Thursday, May 14, 2009

Thursday updates

 
 
Duck Report: Labeling tonight, concert Friday, dash and the derby on Saturday
Blood drive today at Cartersville Medical Center
New Frontier's Memorial Day BBQ is Friday, May 22
 
Updates on the 2010 NAIA football championship bid: As Rome/Floyd's Host Committee prepares for the 2009 NAIA football national championship game in December, the league is soliciting bids for the '10 game. Barron Stadium was the site of the 2008 championship. The local committee is hoping to get a one-year extension for the 2010 game and then a long-term commitment from the NAIA as well. The first one had an economic impact of more than $1.5 million.

>One key point has been whether an artificial field would be installed. The 2010 bid specs posted by the NAIA says this about grass vs. turf: "A stadium type facility with a seating capacity of 5,000 minimum and a playing surface of natural grass, preferred, but artificial turf/sports turf acceptable." Shorter College recently offered to pump $400,000 in upgrades into the Barron complex, which has been home to Hawks' football games the past four falls. For more, click Bid

More reasons to salute sports/all local tourism: The NAIA game provided a big boost in visitors in normally slow December. Now through Sunday, local communities are celebrating National Tourism Week -- and for good reason. Visitors provide a major economic boost for Northwest Georgia and these latest facts from Bartow County underscore that. These numbers are from the Cartersville-Bartow County Convention & Visitors Bureau:

-Tourism is a $124.9 million industry supporting 1,480 jobs; $29.78 million in wages.

-$3.77 million in Bartow tax revenues $4.82 million in state taxes come from tourism.

-Hotel/resort room sales topped $19 million in fiscal 2008 (up 2.4 percent).

-Tourism fed $37.6 million in Bartow restaurant sales, $12 million in retail sales.

VW, Chattanooga officials celebrate 'wall raising' today: The 2 p.m. ceremony at the site of the future VW production center is being hailed as a key benchmark for the plant, due to open in 2011. The plant, its suppliers and other spinoffs continue to be of huge regional interest with 10,000 potential jobs in play.

Goodwill joins Rome Village Center near Wal-Mart: The final "end' unit of Rome Village Center adjoining the East Rome Wal-Mart SuperCenter is a new Goodwill donations office. Goodwill has a lease on the 1,400-square-foot office through April 1, 2012, according to a listing on LoopNet. The center -- home to Milano's, H&R Block and Landmark Financial -- appears to be on the market for $2,125,000. That includes the 8,400-square-foot building on 1.58 acres> Details

Rome's July 4th Tea Party to feature teen speaker Jonathan Krohn> Politics

Graduation season to bring 17,000 to Forum, downtown: The schedule:

-Friday, May 22: Coosa High, 7 p.m.

-Saturday, May 23: Armuchee High, 10 a.m.; Pepperell High, 2:30 p.m.; Model High, 7 p.m.

-Sunday, May 24: Rome High, 3 p.m.

-Crowds of 3,500 each are expected for all but Coosa (3,000).

-The Forum will be buzzing with graduation practice throughout the week as well.

Cartersville-based basketball team continues tour of China: You can track The BaselineUSA Warriors International Club Tour Basketball Team through May 24 as the team plays in "friendly competitions against Chinese, Korean and Lithuania teams." The group returns May 24> Blog

WeatherCenter/brought to you by Roman Court

-Thursday: 20% chance of showers, thunderstorms after 2 p.m. High of 81.
-Thursday night: 20% chance of showers, thunderstorms. Low of 60.
-Friday:  50% chance of showers, thunderstorms, after 2 p.m. High of 86.

-Live radar views:  Click The State or The Region

-For more, click WeatherCenter

Norman Arey's Sports Roundtable / brought to you by Riverside Toyota

-Who's the fairest in all the land in college football coaching? He ain't at Notre Dame Arey

Rome Braves updates> Click sports

-Rome Braves hold on for a 7-5 win over Tourists

-Next game: 7 tonight in Asheville

-Mills Fitzner's latest game photos> Click

Dining & Drink:

-333 on Broad offers free kids meals on Thursday nights; starts lunch service Friday at 11 a.m. Details

-North Georgia Wine Tours/The News Vine: Spring festival at Crane Creek in Young Harris; new Sunday Supper at Montaluce in Dahlonega.

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