Massive indoor ski resort proposed for Bartow sounds familiar

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Billion-dollar indoor ski resort for Red Top Mountain? Sounds familiar

-Radio station WBHF 1450 AM of Cartersville reports a developer wants to build a 750-acre project at Red Top Mountain to house a complex four times the size of the Ski Dubai indoor resort. The station says three hotels, restaurants, shops and competition areas would be included.

-Developer Steve Winters is behind the project and pitched it to lawmakers on Monday, according to WBHF. It could create up to 2,000 jobs.

-At issue: Tax incentives from the state. For more, click WBHF

-Familiar-sounding project?: Winters also was behind a bid to build a very similar resort, called Mount Pegasus, in Dawson County in Northeast Georgia several years ago. It also was shopped to state officials but fizzled. Click Business Chronicle.

-An earlier run at Bartow?: There was speculation several years ago, during the Cabela's near-miss in Adairsville, that property near the Ga. 140/I-75 site of the massive outdoor retailer was being studied for a similar venture. Those talks began as the Dawsonville/Mount Pegasus project started to come apart.

-Bartow and theme park options: The ski plan is the latest in a series of large tourist attractions kicked around for the community. There have been rumors of a Busch Gardens near the brewery, a transplated Six Flags and later came actual plans for a "Mythe Fair" village building on medieval-type themes.

Transportation

-411 Connector six to 10 years off? That's the comment WRGA 1470 AM's news team got Thursday night from DOT spokesman Mohamed Arafa during the final public hearing on the project linking U.S. 411 to I-75> WRGA

Retail

-TJ Maxx grand opening at 8 a.m. Sunday in Cartersville's Main Street Shopping Center: Retailer fills void left following the shut down of Goody's> Click

Friday's Buzz:

-Local volunteers sought for free Atlanta C.A.R.E. Clinic at the Georgia International Convention Center March 27: The National Association of Free Clinics and the Georgia Free Clinic Network will be sponsoring a one-day free medical clinic for the uninsured. It will offer basic medical care and health education. Volunteers from all walks of life are sought. Click CARE

-2010 Duck Derby Kickoff is 10 a.m. March 27 at Dellinger Park in Cartersville:  The race itself is May 15> Details

-'100 Grand' celebrates 100 years of The Grand Theatre> Details

Dining & Drink

-Spring wine celebration Saturday at Johnny Mitchell's Smokehouse> Dining

-Hilton Garden Inn adds Sunday buffet starting Easter Sunday> Dining

-5th Annual Wine Highway Weekend begins Friday> Wine

What's ahead in Bartow County:

-March 19: Chamber lunch and learn topic--'What Business Owners Need to Know about Commercial Insurance.' 11:30 a.m. The presenter is Steve Molina, ARM, CIC, senior partner of Risk & Insurance Consultants. Complimentary lunch will be provided by C.L. Smith/State Farm.

-March 20: 'Bikers for Babies.' Area bikers will ride Saturday, March 20 to benefit the smallest members of the community.  Sponsored by Cartersville Medical Center's "March for Babies" team for the March of Dimes, registration is $25 per biker and $10 for riders. Registration will begin at The Hope Center in Cartersville at 9 a.m.  Kick stands will go up at 10 a.m. and the race will begin.  The bikers will travel the 50 mile route north on Highway 411, then east on Highway 140, continuing south on Highway 108, then west on Highway 20 to south on I-75 and down Main Street in Cartersville. The final destination for the ride is Dellinger Park, where lunch will be served beginning at 11 a.m.  Paid participants will receive their meal free; others may purchase meals for $5 (adults) and $3 (children). To register or for more information about the event, please contact Ami Bowman at 404.358.2173.

-March 24: The United Way of Bartow County's annual luncheon is at noon Wednesday, March 24, at the Cartersville-Bartow Chamber of Commerce, Anheuser Busch room. The cost is $15 per person. Please RSVP by March 22 to morehouseb@bartowga.org or 770-386-1677.

-March 27: 2010 Women's  Expo returns to Cartersville: The latest Women's Expo is set for Saturday, March 27, at the Cartersville Civic Center, sponsored by Coosa Valley Credit Union along with Georgia Power, Plant Bowen. The line-up: Learn about products and services that will help you look and feel better; examine career choices; sample a "Taste of Bartow;" and try your luck on the door prizes. (Schedule of Events) Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $5 at the door. Advance tickets may be purchased at the Red Cross office, 320 W. Cherokee Ave., Suite 109. Call 770-382-0981. Advance ticket holders will be entered into a special door prize drawing. For more, e-mail karonmauney@comcast.net.

-April 1: Cartersville City Council, 7 p.m. Hear it live on WBHF 1450 AM or Web cast here on Bartow Headlines.

-April 3/Car show set:

Advance Auto Parts presents the Tom Clayton Memorial Car Show in downtown Cartersville from 5-8 p.m., featuring hourly giveaways, People's Choice Award and a DJ on site. $2 admission per classic car. Contact: Cartersville DDA, 770-607-3480.

Your latest forecast:

-Friday: Sunny, with a high near 72. 
-Friday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 40.  
-Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 72.

-Saturday night: 30% chance of showers, low around 49.
-Sunday: 80% chance of showers and thunderstorms; high near 63.

-Sunday night: 40% chance of showers, with a low around 40.

-Extended forecast> Click  / Regional radar

Norman Arey's Sports Roundtable> Arey

-Tebow is a changed man; Obama picks Kansas; good idea losing green jacket at Masters.