The recent announcement by Gov. Sonny Perdue to withhold the state’s annual rebate from the Homestead Tax Relief Grant credits as a way of combatting the state’s shrinking revenues made its way to the Coweta County Commission agenda Sept. 2. Commissioners decided to mail tax bills as usual in the hopes that legislators can successfully address the issue in January. If the credit is withheld, the county will have to send an additional bill to property owners in 2009 on behalf of the county and school board to recoup approximately $6 million that would normally be rebated by the state.

It looks like Coweta County will retain its membership in the Chattahoochee-Flint Regional Development Center (RDC) instead of joining Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC). Commissioners discussed the potential move again Sept. 2, but the brief discussion ended without a vote. It was an outcome that, for all appearances, left the idea of joining ARC dead in the water. Yet a transition is likely to occur regardless, with Chatt-Flint expected to eventually merge with McIntosh RDC to become a 10-county Regional Center (RC).

It was essentially an annual housekeeping chore Sept. 2 when the Coweta County Commissioners approved nearly a million dollar payment to the county’s employee Defined Benefit Group Pension Plan. The plan is being supplanted by a defined contribution plan said to give employees more flexibility and cost taxpayers less money.

Senoia’s annual car show will remain on Main Street.

The car show was set to move to the parking lot behind the Redneck Gourmet building for this year’s edition after a group of downtown merchants said it would adversely affect their business.

Sports editor Michael Boylan and staff writer Kevin Wandra have moved their award-winning program to Fayetteville's Chick-fil-A Dwarf House. In the first episode of the new school year, the pair talk about the latest results of all the fall sports, sit down for an interview with FCHS head football coach Tommy Webb and preview this Friday's football games.

Click here to watch this week's episode.

City may hire manager to run venue, take control from Tourism Association

Tourism board asks city to manage venue so it can focus on tourism goals

After hearing more than a dozen comments from amphitheater patrons, the Peachtree City Council directed staff to work towards resuming control of the city's amphitheater, currently operated by the city's tourism association.

The RBC Centura bank on Ga. Highway 314 north across from the Fayette Pavilion in Fayetteville was robbed at gunpoint around 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 2 according to reports on police radio.

The suspect was initially described as a black male wearing a long white sleeve shirt, blue jeans, braided hair and with a fake beard that appeared to be drawn on with some type of makeup. It was speculated that the hair possibly could have been a wig.

McIntosh’s varsity football team won their second straight season opener last Friday behind a tremendous effort from sophomore quarterback Cam Porter. Porter was 12 of 20 passing for 249 yards and three touchdowns. The Chiefs defeated Forsyth Central 28-7. For more on McIntosh’s win and the other games played last Friday night, see the story on Page C8. Photo/Joseph Wilson.

Sometimes a cop is fortunate just to be able to go home at the end of the work day. Fayetteville Police Officer Todd Chitwood is living proof of that after a 16-year-old male took aim at him and pulled the trigger of a 9mm Glock handgun as Chitwood gave chase in an Aug. 30 incident that began behind Tinseltown Theater at Fayette Pavilion.

Council considers precedent-setting hook-up for large shopping center on southern border; Sany wants variance

PTC city manager, mayor get China tour, courtesy of Sany Corp., new tenant in city’s industrial park

Most people would not mount an organized write-in campaign for elected office. But that is what Peachtree City resident Nicole File is doing.

File on Aug. 29 announced her intention to run against incumbent Janet Smola Nov. 4 for Fayette County Board of Education Post 1.

Come Thursday night it should be official, at least in terms of being on the Nov. 4 ballot. The Fayetteville City Council Sept. 4 is expected to call for a referendum to place the Sunday sale of alcohol by the drink squarely in the hands of voters.

For Fayette County’s Lane Watts, the opening day of the Republican National Convention typified what the party represents.

Shoppers at Towne Center Kroger will start noticing a few changes in the next couple of months.

The Fayetteville Planning and Zoning Commission Aug. 26 voted unanimously to approve nearly 14,000 square feet of expansion on the store’s south side. Expected to be completed by next summer, the project will increase shopping space by 25 percent.

by Ellie White-Stevens

Peachtree City’s Craig Automotive celebrates their 10th anniversary September 6 from 11a.m. to 3 p.m. With hamburgers, hotdogs and door prizes, as well as a live band, Where’s Charlie, owner Gary Craig is counting on a festive day.

The 10th Annual Quick-Turner Reunion is set for Sept. 6. It will take place at the Family Life Center, New Salem Baptist Church, 113 New Salem Road, Griffin. The time is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Fayette County Tigers (0-1) vs. Houston County Bears (1-0), Friday, 7:30 p.m.

Coming off their first loss since 2006, Fayette faces a Houston County squad that crushed Groves 41-0 in its season opener last week. It was a sign of progress for Houston County, which won only one game last season. But Fayette should pose a stiffer challenge this week for Houston County, which is under the direction of a new head coach, Greg Robinson. Fayette features one of the top running backs in the area in Tim Pettaway and a defense that has seven returning starters, including active linebacker Evan Reid.

An elderly Peachtree City woman died Sunday, but officials are unsure if it happened before or after her recliner caught fire, causing severe burns.

Glenn Griffin’s first game as a head coach was one he will not soon forget.

Sophomore quarterback Cam Porter completed 12 of 20 passes for 249 yards and three touchdowns, with no interceptions, in his first career varsity start to lead the McIntosh Chiefs to a 28-7 victory Friday over the Forsyth Central Bulldogs in the teams’ season opener in Peachtree City.

Although Douglas County led Whitewater 17-15 at the half, the Wildcats put forth a tremendous second half effort that produced 27 more points on offense and refused to allow another point from a potent Douglas County team to win their season opener 42-17 Friday in Fayetteville.

The Landmark Christian School War Eagles started sophomore Carson Barnett at quarterback in the season’s first game and the opening exchange did not go well. The play resulted in a fumble and Brookstone capitalized, running back the fumble for a touchdown.

Newnan resident Harold Space has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after being convicted on charges of receiving child pornography via the Internet.

There is an old adage that big-time players make big plays when their teams need them most.

That was the case Friday for the Sandy Creek Patriots, who relied on five upperclassmen to make game-changing plays in a 24-17 overtime victory over the East Coweta Indians in the teams' season-opening non-region game at The Battlefield in Tyrone.

Final scores

Sandy Creek - 24 East Coweta - 17 OT

McIntosh - 28 Forsyth Central - 7

Whitewater - 42 Douglas County - 17

This summer, Peachtree City police began to patrol the cart paths using two all terrain vehicles. Now they are preparing to start bike patrols.

This week a group of officers learned how to maneuver their bike in extreme conditions, going up and down stairs and negotiating other obstacles.

Solutions sought to amphitheater’s projected $236K loss this year

Peachtree City officials are hoping to get public input Tuesday night on operations of the city’s amphitheater and tennis center.

Through the magic of Photoshop, the Peachtree City Planning Commission got to look at several different color schemes Thursday for the original Kedron Village shopping center.

Standard and Poor’s recently has upgraded Peachtree City’s bond rating from AA+ to AAA.

The change came after a detailed S&P analysis of city finances, finance policies and other factors in the city’s economy, according to the S&P report.