Army National Guard Pvt. Laketa Y. Parks has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C.

During the nine weeks of training, the soldier studied the Army mission, history, tradition and core values, physical fitness, and received instruction and practice in basic combat skills, military weapons, chemical warfare and bayonet training, drill and ceremony, marching, rifle marksmanship, armed and unarmed combat, map reading, field tactics, military courtesy, military justice system, basic first aid, foot marches, and field training exercises.

David Jessel (left), President of Marquis de Lafayette Chapter, GASSAR presented a Certificate of Appreciation for a program presented by LTJG Wylie; Cadet Seaman Apprentice Will Heinzel, a student at Trinity Christian School; C/SA Clay Hellwig, Newnan High School; C/SA James Brown, East Coweta High School; ENS Carl R. Matthews, Squadron Supply and Recruiting Officer. 

The Marquis de Lafayette Chapter, Georgia Society Sons of American Revolution, welcomed members of the Pathfinder Excursion Squadron of Sea Cadets at their June meeting.  LTJG Robert Wylie, Commanding Officer, and Cadet Seaman Apprentice James Brown presented a program outlining the concepts and opportunities offered by the U.S. Navy League-sponsored Sea Cadets.  

Local author and Peachtree City resident Kevin Downs, 42, has taken the international stage as his thriller, “Spydentity”— the first nail-biting “bio”-industrial espionage cloning thriller to date — was recently published.

In “Spydentity” the dangerous fusion of information and life sciences in a new millennium of uncertainty sets the stage for greed, betrayal, revenge, conspiracy, and murder.

Students from five Fayette County schools attended the very first Athena Music and Leadership Camp, sponsored by Music Essentials, June 9-13, 2009 on the campus of the University of West Georgia. Named for the Greek goddess of the Arts and Wisdom, the Athena band camp is designed to serve 7th – 12th grade girls who play woodwind, brass, or percussion instruments.

Caroline Poole, donating a brand new bike to the Real Life Center.  Caroline won the bike from the Spring Fling at Peeples Elementary School and wanted to share it with someone going through hard times.  For more information about how to receive help or provide donations to the Real Life Center please call 770-631-9334.

An Educational Chance of a Lifetime

At Whitewater High School, a student worked hard for the past four years and held many leadership positions such as Co-Head Editor of the Vision Yearbook Staff, Co-President of Beta Club, and various other jobs like a volunteer or tutor while maintaining a 4.0 G.P.A . and taking a challenging course workload. She has been preparing herself for something great when she heard about the Gates Millennium Foundation during her sophomore year.

Colleen Romano the Director for the Field of Hope, recently addressed the Fayetteville Rotary Club. The club supported this project from the beginning and is honored to share in the continued support of the Field of Hope Challenger Division as they offer a safe encouraging environment for children with disabilities. From left, are Corrie Williamson member of the Challenger Division, Scott Williamson Past Fayetteville Rotary President, and Colleen Roman - Director of the Field of Hope.

Fayette County's Jim Heinzel just earned his Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) in Technology Management with a concentration in Aviation Administration from Clayton State University. He also just moved up on the job at Delta Air Lines, to a management position in Ground Support Equipment (GSE). And, yes, these two milestones are related.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. – (June 24, 2009) – The United States Small Business Administration (SBA) Georgia District Office returns to the Fayette County Public Library this July to present two free evening workshops for small business owners. Both prospective and established business owners can benefit from these workshops, which are open to the public.

Fayetteville, GA, June 25, 2009—Piedmont Fayette WLA Toastmasters became Fayette’s fourth Toastmasters club on March 24, 2009. Toastmasters International is the world’s largest educational organization specializing in communication and leadership training. Using this self-help program, members of Toastmasters clubs improve oral communication skills and effective leadership strategies with a hands on approach. Confidence in self and improvement in leadership abilities are advantages of becoming a Toastmaster. Members learn skills by watching others and improve abilities by practicing. A former member of High Noon Toastmasters, Carleton Williams, once stated ,”A Toastmaster stands up to be seen, speaks out to be heard, and sits down to be appreciated.”

Makira Walton, 9 , of Peachtree City hosted her first Alex's Lemonade Stand on Saturday, June 13.  She and her cousins

Approximately 85 people attended an afternoon Court of Honor as James Edward Flohr, a member of Boy Scout Troop 172, was awarded the rank of Eagle Scout. The ceremony was held in the Rainbow Room at New Hope Baptist Church which is the sponsoring organization for Troop 172.

1st Lieutenant Christopher A. Taylor, son of Colonel (retired) Chip and Kim Taylor, Peachtree City, graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston with a Master's of Science Degree in Astronautics and Aeronautics Engineering on June 5, 2009.

Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA) Solo and Ensemble is an event that is held at different venues throughout the state of Georgia. High School students prepare a piece of music and are critiqued by a GMEA judge. Students may receive a rating of Superior, Excellent or Good. Matthew Walter, a rising sophomore at McIntosh High School, plays the baritone in the Wind Symphony. He attended the Solo and Ensemble event hosted at East Coweta High School on May 16th and earned the prestigious superior rating playing his piece, "March of the Marionette" a solo with piano accompaniment.

Team America, a local group of triathletes, rides bikes across U.S.

Two PTC Boy Scouts earned the rank of Eagle Scout recently.  Asato Masuyama and Nathan Whatley completed the requirements of Eagle Scout rank this spring and were honored at a Boy Scout Court of Honor on Sunday, May 24 at the Scout Hut behind Peachtree City United Methodist Church (PTCUMC). 

Asato, the son of Yuzaburo and Emiko Masuyama, and Nathan, son of Ute and Jeff Whatley, began Scouting as Tiger Cubs in 1997 and joined Troop 75 in 2002.  Troop 75 is sponsored by the United Methodist Men’s Club of PTCUMC. 

Megan Klar a junior at Marist School and the daughter of  Susan Klar and the late Lawrence Klar, recently made a donation to Locks of Love.  Elizabeth Fugate at Hair Studios (1850 Hwy 85 South in Fayetteville) cut off 15” of Megan’s hair. “Megan is a loving and caring person. She believes her lovely hair is a gift from God and she would like to pass it on to others as a way of giving back to the community,” said Susan Klar. “This is the second time she has donated her hair for charity and I am sure it will not be the last.” Photo/Special.

2nd Lieutenant Heather Mahaffey was commissioned into the US Air Force by her father, Colonel Kevin Mahaffey, USAF. Heather was a 2005 graduate of Starrs Mill High School and a 2009 graduate of The University of Georgia. 2nd Lt Mahaffey has accepted the Health Services Scholarship offered her by the USAF and will be attending Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington DC beginning in August. Photo/Special.

The Huntington Learning Center has recently published its college entrance exam preparatory program results.

Since opening in March 2007, Huntington has prepped 125 students through May 31, 2009.

What do strawberries and bananas have in common with Whitewater Middle students? The answer is DNA. As it turns out, the genetic material of the fruits is very similar to that of humans.

Approximately 550 student-created instructional books from Bennett’s Mill Middle are being used by children at Onono Memorial College, a school near Gulu, Uganda that serves students from 12-24 years of age.

On Tuesday, May 26, 2009, Hood Avenue Primary students got to listen to stories read to them by their principal and assistant principal while they sat on the roof in their pajamas.

During the annual awards/recognition ceremony conducted by Fayette County Retired Educators Association (FCREA) Whitewater High School senior Wesley H. VanMeter received a scholarship from FCREA. This year marks the first year a student from Whitewater High School received this scholarship. FCREA is the local unit of Georgia Retired Educators Association (GREA). Membership in FCREA is open to anyone interested in education. All meetings are open to the public. Meetings are held during the school year September through May. Information about the organization is found on its website www.orgsites.com/ga/fayette_ga_retired_educators.

Pictured, from left, are Amy Melton--Whitewater Middle School; Kayla Davis - Flat Rock Middle; Hannah Hartman - Rising Starr Middle; Christopher Carden - Fayette Middle; Cassidy Sparkman - Booth Middle and Leslie Perez - Bennett’s Mill Middle. Photo/Special.

Fayette County Retired Educators Association (FCREA) recently honored one eighth grade student from each Fayette County middle school. FCREA is the local unit of Georgia Retired Educators Association (GREA). This year marks the first time in its history that FCREA honored a student from each middle school. Criteria for recognition included academic performance along with community involvement. FCREA  recognized the students, their parents, and school counselors during its annual awards ceremony May 21, 2009. The students received certificates acknowledging their achievements as well as gifts. FCREA is the local unit of Georgia Retired Educators Association. The mission of the organization is to unite retired educators in Georgia for fellowship, support, and educational/ community service and to improve benefits for all retired educators through cooperation with local, state and the national organization.

Fayette Senior Services is proud to present "Powerful Tools for Caregivers," a 6-week educational program that is designed to teach family caregivers how to take better care of themselves as they care for others.

After visiting Tutankhamen, the Golden King and the Great Pharaohs exhibit at the Civic Center, seventh graders at Bennett’s Mill Middle decided to share their experience with the rest of the school.

Judie Thompson has ended her teaching career after nineteen years at Braelinn Elementary School. She is one of the several original faculty members who opened the school in 1990. Although, Mrs. Thompson, unlike others, has been in the SAME classroom for the entire 19 years! Doesn't she rightfully own it under the homestead act... LOL

The Thomas Wingfield Chapter, National Society of the Colonial Dames placed a historical marker at the Holliday-Dorsey-Fife House in Fayetteville with state and local officials present.

The house was built in 1855 by Dr. John Stiles Holliday, uncle of the "Doc" Holliday of Western fame. A complete history of the house , now a museum operated by the City of Fayetteville, was given by museum manager, John W. Lynch.

One by one they came to her office to seek comfort, solace, a reassurance that they would make it through one of the most difficult times in their young lives. In a short span of time, 13 students from various grade levels came to talk to Rising Starr Middle School Counselor Janice McLeroy about their same situation; all had parents who were battling cancer.

At a recent Rotary Club of Peachtree City luncheon, Girl Scouts were honored and presented with of a $1,000. donation check. From left are Scott Rowland, Eagle Scout & Rotary Club member, Karen Stephens, Rotary Club Community Service Director, Amanda Wilson, Girl Scouts Gold Award & Ambassador, Laura Mullen, Service Unit Director, Diane New-Hardy, Membership Specialist Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta,   Susan Wilson, Leader - Ambassador, Troop # 419, and Sheila Barnes, Rotary Club member. Photo/Special.