By Ben Nelms
bnelms@TheCitizen.com
and Michael Boylan

Mugsy the pug tries to will Leslie Pegg of Peachtree City to pay him lots of attention during Saturday’s dog fashion show at the Dog Park in Peachtree City.

It’s the issue that won’t go away and threatens to become an election topic later this year. From board meeting to vents on the Web, Fayette’s parents are upset at the number of illegal students attending the county’s public schools.

Is a roundabout design appropriate for a fairly busy intersection near McIntosh High School?

City won’t handle private property flooding problems

Stormwater bills will be on the way for Peachtree City residents if the City Council OKs the creation of a utility to handle stormwater drainage problems and maintenance.

The Fayette County Chamber of Commerce held its 39th annual banquet last Saturday and announced award winners in four categories.

A plan for up to 15 office buildings and an assisted living complex on Ga. Highway 54 got a firm thumbs down from the Fayette County Commission Thursday night.

A short agenda Feb. 2 at Fayetteville City Council will focus on funding for the Main Street Welcome Center and an Intergovernmental Services Agreement between the city, the Downtown Development Authority and Georgia Department of Community Affairs.

If you are driving by the Arby’s in Fayetteville and you glance over at the plaza behind it, your eyes are not deceiving you. Baci, the Italian restaurant that spent many years feeding and entertaining county residents, is back. While there is a new owner, former Coweta County resident Micah Dickey, he and former Baci co-owner Ayman Amin have teamed up to bring back the old menu and atmosphere of the original restaurant.

A 15-year-old Peachtree City boy apparently committed suicide at his home Saturday, police said.

Officers were called to the home around 10 a.m., and all evidence at the scene indicates that the action was “self-inflicted,” said Police Chief James Murray. The department will be awaiting autopsy and toxicology reports from the state crime lab before the investigation can be closed, Murray added.

As annual retreats go, the Fayetteville City Council Retreat Jan. 26 provided documentation in extraordinary detail. The 352-page document, from which most of the retreat was fashioned, centered on multiple aspects of city government and is accessible on the city’s Web site.

Chick-fil-A history was made in St. Petersburg, Fla. last week.

A Fayette County man will face the death penalty for killing a local businessman in July, District Attorney Scott Ballard has decided.

South Fulton Chamber of Commerce President John Boothby tendered his resignation effective Jan. 20 and will be assuming the position of President of Newton County Chamber of Commerce beginning in March. Boothby served at the South Fulton Chamber since 2001.

Take it to the Maxx is no exaggeration, not when it comes to the endless entertainment experiences for the whole family at the new Maxx Fun Family Entertainment Center located at the rear of Shannon Mall. And all under two acres of state-of-the-art, climate controlled comfort.

The Jan. 23 Fairburn City Council meeting was shorter than most but brought several important announcements and decisions.

Fayette Community Church in Fayetteville is having a Super Bowl Party on Feb. 5 at 6 p.m. and we are inviting all local firefighters and their families to join us for free. We want to celebrate your service to our community. If you are not a firefighter, come and help us honor our heroes and join the fun! Since our church meets in a movie theater we have the game on the movie screen where the players look life size.

Mayor Ralph Moore has plans for Union City. In his Jan. 17 State of the City address Moore called for numerous local enhancements that included free, citywide Internet, a Tax Allocation District to attract fine dining restaurants and other businesses, stronger litter laws and a Senior Citizen Homestead tax exemption.

Tyrone’s town leaders have a busy Saturday planned in Peachtree City.

Mayor Sheryl Lee, along with the Town Council and staff, head to the Hampton Inn for their annual retreat.

Tyrone Planning Commission members Jan. 26 approved the final site plan for an office building to be located on Lot #13 at the Market Hill development on Dogwood Trail and Ga. Highway 74.

Senate follows House approval

Georgia is getting a second crack at trying to stave off voter fraud now that Gov. Sonny Perdue has signed the latest voter ID bill.

She’s going to Hollywood and hopefully her stay will be long enough to crack the top 12 females and earn her a place when the competition really gets going.

Current contract canned after dispute with county officials

State officials have pledged emergency assistance for the Peachtree City Library, if necessary, for this summer when the countywide contract with the Flint River Regional Library System expires.

According to Peachtree City Police, James M. Lourim went a little too far with his home-grown business.

Lourim used a bedroom closet to grow a significant amount of marijuana plants at his home in the Sandown Creek subdivision, said Peachtree City Police Chief James Murray.

Police: Sharpsburg couple could face numerous charges

More and more victims are turning up as the investigation into financial identity fraud continues on a Sharpsburg couple that used information pilfered from the Best Buy store in Peachtree City, police said.

Folks in Fayetteville, Tyrone and Senoia will be seeing a big boost for certain downtown projects thanks to some considerable state assistance.

Critics say a bill under consideration in the Georgia legislature could have drastic effects locally by making it cost-prohibitive to enforce zoning restrictions such as setbacks, buffers and tree preservation ordinances.

Peachtree City residents wanting more information about the widening of Ga. Highway 74 South can attend an open house hosted by the Georgia Department of Transportation on Thursday, Feb. 2.

Sure a roundabout will be unique, but will it work at the intersection of Peachtree Parkway and Walt Banks Road, a busy junction adjacent to McIntosh High School?

According to Peachtree City Police, James M. Lourim went a little too far with his home-grown business.

Lourim used a bedroom closet to grow a significant amount of marijuana plants at his home in the Sandown Creek subdivision, said Peachtree City Police Chief James Murray.