Congratulations! If you made

it this far into today's paper, it can only mean you survived election

day. You know more than I do as I write this, time being on your side.

if there will be a runoff, or whether the library bond passed in Peachtree

City, or if you'll be able to belly up to the bar in Tyrone sometime

soon.

You've got a little extra

perspective on the Tuesday elections. You've got the clear advantage

over me.

But I can predict enough about

what transpired at the ballot box yesterday to declare this: Some of you

are not happy with the way things turned out; others are ecstatic. Many

more of you couldn't care less.

Particularly in Peachtree City,

it seems, folks just aren't happy. If somebody isn't complaining

about the way things used to be or expressing fear about the way they

think things are going to turn out, there's always somebody to complain

about the state of affairs in the here and now.

Some places have news. We have

"Conspiracy Theory of the Week."

It's always been that

way.

If you've been reading

the series on "The Faces of Fayette" by Bruce Jordan over the

past few weeks, you've been given a taste of the tough, driven, sassy,

smart folks who lived in Fayette County 100 or so years ago and laid the

foundation for the place we call home today.

That "Faces of Fayette"

series offers perspective, a new way of looking at a familiar place you

thought you knew.

I recently came across some

22-year-old copies of a certain weekly newspaper that once served Peachtree

City, valiantly I might add. I was going to toss the brittle, yellowed

pages, but after flipping through them it became obvious to me that the

more things change, the more they stay the same - last week, This

Week and the week after.

To prove my point, and as a

post-election day treat of sorts, here is a sampling of headlines from

just two issues of that Peachtree City tabloid from way back in August

1981. Talk about scandal! Talk about intrigue! Talk about good reading!

Enjoy:

"Brown to oppose Mayor

Frady" - Over a story about former City Councilman Fred Brown

announcing he would challenge Herb Frady for mayor in December, 1981.

Brown would serve two terms and see the amphitheater named in his honor;

Frady continues to serve on the County Commission today.

"Watson Resigns; Mayor

won't comment on circumstances" - Over a front-page story

on whether or not a city police officer was fired by the police chief,

only to be rehired days later at the urging of the city council so he

could resign instead.

"Board lists McIntosh

High facility as top priority" - Over a story reporting that

the Fayette school board had declared building a new gym at McIntosh High

its top capital outplay project.

"House divided" -

Over a Sally Satterthwaite column bemoaning the animosity between local

airline families and those of air traffic controllers, who were on strike

at the time. "Our community is in pain, and has suffered a blow from

which it may never fully recover."

"More responsibilities"

- Over a staff editorial which began: "When Newt Gingrich, the

Republican Congressman who represents our district, spoke here Thursday,

he closed his remarks with an interesting observation ...."

"Is this delaying tactic?"

- Over another staff editorial, which included this paragraph: "Without

the advantage of Freeport ... Fayette County's efforts at attracting

new industry have almost ground to a halt. And we are without the new

industries needed to balance the tax load."

"Schools keep up growth"

- Over a story reporting that first-day enrollment in Fayette schools

in 1981 was 7,426. It is more than 21,000 today.

"Walt Banks Road: One

way or two?" - Over a story reporting on disagreement between

the Peachtree City Council and County Commission over who should pay for

the right of way needed to widen the road in front of McIntosh High, then

under construction. In response to "criticism" aimed at them

hope the commissioners never stoop that low."

"Legislature makes Fayette

single-member district" - Over a story on the General Assembly

approving redistricting maps, which carved out Fayette County to form

its own House district. Today, seven different state House members represent

various slices of Fayette, and just one of those, Virgil Fludd, actually

lives in the county.

"Officials mull impact

study" - Over a story reporting a delay in issuing the dam permit

for Lake McIntosh until an environmental impact study is conducted. To

this day, Lake McIntosh has never been built.

"Public meeting set to

discuss new runway" - Over a story advising Fayette Countians

of a public hearing arranged by the city of Atlanta to discuss a proposal

to build a fourth runway at Hartsfield.

"Tigers open '81

with 26-7 win" - Over a story reporting on the season-opening

win for the FCHS Tigers, featuring Peachtree City's Johnny Smith

as star running back. The team had made a run at the state quarterfinals

the previous year, and began the 1981 campaign ranked fourth in the state.

"Chiefs open '81

with intrasquad game" - A preview of the Chief's first-ever

athletic endeavor, a scrimmage played at Booth Junior High.

"Opry draws huge crowd"

- Over a story reporting on a "record crowd" of more than

2,000 that attended the previous Saturday's performances at the McIntosh

Opry (now the Fred Brown Jr. Amphitheater). The lineup that week: C.D.

Mason and the Rex Mill Ramblers; two sets of clogging by the Sugar Cane

Cloggers, and a rendition of "Orange Blossom Special" by the

Rainbows. The Cedar Hill Bluegrass Band closed the show.

"Shannon Mall celebrates

anniversary" - Over a story announcing that square dancing,

clogging and country music would headline the festivities as the Union

City mall celebrated turning one year old.

"Partners II plans to

show 'new look'"- Over a story reporting that Partners

II planned to undergo a "major facelift" with Tiffany lamps

and "wood throughout."