Green isn't just the color of Spring in Coweta County; it's also the theme of a new arts event sponsored by the Cultural Arts Committee of Senoia's Downtown Development Authority. On Saturday, April 25th from 10 to 6, Historic Downtown Senoia will celebrate Earth Day with a sidewalk art show featuring artists who work with recycled materials.

Newnan High School's recently announced valedictorian  Emily Traylor was the recipient of the General Daniel Newnan Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, 2008 Good Citizen Scholarship Award.  She received a cash scholarship award, certificate and Good Citizen pin at the January meeting of the General Daniel Newnan Chapter.

Rep. Virgil Fludd (D-Tyrone) writes bill he says will add to the state’s coffers without a tax increase

The weight of the Fayette County School System’s $14.5 million budget deficit will fall on teachers and instructional personnel — between 150 and 175 of them.

Finances were front and center at the Fayetteville City Council annual retreat Monday. A preview for the upcoming budget amendment in March included a continuation of falling revenues and numerous cost cutting measures. Among those were the ongoing voluntary 2.25 percent salary cuts for managers and directors and an employee-initiated reduction in hours worked ranging from 2-8 hours per week.

Three Peachtree City Council members blasted fellow Councilman Don Haddix last week about accusations he has posted online about them, including many on The Citizen’s website.

Last Friday, the Fayette County Lady Tigers completed the regular season with a 24-0 record. They did it in amazing fashion, knocking off Mays, the only other unbeaten team in Class AAAA and ranked second in the state behind Fayette, 73-50.

To keep Fayette County’s budget in line for the coming year despite significant revenue decreases, officials are taking several drastic measures.

Could Fayette County one day have an office park off Ga. Highway 74 north near the Fulton County line?

County planners think so, and the Fayette County Commission has adopted a plan that with the blessing of Tyrone officials would call for just that.

A proposal to build 80 homes and an event center on a 37-acre tract zoned for industrial use was scrutinized Monday night by the Peachtree City Planning Commission.

The Fayette County Commission voted unanimously last week to reject all bids received for a defined benefits pension plan for county employees.

Proposals to “re-affirm” two annexations in Peachtree City’s Wilksmoor Village were discussed by the planning commission Monday night.

A second lawsuit has been filed in relation to the exposure by north Fayette and south Fulton residents to a pesticide and chemical odorant “wash water” during mid-2006. The six-count suit recently filed in Fulton County State Court is on behalf of Sandy Creek Road residents John and Delores Abernathy. The case is currently in the discovery phase.

Fayetteville Police have arrested Zaxby’s employee Taurean Wayne Johnson and issued warrants for two others in the Monday morning robbery of a Zaxby’s employee outside the south Kroger parking lot on Ga. Highway 85 as she crossed the parking lot to make a deposit at the Bank of Georgia branch inside.

10% this year ... 5% in 2010; will cover Lake McIntosh completion

Starting next month Fayette County water customers will see a 10 percent increase on their bills, thanks to a unanimous vote of the County Commission.

It may be called funny money, but there is nothing funny about it. There has been a confirmed case of two counterfeit $100 bills being passed in Fayetteville Feb. 1 and unconfirmed reports of two others in the city.

Environmental Institute of Georgia (EIOG) is a local non-profit that has already begun to make its mark of Fayette County through environmental education projects. Formed in 2008 by a group of largely Fayette County residents, EIOG last month became the trustee of a 310-acre nature preserve on Bohannon Road owned by the city of Fairburn.

Fayetteville residents beginning in May will see a decrease in their sanitation bills after the city council Feb. 5 approved hauler CLM for a one-year contract. The new rate will amount to a 15 percent decrease in monthly trash collection bills.

The Peachtree City Police Department is warning local businesses and residents of counterfeit $100 bills that have been passed in Fayette County recently.

***Update*** Fayetteville Police have arrested Zaxby's employee Taurean Wayne Johnson and issued warrants for two others in the Monday robbery of a Zaxby's employee in the Kroger parking lot.

Fire crews, including some from Fayette County agencies, fought a large brush fire in Fairburn just north of Milam Road.

Kedron ‘bubble’ draws citizen comments

Discussion of the projected $3.5 million deficit in Peachtree City’s 2009-2010 budget dominated Thursday night’s City Council meeting.

 Coweta-Fayette EMC, the Electric Membership Cooperative created in 1947 to service Coweta and Fayette Counties, has appointed a dedicated President and CEO for its natural gas service, Coweta-Fayette EMC Natural Gas. The move will help the utility further position itself to meet the changing needs of both its electric and natural gas customers.

A developer’s proposal to rezone 37 acres in the industrial park to create a subdivision and event center alongside the future Lake McIntosh will be discussed Monday night by the Peachtree City Planning Commission.

Systems could spend certain funds where needs arise

The Georgia legislature may remove some spending controls for school systems to help them meet the challenges of the rough economy.

A complaint filed last summer by Tyrone resident Dick Shelley over alleged malfeasance by former town administrative staff and investigated by Tyrone Police has been forwarded to Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) by District Attorney Scott Ballard. GBI is completing its investigation and is expected to return the results to Ballard in the near future.

DOT Atlanta office has final say on approval for signal

Peachtree City will apply for a new traffic light on Ga. Highway 54 West to serve a new shopping center.

A vote of the City Council tonight was split 3-2 in favor of seeking the light, which would be located at Line Creek Drive in between existing lights at Planterra Way and MacDuff Parkway.

Senoia’s new downtown development coordinator has hit the ground running. Stephanie Savage may be new to the job, but she is not new to Senoia or to business development.

Savage served for 15 years as business development manger with Select Medical Corp. at the company’s six area facilities, traveling daily between south metro Atlanta and Columbus.

Senoia City Council Feb. 2 reviewed what were said to be needed ordinances ranging from loitering, and keeping a disorderly house to matters of public urination and defecation. A public hearing for the proposed ordinances is expected at the next council meeting.

Coweta County commissioners agreed with Public Safety Director Dennis Hammond Feb. 2 and voted to make application to join the Western Area Regional Radio System (WARRS) group. If approved, the move will provide better public safety communications at a reduced cost.