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The Manufacturing Institute and Saint-Gobain kicked off Manufacturing Day 2026 on Friday, October 2 by welcoming more than 100 high school students and educators from Fayette County Public Schools to Saint-Gobain’s Peachtree City production facility. During the event, students toured the plant and saw firsthand how the company makes CertainTeed roofing shingles for homes across…

FAYETTEVILLE, GA — The Fayette County Branch of the NAACP invites the community to an evening of music, fellowship, meaningful conversation, and purpose at its 2026 Freedom Fund Gala, “A Motown Affair.” This year’s celebration will combine the unmistakable sound and spirit of Motown with a fresh approach to the traditional keynote experience. Rather than…

Imagine a beautiful fall afternoon, a new book you’ve been looking forward to reading, and a pot of hot tea delivered to your table. Maybe you’re sitting inside, surrounded by beautiful artwork and bookshelves, or outside on the patio, enjoying the sunshine and watching people stroll along Main Street in Trilith. At Scholar & Scribe,…

Eight young golfers from across Fayette, Coweta, and surrounding counties have accomplished something no team from their golf academy has done before: They have qualified for the PGA Jr. League National Championship, where they will represent Georgia against 11 other teams from across the country. The Summer Grove Medalist 17u All-Stars earned their place at…

For Evan Lovelace, running has never been only about how fast he can get from the starting line to the finish. It is about what happens along the way — the people you meet, the goals you discover you can accomplish, and even the hard miles that teach you something about handling the harder things…

We arrived after dark, guided in from the highway by a yellow beacon displaying a chipmunk in the sky. I let the Girly Girls and The Wife out at the front door while I tried to find a place to park. I’d never seen so many cars in a parking lot at 9 p.m. for any retail…

FAYETTEVILLE, GA. – [October 5, 2026] – Trilith LIVE has announced the launch of a complimentary ticket program for the upcoming Rick Braun with Special Guest Peachtree Jazz Edition concert Nov. 6, 2026. The program, sponsored by Butler Lexus of South Atlanta and Mallory & Evans, provides free tickets to active-duty military members, honorably discharged veterans, their…

Dear Editor, As a graduate social work student and a member of the Fayette County community, I have become increasingly aware of the need to advocate for vulnerable populations, social change, and equality. I believe part of being an advocate means asking the difficult questions that are sometimes overlooked. There is one question at the…

Ask people why they moved to Fayette County and what they love, answers often turn to education, proximity to the airport, public safety, and community. If you talk to someone long enough, outdoors and nature will eventually come up. This includes a quiet walk on the Ridge Nature Preserve, a Saturday afternoon at Kenwood Park,…

In some of my previous columns, I’ve made the assertion that art is successful when it makes us feel something. Some of our deepest feelings come from grief. This year I dealt with some losses that hit hard, and in parallel, I’ve attended some performances that have had me contemplating the ways grief is communicated…

Peachtree City Councilman, Clint Holland, an Army veteran and member of the American Legion, recently spoke to the members of the Sgt Clyde Thomason Medal of Honor Detachment of the Marine Corps League at their monthly meeting. Holland presented news and plans of a new Veterans Park to be built in Peachtree City. Although there…

The Eagles soared to the top. Flat Rock beat Whitewater for the county middle school football championship, 28-14. The title game win capped off a perfect 6-0 season. “It felt great to finish the deal as we lost in the championship game last year. This group put in a lot of work all spring and summer…

J.C. Booth bested Rising Starr to claim the county middle school volleyball championship. Against Rising Starr, the Warriors took the first set 25-19 and won the second set 25-21 to take the title. It was the culmination of a dominant 10-0 season with every match a straight-sets win. In every set, they held the opposition…

Kedron, Peeples, and Robert J. Burch Elementary have been named 2026 America’s Healthiest Schools by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation. Supported by Del Monte Foods, Kaiser Permanente, and Kohl’s Cares, Healthier Generation’s annual award program recognizes schools for implementing evidence-based policies and practices to support academic success and lifelong well-being. Schools are recognized in…

A suspect memorable for allegedly burglarizing Peachtree City’s lululemon in a bow tie, suspenders, and patent leather shoes has been identified as Tarbis Ward, a St. Louis man now in custody after investigators connected him to burglaries in Georgia and Missouri. Ward is being held in St. Louis on burglary and criminal damage to property…

Two years ago, voters in Georgia’s 3rd Congressional District chose between Brian Jack and Maura Keller, and it was not close. Jack won with 66.3% of the vote, taking 273,036 votes to Keller’s 138,749. This November, they will do it again. It is easy to look at that margin and decide there is nothing to…

The public relations department of Fayette County Public Schools recently received honors at both the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Gold Quill Awards and the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) National School Communication Awards. Public Information Specialist Chris Dunn earned a NSPRA Award of Merit from their Publications & Digital Media Awards. The…

Kedron Elementary took a bite out of their studies of landforms by crafting cookies. The 1st grade had been studying the different landforms of the earth, and they got to show what they learned for a treat. Each student was given full graham cracker (the base and plain), Hershey’s Kisses (mountains), Rolo (plateau), frosting (valleys…

Sandy Creek High graphic artists racked up wins at the 2026 Printing & Imaging Association of Georgia (PIAG) Print Excellence Competition. SCHS Patriot Graphics is a school-based enterprise for the graphic communications pathway where students complete real-world, live-work projects. It is under the direction of Jeff Dykes. The group earned Best of Category for their…

Atlanta — American Jewish Committee (AJC), the global advocacy organization for the Jewish people, has named Dr. Sharon Goldman, a leader in Jewish communal affairs, education, and philanthropy, as Director of its Atlanta regional office. Goldman comes to AJC from Kivunim, a Jerusalem-based international Jewish gap-year program, where she served as Director. Prior to Kivunim, Goldman was Vice…

FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. — 09/29/2026— Fayette County State Court received multiple prestigious honors at the 2026 Council of Accountability Court Judges (CACJ) Annual Conference, including Model Court recognition for 2027–2029 and four STAR Awards recognizing members of the Fayette County State Court team for their hard work, leadership, compassion and dedication to accountability court participants. Fayette…

FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. — The Whitewater High School Wildcat Marching Band and Color Guard delivered an exceptional performance at the Red Regiment Rumble in Jackson, Georgia, securing another Grand Championship and sweeping Class AAA.  The ensemble earned Superior ratings across all evaluated categories, including Overall Band, Color Guard, Percussion, and Drum Major. In addition to capturing…

Newnan, GA (October 2, 2026) The Coweta County Tax Commissioner’s Office announces that the 2026 property tax bills were mailed out to all property owners and payments are due Monday, December 7.    “Tax bills are mailed to the legal owner of record as of January 1 as required by Georgia law,” explains Tax Commissioner Justin…

ATLANTA (Oct. 2, 2026) – A Tyrone resident won a $1 million prize playing the 2nd Edition Billionaire Club scratcher at Fayette Village BP, 1408 Highway 54 West in Fayetteville. The winner claimed their prize on Oct. 1 and selected the lump sum cash payment of $535,398.06. In addition, a Dallas resident won $1,527,012 playing the Cats Jackpot Diggi Game online…

An 11-year-old Newnan boy who had been locked inside a bedroom closet clawed his way through the sheetrock, then jumped from a second-story window to escape years of abuse, according to prosecutors. More than three years after that July 2023 escape, Chloe Jackson-Jones, 42, of Newnan, pleaded guilty September 30 in Coweta County Superior Court…

Coweta County is excited to announce the following internal promotions.   Scott Greene  Scott Greene has been promoted to Deputy Fire Chief of Operations at Coweta County Fire  Rescue.   Scott joined Coweta County Fire Rescue in August of 1996 after previously volunteering for the  department. Inspiration came from watching his father volunteer while he was growing…

A major water main break along Highway 54 in Peachtree City disrupted water service to businesses across one of the city’s busiest commercial corridors Saturday, forcing restaurants and other businesses to close during a busy weekend shopping and dining day. Fayette County Water System Director Vanessa Tigert told The Citizen in a text interview at 8:30 p.m.…

The annual Peachtree City event helps fund projects centered on safety, health, education, and opportunity. Shepherds of the Meek (SOTM) will host its annual Denim & Diamonds Gala on Friday, November 6, 2026, in Peachtree City. The evening will bring together supporters, local businesses, and friends of the organization to learn more about its work…

Jesus said, “I have come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). The Greek word translated “abundant” means “exceedingly, very highly, beyond measure.” Jesus referred to the full and meaningful life that comes from having a personal relationship with Him. Our lives should be characterized by a…

An 18-year-old Newnan man was shot and killed by a Newnan Police Department officer early Saturday after the GBI says he ran from the officer during a traffic encounter and pulled a gun from his waistband. Zadarious Dorsey, 18, of Newnan, later died at an area hospital following the shooting, which happened shortly after 1…

Dear Margar-etiquette, I recently traveled to another city for a conference. It was a big city in a relatively small state, and I was surprised by how many unhoused people were in the downtown area. I don’t want to be someone who sees an unhoused person and immediately becomes afraid. Being without housing doesn’t make…

If you grew up in Fayette County or anywhere around this little Georgia town, you knew the Walker family. You didn’t have to explain who they were—everybody knew. The Walkers were part of the fabric of this community. They were the kind of family who made a place feel like home, and their friendships reached…

The rides have stopped at Fun Spot America Atlanta, and now much of what remains inside the longtime Fayetteville amusement park is going to the highest bidder. The former Fun Spot America property on Ga. Highway 85 is being cleared out through an online-only auction following the park’s closure. Bidding began Sept. 22 and closes…

ATL Jewish Film presents Swedishkayt: YidLife Crisis in Stockholm with a live performance by Eli Batalion & Jamie Elman on Saturday, October 17 at the MJCCA. ATLANTA (Sept. 28, 2026)— Montreal comedy duo YidLife Crisis returns to Atlanta on Saturday, October 17, at 8 p.m. with a film and live show at the Marcus Jewish Community…

Teaching and learning specialist Missy Bain sets up classrooms to mold great readers. “I am here to support, collaborate, and empower,” said Bain.  In her first year in the position with Fayette County Public Schools, Bain brings tools and best practices to  educators, then they spread it out to the individual classrooms. “I have the…

Trees are the unsung heroes of our planet, supporting 80% of Earth’s biodiversity. A forest is far more than just a gathering of wood and leaves; it is a complex, interconnected network where every organism relies on the next. A single tree is actually a thriving vertical community, providing food, shelter, and security to hundreds…

Backed by one of the South’s longest-standing family-owned companies, Porch is bringing its easygoing, come-sit-a-while spirit to Drake Field with The Porch Tailgate. Peachtree City’s Night Market returns to Drake Field on Friday, October 2nd, and this time Porch is pulling up a chair as Presenting Sponsor, turning the evening into a neighborhood-style tailgate built…

On a long walk Friday, a friend and I talked about working together more closely. When he asked what I’d want from it, I surprised myself with the answer. “I don’t just want someone on my side. I want someone who’ll call me out.” I’ve had plenty of people on my side over 25 years…

        What’s in a name?  A lot, for most Southerners, who tend to favor family names.           Your compiler and his wife, Lesley, have two adult sons, the elder of whom is Daniel Langford III (who has always been called “Niel” – the last four letters of “Daniel”), and the other of whom was named for Lesley’s…

A pilot was hospitalized Tuesday after a small plane that took off from Peachtree City’s Atlanta Regional Airport — Falcon Field crashed in a field in Morgan County. The Smith Pitts Special S-1 crashed near Madison around 2 p.m. September 29, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The pilot was the only person aboard and…

The Citizen continues its mission to highlight the best and brightest athletes in our community with our Athletes of the Week feature. Each week, we celebrate the hard work, dedication, and achievements of student-athletes across local high schools. East Coweta High School Mary Claire Knight Cheerleading Mary Claire, a sophomore, is being recognized for her…

Tinkerbell is a cat who has mastered the art of chilling. This black-and-white beauty is about 7 years old, which means she is well past the kitten stage of climbing the curtains, knocking everything off your dresser, and generally making questionable life choices. Tinkerbell knows what she likes: a good spot to relax, some time…

For some cancer patients, the words “clinical trial” can sound like something to consider when everything else has failed. Dr. Vipin Lohiya says that is one of the biggest misconceptions he encounters. Clinical trials can sometimes offer patients access to promising new treatments at the beginning of their cancer care — not simply as a…

Fayette County Republican Party Chair Elaine Kilgore resigned Monday, September 28, saying the demands of the position had become too much and raising concerns about party members who have tried to exclude Democrats or people they perceived as Democrats from Republican meetings. “I can no longer sustain the time and energy to do the many…

Dr. Kaitlin Cox, DMD, can remember being just two or three years old and already knowing what she wanted to be when she grew up. A dentist. More specifically, she wanted to follow in the footsteps of her father, Dr. Todd Cox, owner and founding dentist of Braelinn Village Family Dentistry in Peachtree City. “I…

How you look at this time of year depends on your age. If you’re very young, you see summer leaving, cooler temperatures arriving, and leaves falling from the sky. Those leaves you can rake up and make huge mounds that you can run down the hill and jump into. You can easily grab handfuls and…

Peachtree City filmmaker Tony Giglio had an idea during the early days of COVID: When people finally returned to movie theaters, maybe they wouldn’t want small stories that reminded them of real life. Maybe they’d want to escape from it completely. How about a gigantic prehistoric snake hunting people in the Amazon? That idea eventually…

When I first visited Santa Maria Latin Tapas, Seafood and Oyster Bar this summer, the Fayetteville restaurant was still in soft-opening mode. The former Speedi-Pig Bar-B-Q had already been transformed almost beyond recognition, but the menu—and the restaurant itself—was still a work in progress. Now Santa Maria is fully open, the menu has grown, lunch…

Volunteers from Atlanta Gas Light, Georgia Power, Delta, Home Depot and Elizabeth Baptist Church serve in honor of beloved longtime volunteer Christian City, a 61-year-old nonprofit serving children, youth and seniors, recently hosted its fifth annual Terry Chapman Day of Service on Friday, Sept. 25, welcoming volunteers to its 500-acre campus for a morning of…

Georgia’s high-school seniors recorded another historic-high graduation rate in 2026, and Fayette County, as a whole, posted one of the state’s best rates at 95.0%. The state’s four-year graduation rate rose to 88.5% — up from 87.2% in 2025, and an all-time high since the state began using the adjusted cohort calculation first required in…

QTS Phase 2 commitment supports restoration of 132 acres at one of Henry County’s largest remaining undeveloped properties HAMPTON, GA (September 29, 2026) — Development is rapidly transforming Henry County, creating new opportunities while underscoring the importance of preserving the natural spaces that make the region unique. Through a long-term partnership between Southern Conservation Trust…

The City of Fayetteville Public Services Division will temporarily close the City Center Park playgrounds and all of Church Street Park to accommodate major improvement projects over the next few weeks. The Church Street Park closure will begin Wednesday morning, September 30, 2026, and the City Center Park playground closures will begin Monday, October 5.…

FAYETTE COUNTY, GA – Fayette County completed its annual review of projects listed in the 2015 Pre-Disaster Hazard Mitigation Plan. The plan, approved by all county jurisdictions in 2015, was updated on June 28, 2019, to support a FEMA mitigation grant that brought the Margaret Phillips Lake Dam, a Category 1 dam, into compliance with Georgia…

The percentage of Coweta County School System high school seniors graduating on-time was 89.8 percent for Coweta’s class of 2026. This year’s graduation rate dropped slightly from the Coweta County School System’s previous high of 92.4 percent in 2025. Coweta County’s overall graduation rate was higher than the state of Georgia’s 2026 rate of 88.5…

The Coweta County School System’s average composite SAT score for the graduating class of 2026 rose nine points over the previous year’s class, placing Coweta graduates well above state and national averages on the college entrance exam. Coweta Schools’ average SAT score rose to 1085 in 2026, 74 points above the national SAT average on…

September 29, 2026 – By Staff Reports Fayette Samaritans is asking for community support to help restock its food pantry for October, with food staples and personal-care products among this month’s most-needed donations. Fayette Samaritans Pantry Needs… The organization also needs volunteers to assist in the office, clothes closet, and food pantry. Volunteers typically commit…

A six-month investigation into an alleged prostitution operation spanning Peachtree City, Tyrone, Atlanta, and other locations has resulted in charges under Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act and other prostitution-related charges, the seizure of more than $400,000, and the identification of nine people as potential victims of human trafficking. About 100 federal, state,…

Sara Harp Minter Elementary music specialist Alison Kirkland makes a symphony of learning. Kirkland sees every student in Pre-K through 5th grade at least once a week, and she also leads the Minter chorus. They will have a big spring performance, and they’ll also sing at special events throughout the year like a holiday review…

When my grown sons come home from their big-time adult jobs in the Midwest, they want Partners II Pizza. When my uncle visits from Texas, he wants Partners. My mom and I split the potato pizza. My husband is a purist: pepperoni. Over the years, my sons have celebrated birthdays at Partners locations from Aberdeen…

What is up, my Eaters! I hope you are all well. I am good. I really am. Lately, I have been diligently working toward growing my businesses, and some things have been really encouraging. I am finding myself in rooms that were difficult to get into before. The caliber of people in my personal and…

What does Psalm 23 — “The Lord is my shepherd” — sound like? Country, apparently. Also jazz. Hip-hop. Rock. Pop. Choir. Those are just some of the answers offered by Music Bible, an ambitious new project that has taken the words of Scripture and turned them into more than 30,000 songs — without rewriting the…

Robert J. Burch, Spring Hill Elementary, and Flat Rock Middle were recognized with Title I school awards by the Georgia Department of Education. Robert J. Burch and Spring Hill Elementary have both been named a 2026 Title I Reward School. Title I Reward Schools are identified as the top 5% of Title I schools in…

A trio of Peeples Elementary students enhanced their learning by designing division puzzles. The three boys in Katie Starkey’s 5th grade class were inspired by a Marcy Cook math logic puzzle. They had completed all the provided grade level puzzles quickly and easily and were looking for a bigger challenge. They decided to take their…

Sandy Creek High teamed up with the Divine 9 Fraternities and Sororities for a special night in support of the school’s football program. At halftime of the game against Fayette County High, members of each organization were honored on the field. Leading up to the game, members were asked to donate to Patriot athletics. Delta…