The Baron’s Ball that was held for the American Cancer Society was a wonderful event. The event is a true sign of hard work and dedication of many people devoted to find a cure. As a guest, [I have] no doubt that the chairperson did an exceptional job as did all of the volunteers. It was a pleasure to walk and view all the efforts that were orchestrated to such a professional level. The continuous video was a true sign that this disease needs to be beat, to stop taking our loved ones [for granted] and we as a community need to continue to provide the annual support. I would like to thank all the people involved in the ball and for those of us that have been affected by cancer in our lives, we say thank you. I look forward to another great event next year.

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A huge thank you goes out to the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department. I accidentally locked the keys in my van while it was running. I called the police department and they said they couldn’t help me. They told me to call the Sheriff’s Department. I did. A wonderful, kind deputy arrived at my home and tried to open the van. She was unsuccessful yet she made sure that I was taken care of. She called her supervisor and he came out and got it unlocked. They truly went out of their way to help a fellow citizen. That is the kind of Sheriff’s Department we can all be proud of. Fayetteville should be honored to have this kind of public servants in our midst. Thanks.

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Thank you to PTC Police, Fayette County Sheriff’s Office and Fayette Drug Task Force. Each of you every day are making our community safe; unfortunately it is a crazy world out there. Soon they will learn other communities will let it slide or not even find out. But you find them and keep us safe. You detained the girls that made the threats to MHS, you are catching the Internet predators constantly and the double drug bust in North Fayette. We all can’t thank you enough.

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I think “Shop with a Cop” is a great idea. I’m for anything to increase police presence at the Pavilion.

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When I first flew on an airplane, my father told me that you say nothing and do not joke. You don’t joke about bombs in an airport and you don’t joke about shootings at the high school. If you do, you should expect to go to jail. Unfortunately I fear that our district attorney has set a precedent of being soft on these matters that is coming back to haunt us.

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Starr’s Mill had their best win of the season, and why didn’t the coach play the second and third string starting the second half? Maybe because the kids learn more standing and watching? As a coach of championship teams, it makes no sense; it deflates character versus building it.

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Starr’s Mill made a horrible decision not to have a JV football team. The reasons that were expressed why there was no JV team were actually pitiful excuses. Reasons such as: it’s a new system we’re putting in (failed), the kids will learn more in practice than in games (experience and competition is built between the lines, not on the practice field), the new system does not permit for kids to play both ways (kids did play both ways), telling the kids there’ll be three or four JV games and then telling them referees could not be located (what is that about?) and so on. Now, let’s look at the kids that are trying to process this: Why did I attend camps, practice all year and never played one snap? Not that some of the kids are good enough to play varsity; however, they are good enough and deserve to play JV when after all this is high school football. It was also a shame to be winning by a good spread and not letting kids play in the third and fourth quarters. As parents, it will be difficult to continue to support the program by sending kids to volunteer camps, joining the TD club and so on. There are parents that paid almost $1,000 to watch their kid not play. That is not fair, that does not build programs and it will be hard to promote the program. We are sure there’ll be a JV team next year and that is because you like the freshman team. The word is also out that there was no JV team because the sophomores and juniors struggled last year and maybe a non-winning season might occur. Let’s just get back to the point: it was a horrible decision, it will have effects on the program for the next few years and the JV team next year will be all sophomores; therefore some of this year’s players may never get to play a snap. It is also a shame that the school administrators as well as the district let this happen. Us fans didn’t realize that a high school coach has that much power.

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I was so ashamed Friday night at the McIntosh-Fayette football game with the behavior of the varsity cheerleading coach. Why could she not have moved the cheerleaders down four feet to accommodate the dance squad? Sadly, the dance squad, who are state champions four years in a row, were left to perform behind the band’s platform. I do not have a daughter on either squad, but am so irate by this coach’s lack of judgment and sportsmanship. I think that she set a very poor example for not only her cheerleaders, but for the entire student body. The situation was overtly obvious to everyone in the stands. She should be embarrassed.

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There have been several letters written about the Peachtree City Packer youth football program. I was a one-time coach in the league (once was enough) and I can confirm what the letters have been saying about the unfair tactics used in the league. Most of the letters focus on the disparity of talent between the teams in the intra-county division. In a lot of the games when you consider the size and speed difference, it is equivalent to a varsity team playing a freshman team. This would be a very easy problem to fix. All the kids should try out, they all get rated based on talent, even the coaches’ sons. A selection process (draft) could then take place so that the kids could be evenly distributed based on talent. A coach would take his own son (based on the agreed talent information) in the appropriate round of the draft. I do not have a problem with “select“ teams, where kids try out and either they make the team or they do not. We see this in other sports such as baseball and soccer; both the kids and the parents know up-front what the competitive league is about. In fact, the football program does have a competitive D-1 league. What is happening in the intra-county division is a hybrid of an “open to all“ program and a “select” program. The coaches are allowed to save multiple players and then they participate in an open draft. If your child is a first year player, there are only two choices. He will be drafted by a team that already has a full roster of experienced players and he will be used as a tackling dummy in practice and will see little or no playing time. The other option is he will be drafted by a new team that does not go and recruit players. In this scenario, he will see a lot of playing time; however, he will be pounded without mercy all season by the stronger teams. The letter of three weeks ago correctly points out that the coaches of the stronger teams want to win 48-0 instead of 24-0. Somehow it builds up the coaches’ own self-worth to pound on young kids. There have been several people who have pointed these problems out to league officials. Peachtree City blames Fayetteville and Brooks instead of being accountable for their own program. I would agree that all three programs are doing the same thing; somebody has to step up and take a leadership role. The Packers state on their web page, “PTCYFA provides a safe, instructive environment focused on both basic and advanced football, structured team play, sportsmanship, character building and leadership.” The intra-county division in all three programs has become about grown men looking for any and all advantages to fulfill their dreams of winning a YOUTH football trophy. If they ever decide to make changes in their programs, re-reading and then acting upon the Packer football mission statement might just be a good way to return the program to the kids.

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My children have played for the Packers association many years. We have always had a fantastic experience whether it was a winning season or not. I can’t say enough about the excellent instruction they have received, or the lifelong friendships that have been made. After watching the Packers play for so many years, I am quite certain in a few years, the citizens of Peachtree City will be proud to say that a NCAA Division 1A player or even the NFL had his start in the PTC Packers. I am also not so naive to know there might be valid reasons behind many decisions, such as it is the city of PTC that requires the lights to be turned off at 8 p.m. and that there are two other parks, Brooks and Fayette County, who vote on rulings. This often leaves the Packers out voted 2/3. Like every non-profit organization, it takes people willing to give up their time to make something successful. Thank you to all those who have volunteered to make it a great park. Whether you were my children’s coach or just a parent that picked up the trash, I thank you. Go, Packers!

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Renowned child psychiatrist, Dr. Spoil M. Rotten, offers some good advice for parents, coaches and anyone involved in youth athletics. It is never too early to begin training these mini-warriors that all men are created equal. Begin by allowing each child equal playing time on the field. Teach them that life does the same and that competition has no place in sports or in the work place. Help them to learn from the start that they will always share equal time in the spotlight with others regardless of their abilities. And whatever you do, refrain from showing any young wannabe athlete the film, “Rudy.” And never engage in post-film discussions about such trivial character rubbish as honesty, sacrifice, determination, desire, perseverance, courage and patience. And paramount to all of the above, leave these children a rather large inheritance because they are going to need it.

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There is a sizable number of Tyrone citizens that have risen up against the arrogant paternalism of [Councilman Mike] Smola and [Town Manager Barry] Amos. No matter what anyone says, there are not many people using different names to write a blog. The recent affairs in Tyrone has brought a simmering cauldron of hurt, resentment and anger to a boil and people who were once afraid are not afraid anymore. There is no way Tyrone’s government is on the up and up, far from it. So far from it that it is at the point of people having to file lawsuits to protect their property. People have been illegally fired, discriminated against, harassed by police at Smola/Amos’s bequest. Public records denied to the public. Allegations of tampering/doctoring of public records. Shady developers and questionable if not unconstitutional and illegal ordinances and text amendments, plus the incessant denial of any help for any problem a citizen has, it is futile to go before the council. But some time in July/August the town began to act a little better, allowing Walter Auto to conduct his business; that was very nice of them. Then they allowed a church in downtown district, which they had previously denied to Jeff Alexander; nice for the church but discrimination against Alexander. Oh, yeah, my favorite, Keith May’s representative who went before the council to see if they would allow May to conduct his business (wow, you have to get a lot of permission from the town council to run your businesses and work). These are true stories. I have seen it. I have lived it.

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Don’t think that the Robinson Road rezoning is dead yet. They can come back whenever they want to, maybe even the first council meeting after the election. The upcoming election is vitally important to all citizens of PTC. Band together with your neighbors to elect people who will stick to the land use plan and say “no” to developers who want to rezone. Haddix and Sturbaum seem to be the best hope we have. By the way, after the candidate forum at the Gathering Place, Logsdon came up to Harman, patted him on the back and said, “Nice job.” To me that said it all.

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PTC residents, be sure and sign the petition to recall the mayor when it gets to you. It’s about time someone has taken the bull by the horns. As well as the petition, you also need to elect the candidates who will try and slow down the out of control development that this mayor and his city council has been responsible for. If you do nothing, this city is going look like Riverdale or East Point; you choose.

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The bridge over Flat Creek, or is it just another “Bridge over his head”? Citizens, here is another project that David Borkowski once again proves he knows nothing about engineering, so who is pulling the strings when he opens his mouth. Also how much money does this city spend on outside engineering services every year? Does the engineer and his boss have any accountably to anyone in the city government?

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Once again this city’s management proves how inept they are and how out of touch the residents of this city are. The building that housed the police department, which was only completed in 2001, is now undergoing major repairs for a water seepage problem that is causing a mildew situation. 1. Doesn’t the builder have any responsibility in correcting the problem? 2. Who are the city officials that were responsible for signing off on this project in regards to inspection and granting the C.O.? 3. Who was responsible for the due diligence on this project? 4. Now our astute City Engineer David Borkowski has the nerve to put in writing that the contractor that has been awarded the contract to clean up this mess will not guarantee the work that he is going to perform will solve the problem at the initial cost of $593,000. Once again the City Engineer proves his [ineptness] and his supervisor, whoever he is, proves his [ineptness], by allowing this person to make such idiotic decisions and statements. The engineer proves he is not even capable to be the engineer on my son’s toy train set.

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What’s the deal with our tax money being spent at Pye Lake by the city of Fayetteville? I know that Al Hovey-King lives there. Could that have something to do with it? Will the taxpayers be allowed to enjoy this lake, or is it just for Mr. Hovey-King and his friends?

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Today I went to the Fayetteville Post Office and could not believe my eyes. A sign on the counter says, ‘As of Oct. 10, 2007, this Post Office will no longer be open for Saturday sales.” Patrons were directed to go to Peachtree City, Riverdale, or Crown Road facilities for service. This is ridiculous. A city the size of Fayetteville! Let’s mount a letter-writing campaign. A letter to our congressman might not hurt.

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I usually just run into K-Mart when I don’t have time to make it all the way to Wal-Mart. I like its convenience. However, that store is so depressing. I know it’s not Macy’s, but still. I went to the customer service to return something, and the customer service employees look like they just rolled out of bed. Their hair is just thrown up and they are wearing dumpy white shirts. Doesn’t K-Mart have some kind of dress code? They are also very rude to their employees. As I was waiting in line, I experienced two of the customer service employees treating another employee rudely when she asked about a break and then another one had an issue about phone calls coming in. They both had scowls on their faces and bad attitudes (I guess about their job duties) in front of the customers waiting in line. I know it must be depressing to work at K-Mart, as I feel depressed when I have to walk into the store, but K-Mart is a big company, and they should have their employees wear some kind of appropriate uniform and learn customer service. And people were worried about the Goodwill coming in ...

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You asked if Jesus would shop at Dillard’s or a GoodWill Store. That depends on whether he drives an SUV or a Prius.

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How did the ugliness that is Hwy. 74 South happen in a planned community? The widened road will literally sit eight or 10 feet from the back doors of numerous homeowners. Did no one way back when consider that Hwy. 74 might need to be larger one day? Why were the homes on Hippocket Road built with insufficient setback? Why wasn’t the industrial park set back more? The soundproof barriers are an eyesore. It makes me think I’m on 285, not in Peachtree City.

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Well, here we go again. I opened my child’s backpack only to find an invitation to a “holiday” feast. Is it not politically correct to even mention Thanksgiving? I am tired of holiday feasts, holiday trees, and holiday parties. We are letting this country shove at us a secular winter holiday instead of Thanksgiving or Christmas to avoid offending non-Christians. As we draw closer to Christmas, let’s remember what Christmas is all about before it is twisted into something beyond recognition. Let’s abide by our own constitution and defend what we as Christians believe without fear of having to keep them hidden from others.

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The news media is getting us conditioned to accept another round of spiraling gasoline prices. When it comes, watch the housing slump take another nose dive. Gasoline prices are bankrupting America already except for the CEOs who are taking home millions of dollars per year of the workers’ money. These greedy CEOs own multi-million dollars homes in a dozen different places and countries while they deprive the average American of even owning one home. The oil industry is reaping profits far above and beyond anything ever heard of in America’s corporate history yet they want more and more. Greed knows no limitation and it’s destroying this country like an untreated cancer.

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PTC, Sunday, Nov. 4, 5:40 p.m., Hippocket Road. You were driving a dark blue minivan. My wife was driving and commented on how you had just gone through the stop sign behind us without stopping. Within seconds you passed us in a no-passing zone with a posted speed limit of 30 mph. We could only imagine the current crisis you must have been having as the road and cart path was heavily populated with walkers, joggers, golf carts, bicycles, all people you were putting at risk. We saw you about a minute later dropping your son off for what appeared to be a youth group activity at First Presbyterian Church. He was wearing a green shirt and had blond hair. What were you thinking? Did his meeting start at 5:30 and you thought you could turn back time? Did putting everyone on the road at risk worth however important this event was? What impression did you leave on this boy? What kind of driver and adult will he become? The ironic thing was your destination of what appeared to be a church-sponsored youth event based on the group of teens on the church lawn that your son joined. Drive like the devil to make a church event and everyone in my way be d****d. Not very Christian-like, neighbor.

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The real question is why are PTC citizens having to fight Harold Logsdon, Steve Boone and Mike Harman to keep our quality of life. If the three will resign, we will all be a lot better off. The council should be defending us instead of opposing us.

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I am very disappointed in those other greedy homeowners. To buy houses on multi-acre lots on Estate Residential on Robinson Road and then try to rezone and flip them into a massive subdivision, that is shameful.

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Peachtree City residents, if you are not active in city activities then stop complaining. Move into action and start by voting for two councilmen that will support the city plans, ordinances, vision of the city and vision of the citizens. None of us moved here for more shopping or traffic. Let’s start by having some councilmen that are not in the back pocket of developers, who have a clear personal philosophy for operation that benefits the city while taking into account the views of the citizens. Recently we were able to see again the clear divided camps on city council. Mayor Harold Logsdon and Steve Boone continue the dog and pony show at council meetings and rush to take votes. Cyndi Plunkett and Stuart Kourajian create an open forum of discussion and debate for the purpose of gathering information to make informed decisions. Mike Harman recently took some key actions that will assist us in knowing his position on issues. The Citizen reported he openly provided a developer with pre-decisional information on his intended vote. This action gave the developer opportunity to withdraw his issue from the agenda before it got the vote that would kill it. So who do we have to thank for keeping the Kohl’s big box issue alive? Recently the council voted on a large senior living center that would house hundreds of active over-55 adults. Why is added traffic and cost to the city an afterthought of our city officials? The development was negotiated on the spot but the magnitude of the development was not addressed. The final decision was unclear since the motion was too complex for any councilman to describe. Thanks to Cyndi and Stuart for being clear on their concerns. All we heard from the mayor was at another similar development the folks were happy. Well that’s great, but what are the city impact issues? Not discussed by him. Council, take the time to the study the issues and be clear about any changes that are being worked through. If you are unclear postpone the vote until you have time to study the impact of your decisions for the short- and long-term benefit to the city. The status quo is not acceptable. The citizens need to show this through our votes.

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To the lady whose son was told his popcorn would not be purchased by some old fool because his father wouldn’t vote for John-boy Edwards: tell your son to go back and instead of selling popcorn ask for $400 for each Cub Scout to get a hair cut. Tell the old fool that each Cub Scout is trying to be just like John-boy and that if you toss in an extra $400 for his father he would consider voting for “The Breck Girl” as Rush calls him, or “Steroid Barbie” as I like to call him. Maybe that will help, plus it might generate more funds for the Scouts. One good lesson your son may learn from this is how nasty and hate-filled liberal Dumocrats are. Good luck.

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The school board in Portland, Maine, recently adopted a policy to give condoms and birth control pills to students as young as 11, without parental approval. The news reports indicated few parents protested the decision of the school board. Sounds like the number of statutory rape convictions will be going down in the Pine Tree State.

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We are in trouble whether you want to believe it or not. The only thing now to keep all of next year from also being even worse than now is a deluge similar to the flood of the Bible, not for 40 days, but all winter. I find it unusual that our state government kept waiting for rain for months before they even got interested. Local counties also knew of the problem, but of course, they never do much of anything about something of this nature. Has seven years of total neglect of our infrastructure in this country caused all of us to not recognize something like a serious drought even when it is obvious? I have not heard one serious leader in the metropolitan area speak about a plan of action. Oh, I have heard the drivel from the news announcers about not watering yards but keep watering cars at car washes, fix little leaks in your faucets, but not the one-third that leaks underground on the way to you, and of course buy new commodes that hold less water so you can flush twice instead of once. I wish to hear from my leaders that I elected. Leave the federal government out of it please or they will send FEMA with truckloads of ice to store, a little bottled water with which to cook and flush toilets and shower, and get a “good job, Brownie.”

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We need to thank Mayor Brown and the homeowners associations for the terrific announcements on the Kohl’s and the proposed subdivision on the corner of Robinson Road and Spear Road withdrawing. We all need to fight to protect our city’s integrity. I can’t remember a time when I’ve seen so many people express regret after an election as with Mayor Logsdon. The guy seems bent on destroying everything in our community. We’ve got a lot to fight for people, so keep challenging Logsdon and his developer friends when they pull these ridiculous stunts.

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I’m voting NO on the soccer ballot this November. But, I’m curious as to why I haven’t heard from the soccer clan advocating their $4M artificial soccer field. Your proposal is asking all of us to pay for this ridiculous and expensive endeavor. Alas, I guess it’s not ridiculous if you are the one in 1,000 persons who are going to get to use it. And I guess it’s not expensive if you can get someone else to pay for it. Just remember, they want you to subsidize their little darlings’ competitive soccer on a must-have artificial turf field. Real grass just isn’t good enough for their needs. Vote NO on this issue. Save $4M.

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Thank you to all the students at Huddleston Elementary for writing letters to the soldiers. I know every solider who gets these letters on Thanksgiving will feel a littler happier because of you. Thank you for helping our troops.

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Why does a certain high school band decide to go to a competition every year during the football season? This band is so possessed with their competitions that they do not care about anything else. Those of us who go to the football games also get tired of seeing and listening to the same show every week just so that they (the band) can better prepare for their competitions. What happened to the old half-time show of marching and playing John Philip Sousa type of music? You could almost go to sleep listening to what they play now. Thank goodness for the game. I know the parents of the band members enjoy seeing and hearing their child, but come on, the same show week after week.

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You may be on a well but you should still conserve the ground water, we may all need it. Tell that to Harp’s Nursery. They watered every day this week, even when it was pouring down rain. Also, who gives Cottle Strawberry Farm the right to tap into a water hydrant and water when the rest of us are asked to conserve. Do you think someone in government might be part owner? Makes you say hmmm.

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I went to my homeowners association yearly meeting the other day and I think people have forgotten what the three most important things in life are. The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. The third is to be kind.