20170412 xtra

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 2017

Peachtree City company bids on Trump wall Peachtree City company Synergy Professionals is among five Georgia firms that are bidding to build the wall on the Mexico border, as proposed by President Donald Trump. Sy nerg y P rofessionals, which specializes in recruiting for the construction industry, declined to comment on the project. ACC Construction Co. and C4 Planning Solutions in Augusta, Thompson Co. in

Norcross, and Osprey Management in Sandy Springs are also Georgia bidders. The federal government has extended its deadline for companies to bid on the first contracts for the proposed wall to Tuesday, according to the Associated Press. U.S. Customs and Border Protection said the six-day extension would allow companies time to consider answers to dozens of questions that potential bidders submit-

ted ahead of last Wednesday, March 29 – the initial deadline. Earlier this month, the agency published requests for proposals for wall that would be 30 feet high and easy on the eye for those looking at it from the north, according to the Associated Press. Bidders are also asked to submit security plans and

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A candle left burning while the occupants were asleep appears to be the cause of the fire that occurred March 1 at 74 East Cole Street in East Newnan. Coweta County Firefighter/Paramedic Michael Norton was one of the Coweta Fire Rescue firefighters who responded to the f ire, which occurred in the early morning hours. Late that night, his wife found him unresponsive in their Troup County home, and he later died. The Cole Street home had no electricity or running water at the time of the fire, and according to

PHOTO BY CLAY NEELY

Working the grill for Meat N’ Greet during Taste of Newnan’s Spring 2016 event are Matthew Willitts and Ansley Wilson.

Taste requires no admission charge and food “purchases” are made with tickets. Each vendor will offer sample options for the cost of 1 to 3 tickets. Tickets are $1 each and can be purchased at any one of several booths located around the downtown square. Tickets can also be obtained ahead of time at several designated locations surrounding the courthouse until 12 p.m. on the day of the event. C.S. Toggery, Ace Beer Growlers, Dragonfly Running Co., Let Them Eat Toffee, Gillyweed, and Wildwood Trader will be among the local shops selling tickets.

By KANDICE BELL kandice@newnan.com Nearly 500 people gathered to pay respects to 4-year-old Dedrick “DJ” Alford Jr. as he was laid to rest on April 1, and his family is trying to pick up the pieces and figure out life without the child. DJ died at the end of last month after allegedly being beaten by his stepfather, Dontavious Carter. Carter and DJ’s mother, Shronda Parks, are behind bars in Clayton County and charged with child cruelty. DJ’s family celebrated his life with a candlelight vigil and balloon release at Sewell Mortuary on Charlie Patterson Road in Grantville. The funeral, which was held at Total Faith Missionary Church of God on Railroad Street in Luthersville, had a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle theme, one of DJ’s favorite shows. Andrea Moreland, DJ’s paternal grandmother, said the family is concentrating on being there for one another and helping the child’s father – her son, Dedrick Alford Sr., get custody of his two daugh-

The community is invited to get up close and personal with a few upand-coming musicians April 15 during Newnan Unplugged. Vinylyte Records, located at 28 South Court Square, will once again offer locals a small, intimate concert featuring the band Americana Express, singer/ songwriter Hunter Callahan, and the trio of Tyler Wallace, Gabe Neal and Daniel Toole. Acoustic performances from talented county residents will begin at 7 p.m. and the event is free and open to the public.

Shakespeare Smackdown April 15 Hosted by the Newnan Coweta Historical Society, the Shakespeare

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Coweta County Tax Records, no property taxes had been paid since 2010. The house was reported as overgrown to Coweta County in 2012 and 2014. Coweta Fire Inspector Enrico Dean stated Tuesday that his investigation indicated the f ire was caused by a candle. There is still no word on the cause of Norton’s death. Norton, 38, was a 17-year veteran of the Coweta Fire Department. Troup Coroner Jeff Cook said Tuesday that he hadn’t received results from the state crime lab and didn’t expect any for at least a few more weeks. Because of the circumstances, the crime lab is “going to look at this really hard,” Cook said. The medical examiners are running an extensive battery of tests to determine what caused Norton’s death.

Father of beaten boy to focus on rebuilding family

Newnan Unplugged April 15

Hunter Callahan will be one of several up page 4 and coming musicians to play at Newnan Unplugged April 15.

Candle left burning caused East Newnan fire By SARAH FAY CAMPBELL sarah@newnan.com

By MAGGIE BOWERS maggie@newnan.com

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Local deputy studies the aftermath of the recent East Newnan fire.

No answers yet in firefighter's death

Long list of local events kick off spring in Coweta The county has played host to several recent events, from womanless beauty pageants to outdoor markets, live artist demonstrations and talented up-and-coming musicians playing right on the court square in Newnan. But for Coweta, the best is yet to come. Spring isn’t official in Newnan until dinner is served — downtown on the square. The Taste of Newnan will be held April 20 from 5 to 8:30 p.m. and will feature sample menus from restaurants and caterers across Coweta. More than 7,000 community members are expected to taste dishes — and desserts — throughout the evening from more than 40 local vendors. “The Taste of Newnan is our largest downtown event and a community favorite,” said Main Street Manager Courtney Harcourt. “We have over 30 commitments from local Newnan and Coweta restaurants and an assortment of entertainment [for the evening]. Visitors can expect to taste speciality dishes from a variety of new vendors.”

PHOTO BY CLAY NEELY

, MARCH 22, WEDNESDAY

PHOTO: FACEBOOK

Andrea Moreland, left, poses with her son, Dedrick Alford Sr., right, after Dedrick “DJ” Alford Jr.’s funeral Saturday afternoon.

ters. The girls, 6-year-old Dedrionna Alford and 5-year-old Deziyah Alford, are in custody of Clayton County Department of Family and Children Services because of the incident. Parks is the mother of DJ and the two girls.

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2017

March... see page 7

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