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NOVEMBER 29 - DECEMBER 5, 2017
Times-Herald
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Madras Connector Phase II
coming first
BY SARAH FAY CAMPBELL sarah@newnan.com
Phase II of the Madras Connector will likely be the first section of the multi-phase project to be built. Phase II, which runs from Happy Valley Circle at Hal Jones Road to U.S. Highway 29, could go out for bid in the summer of 2019, according to Tod Handley, Coweta’s director of transportation and engineering. Phase I, which is a rework-
PHOTO BY SARAH CAMPBELL
Tim Goddard shows Barbara Lee where Phase II of the Madras Connector will be built by calling up an area map on his phone.
ing of part of Herring Road that includes a bridge over the CSX Railroad, is expected to go to bid in the summer of 2020. Because the second phase is completely funded with local money, the process can move more quickly. Phase I has state f u ndi ng, so t he process is longer. A public information open house on Phase II was held Thursday night at Madras Middle School.
Thursday’s meeting, attended by 72 people, was in stark contrast to the July meeting on Phase I, which was attended by more than 200 people. At the meeting, several maps showing the road project were on display, and visitors could speak with county staff or consultants from the design firm. Like the meeting on Phase I, only maps of the specific phase were available, with no details about the overall master plan,
which includes several road phases that will eventually tie into a proposed interchange at Interstate 85. Barbara Lee said she thinks the county is well-run and she appreciates county officials being proactive, but she was looking forward to seeing the whole master plan. Lee said she had seen a copy of t he master pla n i n T he Newnan Times-Herald, but was looking forward to seeing a
larger-scale version. “I don’t think they’re being up front with me at all,” said Tim Goddard. “I don’t trust them not giving you the whole story. Trustworthiness is where I can hear from you the bad news.” When asked why there was no information given out about the other phases or no large map of the master plan, county officials said having the master
MADRAS • 2
Persons home on Tour of Homes
SUBMITTED PHOTO
A rain barrel, solar panel and compost bins are part of the ongoing operations at New Leaf Community Garden on Salbide Avenue in downtown Newnan.
New Leaf harvests more than veggies NTH STAFF REPORTS news@newnan.com
Lots of things grow at New Leaf Community Garden, but the garden also harvests water. New Leaf uses a rain barrel to collect water runoff from their garden shed roof. “This ‘free’ water is used to water nearby plants and to wash off tools,” said volunteer Carol Toole. In addition to collecting rain water, a solar panel harvests the sun's energy, which powers the garden shed's electric light, sav-
ing the nonprofit even more money. “Most importantly, restaurant waste from Christy's Cafe and Leaf and Bean is turned into soil via the garden's compost bins,” Toole said. She said the concepts can be used by anyone who likes to garden. “If you're a gardener or an earth lover, hop on and harvest some water, sun, and food waste this winter. There's plenty of it to go around,” Toole said.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Christmas decorations – some passed down for three generations – will be part of the experience for visitors to the Persons home on West Washington Street at the Dec. 2 Christmas Tour of Homes.
NTH STAFF REPORTS news@newnan.com
The home of Steele and Tina Persons at 34 West Washington St. is among the houses on the upcoming Christmas Tour of Homes. The three-bedroom, twobath journeyman home was built in the 1880s and is located just two blocks off the court square. When the Persons purchased the home, it had fallen in disrepair with roof leaks and crumbling walls. They have renovated and painted the dwelling with an eye toward being faithful to the time period in which the home was built. The home features coalburning fireplaces – one of
The Christmas tour, hosted by Newnan Presbyterian Preschool and Kindergarten, will be Dec. 2 from 4-9 p.m. them having been turned into a working wood-burning fireplace. It has original plaster walls with original trim, and the bathroom still has the original clawfoot tub and sink. The Persons love Christmas, and that will be evident in the holiday decorations attendees will see at the tour. Some decorations go back three generations, and others were handcrafted by their children. The Christmas tour, hosted
by Newnan Presbyterian Preschool and Kindergarten, will be Dec. 2 from 4-9 p.m. Tickets are $20 each and may be purchased at Newnan Presbyterian Preschool and Kindergarten, 38 Greenville St., weekdays from 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m, and at the Newnan-Coweta Historical Society at 74 Jackson St. in Newnan. Tickets may also be purchased online at www. newnantourofhomes.com