$348 million must be cut from this year’s Ga. budget; school funding least hardest hit so far; frank talk by Seabaugh to Coweta teachers

It was like a classroom in reverse Nov. 19 as Georgia Senate Majority Whip Mitch Seabaugh (R-Sharpsburg) presented information on the reality of the current and upcoming state budgets to nearly three dozen Coweta County educators.

Seabaugh in the data-heavy presentation said he wanted teachers to understand the challenges ahead and asked that they consider potential cost-saving measures and forward those ideas to him.

To some he is controversial. To others he is right on target. But regardless the opinions, Republican gubernatorial candidate Ray McBerry will bring his States’ Rights Tour to Peachtree City Tuesday night.

Unlike last week’s public hearings, the two Neely Pond development proposals along Ga. Highway 16 just south of Sharpsburg came with no comment or discussion Tuesday night as Coweta County commissioners voted quickly and unanimously to deny both rezoning requests.

Mayor asks council to withdraw from deal with Coweta

Upset with a lack of communication from Coweta County library system officials, Senoia Mayor Robert Belisle asked his fellow council members Monday to withdraw from the library system and the city’s $21,000 funding commitment.

But water, sewer shortfall mean rate increases likely

Senoia’s 2010-2011 budget was unveiled at Monday night’s City Council meeting.

When downtown Senoia merchants gussie up their stores with Christmas lights this year, they will be doing so on their own dime.

Coweta firefighters can breathe a little easier with the unanimous decision Nov. 17 by county commissioners to approve the purchase of new breathing devices and other equipment. The new air-paks will replace the older, questionable equipment currently in use.

Girls involved in the juvenile court system are about to have a residential alternative that will meet temporary or long-term needs. The Coweta County Commission on Nov. 17 approved a conditional use permit for a non-profit transitional facility on Macedonia Road that can house up to 16 girls.

When it comes to Veterans Day events in schools there really nothing like the one held at Palmetto Elementary School. Now in its 14th year, the gym was again filled with students, teachers and community members intent on making a statement about their admiration and support for the U.S. military.

For the Coweta County School System it is a case of so far, so good when it comes to watching the budget and holding down expenses at this point in the 2009-2010 school year. Superintendent Blake Bass at the Nov. 10 board meeting challenged school principals to help continue what today is a system that is $1.2 million under budget.

“Im not afraid of the Tea Party people. I think I’m one of them.” Those were the words of Georgia Senate Majority Whip Mitch Seabaugh as he addressed a gathering of 60 people attending a Nov. 10 meeting of the Southern Crescent Tea Party Patriots at Maguire’s in Senoia.

It is well-known that an airport serves as both a mode of transportation and an economic engine for community. Newnan Coweta Airport manager Calvin Walker at the Nov. 3 meeting of the Coweta County Commission updated the board on airport operations and the local economic impact of the publicly-owned facility.

Coweta County commissioners last week approved the submission of an application for a federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) stimulus grant totaling $42,000 to be used to purchase routing software for the county’s transit system. Commissioners also approved the execution of a grant contract with the Georgia Dept. of Transportation (GDOT) and ARRA for a $20,800 no-match transportation grant awarded earlier this year.

The City of Newnan Police Department honors its Officer of the Year with the 2009 Newnan Coweta Jaycee Officer of the Year Award. Sgt. Charles Stapler received the award at the annual Newnan Coweta Jaycee Dinner on Nov. 7.

Coweta County Road Department has closed two roads due to the heavy rains and subsequent potential flooding.

Hood Road in the northern portion of the county has water crossing the road around 422 Hood Road.

Incumbent Senoia City Council members Larry Owens and Jeff Fisher retained their seats Nov. 3 in a three-way race that included Rockaway Road area challenger Harry Ramos.

Newnan Police Tuesday afternoon arrested Columbus bank robbery suspect John E. Johnston at a traffic stop after he had exited his home where a search warrant was about to be served.

The bond for north Coweta resident Alec Bryant McNaughton accused of killing his wife in February was set at $3 million last week by Coweta Superior Court Judge Quillian Baldwin. McNaughton had been denied bond earlier in the year.

The Senoia City Council Nov. 2 agreed to allow Scott Tigchelaar of Historic Development Ventures (HDV) to purchase a $50,000 Certificate of Deposit in lieu of acquiring a Maintenance Bond for the first five brownstones to be constructed on the Gin Property. Tigchelaar explained that such bonds are not available in the current economic climate.

Coweta County commissioners gave the go-ahead Nov. 3 for needed roadwork rehabilitation work on three-dozen county streets and roads. The work will likely be bid out rather than using inmate labor due to the size of the project.

The response to heavily involved accidents and emergencies in Coweta will soon be more easily facilitated with the acquisition of a heavy duty rescue vehicle approved Nov. 3 by the county commission. The half-million dollar budgeted purchase is funded with impact fees.

The Carnegie will be open this Saturday for Main Street Newnan’s Market Day crowd. Market Day is the best home grown, handmade or homemade products this side of Atlanta. 

Coweta County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) is hosting and the National Weather Service (NWS) is presenting a SkyWarn Storm Spotter class November 10th from 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. at South Metro Ministries located at 3935 Ga. Highway 34 East 34 iin Sharpsburg.

An Oct. 29 agreement between the Federal Reserve System and Georgia Bancshares, the holding company of Bank of Georgia (BOG), stipulates that the company will not declare or pay dividends and will not incur debt or buy or redeem shares without Fed approval.

The health departments in Fayette and Coweta counties have a very limited supply of H1N1 shots available.

State health Communications Officer Hayla Hall said Monday morning the vaccine is available for pregnant women only. Those receiving shots are required to have either verbal or written consent from their obstetrician.

The rehabilitation of Newnan’s landmark 1904 courthouse is about half way complete. Those familiar with the building prior to the rehab, along with the county’s newer residents who have never been inside, are in for a spectacular treat once the project is completed. Inside and out, the old courthouse will soon dramatically alter the downtown landscape.

Anyone who has a passing knowledge of downtown Newnan knows it is a virtual showplace. The Georgia Planning Association (GPA) knows it, too. GPA has recognized downtown Newnan as the recipient of the 2009 “Great Places in Georgia” award.

It is all about giving back, no matter what. That is the idea and the mission behind the recent formation of the non-profit Business Women of Fayette and Coweta.

Newnan animal warden Cyndi Hoffman announced Tuesday there was a confirmed case of rabies in the city. There were no humans affected with the disease.

The announcement last month of the selection of one of the new brownstones about to be constructed in Senoia as Southern Living magazine’s Idea House for 2010 has provided an added boost to the Cattle Baron’s Ball fundraiser and the Coweta/Fayette chapter of the American Cancer Society. They will be the recipients of the charitable proceeds from tours of the home that is expected to draw up to 40,000 people from around the country.