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JANUARY 2 - JANUARY 8, 2019

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Taste of Newnan

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your weekly connection to local news & entertainment

Council approves dog park, residential rezoning BY CLAY NEELY

clay@newnan.com

New na n Cit y Counci l approved severa l new projects during their la st meet i ng of 2018 , i nclud i ng a dog park and a 47-home residential development. City council awarded a contract

PHOTOS BY JEFFREY CULLEN-DEAN

MacKenzie Farmer, a Newnan High School Key Club member, fills the wish list of a local child during a holiday shopping trip sponsored by the Newnan Kiwanis Club.

Newnan Kiwanis makes Christmas for 80 children

The $502,371 contract will including sod, grass, and mulch, landscaping and buffers, a restroom building, dog splash pad, playground and dog play equipment and park furniture.

BY REBECCA LEFTWICH becky@newnan.com

W h i le K iwa n is Intern a t i o n a l f i g h t s p ove r t y a n d d i s e a s e wo rld w id e , local Kiwanians continue to foc us t hei r effor ts on t h e c h i l d r e n o f C owe t a County. For more than 15 years, the Newnan Kiwanis Club has sponsored holid ay shoppi n g spre e s for impoverished elementaryschoolers. The project has put gifts under the Christmas trees of hundreds of Coweta families over the ye a r s a nd sm i le s on t he face s of cou nt le s s l it t le ones – and on the faces of t he volu nteers who t u r n out by the dozens to help them shop. “I love Ch r ist m a s , a nd just to see t he sm i les on t hei r faces mea n s a lot,” s a i d G e o r g e A l e x a n d e r, who heads the effort each year. “I’ll keep doing it as long a s K iwa n i s w i l l let me.” A lexa nder li kely wi ll be in it for the long haul, because that’s exactly the k i nd of effor t K iwa n is encourages in its mission. W h i le t he i nter n at ion a l organization ta kes on large-scale, children-centered challenges, like eliminating tetanus and iodine def ic ienc ie s i n develop ing countries, it’s also supporting local clubs as they look out for youngsters in their own communities.

Newnan Kiwanian Don Chapman helps a little girl select Christmas gifts at Target. The girl was one of 80 elementary-aged children who participated in the club’s annual holiday shopping project.

“Kiwanis is for children, a nd pr ior it y one i s ch i ldren,” Alexander said. That ’s why 80 children could be found filling carts at the Newnan Target on a recent Saturday morning, accompa n ied by helper s as their Christmas wishes came true. It ’s not on ly t he sponsored children who benef it, accordi ng to A lexa nder, but t he members of Newnan High School’s Key Club who volunteer alongside Kiwanians as well. “That’s wonderful also, because it shows t hese h ig h school st udents t he

spi rit of giv i ng back a nd a l low i ng t hem to pro vide Christmas for someone else,” Alexander said. “They work extremely well with the children.” All participants are students identified as in need by g u id a n c e c o u n s elor s f rom 2 0 Cowet a Cou nt y schools, at the request of the Newnan Kiwanis Club. Pa rents bea ring signed per m i ssion sl ips accompany their children to the s tore on t he de si g n ate d morning, but they are not allowed to help shop. A nd a s a s a fe g u a rd , t he club makes arrangements

with Target to ensure the c h i ld r e n ’s g i f t s a r e n o t returned or exchanged. “We let the parents know t hat right up front,” sa id A le x a nde r, w h o s a id h e on c e w it n e s s e d p a r e n t s returning donated toys as t hei r t wo sm a l l ch i ld ren wept and pleaded for their Ch r i st m a s g i f t s . “ T h at ’s n o t t h e n or m , t h o u g h – 99.9 percent of the parents a re extremely t ha n k ful and appreciative.” In fact, some gift recipients have even ta ken t he oppor tun it y to

KIWANIS • 3

to P ied mont Pav i ng, who w i l l officially begin construction on the Sprayberry Road Recreational Dog Park Project. The $502,371 contract will including sod, grass, and mulch, landscaping and buffers, a restroom building, dog splash pad, playground and dog play equipment and park furniture. City council will pay the remaining cost of $445,000 from the city’s genera l fund to complete funding for the project. T he 8 . 26 -acre pa rcel ow ned by the city would be divided by a road and roundabout on Casey Road. T he cou nci l a lso approved a rezoning request that will bring 47 new single-fa mily homes into the city. Melissa Griffis, on behalf of Freedom Land Holdings LLC, successfully petitioned council to change t he zon i ng on a n 18 . 56 -acre tract located on Milla rd Fa rmer Industrial Boulevard and Calumet Parkway. The property has sat vacant since 20 01 , accord i ng to Tracy Du n navant, planning director for the city of Newnan. Dunnavant said there hasn’t been a great deal of enthusiasm for office development in the area. The Calumet Master Plan shows an approved total of 884 residential units, which equates to a 5-unit-peracre density, and 814 total units have been built within the development. Construction of an additional 47 homes would not exceed the overall approved residential unit total, which would move to 861.

‘Jumanji’ sequel may film in downtown Newnan BY CLAY NEELY

clay@newnan.com

The city of Newnan may play a leading role in the “Jumanji” sequel. Sony Pictures is planning to shoot several scenes for its new movie around the Court Square in early February. Filming will consist of two scenes and two locations in downtown Newnan, according to a press release from the production company. The production company has requested full road closures and parking lanes, according to the press release. However, the Newnan City

“Film production has become an increasingly vibrant industry within the Newnan area. It is with the consideration and cooperation of production crews, businesses and residents alike that we can maintain and grow this economic engine.” — Dustin Pitan

Council has not yet approved the requested street and sidewalk closures. The production company is working closely with the city of Newnan to ensure minimal impact on residents in the area,

according to Dustin Pitan, key assistant location manager. “Film production has become an increasingly vibrant industry within the Newnan area,” Pitan said. “It is with the consideration and cooperation of

production crews, businesses and residents alike that we can maintain and grow this economic engine.” Scenes would include a bus pulling up to let an actor step off onto West Wa sh i ng ton

Street, as well as an exterior and interior scene at Cookie B a r r o n E a s t Wa s h i n g to n Street. Despite f ilming in February, film crews plan to transform set locations back into the Christmas season, including decorating sidewalks with fake snow and putting the city’s Christmas decorations back up. According to the press release, crews expect to be finished by Friday, Feb. 15. The Newnan City Council’s next meeting is scheduled for Jan. 8, 2019.


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