On April 24, 2006, the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) will begin examining all aspects of the Fulton County Police Department’s policies and procedures, management, operations and support services. This process is taking place so that the Fulton County Police Department will receive its reaccreditation.

Palmetto Fire Department will flush and inspect all city fire hydrants beginning April 10 through April 21.

Site plans for two recently proposed businesses along the Ga. Highway 74 corridor were approved March 27 by the Fairburn City Council. Council members approved plans for an indoor soccer complex on Oakley Industrial Boulevard and a small animal hospital on Hwy. 74 near the Fayette County line.

Sometimes there is just more to the story. Such was the case recently in Fairburn when investigations by city police related to reports of an armed robbery and a home invasion led to the arrest of the men reporting the crimes.

Union City council members March 21 approved a measure allowing the city to apply for a $100,000 federal Land and Water Conservation Fund grant to purchase property for a city park.

The following arrests were made by Fairburn Police between March 8 and March 14:

Corey Robinson, 20, Fairburn, criminal trespass

The turnout may have been small in this off-year election but voters had their say. Union City voters March 21 overwhelmingly approved two bond referendum items totaling $12.5 million, designed to upgrade city streets and public safety infrastructure.

On a rainy, chilly Sunday in the Hill Country residents and guests of the Serenbe Community are treated to the soulful and sometimes folk musical talents of Elise Witt on guitar.

Harry Andrea Jones had his day in court. When it was done, he found was guilty of felony murder and aggravated assault and sentenced to life plus 15 years.

Fairburn Planning & Zoning commissioners at the March meeting gave their approval to an annexation and zoning request that would turn a 55-acre residentially zoned site on Creekwood Road into one zoned M-1 (Light Industrial). The proposal includes trading 16 acres of city owned property for an equal number of acres owned by Simmons Vedder.

It has been 28 years since the Rico community had a library. It was located at the old Rico Elementary School. But that was then and this is now. Today the doors are open at Rico Public Library, located at the newly opened Rico Cultural Center at 6505 Rico Road.

It is a race for love, a race for life.

It is a race born in the love for four year-old Riley Peek. It is a race determined to enhance awareness and participation and to raise needed research funds for the Mitochondrial disease that affects this precious little girl and so many other children. Now in its second year, the Race for Riley fundraising event will be held April 29 at Georgia Baptist Children’s Home in Palmetto.

It’s another business planning to open its doors along Ga. Highway 74 in Fairburn.

Palmetto council members earlier this month heard the first reading of two amendments to city nuisance ordinances. The change removes the requirement to issue a 30-day warning for violations at single-family residences, providing instead for potential of the immediate issuance of a citation by city code enforcement if conditions warrant. The initial vote on the measure was 5-1.

Members of South Fulton Democratic Committee are joined March 13 by Asst.

Chattahoochee Hill Country Conservancy has relocated its offices from Hutcheson Ferry Road to the heart of the Rico community. The decision to relocate, paired with other new community initiatives, took the old school and recreation center on Rico Road off Fulton County’s chopping block and put it firmly in the hands of the community.

It’s another step along the way. It is one that many said could not be done. Yet it sailed through the Georgia Senate on a 49-0 vote.

Play ball. Soccer, that is. If approved by the City Council, a March 7 recommendation by Fairburn Planning & Zoning commissioners will put a 48,000 square-foot indoor soccer complex on Oakley Industrial Boulevard near Ga. Highway 74.

Palmetto is set to go back in time to bring the past into the present. An unsuccessful 2003 attempt to secure a federal grant to restore the historic 1914 train depot turned to gold recently when Palmetto got official word that the city had been awarded a $1 million Transportation Enhancement Grant to make the project a reality.

Lisa Stone could not have been happier. As General Manager of the new Hampton Inn at Ga. Highway 74 and Oakley Industrial Boulevard, Stone told Fairburn Planning & Zoning commissioners she was ecstatic to be annexed into the city.

A man responsible for burglaries in Palmetto and Fairburn turned himself in to Palmetto Police Tuesday.

David Lacroix, 20, of Decatur, was charged with two counts of burglary and one count of criminal trespass in the incidents, according to Palmetto Det. John Cooper.

Back in 1982 Delta Airlines was going through a tough time, and the employees of Delta decided to raise money to buy the company a brand new 767 jet ($30 million), affectionately named the “Spirit of Delta”. The Home for Children at Christian City had a wonderful relationship with Delta and the children began to work odd jobs to also raise money to help Delta. One of the young boys at the Home for Children, Adam Pepper, who was 6 years old at the time, presented the President of Delta with the money raised by the Home for Children. When the President of Delta told Adam how grateful he was, Adam pulled a quarter out of his pocket, which he had been saving for a candy bar, and gave it to the President, saying you need this more than me.

The following arrests were made by Fairburn Police between Feb.22 and March 7:

Kelvin Henderson, 23, Union City, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute

The growth of development south of I-85 in Fairburn is obvious. Anticipating the water needs that will accompany future growth was the impetus Feb. 27 for the City Council’s approval of a study to generate a water system hydraulic model of the area.

It is more than a business. It is more than a family fitness center. It is a community. For Workout Anytime Family Fitness Center owner Daniel Bryant, it is a dream come true.

A decision Feb. 21 by Union City council members created an outside work program for minimum custody inmates at South Fulton Municipal Regional Jail.

Fairburn council members Feb. 27 approved a contract to upgrade the old Fireside Wastewater Pump Station using funds from the sewer bond account. The $303,243 low bid was awarded to Newnan-based Ronny D. Jones Enterprises.

Union City Council Feb. 21 approved a Pay and Classification Study designed to help recruit and retain city employees. The study will be conducted by Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC).

Students at West Elementary School recently participated in the Million Minute Reading Challenge. The school accomplished their goal this month. Photo/Special.

Union City Police have put the skids on a locally developing drug smuggling tactic, having netted 280 pounds of marijuana in the past three weeks valued at nearly $333,000.