About Fayette County news. (Fayetteville, GA) 2009-current | View Entire Issue (April 17, 2024)
INSIDE Starr’s Mill Sweeps McIntosh in Lacrosse Showdown, Bl INSIDE Tully Named 2023 NNLC Neighbor ojtheYear, B7 INSIDE: Three Named 2024 Georgia Scholars, B2 THE TRUTH SINCE 1886 FAYETTE COUNTY (1) NEWS f ay ett e-news, net Vol. 152, No. 16 Wednesday, April 17, 2024 $1. Community Mourns Loss of Judge Loyd Black Judge Loyd Black Submitted Retired Magistrate Court Judge Loyd Hall Black, Jr., 79, died on March 28 at his home in Brooks. Black was the son of the late Dorothy Redwine Black and Loyd Hall Black, Sr. Known as “Buster,” he grew up in Macon on the family farm. After a successful two See Black, A3 Rob Bell Bell Named '24 County Teacher of the Year Victory bells are ringing for the Panthers. Starr’s Mill High engi neering and computer science teacher Rob Bell was named the 2024 Fayette County Teacher of the Year at the annual awards cere mony on April 11. In his acceptance speech, Bell shared his journey to the classroom that was filled with detours and dead-end majors. He said he struggled See Bell, A5 Members of the U.S. Soccer Federation, Fayette County Commission, Fayette County Devel opment Authority, and City of Fayetteville at the groundbreaking ceremony for the incoming Ar thur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center. Courtesy of Fayette County U.S. Soccer Breaks Ground on National Training Center Luke Haney Editor lhaney@upsonbeacon.com The U.S. Soccer Feder ation held a groundbreaking ceremony on April 8 to cele brate the incoming national training center and head quarters in Fayette County. Attendees included local and state officials, including Gov. Brian Kemp, members of U.S. Soccer, and more than too others. “Georgia is proud to wel come [U.S. Soccer] as they build their new home here in the Peach State,” Gov. Kemp stated following the cere mony. “Today’s ground breaking on the Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center is just the la test milestone on our path to being a worldwide sports hub.” U.S. Soccer announced last year that it had selected Fayette as its new home. The NTC will cover more than 200 acres. Fayette County Devel opment Authority Director Niki Vanderslice commented, “I’m thrilled to have wit nessed history in the making as the U.S. Soccer Federation lays down roots in Fayette County, ushering in a new era of soccer excellence right here in our community.” According to early plans, the center is expected to be completed by spring 2025. FAYETTE COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER Officials of the county and local municipalities gather as the ceremonial ribbon is cut at the new animal shelter. Luke Haney/Fayette News County Celebrates New Animal Shelter Luke Haney Editor lhaney@upsonbeacon.com Government officials, community supporters, and animal lovers were among dozens of attend ees to celebrate the open ing of the new Fayette County Animal Shelter during a ribbon cutting ceremony on April 11. Located at 1127 High way 74 in Peachtree City, just minutes away from the former shelter, the new facility boasts more than double the previous capacity, state-of-the-art equipment, a pet groom ing room, bonding room (to get acquainted with furry friends prior to adoption), ample office space, and a large out door walking area. “This is an exciting day for Fayette County,” said county admin istrator Steve Rapson. “This is actually taking care of kids. Once you get the perspective that you’re taking care of ani mals, you’re talking about people’s kids, I think you get the right mindset for running an animal shelter. This is a really big deal for us.” County commission chairman Lee Hearn shared his excitement, emphasizing the impor tance of the facility and thanking everyone in volved in the process. “[The shelter staff] has put a lot of blood sweat and tears into this,” added shelter di rector Regi Jordan. “We want to continue to kill our no-kill shelter rate going up. A lot of counties are not blessed to say that, but we are, and we take pride in that.” Following a cere monial ribbon cutting, attendees toured the fa cility and were able to take home goodie bags, with options for both dog and cat owners. An open house was held at the shelter on Sat urday, April 13 for fam ilies unable to attend the April 11 ceremony. At a 5 p.m. meeting following the ribbon cut ting, commissioners thanked PTC for working with the county on a land swap that resulted in the county building the new shelter and PTC acquir ing the property of the former shelter location for what will be a new EMS and/or fire station. Officials encourage community members to donate food and needed supplies to the shelter. Visit www.fay- ettecountyga.gov/ani- mal_control/ for more information. Teen Honored with Special Day at Truist Park Joshua and Tyler Matzek Submitted Dylan Shoemaker Staff Writer dshoemaker@fayette-news.net The Atlanta Braves part nered with Make-A-Wish Georgia to honor Joshua, a Fayette County teen, with his own “Joshua Day” at Truist Park on April 10. At the ballpark, he was able to meet his favorite players and enjoy a VIP ex perience with his family. Braves player Tyler Matzek personally led Joshua on a tour around the Braves bull pen for photos and a be hind-the-scenes look. He also got to watch the team’s batting practice alongside one of the coaches. Prior, he was surprised by Fayette County Sheriff Barry Babb and fellow of ficers on April 9 to let him know that his wish was granted. Joshua was pre sented a banner with his picture and details about “Joshua Day” surrounded by his supporters and a po lice vehicle motorcade with blue lights shining bright in honor of the teen. In a video uploaded by FCSO, Sheriff Babb read a certificate to Joshua stating, “This special day is ded icated to honoring your cou rage and determination made possible by the gra cious support of the Make- A-Wish Foundation.” For more information on Make-A-Wish Georgia, visit https://wish.org/geor- gia. County Amends Water Restrictions Related to Drought Management Cpt. Williams, Patterson Awarded EMT, 911 Officer of the Year Luke Haney Editor lhaney@upsonbeacon.com County commissioners unanimously approved an ordinance to amend water restrictions to establish provisions pertaining to water restriction require ments on April 11 follow ing a request from the Metropolitan North Geor gia Watershed Planning District regarding drought management. Fayette County Water System Director Vanessa Tigert explained to com missioners that the metro planning district updated its plan in 2022 to have district entities update drought response and water waste ordinances to comply with Georgia Envi ronmental Management Department drought man agement rules. The ordinance con tains similar drought re sponse levels as the former ordinance, and Ti gert stated that under year-round water-use re strictions, restrictions on water wasting activities have been added. The update allows the county water system to submit to EPD emergency variance requests to in crease or decrease the drought response levels and associated water use restrictions that are con sistent with the localities’ drought contingency plan. With EPD adding a variance regarding flash droughts, the county can declare a drought without EPD declaring a statewide drought. During the flash drought beginning in summer of 2019, FCWS submitted a drought vari ance request to increase the county’s drought re sponse level, which is time consumptive for staff. Ti gert said it took three months to get the vari ance, by which time the drought had ended. Tigert added that the county uses precipitation See County, A5 CORRECTION: In the April 3 edition of Fayette County News, Com missioner Charles Rousseau was mistakenly rec ognized as voting against awarding Piedmont Paving, Inc., a $300,938.14 contract for the 2017 special purpose local option sales tax stormwater project to replace the Ridge Way culvert. Rousseau voted in favor of awarding the contract. FCN apol ogizes for any confusion this may have caused. INSIDE: OBITUARIES FAYETTE VIEWS A2 SPORTS A4 LEGALS Bl SCHOOL B3 CLASSIFIEDS B2 B6 CONTACT US: support@fayette-news.net - (770) 461-6317 - fayette-news.net '0 4 8 7 9 1 2 6 3 3
