Southern Conservation Trust invites farm and forest property owners to learn how they can maintain their land in a natural state and receive significant tax benefits. The free program “Conservation Easements and Land Donations- What’s in it for me?” is August 17 at the Wendell Coffee Golf Center on Ga.Highway 74 in Tyrone. The program is sponsored by Brent Scarbrough & Company and Scarbrough-Rolader Development.

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

By this morning, more than 2,100 votes had already been cast in tomorrow's election, local officials said.

That figure includes persons who voted absentee and those who voted during the early voting period all last week, when any Fayette voter could cast their ballot at the county's elections office in downtown Fayetteville.

They came to tell their story.

Residents from Fayette and Fulton County packed the Fayette County Commission chambers Thursday to tell of a health concern that has gripped an area with fear and left many residents ill after the pesticide Propyl mercaptan was released into the environment at a waste treatment plant on Ga. Highway 92 in South Fulton County.

There have been a number of confirmed symptoms and illnesses reported by some residents in Fayette and Fulton counties after exposure in recent weeks to the onion-like smell present in the air.

The first step in Tyrone’s comprehensive plan for the next 20 years lays out in bare-bones terminology some of the critical issues and problems the town’s leaders will be trying to solve.

Court upholds disqualification for BOE seat

Any remote chance Greg Powers had for getting re-elected to the Fayette County Board of Education has essentially evaporated.

Palmetto has a new budget that came in $2.7 million lower than last year. Adopted July 6, the $14.23 million budget reflects a substantial decrease over last year due to the nearly-completed sewer system upgrade. Also reflected were increases from water and sewer revenues, the renovation at the old depot, property reevaluations and anticipated tipping fees from Willow Oak Landfill once the facility is annexed. Perhaps as important as any provision in the budget was an increase in starting salary for police officers and the commitment to hire two new officers.

It’s not always easy sitting on the accountability hot seat. That is especially true when it comes to Fairburn’s accountability policing model. It is one that puts the concept of being accountable for the job as an up front requirement rather than an afterthought that exists in so many lines of work today in the American workplace.

Local artist Todd Hanson demonstrates watercolor techniques to a few of Rico Community’s other artists in residence.

Fairburn council members July 10 approved a 2.2 percent power cost adjustment increase in electric rates beginning in October, designed to offset the ongoing loss to the city due to fluctuating national energy costs. The city will write off the $400,000 loss already incurred.

The following arrests were made by Fairburn Police between June 28 and July 11:

juvenile, female, 12, Fairburn, affray

On June 29, 2006 Creekside High School Cheerleaders lead by the coaching staff of Marisa Wilson, Hilary Williams, Stephanie Brown, and Carmen Paul walked away with honors in the following categories:

The Fairburn business Association is sponsoring the first in a series of “Concerts at the Courthouse” July 29 at 7 p.m. on the Old Campbell Courthouse lawn. The initial concert will feature the Dappled Grays, who began in 2000 as a project dedicated to playing original new acoustic music. Their first album “In the Gait” was released to great reviews which included a feature article in “Flatpicking Guitar” magazine, airtime on MTV and being named best traditional bluegrass band by Creative Loafing Magazine. Original members Casey Cook and Michael Smith, along with new members Leah Calvert, Keith Morris and Greg Earnest, are currently working in the studio on a new project whose aim is to focus on vocals with interesting and original new material.

A public meeting to address issues relating to the onion-like smell of Propyl mercaptan detected recently in Fulton and Fayette counties is July 19 at 7 p.m.

$2 million grant expires July 31; mayor optimistic

The clock is ticking, with a July 31 deadline for Peachtree City to reach an agreement to buy land near Falcon Field Airport to extend TDK Boulevard into Coweta County.

It was a case of wanting what you should not have and getting what you have coming, all wrapped into one package. And for a College Park man July 11, a trip to Fayette County ended at the county jail on drug charges.

Last Friday, a call that the staff of the Fayette County Animal Shelter hates to get came in to the office.

A series of public hearings has been scheduled because Peachtree City officials plan to adopt a property tax increase for the coming year’s budget.

Would allow commercial use for office complex

The owner of an office development underway just south of Peachtree City wants to be annexed into the city limits.

Would allow drinks to flow on Sundays

The owner of the Peachtree East shopping center is hoping to have the 17-plus acre site annexed into the Peachtree City limits.

Property owners seeking $400K an acre

The vacant land at the corner of Ga. Highway 54 and Walt Banks Road was supposed to turn into a vibrant shopping area with loft apartments.

Police are hoping a witness will come forward to assist in identifying the suspect in the armed robbery of the Herb Shop at Hudson Plaza in broad daylight in Fayetteville Tuesday.

PETCO Animal Supplies, Inc. announces the grand opening of its new Peachtree City store, located at 1243 N. Peachtree Parkway July 14 through July 16 . The three-day event will feature pet adoptions and a variety of animal-related activities to welcome the community.

Local students will reprise the ambitious schedule of last year’s STAR theatre performances by staging Shakespeare’s “Midsummer Night’s Dream” on July 13 through 15, followed by “Les Miserables” July 20 through 22. Both shows are being directed by Michael Scialabba of the Georgia Shakespeare Festival.On July 13-15 “Midsummer Night’s Dream” will actually be performed outdoors, at Coweta’s Dunaway Gardens. “The setting for Midsummer is totally outdoors, so it’s appropriate we look for an outdoor setting,” said Nixon. “And we felt it was really appropriate to take it back to where arts started in our community, at the Dunaway amphitheatre.” On July 20-23, “Les Miserables” will be staged at the Centre (7 p.m. on July 20-22, and 3 p.m. on July, 23). Along with Schialabba, Nixon is directing the vocal rehearsals for the show, and John Erdogan is directing orchestra rehearsals. During the performances, New York musical director Aaron Gandy will guest conduct the orchestra. Photo/Special.

There’s no more weekend watering for Senoia residents.

Last week, the city Council voted to curtail residents use of outside water to help face a “near-crisis” with the city’s water tanks.

The Georgia Department of Education has released the statewide list of schools which have successfully met Adequate Yearly Progress, including the status of Coweta County Schools, under the No Child Left Behind act.

In less than 24 hours spanning from Monday to Tuesday, Peachtree City Police arrested teens and three very young juveniles in three separate incidents on the city's golf cart paths.

Police are hoping a witness will come forward to assist in identifying the suspect in the armed robbery of the Herb Shop at Hudson Plaza in Fayetteville Tuesday just before 6 p.m.

The onion-like smell of pesticide component Propyl mercaptan coming from the Philip Services Corporation waste treatment plant on Ga. Highway 92 just inside Fulton County does not seem to be dissipating.