The financial situation at Fayette County School System for the remainder of the 2008-2009 school year is one thing. But it is what is coming for the new school year beginning July 1 that poses a much bigger problem. Board members Tuesday heard a series of presentations intended to clarify the situation and lay the groundwork for budget decisions expected to culminate in March.

It was simple math Tuesday night as the Fayette County School Board voted unanimously to furlough a number of school system employees before the end of the fiscal year June 30. The measure will create $303,200 in budget savings that will offset a projected $240,332 deficit for the same period.

Three residents of Tyrone and Fayetteville have been arrested on drug charges resulting from two recent investigations by Fayette County Sheriff's Office Tactical Narcotics Team (TNT).

The celebration last week with the inauguration of President Barack Obama extended to participants at the 2009 Georgia Inaugural Gala.

The east Fayetteville bypass project may fall by the wayside as $7 million in state funding projected for the effort has come into question.

Fayette to cut 23 unfilled jobs in 2010 budget; health premiums, take-home cars being targeted

Fayette County employees may be facing some big changes in the coming fiscal year because of a downturn in sales tax revenues.

Danielle Mathis and her husband Nate were two of about 2 million people who made their way to Washington, D.C., last week for the inauguration of President Barack Obama.

An inventory of items owned by the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office has turned up some irregularities, new Sheriff Wayne Hannah told county commissioners last week.

The Fayette County Chamber of Commerce held its 42nd annual banquet last Saturday evening, with nearly 200 members attending.

The Dreambuilder Award was begun in 2002 by then chair, Mike Hofrichter. It is given to an individual(s) who has contributed to the community and the chamber over a long period of time.

Resident called 911 from closet

A burglar picked the wrong north Fayette house to target Tuesday morning.

Council to vote on traffic light Feb. 5

A proposed new traffic light for Ga. Highway 54 West will come with a video camera that can zoom in either direction with the feed going straight to the area Georgia Department of Transportation office in Thomaston.

A Riverdale man was arrested Jan. 22 after stealing a Blu-ray disc player at the Best Buy store at Fayette Pavilion. He was detained by store personnel until officers could arrive.

A Fayetteville man was arrested Jan. 22 on family violence and other charges in an incident at his home involving his girlfriend and mother.

A man was robbed at gunpoint outside the Food Depot at Banks Station Jan. 23 after cashing his paycheck, Fayetteville police said. The two robbers fled in what was thought to be a Honda car, police said.

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

On Saturday, Feb. 7 at 10 a.m., the Fayette County Republican Party will convene Precinct Mass Meetings to elect Delegates and Alternate Delegates to the Fayette County Republican Party Convention.

Company declines comment on future of shopping center anchor

The Kroger Company has announced it will close its smallest store in Peachtree City on Saturday March 7.

Peachtree City Police have made no arrests but continue to interview multiple individuals in relation to the Jan. 22 shooting at the 1024 Ridgefield Drive residence where 36-year-old Philip Shawn Curl was shot in the abdomen and sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

More cuts coming to address $3.5M shortfall next year

A little more than 10 percent of Peachtree City’s 324 full and part-time employees indicated in a survey that they would voluntarily accept 25 percent pay cuts, City Manager Bernie McMullen said Monday afternoon.

Athens, Ga. – Robert Burch, a native Fayette Countian who went north to New York and beyond to find fame and success writing for children, will be inducted posthumously into the Georgia Writers Hall of Fame in March.

Gunshots strike 2 historically black churches while they were unoccupied

The FBI has joined the probe into two incidents during the past week in which gunshots were fired into unoccupied black churches.

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

If a business such as Starship Enterprise tried to locate in Peachtree City, its options would be limited by zoning laws. By city ordinance, any store selling adult sex toys would be considered a “sexually oriented business.”

Peachtree City will be spending $16,600 to replace two thermal imagers for the fire department instead of paying almost $8,000 to repair them.

Majority of council wanted to keep ‘asset’

A local businessman informally offered late last year to purchase the city’s tennis center for about $1 million, according to Peachtree City Councilman Don Haddix.

The Peachtree City Police Department will be hosting a basic Community Emergency Response Team class beginning March 5.

$1,000 reward offered by police

Thirty-six year-old Philip Shawn Curl sustained non-life threatening injuries at a 1024 Ridgefield Drive residence Thursday morning after being shot by a man who fled the home on foot, police said. Peachtree City Police investigating the shooting are speaking with multiple individuals in relation to the shooting and the suspect seen running in an easterly direction. No arrests have been made in the ongoing investigation.

It appeared Tuesday night that the stars had not aligned for Starship Adult Novelties and Gifts in its preparation to open the company’s newest location at Thomas Crossroads. District 4 Commissioner Rodney Brooks told more than 300 anxious residents in attendance that the business license application was being denied because Starship had been determined to be a sexually-oriented business that is not permitted in the commercial area. The praise heaped on commissioners that night were contrasted Wednesday by the comments of Starship CEO Kelly Rogers, insisting that he would stock the store and not back off from his intention to operate his business.

Georgia, like the rest of the United States is in a recession. But in Coweta County, things are simply not that bleak. Tuesday at his office, Coweta County Development Authority President Bill Harrison shared his thoughts on the Coweta’s experiences in 2008 and on what lies ahead in 2009 and beyond.

Coweta County commissioners Jan. 20 approved what will be the initial project for the 1,558-acre McIntosh Village development. The board unanimously approved a rezoning request for construction of the community’s wastewater treatment facility that will handle 1 million gallons per day. The 74.42-acre site is situated on the east side of the development. It is adjacent to the Fayette County line and borders the northwest side of Senoia.