Lights and Sirens

UPDATED: Churches lead the way to help tornado-ravaged community

UPDATED FOR PRINT May 4, 2011 — There’s not much left of the small community of Rio, whose two dozen homes straddle West McIntosh Road about four miles east of the south Fayette County town of Brooks and just over the county line into neighboring Spalding County.

It became a disaster zone in the dark Wednesday night of April 27-28, a 24-hour period marked by the worst outbreak of tornadoes in American history. Read More»

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Coweta dodges big weather bullet

A system of severe thunderstorms swept through Coweta County during the nighttime hours April 27. One of those storm systems tracking to the northeast out of the area of Heard and Troup counties entered Coweta near Grantville, apparently spawning a tornado. Unlike many areas in Georgia and the South that night the storm system spared Coweta from significant destruction.

“I think we dodged a big bullet compared to other places,” said Coweta County Emergency Management Agency Director Jay Jones. Read More»

Coweta to get new fire pumper

The Coweta County Fire Department has been approved for a new $500,000 pumper truck to replace one recently wrecked and taken out of service. The wrecked truck had been scheduled for replacement next year.

Fire Chief Johnny Teeters at the April 5 meeting of the Coweta County Commission recommended the purchase of a Sutphen Custom Monarch Pumper priced at $499,828, the lower of the two bids received. Commissioners agreed and approved the purchase. Read More»

Where there's smoke...

A van caught fire just before 11 a.m. this morning on Ga. Highway 54 at Walt Banks Road, snarling traffic briefly.

FedEx delivery driver Tony Jackson used a small fire extinguisher to beat down the flames, but the Peachtree City Fire Department came in to finish the job.

Fire crews had to cut open the hood to fully extinguish the blaze. Read More»

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A somber ride of honor through Fayette

Local residents Wednesday welcomed home a Griffin soldier who died March 29 from wounds sustained in an enemy attack in Konar province, Afghanistan. Infantryman Pvt. Jeremy P. Faulkner, 23, was escorted home by a cavalcade of law enforcement vehicles from metro Atlanta along with the Patriot Guard Riders motorcycle group. Faulkner was serving in Operation Enduring Freedom, which was undertaken to combat terrorists in Afghanistan. Photo/John Munford.

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Gas leak snarls S. Fayetteville traffic

A mid-morning natural gas leak April 7 at the new RaceTrac gas station on South Glynn Street caused Fayette County Fire and Emergency Services officials to divert traffic around a heavily-traveled section of Ga. Highway 85 at the Fayetteville city limits.

The intersection of Highways 85 and 92 and Ramah Road was completely shut down, causing traffic to back up significantly on Beauregard Boulevard as motorists made their way around the mess. The leak was repaired and the roads re-opened by 3:15 p.m., said Fayette FES Capt. Pete Nelms Read More»

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Tyrone motorist trapped by fallen tree, but unhurt

The wind speed of the storm that blew through Fayette County during the late night hours April 4 is not known. But what is known is that the winds were strong enough to blow trees onto two homes and one vehicle in north Fayette and to cause temporary power outages in the Tyrone area. Read More»

Traffic delay on Hwy. 74 S in PTC

Peachtree City officials just before noon said an oil leak from a tanker truck is causing traffic delays in the southbound Lane of Highway 74 in Peachtree City from the northern city limits (Tyrone) to Kelly Drive (south of Highway 54). Read More»

Hailstorm ices back deck in Senoia Saturday afternoon

Tornado warning sirens sounded during a passage of severe weather through Senoia, Brooks and Peachtree City Saturday afternoon. No significant damage was reported, although there were several reports of hail up to the size of a quarter in the area. The hail pictured was photographed on the back deck of Heather Ward, The Citizen's production supervisor who lives in Senoia. Photo/Scott Ward.

Officer struck by vehicle, sustains minor injury

The school resource officer directing traffic at Whitewater Middle School Tuesday morning was struck and slightly injured after being hit by a vehicle leaving the school. Read More»

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