Fayette’s elementary students showcased their recitation skills during the 2006 Fayette County Elementary Recitation Festival.

Most students are only halfway through the current school year but for those families considering private school for the 2006-2007 school year, now is the time to get started on the enrollment process.

Whitewater Creek Country Club, newly acquired by Canongate Golf Clubs, recently began renovations to restore the once highly regarded club to its original splendor.

Ilya Abelsky, noted Russian jewelry designer and creator of the 800-piece collection that continues the tradition of the heralded 19th century Carl Faberge, jeweler to the Russian Imperial Family, will exhibit his hand-crafted miniatures here in a special, two-day Valentine exhibition Feb. 13-14 at Mucklow’s Fine Jewelry.

Southern Oaks will host a luncheon and tea for Red Hat ladies called “Red Hats/Red Hearts" on Feb. 14 at 11 a.m.

Hostess Michele Cox, owner of Southern Oaks, will give a presentation on “The Language of Flowers,” as guests enjoy a luncheon of finger foods and several varieties of tea, including “red” tea. Flower expert Nettie Wilson will demonstrate hot to make a “tussie mussie,” and guests are invited to make their own wrist corsages.

The third time was the charm for the Starr’s Mill varsity boys basketball team. They defeated Lovejoy, a team that had defeated Starr's Mill twice this season, 60-53 in the first round of the region 4-AAAAA tournament, earning them a spot in the AAAAA state tournament next week. The Panthers trailed 16-7 at the end of the first quarter but went on a 19-2 run in the second quarter and held Lovejoy to 10 total points in the second and third quarter. Mark Harris led the team in scoring with 28 points, while Spencer Shelton added 11.

The Youth Council Serving Fayette County will have an open discussion Tuesday evening about issues facing teens, particularly in light of the two suicides reported in the past two weeks.

Monday, Feb. 6
Region 5-A girls - Our Lady of Mercy High School
• Our Lady of Mercy vs. Greenforest Christian, 5:30 p.m.

The regular season of the high school basketball season ended over the weekend and the post-season, in the form of region basketball tournaments, has begun.

Starr’s Mill placed second in the area 4-AAAAA wrestling tournament over the weekend. The Panthers scored 204 total points, finishing behind Union Grove’s 219 but ahead of Fayette County’s 115.

The process of electing Fayette County commissioners could radically change if a bill authored by local legislators is approved by the Georgia General Assembly.

By Ben Nelms
bnelms@TheCitizen.com
and Michael Boylan

Mugsy the pug tries to will Leslie Pegg of Peachtree City to pay him lots of attention during Saturday’s dog fashion show at the Dog Park in Peachtree City.

It’s the issue that won’t go away and threatens to become an election topic later this year. From board meeting to vents on the Web, Fayette’s parents are upset at the number of illegal students attending the county’s public schools.

Is a roundabout design appropriate for a fairly busy intersection near McIntosh High School?

City won’t handle private property flooding problems

Stormwater bills will be on the way for Peachtree City residents if the City Council OKs the creation of a utility to handle stormwater drainage problems and maintenance.

The Fayette County Chamber of Commerce held its 39th annual banquet last Saturday and announced award winners in four categories.

A plan for up to 15 office buildings and an assisted living complex on Ga. Highway 54 got a firm thumbs down from the Fayette County Commission Thursday night.

A short agenda Feb. 2 at Fayetteville City Council will focus on funding for the Main Street Welcome Center and an Intergovernmental Services Agreement between the city, the Downtown Development Authority and Georgia Department of Community Affairs.

If you are driving by the Arby’s in Fayetteville and you glance over at the plaza behind it, your eyes are not deceiving you. Baci, the Italian restaurant that spent many years feeding and entertaining county residents, is back. While there is a new owner, former Coweta County resident Micah Dickey, he and former Baci co-owner Ayman Amin have teamed up to bring back the old menu and atmosphere of the original restaurant.

A 15-year-old Peachtree City boy apparently committed suicide at his home Saturday, police said.

Officers were called to the home around 10 a.m., and all evidence at the scene indicates that the action was “self-inflicted,” said Police Chief James Murray. The department will be awaiting autopsy and toxicology reports from the state crime lab before the investigation can be closed, Murray added.

As annual retreats go, the Fayetteville City Council Retreat Jan. 26 provided documentation in extraordinary detail. The 352-page document, from which most of the retreat was fashioned, centered on multiple aspects of city government and is accessible on the city’s Web site.

Chick-fil-A history was made in St. Petersburg, Fla. last week.

A Fayette County man will face the death penalty for killing a local businessman in July, District Attorney Scott Ballard has decided.

Friday, Jan. 27 - Girls
• Fayette County - 34 East Coweta - 18
• Starr's Mill - 48 Lovejoy - 34
• Creekside - 45 McIntosh - 35

The Fayette County swimming championships took place last Thursday and Starr's Mill's boys and girls combined to win their sixth straight county title.

She’s going to Hollywood and hopefully her stay will be long enough to crack the top 12 females and earn her a place when the competition really gets going.

A Fayetteville man fleeing a deputy in a stolen vehicle didn’t get very far Tuesday afternoon when he crashed into a school bus on Ga. Highway 92 south near HiLo Road, police said.

The Fayette County School System is getting more aggressive in making sure only Fayette County residents attend its schools.

The Fayette County varsity boys basketball team practices before heading into their final four games of the season.