“If it’s time for me to go home, I’m going. If it’s time to go, then I’m excited.” Those were the words of Mike Pruitt in a conversation 11 months ago. Mike went home Saturday morning.

Christmas is a busy time for the Fayette Samaritans, a non-profit organization chartered to serve the food and clothing needs of needy Fayette Countians.

Presents under the tree — for many Fayette families that and a trip to church for the true meaning of Christmas is the culmination of their celebration.

Christmas with the Fayetteville Police Dec. 6 brought together four families with 14 children and officers for a different kind of Christmas. The large group gathered at Dixieland Fun Park for complimentary unlimited rides after being treated to pizzas donated by Stevi B’s Pizza. Chief Steve Heaton said officers received wish lists from children whose parents had lost their jobs or from families facing eviction. Local donations provided the way for officers to fill the lists and give Christmas presents to the kids. Photo/Ben Nelms

Fayetteville Planning and Zoning Commission voted 3-0 at the Dec. 2 regular session in favor of Piedmont Fayette Hospital’s proposed oncology center.

A 14-year-old Fayetteville male was charged over the weekend after pulling a knife on his mother, while threatening that he would cut her.

Sheriff-elect Wayne Hannah will be sworn in as the 24th sheriff of Fayette County at a ceremony at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 18 at the Fayette County Justice Center.

An undercover sting featuring an underage minor ordering alcohol Friday resulted in servers at seven Peachtree City restaurants receiving court citations, police said.

Threatened to shoot one man if he tried to leave

The owner of a Peachtree City jewelry shop was arrested last week for taking customer dissatisfaction to a new level.

The Starr’s Mill High School Band program will host its 4th annual Pyramid Concert at 7 p.m. tonight at the Starr’s Mill High School gym.

The man who headed up the Fayette County Sheriff's Drug Task Force for the past eight years died Saturday after a long bout with kidney cancer.

$910K shortfall predicted due to economy; less spending leads to lower sales tax revenue

A plan to cut a total of $1.53 million from this year’s Peachtree City budget met with very minor changes suggested by the City Council at a workshop Tuesday night.

Tyrone council members may have moved a step closer to determining the fate of next year’s Founders Day celebration. In discussions Thursday, the council heard a suggestion from Founders Day co-organizer and Tyrone Depot owner Chip Young that the town consider making the event a non-profit corporation. Prior discussions on the matter included the potential for the town no longer having the annual event. The discussion Thursday for intended for information purposes only.

The honors flowed Wednesday night at Tyrone Depot as the town’s police officers were joined by Sheriff Randall Johnson for the annual awards dinner recognizing the year’s achievements.

Changes may require more landscaping, other concessions

Peachtree City may change the way it handles requests for buildings eclipsing 35 feet tall.

City also changes policy for amphitheater operations

The Peachtree City Council approved a new $1.2 million budget for the city’s tourism association Thursday night.

Monday night the Peachtree City Planning Commission will consider changes to the city’s zoning ordinance for land designated as open space.

A case of rabies has been confirmed in Newnan, though the infection was limited only to a raccoon caught on Pitts Street.

It was a long time coming, but in the end Senoia City Council Dec. 1 denied the Rockaway Road annexation and rezoning request by Bogee Development, LLC that would have relocated their company headquarters to the 4 acre site that is surrounded by city limits on the east, west and south. Council members voted unanimously to deny the application.

One of Coweta County’s new businesses may not be the dime-a-dozen type, but it’s owner says it fills a need. Coweta resident and Starship CEO Kelly Rogers said the new Thomas Crossroads location that will sell “adult-oriented” and other items is expected to open in mid-January.

Let’s hope it is never needed. Coweta County commissioners Dec. 4 deferred a decision on a Memorandum of Agreement with Georgia Division of Public Health (DPH) District 4 to facilitate local and regional pandemic influenza planning, plan evaluation and the exercising of those plans.

Coweta said “yes” to Saxby Chambliss, with nearly 75 percent of voters Dec. 2 postured to keep him in Washington, as 42 percent of Coweta’s 70,758 registered voters went to the polls.

Senoia City Council made a minor change to the $2.11 million General Fund Budget that takes effect Jan. 1. Council members Dec. 1 voted unanimously to add $1,800 for historical preservation and reduce the Financial Administration portion of the budget to offset it.

Rinnai Corporation, the world's largest gas appliance manufacturer and leading tankless water heater manufacturer, was recently awarded the Super Nova Star Award by the Alliance to Save Energy, a nonprofit coalition of business, government, environmental and consumer leaders who promote the efficient and clean use of energy worldwide to benefit consumers, the environment, the economy, and national security.

UPDATED

A former senior at Fayette County High School was sentenced this morning to four years in prison for his participation in a bathroom fight between rival gang members at the school in November 2007.

Coweta voters mirrored their counterparts statewide Tuesday, sending U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss back to Washington. Forty-two percent of Coweta’s registered voters went to the polls.

A plan to cut $1.53 million from this year’s Peachtree City budget met with very minor changes suggested by the City Council at a workshop Tuesday night.

Perhaps spurred by the avalanche of political advertising for the past three weeks, Fayette County voters turned out in unusually high numbers for a Tuesday runoff election to give a nearly 7-to-3 winning margin to incumbent Republican Senator Saxby Chambliss over Democrat Jim Martin.

The following arrests were reported for the past week. All persons are considered innocent until proven guilty:

Fayette County Sheriff’s Office

With local consumer spending on the skids, city takes hit in sales taxes, other collections

Reacting to reduced revenue estimates due to the downturn in the economy Peachtree City staff is suggesting cuts to departmental budgets of more than $886,000, along with a host of project cuts.