Just a thank you to The Citizen Newspaper. In your May 13, 2009 Free Speech section, it stated there were no “end school zone signs” on Grady Avenue in Fayetteville. It’s funny how the signs were not there the morning of May 13, but by that afternoon, there were two brand new signs installed. Free Speech can get things done.

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Beware to those who walk by the fountain in the square in Fayetteville. If you treasure your head and body, watch out for the mockingbird who guards the bushes. She will dive and swipe at you three or four times. Note to self: Don’t mess with a mom and her babies!

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Will whoever stole the sun please return it? No questions asked.

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The Fayette County School System is a joke. I am a graduating senior at one of the local high schools. I have been an active member in the school through different clubs, and I’ve taken honors and AP classes that I was recommended for, and told I had no other option but to take them. Well, I have not gotten anything but annoyance from my AP classes. They don’t help for HOPE; they don’t help my class rank; they don’t even help me become an honors student even though I have taken all honors classes. They do me no good. It’s ridiculous. Kids who have taken nothing but easy courses all throughout high school are getting better GPAs and better scholarships then a student like me who has challenged herself and actually tried to get ready for college, instead of coasting through the last four years. Our school system doesn’t even care what a high school student does after the second semester nine week grades. That’s what counts towards your honor graduates’ cords. So students who push themselves throughout the school year get nothing for doing so if they were struggling the first nine weeks of second semester. I can’t believe a school system would punish those of us who actually try. We get nothing! So to all parents of now and future high school students: I discourage them from taking AP classes because although they tell you they get an extra five points on their averages, those five points mean nothing and do nothing.

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To the Whitewater Middle School PTA: Thank you for the constant attention and multitude of nice things you do for the students and teachers at Whitewater Middle. You have consistently provided meaningful help in our classrooms, media center, and hallways. You have made some otherwise bleary days lighter by feeding us. If any school administrators are reading this, please take time to send a hearty thank you to your school’s PTA for providing positive, useful experiences in your school. Again, thank you, WMSPTA.

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Why can’t those sporting events, like cycling, walking, running, etc., that utilize the city streets be scheduled for Sunday instead of Saturday?

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Whoever planned the triathlon in Peachtree City did a very poor job letting residents know that their roads were going to be closed. I was told that notices were placed on our mailbox. In my subdivision there were no such notices.

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We miss Valentino’s. As the weather warms up and we venture out more on our golf carts for dinner with the family, we long for the comfort and warmth that have yet to be matched in Peachtree City. Please come back, guys, we miss you!

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I regularly shop at the Northside Kroger in Fayetteville, and before Christmas noticed a dark green minivan parked in the parking lot with a flat tire. That same minivan, flat tire and all, is still sitting there. The tags are from Pike County, and expired two years ago. How long is the city of Fayetteville planning on letting this car sit there? The van is backed into a parking space so that the rear end faces White Road. It’s an eyesore and shows just how neglected Fayetteville is becoming on that end of town. The city needs to do something about this. Its almost funny that signs for businesses in Fayette County can only be certain colors, so perhaps the green of the van is an approved color according to the Fayetteville Planning and Zoning Commission. Maybe this is why the van hasn’t moved in over six months.

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Big surprise: Local sales tax revenues are down 24 percent. The worst customer service on the planet is the reason one local family refused to spend $5,000 in Fayette County during the past few months. Four years ago, we bought our last computer, APC backups and sound system from Best Buy in the Fayette Pavilion. Recently, my wife and I were the only customers in the store on a weekday afternoon shopping for a new computer system. Several employees were partying, screeching and entertaining themselves. We were in the store 15 minutes. Not one time did an employee ask if we needed help — and we did. We left, never to return. Buy More has nothing on Best Buy. Fayetteville Radio Shacks have also lost life-long patrons due to horrible customer service. The list goes on and on. Fayette County citizens who have spent their entire careers offering excellent customer service are not going to accept the deplorable excuse and disgusting behavior that has become the standard rather than the exception in today’s marketplace. I’ll bet a dozen stimulus checks that Miles Ace Hardware in PTC is raking in as much local sales tax as ever. Check out their outstanding customer service and you’ll understand why. Come on, folks, this is not rocket science. It is common sense. If front-line sales people are not representing your business in a positive manner and consistently projecting your mission statement, put them in the street. Let their cool, hip and I-don’t-care approach to customers earn them an unemployment check. After that, they can live on their attitude.

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I just visited the Ross store in Peachtree City with my 19-month-old and my 4-year-old. The two children were in the shopping cart, and we headed straight to the restroom. I needed to leave my toddler in the cart so I could use the facilities myself and assist my 4-year-old. The attendant informed me that I could not take my shopping cart into the restroom even though there was absolutely no merchandise in it. When I asked to speak to the manager, she reaffirmed the same thing and was quite rude about it. When I explained that there was nothing I could do with my toddler while helping my 4-year-old and using the restroom myself, she was unconcerned. She claimed that it was “company policy” not to allow shopping carts with no merchandise in the restroom. While I understand not allowing merchandise in the restroom, I cannot fathom requiring a parent with a small child to allow that child to be unrestrained in such an unsanitary atmosphere. If this is, in fact, company policy, Ross stores may want to revisit the issue as the policy is ludicrous. Rest assured, based on how the employees handled the situation, I will not be returning to the store any time soon, if at all. Additionally, whereas before this incident I would gladly spread the word when I “got a good deal at Ross,” now I will be spreading the word about my experience this afternoon. My mother, sisters, and I spend a great deal of money at the stores and will be taking our business elsewhere. I also have several other avenues at my disposal, and I intend to utilize them fully. It may make no difference to Ross, but there are enough retailers who know the meaning of good customer service who will be more than happy to get our business.

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I feel so sorry for the national and especially our three county car dealerships — NOT! Does anyone else wonder how these deep cuts are being made? Has anyone figured out the percentage of markup we have been paying in the past making these [dealers] filthy rich? And what about this new load they are trying to sell us with energy: clean, compact mini-vehicles they are asking us to purchase, with beginning prices of $43,000. With no jobs, inflation running rampant, etc., I say to the car industry: no tears from me, you crook. You should have cut those prices when I tried to deal locally but have ended up purchasing my last two cars out of county. Are the other manufacturers going to step up to the plate and cut their costs? No they will screw us, too.

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Last Thursday I was privileged to participate in a beautiful scenario that played out in the middle of a very hot Cottle’s strawberry patch, when a wonderful young man surprised his beloved while she and family members were picking strawberries. On bended knee between the rows, he proposed marriage to her and presented her with a beautiful engagement ring. She accepted, of course, but was practically speechless when he unexpectedly appeared. Family members, and the nice folks at Cottle’s, were all in on the surprise and shared in the couple’s joy. It was especially nice for me as I am the grandmother of the bride-to-be.

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To the self-absorbed individual driving a black 7 series BMW with the vanity plate “JETJOB” south on Ga. Highway 74 May 14 at 1:30 p.m.: What was the hurry? The motorcyclist in front of you was doing 65 and you were tailgating three feet behind him. Back off! You have two tons of metal and air bags surrounding you. He doesn’t.

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WoodCreek residents, according to state law, your children must be 16 and have a valid driver’s license in order to operate a golf cart on any Fayette County road outside the city limits of Peachtree City. This includes the subdivision streets. The parent and the child can both be cited for breaking the law. Fayette County only made an exemption to allow golf carts on certain streets, not to adopt the same laws Peachtree City has regarding the operation of the golf carts. Let’s try to lead by example and be good parents. Our young children can walk or ride bicycles if they need to get somewhere. Just because “everyone does it” does not make it right.

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So Cyndi Plunkett wants to run for mayor, huh? After four years of Logsdon we don’t need his clone for another four.

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As you enter the Peachtree City baseball-soccer complex, the sign states “pets discouraged,” yet people bring their pets so others attending the games have to listen to other’s dogs bark, whimper, cry, growl. It is particularly annoying when all the dog owners let their dogs run free so they can chase other dogs, distracting everyone from the game. If you own a dog and feel the need to bring your dog to the BSC to watch a game because you don’t spend enough time with your pet, you probably don’t need to own a pet. I’m not sure what’s worse, watching your pets urinate behind the dugout or the stench of cigarette smoke behind the backstop.

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It’s so nice to walk around Huddleston Pond until you come upon dog poop. Come on, dog owners, get down and pick up that dog poop. It’s not very nice to have it on your shoes or smell it as you walk by.

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It is a shame for St. Gabriel’s to lose a very good priest. The church has been growing both spiritually as well as in membership. The sad part is that Father Karl was assigned to the church for one reason, to raise money to pay for the new church debt. That has been made very clear by this latest move by the diocese. During the campaign last year, I raised the question, that once Fr. Karl received the committed goal, the bishop would move him to the next church that needed a debt campaign. It’s my understanding that Fr. Karl is very successful at this as he has achieved this at a prior parish. This transfer leaves me with the feeling that what the Catholic church used to be about is changing to financial choices vs. spiritual growth. Unfortunately, it’s a lost cause as the bishop will not change his mind. Also it may be unfortunate if the bishop has to live with this decision that may result in a negative outcome. All I can say is, pray for the parish as well as Fr. Karl, as God knows it is needed.

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I would like to say thank you to all of the fine police, EMTs, and fire and rescue personnel who assisted at our accident Friday evening in PTC. Hopefully most citizens will never have the chance to experience the level of care and professionalism exhibited by our local emergency response teams, but they can be comforted in knowing that our emergency services are ready to serve and are highly capable.

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President Obama signed an executive order that allows our tax dollars to be used for abortions. In his Notre Dame speech, President Obama said he wanted to reduce abortions and unwanted pregnancies. I would suggest that he use our tax dollars to purchase TV spots and other forms of advertising that discourages both men/women and boys/girls from conceiving unwanted or fatherless babies rather than making the U.S. taxpayer a party to the killing of unwanted babies.

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Anyone with an objective eye can see that the following observations of the great Billy Graham are true: We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare. We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem. We have abused power and called it politics. We have coveted our neighbor’s possessions and called it ambition. We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. I would only add that we, as a country, decided that we wanted to do things our own way. We got exactly what was promised. A country without a deep understanding of reliance on God will always destroy itself from the inside out. If you look at our country’s recent history, the further we have gotten from our Christian values (since around the late 1960s) the worse our social and political problems have become. God isn’t doing any of it TO us. He is simply letting us experience the natural consequences of our choices.