The founding member of the current music education program in the Fayette County School System will be retiring this year with 40 years of dedicated service to the community.

The fourth grade team from Peeples Elementary won the sixth annual Fayette County Elementary Math Tournament held on May 1st.

Fayette County High School student Tapan Shah has been chosen to participate in Georgia’s 41st annual Washington Youth Tour, an all-expense paid leadership experience sponsored by the electric membership corporations in Georgia, including Coweta-Fayette EMC.

The fourth grade Math Bowl Team from Crabapple Lane Elementary took home a second place trophy for their accomplishment in the annual Fayette County Math Bowl competition on May 1.

Three local high school students recently participated in LaGrange College’s Scholar Weekend competition and earned thousands of dollars in scholarship awards.

Phoenix Star Limousine Company and the Sandy Creek High School Jr.

Girl Scout Troop 102 recently delivered over 40 bags of dog and cat food, cat litter, dog toys and treats to the Fayette County Humane Society.

Teressa Ross, an eighth-grader at Whitewater Middle School, competed in this year's Miss Fayette County Georgia Girl pageant which was held in March.

The American Cancer Society recently announced that Cathy Gailey and Dr. Anita Johnson of Fayetteville have been selected as ambassadors to the Society’s Celebration on the Hill. Ambassadors will journey to Washington, D.C. to participate in the American Cancer Society’s Celebration on the Hill 2006 September 19 - 20.  

Former McIntosh High School graduates, Laurie Kleckner and Shannon McDuffie Durre, received their doctorate of pharmacology degrees from Mercer University on Saturday, May 6.

Girl Scout Troops 30, 295, 302 and 279 gathered together to complete bridging requirements recently. They spent an afternoon learning the fine art of balloon twisting.

Fayetteville residents Sheena Roberson, Tyrone resident Matthew Harbin and Sharpsburg resident Ryan McMichael, exemplary students and community members, have been named the newest recipients of Chick-fil-A’s Leadership Scholarship, a national program that has awarded more than 21,000 individual scholarships to support restaurant employees seeking higher education.

Twilight Theatre Troupe will embark on the second weekend of its production of “Annie” on May 26 and 27.

Based on the book by Thomas Meehan, the popular musical follows the spunky red-headed Depression-era orphan named Annie (played by India Scandrick) as she tenaciously tries to find her parents who abandoned her on the doorstep of a New York City Orphanage. The embittered Miss Hannigan (Beth Nicholson) who runs the dismal orphanage hatches a plan with her brother (Hugh Barret) and his girlfriend du jour (Alison Chambers), but thanks to Annie’s tenacious optimism, the good fortune of attracting the attention of Daddy Warbucks (Rick Massengale), and the intervention of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (Andy Chambers), the evil plot is foiled and goodness reigns.

East Fayette student Divad Miles has been accepted to the 2006 Summer Institute for the Gifted (SIG) that will be held at Emory University June 25-July 15. SIG provides academically advanced students with an exciting and challenging educational experience, combining academic courses with cultural, social and recreational opportunities. Students must demonstrate high academic ability and/or achievement to be considered for the program. In addition to being selected to participate in SIG, Miles had also been accepted into the National Honor Society for the Gifted and Talented. Her acceptance into the society makes her among the most highly able students in the nation.

Air Force Airman Brittnie S. Brazile 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.

Army Private Stephen Brett Hunter graduated from basic military training at Ft. Leonard Wood, St. Roberts, Missouri.

Stephanie Brooke Smith, a Dartmouth College student in the class of 2008 from Fayetteville, Ga., is studying Italian in Rome during the Spring 2006 term as part of the College's Language Study Abroad Program. Smith is the daughter of Stephen B. Smith and Nancy Y. Smith.

Army National Guard 2nd Lt. Christopher S. Wilkes has graduated from the Infantry Officer Basic Course at Fort Benning, Columbus, Ga.

Air Force Airman Adam L. Wallace has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.

Army National Guard Pfc. Patrick Moore has graduated from basic combat military training at Fort Sill, Lawton, Okla.

During the eight weeks of training the soldier studied the Army mission and received instruction in drill and ceremonies, rifle marksmanship, weapons, map reading, tactics, armed and unarmed combat, military courtesy, military justice, physical fitness, first aid, Army history, core values and traditions, and special training in human relations.

Army Reserve Pfc. James R. Hunt 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 Airman 1st Class Larry B. Kearns Jr. has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.

Patrick Super was inducted into Beta Beta Beta National Honor Society at Auburn University recently. Super is a 2005 graduate of Our Lady of Mercy Catholic High School in Fairburn, Ga.

Submitted by Carolyn McDermott

Eunice Weber should be recognized as “Mother of the Year” because she is a remarkable woman. She grew up picking cotton on her family’s farm and, at age 18, joined the Navy in hopes of escaping such a life. She met her husband while stationed in Florida, and they have been married for 42 years! When her husband lost his job due to the closing of Eastern Airlines, she straightened her shoulders and got a job as a cashier at a local grocery store. Never too proud, she worked the night shift so that her family could have health insurance. She is a hard-working woman who fiercely protects her family, never allowing obstacles to get in her way.

Submitted by Angel Washington

The question, “Why should my mom be mother of the year?” is one of the easiest questions I could ever answer. Besides the fact that she is a mother to her own kids, she is also a mother to the world. Originially my mom was the mother of five kids, but something inside of her felt the need to help kids that were not just her own. For over 20 years my mom has done foster care. Taking different kids in on a regular basis isn’t easy for most, but for my mom it was “just another thing I can do to make children’s lives more at ease.” Still feeling like her job with kids wasn’t done, my mom adopted four kids. For me, the adoption wouldn’t be the word of choice, but more like re-birth because that’s what it feels like. My mom even mothered to those who were grown and beyond her age.

Submitted by Anokhee Jandhyala

My mom is the best person in the whole world. I am 10 years old and I have a little brother who is 8 years old. We both love our mom very much, actually the most of all. Even my Dad loves her most of all. All three of us believe that she is the kindest, sweetest and the most beautiful person ever, and we know that there is nobody better than her.

Five month old Morgan Lynn Mitchell, who was born December 1, 2005, is seen surrounded by four generations of women including her great, great grandmother Nora Dee Wakefield Clark (seated), great grandmother Marjorie Helen Clark Carr, grandmother Karen Lynn Carr Siebert and held by her mother, Cassie Ann Helen Siebert Mitchell.

Clayton State University student Adam Antell is one of two winners of the first Ogden-Daily First Amendment Essay Contest.

The Community Foundation for Fayette County announced the recipients of its 2006 Competitive Grant Program at its April annual meeting. The Foundation awarded $28,000 from its grant fund to nonprofits serving Fayette County.

The Peachtree City Parks and Recreation Department will hold the 6th annual Touch-A-Truck Health and Wellness Fair on May 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Both events will be held at Shakerag Knoll, at 191 McIntosh Trail in Peachtree City.