It has been around forever but it is still brand new. Members from in and around the Rico Community gather May 18 for food and good conversation at the grand opening of Rico Cultural Center, Rico Library and Chattahoochee Hill Country Conservancy.

The City of East Point announced last week its intentions for annexation into unincorporated South Fulton County. Not only do those plans more than double the size of the existing city, they also overlap with the annexation plans of Union City.

The Fairburn City Council meeting June 6 may have a short agenda but it will be one that is significant for soccer fans across south metro Atlanta.

The following arrests were made by Fairburn Police Between May 17 and May 30:

Mary Garrett, 32, Palmetto, theft by takig

Tyrone’s proposed $5.3 million budget for next year has caused some serious pencil sharpening among the town’s staff.

Some 75 to 100 volunteers pitch in last Saturday to renovate Shamrock Park.

One of Tyrone’s most cherished events could soon come to an end, at least as a government-sponsored celebration.

During Wednesday night’s budget hearings, Tyrone Town Councilman Grace Caldwell advocated removing the $31,000 from next year’s budget for the festival known as Founder’s Day.

What began May 25 as a proposed site plan for a Millbrook office condo development took a step backward by meeting’s end. Tyrone Planning Commissioners voted to regard the proposal as a conceptual site plan after they expressed several concerns with the project.

Peachtree City Mayor Harold Logsdon is sending a letter to CSX Railroad opposing the company’s plans to build a parking area along the track just north of Home Depot and south of the Tyrone town limits.

A Fayette County man charged with killing a local businessman in July pled not guilty to the charges in court Thursday morning.

State Sen. Ronnie Chance of Tyrone has been appointed by Gov. Sonny Perdue as his floor leader in the Senate.

This means Chance will carry Gov. Perdue’s legislation as it goes through the legislative process. Duties include monitoring bills as they progress and carrying them to passage by the entire General Assembly.

Special to The Citizen

A national club aimed at fostering friendships between special needs and regular education students is gaining popularity at Fayette’s high schools.

Palmetto police are searching for an armed robbery suspect who held up a motorist May 19 at the U.S. Highway 29 Chevron station.

Residents from around the Chattahoochee Hill Country area meet May 20 at Cochran Mill Park to pick up roadside trash along Cochran Mill Road and South Fulton Parkway.

Fairburn City Council May 22 voted to increase water rates in response to the 11 percent price hike announced by the city of Atlanta. Fairburn’s increase will only affect water usage in excess of 2,000 gallons.

Two annexation requests totaling 8.74 acres became Union City’s first stab at increasing its size by 7,000 acres prior to the Oct. 30 state-mandated deadline.

Everybody loves a parade. And barbecue. And pony rides.

There are times when people need a good reason to get out, enjoy visiting with family, friends and neighbors, and just have a good time. Christian City in Union City provides all this, thanks to a group of volunteers who, three years ago, formed “The Arts Alliance of Christian City.”

Tyrone’s lack of sewer capacity could have a devastating impact on the downtown area.

Town manager Barry Amos told the City Council Thursday night that he had recent discussions with the Fayette County School System about Tyrone Elementary School.

At long last, the Tyrone Town Council has come to an accord on Shamrock Park.

After months of bickering, the Town council voted unanimously Thursday to accept the Shamrock Park redevelopment plan, along with the Main Street concept into the town’s upcoming comprehensive plan update.

The prospects for more restaurants in Tyrone improved Thursday night as the Town Council voted to make a change in the alcohol ordinance.

Tyrone Soccer is gearing up for their second season and they will have a select boys and girls team this year, either in U-14 or U-16, depending on tryouts. Tryouts will take place at the practice fields behind Sandy Creek High School, June 12-14 at 6 p.m. Players are asked to bring their equipment and water.

The summer of annexation really begins in the spring. Study plans and annexation efforts by cities in South Fulton County geared to a legislatively-imposed Oct. 30 deadline for annexation are largely under way. At stake are more than 11,000 acres adjacent to Palmetto, Fairburn and Union City and identified for possible annexation by those cities by October.

There is a real variety of fresh, farm grown fruits and vegetables each Saturday morning at Fairburn Farmer’s Market in front of the Old Freight Depot in downtown Fairburn.

For 40 years Christian City has amassed a rich history of providing care for children. Now poised to embark on its next four decades of service, the organization and the ministry stands at the threshold of providing those services in a way that may impact communities far beyond its campus in Union City. Joining the ministry to help meet those challenges is Special Assistant for Program Development Philip Kouns.

In a recurring series of appearances over the past few months, another High Point Road resident expressed her concerns May 16 to the Union City Council. Sylvia Floyd said she was concerned about Union City’s lack of community activities, especially the absence of recreational activities for youth. That concern were paired with others, including area crime and fast moving vehicles along High Point Road.

The anticipation of securing additional sewer capacity from Fulton County resulted in a May 16 vote by Union City Council not the extend the sewer moratorium on residential annexation, residential rezoning requests and preliminary plat approvals in existence since 2003.

While the new sewer deal with Fairburn is still awaiting Fairburn’s blessing, Tyrone officials are looking at seeing if Fairburn has any more capacity to sell.

Tyrone officials are still awaiting word from the Fayette County Board of Commissioners about the town’s request for recreation funding from the county.

The Tyrone Police Department was presented with a large check this week as part of its participation on the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department Drug Task Force.