Josh Vanderbush is a work in progress. Life for the soccer player and 2001 graduate of Starr’s Mill High School took a dramatic turn in mid-2005 after he sustained an injury that left much of his body paralyzed. Today, the Senoia resident has made significant progress on the road to having full utilization of his body. Now Josh is working with his father Rick and mother Linda to find the funds needed to defray the cost of the therapy he recently discovered, one that has him standing and taking his first steps in years after only a few weeks.

Spring planting is only a few weeks away. But this year in Palmetto, planting a garden is about to take on a whole new meaning. The city on March 8 is set to begin the week-long construction of a large community garden at Wayside Park on U.S. Highway 29. The citizen effort will include assistance from 10 students from University of Vermont’s Alternative Spring Break Program, Palmetto Elementary School Jr. Beta Club, Hill Country Montessori and Serenbe Organic Farms.

There has been a change in the commercial landscape in east Coweta County at Fischer Road and Ga. Highway 34. The northwest corner of the Fischer Crossing development is being sold to Bright-Meyers Peachtree City Associates, LLC. Development plans at this point are uncertain.

Keep Newnan Beautiful is joining national nonprofit Keep America Beautiful (KAB) in the Great American Cleanup as they campaign for a cleaner, greener America. This year Keep Newnan Beautiful has a goal of having as many volunteers as possible.

Proposed laws would crack down on metal recyclers

As instances of dangerous metal theft continue to rise across Georgia, proposed bills in the State Senate and House of Representatives aim to crack down on criminals by strengthening regulations for recyclers.

Maguire’s Family & Friends co-owner Wendy Maguire was unanimously approved Feb. 17 by Senoia City Council to serve on the city’s Downtown Development Authority. Maguire was unanimously recommended for the position Feb. 10 by DDA board members to fill the unexpired term of John Barrow. Photo/Ben Nelms.

Like other tax levying entities across the state, Coweta County School Board members are waiting to see what happens with state funding and the local economy as they look to the next school year that begins in July. For the moment, Coweta is $3.3 million to the good on its $176 million general fund budget with $18 million in reserves. But that could change, as economic shocks from the recession could mean up to $9.45 million in lost revenues and increased costs.

It was not the usual winter storm Wednesday, as portions of south Coweta County were struck by a tornado and much larger areas of the county encountered high wind, torrential rain and hail. Two dozen homes suffered significant damage as the tornado moved eastward for approximately four miles in north Meriwether and south Coweta counties.

Senoia City Council conducted public hearings and made a few changes to proposed new ordinances Feb. 16 covering rules and regulations for park use, speed limits and miscellaneous offenses. The ordinances were posted for the first reading at the council that followed. The council postponed the solid waste ordinance until the next meeting so that portions of the ordinance could be reviewed.

Representatives of Vulcan Materials Company scored two victories in two months in appearances before Coweta County commissioners. Over the opposition of area residents, the board Feb. 17 approved a variance request to reduce the setback for the Madras Quarry located near Ga. Highway 154, U.S. Highway 29 and I-85. Commissioners in late December approved a Special Use permit that allowed the quarry to expand mining activities.

The Patrons of the Centre is a membership organization dedicated to supporting The Centre for Performing and Visual Arts of Coweta County. Its mission is to sustain a vision of artistic excellence for our community. Patrons of the Centre share their time, talents and resources to ensure that our community’s commitment to the arts continues to grow and prosper. Member generosity supports events presented by The Centre for Performing and Visual Arts, and in partnership with the Coweta County Board of Education increases student and community exposure to the arts.

It has been in the works for a long time, but the announcement finally came earlier this week that Harrisburg, Pennsylvania computer products and consumer electronic company D&H Distributing will open a 476,000 square-foot high-tech distribution center in Newnan in early May and will create approximately 100 jobs.

Theirs is a completely different take on an issue that had hundreds of citizens up in arms recently and the Coweta County Commission responding to citizen demands. But for Coweta resident Justin Huggins and his group, Cowetans for Starship, Coweta’s denial of a business license to the Thomas Crossroads location of Starship Adult Novelties & Gifts drew support for store owner Kelly Rogers at a rally Feb. 7 by a handful of the group’s reported 454 members.

Senoia Downtown Development Authority (DDA) voted unanimously Feb. 10 to recommend that the city council establish an ordinance to address commercial vehicles parking on Main Street. Board members said they will review sample ordinances before presenting a recommendation to the council.

Coweta County School Board announced Feb. 10 that Elm Street Elementary School Principal Dr. Julie Raschen has been selected to head the new Brooks Elementary School on Jim Starr Road in north Coweta when it opens for the 2009-10 school year.

Green isn't just the color of Spring in Coweta County; it's also the theme of a new arts event sponsored by the Cultural Arts Committee of Senoia's Downtown Development Authority. On Saturday, April 25th from 10 to 6, Historic Downtown Senoia will celebrate Earth Day with a sidewalk art show featuring artists who work with recycled materials.

 Coweta-Fayette EMC, the Electric Membership Cooperative created in 1947 to service Coweta and Fayette Counties, has appointed a dedicated President and CEO for its natural gas service, Coweta-Fayette EMC Natural Gas. The move will help the utility further position itself to meet the changing needs of both its electric and natural gas customers.

Senoia’s new downtown development coordinator has hit the ground running. Stephanie Savage may be new to the job, but she is not new to Senoia or to business development.

Savage served for 15 years as business development manger with Select Medical Corp. at the company’s six area facilities, traveling daily between south metro Atlanta and Columbus.

Senoia City Council Feb. 2 reviewed what were said to be needed ordinances ranging from loitering, and keeping a disorderly house to matters of public urination and defecation. A public hearing for the proposed ordinances is expected at the next council meeting.

Coweta County commissioners agreed with Public Safety Director Dennis Hammond Feb. 2 and voted to make application to join the Western Area Regional Radio System (WARRS) group. If approved, the move will provide better public safety communications at a reduced cost.

Newnan Police Department has issued a warning of another of the internet scams that continue to plague the worldwide web. The most recent scam showed up through the department’s email, said Newnan Public Information Officer Gina Snider.

Low bidder Terry Jackson and Associates, Inc. won approval Feb. 2 from Coweta County Commission for the installation of a traffic signal at Poplar Road and Newnan Bypass East.

“Piedmont Newnan Hospital Sleep Center and the Newnan-Coweta Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting and open house at the Sleep Center’s new location in Sharpsburg on January 22.

Senoia Police Capt. Jason Edens is sworn in Feb. 2 as the city’s new Police Chief. The 14-year veteran was sworn in by city court Judge Sharon Pierce at a brief ceremony following the city council meeting.

Governor’s Honors – held each summer at Valdosta State University - is a highly competitive six-week summer instructional program designed to provide intellectually gifted and artistically talented high school students challenging and enriching educational opportunities not usually available during the regular school year.

The attempt by Kelly Rogers to open his Starship Adult Novelties and Gifts location at Thomas Crossroads evolved to another level earlier this week when Coweta commissioners in a called meeting adopted ordinances on sexually-oriented businesses and obscenity. His store now stocked and having already applied for his business license, Rogers said he will not be deterred and will either be granted the business license or go to court.

“This is your forum.” Those were the words of Palmetto Mayor John Miller Jan. 24 as more than two dozen residents met for a Saturday morning town hall meeting at Mt. Pleasant AME Church. The meeting was the second of two held Saturday.

Senoia council members are considering changes to the solid waste ordinance as it relates to the location of trash containers and how long they can stay streetside before and after trash pick-up. Mayor Robert Belisle asked the council to make suggestions and forward them to city administrator Richard Ferry.

Senoia City Council Jaqn. 26 unanimously approved a new job description for the Downtown Development Coordinator position.

Northgate High School was honored as a 2008 Georgia School of Excellence on Friday, Jan. 23, at the Georgia Department of Education’s 2nd annual Excellence Awards banquet.