The United States is clearly in a recession. The economy has tanked nearly everywhere, but not in Senoia. That reality came through loud and clear in a conversation Tuesday with City Administrator Richard Ferry. During 2008 available commercial space essentially doubled with much more on the way in 2009.

Coweta County Commission Dec. 16 approved a report on the proposed 40.7-acre Madras recreation site located in northeast Coweta that calls for both active and passive recreation amenities. The Madras Recreation Needs Assessment will become a component of an upcoming master recreation plan. The county-owned site is located along Hal Jones Road just south of Frank Cook Road.

The Board of Directors of the Newnan-Coweta Chamber of Commerce has elected seven new Officers for 2009.

Board members elected to officer positions are: Jan Alligood, Chair, Georgia Power Company; Steve Mader, Chair Elect, SouthTowne Motors of Newnan; Vicki Kaiser, Treasurer, Piedmont Healthcare; Mark Fritz, Vice Chair-Membership & Marketing, Bank of Coweta; Grant Grimes, Vice Chair-Organizational Performance, Forestar Real Estate Group; Randy Cardoza, Vice Chair-Economic Prosperity, AGL Resources; and Phil Aaron, Past Chair, State Farm Insurance.

Motorists traveling along I-85 in Coweta County should expect delays during part of the first week of the new year. Georgia Dept. of Transportation (GDOT) said Monday that one southbound lane will be closed near the Ga. Highway 14/U.S. Highway 29 intersection Jan. 5-7.

An arrest has been made stemming from the Nov. 14 incident at Honey Hair, Skin and Body salon in Fayetteville where a woman claimed she was sexually assaulted by the masseur.

The judge in the out-of-court settlement of a $4 million class-action lawsuit over illnesses to north Fayette and south Fulton residents caused by emissions at the Phillips Services Corp. (PSC) waste treatment plant in mid-2006 has extended the deadline for those residents to file claims. The new deadline is Jan. 30. Hundreds of area residents reported illnesses from the exposure.

If giving to others is near the top of your New Year's resolutions, look no further.

The American Red Cross is hosting a blood drive Friday at the Gathering Place recreation center in Peachtree City from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. In Newnan they're hosting a blood drive Friday at Newnan Hospital from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Development of worldwide customer service HQ at the PTC plant will add 610 new jobs to local economy

This year has been one for the record books, Fayetteville City Manager Joe Morton said during a year-in-review interview — the bad record books.

A north Fayette teen was found delinquent last month on charges that he participated in a street gang called “Sur 13,” according to Fayette County Juvenile Court records.

New housing starts in Peachtree City — Fayette County’s largest city — have tumbled 50 percent in one year, according to figures from the city.

UNINCORPORATED FAYETTE COUNTY

The housing sectors’ woes have hit Fayette County, with new residential construction in the areas outside cities down 61 percent from a year ago.

Get ready for more stop lights on your commute.

In the next 18 months Fayette County roads will be getting four new traffic signals to help improve the flow of vehicles, county officials said.

It was not that long ago that Fayette Counseling Center was faced with financial obstacles that made its continued existence problematic.

Three adults and a juvenile from Jonesboro were arrested for shoplifting Dec. 27 after one of the adults snatched a camera at the Kohl’s store at Fayette Pavilion.

The transition from adolescence to adulthood is a time of anticipation, excitement, confusion and anxiety for students of all backgrounds and abilities. These emotions are often amplified for families of students with disabilities.

The Fayette County School System’s public relations department has received five awards from the Georgia School Public Relations Association (GSPRA) for distinguished achievement in writing, graphic design and electronic communications.

The Fayette County School System’s Open Campus High School program conferred diplomas to its first graduates Thursday evening at F.A. Sams Auditorium.

The Fayette County Association of Educators will sponsor a public forum Tuesday, Jan. 6 at 6 p.m. at the Fayette County Library, 1821 Heritage Park Way.

State Bank of Georgia’s Board of Directors approved the promotions of three staff members at their regularly scheduled meeting recently. Eileen Kempf and Lydia Morris were promoted to Senior Vice President. Michelle Thill was promoted to Banking Officer. Kempf is the senior operations officer of the bank with responsibility for risk management in the areas of compliance, bank secrecy act, bank security and information technology. Her banking career spans 25 years.

Congressman Lynn Westmoreland will be speaking to the breakfast meeting of the Fayette Republican Party on Saturday, Jan. 3, at 9 a.m. at the IHOP in Fayetteville. 

It is a New Year’s idea to help those in need get behind the wheel of a handicapped-outfitted vehicle. Jane Fanslow’s decision to find a home for two vans, a small boat and a motorized wheelchair followed the recent loss of her husband, Larry Eaton. For Fanslow, the price is not as important as putting the equipment to good use.

No word yet on effect to PTC location

Gardner Denver Inc., which has a manufacturing facility in Peachtree City among its worldwide holdings, has announced it will cut 9 percent of its global salaried workforce and enact a hiring freeze in light of “deteriorating global economic decisions” and as it integrates its acquisition of CompAir Holdings Limited.

Two out-of-towners picked a poor time to try and boost a golf cart in Peachtree City last Tuesday afternoon.

They happened to be getting away just as the cart owner exited the Crosstown Kroger store and neared the cart, police said. The suspects and the golf cart were found minutes later on the cart path near Oak Grove elementary school off Crosstown, said Capt. Michael Claman.

Hauler withdraws free service, offers to continue at cost

Plastic recycling is going the way of the dinosaur in Peachtree City.

Fayetteville Police are not saying much about child pornography found on a computer being serviced at Best Buy except that they are investigating the matter.

Would save $45K but be less convenient for residents

In an effort to save money, the Peachtree City Library and the city’s Kedron Aquatic Center and Fieldhouse will soon be shortening their operating hours.

Spurred by a citizen’s request, the Peachtree City Council has divested its ordinances of an onerous rule that technically made lawbreakers out of some rather docile citizens.

Peachtree City officials are planning to close the little-used Clover Reach pool for good this year.

But another victim of the Peachtree City budget crunch may be one of the city’s three remaining public pools.

The Peachtree City-Falcon Field Composite Squadron has been named the nation’s premier Civil Air Patrol (CAP) squadron.