Coweta County Commission is set to hold two public hearing June 12 on proposed developments on Chestlehurst Road off Ga. Highway 16 just east of Senoia. One of the proposals seeks to rezone 8.459 acres from Rural Conservation (RC) to Light Industrial (LM) for offices, warehouses and shop space while the other seeks to rezone two tracts totaling approximately six acres to establish a church and Christian retreat facility.

A 27 year-old Palmetto man was arrested April 27, charged with the statutory rape of a 13 year-old girl at her home on the city’s south side. Police said the man had been living illegally in the United States for 16 years.

Relay for Life Coweta celebrated its 15th year on May 2 and 3 at the Coweta Fairgrounds in Newnan. With 364 cancer survivors registered to join 69 teams of volunteers who would walk for twelve hours to support the American Cancer Society’s efforts to raise funds for research and patient services, the scene was picture perfect as the sun set over the Opening Ceremonies.

If you are a subscriber to cable television through Newnan Utilities, you may have stumbled across a local cooking show on Channel 10 over the past two years. “Dishing With Mike,” hosted by Mike Hutcheson, a former executive chef in some very posh places, prides itself on showing local viewers “how to do fun food, fast.”

It was a while in the making, but a massive residential and commercial/office proposal is finally surfacing in Palmetto. The Foxhall Village proposal is billed as a 1,323-acre master-planned sustainable community located inside the Fulton County portion of Palmetto, according to a development of Regional Importance (DRI) application filed with Atlanta Regional Commission. The development application was filed by Merrill Trust Communities & Resorts, LLC. The proposed development is situated in the northwest portion of the city.

Northgate High School Assistant Principal Dr. Jan Franks was named as the new principal of Arnall Middle School by the Coweta County Board of Education on Tuesday.

Hundreds of visitors headed to Senoia last weekend for a variety of activities.

Rep. Lynn Westmoreland has drawn a Democratic challenger in his bid for re-election to the Third Congressional District. Newnan attorney Stephen Camp qualified this week for the position. As of noon, Thursday no Republican opposition had qualified for Westmoreland’s post. If Camp and Westmoreland remain the lone qualifiers, the will face off in the November 4 general election.

Senoia’s new reputation as a destination is giving some business owners a headache.

At the April 21 meeting, Albert Groce, who owns a video shop on Main Street, pleaded with the City Council to do something about the parking problem.

State Senator Mitch Seabaugh (R-Sharpsburg) has been appointed by Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle to chair the Senate Task Force on Value Government. The task force will look to determine how state government can provide services in a more effective and efficient manner to Georgia citizens. Ultimately, the panel will find ways to give taxpayers the best value possible in state government.

Piedmont Newnan Hospital has named Betsy Jackson as director of critical care services. As director of critical care services, Jackson will be responsible for the 12 bed intensive care unit as well as the 21 bed progressive care unit.

It may have only been a few thousand people who flocked to the downtown area April 17 for a Taste of Newnan, but it seemed like a good portion of Coweta and surrounding counties made the trek to consume an incredible array of goodies. Live music and other entertainment was the order of the day, and no one left hungry. Photos/Ben Nelms.

Does Coweta County’s governmental structure need to undergo a change in the future? An attempt to begin to find an answer to that question came April 17 with the first meeting of a committee proposed in February by County Commission Chairman Tim Higgins to determine whether the county’s current governmental structure is sufficient to meet future needs. Much of the April 17 conversation included the idea of having a countywide commission chairman.

The city of Senoia plans to poll local business leaders about a three-mill increase in property taxes.

The tax would go to fund a full-time downtown development director, who would spend time marketing the downtown and trying to lure more businesses to the burgeoning business district.

It was over before it ever started. A brief discussion by Coweta County commissioners April 17 ended in a 3-1 vote to approve a zoning request from Pathway Communities for the massive Twelve Parks development in east Coweta.

Hundreds of people are expected to visit Senoia for a host of events this weekend.

The latest event that promises to draw more residents and visitors to the historic downtown is"Art Senoia." The art show debuts April 25 with an opening reception from 6:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. at 20 Main Street in historic downtown Senoia. This is the first event of the newly formed Cultural Arts Committee of the Senoia Downtown Development Authority.

There is just no stopping Senoia. The Coweta County Commissioners April 17 approved an annexation request by the city on 36.91 acres originally submitted by Constantin Soulakos. The site on Ga. Highway 85 is zoned R-40 Conservation Subdivision and OI (Office Institutional).

The Senoia Planning Commission Tuesday night took a look at the future of the city. City administrator Richard Ferry said he needed some guidance from the planners for developers who may want to annex property into the city.

East Coweta’s search for a new head football coach is over.

The school has decided to hire someone who is familiar to many people in Coweta County, particularly at East Coweta — Clint Wade.

The re-use and rehabilitation plan for the Coweta County Courthouse is moving right along. The selective demolition and non historic removal portion of the work is almost complete. Final evaluations of the building are underway and the exterior of the copper dome will be inspected with the use of a large crane beginning Tuesday, April 15. The crane will be parked on the south side of the square and will allow architects to inspect the structure from the outside at the highest points.

If you are a NASCAR fan, or you just like music, karaoke and comedy, mark your calendar for the evening of April 18. Rutledge Wood, on-air NASCAR personality for Speed TV, will host Rutstock 2k8, a giant birthday celebration at Alamo Jack's at 19 W. Court Square in downtown Newnan. Rutledge came up with the idea of holding his birthday bash as a benefit for a kids' camp that is near and dear to his heart.

Piedmont Newnan Hospital invites Newnan and surrounding area residents to its April Dessert and Discussion event April 29 at 6:30 p.m. in the Special Events Center located at 299 Bullsboro Drive in Newnan. The discussion, "Keep Your Joints in Motion," will be led by Donna Paul, M.D., a local rheumatologist, and will include an overview of rheumatic diseases and the latest treatment options available.

The Newnan Coweta Public Safety Appreciation Board in conjunction with the Newnan Kiwanis Club this year will be hosting its tenth anniversary Public Safety Luncheon on May 2. The luncheon will be at the Coweta Fairgrounds from 11:30 to 1:30 p.m. honoring every person who serves with the public safety agencies in Coweta County.

East Coweta seniors celebrated birthdays and anniversaries at the March luncheon.

Once it is completed, travel along I-85 it will be smooth sailing through Coweta County. But until then, traffic back-ups will sometimes be the order of the day. This weekend will be no exception, with single-lane closures through Saturday near Exit 51 at McCollum-Sharpsburg Road.

Coweta County commissioners have set a May 13 date for a public hearing on a rezoning request by Piedmont Healthcare, Inc. for the new 800,000 square-foot Piedmont Newnan Hospital proposed for the south side of I-85 and Poplar Road.

It was a look at proposed ordinance amendments covering non-profit fundraising or political special events and alcohol consumption. But after a lengthy discussion that generated more questions than answers, Coweta County Commission Tuesday decided that solutions to the wide-ranging issues involved in the requests would be better left for a later date.

Roy Matthews, Coweta County Arborist, recently completed an intensive Municipal Forester Management Training Institute developed by the Society of Municipal Arborists. This program included training in leadership, ecosystem, technical aspects, conflict resolution and community group collaboration. Training began with weekly online assignments and concluded with 55 hours of workshops in San Antonio, Texas.

10 Coweta County students have been selected to attend the 2008 Governor’s Honors Program this summer.

Coweta County secondary Education Director Barbara Louis announced the selectees, who were drawn from 40 talented Coweta County high school students nominated earlier this year.

The Coweta County Chapter of American Red Cross needs your help. The organization’s fourth annual HEROES fundraising campaign has a goal of $75,000. The effort will run April 27 through May 19 to help support ongoing disaster relief and health and safety programs for local residents.