elsie Wendland, placing flags and flowers on two Revolutionary soldiers’ graves in Peachtree City.

If you walk into the lobby of Landmark Christian School on any given day, you will immediately sense that the Visual Arts at Landmark are thriving. Beautiful and varied displays of art are continuously updated, as current student work is showcased throughout the lobby and main hallways of the school. There is a lot of excitement at Landmark in all areas of Fine Arts, and the Visual Art Department is a strong contributor to that excitement.

Ladies of the Augustin Clayton Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution traveled to the National Cemetery in Marietta, Ga., on Memorial Day to lay a wreath in honor of those men and women who have fallen while serving our country.

Two new instructors will be joining The Fayette Art Center and Gallery this fall.

Beginning in September, Katherine Irwin Thomas will be teaching Irish Fiddle. She will be holding classes on the third Saturday of each month. The advanced beginners class, in which students must be capable of learning by ear in a group environment, will begin at 9 a.m. and a class for advanced players will be held at 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. Thomas has a bachelor of music education degree, a master’s education degree and an Irish traditional music teaching certificate from Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann in Dublin. She is also the founder and leader of the Atlanta Junior Ceili Band (AJCB ) which is composed of youth from the Metro-Atlanta area. The cost is $175 for the semester plus a $15 registration fee. You may contact her directly at irwinthomas@hotmail.com to register or call (770) 461-4494.

Cornell University is pleased to announce that the following students were presented for graduation with the Class of 20

Fayette resident Carol Lunsford took the oath of office for the Area X Directorship of the Georgia Retired Educators Association at the 2006 annual GREA convetion in Augusta on May 4.

Amberleigh Kirk of Peachtree City has been tapped for membership in the Samford University chapter of Omicron Delta Kappa, the national honor society that recognizes "leaders among leaders" on college campuses.

William Edward Secor of Peachtree City has been named to the dean's list at Piedmont College after completing the recent spring semester with a grade-point average between 3.5 and 3.99 out of a possible 4.0.

The following students have been named to the president’s list at Georgia Military College during the Spring 2006 quarter: Lyneeca K. Lindsey, Natalia Martinez-Ware, Renee’ Irma Burton, Timothy G. Turner, David George Zoltun, Pricilla Catherine Roberts, Susan L. Diehl, Lupe Martinez, and Eric R. Hopkins. Each person earned distinctions while maintaining a 3.80 average during the Spring quarter at GMC. The following students have been named to the dean’s list at Georgia Military College during the Spring 2006 quarter: Holly Ann Smith, Christopher Lawson Butler, Barbara Jean Cooper, Mary K. Franklin, Brooke A. Holt, Christopher R. Page, Donald L. Williams, Kyle Andrew Gray, and Stephanie Ann Boles-Cosby. These individuals maintained a 3.30 and above grade point average.

Jason Field of Fayetteville was recently named to the dean’s list for the 2005-06 academic year at the College of Charleston.

Members of the Button Gwinnett Society traveled to Washington, D.C. for the Children of the American Revolution's 2006 National Convention.

When Mallory Hope Ferrell was a child, his parents bought him a toy train set, sparking his interest in locomotives. Fifty years later, this interest has yet to fade.

Ferrell, a retired Air Force Lt. Col. who lives in Peachtree City, recently saw the release of his latest book, “Narrow Gauge Country 1870-1970,” by Heimburger House Publishing Company. The book, his 18th, is a pictorial coffee table book about narrow gauge railroads - railroads with widths of 3 ft. as opposed to the regular 4 ft.

The Real Estate Wealth Expo was held at The Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta recently. The Learning Annex Real Estate Wealth Expo was a two day event featuring keynote speakers Donald Trump, “Rich Dad” Robert Kiyosaki, Tony Robbins, George Foreman and Robert Shemin. With hundreds of exhibitors and 72 seminars, the Real Estate Wealth Expo is a place to get started and excel in real estate investing.

Family Fun Day at The Avenue on Saturday June 3 was a smashing success. Face painting, cotton candy, cookies, clown and a bouncing inflatable made for fun for all the children and their parents who stopped by. All donations received will go to the work of the American Cancer Society. Photo/Special.

Fayetteville residents Linda Robinson and Bob McSwiggan recently competed in two regional dance competitions. In April they competed in the Applause National Talent Presentations held in the Gwinnett Civic Center and the Dance Educators of America Competition in Palmetto.

The duo performed the comic two-bum piece “A Couple of Swells,” the dance made famous by Fred Astaire and Judy Garland in Irving Berlin’s movie “Easter Parade.”

Local resident Carol Lunsford is welcomed to the Governing Board of the Georgia Retired Educators Association (GREA) by Charlie Roberts, lobbyist of
GREA. Lunsford serves is the AREA X Director of GREA which includes the counties of Butts, Clayton, Coweta, Carroll, Fayette, Heard, Henry, and Spalding. Photo/Special.

Stella Parton, sister of Dolly Parton, was in Fayetteville to perform a free concert at the home of Johnny Cochran with donations given to Promise Place, the Fayette County Council on Domestic Violence. Over $4,000 was raised to help women and children who are victims of abuse. Pictured (L-R): Heidi Becker, Johhny Cochran, Stella Parton, and Promise Place Executive Director Sonja Strickland. Photo/Special.