Thursday 21 December 2017

Georgia Swarm Partners with Urgent Care at Peachtree

News Release

?Atlanta, Ga. – The 2017 NLL World Champion Georgia Swarm is proud to announce the addition of another corporate partner Urgent Care at Peachtree/Urgent Care at Druid Hills, the city’s only urgent care clinics open 7 days a week until 10:30 p.m. Urgent Care at Peachtree and Urgent Care at Druid Hills will be the official urgent cares of the Georgia Swarm.

Urgent Care at Peachtree will have its own Dr. Brandon Paritz serve as the team physician for the 2018 season. He will be on the sidelines taking care of the players and staff medical needs throughout the season. An enthusiastic fan, as well as a physician on the Urgent Care at Peachtree medical staff, Dr. Paritz will provide comprehensive care to the team both on and off the field all season long.

"It gives me great pleasure to be on the field with the Swarm and watch all the action up close," Dr. Paritz said. "I grew up with lacrosse and have watched it all my life. I know the types of injuries that occur in lacrosse, and with Urgent Care at Peachtree being open from 9 a.m. – 10:30 p.m. daily, we can easily diagnose and treat those injuries so that players get back on the field quickly."

Not only are Urgent Care at Peachtree and Urgent Care at Druid Hills the only urgent care clinics in Metro Atlanta that are open after hours, they are also the only ones that are owned and operated by local ER doctors. They are not corporate owned. This allows Swarm players and other patients with urgent medical needs to see real doctors (not mid level practitioners) without the expense and time that usually goes along with a trip to the emergency room or other similar clinics.

"We have x-ray and lab facilities on site to diagnose and treat all types of injuries and illnesses," Dr. Paritz said. "We have close working relationships with physicians providing many specialties within sports medicine, and we can get a patient in to see a specialist quickly."

The Swarm’s Co-Owner and President Andy Arlotta says, "The players see Dr. Paritz for physicals, injuries and illnesses, and so do their families, along with the Swarm staff. Urgent Care at Peachtree is convenient, and Dr. Paritz makes himself available to us 24/7 whenever we need him. We really value this sort of relationship; You just can’t find that level of service anywhere else. Both clinics have distinguished themselves from the other facilities in the area with their outstanding service to patients."

Urgent Care at Peachtree’s medical care is not confined to office visits. Dr. Paritz and his staff have a regular presence at Swarm practices and games, working alongside the club’s athletic training staff to monitor the players and keep them healthy.

Urgent Care at Peachtree is located in the Buckhead area of Atlanta. For those living in the Druid Hills/Decatur/Emory/Toco Hill area, Urgent Care at Druid Hills is another convenient location close to the 1-85 North Druid Hills exit.

Urgent Care at Peachtree physicians are also team doctors for Georgia State University Athletics, Atlanta Silverbacks Pro soccer, Atlanta Rollergirls, and SCAD Athletics.

Source Article

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Friday 15 December 2017

Get ready for Peachtree City‘s ‘gateway bridge’

It may be up to a couple of years away, but Peachtree City residents on the city’s west side will have a bridge crossing Ga. Highway 54 near MacDuff Parkway.

Above, the gateway bridge on Peachtree City’s west side is planned for 2018 or 2019 and will include cart path access on both sides of Ga. Highway 54 West. Graphic/Peachtree City.

The $1.97 million project, a part of the city’s voter-approved SPLOST (special purpose local option sales tax) project list calls for a gateway bridge to be installed west of MacDuff Parkway and just to the east of Wynnmeade Parkway. The proposed project years come in 2018 or 2019.

The bridge, with initial plans coming years earlier, will be constructed on land previously purchased by the city.

The north side of Hwy. 54 will have a series of cart paths installed between MacDuff and Wynnmeade that connect to the bridge crossing. A path will also be installed on the south side of Hwy. 54 that will connect to the retail area.

Another SPLOST project, one that carries a 2018 timeline, will have upgrades made to the intersection of Hwy. 54 West and MacDuff Parkway.

The $650,000 SPLOST project will include the installation of double left-turn lanes on MacDuff to alleviate double queueing for those traveling east that has plagued the intersection for years.

Other traffic flow improvements at the intersection will include the extension of the left-turn bay for traffic entering the parkway from Hwy. 54 and signal modifications, according to the city’s SPLOST program.

An associated project, essentially completed, deals with the long-awaited extension of MacDuff Parkway. The bridge at Senoia Road and MacDuff Parkway was recently opened and is awaiting the installation of a traffic signal at the intersection. Cones are expected to remain in the left-turn lanes until the traffic signal is installed.

Traffic signal or not, the now-completed MacDuff Parkway is already seeing increasing traffic along the roadway. It provides for a second entrance and exit to the west village area, rather than motorists having to use the one access point at Hwy. 54, after negotiating the intersection and multiple traffic signals in and around the intersection of highways 54 and 74.

Source Article

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Saturday 25 November 2017

Found A Really Nice Apartment For Rent In Peachtree City

My lease was almost up on my apartment and I knew I didn’t want to renew it. I didn’t like where I was living for a few different reasons. My landlord wouldn’t fix anything and my neighbors were terrors. They were constantly fighting and always being too loud. I started searching around for apartments to rent in the area.

I went online and looked on Craigslist for apartments in Peachtree City. I found a few listings on there, but I wanted to keep looking. I searched for Peachtree City apartments on Google and found a really nice website that had several listings for apartments for rent. I looked over the listings and was able to filter my results by price and location. I narrowed my search down to a few different apartments that I wanted to see in person.

I contacted the landlords for the apartments in Peachtree City that I wanted to look at. I was able to make appointments with both of them the next day. I told them my issues with the apartment I was currently in and they both assured me they were quick to fix any problems and their apartment complexes were quiet.

After looking at both apartments, I decided which one I wanted to rent. It was slightly closer to my job and there were several amenities that were included with the rent like a pool and gym. I knew I would use both of them. I made arrangements to move into the apartment as soon as possible and got some of my friends together to help me get moved. I love the apartment I found and have enjoyed living here so far. I haven’t had any issues and it has been a quiet apartment complex.

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Tuesday 21 November 2017

After years of problems, postal service making changes in Peachtree City GA

FAYETTE COUNTY, Ga. – Some Fayette County residents say they’re tired of waiting on the mail. They’re hoping that new procedures will improve service.

Some told Channel 2’s Berndt Petersen everything they drop in the mailbox is making it to the other end and delivery to their homes is fast and efficient.

However, others have said they have suffered through poor service for years, and the post office still isn’t getting it right.

Source: After years of problems, postal service making changes in Peachtree City | WSB-TV

Source Article

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Sunday 12 November 2017

Peachtree City, GA new luxury homes

New Homes

If you are in looking for a cool and peaceful place to settle down for the rest of your life, search no further because Peachtree City has all that is needed to live a comfortable life. Located in Lafayette County, Georgia, this city is one of the safest places to be in the United States. The inhabitants of this place are fun to be with and they are welcoming. The landscape and vegetation of this geographic location will amaze you at first sight. Anybody from any part of the world can comfortably live in this city because the weather is favorable to all and there are beautiful homes available for purchase.
You stand to enjoy all the basic amenities available in any part of the US. The roads are well constructed for smooth driving and easy navigation, world class healthcare centers to meet your health needs, constant electricity and water supply, good internet facilities, supermarkets to get your needs and more to enjoy.
There are tons of places to explore in Peachtree City. Driving around this beautiful city will give so much to feed your eyes. For nature lovers, visiting Peachtree Lake, Luther Glass Park, Southern Conservation Trust and Line Creek Nature Area would be a nice idea. There is also a library where you can keep yourself abreast with information. There are also other sporting activities and gyms to keep you fit throughout the year.
Getting a luxury home that meets all your needs is possible in Peachtree City since there are many homes available for sale. NewHomeSource has an inventory of all the available homes and they can help you out in finding your best match. The Thomas (415 Bandon Way) built by John Wieland Homes is one you will love. It has an area of 3,350 sq. ft. and a price tag of around $450,000. It is suited with 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms and 2 garages. You can also get other cheaper or more expensive homes in this city.

Source Article

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Friday 3 November 2017

Plucky grandmother Cece Coffee fought off home invaders and survived a shotgun blast

Grandmother Cece Coffee fought off two attackers

This week Home Alone looks at the case of grandmother Cece Coffee, who fought off home invaders and survived a shotgun blast.

July, 2012 in Peachtree City, Ga., and grandmother Cece Coffee was at home relaxing when two men armed men burst into her home.

The two men entered through an unlocked door and threatened Coffee with a shotgun. The men knew she had a local business and suspect that she might have a safe in her house.

However, the men got far more than they bargained for when Coffee decided enough was enough. She told them not to shoot her and that they should leave while they could.

This angered the two men who dragged her into a bedroom and began to try and tie her up with cords they’d ripped out of the sockets. She told reporters that as the men searched for a blanket to put over her head

Luckily for Coffee her friend, who was also in the house, heard the noise and came into the room, distracting the home invaders. Coffee then made a run for it but only got about 15 feet before she heard a shotgun blast, at first not realising she’d been hit. Thankfully she was only grazed and managed to make it outside and crawl through the woods to her neighbor’s house.

Two men were eventually arrested, with 29-year-old Gilbert Jefferson, 29, pleading guilty to armed robbery and testifying against his cousin Ted Jefferson, also 29.

Gilbert was given a 10 year prison sentence and his cousin was later found guilty of two counts of armed robbery, two counts of aggravating assault, one count of kidnapping, burglary and possession of a firearm

Home Alone airs on Thursdays at 10:00 PM on Investigation Discovery.

Source Article

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Saturday 28 October 2017

Laurens Moore Center Hollis, 93, of Peachtree City

Laurens Hollis

Laurens Moore Center Hollis, 93, of Peachtree City, Ga., passed away on Tuesday, October 10, 2017 at home under the care of hospice.

She was born December 4, 1923 in College Park, Ga. to Edgar Sumter Center, Jr. and Alpha Moore Center. She married Col. Jeff F. Hollis on March 7, 1952.

Laurens’ husband, Jeff Hollis; son, Howell Hollis; and sister, Pat preceded her in death.

She is survived by her daughter, Cleary Hollis Tanner (John) of Douglas, Ga.; her son, Jeff Free Hollis of Fayetteville, Ga.; her grandchildren, Drew Tanner of Douglas, Ga., Hamp Tanner of Fernandina Beach, Fla., Tiffany Tanner Walton of Atlanta, Ga., Christi Hollis of Los Angeles, Calif., Cleary Hollis Ramirez of Jacksonville, Fla., and Beau Hollis of Orlando, Fla.; and 14 great-grandchildren. The family extends special love and thanks to Carol Rose, who cared for Laurens devotedly for the final months.

During her career in civil service Laurens achieved the GS 13 rank, equivalent to a Colonel in the Army. She was director of Domestic Intelligence with the 4th Service Command (later 3rd Army), and was awarded the Meritorius Award and pin for her service- she was one of only two non-military persons to receive this award.

After her marriage, Laurens cared for her home and family, while living on Army posts around the world. During their time in the Army, she enjoyed playing Mah Jong and bridge with the other army wives, and entertaining. Beginning at Fort MacPherson in East Point, the family traveled to JUSMAG in the Philippines. This trip was made by car from Atlanta to San Francisco, where the family embarked by ship to Hawaii, Guam and the Phillipines. After the two year duty there, the family embarked west by the cargo passenger ship, Hamburg, and made stops in Hong Kong, Bangkok, Singapore, Ceylon, Djibuti, Aden, Cairo, and finally disembarking in Genoa, Italy. From there by train they traveled to Rome, where Laurens visited The Vatican, with the Sistine Chapel, then Bern, Switzerland, Germany, Paris and finally England, where they embarked on the Liberte (at the time the third largest ship in the world) to New York and back to Atlanta, circumnavigating the world. Next the family was stationed at Ft. Knox, Ky., then Fort Wayne, Mich., where Col. Hollis was Post Commander. After the next assignment to Camp Zama, Japan, they took the last assignment before retirement, back to Fort MacPherson, where it all began. In East Point, Laurens made memorable presentations about her family’s travels to her sons’ classrooms.

After her husband retired in Atlanta, Laurens was very active in her church work, first at the chapel at Fort MacPherson, where she was a member of the Officer Wives Club, and then at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Hapeville. After she moved to Peachtree City she became a very active member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church. She was a Eucharistic minister and lector and attended mass each morning. She was also a member of the Legion of Mary.

Visitation was from 3 p.m.-4:30 p.m., Sunday, October 15, 2017, with the Rosary at 4 p.m., at Carmichael-Hemperley Funeral Home in Peachtree City, Ga. Funeral Mass for Laurens was held at 11 a.m., Monday, October 16, 2017 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Peachtree City, Ga. A reception followed the service at the church. Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va. at a later date.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to Shepherds of the Meek, a 501(c)(3) non-profit mission which supports several orphanages in Colombia, South America. Shepherds of the Meek Mission, 156 Peachtree East Shopping Center, #166, Peachtree City, Ga 30269 or www.shepherdsofthemeek.org.

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Saturday 21 October 2017

2017 Voter Guide: Fayette County

Eligible students in Fayette County can register to vote at their high schools in April. AJC file photo
Fayetteville

City Council Post 3

Name: Scott Stacy (i)

City Council Post 4

Name: Rich Hoffman

Age: 73

Residence: Downtown Fayetteville

Profession: Self Employed Owner Hoffman Tire Pros

What experience will help you in office? If elected I will bring to bear experience and relationships gained over 40 years as a successful businessman living and working in the heart of our city. As a resident you can count on me to uphold and defend the zoning ordinances and city services that preserve the essence of what makes Fayetteville home to all.

What issue got you into this race? The need for smart growth with the addition of Pinewood Studios Fayetteville and Fayette county is experiencing growth like the 80’s and 90’s.

Which current television character do you identify most with? Leroy Jethro Gibbs because he always gets it right.

Email: hoffmantire@mindspring.com

Name: Brett Nolan

Age: 34

Residence: Weatherly

Profession: Chief Operating Officer

What experience will help you in office? I’m the COO of a successful Fayetteville business, a Woodward Academy Alumnus, and an Eagle Scout. My business experience demonstrates that I can manage a staff of 20+, navigate budgets in the millions of dollars, and successfully negotiate with the multi-national corporations whose products I sell. My status as an Eagle Scout further highlights that I value leadership & integrity and seek to constantly improve and challenge myself to be the best leader I can be.

What issue got you into this race? The Comprehensive Plan. Fayetteville’s citizens have valid concerns about growth, and we need another voice on the Council that isn’t going to rubber stamp every development that finds it way onto the agenda. I have a lot of respect for our current Council, but with Councilman Williams not seeking reelection it’s time for a younger voice to be added to the mix. It’s time for a New Generation of Leadership for Fayetteville.

Which current television character do you identify most with? I don’t watch a lot of television. I try to catch the news at least once a day, and if I’m lucky I’ll get to watch Wheel of Fortune and/or Jeopardy. I’m also a huge SEC football fan – I don’t care who’s playing who, if it’s SEC football I’m in!

Name: Gha-is Bashir Paige

Age: 57

Residence: Oakview Trance

Profession: Transportation Security Administration Officer

What experience will help you in office? I have a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Organizational Studies from Temple University. I was enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard for 7 years. I was a supervisor and manager in the public transit industry. My duties were knowing about Federal and State grant funding requirements, interacting with local government officials, presenting information to City Council, reviewing/approving expenses, fiscal managing, submitting monthly reports and planning/overseeing the completion of local government capital projects.

What issue got you into this race? I want Fayetteville to continue its path of being a great place to live by helping govern the City with excellence, and respond to the needs of its Citizens with emphasis on innovation, collaboration and community development. It is my firm belief that attention to the needs of a community must be addressed; and to also be aware of emerging developments in technology, demographics, economics, politics, arts, and other aspects of life.

Which current television character do you identify most with? There is not a current TV character I identify with. However, there is a Star Trek TV character that is currently aired as reruns; Jean-Luc Pichard played by Patrick Stewart. He has great command presence, respects diversity, supports different points-of-views, ask his staff for their input and values shared visions.

City Council Post 5

Name: Paul Oddo (i)

Age: 66

Residence: Beauregard Blvd.

Profession: Certified Public Accountant

What experience will help you in office? I have been in business as a CPA for over 40 years. This experience enables me to analyze problems and recommend solutions in a business like manner. In this connection, I am active in the Chamber of Commerce and professional organizations, like the Georgia Society of CPAs. Further, as a Councilman, I have a good working relationship with City staff and have worked with them for many years, some as many as 12 years. This experience helps me negotiate the peculiarities of city rules and regulations.

What issue got you into this race? The original reason was over 18 years ago when, at that time, I ran for Mayor. I ran to ensure that the City developed an open mind and to create an atmosphere conducive to retaining and attracting new business. That is still my focus, but to it I have added the necessity of attracting young families to our community. This as well as continuing to provide superior public safety and overall quality of life, both economic and social, for the citizens of Fayetteville, is why I am seeking re-election.

Which current television character do you identify most with? But for news, I do not watch much current TV so I cannot answer this question.

Website: only my company website is open at this time: www.oddocpas.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paul.oddo.3

Peachtree City

Mayor

Name: Vanessa Fleisch (i)

Age: 56

Residence: Kedron

Profession: Realtor

What experience will help you in office? My experience as mayor for the past four years has been invaluable. Being able to serve the citizens of Peachtree City over the past eight years is the basis for my running again. We have too many projects left to do that will help the city in the future. The SPLOST projects are just getting started and it is important that we carry them out per the wishes of our citizens.

What issue got you into this race? When I first ran for Council, my concern was for the declining infrastructure and its effect on home values.

Which current television character do you identify most with? Due to going to many meetings both during the day and in the evening I have not had time to identify with any current television character.

Name: Eric Imker

Age: 62

Residence: Ashford Park

Profession: Retired

What experience will help you in office? I am a former city council member who choose not to run a few years ago but now see issues that need a different approach. Millions upon millions of dollars has been wasted or irrationally spent. I was known for being the pragmatic budget person on council. Traffic issues have gotten worse and we’ve been irresponsibly changing our last best industrial zoned areas into residential. This poor decision making needs to be reigned in.

What issue got you into this race? The budget, the budget, the budget. Also, the horrible traffic problems that current council has made worse. Also, our current city council was unable to lower our taxes after obtaining the largest tax revenue initiative in the history of the city – SPLOST, earlier this year. We can lower our stormwater bills, our sewer bills but our council doesn’t seem to know how. They talk like politicians and we pay the price.

Which current television character do you identify most with? Sorry, I will not play games with the important role of being mayor.

Name: Dar Thompson

Age: 55

Residence: The Peninsula

Profession: CEO- Managing Member – Fitness Centers, Real Estate Investments, and Oil & Energy

What experience will help you in office? I am a man of thoughtful action. When I opened my first gym in Peachtree City it was in rented space. Now more than a decade later, I have two multi-million dollar facilities with 12,000 members. I believe in planning and finding the right people to give advice, contribute ideas, and then execute our strategy. I pride myself on knowing what I don’t know but finding really smart people who know.

If you look at my clubs you will find long term employees who have a vested interested in our success because it is one team. I may own the building,…[edited for length]

What issue got you into this race? Peachtree City is a planned community that no longer has a plan. My family and I are highly invested in Peachtree City. My wife is a 3rd grade teacher at Peachtree Elementary and I have two daughters, a 6 year old and 10 year old, that are involved in our school system and recreation. As the schools go, the city goes, as the city goes, the schools go. My family is here and my businesses are here. We have become re-active to everything that happens around us instead of being pro-active. We have to address traffic (which is not being done)…[edited for length]

Which current television character do you identify most with? No one on TV

Website: www.Dar4ptc.info

Facebook: Dar4ptc

City Council Post 3

Name: Harold Logsdon

Age: 72

Residence: Morallion Hills

Profession: Retired from BellSouth

What experience will help you in office? Served one term as Mayor of Peachtree City and 30 years of management experience in the public and private sector

What issue got you into this race? Sustaining the quality of life for our city with a focus on re-development

Which current television character do you identify most with? None

Name: Kevin Madden

Age: 67

Residence: Mcintosh Corner

Profession: Air cargo sales-General Sales Agency

What experience will help you in office? My experience as a husband, father of three, Peachtree City coach, Kiwanis president and active member in my Holy Trinity Church community. Further, as a businessman with over forty years managing multimillion dollar budgets, facilities and staff, I will bring my experience, knowledge and skills to work with our mayor and council to continue to improve our quality of life and keep Peachtree City the vibrant place we love to call home.

What issue got you into this race? I’ve been an active member of our community for over twenty years and too often in the past I have seen our local government crippled by animosity and rancor. We finally have a council that respects each others opinions and knows how to compromise. Good government is not an accident. The important issues facing us require a sober, compassionate council and I know I can be a positive addition to our beloved city’s government.

Which current television character do you identify most with? There have been times in my life where I could identify with Tom Kirkman ("Designated Survivor"). My dad died when I was thirteen and my single mom taught her five sons to be self-sufficient, independent thinkers and this has helped me make important decisions in the worst of circumstances.

Website: Madden4PTC.com

Name: Sarah Toussaint

Age: 22

Residence: The Marks

Profession: Student

What experience will help you in office? Working in the quick service restaurant industry, I learned how to work well with others and the value of listening. Volunteering at Georgia Aquarium has improved my problem solving skills. Being a math major has shown me the importance of watching numbers carefully. Being the youngest child gave me lots of experience holding my own.

What issue got you into this race? The need for diversity on our council. While the experience of our current council members is beneficial to our city, I have learned that combining different experiences and viewpoints often lead to better solutions and growth.

Which current television character do you identify most with? Jamie Reagan from Blue Bloods. He chose his job because of the need in his community. He is hard-working and realizes the importance of family. He follows the rules, but finds innovative ways to accomplish what is needed.

City Council Post 4

Name: Terry L. Ernst (i)

Age: 66

Residence: Pinegate subdivision

Profession: Retired Army First Sergeant and retired Police Commander

What experience will help you in office? My experience as a City Council member for the past four years as well as the experience and expertise of the city staff, my fellow Council members and ideas from citizens in the community.

What issue got you into this race? This will be my second term. I originally ran because I felt we had a City Council that was quite disfunctional as a team.

Which current television character do you identify most with? Jethro Gibbs of NCIS

Tyrone

Town Council Post 3

Name: Ken Matthews (i)

Age: 53

Residence: Dublin Downs

Profession: Disabled Veteran/Retired

What experience will help you in office? Knowledge of current and past experiences with over s decade serving the community.

What issue got you into this race? Citizens desire for me to be re-elected as well as my desire to continue serving as Councilman and community volunteer. Would like to see Tyrone Progress into the Future while keeping characteristics of a smaller Town.

Which current television character do you identify most with? No particular character as I don’t watch much Television.

Name: Eric T. Woods, Sr.

Age: 51

Residence: Rivercrest

Profession: Retired Army Intelligence Officer

What experience will help you in office? My experience preparing me for this office includes 26 years serving my country in a variety of positions including Battalion Command, Chief of Staff, and Senior Planner for numerous humanitarian and military operations. I also possess a Masters Degree in Human Resources. Becoming a Doctoral Candidate in the same field is also in progress.

What issue got you into this race? The issues include non people oriented governance, lackadaisical procedures, and deficient economic and social progress. Examples include a lack of transparency, the inability of the local government to allow its citizens to make on-line utility payments, and their desire to continue to fight the civil was!

Which current television character do you identify most with? I identify with members of the Justice League because I am always willing to fight for the rights of others.

Email: Omega3186@aol.com

Town Council Post 4

Name: Gloria Furr (i)

Special Election

Reimposition of a One Percent Educational Sales and Use Tax

“Shall a special one percent sales and use tax for educational purposes continue to be imposed, levied and collected in Fayette County for educational purposes for a period not to exceed twenty (20) calendar quarters and for the purpose of raising not more than $145,000,000 of net proceeds by said tax, which shall go to the Fayette County School District (the “School District”) for the purpose of (i) adding to, renovating, repairing, improving, and equipping existing school buildings and School District facilities, including but not limited to, paving, drainage systems, fencing, playground equipment, flooring, painting, HVAC, electrical wiring, lighting, plumbing, suspended ceiling systems, roofing, and physical education/athletic facilities; (ii) acquiring miscellaneous new equipment, fixtures and furnishings for the School District, including technology equipment and software, safety and security equipment; and (iii) acquiring textbooks and instructional materials, including digital content and curriculum software, and instructional equipment, including but not limited to computing devices, audio/visual equipment, interactive classroom equipment; (iv) acquiring, constructing and equipping new school buildings and School District facilities; (v) paying a portion of the principal and interest due on the Fayette County School District General Obligation Refunding Bond, Series 2013, the maximum of amount of total debt service to be paid shall not exceed $10,000,000; (vi) acquiring school buses and transportation and maintenance equipment; (vii) paying expenses incident thereto; and if continuation of the tax is approved by the voters, such vote shall also constitute approval of the issuance of general obligation debt of the School District in the principal amount of $25,000,000 for the purposes described in items (i) through (iv) and (vi) through (vii) and for the purpose of payment of a portion of the interest on such debt, the maximum amount of sales and use tax proceeds to be spent on projects (i) through (vii) shall not exceed $145,000,000?”

Source Article

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Saturday 14 October 2017

Family calls Harry after contractor allegedly rips them off

(Source: WGCL)

PEACHTREE CITY, GA (CBS46) –

Better Call Harry has the story of a Peachtree City family who lost tens of thousands of dollars after they paid their contractor cash for a renovation and he allegedly walked off the job.

The family took their case to court but they’re still fighting for justice

Chris King is an unlicensed contractor. He was a no show in Fayette County court. It’s no a surprise to Mary Beth and Michael Byrnes. The Byrnes are suing King after he was a no show for their basement renovation.

The judge ruled in their favor.

"I’m going to go ahead and sign a default judgment in favor of the plaintiffs in the amount of $15,000," said the judge.

$15,000 is the maximum allowed in small claims. It’s a lot money, but not enough to finish their unfinished basement.

It was supposed to be an in-law suite for Mary Beth’s mom. Her mom sold her house and moved in, and for the past year, she’s been living in the upstairs bedroom. The Byrnes found King on a neighborhood Facebook page. He completed some of the work, but eventually walked off the job. The Byrnes say they gave him $32,000 in cash.

CBS46 tried to work out a resolution with King back in March, but he claimed the Byrnes owed him money, A demand from a contractor not even licensed in Georgia.

The Byrnes admit they didn’t do their homework, but they were optimistic after their court victory.

Even after the judgment, King did not pay. So the Byrnes went back to court where a judge issued a warrant for King’s arrest. King was caught and jailed in Fayette County.

He bonded out and still hasn’t paid.

None of this helps Mary Beth’s mom unless the family can find another $25,000 to finish the job. This retiree’s dreams are gone. This story is the perfect example of why you never pay a contractor up front.

Because the Byrnes have been through so much we want to help. They’ve started a YouCaring page called ‘Please Help Grandma Ann.’

If you’re having an issue with someone, give us a call at 404-327-3030 or email us at bettercallharry@cbs46.com.

If you would like to help the Byrne family, you can donate here.

Copyright 2017 WGCL-TV (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved.

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Friday 6 October 2017

Tropical storm watch in effect for Birmingham, Atlanta in anticipation of Nate

The National Weather Service in Birmingham as well as Atlanta-Peachtree City in tandem with the National Hurricane Center have issued a tropical storm watch in anticipation of Tropical Storm Nate.

The tropical storm watch is in effect for Blount, Etowah and Cherokee counties, but the rest of the Tennessee Valley are not included in the watch.

A tropical storm watch means tropical storm wind conditions are possible somewhere within the area in the next 48 hours.

Below is additional information from the NWS in Birmingham and Atlanta-Peachtree City.

HLSBMX ALZ017>021-023>050-070545-

Tropical Storm Nate Local Statement Advisory Number 10 National Weather Service Birmingham AL AL162017 434 PM CDT Fri Oct 6 2017

This product covers CENTRAL ALABAMA

**Tropical Storm Watch now in effect for areas generally along and east of Interstate 59 which includes most of Central Alabama**

NEW INFORMATION —————

* CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS: – A Tropical Storm Watch has been issued for Autauga, Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Bullock, Calhoun, Chambers, Cherokee, Chilton, Clay, Cleburne, Coosa, Dallas, Elmore, Etowah, Greene, Hale, Jefferson, Lee, Lowndes, Macon, Marengo, Montgomery, Perry, Pike, Randolph, Russell, Shelby, St. Clair, Sumter, Talladega, Tallapoosa, and Tuscaloosa

* CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS: – A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Autauga, Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Bullock, Calhoun, Chambers, Cherokee, Chilton, Clay, Cleburne, Coosa, Dallas, Elmore, Etowah, Greene, Hale, Jefferson, Lee, Lowndes, Macon, Marengo, Montgomery, Perry, Pike, Randolph, Russell, Shelby, St. Clair, Sumter, Talladega, Tallapoosa, and Tuscaloosa

* STORM INFORMATION: – About 910 miles south of Birmingham AL or about 830 miles south of Montgomery AL – 20.3N 85.7W – Storm Intensity 60 mph – Movement North-northwest or 340 degrees at 21 mph

SITUATION OVERVIEW ——————

Nate is expected to have possible significant impacts across much of Central Alabama on Sunday. Sustained winds of 30 to 40 mph may begin as early as 6 AM Sunday in the southwest counties. Conditions will worsen through Sunday morning into the afternoon as strong winds and heavy rain spread northward. Wind gusts could reach reach 45 to 60 mph in a swath encompassing much of Central Alabama. Scattered to numerous downed trees may cause damage along with a signficant number of power outages. The greatest wind gusts and impacts are expected to be generally along and east of a line from Livingston to Tuscaloosa to Oneonta. Isolated tornadoes are also possible Sunday afternoon generally along and south of Interstate 85. Conditions will improve Sunday night into Monday morning as Nate continues to weaken and move to the northeast.

POTENTIAL IMPACTS —————–

* WIND: Prepare for dangerous wind having possible significant impacts generally along and east of a line from Livingston to Tuscaloosa to Oneonta. Potential impacts in this area include: – Some damage to roofing and siding materials, along with damage to porches, awnings, carports, and sheds. A few buildings experiencing window, door, and garage door failures. Mobile homes damaged, especially if unanchored. Unsecured lightweight objects become dangerous projectiles. – Several large trees snapped or uprooted, but with greater numbers in places where trees are shallow rooted. Several fences and roadway signs blown over. – Some roads impassable from large debris, and more within urban or heavily wooded places. A few bridges, causeways, and access routes impassable. – Scattered power and communications outages, but more prevalent in areas with above ground lines.

* TORNADOES: Prepare for a tornado event having possible limited impacts generally along and south of Interstate 85. Potential impacts include: – The occurrence of isolated tornadoes can hinder the execution of emergency plans during tropical events. – A few places may experience tornado damage, along with power and communications disruptions. – Locations could realize roofs peeled off buildings, chimneys toppled, mobile homes pushed off foundations or overturned, large tree tops and branches snapped off, shallow-rooted trees knocked over, moving vehicles blown off roads, and small boats pulled from moorings.

Elsewhere across CENTRAL ALABAMA, little to no impact is anticipated.

* FLOODING RAIN: Prepare for locally hazardous rainfall flooding having possible limited impacts across CENTRAL ALABAMA. Potential impacts include: – Localized rainfall flooding may prompt a few evacuations. – Rivers and tributaries may quickly rise with swifter currents. Small streams, creeks, canals, arroyos, and ditches may become swollen and overflow in spots. – Flood waters can enter a few structures, especially in usually vulnerable spots. A few places where rapid ponding of water occurs at underpasses, low-lying spots, and poor drainage areas. Several storm drains and retention ponds become near-full and begin to overflow. Some brief road and bridge closures.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS ———————————-

* EVACUATIONS:

WATCH/WARNING PHASE – For those not under evacuation orders, understand that there are inherent risks to evacuation (such as traffic congestion, accidents, and driving in bad weather), so evacuate only if necessary. Help keep roadways open for those that are under evacuation orders.

WATCH/WARNING PHASE – If you are exceptionally vulnerable to wind or water hazards from tropical systems, consider voluntary evacuation, especially if being officially recommended. Relocate to a predetermined shelter or safe destination.

WATCH/WARNING PHASE – If evacuating away from the area or relocating to a nearby shelter, leave early before weather conditions become hazardous.

* OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION:

Now is the time to check your emergency plan and take necessary actions to secure your home or business. Deliberate efforts should be underway to protect life and property. Ensure that your Emergency Supplies Kit is stocked and ready.

When making safety and preparedness decisions, do not focus on the exact forecast track as there are inherent forecast uncertainties which must be taken into account.

If you live in a place that is particularly vulnerable to high wind, such as a mobile home, an upper floor of a high rise building, or on a boat, plan to move to safe shelter. Take enough supplies for you and your family for several days.

If you live in a place particularly vulnerable to flooding, such as near the ocean or a large inland lake, in a low lying or poor drainage area, in a valley or canyon, or near an already swollen river, plan to move to safe shelter on higher ground.

Always heed the advice of local officials and comply with any orders that are issued. Do not needlessly jeopardize your life or the lives of others.

When securing your property, outside preparations should be conducted as soon as possible before conditions deteriorate. The onset of strong gusty winds and heavy rain can cause certain preparedness activities to become unsafe.

Be sure to let friends and other family members know of your intentions and whereabouts for surviving the storm. For emergency purposes, have someone located away from the threatened area serve as your point of contact. Share vital contact information with others. Keep cell phones handy and well charged.

Be a Good Samaritan and check on those who may not be fully aware of the situation or who are unable to make personal preparations.

Visitors to the area should become familiar with nearby surroundings. If you are a visitor, know the name of the county or parish in which you are located and where it is relative to current watches and warnings. If staying at a hotel, ask the management staff about their onsite disaster plan. Listen for evacuation orders, especially pertaining to area visitors.

Closely monitor NOAA Weather Radio or other local news outlets for official storm information. Listen for possible changes to the forecast.

* ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION: – For information on appropriate preparations see ready.gov – For information on creating an emergency plan see getagameplan.org – For additional disaster preparedness information see redcross.org

NEXT UPDATE ———–

The next local statement will be issued by the National Weather Service in Birmingham AL around 11 PM CDT, or sooner if conditions warrant.

HLSFFC GAZ001>009-011>016-019>025-027-030>039-041>062-066>076-078>086-089>098-102>113-070730-

Tropical Storm Nate Local Statement Advisory Number 10 National Weather Service Peachtree City GA AL162017 716 PM EDT Fri Oct 6 2017

This product covers NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA

**Tropical Storm Watch Now In Effect For Portions of North Georgia**

NEW INFORMATION —————

* CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS: – A Tropical Storm Watch has been issued for Bartow, Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, Dade, Dawson, DeKalb, Douglas, Fannin, Fayette, Floyd, Forsyth, Gilmer, Gordon, Gwinnett, Hall, Haralson, Heard, Lumpkin, Murray, North Fulton, Paulding, Pickens, Polk, South Fulton, Towns, Troup, Union, Walker, White, and Whitfield

* CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS: – A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Bartow, Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, Dade, Dawson, DeKalb, Douglas, Fannin, Fayette, Floyd, Forsyth, Gilmer, Gordon, Gwinnett, Hall, Haralson, Heard, Lumpkin, Murray, North Fulton, Paulding, Pickens, Polk, South Fulton, Towns, Troup, Union, Walker, White, and Whitfield

* STORM INFORMATION: – About 930 miles south of Atlanta GA or about 960 miles south of Rome GA – 20.3N 85.7W – Storm Intensity 60 mph – Movement North-northwest or 340 degrees at 21 mph

SITUATION OVERVIEW ——————

Tropical Storm Nate continues to progress north northwest near Cancun Mexico and expected to make landfall along the gulf coast late Saturday night. The storm will then weaken to a tropical storm and lift northeast across portions of North Georgia late Sunday into Sunday night. It should be noted that impacts from heavy rain and potential tornadoes will precede the most significant winds with this system and are possible as early as Saturday evening.

During the height of the storm, winds of 30 to 40 mph will be possible with gusts as high as 50 mph across far northwest Georgia. Storm total rainfall is expected to be on the order of 4 to 6 inches across along and north of the I85 corridor with locally higher amounts possible.

POTENTIAL IMPACTS —————–

* WIND: Prepare for hazardous wind having possible limited impacts across portions of west and north Georgia. Potential impacts in this area include: – Damage to porches, awnings, carports, sheds, and unanchored mobile homes. Unsecured lightweight objects blown about. – Many large tree limbs broken off. A few trees snapped or uprooted, but with greater numbers in places where trees are shallow rooted. Some fences and roadway signs blown over. – A few roads impassable from debris, particularly within urban or heavily wooded places. Hazardous driving conditions on bridges and other elevated roadways. – Scattered power and communications outages.

Elsewhere across NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA, little to no impact is anticipated.

* TORNADOES: Prepare for a tornado event having possible limited impacts across NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA. Potential impacts include: – The occurrence of isolated tornadoes can hinder the execution of emergency plans during tropical events. – A few places may experience tornado damage, along with power and communications disruptions. – Locations could realize roofs peeled off buildings, chimneys toppled, mobile homes pushed off foundations or overturned, large tree tops and branches snapped off, shallow-rooted trees knocked over, moving vehicles blown off roads, and small boats pulled from moorings.

* FLOODING RAIN: Prepare for locally hazardous rainfall flooding having possible limited impacts across NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA. Potential impacts include: – Localized rainfall flooding may prompt a few evacuations. – Rivers and tributaries may quickly rise with swifter currents. Small streams, creeks, and ditches may become swollen and overflow in spots. – Flood waters can enter a few structures, especially in usually vulnerable spots. A few places where rapid ponding of water occurs at underpasses, low-lying spots, and poor drainage areas. Several storm drains and retention ponds become near-full and begin to overflow. Some brief road and bridge closures.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS ———————————-

* OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION: Now is the time to check your emergency plan and take necessary actions to secure your home or business. Deliberate efforts should be underway to protect life and property. Ensure that your Emergency Supplies Kit is stocked and ready.

When making safety and preparedness decisions, do not focus on the exact forecast track as there are inherent forecast uncertainties which must be taken into account.

Always heed the advice of local officials and comply with any orders that are issued. Do not needlessly jeopardize your life or the lives of others.

* ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION: – For information on creating an emergency plan see ready.ga.gov – For additional disaster preparedness information see redcross.org

NEXT UPDATE ———–

The next local statement will be issued by the National Weather Service in Peachtree City GA around 1130 PM EDT, or sooner if conditions warrant.

Source Article

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Sunday 1 October 2017

Activities You Can Do In Peachtree City Georgia

If you travel to Georgia, you should visit a place called Peachtree City. It is a beautiful place, located south of Atlanta right off the 85. If you are thinking about taking a vacation, you ought to spend a little bit of time in this city with about 35,000 people. It is located in Fayette County. It is a small location, in comparison to Atlanta, but there are so many things that you will be able to have fun doing. Here is a quick list of activities that you ought to consider doing if you want to visit Peachtree City in Georgia.

Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater

This is a unique amphitheater because it plays very good concerts. The seating allows everyone to see everything that is happening on stage. Unlike many other amphitheaters, the staff is going to be very helpful and pleasant. They make your experience as good as possible. Whether you are in front of the stage, or in the stadium, you are going to have a good time. You might want to plan your visit to Peachtree City if there is a concert playing in that area during the time that you will be visiting.

The Avenue Peachtree City

If you would like to do a little bit of shopping, you can always head over to this outdoor shopping mall. There are some well-known retailers there. You will be able to have fun, experiencing a good time finding all of the items that you would like to purchase. Best of all, they do have some great stores where you can find excellent deals on products that you would like to buy. This could be the final place that you go if you are going to spend a week in Peachtree City, a little-known place in Georgia that you will like whether you spend a couple days or a week at this destination.

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Saturday 30 September 2017

Community Voices: Are Peachtree City post office woes waning?

0

Ongoing complaints about service and upkeep at the Peachtree City post office prompted a recent meeting between city reps and postal officials. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

For a lot of folks in Peachtree City, the P.O. might as well be called the pee-yew.

Years of complaints about the city’s post office came to a head last month after Mayor Vanessa Fleisch wrote to U.S. Postmaster General Megan Brennan about ongoing reports of long lines, rude staff and spotty deliveries. A meeting between city and state officials and U.S. Postal Service reps on Sept. 7 resulted in a pledge of better employee training and service.

It can’t come soon enough.

Google reviews of the Peachtree City branch are a string of single stars longer than the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Facebook comments decrying “rudeness, lies and laziness” and carriers who refuse (but claim they tried) to deliver larger packages are common. Some customers say their neighborhoods don’t get any delivery at all when it rains. And when birthday gifts and Amazon orders get delayed or lost, the ship(ping) gets real.

There are rumors that the eagle logo at this branch might be replaced with a buzzard, since the building is where time goes to die. I have on many occasions stepped inside, seen the line and turned right around and left. (May I say, however, that I have a wonderful carrier, from a county branch.)

Part of the problem is that Peachtree City, despite its size, has no postmaster of its own. It shares one with Fayetteville (whom Fleisch called “unable or unwilling to address the ongoing problems”). Having no such priority male or female on site could be a big reason why customer service in Peachtree City has been lax. We’d order a replacement if we thought he or she would be delivered before Christmas.

In fairness, postal employees — like anyone else who must deal with the public daily — also find themselves on the receiving end of rude behavior. Years ago I was at the post office when a male customer at another counter started shouting at the clerk and made a derogatory racial comment to her as he stormed out. But before he could reach the lobby door, virtually every person in line behind him yelled back in a chorus of reproach.

Plus, a building that dreary can’t be a positive environment in which to work. Not even the steam coming from the customers’ ears can clean off those gray walls. It needs work: Fresh paint. Warmer lighting. Benches or chairs. Art. A parking lot that isn’t a hopscotch of cracked concrete. Even the U.S. flag out front got so worn it looked like a relic from Iwo Jima. It has now been replaced — a good omen!

Customers have been forwarding themselves to other postal locations, including branches in Tyrone and Senoia that, despite their smaller size, get higher marks for service.

Benjamin Franklin, our nation’s first postmaster general, once noted that “Well done is better than well said.” Let’s hope the efforts of our elected officials can help lick this problem.

If Peachtree City’s post office can regain prompt, friendly and reliable service, it would certainly get everyone’s stamp of approval.

Source Article

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Saturday 23 September 2017

Chabad of Peachtree City: The ‘Good’ Year

Writers Rabbi Yossi Lew Rabbi Yossi Lew is co-director of Chabad of Peachtree City.

It happens every year, just as it has been happening forever: Rosh Hashanah arrives, and the synagogues are crowded. Even those who, throughout the rest of the year, allow their Jewish connection to fall into the shadows are inspired to show up.

The High Holidays typically feature extra-long prayers, inspiring speeches and sermons from the rabbi, and, of course, the sounding of the shofar, the ram’s horn, many times over. Trust me, none of this resembles the synagogue experience of the rest of the year.

Prayers and hopes are centered around the point of shana tova, a good year: pleading and begging for a renewed connection and a good upcoming year.

As this occurs each year, the question is inevitable: Why are people doing this? Do those who emerge from their spiritual yearlong hibernation really need to disturb their slumber for a three-day, spiritually Jewish marathon, begging for yet another good year?

Besides, what does a “good” year mean? Are healthy adult men and women showing up to ensure their job is secure, a few extra dollars are found, their friends should love them, and their doctors should stay away?

The filled synagogues are not about people seeking healing, wealth and happiness. Infinitely more is happening. Indeed, every person who turns out for the High Holidays is giving up a matter of substance. It may be surrendering time, sleep, work or rest. Sacrifices are being made to attend services.

A sacrifice normally originates from a profoundly personal place. It is from here — that “spark” of spirituality — one is inspired to behave Jewishly: to pray, to pay attention to the sounds of the shofar, to take to heart words of Torah, and to consider reconnecting to spiritual roots.

Those who undertake this move ostensibly appreciate and grasp, on some level, the merit of their actions.

The High Holiday season tends to resurrect that spark of Jewish connection. In some cases, that spark has been waiting to be touched since the previous High Holiday season. And that spark of spiritual connection is “good.”

On Rosh Hashanah, we connect to a place deep inside with wishes not merely for continued health and wealth, but for that connection to endure another day — we hope until next year.

The dilemma: How does one turn this inspiration into a tangible, ongoing commitment? Even those more observant people whose connection is stronger struggle with carrying the inspiration from the High Holidays through the coming year.

The key, then, is to examine the real goodness in the term shana tova, the good year. One may experience goodness in several ways: good news, good mood, good weather. One can point to good deeds as well.

The ultimate goodness is that which is shared with others. Here, one has not only committed a good deed, but also shared and spread this goodness.

Yet people tend to worry about the reaction of others. In truth, if a deed is a good one, it should not matter what another may think.

Several years ago, I was attending the bar mitzvah of my nephew in London. My illustrious sister and her rabbi husband are Chabad emissaries to that far-flung neighborhood, and their neighbors are not the friendliest bunch. My sister advised us to be aware and to try not to stand out too much.

One example she mentioned was the tallis (prayer shawl), worn during morning services in the synagogue: It is forbidden to carry an object in the public domain during Shabbos. My sister encouraged us to bring the tallis to the synagogue on Friday, before the onset of Shabbos, and avoid wearing this conspicuous garment upon ourselves while walking in the street to services.

This arrangement did not work for me: I was caught in traffic and arrived at the house too late. The next morning, I placed the tallis on my shoulders at the house, preparing to walk to the synagogue. A family member was alarmed. “What are you doing? Are you really intending to walk outside like this after we were cautioned about unnecessary attention?”

Opening the door to leave, I looked back at this family member and said: “Do you honestly think I look normal without wearing my tallis?”

To a world unfamiliar with Judaism and Jewish symbols, one probably looks strange or even nuts.

But that should not matter.

When people feature loud and noticeable gestures, this behavior is usually done to seek attention to personal expression. When, for example, a Jewish person wears a yarmulke in the streets or modest clothing even on the hot summer days, one is expressing good deeds. These should never be causes of worry. These are moments and opportunities to be a proud Jew and share good deeds with others.

The hope for a shana tova, a good year, should include the goodness of sharing that which is good with others precisely because it is “good.”

And it just may happen that, despite your feeling nuts, the other person is actually inspired and moved by this goodness.

And that is the ultimate good.

When praying for a good year this High Holiday season and when wishing this upon others, it would be wonderful to make a commitment to perform a good deed that will not merely affect the person making the resolution, but also others out there as well.

And then the spark can become an inferno of warmth and light. The connection will be strengthened, and the year, together with the years to come, will contain only goodness.

Source Article

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Friday 15 September 2017

Cleaning up after the storm in Peachtree City

PEACHTREE CITY, GA – Folks south of the metro area are spending the day cleaning up. Some people were hit harder than others.

11Alive’s Joe Henke spent Tuesday morning in Peachtree City, where one homeowner had a big mess to clean up — while some of her neighbors were left unscathed.

The storm damage from Tropical Storm Irma coming through Georgia is definitely widespread, but it is also extremely random.

You can come to neighborhoods like this one where I’m at in Peachtree City and you see yards like these ones over here – nothing at all to note. They look like they did 48 hours ago.

Then you come right over here – you see a whole lot of damage and now the clean-up process begins.

From a totaled SUV to a destroyed car — a branch sticking four feet deep into her home’s roof and a broken garage door.

On Tuesday morning, Naomi Duncan was seeing just how bad the damage was outside her home on Ambrose Lane, as she planned with her husband to start cleaning up Monday’s mess.

"The two in the front fell at the same time, almost," she said, talking about the trees in front of the house.

Duncan stepped outside after Irma took down the trees, imagining it couldn’t get any worse.

"Heard another crack and went running that way, and this tree over here fell, too," she said.

Three trees in total, came crashing down in a matter of seconds. And now, comes the day after the storm everyone hopes to avoid.

"Waiting on the insurance adjuster to get here so we can get the trees removed," she said. "We have some rental cars coming. Just praying that insurance is good to us."

But as the insurance process begins, at least there is a bright spot on this cloudy day for Duncan and her two daughters who were inside their home during the storm.

"We had three trees down," she said. "One we can’t even open the garage door, but everybody is safe. We are grateful for that."

© 2017 WXIA-TV

Source Article

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Thursday 7 September 2017

Irma no big threat to Coweta

National Weather Service

The 5-day forecast cone now extends to include the Georgia coast (shown below). The earliest reasonable arrival time of tropical storm force winds to the Georgia coast would be late Sunday morning.

There’s no need to panic – in Coweta, that is.

While Hurricane Irma is shaping up to be potentially devastating to coastal areas – wherever it decides to make landfall – the effect the storm will have on Coweta shouldn’t be severe.

“It’s way too far out to really pin down the impacts that it is going to have for this region,” said Kyle Thiem, meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Peachtree City. “In general terms, we’re probably going to have some pretty gusty winds going into Monday and Tuesday, and we’re probably going to experience a good amount of rain.”

As of Wednesday afternoon, the storm was tracking toward the east, putting Coweta on the western side of it. And the western side of a hurricane is the best side to be on.

“Being on the eastern track is a lot worse when it comes to both tornadoes and heavier rainfall potential,” Thiem said.

Gulf Coast hurricanes have a higher potential for severe weather impacts on Georgia – such as the tornado outbreak that accompanied Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

The storm should reach Coweta late Monday and into Tuesday. “All we can do right now is kind of generalize,” Thiem said.

The current forecast calls for an inch and a half of rain over a few days, and wind gusts of 20 to 25 mph, he said.

The National Weather Service held an online briefing for Georgia’s emergency management directors Wednesday.

Coweta Emergency Management Director Jay Jones said several groups came to attend the briefing in his office, including representatives from Coweta-Fayette EMC, Newnan Public Works, and amateur radio operators.

There will be more briefings as the storm approaches. “They do a really good job of that any time we have a storm,” Jones said of the weather service’s Peachtree City office, which covers 96 counties in Georgia.

Though nothing major is expected from Irma in Coweta, it’s always a good idea to be prepared for emergencies and weather events.

“Everybody should prepare, whether it be a tornadic pattern or this hurricane,” Jones said. He recommends Cowetans visit ready.ga.gov for information about making a preparedness plan and putting together a kit. Items that should always be kept on hand include water and ready-to-eat foods.

Coweta and the city of Newnan are well-supplied with extra fuel, Jones said, and public-safety agencies are always ready to respond.

“Everybody is ready. We just had a meeting today to coordinate that,” Jones said. He’ll be monitoring the storm and keeping in contact with local agencies throughout the weekend.

Source Article

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Monday 28 August 2017

F.D.A. Cracks Down on ‘Unscrupulous’ Stem Cell Clinics

Dr. Mark Berman, of the Cell Surgical Network, in 2014 at his practice in Beverly Hills, Calif. Dr. Berman is a founder of the California Stem Cell Treatment Centers, where patients received an unapproved stem cell treatment made with the help of a smallpox vaccine and other ingredients.

WASHINGTON — The Food and Drug Administration announced a crackdown on dangerous stem cell clinics on Monday, while at the same time pledging to ease the path to approval for companies and doctors with legitimate treatments in the growing field.

The agency reported actions against two large stem cell clinics and a biotech company, saying that it was critical to shut down “unscrupulous actors” in regenerative medicine, a broad umbrella that includes stem cell and gene therapies and immunotherapies.

“The F.D.A. will not allow deceitful actors to take advantage of vulnerable patients by purporting to have treatments or cures for serious diseases without any proof that they actually work,” said Dr. Scott Gottlieb, the F.D.A. commissioner.

Stem cells, which can be extracted from bone marrow, blood or fat, can develop into many different types of cells, and are thought to have the potential to repair or replace tissue damaged by disease, injury or aging. But so far, the F.D.A. has approved only a few stem-cell products.

The companies that the F.D.A. cited have been performing liposuction to remove belly fat from patients, extracting stem cells and then injecting those cells back into the patients to treat various ailments.

On Friday, the agency said, federal marshals seized 500 doses of live Vaccinia virus vaccine for smallpox belonging to StemImmune Inc., a San Diego firm that develops stem cell-based immunotherapies for cancer. The raid came after the F.D.A. learned that the vaccine was being used to create an unapproved stem cell product, a combination of excess amounts of vaccine and stem cells derived from body fat, which was then administered to cancer patients with potentially compromised immune systems.

The F.D.A. said patients at the California Stem Cell Treatment Centers in Rancho Mirage and Beverly Hills, Calif., received the treatment made with the smallpox vaccine. It also said it had serious concerns about how StemImmune obtained the vaccine for use in an unapproved and potentially dangerous treatment.

StemImmune obtained at least some of the vaccine from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, according to Thomas Skinner, a C.D.C. spokesman. In its request, the company said it was conducting cancer research involving the vaccinia virus, and needed to vaccinate researchers — a seemingly legitimate reason. The company did not tell the C.D.C. that it was going to inject the vaccine into patients, he said.

A statement from StemImmune said the company said the company had lawfully obtained the drug.

The F.D.A. also issued a warning letter to U.S. Stem Cell, a private clinic in Sunrise, Fla. The company was the subject of a March report in The New England Journal of Medicine, describing how one woman went blind and two others suffered severe, permanent eye damage after being given shots of stem cells, extracted from fat, into their eyes.

The warning letter accused the company of impairing the F.D.A.’s ability to conduct its inspection by refusing to allow inspectors in, and denying them access to employees. It also said that U.S. Stem Cell had failed to establish proper quality control and sanitary standards.

In a statement Monday afternoon, U.S. Stem Cell denied ever restricting access to F.D.A. inspectors, or having sterility problems. “The safety and health of our patients are our number one priority and the strict standards that we have in place follow the laws of the Food and Drug Administration,” it said.

Noting that the F.D.A. has asked patients with concerns to come forward, the company said it had asked patients who have had positive experiences with their stem cell treatments to notify the agency.

But in the warning letter, the F.D.A. noted that U.S. Stem Cell had claimed its work was not subject to agency regulation. The F.D.A. disagreed, saying that the cells extracted by the company met the definition of both a drug and a biological product, both of which come under the agency’s jurisdiction. In its statement, U.S. Stem Cell said it would abide by the new rules the agency is developing for the field.

Dr. Gottlieb said it was imperative to shut down fraudulent and unsafe players in the field in order to take advantage of the promise of stem cell therapies and to increase innovation in the regenerative medicine field, a program authorized by Congress in the 21st Century Cures Act.

The Sawgrass Medical Center in Sunrise, Fla., where the U.S. Stem Cell clinic operates. The F.D.A. issued a warning letter to U.S. Stem Cell, after a report described how one woman went blind and two others suffered severe, permanent eye damage after being given shots of stem cells, extracted from fat, into their eyes.

Those enterprises “put the entire field at risk,” Dr. Gottlieb said. “Products that are reliably and carefully developed will be harder to advance if bad actors are able to make hollow claims and market unsafe science.”

The California Stem Cell Treatment Centers were founded in 2010 by Dr. Mark Berman, a plastic surgeon, and Dr. Elliot Lander, a urologist. Dr. Berman defended the company, and said that the F.D.A. had not accurately interpreted its cancer pilot study with StemImmune. Dr. Berman, who is also a director of StemImmune, also said that none of the patients had experienced serious adverse effects or died as a result of the treatment involving the vaccine, which he noted, was free.

Dr. Berman and Dr. Lander also train other physicians to perform liposuction, extract stem cells from the fat and inject the cells to treat many ailments, including heart disease, back and knee pain, asthma and neurological disorders.

After training, the physicians can become affiliates of the Cell Surgical Network, which has more than 60 members around the country. Patients are charged $8,900 per procedure, Dr. Berman said in a previous interview. He said affiliates purchase a centrifuge and incubator from the network for about $29,000, and pay the network $1,000 for the disposable liposuction equipment needed for each procedure.

A Florida woman, Doris Tyler, 77, lost her sight after being treated last September at an affiliate of the Cell Surgical Network, the Ageless Wellness Center in Peachtree City, Ga. Cells from her fat were injected into both eyes.

Before the treatment, Mrs. Tyler’s sight had deteriorated because of age-related macular degeneration. But she said she could still see well enough to get around, cook and read.

Within a month of the injections, Mrs. Tyler had a retinal detachment and lost the sight in her left eye. A few weeks later, the same thing happened to her right eye.

She consulted Dr. Thomas Albini, an eye surgeon at the Bascom-Palmer Eye Institute at the University of Miami, who had also examined the three women who went blind after similar treatment at the U.S. Stem Cell Clinic.

In an interview, Dr. Albini said Mrs. Tyler’s case resembled the others. The stem cells apparently formed a membrane that pulled the retina off the back of the eye, causing blindness. Attempts to reattach the retinas surgically could not restore Mrs. Tyler’s sight. She was permanently blinded.

Calls to the clinic in Peachtree City were not returned.

Dr. Berman said that because of her case, affiliates of the Cell Surgical Network were being advised to avoid giving injections directly into the eyes.

“We made a bad decision to have this done,” Mrs. Tyler’s husband said.

Dr. Gottlieb said the F.D.A. would soon publish documents detailing which new treatments and products are subject to agency regulation, and which are not, and giving details on a new, expedited path for companies with legitimate products, seeking premarket approval.

Some industry representatives applauded the move.

“The F.D.A.’s proposal is clear evidence of the fact that the regenerative medicine sector has matured and has moved from just a research sector to a development of market ready products,” said Michael Werner, a partner in the law firm of Holland & Knight and the executive director of the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine. “He’s clearly distinguishing unscrupulous actors who are playing upon hype and taking advantage of patients and product developers who are actually going to treat diseases.”

‘He is trying to balance patient safety and a regulatory pathway that is as least burdensome as possible,” Mr. Werner said.

Public health advocates praised the F.D.A. for moving against the companies, but said it should have happened sooner, given the widespread knowledge of public harm.

“We certainly welcome this type of action, although it comes belatedly,” said Dr. Michael Carome, director of Public Citizen’s Health Research Group. “The agency has known about these unscrupulous actors for years.”

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Monday 21 August 2017

PTC path, farmer’s market top priorities

The Newnan Times-Herald

A cart path connecting Senoia to Peachtree City and the return of an outdoor market were the things Senoia residents put the most importance on at at town hall meeting held Thursday.

At the meeting, attendees first talked about the things they like about their town, and then made suggestions for things they would like to see in the future or needed changes. The suggestions were written down individually on large sheets of paper and hung on the walls of the Senoia Senior Citizen Center, where the meeting was held.

Each attendee was given several red sticker dots, and asked to place the dots on the items they felt most strongly about. Several people were seen putting multiple stickers on the cart path poster. Then, the stickers for each item were added up.

The town hall meetings are held every other year by the Senoia Downtown Development Authority. This year’s meeting was facilitated by Candace Boothby of the Newnan-Coweta Chamber of Commerce.

Golf cart connectivity to Peachtree City was the clear winner with 103 votes.

The return of a downtown farmer’s market and outdoor market, which was suggested by Senoia Outdoor Marketplace founder Suzanne Pengelly, received 71 votes. It was written down as “farmer’s market.”

Other items receiving a significant number of votes were consistent code enforcement with 47, wider lanes and shoulders on Rockaway Road with 39 votes, better trash pickup on busy days downtown with 41 votes, better safety and coordination with downtown walking tours with 29 votes, an upscale community center with activities with 50 votes, more off-street parking with 44 votes, another grocery store with 56 votes, and more arts with 50 votes.

“A lot of good information came out tonight,” said Senoia City Manager Harold Simmons.

“A lot of the things we’re already working on,” he said after the meeting. The city recently added 45 parking spaces along Seavy Street, and a concern that was voiced about spray painting of arrows on roadways for runs and bicycle rides has already been taken care of.

A cart path connecting Senoia and Peachtree City is something that has been discussed since at least 2011 but has been put on the back burner. Part of the path would run through unincorporated Coweta County, and the county has no interested in chipping in funding.

In 2014, it was discussed that the county’s lack of funding was an obstacle, as was the failure of the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax in Fayette County.

But there has been activity in the background. Simmons said he recently met with Peachtree City officials to discuss the future of a cart path.

In the past, Simmons said, there were rumors that Peachtree City was opposed to such a path. That is not the case, he said. “Peachtree City would love to connect to Senoia, and Senoia would love to connect to Peachtree City.”

But right now, the project is not a high priority for either side.

Peachtree City spends about a million dollars a year to maintain existing trails, Simmons said. And the city manager told him there are still portions of the city that haven’t been connected. Connections in the city and maintenance of existing trails are a higher priority.

On the Senoia side, the city is in the midst of a trail project that will connect the Cumberland subdivision to the Cumberland Village shopping area. The city is also busy with stormwater projects, a future sewer upgrade and the long-awaited intersection improvement at Pylant Street and Hwy. 16, as well as plans for a trail to connect Seavy Street and Ivy Ridge.

“It’s just not a good time for us to try to fit that in,” Simmons said. The Peachtree City connection is a long-term project, he said. A lack of county funding is no longer seen as a problem.

As for the outdoor market, the city council has opposed the market because it conflicts with the city’s rules on open-air markets. A four-month moratorium on open-air markets that are not held on an improved parking lot was put in place in June.

“The citizens have spoken in favor of the return of the downtown farmers and outdoor market,” Pengelly said in an email Friday. “The ‘grandfathered’ Senoia Outdoor Marketplace looks forward to returning downtown once the moratorium is lifted.”

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Sunday 20 August 2017

Are You Ready to Visit Peachtree City?

Most people really don’t think much about Georgia when it comes to taking a vacation. Yet, the Georgia coast is quite beautiful and the weather is warm enough to help keep you comfortable when the temperatures are colder up north. That being said, most people don’t visit Georgia to stay unless they are visiting relatives.

If you have not really considered Georgia as a travel destination, you must never have researched Peachtree city. It is a vacation destination that you certainly would want to consider. In fact, it was nominated by Money magazine as one of the best small towns to live in but even if you don’t live there, a visit is still going to help you to slow down and enjoy life.

One of the interesting things about Peachtree city is the fact that there are golf carts everywhere. In fact, there are green belts throughout the area and around a number of lakes that span some 90 miles. These are golf cart paths and you can slow down and take a look at all that the area has to offer from one of those motorized carts.

In addition to seeing life at 15 miles an hour, you also be able to visit some of the most beautiful lakes that the United States has the offer. There are two lakes as well as 3 different golf courses that are world-class. Recreational activities are certainly not limited in the area and regardless of whether you enjoy fine dining, a day out shopping or staying at a luxury hotel, you are sure to enjoy what it has to offer.

Peachtree city is located only 26 miles to the south of Atlanta and it is easily accessible. Why not stop by for a visit this year? You won’t regret it!

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Monday 14 August 2017

Say goodbye to Lake Peachtree again

Lake Kedron to be lowered some also

The Lake Peachtree spillway and dam project is about to get underway. The best way to keep up with the lengthy project is now located on the Peachtree City website.

Located on the homepage at www.peachtree-city.org, City Clerk Betsy Tyler provides a comprehensive look at the project and its various phases.

Above, a view of Lake Peachtree during dredging in 2014. File photo.

As for the current status of the project, bidding is underway and the work to begin lowering the lake for the construction of the spillway will begin on Aug. 28.

City council members at the Aug. 3 meeting were told that seven of the eight pre-qualified bidders attended the conference on the project. An award recommendation for the spillway and dam project is expected at the Aug. 17 council meeting.

The project is expected to see substantial completion, when the lake can begin filling, in May 2018, said City Manager Jon Rorie.

The multi-phase project, estimated to run approximately $4 million, will include a $2 million contribution from Fayette County.

The construction phase of the project comes with seven stages.

Stage 1 begins Aug. 28 with the initial lowering of Lake Peachtree by eight feet.

Stage 2, in September-October, will see the construction of the temporary coffer dam on the lake’s south side.

Stage 3, in November, will have Lake Kedron lowered two feet and Lake Peachtree raised two feet.

Stage 4, during December-February, will include construction of the new spillway foundation.

Stage 5, in February, will possibly raise Lake Peachtree another two feet.

Stage 6, during March-May, will have the new spillway, called a piano key weir, constructed.

Stage 7, during May and June, will return Lake Peachtree and Lake Kedron to full pool.

A section of cart path along Kelly Drive near the spillway will be closed when construction begins. Detour routes with applicable signage will be posted throughout the affected areas.

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Tuesday 8 August 2017

VIDEO: Peachtree City Little Leaguer smashes monster grand slam on ESPN

WARNER ROBINS, Ga. – The team from Peachtree City is just two wins away from a trip to Williamsport and the Little League World Series.

But it’s video of one of the players hitting a monster homerun that has the entire baseball world buzzing.

Jayce Blalock, who stars on the Peachtree City National LL team, hit a grand slam during Sunday’s 14-2 victory that cleared the fence by what looked like a mile.

Video of the 13-year-old’s grand slam — estimated by announcers as 375 feet — posted on Little League’s official Facebook page has been viewed more than 1 million times!

If Peachtree City National LL wins Monday and Tuesday, they’re headed to Williamsport. And you can imagine all eyes will be on Blalock and his power bat.

Channel 2’s Berndt Petersen is in Warner Robins for today’s game. WATCH Channel 2 Action News at Noon for a LIVE report.

© 2017 Cox Media Group.

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Thursday 27 July 2017

Viern Leroy Richardson, 92, of Peachtree City

Viern Leroy Richardson, 92, of Peachtree City, passed away July 18, 2017.

He proudly served his country in the United States Marine Corp during World War II. Mr. Richardson spent 37 years as a principal in the Lake Central School System in St. John, Ind.

Mr. Richardson was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest and Violetta Richardson.

He is survived by his wife, Janice Richardson; sons, Michael (Debra) Richardson; Kim (Susan) Richardson; Scott (Diane) Richardson; grandchildren, Mikey (Kacy); Erin (Taylor), Susanne, Sarah; great-grandchildren, Parks, Marlee, Finn, Jack, Alice; and brother, Earl Richardson.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 29, 2017 at the Peachtree City United Methodist Church, Peachtree City, with Reverend Sean Robinson officiating. The family will host a gathering for friends immediately following the service at the church.

The family requests no flowers, but if you desire, contributions can be made to the Peachtree City United Methodist Memorial Fund, or the Fayette Samaritans.

Carl J. Mowell & Son Funeral Home, Peachtree City – www.mowellfuneralhome.com.

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Thursday 20 July 2017

PTC looks at 4% budget increase, quarter mill tax rate drop

Council to hold public hearing July 20

The July 11 meeting of the Peachtree City Council provided another look at the Fiscal Year 2018 budget that totals $34.88 million in revenues and will be followed by a property tax rate reduction totaling .25 mills.

The proposed new budget — to begin Oct. 1 this year — represents an increase of $1.4 million over the current budget of $33.48 million, or about a 4 percent hike.

Presented by City Manager Jon Rorie and city staff, the budget is proposed to include approximately $34.878 million in revenues and approximately $34.466 million in expenditures. The budget would result in a projected surplus of $411,343.

If approved, the proposal would result in a projected millage rate of 6.811 mills, representing a decrease of .254 mills over the current 7.065 rate.

Finance Director Paul Salvatore said revenues are expected to be up 4.03 percent for the coming year while expenditures are expected to increase 2.94 percent.

Noting that city employees had not received a cost-of-living adjustment since 2014, Rorie said this year he is asking for a 2 percent increase in January if budget targets are met. He will provide the council with those unaudited figures by the end of the year.

Rorie was adamant that the city needs to establish a merit increase methodology and, to that end, has included $186,000 for that purpose in the budget.

“We need a merit-based program to recognize the top performers that make a difference,” Rorie said. “Recognizing everyone equally is not merit.”

A portion of the budget presentation included taking a long-term view of city finances. Included in that discussion was the potential that the council might be able to lower the millage rate by nearly .6 mills over the next three years, and then stabilize the rate at 6.506 mills through FY 2022.

Salvatore during the discussion noted that the 2018 projected surplus, and that of the following two years, is essentially a ramp-up for the construction of the westside fire station in 2021. The cost of the new station is expected to be $1 million.

The council will conduct a public hearing on the budget on July 20.

The budget is expected to be adopted in August after tax digest figures are in. Tax collections will reflect higher property value assessments this year — 12 percent higher on average over the previous year.

The budget becomes effective in October.

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