About Fayette County news. (Fayetteville, GA) 2009-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 9, 2023)
Potentially Harmful Algae Blooms Recently De tected in Lake Peachtree, A2 Meetings S^Events, IKS Fayetteville Celebrates 40th National Night Out, A8 THE TRUTH SINCE 1886 FAYETTE COUNTY (1) NEWS f ay ett e-news, net Vol. 151, No. 32 Wednesday, August 9, 2023 $1. FCSO Investigates Countywide Mail Theft Two Arrested in Connection to Fraud, Checks Stolen from Postal Drop Box Leah Banks Investigative Reporter leah@fayette-news.net Fayette County Sheriff s Office has worked through out the summer months with various area police pre cincts to investigate mail theft related to more than “too reports (received since January) from Fayette County residents regarding stolen mail,” which led to two arrests on July 30. A joint effort between FCSO’s road patrol and criminal investigators re sulted in the arrest of Chris topher Antonio Smith (37) and John Rodney Turner (30). In June, FCSO investi gators reportedly deter mined that mail was stolen from a blue postal box lo cated at Fayetteville Post Office. Further investigation found the focus was to ob tain financial instruments and alter them for personal deposits or trades. Smith and Turner were reportedly found with 211 pieces of stolen mail, includ ing 151 personal checks with a total value of $49,382.38. Both individuals were See Mail Theft, A7 Christopher Antonio Smith John Rodney Turner Photos by Leah Banks/Fayette News PTC Raises Flag in Honor of Purple Heart Recipients Leah Banks Investigative Reporter leah@fayette-news.net Cloudy skies on Monday, Aug. 7 did not stop the shine of retired armed forces and community officials who gathered in front of the City Hall of Peachtree City to honor Purple Heart recip ients and their families. The ceremony took place at 9 a.m. with American Le gion posts from throughout Fayette County gathering to recognize the actions of sol diers, both living and de ceased, who were awarded with Purple Hearts for wounds received in action. The City Council of Peachtree City is not new to recognizing its own veterans as Councilmen Mike King, Frank Destadio, and Clint Holland are veterans of their respective branches of the armed forces. David Niebes, past post commander of Fayette County AL Post 105, located at "The Log Cabin,” spoke highly of the efforts made by Peachtree City Mayor Kim Learnard, along with city staff, to maintain the cele bration of service by these men and women. That rec ognition, according to Niebes, goes beyond posting street signs. “I want to give credit to the mayor. If you drive around, you’ll see Purple Heart community signs. Some of them post the sign and do nothing,” Niebes said. “The fact that we did this, and the mayor took the leadership to see that this is a continuous thing, is truly special.” The ceremony concluded with an appreciation break fast for those in attendance and for members of the community who wished to celebrate with the recipients and their comrades. BOE Announces 12.3% Proposed Property Tax Increase Over Rollback Millage Rate The Fayette County Board of Education an nounced on Aug. 2 its inten tion to adopt the maintenance and opera tions millage rate at 19.25 mills compared to 19.15 mills the prior year, an in crease in the 2023 tax digest M&O millage rate of 0.10 mill. In addition, the bond millage rate will be set at 0.80 mill compared to 0.85 mill the prior year, accord ing to system officials. The board of education adopted the Fiscal Year 2024 general fund (M&O) budget of $268.2 million on See BOE Millage, A7 PTC Approves $51.4 Million Budget, Sets Priorities for 2024 The City Council of Peachtree City adopted the Fiscal Year 2024 budget at its Aug. 3 meeting, charting a course for enhanced com munity services that ad dresses the evolving needs of its residents, according to PTC officials. The $51.4 million budget and capital improve ment plan reflect the city council’s commitment to re sponsible financial plan ning, aiming to provide essential services while in vesting in future initiatives. The document encompasses a diverse range of projects and programs that reinforce the unique quality of life Peachtree City residents have come to know and ex pect. The budget allocates re sources to the police and fire rescue departments, providing them with the necessary tools, training, and staffing to adequately perform their jobs. Plus, a significant por tion of the capital improve ment plan has been allocated toward vital in frastructure upgrades and facilities maintenance such as adding LED lighting to Peachtree City’s popular athletic fields, replacing the roof at Kedron Fieldhouse, and several street resurfac ing projects. Mayor Kim Learnard ex pressed gratitude to City Manager Robert Curnow, Financial Services Director Paul Salvatore, and all city staff involved in the budget ing process, highlighting the See PTC Budget, A7 Peachtree City Proposes Property Tax Increase The City Council of Peachtree City announced last week its intentions to increase the 2023 mainte nance and operation prop erty taxes it will levy this year by 12.09 percent over the rollback millage rate. The M&O millage rate is not being increased. The tax rate will remain at 6.043 mills. The city bond millage rate will remain at 0.0 mills. Each year, the Fayette County Board of Tax Asses sors is required to review the assessed value of taxable property in the county for taxing purposes. When the trend of prices on properties that have re cently sold in the county in dicates there has been an in crease in the fair market value of any specific prop erty, the board of tax asses sors is required by law to reevaluate the value of such property and adjust the as sessment. When the total digest of taxable property is pre pared, Georgia law requires that a rollback millage rate be computed that will pro duce the same total revenue on the current year’s digest that last year’s millage rate produced. The budget adopted by the City Council of Peach tree City requires a millage See Property Tax, A7 Three Arrested for Early Morning Theft Trio of Texas Men Behind Bars After Smash & Grab Burglary On Aug. 4, a joint effort between Fayette County Sheriffs Office and Peach tree City Police Department resulted in the arrest of Christopher Keith Collins, Paul E. Smith, and Fredrick Wills - all from Houston, Texas - for a “smash and grab” burglary, according to FCSO officials. Owners of The Hair XChange in northern Fay ette County reported a bur glary at 5:05 a.m. and FCSO reportedly immediately re- See Smash & Crab, A7 Christopher Keith Collins Paul E. Smith Fredrick Wills FCSO INSIDE: FAYETTE VIEWS SPORTS A4 LEGALS 61 SCHOOL B4 CLASSIFIEDS B2 FAYETTE FOOTPRINTS CONTACT US: support@fayette-news.net - (770) 461-6317 - fayette-news.net B8 B3 We Look Forward To Seeing You Soon! Open for Lunch and Dinner • Seven Days A Week 180 Hwy 314, Fayette, GA • 770.703.7514 • fridasbarandgrill.com f * ia
