Peachtree City

Jobless rate hits 8.3% in Fayette, 7.4% in PTC

The U.S. gross domestic product grew by 5.7 percent in the last quarter of 2009, but you could not see any improvement locally by the look of Fayette County’s jobless rate. That rate rose again last month and now sits at 8.3 percent.

Figures supplied by the Ga. Department of Labor showed a jump in Fayette County’s rate from 7.9 percent in November 2009 to 8.3 percent in December 2009; it was 6.3 percent in December 2008. The current breakdown for Fayette shows 6,813 people unemployed out of a workforce of 51,357. Read More»

PTC budget crunch: Take these steps

Peachtree City’s budget dilemma isn’t new, nor is it unique, but we could be unique if we decide to actually do something about it.

Previous administrations may well have seen this coming, but they elected to roll the dice in hopes of better economic times. Those who “buried their heads in the sand” may even have known that these good economic times would have hidden the problems from view to all but the most astute. Read More»

Paquin’s tax solution same old class warfare

I have read and enjoyed Claude Paquin articles in the past, but his last article (”Some bold tax suggestions for legislators”) disappoints.

He begins by giving three choices to balance the state budget: reduce expenses, increase revenues or a little of both, but he focuses entirely on increasing revenues.

This tells me that he believes that government should always have the money it deems necessary to achieve its goals. Read More»

It’s Westmoreland who doesn’t ‘get it’

I believe that Rep. Lynn Westmoreland’s trashing of the President was totally uncalled for. It is Westmoreland who doesn’t “get it.”

President Obama inherited all the mess from Bush, now the Republicans are trying to pass the blame to Obama.

I don’t agree with all in the healthcare bill, either. However, something must be done to control the healthcare costs. Instead of calling names, a child’s tactic, try sitting down and talking about how to make it better. Read More»

PTC Girl Scout Troop urges recycling

Ever found a place in nature that made you just drink in the beauty of the natural world? Ever stopped to wonder how many of these special places exist in our rapidly industrializing surroundings? Ever thought of the water, mucky and contaminated, that used to be crystal clear?

According to the Utah State Recycling Center, recycling one ton of paper saves 17 trees, 7,000 gallons of water, 380 gallons of oil, and 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space. Read More»

Make all cellphones hands-free, ban texting

In last week’s edition, you included a letter from a driver who had experienced a crash due to another driver using a cellphone while driving.

The following day there was news on the radio that “There was no evidence that cellphone use while driving increased the risk of a traffic accident.”

That was patently rubbish. I stood at an traffic light intersection in Atlanta last week and had to wait while the traffic released from the light at the previous intersection passed my position. Read More»

Jenoise L. Brandenburg

Jenoise L. Brandenburg, 85, Peachtree City, died Jan. 28, 2010. She was born in Atlanta, and was preceded in death by her parents, Robert L. and Mae Tannery Land. She was an elementary school teacher for 32 years in Homestead, Fla. She was a member of North Fayette United Methodist Church. Services were at the Carl J. Mowell chapel with the Rev. Doug Burrell officiating. Interment was at Westminster Memorial Gardens, Peachtree City. Read More»

Recognized for service

Shown above (L-R) are: Fracena Byrd-Dolan, youth director; McClure; the Rev. Michael Fry. Photo/Special.

All Saints Anglican Church of Peachtree City recognized Sarah (Cookie) McClure on Jan. 24 for her hard work and dedicated service as nursery supervisor. McClure, who is known as “Miss Cookie” to the church’s young people, has served All Saints since it was founded several years ago. The Rev. Michael Fry, rector, praised McClure for her loving approach to caring for the children of the church and presented her with a small token of appreciation. All Saints is at 225 South Peachtree Pkwy. Read More»

Carlson-Cutts

Mr. & Mrs. Cutts

Kelly Carlson and Daniel Cutts, both 1998 graduates of McIntosh High School, were married Oct. 17, 2009, at The Catholic Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Atlanta. Monsignor Henry Gracz presided over the ceremony.

The bride is the daughter of Mary Carlson and the late Jim Carlson of Peachtree City.

The groom is the son of Steve and Jeannie Cutts of Atlanta.

Photo/Nam Nguyen Photography.

Concert cutback means lotto for season ticketholders

Thousands of people flock to the Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater each year for the summer concert series. Photo/Special.

Patrons of the Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater’s summer concert series will soon be receiving their ticket renewal forms in the mail along with an announcement of this year’s acts for the season.

While “The Fun is Back” at the Fred, this season will be difficult for some season ticket holders as the venue shrinks its concerts to one per weekend. Cutting back to one concert per artist is part of a bid to get The Fred making a profit, said Amphitheater Manager Nancy Price. Read More»