Busted for pot, Horgan hangs tough as contentious meeting looms

Editorial column: Talking pot, blowing smoke behind closed commission doors (CLICK HERE)

So far no one has filed an ethics complaint against Fayette County Commissioner Robert Horgan following his May 23 arrest for misdemeanor possession of marijuana and driving with an expired tag.

The Fayette County NAACP, however, is urging citizens to attend Thursday’s county commission meeting to express their views on the matter. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at the county’s Stonewall government complex in downtown Fayetteville.

Tax assessor says nearly 2,800 parcels went up in assessed value over last year

So — did your home increase or decrease in assessed value over the past 12 months of the worst housing deflation since the Great Depression?

Average sale down $40,000 in 1 year

There is a lot of conversation today about home sales and values in Fayette County. Included below is a home-sales comparison for comparable periods of 2007, 2008 and 2009 and a comparison of the total sales for 2007 and 2008.

Perhaps the third time will be the charm.

The Fayette County Commission is expected to vote again Thursday on the latest proposed alignment for the second phase of the West Fayetteville Bypass. The commission punted a decision for a second time at its May 28 meeting, citing incomplete information about one of the homes that must be purchased or condemned under the latest road alignment.

Fayette County schools are on the list of nationally recognized schools again. Published June 8 in Newsweek magazine, Starr’s Mill and McIntosh high schools were recognized as being in the top 1,500 U.S. high schools in terms of graduating seniors taking Advanced Placement and other tests. Starr’s Mill was ranked 978 and McIntosh was ranked 1,329.

Peachtree City residents may get a $40 a year tax increase if the 2009-2010 budget is approved as recommended by City Manager Bernie McMullen.

For a growing group of Peachtree City residents, a lot has happened since the April 15 tea party held at City Hall.

Event organizer Cindy Fallon and others last month formed the non-profit Peachtree City Tea Party Patriots that last week had a mailing list that included nearly 1,300 names. The group will hold their next event July 4 at the Fredrick Brown Amphitheater.

The Fayetteville City Council gave its approval last week to a 100 percent federally-funded sidewalk project for the section of Lee Street from Stonewall Avenue to Williamsburg Way.

The Fayetteville Police Department June 2 held the graduation for its third annual Citizens Police Academy. The academy was hosted in an effort to increase the community involvement with the department and offer insight into the services provided.

Over $40,000 in utility costs was saved last year by using a four-day summer workweek. Because of its success, the school system is implementing the four-day schedule again to help save money for what is shaping up to be another tight budget year.

The June 13 meeting of the Fayette NAACP Branch will feature a presentation by psychologist Dr. Susan H. May on “Ways to Improve Operations and Emotional Intelligence.” May is a clinical psychologist and is the founder and director of Journey’s Way Consulting services in Riverdale.

$265,000 grant aims to improve student interest and achievement in math & science
 
Atlanta, Georgia, June 4, 2009 – The Archdiocese of Atlanta was selected as one of 25 school systems in the United States to receive a highly competitive 2009 HP Innovations in Education grant. Targeted at school systems serving students in grades 6 through 12, the grant program is designed to help educators address the need for raising student achievement in math and science and increase student awareness in high-tech college and career opportunities.

In light of its reduced operating hours that began in January with budget cuts, the Peachtree City Library is currently conducting a survey on its operating hours.

DOT: 54W rush hour improves 50%

Motorists on Ga. Highway 54 between Willowbend Road and MacDuff Parkway may have noticed improved traffic flow on the corridor recently.

A parked car somehow caught on fire just before 2 p.m. at the Checkers restaurant in downtown Fayetteville.

Superior Court Judge Christopher Edwards, a Fayette resident, has been nominated to fill a looming vacancy on the Supreme Court of Georgia.

Edwards, with 10 years on the bench and previous time as a prosecutor and in private practice, was nominated by Chief Judge and fellow jurist Paschall A. English Jr.

In a letter to Gov. Sonny Perdue, English lauds Edwards for being “a man of great integrity.”

Peachtree City’s recreation programs have a unique financial structure that allows them to earmark money specifically toward improvements at each program’s location.

Mention the Fourth of July around Fayette County and two things come to mind: Peachtree City’s annual parade and, of course, fireworks.

Peachtree City is known for its amazing fireworks display, but some people still like to shoot their own fireworks at home. While they may be fun to watch, fireworks handled incorrectly can have deadly consequences, fire officials warn.

The following arrests were made by Tyrone Police from May 27 through June 2. Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

A local group of volunteers is helping to Keep Peachtree City Beautiful by picking up litter along the city’s paths.  The Fayette office of Hands For Hire, Inc., a training service for adults with developmental disabilities, contacted Al Yougel of KPTCB recently for possible projects for local clients. 

Peachtree City Mayor, Harold Logsdon, has identified the Dragon Boat Races and International Festival as the “signature event” for celebrating Peachtree City’s historic 50 year anniversary. Mark your calendars for the 3rd annual Dragon Boat Races and International Festival, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Peachtree City, to be held at Drake Field on Lake Peachtree in Peachtree City, Saturday, September 26th from 9 AM to 4 PM.  Drake Field is off Willowbend Road, east of the library on Lake Peachtree in the heart of Peachtree City.  Dragon boat racing is one of the world’s fastest growing sports, according to, USA Dragon Boating, LLC.  Worldwide, over 50 million people will pick up a dragon boat paddle this year.   This sport combines tradition with modern day teamwork, enthusiasm and strategy, plus, anyone can do it.  Dragon Boat Racing is great exercise and just plain fun for family, friends and co-workers.  This event continues to grow in popularity, last year over 2800 spectators attended, watching 30 teams compete. This year, Rotary Club of Peachtree City event organizers expect to have over 40 teams competing in two divisions, the competitive division for experienced paddlers, and the novice division for beginners.   A "Team" consists of up to 22 people; 20 paddlers, one drummer and one person to steer.

Hundreds of Fayette County residents with Fairburn and Riverdale ZIP codes will change their ZIP code and mailing address to Fayetteville, Ga., 30214, effective June 20, according to a news release from the United States Postal Service’s Duluth office.

Members of the Fischer Road community got exactly what they wanted Tuesday night as Coweta County commissioners voted unanimously to drop plans to construct a fueling station on county property on the north side of the fire station that sits adjacent to Northgate High School. Residents had recently held community meetings with commissioners and the school system, expressing their opposition to the plans.

Coweta voters in November approved a $20 million bond referendum to construct a new headquarters and to purchase a communications system and new fire trucks. Commissioners June 2 approved the purchase of 7 new fire trucks for a total price of $4,333,040. The figure is below the $5 million set aside for the purchases.

Senoia City Council June 1 unanimously approved a state-required Solid Waste Management Plan (SWMP) designed to reduce the amount of municipal solid waste generated within the city. The plan includes a 10-year time frame.

Union City-based TenCate Defense & Tactical has secured a $13 million order to supply flame resistant uniforms to the U.S. Marine Corps. Along with its corporate office in Union City, TenCate Protective Fabrics USA, Inc. operates plants in Thomaston and Zebulon and two others in Senoia, employing approximately 600 people.

Coweta County Commission approved two changes orders June 2 for the rehabilitation of the historic 1906 Coweta Court Courthouse. Between those changes and one that occurred previously, the project at this point is approximately $75,000 below the original contract amount of $6.284 million.

Palmetto Police recently put on a different type of event at the Carlton Road station. The chief hot dog cooker, known to officers as Chief Luther Graham, was joined by a department full of officers who spent much of the morning and afternoon May 23 entertaining families with free balloons, food, games, music, face painting and other activities. Officers were joined by Palmetto Fire Department, Rural Metro EMS and radio station Hot 107.9. The event focused on brining public safety awareness to the community, said department Public Information Officer Lee Gragg.

It is all about making a difference. Newnan resident Ethan Gehl is working in West Virginia as part of a team of 33 National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) members providing flood clean-up assistance to residents of the towns of Gilbert and Hanover. At the request of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Gehl and his teammates will muck out houses and remove debris deposited by floodwaters earlier this month. In addition, the team may be asked to run a donations warehouse and staff a call center.

"Filled to the maximum," describes Michael Berry's AP US History Classes at Northgate High School, according to Dr. Therese Reddikopp, Principal.   Berry was recently recognized as the 2009 Outstanding Teacher of American History by the General Daniel Newnan Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.