[This column was published March 6, 2002.]

Continuing with C.J. Mowell, Jr.’s memories of the Fayette County’s mid-20th century fire service:

[This column was published July 3, 2006.]

Talk about deja vu all over again.

For the first time in many, many years we had dinner at Flat Creek Club in Peachtree City. We were there twice in the past month, actually.

I remember that when Flat Creek Golf Course was built, I worked for the local newspaper and was sent to cover the first tee-off. It was on Labor Day, 1968.

[This column was published July 23, 2008.]

With the reality of Pastor John Weber’s retirement finally sinking in, I know I have to seek my usual therapy of writing about it. No one could possibly deserve the rewards of his good life more than Weber.

[This column was published April 5, 2008.]

Less than a week ago, a couple of us were forming plans to “do” one more lunch together, as sister and brothers in a unique family. We’ve tried to do this annually, but this time we waited too long.

The following arrests were reported by local law enforcement agencies for the past week. All persons are considered innocent until proven guilty:

The bid by Charter Schools USA to establish a K-8 charter school in Senoia was defeated June 25 by a unanimous vote of the Coweta County School Board. Charter Schools has the option of presenting the petition to the Georgia Charter Schools Commission for consideration later this summer.

For East Coweta High School student Kristina Matheny, summer vacation has been far from average.

Instead of lounging by the pool or watching television, the 17-year-old – who recently returned from the 2009 Washington Youth Tour (WYT), a leadership program sponsored by the electric membership cooperatives (EMCs) of Georgia, including Coweta-Fayette EMC – visited Congressional leaders in our nation’s capitol.

It was as professional a photography exhibition as anything you would see in Buckhead, as the photographic and interviewing skills of 12 Palmetto youngsters were displayed at the Palmetto Community Center June 27 and 28. Their efforts culminated in “Our Lives, Our Land, Our Legacy,” an exhibition of the Palmetto Cultural Arts Project funded in part by the Fulton County Arts Council and the City of Palmetto.

Bryan M. Cavan of Newnan was sworn in as president of the 40,000-member State Bar of Georgia on June 20 during the organization’s annual meeting at Amelia Island, Fla. Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears of the Supreme Court of Georgia administered the oath of office.

Residents of Coweta and Fayette counties lost another local bank with the June 26 closing of Neighborhood Community Bank (NCB) by the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance (DBF). The Newnan-based bank operated two branches in Coweta County, along with branches in Peachtree City and Tyrone. NCB deposit accounts were transferred to CharterBank of West Point.

The Coweta County Commission last week gave unanimous approval to support proposed improvements to Newnan-Coweta Airport. The improvements are expected to be funded largely by federal dollars.

The Georgia State Board of Education has approved a revised charter for the Central Educational Center (CEC), a National Model High School, which will govern the charter school in its second decade of operations. The 10-year charter came with a unanimous vote at its June 11 meeting.

A Fayetteville man was arrested over the weekend for assaulting his girlfriend during a party in south Fayette County on May 23, sheriff’s officials said.

Peachtree City Councilmember Cyndi Plunkett this morning announced she will run for mayor of Peachtree City.

Plunkett, whose four-year term on council is expiring in December, will face off against fellow councilman Don Haddix and political newcomer Scott Rowland.

Built for 600, school will house programs for 40 specials needs students grades K-12

A just-built elementary school will have at least a few students this fall — about 40 children to populate the $10.65 million project.

Sany Corporation, which manufactures heavy construction equipment, is still working towards construction of its first assembly building in Peachtree City.

Peachtree City’s venerable July 4th parade will continue its tradition Saturday at 9 a.m., but with a special nod to the city’s 50th anniversary.

As such, the city’s former mayors have been invited to serve as co-grand marshals of the parade. Scheduled to lead the parade are former mayors Joel Cowan, Ralph Jones, Chip Conner, Howard Morgan’s widow Dolly, Herb Frady, Fred Brown Jr., Bob Lenox and Steve Brown.

“In three months we’ve gotten our membership up over 3,000. We’re absolutely not going away.”

That is the stance of Peachtree City Tea Party Patriots organizer Cindy Fallon who, along with a growing group of Fayette and Coweta residents, will be holding a July 4 event at the Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater in Peachtree City.

The Fayette County Board of Commissioners unanimously adopted its 2009-2010 budget last week.

The $78 million budget includes $46.5 million in the general fund, down $2 million from last year’s budget. The budget includes no vehicle replacements this year as one of the concessions to the challenging economic times, as sales tax receipts remain down significantly from last year.

While a former commissioner threatened to initiate proceedings to recall Fayette County Commissioner Robert Horgan, for the first time last week a resident took Horgan’s side during the public comment portion of the commission meeting.

If you live in Peachtree City, get ready to pay more to get your trash picked up, courtesy of the City Council and Keep Peachtree City Beautiful.

Residents of Peachtree City and Tyrone lost another local bank with the June 26 closing of Neighborhood Community Bank (NCB) by the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance (DBF). The Newnan-based bank also operated two branches in Coweta County. NCB deposit accounts were transferred to CharterBank of West Point.

The Fayette County Commission Thursday approved a rezoning last week that will allow a medical clinic to be built on four residential lots bordering Ga. Highway 54 near Old Norton Road.

Volunteer firefighter Les Dyer has announced he will run for a seat on the Peachtree City Council this November.

Dyer, a 20-year resident, will vie for the Post 4 seat currently occupied by Councilwoman Cyndi Plunkett. Plunkett previously has said she was considering a run for mayor but yesterday she declined to comment on her future plans.

A question about roof architecture will be discussed by the Fayette County Commission at its workshop meeting this afternoon at 3:30 p.m.

Two men were honored last week for their heroic efforts in saving three others whose boat capsized in Lake Horton April 29.

Derk Mueller and Mike Shaffan were congratulated for intervening after seeing three men struggle in the water after the boat overturned. While 911 was called by other witnesses, Mueller and Shaffan quickly responded to the area and assisted the victims.

A Fayetteville man faced multiple charges early Sunday morning after running a red light at Ga. Highway 85 and Jeff Davis Drive while talking on his cell phone.

Three McIntosh students recently organized a neighborhood garage sale that raised more than $1,000 to help a fellow student who was seriously injured in a golf cart crash in April. Hannah Herndon, Alex Kraft and Racheal Denny put together the event to help Jenna Evans, who has been hospitalized since her accident. Money can also be donated to “The Jenna Evans fund” at any Bank of Georgia branch. Photo/Special.

Peachtree City’s Ryan Housley has been named one of 30 community All-Stars by Major League Baseball and People Magazine.