Bring One for the Chipper

If your family enjoys a live, cut Christmas tree, do your part to keep it beneficial to us all – bring it to the Bring One for the Chipper Christmas Tree Drop Off. Trees are either chipped into mulch OR are used to provide habitat and protection for fish in area lakes and rivers. This keeps the trees out of landfills and keeps them useful.

Drop off dates:

Saturday, January 3, 2009 – Coweta County Temple Avenue Recreation Facility (the Old Fairgrounds) 9 am – 4 pm
December 29 – January 3 – All 12 Coweta County Compactor sites (hours and locations at http://www.coweta.ga.us/Index.aspx?page=368 )

Seedlings will be given to all who bring in a tree – but only at the Temple Avenue location where Coweta 4-Hers will be assisting.
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Greentop Bridge Closed Indefinitely

The Greentop Road Bridge over the CSX railroad closed December 23, 2008, until further notice. Repairs and/or replacement scheduling is underway.

The closure came after the county was notified by GDOT today that the bridge required immediate closing due to deterioration of the bolts and gusset plates. The bridge was last inspected on July 1, 2008 when the bolts and gusset plates were noted as a deficiency, but not sufficient enough to warrant closing. GDOT has been reviewing all bridges, in particular those with similar type construction as the one that collapsed in Minnesota. The Greentop Bridge uses gusset plates, similar in construction to the Minnesota bridge.

Because of its known deficiencies, the bridge was already on Coweta County’s replacement schedule. Engineering is 80% complete and the environmental documents have already been sent to the federal government. If funding can be determined soon, right of way acquisition can begin and the project can be let to contract in April/May. The projected construction time is 12 – 18 months and the estimated value of the project is $2.1 million.

The Greentop Bridge replacement was part of the Georgia DOT TIP (Transportation Improvement Program) and was one of two that Coweta County submitted for possible funding through the economic stimulus program. Canon Road at White Oak Creek is the other bridge submitted for funding. It is expected that the bridge cannot be repaired given the whole of its current state but county officials will be contacting GDOT to see if anything further can be done to shorten the amount of time the bridge will be out of service. The primary detour route is US 29 N to Herring Road.
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Yates Takes Home Big Award

Newnan, Georgia's Jerry Yates came out a big winner at the 2008 Roots Music Association's Award Ceremony, held on November 15th, in San Marcos, Texas.

The ceremony, was part of the World United Music Festival and Radio Conference, presented by the Roots Music Association and the United States Entertainment Forces. The festival and conference were the premier radio and music industry networking events for professionals involved in the music industry, around the globe. The event's focus was on the national and international radio, music industry, and related press, within the worldwide music market, providing a platform, primarily for independent musicians and artists, but including established performers, to gain exposure and be heard.

Although bad weather forced the cancellation of the music festival Saturday night and Sunday, the event was not a total wash out.

Rev. Jerry Yates, a solo Gospel artist, who sings, writes songs, and plays acoustic guitar, with a country blues, rockabilly style, performed Friday afternoon, showcasing his talents before a small, but enthusiastic crowd. However, the big event for Yates came during the award ceremony, which was held in the Embassy Suites Hotel, in San Marcos, when he walked away with the 2008 Roots Music Association's "Gospel Artist of the Year Award"! Other nominees in the "Gospel Category" included Ricky Scaggs and the Blind Boys of Alabama.

"It was absolutely impossible for me to win" Yates said, after the ceremony. "But God is known for doing the impossible, and I know it was only by His grace that I won! I need to hurry and get back home, to see if I'm dreaming" he said.

To learn more about the music ministry of Jerry Yates, listen to some of his music, and find booking information, visit www.jerryyatesministries.com or www.indieheaven.com/artists/jerryyates. Jerry's radio promotion is managed by RhonBob Promotions, www.rhonbob.com.
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Keith Brooking Nominated as Finalist for 2008 Home Depot NFL Neighborhood MVP

In November, the Atlanta Falcon’s own Keith Brooking was nominated by Home Depot as a finalist for the 2008 Home Depot NFL Neighborhood MVP. The Home Depot NFL Neighborhood MVP is a national program that recognizes players who are making a positive impact in their local communities through charitable programs and contributions.

Vote: http://www.nfl.com/partner?partnerType=neighborhood-mvp

Keith Brooking, a Coweta-County native whose mother raised numerous foster children, was selected for his years of work with Atlanta area foster children and children in need. His Keith Brooking Children's Foundation, a 501(c)3 public charity, is devoted to serving the needs of foster children and the agencies that serve them throughout metro Atlanta.

Keith was born and raised in Coweta County, Georgia, where he played football for East Coweta High School, and went on to play for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. He was drafted by the Falcons in the 1st round of the 1998 NFL draft. Since that time, Keith has been a 5 time Pro – Bowl selection, and distinguished himself as a leader both in the Falcon’s organization and the Georgia community. Keith Brooking is one of the few active NFL players who have played their entire football career (high school, college, professional) in the same state.

Keith founded the Keith Brooking Foundation in 2003 to serve the children of the metro Atlanta area. He was selected a two time Man of the Year by the Falcons due to his tireless work in the metro – Atlanta community. The Keith Brooking Foundation has quickly become famous through it’s Locker 56 program, a program designed to provide athletic shoes to children who cannot afford them. The program promotes good physical and mental health and improved fitness by encouraging children to keep their bodies active. Locker 56 has awarded over 1500 pairs of shoes since the program was funded, and continues to grow in reach.

“Keith’s involvement in his foundation is almost daily, even during football season. It’s well deserved recognition for a man who puts his community ahead of himself,” said Miranda Graham, Executive Director of the Keith Brooking Children's Foundation. She added, “We are encouraging the community to vote for Keith online as often as possible. Winning the award not only draws attention to Keith’s mission of helping our area foster children, but it also would award his Foundation a $25,000 donation to help support our children’s programs. That could make a big impact in the lives of many children in our community.”

Among over 1600 active roster NFL players, only 17 are nominated and 8 are chosen as finalists for the Home Depot NFL Neighborhood MVP program. The eight finalists will receive a $5,000 donation to the charity of their choice and are now in the running to be honored as The Home Depot NFL Neighborhood MVP. The national MVP winner will receive a $25,000 donation to the charity of his choice and will be recognized at an All-Star playground build project during the week leading up to Super Bowl XLIII.

The winner is determined by public vote, and a person can vote as often as they’d like. If you all can rally your network to vote, we can see to it that Keith is recognized for the work he does virtually every day in our community. All votes must be cast by December 31, 2008.

Vote: http://www.nfl.com/partner?partnerType=neighborhood-mvp
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Newnan Based CeloNova BioSciences Receives FDA Market Approval

/PRNewswire/ -- CeloNova BioSciences, Inc., announced December 16 that it has received 510(k) marketing clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Embozene(TM) Color-Advanced Microspheres which are indicated for the treatment of hypervascularized tumors (tumors with a large number of blood vessels in many locations) and arteriovenous malformations (defects in the circulatory system). U.S. commercial sales of Embozene(TM) Microspheres will begin immediately.

Embozene(TM) Microspheres are the first and only microspheres to be color- enhanced with a different color for each size for increased procedural safety, efficiency and visibility. They are also available in a wider range of sizes than any other spherical embolic on the market. They are available in 40 micrometers, 100 micrometers, 250 micrometers, 400 micrometers, 500 micrometers, 700 micrometers, and 900 micrometers sizes in 1 ml and 2 ml pre-filled syringes and vials. CeloNova plans to submit a supplemental 510(k) to the FDA to add three additional sizes, 75 micrometers, 1100 micrometers and 1300 micrometers, for a total of ten sizes including the smallest and the largest microspheres available for endovascular therapy. CeloNova is the only Company that provides this complete range of products.

CeloNova's Embozene(TM) Microspheres consist of a hydrogel core and an exterior shell made from Polyzene(R)-F, CeloNova's proprietary polymer which is known to be anti-inflammatory and bacterial-resistant. Four design features distinguish Embozene(TM) Microspheres from other spherical embolics: biocompatibility, precise calibration, stable suspension, and structural stability. Embozene(TM) Microspheres are precisely calibrated, they retain their shape after passing through a catheter, and they can stay in suspension for an extended time. The unique color enhancement of the microspheres and finely calibrated sizes make selection easy, efficient, and precise for the operator. The result is an embolic microsphere that provides accurate and complete vessel occlusion.

Embolization is a minimally invasive procedure used to control or prevent abnormal bleeding, to shrink tumors by blocking the blood vessels that supply them, and to block off blood vessel malformations. Physicians use enhanced imaging techniques to visualize the blood vessel, then insert and advance a catheter to the treatment site. The embolic agent is then released into the catheter and positioned within the blood vessel or malformation to block the target vessel permanently.

"Embozene Microspheres are an innovative advance in embolic technology that has been well received outside the U.S.," said John C. Lipman, MD, FSIR, Founder and CEO of the Atlanta Interventional Institute and Director of the Center for Image-Guided Medicine at Emory-Adventist Hospital Atlanta. "Intuitively, a polymer that is anti-inflammatory and that provides more finely calibrated bead sizes, shape integrity, prolonged suspension, and has a unique color-coded selection system that makes for more efficient procedures, will appeal to physicians as well as patients. Embozene(TM) Microspheres maintain suspension better than any other embolic I've seen," said Dr. Lipman. "I'm looking forward to using this therapy in my practice."

"From the outset, we took a different approach to developing our Embozene(TM) Microspheres by asking physicians and medical scientists for the qualities and characteristics that the ideal embolic device should have," said Thomas A. Gordy, President and Chief Executive Officer, CeloNova BioSciences, Inc. "Then, we engineered Embozene(TM) Microspheres to have those properties, which are made even better with Polyzene(R)-F, our proprietary polymer. Polyzene(R)-F helps make our leading-edge technology better."

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Two Road Closures

Two Road Closures were approved by the Coweta County Commission at the December 4 meeting.

1 – Shaw Road will be closed December 8-11, weather permitting. This is part of the Raymond Hill/Major/Shaw/Fischer Road improvement. This will allow the connection of Shaw Road to its new intersection with Major Road. Detours include Pete’s Road to Palmetto Tyrone Road. At the same time, the Major Road traffic will be directed to the new location. This move will require the intersection of Fischer and Raymond Hill/Major to become a 4-way stop until the new signal is installed.

2 – Bill Estes Road in southeast Coweta County will be closed December 8-11 for a cross drain replacement

UPDATE:

Because the weather forecast calls for rain on Wednesday and Thursday of next week, we have received permission to close Shaw Road tomorrow, Saturday, December 6 through Tuesday, December 9 instead of as originally scheduled for Monday the 8th. It will still be closed for 4 days as planned, weather permitting. If the timeframe has to be extended beyond the 9th, we will notify you of the change.

Confirmed Rabies Case in Newnan

According to the city of Newnan animal warden, Cyndi Hoffman, there was a confirmed case of rabies in the city. There were no humans affected with the disease.

On Wednesday, December 5th, a resident reported a raccoon in her yard was acting strangely. Officer Hoffman went out to the resident off Pitts Street. The raccoon was then caught on a restraining pole and humanely euthanized. The body was sent to the lab where results came back positive for rabies.

Residents are urged to always keep family pets updated on vaccinations. Call your vetnarian as soon as possible to schedule an appointment.

“These vaccinations are critical to your families’ and pets’ well- being,” said Officer Hoffman. People do not realize the long and intense treatments needed for humans if bitten by a rabid animal and symptoms occur it is too late. Rabies has a 99% rate fatality for humans and animals,” continued Officer Hoffman.

Officer Hoffman wanted to remind everyone there is a leash law (4-41) and a vaccination law (4-44) in the city of Newnan. Citations will be issued if caught breaking these laws. If you need to review these ordinances please log onto www.ci.newnan.ga.us

Symptoms of Rabies for animals and humans

Symptoms usually develop between 20 and 60 days after exposure. Rabid animals may become aggressive, combative, and highly sensitive to touch and other kinds of stimulation. And they can be vicious. This is the "furious" form of rabies, the kind traditionally associated with mad dogs.
There is also a "dumb" form of the disease in which the animal is lethargic, weak in one or more limbs, and unable to raise its head or make sounds because its throat and neck muscles are paralyzed. In both kinds of animal rabies, death occurs a few days after symptoms appear, usually from respiratory failure.

Rabies infection in humans begins with symptoms such as fever, cough, or sore throat followed in several days by more serious and rapidly progressing symptoms such as restlessness, hallucinations and seizures. The final stage is coma and death.

Tips Residents for rabies prevention

Avoid wildlife.
Vaccinate your pets.
Do not approach any animal unknown to you or your family.
Secure trash in garbage cans with tight fitting lids.
Feed and water your pets inside your home to avoid attracting wild animals.

For city of Newnan residents to report animal related issues, please call animal control at 770-254-2355.
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Transition Fair for Fayette and Coweta County Students with Disabilities January 13

The transition from adolescence to adulthood is a time of anticipation, excitement, confusion and anxiety for students of all backgrounds and abilities. These emotions are often amplified for families of students with disabilities.

Special education students and their families sometimes face challenges in identifying resources in the community that can help them meet their needs and achieve their goals after graduation. That is why the Fayette County School System’s Exceptional Children’s Department and Exceptional Ops are hosting a Transition Fair called Building Alliances at McIntosh High on January 13 from 7-9 p.m.

Admission to the fair is free and open to students with disabilities and their families from both Coweta and Fayette counties.

The purpose of the fair is to provide information about services that are available in the community. Coweta and Fayette organizations that provide services for students with disabilities, whether they are still in school or transitioning out, will be on hand to discuss the assistance they offer and how they can help meet the various needs of disabled students and adults. Support and advocacy groups, employment preparation, vocational rehabilitation, supported living agencies, tutoring and recreation are a few examples of the services that will be exhibited.

All attendees will receive a booklet listing service providers in the area. For more information about the fair, contact the Fayette County School System’s Exceptional Children’s Department, 770-460-1309.

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