The Fayette Daybreak Rotary Club had the privilege of honoring Officer Shawn Albe, the 2007 Tyrone Police Officer of The Year during a ceremony at the clubs regular Thursday morning meeting on January 24. This distinction has special meaning as it was bestowed upon Officer Albe by a vote of his peers in the police force. Tyrone Police Chief Brandon Perkins praised Officer Albe as "a man who loves his job, the citizens he protects, and his community" as well as a manager's dream employee. This honor is especially significant as Officer Albe only recently joined the Tyrone police force in May of 2007. Prior to this he worked for the Fayette County Marshall's office for three years.

The Sandy Creek Varsity Math Team should be congratulated on their recent win. On January 23, 2008, the Sandy Creek Math Team had the opportunity to participate in the Regional Tournament sponsored by Griffin RESA.

The time has come for Fairburn to take another step into its economic future. City council members Jan. 28 voted to amend the 2007-2008 budget and establish an economic development program.

What is poised to become a wetland mitigation bank on a 300-acre nature preserve site adjacent to Bohannon Road came a step closer to reality Jan. 28 as Fairburn City Council hired a consulting firm to determine the value of mitigation credits and form the bank.

Palmetto experienced a sea-change in elected leadership that began two years ago and continued in the November election. New Mayor John Miller recently shared his thoughts on city’s future, the immediate and long-term goals and the desire that the large number of residents who fostered that sea-change will continue their involvement on local government.

It is always good to see people willing to lend a helping hand. That was the case Thursday as members of the South Fulton/Fayette Community Task Force met with residents of the Buffington Road area who are living with damage to their homes and concerns about health from their close proximity to the Red Oak granite quarry.

Hector L. Zavala, 20, Fairburn, altered license plate, driving while unlicensed, tag light violation, theft by receiving stolen property

It was nothing short of a main event. And it was one that signaled a landmark statement about the need to protect Georgia’s injured wildlife. The Jan. 18 event was the Jack Hanna Gala Benefit fundraiser for the non-profit GROW (Georgia Rehabilitation of Wildlife) Center’s upcoming Wildlife Hospital and Clinical Research Center located at Cochran Mill Nature Preserve in Chattahoochee Hill Country. The fundraiser was held in the Oceans Ballroom at the Georgia Aquarium.

Fairburn City council met in closed session for more than an hour Thursday in a called meeting to discuss the reappointment of city clerk Nancy Faulkner, an appointment that was delayed at the council’s Jan. 14 meeting at the request of Councilman Mario Avery. The Thursday vote to reappoint was 4-2, with Avery and Councilwoman Elizabeth Hurst voting in opposition.

How green can you get? That was the question Jan. 12 as Fairburn City Administrator Jim Williams unveiled plans for environmentally responsible actions for consideration by the city council in coming months.

Officers Spratlin and Stripling responded to a call by the owner at approximately 3:30 a.m. and arriving at the station within a minute due to the Shell store’s close proximity to the police department across Carlton Road, said Det. John Cooper.

Fairburn Police Sgt. Aaron Baker has long worked behind the scenes to help under-privileged and needy residents. He does so without hesitation and is always quick to avoid any recognition. But that recognition came Jan. 14 as Mayor Betty Hannah presented Baker with a plaque signifying his contribution to the community and its residents.

When all was said and done, Thursday night’s meeting of the Tyrone Town Council amounted to housekeeping duties relating to the town charter. The items up for revision made no major changes the charter but did clear up the language and amend some portions of the charter that had not been addressed since 1998.

The following arrests were made by Fairburn Police between Jan. 8-15.

Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Do you often wonder how government-spending priorities are set and how your property tax rates are determined? Then again, you may want to know about the challenges faced by police officers and firefighters as they protect lives and property.

Christian City President and CEO Robert Crutchfield announced Jan. 21 the appointment of Terry Thompkins as Executive Vice President for Senior Operations at Christian City.

Fire was accidental; neighbors pitch in to help couple

A Tyrone woman escaped injury Tuesday afternoon when a fire started in her garage and eventually damaged the entire structure, officials said.

They came to Fairburn from across south Fulton County Jan. 11 to make a decision on their future. Before the meeting ended, residents voted to positively impact their many communities by forming the South Fulton Civic Association (SFCA).

It all looked simple enough. But it wasn’t. Annual housekeeping duties by Fairburn City Council in its first meeting of the new year Jan. 14 included the customary appointments of various city positions. But when the appointment of city clerk Nancy Faulkner came up Councilman Mario Avery asked for a delay, followed by a request by newly sworn in Councilwoman Elizabeth Hurst that the appointment of assistant city clerk Abril Montano also be delayed. The resulting delay by the council was followed by Faulkner Jan. 15 with charges of racial motivation.

Union City Mayor Ralph Moore cracked a smiled Tuesday night as he announced that Newell Rubbermaid will be locating an 800,000 square-foot distribution center inside the city. The move to Union City will add 300 jobs to the growing area.

The council chambers in Union City were packed Jan. 15 and the occasion for the standing room-only audience was clear. The year’s first meeting saw new council members Brian Jones and Vince Williams take the oath of office after their November victory at the polls. Also at the meeting, citizens were informed about new, increasingly strict rules for the public comments portion of public meetings.

The Chattahoochee Hill Country Conservancy Board of Directors is pleased to announce its new leadership for 2008. The organization will be led by Chairman, Joseph G. Martin, Jr. of Civitas, Inc.; Vice Chairman, Thomas K. Farmer of The Nature Conservancy; Secretary, Robert D. Mowrey of Alston & Bird, LLP; and Treasurer, Benjamin H. Hill of Georgia Institute of Technology’s Venture Lab. Other board members include James H. Kaminer, Jr. of Seyfarth Shaw, LLP and Steven R. Cover, Planning Commissioner for the City of Atlanta. The Conservancy’s executive director is Christine W. McCauley.

Another familiar face is now on the payroll in Tyrone.

Mallett Consulting was unanimously picked as the town’s engineer Thursday night after town manager Chris Venice gave a glowing report of her working relationship with the company when she worked for Fayette County. Mallet has worked with Fayette County for years and did work on the new courthouse, Lake McIntosh and numerous road projects.

The further rejuvenation of Shamrock Park in Tyrone got a boost Thursday night as the town Council unanimously approved a conceptual plan to renovate the downtown park.

The Village Market in Tyrone closed on Christmas Eve last year, much to the dismay of many Tyrone residents.

Well, Tyrone residents, the Spezzano family has come to the rescue.

A Jan. 10 burglary committed by a Fairburn man was solved one day later when Tyrone Police used a cell phone he dropped in the back yard of the Wynfield Drive residence to identify him.

It was an enthusiastic, packed house in the Palmetto council chambers Jan. 7 for the swearing-in of incoming Mayor John Miller, incoming Councilwomen Lorraine Allen and Natalie Beavers-McFadden and returning Councilman Leon Sumlin. Not incidental in the short meeting was an announcement by Miller that the council would establish a town hall meeting venue for residents to experience local government transparency and accountability.

Residents from around Fulton County came to the Coverdell government building Jan. 9 to make their positions known to nearly a dozen members of the county’s House and Senate delegation. South Fulton residents were clearly represented at the meeting, with concerns ranging from the potential restructuring of Fulton County Commission, calls for the formation of a township and keeping Grady Hospital intact to environmental concerns over the Red Oak rock quarry and the need to re-commission Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) and Georgia Dept. of Public Health (DPH).

It has been a personal and spiritual mission for Minister Danita Jones for a dozen years. That mission began in the Lightning district in Fairburn and transformed into In His G.R.E.A.T. Name Ministry that opened seven years ago. The ministry’s continuing goal is to revitalize the community and the lives of individual’s who reside far beyond its geographical boundaries.

Quick action by Union City Police moments after a Jan. 4 armed robbery in downtown Fairburn landed the perpetrator in jail.