The nationwide economic slowdown will likely result in increased tax rates for many Americans. But not Coweta residents. County commissioners July 1 decided to rollback taxes to offset any net millage rate increase. Commissioners also decided to hold off temporarily on setting a date for a fire bond referendum.

The rehabilitation of Newnan’s landmark 1906 courthouse is nearly set to begin. Work on the $7.5 million Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax-funded (SPLOST) project will start up in early fall and is expected to be completed in 12-18 months.

While results of Coweta County’s Criterion Reference Competency Test for grades one through eight were released Monday, nearly 1,200 students and school administrators are really looking towards the middle of July as a crucial day.

Coweta residents may get the chance to address growing public safety needs as early as November by voting on a bond issue for $15-20 million in equipment and facilities for the county fire department. A successful vote in the referendum would offset a potential millage increase needed to meet county fire response requirements.

Looking for an adventure of a lifetime? All students going into third through eighth grades are invited to attend the Coweta 4-H Adventure Camp, July 7-11, at the Coweta County Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall on Pine Road. the camp will be a journey of the animal kingdom on a quest to discover the animal world as the expedition takes participants over the land through forests and streams.

The Newnan-Coweta Chamber of Commerce, in cooperation with the city of Newnan Convention Center Authority, is encouraging citizens to weigh in on the need and feasibility of constructing a new conference center in the city. All citizens of Newnan and Coweta County are urged to fill out a conference center survey online at www.newnancowetachamber.org before the deadline of July 7. Paper surveys are also available at the Chamber headquarters at 23 Bullsboro Drive in Newnan.

Sharpsburg Baptist Church recently celebrated the legacy of their beloved pastor, Dr. Watson Mills, who retired June 22. At the time of his retirement banquet, former Mercer University professor emeritus had served the church for 27 years, five months, four days, six hours, but who’s counting?

Eager readers gathered at the Senoia Library Wednesday morning to hear a presentation from Carroll Exterminating. The pest control folks brought lizards and other creatures to entertain the children. Photo/John Thompson.

Piedmont Newnan Hospital’s Radiology Department has added a new 3D/4D Ultrasound service that gives parents their first snapshot of their baby. The 3D/4D Ultrasound service captures images rapidly then animates them to offer patients a realistic view of their baby.

In an ongoing effort to provide congestion relief to motorists and efficiently maintain and preserve the integrity and safety of the interstate system, the Georgia Department of Transportation is reconstructing and resurfacing 28 miles of Interstate 85 between the Meriwether county line and SR 74/Senoia Road in Fulton County. The project will include an additional lane and the reconstruction of 17 bridges on I-85 from the Meriwether county line to SR 34 in Coweta County. The rest of the project from SR 34 to SR 74 in Fulton County includes rehabilitation and resurfacing. The pavement is in desperate need of repairs because this area has not been completely resurfaced or rehabilitated since it was originally built and opened to traffic in 1973.

Coweta County commissioners June 17 unanimously approved a conditional use request by Billy and Jacquelyn Ponder for the construction of a 7,000 square-foot, 250-seat church with 113 parking spaces on a 4.219-acre tract located at 417 Chestlehurst Road. Director of Planning Robert Tolleson said the property is approximately one-half mile east of the city of Senoia.

It was a landmark day June 14 for Coweta County residents using emergency dispatch services. The occasion was the long-awaited open house for the new Coweta Record Retention and 911 Center located at 195 Walt Sanders Memorial Highway off Ga. Highway 34 in Newnan.

Pathway Communities said it wanted to make an adjustment to street frontage and lot width at the recently approved 694-home Twelve Parks development near Sharpsburg. Coweta commissioners agreed to the variances, voting unanimously June 17 to approve a minimum 60-foot street frontage and an average minimum of lot width of 70 feet.

Two Coweta-Fayette EMC employees, Lanny Hammett and Chris Stephens recently spent several days in the Costa Rican community of Allemania helping wire a one room school house. Due to their dedication and hard work more children will now be able to attend school. Also, the line that is bringing electricity to this area was constructed in 2006 by a group of Georgia linemen, including two from Coweta-Fayette, through the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) International Foundation.

The Coweta County Board of Education approved a final operational budget of $175.9 million for the 2008-09 school year at their regular board meeting on June 10.

Coweta County Airport Authority is looking for ideas that will spur quality economic growth.

“There has been a great deal of discussion regarding the future of the Newnan-Coweta County Airport,” said Coweta County spokesperson Patricia Palmer. “The Airport Authority welcomes any proposals that would benefit the airport and the community in terms of economic development consistent with the community’s vision for quality growth.”

It’s good-bye Goody’s. The Newnan clothing store at Newnan Pavilion on Ga. Highway 34 is set to close as a part of a corporate restructuring measure with the June 9 filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Though the closing date has not been set, the Newnan store is one of 69 across 20 states that will cease operation.

This week by appointment of Coweta Judicial Circuit District Attorney, Peter J. Skandalakis, Superior Court Judge Jack Kirby swore in Robert Stokely, Solicitor General of Coweta County as a Special Assistant District Attorney for the Circuit.

A large oak tree on the southeast corner of the historic Coweta Courthouse square will be removed this week. The tree was damaged in a May thunderstorm. The tree, a water oak, lost a very large limb in the storm.

Piedmont Newnan Hospital has named Patricia “Pat” Johnson, RN director of acute care services. As director of acute care services, Johnson is responsible for overseeing 61 acute care beds including orthopedics, medical and surgical units.

“This has been one of the most difficult years I can remember for creating a budget.”

Those comments by interim Fayette County Administrator Jack Krakeel express the sentiments of many of the county’s government leaders during this budget cycle.

The Coweta County Board of Education approved a maximum price proposal submitted by the construction manager of the county’s newest elementary school, on Jim Starr Road in northern Coweta County.

It was an agreement of support that carries no obligation for supplying personnel or funding as the Coweta County Commission June 3 approved an Intergovernmental Police Service and Assistance Agreement with Tri-Cities Narcotics Task Force.

It is getting closer all the time. The 800,000 square-foot Fischer Crossing retail development moved a step closer to the beginning of construction with the approval June 3 by Coweta commissioners of the project’s development agreement. The development is located at Fischer Road and Ga. Highway 34 in east Coweta just west of Peachtree City.

The Coweta County Commission signed off June 3 on a move to bring a part of local history alive with the adoption of a resolution supporting the Georgia Dept. of Transportation (GDOT) Designation Application for the McIntosh Trail Scenic Byway.

The Coweta County Board of Education approved several assistant principal positions at a 6:30 p.m. called meeting on June 2, held at the Centre for Performing and Visual Arts.

The summer break did not last too long for many of Coweta County’s students.

School spokesperson Dean Jackson confirmed this week that 1,200 students will be headed to class starting June 2 for CRCT remediation classes.

As governments across the state scramble to build their budgets for next year, the Coweta County Board of Education tentatovely approved a $175.9 million operational budget this week.

The historic Gin Property in Senoia is now ready to become the latest addition to the major makeover of Senoia.

Project director Scott Tigchelaar said site improvements on the property adjacent to the Post Office should be completed by early July, allowing construction to commence on the first brownstones, factory lofts, live-work townhomes, and single family homes... all designed to blend seamlessly with Senoia's early 1900's architectural style.