News

Mailbox theft suspects chased from Tyrone to Coweta

What began March 7 as a report of stealing mail in Tyrone quickly led to a pursuit by Peachtree City Police that continued into Coweta County where Coweta deputies clocked the vehicle at speeds of up to 100 miles per hour. The vehicle was disabled by Coweta deputies on Interstate 85 and the two Atlanta residents in the vehicle were taken to the Fayette County Jail.

Shawntay S. Simmons, 26, was charged with financial identity fraud, fleeing or attempting to elude, reckless driving, speeding and obedience to a traffic control device, according to Fayette County Jail records. Read More»

Piedmont Fayette Hospital ground zero for shooter drill

Ambulances along with a host of emergency response units from around Fayette County participated March 8 in an emergency preparedness mock scenario at Piedmont Fayette Hospital that involved an active shooter with hostages. Photo/Special.

An emergency preparedness drill held on March 8 at Piedmont Fayette Hospital was executed to help emergency responders prepare for the absolute worst. In a mock scenario of a gunman in the hospital holding 30 hostages, county and municipal emergency personnel worked with Piedmont Fayette Hospital staff to lock down the hospital and protect patients and the facility itself.

The drill ended with the fictitious death of one gunman and the capture of the other two. A fake bomb blast also was included in the event. Read More»

2 national groups seek judge’s ouster for overturning rape verdict

Two representatives of national Down syndrome organizations are urging the removal of a judge who overturned a guilty verdict in a 2012 rape case involving a Fayetteville victim who suffers from the genetic condition, which is tied to cognitive delays. (See Letters here and here.) Read More»

Fayette schools pilot digital media career pathway

Toon Boom trainer Marie-Eve Chartrand flew in from the company’s headquarters in Montreal, Canada for two days of training on Storyboard Pro software. She is seen helping Dr. Tom Lewis of Whitewater High (R) as fellow teachers from Whitewater High, Dennis Bergeron and Renee Waters (L), work on their projects. Photo/Special.

The Fayette County School System is developing a pilot program designed to create a career pathway in digital media. The March 4 announcement was made at Sandy Creek High School as representatives from Canadian animation software company Toon Boom gave teachers from two of the county’s high schools and two middle schools a hands-on look at the technology. Read More»

No black candidate for BoE in new minority district

6 in race for 2 BOE seats; McCarty and Brown face commission opposition

Adjusting to district voting is proving to be a challenge for both political parties in Fayette County. Read More»

Arrest made in N. Fayette hit-and-run case

Sheriff: Son ran for help after mom was struck by vehicle

A 64-year-old Fayetteville resident has been arrested for driving off after her vehicle struck a woman walking her son to the bus stop in north Fayette County Tuesday morning, sheriff’s officials said.

Verolyn Kennebrew was charged today with felony hit and run and also failure to maintain lane, according to Fayette County Sheriff Barry Babb.

The victim and her son were walking to the bus stop in the Princeton Chase subdivision off Ga. Highway 314 when the incident happened around 6:50 a.m., Babb said. Read More»

FCHS students set focus on career preparation

From left, front row: Shardaya Jones, Lisa Roque, Lauren Coachman, Tassia Drame, Kaylee Satterwhite, Gabrielle Hazard, and Farrukh Ali. Back row: Reezaan Bharwani, Josh Ward, Samir Davis, Esteban Rodriguez, Aaron Campbell, and Ian Douglas. Photo/Special.

CTAE (Career, Technical and Agricultural Education) students at Fayette County High took the month of February to explore the world of work and how to prepare for their future careers after graduation. Read More»

MHS students use science fair winnings to pay it forward

FIRST founders, from left, John Childers, Keaton Wimbish and Kyle Ewers (far right) with Jonathan Lewis. Photo/Special.

Three students with an interest in honeybees developed a science fair project last year that earned them a monetary award from the Tellus Science Museum at the Georgia Science and Engineering Fair. Read More»

Fayette County arrests report — Feb. 25 – March 3

The following arrests were reported by local law enforcement agencies for the past week. All persons are considered innocent until proven guilty. Rather than indicating the age of those arrested, only the year of birth will be noted below due to law enforcement procedural changes.
 
Tuesday, Feb. 25 - Monday, March 3
 
Fayette County Sheriff’s Office
 
William G.
Read More»

Busted tail light leads to Senoia burglary arrest

A 35-year-old Juliette man was arrested March 3 on charges stemming from a Dec. 23 burglary and a July 26 attempted burglary at the Senoia Drug Company on Ga. Highway 16.

Rico Ussery was charged with burglary and attempted burglary, according to Senoia Investigator Jason Ercole.

Arrests warrants for burglary and attempted burglary have also been issued for 22-year-old North Carolina resident Denzel Kewon Poole, though Poole has yet to be taken into custody, Ercole said. Read More»