In which city can you find street signs written in Pinyin, the phonetic spelling of the local language using the Roman alphabet? Most Fayette students would know the answer: Beijing.

Thanks to the generosity of businesses and individuals who supported the Fayette County Education Foundation this year, $24,849 in mini-grants will be given to Fayette’s schools for the 2006-2007 academic year.

To enhance the study of Ancient Cultures, the second grade enrichment class at Crabapple Elementary took a field trip to the Michael C. Carlos Museum at Emory University. The students observed many artifacts from ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome. In addition, the dance department organized a movement class taught by students at the university. The enrichment students designed and performed pieces they choreographed with the Emory students on the rise, rule, death and burial of an Egyptian pharaoh.

Fayette County’s Adrian Crowder, a radiologic technology student at Griffin Technical College, was named local winner of the Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL) program at a luncheon held March 14 at the Griffin Elks Club. The GOAL luncheon was sponsored by the Griffin Exchange Club and was coordinated by Sandra Bryant from Griffin Technical College. The Griffin-Spalding Chamber of Commerce also assisted in this process by selecting the school GOAL winner.

Nearly 300 students with a grade point average of 93 and above attended McIntosh High’s Academic Luncheon.

The following arrests were reported by local law enforcement agencies for the past week. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty.

A Clayton County youth minister was found guilty Monday of charges that he used an online chat room to arrange a sexual encounter in Peachtree City with a girl he thought was 15 years old.

People traveling on Ga. highways 34 and 54 west should prepare for another change in traffic flow relating to the road widening project starting Wednesday morning at 8 a.m.

A traffic stop in Fayetteville last week resulted in the arrest of two men suspected of stealing items from cars in Fayetteville, Union City, Atlanta and Morrow, police said.

The only white candidate in a five-person race, Fayetteville businessman Robert Horgan coasted to a nearly 52% victory in the special election to fill the unexpired remaining 33-month term for Post 1, Fayette County Commission. With 37 precincts out of 38 total counted Tuesday in Fayetteville, the unofficial final tally (without absentee ballots) is as follows:

As further evidence of the trouble teens can get into in cyberspace, a local girl testified in court Monday that she used the Web site “MySpace” to communicate with a 19-year-old male in July just before she had sexual relations with him. She was 14 years old at the time.

Fayetteville customers, prepare to pay a third more for your water and sewer service over the next three years.

A recent water and sewer rate study has resulted in a recommendation that Fayetteville increase water and sewer rates 33 percent over three years and increase the sewer proportionate share fee.

McIntosh's Brittany Schneider (15) takes a shot in the first half of last Friday's game against Starr's Mill.

Get ready to say bye-bye to those large yellow intersection warning signs that sprouted up last week on Ga. Highway 54 all the way from Peachtree City to Fayetteville.

Nine city-owned parcels along Ga. highways 54 and 74, all of which could be combined with nearby commercial development, will be reviewed for possible sale by the Peachtree City Council.

The Fayette County Board of Education learned Monday night that next year’s state funding won’t be quite as austere as previous years.

Cyclists race past Sams Auditorium in Sunday's criterium race through downtown Fayetteville.

A Republican candidate for the Fayette County Commission was not slighted because his information was not included in a party newsletter distributed recently, party chairman Lane Watts said last week.

The Fayette County High School Sports Hall of Fame committee had a surprise for one of its inductees: a high school diploma.

Fayetteville Planning and Zoning commissioners got a preview March 14 of the newest proposed addition to the growing number of medical facilities along Ga. Highway 54.

Students at Rising Starr Middle got some expert advice on investing money from financial advisor Angie Peterson of Raymond James and Associates.

Expansion Management Magazine has awarded Fayette County Schools its blue ribbon ranking.

The magazine, one of the world’s leading site location and facility publications, evaluates school systems mainly on their test scores and graduation rates. Fayette’s blue ribbon ranking places it in the top 33 percent of the 2,800 secondary school districts that were ranked nationwide.

Fayette’s middle and high school students earned a combined 65 ribbons at the annual Spoken Language Contest sponsored by the Foreign Language Association of Georgia (FLAG).

The Fayette County School System announced the Georgia Lottery funded Pre-K program at Tyrone Elementary will be moved to Crabapple Lane Elementary for the 2006-2007 school year.

This summer 19 of Fayette’s elementary, middle and high school teachers will participate in a grant program aimed at increasing students’ knowledge of the colonial era.

The Chamber is getting ready for the 18th Annual "Tune Up for the Masters" Golf Tournament photos.

The Metro Fayette Kiwanis will be holding its 11th pancake breakfast March 25.

Hurricane Katrina brought sixth grader Mason Bonano to J.C. Booth Middle School last fall, where he was welcomed with open arms by students and teachers alike. During his time at Booth, Mason formed deep friendships with his classmates; he was showered with kindness and support while staying in Peachtree City. The Bonano family was able to return to their home in New Orleans, and now, Mason is finishing his year at his old school.

What is it like to be in charge of one of the top performing school systems in the state? Joey Curtin of Starr’s Mill High got a chance to experience first hand how it feels to be the person responsible for Fayette’s 29 schools and its more than 22,000 students.

Before the final bell rings on a Friday afternoon, many students are already planning what they are going to do with their two-day break from school. Returning to school on a Saturday for more learning probably is not among their plans.