About Fayette County news. (Fayetteville, GA) 2009-current | View Entire Issue (May 1, 2024)
INSIDE Starr’s Mill Alum Bishop Picked in NFL Draft, Bl PTC Residents Perform at Coachella, A5 INSIDE: Panthers, Wildcats, Chiefs Sweep Through Baseball Round 1, Bl THE TRUTH SINCE 1886 FAYETTE COUNTY (1) NEWS f ay ett e-news, net Vol. 152, No. 18 Wednesday, May 1, 2024 $1. Animal Advocates Crowd Commission Meeting Concerns of Shelter Configuration, Wellbeing of Furry Friends Luke Haney Editor lhaney@upsonbeacon.com From shelter volunteers to dog trainers and social media in fluences, 22 individuals ad dressed the Fayette County Commission in front of a crowded room on April 23 with concerns, complaints, and solu tions involving the recently opened animal shelter. Following the grand opening of the new $3 million shelter last month, county officials quickly began receiving complaints and questions about the facility, spe cifically regarding inadequate kennel sizes and safety/health concerns. While the county quickly re sponded and adjusted the size of dog kennels, vocal community members were not happy with a “quick fix.” While most public partici pants addressed concerns of safety, physical/emotional well being, health, and safety of ani mals, as well as the safety of vol unteers and shelter staff, multi ple participants provided ideas, potential solutions, and re sources for commissioners and county administration. Participants stated that not only are dogs in undersized ken nels, but spaces for cats also need improvements. Two participants lobbied for outdoor or free-roaming spaces for cats for social contact and the ability to see nature. If that is not an option, one speaker sug gested adding televisions to the cat area to play videos of birds, similar to how other humane or- See Advocates, A6 Burn Ban Begins May 1 County Submits Four Applications for TIP Funding Partnering with Local Governments for Roadway Improvements Graduates dance in celebration of completing the Special Pops Tennis Program. Courtesy of PTC PTC Celebrates Tennis Program Graduates With summer around the corner, the Georgia Annual Outdoor Burn Ban begins May 1 and will con clude Sept. 30. To help diminish air is sues surrounding ozone pollutants, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division has instituted an outdoor burn ban every summer since 2005. While campfires, cooking fires, and some agriculture burns are permitted, 54 mostly north and central Georgia counties (listed below) do not allow yard and land debris clearing burns from May 1 to Sept. 30, according to the Geor gia Forestry Commission. Georgia’s outdoor See Burn Ban, A6 Leah Banks Senior Reporter leah@fayette-news.net With the end of the school year quickly ap proaching, Peachtree City Tennis Center held a cere mony on April 26 for grad uates of its Special Pops Tennis Program. The empowering cere mony allowed for high school seniors and recent graduates to show their skills and celebrate their achievements after partic ipating in the seven-week program designed specifi cally for individuals with intellectual disabilities. “This 7-week program See Graduates, A6 Luke Haney Editor lhaney@upsonbeacon.com Fayette County com missioners agreed last week to submit four grant applications to the Atlanta Regional Commission for Transportation Improve ment Program projects, each with a 20 percent local match. The first project appli cation is for a realignment project for State Route 279 and Corinth Road on the northeast side of the county, which is intended to realign the existing sig nalized intersection and an extension to Carnes Road to provide full access to State Route 85 and Co rinth Road. The project currently has federal funding for completion of the design phase. The request is for federal aid in the right-of- way, utility, and construc tion phases. The project seeks up to $21,423,753 of federal funds with a $5.4 million local match, total ing $26,779,691. The second application is for the resurfacing of Ty rone Road, Palmetto Road, Corinth Road, Westbridge See County, A6 BOE Reviews Revisions to Student Code of Conduct Leah Banks Senior Reporter leah@fayette-news.net During the April 22 Fay ette County Board of Educa tion meeting, Assistant Superintendent Steve Cole updated the board on revi sions and additions made to the school system’s student code of conduct. According to Cole, changes are tied to language used relating to infractions where students may need more specific definitions for what is allowable and pro hibited. Some of the publishable infractions include the use, possession, sale, transmis sion, or solicitation of dmgs, as well as fighting. “What we’re trying to do is really make sure that we have a clear distinction be tween what a transaction would be versus what an ac tual offense of trying to so licit a sale or make a sale in a school because I think it’s important to make sure we understand how we are de ciding between the two of fenses,” Cole said. “So, we want to make sure that that language is clear.” First-time offenders of drug related infractions could potentially be placed on short-term suspension and required to attend the S.U.P.E.R. drug awareness and prevention program. Second-time offenders could face long-term sus pension or expulsion, with the potential of being re ported to law enforcement. “But, of course, if we have students that are sell ing drugs in our schools, they are intending to sell drugs in our schools, they could certainly face a disci plinary tribunal that could result in long-term suspen sion or expulsion,” Cole added. Pertaining to the fight ing stipulations in the code of conduct, Cole asked the board for feedback relating to the definition of “fight ing” and how to punish of fenders. “We know, unfor tunately, students are going to get into physical alter cations from time to time. Assistant Superintendent Steve Cole addresses the BOE on re visions and additions to the code of conduct. Submitted We’ve always had fighting in [the code] and tried to dis tinguish between a first fight offense and a second fight offense,” Cole con tinued. “First fight offense, we usually send the stu dents home for five days out of school, but if they fight again, it’s a disciplinary tri bunal with the possibility of long-term suspension or ex pulsion.” Cole noted that system staff added a component to fighting stipulations relat ing to the point of excessive physical contact or group fights. He said this particu lar topic was one that the group wanted the board’s feedback on regarding the punishment and level of severity. “Not all fights, unfor tunately, are the same. Sometimes you have stu dents who get into a physi cal altercation, and it ends rather quickly. They are broken up fairly easily, without a lot of disruption. See BOE, A6 Volunteers lay mulch at CSG's "Confidence Course." Dylan Shoemaker/Fayette News Camp Southern Ground Receives Major Renovations Dylan Shoemaker Staff Writer dshoemaker@fayette-news.net The Home Depot Foun dation partnered with Camp Southern Ground on April 25 to upgrade and re pair facilities ahead of the summer season for the needs of children and vet erans who attend the camps. More than 250 vol unteers were seen in vi brant orange shirts, including Home Depot CEO Ted Decker, contrib uting sweat equity to the renovations. Whether it was wheelbarrows weighed down by donated materials or a field full of fresh mulch, all efforts went to supporting veterans and their families. Ranging from new fences, an improved zi pline, renovated archery and obstacle courses, and with various updated fea tures, nonprofit CSG seeks to provide an interactive, safe space for post-9/ 11 vet erans and their families to potentially find community and support during and after their transition back to civilian life. “I can see myself flying across this thing screaming at the top of my lungs,” said Navy Veteran Marlon Jo seph, expressing enthusi asm for the zipline. “It’s good to know that this place exists where someone can recuperate, reconnect, and for those that bring their families here.” The campground offers attendees three programs that aim for recreational and therapeutic benefits. Jack Gafford, a retired U.S. Air Force member, is ac tively involved in the War rior Song program, which incorporates music as an outlet. During the volunteers’ lunch break inside the din ing hall, he performed, ac companied with his guitar, and describing his songs as “cutting-edge, Christian country” music. “I didn’t know it at the time, but it was very heal ing and therapeutic for me, and it’s just continued where I’m in a better place,” said Gafford about music and his Warrior Song involvement. “When they come in, they are struggling, and it starts when they enter the gate and see the grounds,” he stated regarding veterans and first responders seek ing rehabilitation and the suggested benefits that come with utilizing these resources. During National Vol unteer Month in April, The Home Depot Foundation partnered with national and local nonprofits to complete service projects like this one in com munities across the coun try. Giving back to veterans See CSG, A6 INSIDE: OBITUARIES FAYETTE VIEWS A2 SPORTS A4 LEGALS Bl SCHOOL B4 CLASSIFIEDS B2 B3 CONTACT US: support@fayette-news.net - (770) 461-6317 - fayette-news.net ‘0 4 8 7 9 1 2 6 3 3
