Newsmakers

State jobless rate holds in January

The Georgia Department of Labor (DOL) announced March 7 that Georgia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for January was 8.7 percent, unchanged from December. The rate was 9.3 percent in January a year ago.

There was a loss of 47,700 mostly seasonal jobs and an increase in initial claims for unemployment insurance benefits over the month, but the increases were not enough to impact the unemployment rate. Read More»

Planes at PTC airport to ‘keep it lower’

FAA expands airspace to make room for bigger jets to/from Hartsfield

Starting Thursday, commuter jets flying in and out of Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport will be a little closer to their much smaller brethren flying to and from Atlanta Regional Airport (also known as Falcon Field) in Peachtree City.

The new Class B airspace went into effect Thursday, allowing the bigger jets from Hartsfield to have a lower ceiling of 6,000 feet, down from the previous minimum of 8,000 feet.

By comparison, the smaller aircraft approaching and leaving Falcon Field stay in a pattern around 1,000 feet, said Airport Manager Hope Macaluso. Read More»

PTC fire chief’s sexual harassment cost: $350,000

Extra $50K settlement offered for fire chief’s sexual pressures on female firefighter subordinate

Peachtree City officials have worked out a separate $50,000 settlement to compensate a female firefighter who claimed that former Fire Chief Ed Eiswerth stormed into her hotel room at a conference in November as part of an attempt to have sex with her. Read More»

Stover, Crymes weigh-in on gun issues in election

The Georgia Gun Owners organization recently published the results of a survey of candidates for elected office, noting that District 71 candidate David Stover completed the organization’s survey while Tom Crymes, the other Dist. 71 candidate in the March 5 runoff election, did not respond.

But there may be a bit more to the story as Crymes said he did not receive the survey, adding that he supports 2nd Amendment rights though he is in favor of requiring a permit to carry a concealed weapon. Read More»

PTC Mayor Haddix wants new interchange in Coweta to help traffic at Hwy. 54-74

In addition to a major improvement at Ga. Highway 74 and Interstate 85, Peachtree City Mayor Don Haddix wants the Georgia Department of Transportation to add a new interchange in Coweta County at Palmetto-Tyrone Road to provide a way for Coweta commuters to avoid the glut of traffic at Ga. Highways 54 and 74 during drive time.

The problem, according to Fayette County Commission Chairman Steve Brown, is that Coweta County is not interested in pursuing such a project yet, especially considering that the county already has two active interchange projects in the pipeline. Read More»

Legacy Christian Church to hold 2nd Annual Resurrection Run

Legacy Christian Church will hold the 2nd Annual Resurrection Run 5K/Walk to benefit Coweta County Pregnancy Services on March 16. The race starts at 8 a.m. and will take place in Senoia at the intersection of Morgan Street and Pylant Street, near the new public library. Read More»

Step back into history in Newnan for Civil War encampment today

There will be a lot of interactive history on display today (Saturday) as the historic train depot on East Broad Street in Newnan becomes the site of a Civil War encampment. Later in the day the Wadsworth Auditorium will feature a lecture on aspects of the life of Abraham Lincoln.

The Civil War encampment will begin at 10 a.m. and run through 4 p.m. at the old train depot located at 60 East Broad Street. Living historians will portray Confederate and federal soldiers and civilians. Those attending are invited to participate in 1860s crafts and learn about the year 1863.  Read More»

Piedmont Newnan working on community health assessment

Portions of a recent health assessment conducted by Piedmont Newnan Hospital will be included in a final product designed to provide a better understanding of the health challenges facing the Coweta County community and to identify the best ways to respond to those challenges. The study identified a host of factors that will be used to establish and implement a plan to meet the community’s healthcare needs. Read More»

State may fast-track fix of I-85-Hwy. 74 interchange

Help may be on the way for commuters snarled between Tyrone and interstate

Fayette County Commission Chairman Steve Brown has joined forces with his cohorts in Fulton and Coweta counties to plead the case for a larger-scope improvement to the interchange of Ga. Highway 74 and Interstate 85 in the form of a “partial cloverleaf” design. Read More»

18 local lawyers on the list for state court judge

There are quite a few familiar names in the field of 18 attorneys seeking to be appointed to the vacant position of judge of Fayette County State Court.

The vacancy was created when Gov. Nathan Deal decided to elevate then-State Court Judge Carla Wong McMillian to a post on the Georgia Court of Appeals last month.

McMillian was appointed to that post and then won the election for a four-year term last fall. Read More»