Health, medical, public safety and emergency management staff from Fayette County and beyond assist community volunteers in Operation Rapid Response Thursday at Fayette County High School.

The emerging community of Serenbe is already known for its celebrations. The most recent came Feb. 17 with the opening of the Selbourne courtyard located adjacent to the Blue Eyed Daisy Bakeshop and Studio Swan gallery.

Friendship Village Project Manager and former Chattahoochee Hill Country Conservancy Executive Director Stacy Patton gives Chatt Hills residents a close-up view of the hill country’s first proposed village at a Feb. 20 town hall meeting at Cochran Mill Nature Center.

Tyrone planning comm denies downtown rezoning request

A move by the Tyrone Town Council to begin a new phase of commercial and residential development in the downtown area was met Thursday with a vote by the town’s planning commission that calls into question the Main Street District’s development plan adopted by the council in May 2006. Citing the lack of sewer and variables such as higher density and a significant increase in traffic that would accompany the proposed development, planning commissioners agreed with citizens and denied one of the rezoning requests. That move led Old Town Tyrone developer Burt Clark to request that the other be tabled.

The Union City Council Feb. 20 approved a $157,000 contract with Brentwood, Tennessee-based RPM Transportation Consultants, LLC Tuesday to develop the South Fulton Parkway Corridor Plan for the 6.5-mile portion of the parkway recently annexed by the city. The study will focus on land use and transportation in the 4,100-acre annexed corridor area. The three-part motion included hiring RPM, accepting business donations to help fund the study and allocating $25,000 from the city’s Capital Improvement budget to help address the balance of funding needed.

Traffic congestion from vehicles feeding onto I-85 in Fayette, Coweta and south Fulton counties just keeps getting worse. Attempting to address the bad dream destined to become a traffic nightmare, the Tri-County Alliance was born more than a year ago to address those problems and provide the impetus for solutions.

He was just the man for the job. Cliftondale resident Bruce Moody continues his service to the south Fulton community with his recent appointment by Commissioner Rob Pitts to Fulton County Planning & Zoning Commission.

There always seems to be some kind of celebration at Serenbe. Last weekend was no exception with the opening of the new Ryan Gainey-designed Selbourne courtyard adjacent to the Blue Eyed Daisy Bakeshop and the acknowledgment of the Daisy’s certification by Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEEDS).

It was a sign of the times. The familiar kiosk signs on the South Fulton Parkway denoting new residential development are about to be a thing of the past. At least in Union City.

Tyrone’s city leaders will outline the town’ future during today’s retreat in Peachtree City.

The all-day season begins at 9 a.m. at the Hampton In and starts with opening remarks from Mayor Sheryl Lee. Next, the Town Council will get an update on the city’s fiscal health, including a report from the recently completed audit.

This photograph, supplied by law enforce

While waiting their turn to race, Tyrone Boy Scouts Aaron Newson, left, and Alberto Yanar passed the time chatting during action at the district Pinewood Derby race at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Peachtree City last weekend.

Tyrone interim Police Chief David Mullis receives a check for $20,743.70 by Sheriff Randall Johnson.

Clinton Simmons, a retired NASA scientist made a return visit to Bear Creek Middle School to share his expertise in research, problem solving and NASA’s space missions.

South Fulton Concerned Citizens members Benny Crane (left) and Bruce Moody present information Feb.

Last year ended with the issues of annexation of unincorporated land in south Fulton decided. But then again, maybe not. Bills introduced last week in the Georgia House by 66th District Rep. Virgil Fludd, 64th District Rep. Roger Bruce and Rep. 65th District Sharon Beasely-Teague are potentially calling some of those annexations into question.

Fairburn City Council approved the renewal of the lease for courthouse to the Old Campbell County Historical Society at the Feb. 12 meeting. Custodians of the courthouse for 36 years by agreement with Fulton County and, more recently, by Fairburn, concerns were raised in November over the appropriateness of leasing to the historical society due to issues such as the presence of the Confederate flag and other Confederate memorabilia in the old courthouse.

Organizers called the event “The Keys to Your New City.” Members of South Fulton Concerned Citizens (SFCC) Feb. 12 used the backdrop of Cliftondale Community Center as the most recent venue to promote the June 19 vote to officially form the new city of South Fulton.

Next week’s Planning Commission meeting in Tyrone could be contentious as a neighborhood group is rallying support against a proposed development.

It seems that South Fulton County is always on the radar screen these days. This week was no exception, when Gov. Sonny Perdue named Chattahoochee Hills resident Steve Nygren to the board of Georgia Dept. of Community Affairs.

The Chattahoochee Hill Country Conservancy has announced its new leadership for 2007. The Conservancy is a non-profit organization working to create and implement innovative land use and conservation programs that protect the environment, enhance the quality of life, and promote sustainable economic growth.

After nearly six years of work by its staff, the town of Tyrone will finally get to have one its dangerous railroad crossings fixed.

The legacy you leave is the legacy you live. And for recently retired Atlanta Brave Marquis Grissom that legacy may well reside as much with the development of young ball players as it did with his accomplishments in the major leagues.

Any metropolitan area experiencing rapid growth will also see an increase in some types of criminal activity. The cities of south Fulton are no exception to that reality. But some of those crimes can be prevented if residents are watchful and report suspicious activity.

The long awaited renovation and restoration of the old train depot in Palmetto edged a bit closer to reality Feb. 5 with the approval of Canton-based Sutton Architectural Services, Inc. to provide engineering and architectural oversight to the $1 million federal Transportation Enhancement Grant project. At a 25 percent match, the city will be responsible for 25 percent of the project price.

The summer of annexation has given way to the year of incorporation, if many of the residents of the proposed cities of South Fulton and Chattahoochee Hills have their way.

Born 15 weeks too soon at 1 lbs. 12 oz. and 1 lb. 10 oz., no one knew if Christine and Camille Sharper would survive. They did after spending three and a half months in a neo-natal intensive care unit they were able to come home. They have scars from numerous IVs and tests which serve as a daily reminder of their early arrival and just how they are a few of the lucky ones. Parents Roderick and Adriane know the important role that March of Dimes research played in helping their twins get this far, so they are grateful for the chance to serve as the 2007 Fayette Ambassador Family. They will share their story to help the March of Dimes raise awareness and funds to fight premature birth – the leading cause of newborn death – and other serious threats to infant health.

Coweta-Fayette EMC recently awarded a $6,500 grant to the Real Life Center Store in Tyrone. Proceeds from the thrift store will help provide additional financial support for clients of the Real Life Center, a non-profit organization that provides help for families and individuals who are going through an unexpected difficult circumstance.

Tyrone Elementary is the latest school to be added to Fayette’s list of Schools of Excellence.

Tyrone was one of 25 schools throughout the state that met the criteria for the award from the Georgia Department of Education. The school received the honor in the “student achievement” category. This distinction means that Tyrone is the top ranking school in the 8th Congressional District and is in the top 10 percent of schools in Georgia. The school is now eligible for consideration as a No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon nominee.

In a move that left many residents stunned, Pathway Communities has decided to drop its annexation request to the Town of Sharpsburg.