Piedmont Newnan Hospital’s Women’s Services recently received a generous donation of handmade isolette covers from Fayetteville-based Girl Scout Troop 19157, Service Unit 618.  These special girls worked after school on several occasions to create 6 quilts and earn their sewing patch.  The quilts will be placed on top of the isolettes to maintain a more quiet and soothing environment for the nursery’s newborn babies.

Joseph H. Trimbach was Special Agent in Charge of the Minneapolis Division of the FBI in 1973, the same year that the American Indian Movement took over the Wounded Knee village on the Pine Ridge Reservation. Six years ago, one of Trimbach’s granddaughters sent him an e-mail and said that in a course she was taking there was a history book discussing Wounded Knee and saying horrible things about him. Trimbach knew that she was reading something that was critical of the FBI and the U.S. government, he had read those books and seen those documentaries as well.

The 2009 Miss Pride winners were: Hannah Gage, Miss Pride; Lindsey Ellen Needham, Jr. Miss Pride; Cymbre Davis, Young Miss Pride; Elizabeth Rose Skibiel, Little Miss Pride; Katherine Perello, Tiny Miss Pride; Houston William Hancock, Tiny Mister Pride. Dr. Scott McPherson presented a $1,000 scholarship to the 2009 Miss Pride winner Hannah Gage. Photo/Photography by Aven.

A local Lexus dealership, along with the Lexus Pursuit of Potential foundation is sponsoring the 2nd Annual, Scholarships for the Stars Performing Arts Competition. The competition is available to all Fayette County residents who are currently a senior in high school and planning to major in music in college. $25,000 in scholarships will be awarded to 6 of the 10 finalists with two grand prize winners taking home $5,000 scholarships.

State Rep. Virgil Fludd announces the fourth annual Fludd Scholarship program. This award is given each year to selected students who have performed well both in the classroom and the community. Since 2006, eight students have won this prestigious award and have been able to continue their educational goals. The winners in 2008 were Tiara Burton, Julea Eppinger, Crissinda Ponder and Victor Shivers, Jr. Each of these outstanding students received a cash contribution toward their college education.

Young sleuths are learning the ins and outs of forensic science with the help of a seasoned pro from the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department.

The Ideal Dress is an outreach that Alicia Carithers started through her Senior Bible class at Landmark Christian School. Carithers’ Senior Bible Project was inspired by an existing organization that serves teenage girls in the community. The outreach is for girls who are unable to purchase a dress for prom because of financial reasons. Carithers has been collecting dresses and accessories like shoes, jewelry, and purses. The Ideal Dress is located an unused Landmark classroom, which was renovated to serve as a dress shop boutique.

• The following students made the Dean’s list for the fall term at Furman University: Fayetteville - Sarah C. Anderson, Erin N. Hickmon, Chisom J. Onyeuku, Charlotte E. Stell, Melissa K. Troyer. Peachtree City - Karim Kajani.

Georgia Academy of Dance & the Performing Arts is the premier performing arts school within our local community offering performing arts education with top professional instructors from around the nation.  Joining their staff of performing arts professionals is Dr. Franklin Green, a Pi Kappa Lambda with a major in choral conducting, minor in vocal performance.       In addition to his doctorate of the University of Georgia, Dr. Green obtained his masters from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, majoring in music history and vocal concentration, and his bachelors from the University of Georgia, majoring in music education and vocal concentration and receiving magna cum laude honors.  Throughout his career, Dr. Green has served as a church musician, public school choral director, and college professor around the southeast.  He also served on the voice faculty for Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville.  For over ten years, his choirs have been nationally recognized, singing for state, regional, and national conventions for choral directors.

Fayette Senior Services has been awarded a $9,845.00 grant from Meals On Wheels Association of America (MOWAA) and the Wal-Mart Foundation to support our local Meals On Wheels program in doing what we do best…feed seniors. 

In today’s economy, even people who have never before clipped and used coupons are looking for ways to save money or get more bang for their buck. To help people learn how to recession-proof their household budget, Fayette Senior Services (www.fayss.org) will host “Extreme Couponing 101” taught by the popular “Frugal Blogger,” Jenny Martin from Columbia, S.C. (www.SouthernSavers.com).

The American Cancer Society of Fayette County and the Relay for Life Organizing Committee are searching for local cancer survivors who would like to participate in the 2009 Relay For Life of Fayette County and the annual pre-event Survivor Dinner. 

A total of six students at Fayette County High took the National German Exam earlier this year. Two of them posted extremely high scores, earning them a chance to compete for an all expenses paid trip to Germany.

Ribbon cutting ceremonies were held recently at Salon DiCapelli in Kedron Village Shopping Center in Peachtree City. Mary Anne Erwin, owner, celebrated the event with her coworkers, family, customers and friends. Pictured, from left, are stylists Michelle Wormuth, Kay McCann, Mary Anne, Laura Trigg, Sophia Garrett, and Andrea Daniel. The salon welcomes new clients with 30% off a first haircut. Photo/Joyce Beverly

A Peachtree City resident is the winner of the local level American Legion High School oratorical scholarship contest.

Molly Munson was the winner of the American Legion Post 50 contest held at The Commemorative Air Force facility at Falcon Field in Peachtree City.

Sharon Herbert is the new president for Fayette County’s Human Services Council and Elizabeth Hiatt is the vice president. Herbert is the Community Relations Specialist for Fayette County’s DFCS and Hiatt represents Advo-Kids CASA, Fayette division. The remaining officers are Janet Granski, representing Fayette Youth Protection Homes and Teri Demarco of Rest Easy Home Health Services.

• Katherine Burke of Bennett’s Mill Middle School has been honored for her exemplary volunteer service with a President’s Volunteer Service Award.

“We survived and so will you,” was the statement echoed by seven ladies, called the Holy Folders, who told their stories about living through the Great Depression to fifth graders at Kedron Elementary.

Maynard Griggs Brown was feted at her 100th birthday party by several hundred of her closest family, students, and friends.

A native Fayette Countian, she was born Feb. 7, 1909 in the Shakerag portion of what is now Peachtree City. She was graduated from Fayette County High School in 1929.

The Fayette Youth Protection Homes celebrated its 20th anniversary by saluting founder Jim Friday at its recent banquet.

Fayetteville, February 10, 2009—James Haymans, president Fayette County Retired Educators Association (FCREA) presented Ed Steil, Director of LaFayette Education Center with the 2009 Outstanding Educator award, during FCREA’s regular monthly meeting February 5, 2009. This award, presented on behalf of the Georgia Retired Educators Association (GREA) recognized Steil for exceptional service to the education profession.

Michael Kattness, formerly from Peachtree City, Georgia, has been in Seattle at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center since October having treatment for his cancer. Michael has multiple myeloma (cancer of the bone marrow). His family wanted to give a status for all of the people in Fayette County who have reached out in gifts of donations, both in money and time served for the family.

Kemp's Dalton West Flooring of Newnan, Peachtree City and Kemp's Carpets in LaGrange has been awarded the 2008 Southeast Region, Dealer of the Year Award by Mohawk Industries, the world’s largest flooring manufacturer. It was due largely to their major contributions in the flooring industry.

Two High Noon Toastmasters members recently earned educational awards.  Alan Reyes, left, earned the Advanced Communicator Bronze designation and Terrance Lawrence, right, completed the requirements for Competent Communicator.   Club Vice President Education Venita Mitchell, center, presented their certificates. Toastmasters International is the world’s largest educational organization offering communication and leadership training. Toastmasters clubs allow members to learn by watching and improve by repeating. Open to the public, the High Noon Club meets at Noon on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month at the LaFayette Educational Center, Building D, 205 LaFayette Avenue, Fayetteville, GA.  For additional information, visit their website, www.highnoonfayetteville.org.

Katherine Burke, of Bennett’s Mill Middle School has been honored for her exemplary volunteer service with a President’s Volunteer Service Award.

Local man finds his bride on a cruise ship

Editor’s note: The Citizen asked readers to submit their tales of falling in love and finding their soul mate. This was one of the best submissions. The following is Dave Pack’s story.

My best friend and I considered ourselves very eligible bachelors when we booked a week long cruise in January 2000. The ship we chose was the newest, largest cruise ship afloat, the Voyager of the Seas. On departure day, we sailed out of Miami toward points south. We soon discovered the ship’s 24-hour bakery/pizza parlor. It was tended overnight by the tallest Asian girl I’d ever seen. Her figure was concealed by a white apron, but perched smartly on her head was a white food service hat. Her name was Samantha and she was lovely.

For many students, the challenges of a new school marking period can be overwhelming.  And it is often reflected in the first report card.  If you are unhappy with your child’s report card, Larry Sussberg, Executive Director with the Huntington Learning Center of Fayette/Coweta, offers helpful advice and tips.

Until recently almost all of the work at the Newnan-based etreasure Publishing Co. has been done by its founder and owner, Vickie Kennedy, who is also an award-winning author and the leader of the Writers Block writing workshop. At first the company only published nearby authors. When it went national (and international) a few years ago the number of books published began to climb until finally Kennedy could no longer do it herself. For this reason she has hired an editor to assist her.

From 29 contenders to three finalists, the journey to find Fayette’s 2009 Teacher of the Year has begun.

Three unsuspecting teachers were surprised on February 6 as the Teacher of the Year prize patrol made its way around the county announcing this year’s finalists: Pamela Kinzly, Whitewater High; Dr. Carol Taylor, Rising Starr Middle and Dr. Lisa Gonzalez, Robert J. Burch Elementary.

The PALS (Peers are Linking Students) program at Starr’s Mill High was just one of the potential resources available for families of children with special needs to learn about at the annual Building Alliances Transition Fair sponsored by Exceptional OPS and the school system’s Exceptional Children’s Department.