Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Fayette County Google Fiber Survey Results Released

Fayette County Residents, Businesses Receptive to Google Trial Concept

The Fayette County Internet Usage Survey, created by the City of Peachtree City and distributed to County residents and business owners through a variety of sources, closed on March 23. The results of the survey give information regarding the County's Internet profile to the County and municipalities finishing the RFI response to Google for the Google Fiber for Communities project.

Over 1,000 Fayette County citizens and business owners responded to the survey. Some of the statistics include:

· Over 63% of residents who responded live in Peachtree City, followed by Fayetteville with 17% of the respondents, the unincorporated County having nearly 12%, Tyrone with almost 6%, and Brooks and Woolsey residents rounding out the totals.

· The majority of residents who responded pay between $31 and $50 per month for Internet services in their home.

· The majority of respondents reported their speeds are in the "broadband" range (73% report download speed over 3 Mbps, and 68% report their upload speeds are over 1Mbps).

· In terms of reliability, nearly half of residents responded their service was "fairly reliable" and 15% reported their service "never goes down." Nearly half of all residents report their customer service experiences with Internet providers as "average," 20% report "above average," and 6% report "excellent" customer service.

· On the business side, 53% of business owners who responded to the survey have a business in Peachtree City, followed by Fayetteville with 18%, the unincorporated County with 14.5% and Tyrone with 12%.

· Ninety-four percent of those business owners who responded use the Internet as a part of their business, either as an amenity or to conduct business.

· More than 72% of business respondents reported their monthly costs for Internet were above $41 per month.

· Sixty-eight percent of business respondents report their speed in the "broadband" range for downloads, while 70% have upload speeds at 1 Mbps or higher.

· Reliability and customer service scores for business Internet were similar to the resident responses, with 63% of business owners reporting "fairly stable" or above reliability and nearly 70 percent reporting customer service of average or above.

When asked to provide comments and feedback about the potential of a Google trial in Fayette County, an overwhelmingly positive response was received, with 73% of the comments in support of the Google trial. Comments from the community included the benefits to business, education and overall competition in the market.

The summary results are available at http://www.peachtree-city.org/google , as well as a link to allow citizens, businesses and community groups to get their last-minute nominations in to Google for Fayette County as a home of the trial network. Fayette County and its municipalities are finishing their response document now, but still would like the citizens to make their voices heard to Google. The nomination deadline is Friday, March 26.
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Friday, March 12, 2010

9th Annual Spring Yard Sale --- HUGE!

Calling all bargain hunters! Visit over 50 yard sales at one location during the 9th Annual Spring Yard Sale on April 3, 2010. This community yard sale will be held at Kiwanis Park (980 Redwine Road, Fayetteville). With over 14,000 square feet of bargains, this special event will be open to the public from 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. The Fayette County Parks and Recreation Department holds community yard sales biannually (Spring and Fall). Vendors are local residents from Fayette and surrounding counties. It is worth the drive! Past sales have attracted hundreds of bargain-hunters from Marietta to Macon, Columbus to Norcross, and everywhere in between. FREE admission and parking for all bargain hunters! All vendor booths have been sold. The 10th Annual Harvest Yard Sale is expected to be held in October with vendor registration starting in August.

9th Annual Spring Yard Sale

April 3, 2010
8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Kiwanis Park
980 Redwine Road, Fayetteville
(next to baseball fields)

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE! Expected items for sale include:

§ Clothing (infant – adult), baby & early childhood items, dolls, and toys!
§ Antiques, home décor, books, videos, music, kitchen & bath accessories!
§ Furniture, household items, handmade arts & crafts and baby blankets!
§ Lawn mowers, yard equipment, auto supplies, tools and hardware!
§ Sports & exercise equipment and Relay For Life items!
§ Music, videos games, electronics and tools!
§ Holiday gifts, decorations, and handmade greeting cards!
§ Floral arrangements, new and custom-made jewelry, and Avon products!
§ Fayette County Special Olympics fundraiser with limited food, baked goods, drinks, and much more!

Directions: From intersection of Hwy. 85 and Hwy. 54 in downtown Fayetteville, take Hwy. 85 south. After City Café & Deli, take a slight right onto Beauregard Blvd. Continue about 1.8 miles straight through several stop signs during which the road will change name to Redwine Road. Turn left after the baseball fields when you will see the “Fayette County Activities House” sign on left. Arrive at 980 Redwine Road, Fayetteville (Kiwanis Park).

Call 770-716-4320 or visit www.fayettecountyga.gov for more information.

The Spring Yard Sale on April 3 will feature a fundraising booth for the Fayette County Special Olympics. The goal of the Fayette County Special Olympics is to help bring persons with intellectual disabilities into the larger society under conditions whereby they are accepted, respected, and given the chance to become useful and productive citizens. When we achieve this goal through our sports program, we demonstrate that Special Olympics has a unique value: to show the world that every person counts and that every person can be something good when we work together.

Fayette County Special Olympics invests in people with intellectual disabilities, helping them to develop athletic skills, while also promoting the abilities of the athletes off the field. When our athletes succeed, attitudes change, the community develops, health and self-esteem are built, and the eyes of the world are focused on all that is good and hopeful and positive. Athletes gain skills for employment, learn independent living skills, form relationships and help others understand their extraordinary capabilities despite health issues they experience daily.

Twenty-three different sports are offered on the state-level of Special Olympics for athletes to experience; Fayette County actively participates in nineteen of those sports including badminton, swimming, soccer and gymnastics. The Special Olympic athletes in Fayette County range in age from 8 years old to 63 years old!
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Former Tyrone Officer arrested for Child Molestation

On March 11, 2010 Matthew New was arrested by Fayetteville Police Department for Child Molestation. The arrest was a result of an investigation that began on February 2, 2010. New was a police officer in Tyrone at the beginning of the investigation and resigned from the department on February 24, 2010 because of an unrelated issue.

The allegation of molestation was filed by a member of New’s family and occurred in November 2007. During the investigation, several pieces of New’s computer were taken for examination. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation conducted a forensic examination of New’s computer which revealed evidence of the crime. In addition to that evidence, other evidence of additional crimes were also located.

Mr. New faces additional charges for Child Molestation, Sexual Battery, Enticing a Child for Indecent Purposes, and Child Pornography.

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