Tyrone

Sandy Creek students nearly sweep writing competition

Three rising seniors at Sandy Creek High took the top three placements in the 14th Georgia History Day Essay Contest, nearly sweeping the entire competition sponsored by “Georgia Voyager” magazine and the Brunswick-Golden Isles Visitors Bureau.

The winners are (first place) Linda Wilkins; (second place) Nia Decaille and (third place) Camara Carter. Their winning essays will be published in the “Georgia Voyager” magazine. Over 2,000 Georgia students wrote essays on this year’s theme, “Georgia Authors.” Read More»

Hopewell schedules blood drive to honor fallen soldier

Hopewell United Methodist Church will hold an Honor Blood Drive Wednesday, July 21, from 2 to 7 p.m. The blood given that day will honor Lt. Robert Wilson Collins, killed in action on April 7, 2010, in Mosul, Iraq.

Donors must be at least 17 years old, weigh 110 lbs or more, and show a photo I.D.

Those who are 16 years old may donate with written parental consent.

“Please come out and donate blood in honor of Lt. Collins, a soldier, servant, and leader who gave his life for our freedoms,” a spokesperson said. Read More»

Local Girl Scout still collecting school supplies for children of homeless mothers

While most teenagers are celebrating their summer break from school, one young lady is continuing to spend her time on a project that will help a group of children have all their school supplies for next year.

Lauren Sarkis, a rising Sandy Creek High Schooler, has been collecting backpacks, pens, markers, paper, binders, and numerous other school supplies for children at Atlanta Day Women’s Shelter. Her goal is to have 100 backpacks, filled with school supplies, ready for the children to use come August and the start of the new school year. Read More»

Tyrone Council approves Hwy. 74 zoning on 3-1 vote

The Tyrone Town Council last week voted 3-1 to rezone a 55.8-acre portion of a much larger tract that had been annexed into the town in 1992. The annexation came with the understanding that the entire 479-acre property would be zoned M-2 (Heavy Manufacturing). A clerical error several years ago was said to be responsible for the 55-acre portion of the property being color-coded incorrectly on the town’s Land Use Map, hence the need for rezoning. A number of Southampton subdivision residents opposed the rezoning. Read More»

Collins family honored by Tyrone council

Collins family honored by Tyrone council

Tyrone Mayor Don Rehwaldt takes a moment at last week’s Town Council meeting to present a proclamation to the family of fallen soldier, Army Lt. Robert Collins. The town will have Collins’ image on T-shirts at this years Founders Day event, with proceeds going to the Collins Scholarship Fund. Pictured, from left, are Rehwaldt, Collins’ longtime girlfriend Nicole Williams and mom Sharon Collins. Photo/Ben Nelms.

Tyrone adopts budget with no millage increase

Residents whose property values decreased will get tax break

There was no fanfare last week as the Tyrone Town Council adopted the $3.15 million FY 2010-2011 General Fund budget that took effect July 1. Council members said they would keep the millage rate steady at 2.89 mills.

The budget actually represents a 3.5 percent increase, or $106,005, that was attributed to increases in employee health insurance, pension benefits and a $61,000 capital expenditure for drainage improvements on Castlewood Road, according to Town Manager Richard Newbern. Read More»

Tyrone rape verdict overturned

Court of Appeals rules that evidence may have prejudiced jury

The Georgia Court of Appeals has overturned the conviction of a Sharpsburg man for raping a 16-year-old girl at her Tyrone home in 2005. Read More»

Legacy Theatre presents 'Annie'

“Annie,” also known as “Little Orphan Annie,” started out as a comic strip about an orphaned redhead who is adopted by Daddy Warbucks and has many adventures. The musical productions, both on stage and screen, have far surpassed the comic strip’s popularity as hundreds of thousands of girls have taken the stage all over the world to belt out Annie’s inspirational song “Tomorrow.” And yet, the show isn’t just about the big song from the little sweetheart. “Annie” gives audiences a little bit of history with a large portion of humor and toe-tapping numbers from start to finish. Read More»

Tyrone woman charged with bilking funds from employer

A Tyrone woman has been indicted on 40 criminal charges for forging checks and stealing more than $13,000 from a local business and its proprietor.

Linda J. Bowman, 53, of Vista Lane Tyrone faces 19 counts of theft by taking while acting as a fiduciary, 18 counts of forgery in the first degree and three counts of financial identity fraud, according to the recently-unsealed indictment against her.

An indictment returned by the grand jury is not a verdict of guilt; rather it means the grand jurors deemed there to be enough evidence for the matter to be resolved in a criminal trial. Read More»

Near drowning incident June 20 claims life of Gwinnett 9 year-old

A nine year-old Gwinnett County boy admitted to Scottish Rite Hospital June 20 after a near drowning incident while visiting the Southampton subdivision in Tyrone died Monday. The boy had been listed in critical condition since his admission to the hospital.

Tyrone Police Chief Brandon Perkins confirmed that the unnamed child passed away Monday morning. The boy had been visiting at his father's home at Southampton. Read More»