Kristina L. Adams Named Newnan City Hall Artist for the month of February

Kristina L. Adams is named Newnan-Coweta Art Association’s Artist of the Month for the month of February. Her work will be displayed at Newnan City Hall for the month of February.

Kris is a displaying member of the Georgia Watercolor Society and a member of the Newnan Coweta Arts Association. Kris’s paintings are in private and public collections across the United States, Canada and Japan. This past fall she had two paintings chosen for the Georgia national fair in Perry Georgia. Her paintings are full of bright bold colors from abstract to realism. Using large brushes and lots of water her paintings are pretty loose. She says art doesn't always have to be serious; it just needs to be fun. She works in a series, and is best known for two larger than life women in swimsuits; fondly know as Miss Bea & Stella. Other series have been of fish, turtles, landscapes, over sized fruits, vegetables, lighthouses, sofas and animals.

You may recognize Kris from the Watercolor by Kristina show that she did on Newnan Utilities last year. Her work can be seen around town at Andre’s off the Square, Espresso Lane, Ten East Washington, and the Weber Eye clinic. She displays at the annual NCAA spring show on the square and at the annual NCAA Christmas show in November at the Rail Road depot in down town Newnan.

Kristina is a member of the Newnan-Coweta Art Association. NCAA meets the third Thursday each month (from September through May) at the Harriet Alexander Art Center on Hospital Road at 7:00 p.m. visitors and new members are welcome.
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Coweta County Commission passes new Ordinances

The Coweta County Commission passed two ordinances on January 26, 2009 that regulate adult, sexually-oriented products and businesses in the county.

The first is a new ordinance for sexually oriented businesses. This ordinance completely replaces the old one and, while similar, does have some specific differences.

The new sexually oriented businesses ordinance retains the threshold of 25% for a business to be considered an adult bookstore. However, it does not mention some of the items that were in the old ordinance because they are dealt with in the obscenity ordinance, and it more clearly defines the 25% rule. One of the goals of the ordinance is to “regulate. . . . sexually oriented business through a narrowly tailored ordinance designed to serve the substantial government interest in preventing the negative secondary effects of sexually oriented businesses.”

The ordinance does this by designating a business as an adult bookstore if it meets one of the following criteria:
- at least 25% of the displayed merchandise is characterized by the emphasis upon specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas; or
- At least 25% of the wholesale value of the displayed merchandise consists of the above mentioned items; or
- At least 25% of the retail value of the displayed merchandise consists of the above mentioned items; or
- At least 25% of the establishments revenues derive from the sale or rental, for any form of consideration, of the foregoing items; or
- At least 25% of the floor space for the display, sale and rental of the above mentioned items; or
- The establishment maintains at least 500 sq. ft. of its floor space for the display, sale, and/or rental of the foregoing items; or
- The establishment regularly offers for sale or rent at least 2000 of the foregoing items; or
- The establishment regularly features the foregoing items and advertises itself as a business that caters to adult sexual interests; or
- The establishment maintains an adult arcade.

The ordinance also changed the locations that are lawful for a sexually oriented business. The new ordinance requires that any sexually oriented business must be at least 1,000 feet from the parcel of any other sexually oriented business or any establishment licensed to sell alcohol at the premises. The ordinance also requires that any sexually oriented business be at least 1,000 feet from any parcel occupied by a school, religious institution, public park, recreation facility, licensed day-care center, or property used or zoned for residential purposes.

The second is a new obscenity ordinance. This is the first such ordinance for Coweta County. The state of Georgia had a similar statute that was struck down in 2006 because of its prohibition on advertising. The Coweta County ordinance does not address advertising and would therefore fall under other court cases approving obscenity laws similar to obscenity ordinance adopted by Coweta County. Because the State of Georgia has not yet replaced the state obscenity statute, it was appropriate for the county to include this regulation in our update of regulations regarding sexually oriented businesses.

Contrary to some earlier reports, this ordinance does NOT ban condoms or lubricants. This ordinance makes it unlawful for anyone to commercially “distribute or possess with the intent to distribute . . . any obscene material or any device designed or marketed as useful primarily for the stimulation of human genital organs." Unlike sex toys, condoms are primarily used for contraception and disease. They are not, and cannot under governing law, be subject to the obscenity ordinance.

The ordinance defines “material” to includes magazines, videos, DVDs, etc., but requires that the specific material in question cross the line from indecent to legally obscene. The Coweta ordinance uses a commonly accepted definition of obscenity that has been upheld by the United States Supreme Court.

Both of these ordinances are designed to balance the interests of protected speech with the recognized community interests in preventing commercial distribution of obscenity and in controlling the negative secondary effects of sexually oriented businesses. The obscenity ordinance essentially replaces a Georgia law that was in effect for thirty years, and the sexually oriented business ordinance reflects an update to a similar ordinance passed almost ten years ago. The ordinances are supported by a number of studies showing the detrimental effects of sexually oriented businesses. More complete information on the studies can be found on the Coweta County Website.
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Coweta County Board of Commissioners Called Meeting

The Coweta County Board of Commissioners will hold a specially called meeting on Monday, January 26, 2009 at the County Commission Chambers located at 37 Perry Street, Newnan, Georgia at 3:30 p.m.

M*A*S*H at Newnan Community Theatre Company

A Mobile Army Surgical Unit from the Korean War has moved onto the Newnan Community Theatre Company's main stage for just six performances. M*A*S*H, the famous 4077th, is taking a brief tour in Newnan for the theatre's first show of their 2009 Season.

Richard Hooker wrote about his experiences as a surgeon during the Korean War. His book eventually became a movie, TV series, and play. Much loved and probably best well-known was the TV series, starring Alan Alda. The play (by Tim Kelly) features the characters now so famous - Hawkeye, Hot Lips Houlihan, Father Mulcahy, Trapper John, and Frank Burns.

One of the challenges for this production has been recreating Korean War-era barracks and hunting down older uniforms. The show is being directed by NCTC's managing director, Rick Olsen. This is Olsen's directorial debut. As a history buff and U.S. Air Force Retiree, Olsen was a good fit to direct this show.

The cast includes 25 adults, both NCTC veterans and newcomers. Darren Mathews, head of NCTC's Improv group, N.I.T.W.I.T.S., is portraying Hawkeye. JohnPaul Phillips is his buddy, Duke, and Chaz Ferguson is Trapper John. New to NCTC is John Chappell, portraying Col. Henry Blake. Also new to NCTC is Bill Monroe as Capt. Frank Burns. Last seen as Scrooge in A Christmas Carol, Sam Gentry is Father Mulcahy. NCTC veteran actor Amy Beachaum is Margaret Houlihan.

Rounding out the cast is Reynolds Allen (Gen. Hammond), Scott Pollak (Cap. Waldowski), Stephen Pye (Ugly), RaShaan Smith (Spearchucker), Jamie French (Sgt. Devine), Christian Pollak (Radar), Brian Walsh (Pvt Lopez), Duck Kingsenamongkhol (Ho-Jon), Judie Hardin (Bridget), Heather Hyde (Janice), Megan Martin (Louise), Sarah Jordan (Nancy), Renee Gentry (Mercy), Brenda Naughton (Ruth), Kristin Owens (Mitzi), Kelsey Gentry (Fritzi), and Ashlee Sims (Agnes).

M*A*S*H will be performed only six times. Opening night is Friday, January 23rd at 8 pm. Performances following are: Saturday, January 23 at 8 pm; Sunday, January 25 at 2:30 pm; Thurday, January 29 at 8 pm; Friday, January 30 at 8 pm; and Saturday, January 31 at 8 pm.

Reservations are highly recommended as seating is limited. Reservations can be made by calling the theatre at (770) 683-6282. You can purchase tickets in advance by visiting their website at newnantheatre.com. Newnan Community Theatre Company is located at 24 First Avenue in downtown Newnan.
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Road Closure Set for East Broad Street, Newnan

Newnan Utilities is preparing to replace an existing water main and individual service lines as a part of the rehabilitation of East Broad Street. This work is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, January 20th, and will take about a week to complete, according to officials with Newnan Utilities. East Broad Street will be closed to traffic for the duration of this phase of utility work from the intersection of Pinson Street/ Farmer Street to Roberts Road. Local traffic will be accommodated as best as possible. Motorists are encouraged to plan ahead. Detours will be marked.

Senator Seabaugh to Host Page Day at Capitol

State Senator Mitch Seabaugh (R-Sharpsburg) will host his annual Page Day at the Capitol for students from his district, sixth grade and above, on Thursday, February 12, 2009. The students will serve as pages for the Senate on that day.

“I encourage students, particularly those interested in civics and government, to take advantage of this excellent opportunity to experience the legislative process first-hand,” Sen. Seabaugh said. “This is a chance for students to experience American politics and watch the state legislature work.”

Pages are granted access to the Senate Chamber for the day and are responsible for delivering messages to the senators on the floor. They may also be called on by senators to run special errands. Each page is sponsored by their local senator. They will receive a certificate, $10 honorarium and are scheduled to have their pictures taken with Lt. Governor Cagle and Senator Seabaugh.

Parents and teachers who would like to nominate students to serve as pages should contact Sen. Seabaugh’s office at 404-656-6446. Students must be 12 years of age or older. The day will count as an excused absence from school. Please submit any page requests as soon as possible. There are only five slots that remain available this year and students will be considered on a first come, first serve basis.
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