The Fayette County Branch of NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) held a press conference Jan. 31 in Fayetteville to focus attention on two recent church shootings at Flat Rock A.M.E. Church in central Fayette and Bethlehem Baptist Church in Peachtree City. Gunshots struck the two churches while they were unoccupied. The FBI is investigating the mid-January shootings.

Fayetteville City Council will have a short agenda Thursday night, but it will be one with an uplifting beginning. City employees Timothy Bolton and Karen Austin and E-911 operator Carmen Rivera will receive a proclamation for helping save a life.

For Fayetteville Water Department employees Timothy Bolton and Karen Austin, it was not work as usual.

But their efforts Jan. 26, and those of E-911 dispatcher Carmen Rivera, saved the life of a man who collapsed in his yard in full cardiac arrest.

Reading and memorizing a poem is one thing, but making it come alive in front of an audience is a real feat and that is exactly what Fayette’s elementary students did at the county’s annual Recitation Festival.

The Fayetteville Police Department is seeking local citizens to attend its third annual Citizens Police Academy.

The academy consists of two-hour classes on Tuesday nights starting at 6:30 p.m. March 17. Different areas of police work will be covered each week, taught by certified police officers, supervisors and civilian instructors with special expertise.

The Quality Assurance Review Team of AdvanceED has recommended the Fayette County School System for District Accreditation as a quality school system.

The team has been undefeated in the past two seasons.  The McIntosh Academic Team competed in five Regional Academic Bowl events to finish first in the 8 county Griffin RESA area. The top 5 Varsity and Jr.

Fayette’s middle schools had the most placements at the Griffin RESA Regional Academic Bowl, resulting in the teams securing three of the top five.

Increase needed to fund $15M for Lake McIntosh reservoir

Faced with borrowing an estimated $15 million to complete the Lake McIntosh reservoir, Fayette County officials will be considering an increase in water rates this year and next.

***Update-4:52 p.m.*** Atlanta Police have confirmed that they are working with Peachtree City Police in an attempt to locate relatives of the 29-year-old woman found dead Sunday in a vehicle in northwest Atlanta, according to Atlanta Police spokesperson Officer James Polite.

Changes include hike in medical premiums, shrinking building staff and no pay raises

Peachtree City City Manager Bernie McMullen will propose a number of other areas to cut as the city tries to whittle down an anticipated $3.5 million shortfall in the coming fiscal year’s budget.

Bill would outlaw cellphone use for drivers under 18

The Youth Council Serving Fayette County is asking legislators to put a halt on a potential law that would ban all cellphone use for drivers under 18.

The Georgia House of Representatives today approved a bill that would ultimately fund the full obligation of a tax relief grant to all local governments.

The Carrollton physician indicted in May on charges of illegally dispensing prescription drugs from 2002 until his arrest in 2007 pleaded guilty today in federal court in Newnan to all 175 charges in a superceding indictment. Dr. Philip C. Astin III was the personal physician for wrestler and Fayette County resident Chris Benoit.

The financial situation at Fayette County School System for the remainder of the 2008-2009 school year is one thing. But it is what is coming for the new school year beginning July 1 that poses a much bigger problem. Board members Tuesday heard a series of presentations intended to clarify the situation and lay the groundwork for budget decisions expected to culminate in March.

It was simple math Tuesday night as the Fayette County School Board voted unanimously to furlough a number of school system employees before the end of the fiscal year June 30. The measure will create $303,200 in budget savings that will offset a projected $240,332 deficit for the same period.

Three residents of Tyrone and Fayetteville have been arrested on drug charges resulting from two recent investigations by Fayette County Sheriff's Office Tactical Narcotics Team (TNT).

The celebration last week with the inauguration of President Barack Obama extended to participants at the 2009 Georgia Inaugural Gala.

The east Fayetteville bypass project may fall by the wayside as $7 million in state funding projected for the effort has come into question.

Fayette to cut 23 unfilled jobs in 2010 budget; health premiums, take-home cars being targeted

Fayette County employees may be facing some big changes in the coming fiscal year because of a downturn in sales tax revenues.

Danielle Mathis and her husband Nate were two of about 2 million people who made their way to Washington, D.C., last week for the inauguration of President Barack Obama.

An inventory of items owned by the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office has turned up some irregularities, new Sheriff Wayne Hannah told county commissioners last week.

The Fayette County Chamber of Commerce held its 42nd annual banquet last Saturday evening, with nearly 200 members attending.

The Dreambuilder Award was begun in 2002 by then chair, Mike Hofrichter. It is given to an individual(s) who has contributed to the community and the chamber over a long period of time.

Resident called 911 from closet

A burglar picked the wrong north Fayette house to target Tuesday morning.

A Riverdale man was arrested Jan. 22 after stealing a Blu-ray disc player at the Best Buy store at Fayette Pavilion. He was detained by store personnel until officers could arrive.

A Fayetteville man was arrested Jan. 22 on family violence and other charges in an incident at his home involving his girlfriend and mother.

A man was robbed at gunpoint outside the Food Depot at Banks Station Jan. 23 after cashing his paycheck, Fayetteville police said. The two robbers fled in what was thought to be a Honda car, police said.

When it comes to crunching numbers, Fayette’s high school students know how to get the job done. They dominated the Griffin RESA 2009 Regional High School Math Contest bringing home two first place wins and sweeping the individual winners category.

On Saturday, Feb. 7 at 10 a.m., the Fayette County Republican Party will convene Precinct Mass Meetings to elect Delegates and Alternate Delegates to the Fayette County Republican Party Convention.

Peachtree City Police have made no arrests but continue to interview multiple individuals in relation to the Jan. 22 shooting at the 1024 Ridgefield Drive residence where 36-year-old Philip Shawn Curl was shot in the abdomen and sustained non-life-threatening injuries.