Friday, July 30, 2010

Latest Bartow police updates. Early voting for runoff begins. Shorter job fair hits at the right time. More weekend heat.

Primary runoff voting begins today: Here's the latest from the Bartow County:

-Friday: Absentee voting, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Bartow County Annex Building, 105 N. Bartow St.

-Advance voting, Aug. 2-6, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., at the Bartow County Annex Building, 105 N. Bartow St., or Cartersville Civic Center, 435 W. Main St.

-Election day, Aug. 10: Precincts open 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.

-On the ballot: There are statewide races for both Democrats and Republicans, including the GOP House 14 runoff (Christian Coomer vs. Shep Helton). Click

-For more, contact the elections office: Click

Employment

Second Shorter Job Fair couldn't come at a better time

-Shorter University is bringing back a regional job fair for a second year, and the timing is critical. Unemployment rates remain in the double digits across Northwest Georgia (June stats) and with plant closings soon in Floyd (Pierre Foods) and Bartow (Mohawk), another 570 people most likely will be out of work.

-The Second Annual Northwest Georgia Shorter University Job Fair will be at The Forum from 1-5 p.m. Sept. 23. Expect around 75 employers who will be accepting applications and resumes. Attendees should be prepared to speak with employers, complete applications and turn in resumes.

-Certified resume writers will be available to give advice on resumes. Computers will be provided by the Georgia Department of Labor for job searching and completing applications. To save time at the entrance door, attendees are encouraged to pre-register and print a free ticket (click here).

-Employers interested in a free booth can register by clicking here.

-Additional details: Rome Career Center at 706-295-6051.

-Federal extended unemployment insurance benefits are now being paid to 90,994 jobless Georgians, says Labor Commissioner Michael  Thurmond. Details

Business

-Bartow chamber's 2010 Business Showcase moves to new Brown Center: With the theme  "Roll Out the Red Carpet for Business in Bartow," the Cartersville-Bartow County Chamber of Commerce's annual business showcase is set for 3-7 p.m. Oct. 28. This year, it moves to the just-about-finished Clarence Brown Conference Center across from the Georgia Highlands' Bartow campus. Early booth registration for members is $250 but rises to $300 after Sept. 4. Booths for prospective members are $400. Details: Chamber

-More Cartersville-Bartow chamber updates. Click

Health

-Latest updates from the Northwest Georgia Regional Cancer Coalition: Report outlines local screenings, upcoming health events. Click

Friday's Buzz

-Latest public health restaurant inspection scores now posted. Click

-Georgia Northwestern announces president's, dean's list. Click

Bartow County Sheriff's Office investigating armed robbery at phone store: According to Sheriff Clark Millsap: Deputies responded to a 911 call of armed robbery at the Metro PCS store at 110 Merchant Square. The call came in several minutes after 5 p.m. and a deputy was on the scene quickly. Witnesses reported two men entered the store armed with a pistol and took cash from the store employee. Investigators are working to determine who the offenders are and if this incident is connected to other recent robberies in the area. No one was injured in this incident and more information will be released as it becomes available.

Friday's Bartow County Jail reports. Click & Click

Sept. 18/Beautiful Backroads Century cycling event returns to Bartow. Details

For advertisers: Fall football package

-Join the Hometown Blitz fall football package. Pick your page and updates, or brand yourself with our Total Blitz package. Details: Advertising   

Your latest forecast:

-Friday: High of 97, low of 69. 20% rain chance. Heat index of 100.

-Saturday: High of 97, low of 72. 30% rain chance. Heat index of 102.

-Sunday: High of 96, low of 72. 30% rain chance.

-ForecastClick  / Regional animated radar

Norman Arey's Sports Roundtable. Arey 

-Which sports team do you hate the most? Which college coaches are over the hill? 

Rome Braves. Click Sports

-Rome Braves hang on to win series opener in Asheville, 7-6.

-Braves play in Asheville tonight-Sunday.

-Mills Fitzner's latest home game photos. (Click)  

Thursday, July 29, 2010

AJC: Divorce papers document Preston Smith affair with staffer. Latest Bartow headlines. More heat on the way

 

AJC report: Preston Smith had affair with staffer, another woman:

-With his Republican runoff for attorney general less than two weeks off, the AJC is reporting that Sen. Preston Smith, R-Rome, had an affair with a Berry College student who worked on his campaign and his Senate staff, as well as with another woman in 2003-04, citing divorce transcripts. The Atlanta paper says copies of the divorce proceedings have been mailed to media outlets in recent days. Smith finished second in the July 20 GOP primary for attorney general and faces first-place vote-getter Sam Olens in the Aug. 10 runoff. AJC

-Statement from the Smith campaign: "As far too many Georgia families will understand, my failed marriage was a complicated and incredibly difficult personal situation that I still live with every day.  Without a doubt, I fell short in my personal life by getting a divorce, and people have the right to make a moral judgment on that if they chose. However, focusing on the personal lives of the candidates allows Sam Olens to get away with the fact that he is former Democrat Party official that doesn't have it in him to stand up and fight against ObamaCare and illegal immigration."

WBHF/Closer look at Renasant Bank's plans for Crescent operations:  Cartersville's AM 1450 AM WBHF is doing a series of updates on changes at the former Crescent Bank & Trust in the wake of last week's closing and assumption by Mississippi's Renasant Bank group. Most employees will be retained and Crescent's former loan operation has been revived, the latest report shows. Crescant had three branches in Bartow County, all of which reopened under the Renasant name. Click WBHF

Rome doesn't make final three in Best Tennis Town (Atlanta, Charleston, Richmond) but gets $2,000 as a top 10 finalist. The $100,000 winner to be announced in September.

Tonight: The City of Cartersville Fire Department is hosting Family Fire Safety Night from 6 until 8 p.m. in the Publix parking lot between Main Street and U.S. 41.  The fire safety house, a fire truck, safety literature and clowns will all be on-site.  Also, smoke detectors will be given away every 15 minutes and fire extinguishers every 30 minutes. 

-Latest fire hydrant test updates. Click list

Tonight: Bartow County Republican Women's Group Meeting, 7 p.m.  Bartow County Republican Party Headquarters, 162 W. Main St., Suite 106. Guest Speaker, Louis DeBroux, vice chairman of communications for the Bartow County Republican Party.

Tonight: Called Bartow County Board of Education meet at 6 p.m. Members will go into a closed meeting to decide personnel issues from what the agenda lists. Details

Wednesday's Bartow County Jail reports. Click

Sept. 18/Beautiful Backroads Century cycling event returns to Bartow. Details

Your latest forecast:

-Thursday: High of 94, low of 72. 50% rain chance. Heat index of 99.

-Friday: High of 97, low of 71. 20% rain chance. Heat index of 100.

-Weekend preview: Even hotter. 99 Saturday and Sunday.

-ForecastClick  / Regional animated radar

Norman Arey's Sports Roundtable. Arey 

-Stock up on your Jockey underwear because it's sure to be a hot commodity soon.

Rome Braves. Click Sports

-The Braves were off Wednesday; play in Asheville starting tonight.

-Mills Fitzner's latest home game photos. (Click)  

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Even hotter temps this weekend. What's ahead in Bartow County

 

Thursday: The City of Cartersville Fire Department is hosting Family Fire Safety Night from 6 until 8 p.m. in the Publix parking lot between Main Street and U.S. 41.  The fire safety house, a fire truck, safety literature and clowns will all be on-site.  Also, smoke detectors will be given away every 15 minutes and fire extinguishers every 30 minutes. 

-Latest fire hydrant test updates. Click list

Regional Buzz:

-Let the speculation begin on what Oswalt will do with Ozzie's Plaza, Rome: Business

-Repair to begin today on fire-damage DeSoto Theatre: Click DeSoto

-Aug. 21/CRBI's annual River Revelry set: The 2010 River Revelry--A Biodiversity Bash is set for 6:30-10:30 p.m. at Heritage Park at the confluence of the Etowah and Oostanaula rivers. The event will feature live music by Red Eye Jedi, beverages compliments of Eagle Rock Distributing and New Belgium Brewing Co., wine from Redwood Creek Wines,  the third annual barbecue battle for the "Best Barbecue in the Basin", the second annual Ducky Derby from Seven Hills Rotary Club, live and silent auctions, the Blue Sky Outfitter Recycled Raft Race and celebrity judges for the barbecue battle. Tickets are $40 each or $35 each for orders of two or more tickets through Aug. 20. All tickets will be $45 at the door. Click

-9/18-19/Saint Mary's School sets Founders' Day Homecoming, Alumni Weekend: Saint Mary's Catholic School turns 65 in September and will celebrate with homecoming/alumni weekend activities Sept. 18-19. It starts at 7 p.m. Saturday with an adult alumni reception for former students. Returning graduates will be able to leave their hand print on our alumni wall. Beginning at 1 p.m. Sunday, a homecoming and alumni picnic for past and present students and families will be held on the school grounds off Seventh Street. Included: Food, music and games. For more information or to RSVP, call the school at (706) 234-4953 or Facebook page

-11-14/Sixth Annual Rome Fine Wine Festival, benefitting the Rome Symphony Orchestra. Planned are more than 100 wines, food from area restaurants and a silent auction. the venue: The Ballrooms at The Forrest Hotel, Broad Street. $50 per person; $60 at the door. RSO

 

Rome  Braves 2010 Season is here!

Your latest forecast:

-Wednesday: High of 93, low of 72.  30% rain chance. Heat index of 100.

-Thursday: High of 93, low of 72.  30% rain chance. Heat index of 100.

-Weekend preview: Even hotter. Upper 90s all weekend.

-ForecastClick  / Regional animated radar

Norman Arey's Sports Roundtable. Arey 

-Hokies are underdogs to Boise; Masoli headed to Ole Miss? No worry for Longhorns.

Rome Braves. Click Sports

-Greenville blanks Rome in game 1, 4-0; Braves bounce back, win 8-1 in game two. 

-The Braves are off Wednesday; play in Asheville Thursday.

-Mills Fitzner's latest home game photos. (Click)  

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Bartow can expect another round of excessive heat, thunderstorms today. Plus: latest political updates

Another round of excessive heat followed by storms

-Expect another round of extreme heat today and more thunderstorms.

-Tuesday: High of 93, low of 71. Rain chance: 60%. Heat index: 102.

-Wednesday: High of 93, low of 72. Rain chance: 50%. Heat index of 99.

-Monday evening's storm dumped 1.24 inches of rain at the Rome airport. Winds clocked at 21 mph, gusts to 35 mph. Nearly 900 homes in Floyd, Polk counties lost power in the storm.

-In Cartersville: Just a trace of rain, gusts to 21 mph.

-ForecastClick  / Regional animated radar

Dining & Drink

-The Greener Burger -- definitely worth the wait: A tasty burger and a much broader menu than most expected is on the table at downtown Rome's newest restaurant. A First Bites review. Click Dining

-Free pizza day is Aug. 19: Stevi B's Second Annual Free Pizza Day is Aug. 19 and while we don't have that rumored store in Rome just yet, the Cartersville shop at the Wal-Mart/Lowe's plaza is taking part. If you're one of the first 100 customers beginning at 6 p.m. New this year: The giveaway will one of Stevi B's surprise specialty pizzas. Click

-Winter wine wonderland: Nine North Georgia wineries will have specials Dec. 3-5 as the second Winter Wine Highway Weekend gets under way. Click

Tuesday's Buzz:

-Aug. 2/Tea Party runoff candidate forum: The Rome/Floyd GA TEA Party 2010 will host a run-off candidate forum and debate state featuring House District 14 Republicans Christian Coomer and Shep Helton, as well as candidates for Georgia Insurance Commissioner, Republicans Phil Hudgens and Maria Sheffield. The runoff is Aug. 10. The forum begins at 6:30 p.m. at In Focus Worship Center, 710 E. First St., and is open to all.

-22% jump in the number of students attending the state's technical colleges has set an annual enrollment record. Click

Latest reports from the Bartow County Jail. Click

-Latest fire hydrant test updates. Click list

Rome  Braves 2010 Season is here!

Norman Arey's Sports Roundtable. Arey 

-Is the ACC trying too hard with its super-ambitious early season match-ups?

Rome Braves. Click Sports

-Braves-Drive postponed by storms; double header tonight beginning at 6 p.m. Teams will play two seven-inning games. 

-The Braves are off Wednesday; play in Asheville Thursday.

-Mills Fitzner's latest home game photos. (Click)  

Monday, July 26, 2010

Crescent Bank takeover hits dubious milestone. More excessive heat in Bartow. Outlets outsmart fumbled sales tax holiday plan.

The Buzz of Northwest Georgia: (Click)

-Outlets take fumbled sales tax holiday and make it better this weekend.

-Georgia Highlands celebrates 40 years, focuses on growing services.

-Downtown Cedartown's Streetscape progressing a brick at a time.

-Crescent Bank failure helps push 2010 total above 100-bank mark.

-Peaks & Valleys: Teresa Lumsden, library's summer reading program.

Your weather -- or is that the misery index?:

-Heat advisory in effect until 8 tonight for Floyd, Polk, metro ATL. Details

-Another tie Sunday. The high hit 100; record first set on July 25, 1934.

-Monday: High of 93, low of 73. Rain chance: 60%. Heat index: 102.

-Tuesday: High of 92, low of 71. Rain chance: 60%. Heat index: 99.

-ForecastClick  / Regional animated radar

-Photo to the right shows the on-field tempature at State Mutual Stadium for Sunday afternoon's game. Photo by Mills Fitzner. More photos.

This week:

-July 30: Bartow Business Connection Fifth Friday Luncheon, Cartersville Country Club, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. (networking at 11 a.m.; lunch at 11:30). $12.50 per person. Facebook

Saturday report from the Bartow County Jail. Click

-Latest fire hydrant test updates. Click list

Bartow County Schools open house set for Aug. 5-6

-Thursday, Aug. 5: Elementary schools, 4 until 6 p.m.. Middle schools: 5-7 p.m. High schools, grades 10-12, 6-8 p.m.

-Friday, Aug. 6: High school freshman open house, 4:30-6 p.m.

-Additional details: County schools' website

Last day to vote on Rome's bid for 'Best Tennis Town' honors:

The United States Tennis Association's search for America's top tennis towns winds up on Monday and local supporters are determined to get Rome -- a top 10 finalist -- into the winner's circle. In addition to the designation, Atlanta,  Charleston and other cities are competing with Rome for the $100,000 grand prize. Second place is worth $50,000; third place, $25,000. The vote started July 16. You can go to www.besttennistown.com to hear Rome's pitch (and others) and then vote. The winner will be announced in September.

Norman Arey's Sports Roundtable. Arey 

-Kiffin is up for Man of the Year in Tennessee; ACC kicks off its season.

  

Rome Braves. Click Sports

-Greenville pounds Rome Braves 8-2.

-Monday at 7 p.m. Greenville at Rome.

-Mills Fitzner's latest home game photos. (Click)  

Outlets take state's fumbled tax holiday idea and makes it better

-You've got to like the entrepreneural spirit with this one. Prime Outlets in Calhoun puts its own spin on the canceled sales tax holiday in Georgia by offering "Better Than Tax Free Sale" this Thursday through Sunday. Participating retailers are offering 10 percent --or more-- off on select products (for the list, click here).

-Why we like this idea:

1) It gives shoppers perhaps an even better take on back-to-school shopping. They'd save seven cents on the dollar with the tax holiday -- canceled this year because of the state's revenue problems -- and makes it larger by offering 10 percent off.

2) It helps keep Georgia shoppers -- and Georgia revenue-- in the state, especially those of us near the Alabama and Tennessee borders. Both of those states are offering tax-free shopping events.

3) The private sector steps up to fix a government blunder. Why state leaders never considered the loss of revenue to bordering states is beyond us. Or is it?

Georgia Highlands: After 40 years and thousands of students, the college has campuses in five cities with dreams to grow larger

Marietta Campus - SPSU

By Natalie Simms

nsimmshh@att.net

After four decades of educating thousands of local college students, Georgia Highlands College has made an imprint that continues to grow and expand in Northwest Georgia.


Since opening its doors in the fall of 1970 as Floyd Junior College, more than 8,000 students have graduated with thousands more gracing its halls before transferring to four-year institutions.

And, as college officials look to the future, strategic plans expect to have 10,000 students enrolled by 2015.


"And if we get funding to build additional buildings, it could be more. We're not planning any new locations but will work on building at current locations and getting students there," says Dr. Randy Pierce, Georgia Highlands president


Highlands has five locations including Rome, Cartersville, Marietta, Douglasville and Paulding County. The Cartersville and Marietta campuses are at full-capacity while growth is being targeted in Floyd, Paulding and Douglasville.


"We took a lot of hits at Paulding and Douglasville when we said we would have to close those campuses if the state forced more budget cuts last year," says Pierce, right. "But that didn't happen. We're doing OK and holding our own. We're continuing to move forward from an enrollment standpoint and increased revenue, so we are strategically positioning ourselves to grow."


Grow is exactly what Highlands has done over the last four decades. The college opened in 1970 with 545 students and, in 2009, served more than 5,200 students.


"In the mid '70s, the Baby Boomers were moving through the system. They were building junior colleges to accommodate the number of students coming through the schools…they wanted to have a two-year college within a 50-mile radius of everyone," says Pierce. "Depending on the population shift, some colleges have continued to grow and become four-year colleges while others continue to grow as commuter institutions where students go to get grades up before transferring to a larger university."


In 40 years, there have been a number of accomplishments including the start of the nursing program in 1976 that has graduated 2,419 students to date, along with the dental hygiene program that started in 1996.


"From my perspective, the decision by the original president (Dr. David McCorkle) to establish satellite campuses in Cartersville and Acworth is one accomplishment," Pierce says. "As well as the quality of our faculty and staff, I hear students all the time say we have the best teachers here. I think that is because we have smaller class sizes here compared to a lot of larger institutions.


"We also have quality programs. In fact, we've had a number of judges, dentists, veterinarians, lawyers and even a local bank president get their start at Georgia Highlands. We can all be proud of what that means to our community because a lot of students stay here to work and raise their families."


Highlands opened the Cartersville campus in 1989 and Acworth in 1990 (at North Metro Technical College, now Chattahoochee Tech). A state-of-the-art campus was built off Ga. 20 in Cartersville in 2005 (pictured above).


"Toward the end of Dr. Lynn Cundiff's (former president) tenure, they were serious about building a Cartersville campus that would take the place of the original Cartersville and Acworth sites," Pierce says. "When I got here, a third of our students were from Cobb County so it didn't make sense to pull out of Cobb. We still have a site there but we moved it to the Southern Polytechnic campus in Marietta."


Highlands has continued to grow and in 2009, opened campuses in Paulding County and Douglasville. A ribbon-cutting is scheduled for Aug. 5 at the newly renovated Douglasville campus at 5901 Steward Parkway, inside a former Cub Foods store.


"The University System of Georgia did a study to look at capacity of how many students there would be by 2018 and where they would be located. The study was complete in 2007 and it showed Paulding and Douglas were underserved," says Pierce. "Georgia Highlands was tapped to try and meet the need in these areas, so that is what we're doing."


As Highlands looks to the future, plans already are under way to build a new student center on the Cartersville campus next summer that would open in 2012. Highlands also is looking into adding intercollegiate athletics.


"We have been looking at ways to create more synergy as an institution, so we hope to add intercollegiate athletics. Our hope is that by 2012, assuming the Board of Regents approves it, we can join the National Junior College Athletic Association as part of the Georgia Conference," he says.


Highlands most likely would start with men's and women's basketball and tennis, and add more sports each year until it has six to eight teams. Other sports would include soccer, baseball and softball.


"The other thing we hope to do at the Floyd Campus and in Bartow is to bring in some four-year programs to Northwest Georgia. We have a lot of non-traditional students who can't travel to Kennesaw and Carrollton, so we are looking to start a limited number of four-year programs. We don't know when; that all depends on the budget," he says.

-Many of the images for this story come from the GHC website.

Three-Dot Buzz . . . :

Rumor control -- original Bella Roma site for sale; restaurant open:

-Eddie Hasko has the original Bella Roma restaurant listed for sale but says it remains in full service. Based in front of Armuchee Village, the restaurant is as popular as ever even after Bella Roma Grill's December opening in front of State Mutual Stadium. Hasko has five months left on the Armuchee store's lease. It will remain open, he says, unless it sells first.

-Sunday hours: Honeybaked Ham at 900 Martha Berry Blvd. is now open Sundays from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. Tip: try the potato salad... Opening Sundays for the after-church crowd in Cartersville in mid-August is Slope's BBQ.

Dubious distinction for Crescent Bank: U.S. failed bank total tops 100.

-Bloomberg and other national media outlets picked up on Friday's seizure of Crescent Bank & Trust of Jasper, which has three offices and more than $150 million in deposits in Bartow County. Bloomberg notes that "U.S. bank failures this year have surpassed a bleak milestone of 100 as regulators shut down banks in Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, Kansas and Minnesota. The five bank seizures announced Friday bring to 101 the failures so far in 2010." Last year's total: 140.

-The Crescent Bank offices were open for business first thing Saturday only now with a new name: Renasant Bank, based in Tupelo, Miss

-This is the second time this year a bank with major assets in Bartow County has failed. Unity National Bank is now part of Bank of the Ozarks.

Brick by brick, Cedartown's streetscape getting closer

Work on the streetscape effect in downtown Cedartown is continuing longer than first thought. The project was to be done last month but workers are still removing old sidewalks and adding the brick effect. The top photo, in front of Bussey's Florist at 302 Main St., shows some of what's being done as does the image to the right from Sterling Holloway Place looking toward Holmes for Him. Below is a sample of how Main Street will look when completed. For more, click City of Cedartown

 

 

Commission on Children, Youth sets late summer fund-raisers: Two key fund-raisers for the Rome-Floyd County Commission on Children and Youth are set:

-Aug. 24/The Third Annual Too Hot to Cook celebration is Tuesday, Aug. 24. Look for a list of participating restaurants soon. The restaurants pledge to give part of their proceeds to the commission.

-Sept. 10/The 16th Annual Swing for Kids Golf Classic, presented by ServiceMaster by Twins, is Friday, Sept. 10, at Stonebridge Golf Club in Rome. Prizes include hole in one, closest to the pin and longest drive. To register or for sponsorship information, click Swing.

PEAKS & VALLEYS: The highs and lows of Northwest Georgia

Peak to Floyd School Board member Teresa Lumsden:

-For more than a decade, Lumsden has helped enhance the largest public school system in our community, serving more than 10,000 students. Working with--and not micro-managing--able professionals such as Kelly Henson and now Lynn Plunkett and their staffs, Lumsden has helped craft a school system that is training all levels of students. As the vote count favored her opponent in Tuesday's primary, Lumsden quickly thanked the staff, faculty, parents and students of the Floyd County school system and congratulated Terry Williamson on his victory. That's another class act by someone who's focus has always been on the classroom. Her term expires in December.

Peak to the children's department of the Sara Hightower Regional Library System: Once again, our regional library system has dazzled thousands of area children with a solid summer of reading and entertainment. The "Make a Splash--Read!" touched kids in Floyd and Polk counties. It kept their minds active in a fun, even rewarding way while they enjoyed the summer as well. The summer reading program is an investment not only in our children's futures but our own as well. Congratulations on another job well done by our library system.  Library.

Valley to the possible public access issues at Barron Stadium:

-A story earlier this month in the Rome News examined possible limited use of the Barron Stadium track once it reopens to the community in December. At issue is protecting the new turf and other additional amenities there. We agree that vandalism is a problem you solve on a proactive basis. But we also urge the parks and rec department to develop a plan that lets the predawn walkers and joggers in. You would be surprise by the number of people pounding the pavement around sunrise. A 6 a.m. until 9 p.m. schedule might serve all interests best: the community and the agency. Believe us, had the public known limited hours were brewing, the SPLOST paying for it all likely would have passed by a much narrower margin--if at all.

Friday, July 23, 2010

Emerson officer arrested. House District 14 candidates in faceoff Saturday. Dangerous weekend heat.

 

Off-duty Emerson officer charged in family violence case: (Media reports) The Bartow County Sheriff's Office  has charged off-duty Emerson Police Officer Coleman Todd Heath with False Report of a Crime and Stalking under the Family Violence Act of Georgia. According to Sheriff Clark Millsap, Bartow County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to 70 Red Top Mountain Circle in response to Coleman Heath reporting that his estranged wife, Keisha Heath, was trespassing and had an order of bond from a previous arrest to stay away from Coleman Heath. Coleman Heath attempted to have Keisha Heath arrested for Aggravated Stalking under the Family Violence Act. However, investigation revealed that Coleman had voluntarily moved out of the residence a few weeks prior to this incident and that Keisha was currently living in the residence with children. Investigators say Coleman returned to the residence wanting to move back in and have Keisha removed stating that the residence was his. Based upon the investigation by the BCSO Family Violence Unit, Coleman was placed under arrest on scene of the incident. He was booked in to the Bartow County Jail for the aforementioned charges and is currently out of jail on a $3,500 bond.

-Thursday report from the Bartow County Jail. Click

Politics

-Saturday: Bartow GOP to feature runoff candidates: 9 a.m., at party headquarters, 162 W. Main St., Suite 106. Speakers: House District 14 runoff candidates Christian Coomer, Shep Helton.

-Saturday: Bartow County Democratic Party will meet for the County Caucus to elect delegates for the state Democratic Convention in August. Meeting at IHOP, 640 E. Main Street, at 4 p.m. Contact J.M. Prince, Chair, with any questions or issues of concern: 770.386.1379 or Cell 404.285.1450.

Business

-Busy summer for Cartersville-Bartow chamber with three grand openings, Facebook page. Please click Chamber

-Synovus Financial Corp., parent company of Citizens First and GB&T, reports a second quarter loss of $242.6 million, Synovus

-SunTrust posts $56 million second quarter lossSunTrust

Aug. 14: The Etowah Jazz Society Big Band will be performing at Gunn Contracting pavillion by the creek from 6 to 9 p.m. BBQ plates will be available. Tickets are on sale at all Bartow County Bank locations or contact Pam Brown 770-655-3853. Proceeds goes to the American Cancer Society.

Bartow County Schools open house set for Aug. 5-6

-Thursday, Aug. 5: Elementary schools, 4 until 6 p.m.. Middle schools: 5-7 p.m. High schools, grades 10-12, 6-8 p.m.

-Friday, Aug. 6: High school freshman open house, 4:30-6 p.m.

-Additional details: County schools' website

Rome  Braves 2010 Season is here!

Your latest forecast:

-Friday: High of 98, low of 72. Rain chance: 20%. Heat index: 104.

-Saturday: High of 98, low of 73. Rain chance: 20%. Heat index: 103.

-Sunday: High of 96, low of 72. Rain chance: 30%.

-Extended forecastClick  / Regional animated radar

Norman Arey's Sports Roundtable. Arey 

-Tiger's misbehavior hasn't cost him that much, at least in dollars.  

Rome Braves. Click Sports

-Legends edge Rome Braves, 3-2. 

-Lexington vs. Rome tonight at 7. Greenville up next.

-Mills Fitzner's latest home game photos. (Click)  

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Cartersville, Bartow see dip in June jobless rate vs. June 09--but rise vs. May 2010. Latest politics. Heat gets dangerous.

 

June's jobless rate: Up from May, down from a year earlier

 

June 2010 Employed

June 2010

Unemployed

June 2010

% jobless

May 2010

% jobless

June 2009 % jobless
Bartow
39,928
5,048
11.2%
10.9%
11.9%
Chattooga
9,026
1,147
11.3%
10.6%
13.0%
Floyd
44,522
5,296
10.6%
10.2%
13.0%
Gordon
21,388
3,074
12.6%
12.4%
13.2%
Polk
18,423
2,168
10.8%
10.2%
10.9%
State
4,202,137
482,758
10.3%
9.8%
10.2%

Source: Georgia Department of Labor. Click

Yet again, another mixed report on local employment.

-On the plus side: the jobless rate dropped in June in our five-county market when compared to June 2009.

-The big negative: The unemployment rate climbed vs. May 2010 reports.

-Also of concern: This caveat was included in the state Labor Department media release: "The U.S Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that Georgia lost more jobs from June 2009 to June 2010 than any other state but California." Ouch.

-What's ahead: Floyd County is about to be hit hard as 350 jobs are lost when Pierre Foods closes next month. Another 230 jobs will leave Bartow County as Mohawk closes the spun yarn plant. And none of that counts nearly 400 jobs at CCH Small Firm Services as the company moves to Kennesaw this month and next.

-More local, state employment stats. Click Business

Politics

Local candidates for statewide office reflect on Tuesday, look to next challenge

-From John Barge, GOP school superintendent candidate, on his win:

Elect John Barge for Superintendent of  Schools"We're very excited that we won the primary and will be representing the Republican party in November. It is very humbling and I'm very grateful for the support around the state and looking forward to becoming the next School Superintendent of Georgia. I absolutely have to start raising some money and I will be hitting the ground running with fund-raisers next week. I will also be keeping up my grassroots efforts… modern technology is wonderful and I will continue to use e-mail and Facebook to reach people. Right now, my campaign is regrouping and planning our strategy to distinguish ourselves from the Democratic opposition." (vs. Democrat Joe Martin)

-Post-primary update from Sen. Preston Smith, in a runoff for the GOP attorney general nomination: "We had a great night and did well considering that we didn't enter the race until late April. We had a lot of momentum statewide and I feel good about the run-off. We've got a lot of momentum and I hope to carry that forward and encourage people to get to polls. We are going to continue to get out to the people and share our message. Really just encourage people to vote because it is even more important now because turnout is usually very low for a run-off." (vs. Sam Olens)

-Gingrey, Graves among first to join Tea Party Caucus: U.S. Rep. Phil Gingrey and U.S. Rep. Tom Graves among Georgians in the group. AJC / Photo

Bartow County's primary runoff ballot for Aug. 10:

In addition to statewide candidates on both sides of the ballot, some Bartow voters will decide:

-House District 14 race: Republicans Christian Coomer vs. Shep Helton. Winner faces Democrat Dan Ledford Nov. 3. Five votes separated Coomer and Helton with the rest going to Greg Bowen. Will a Bowen endorsement help either candidate? Fourteen precincts vote in this one next month, seven in mostly eastern Floyd County and seven in Bartow County. Helton carried Bartow County by 200 votes; Coomer did the same in Floyd.

-July 24: Bartow County Democratic Party will meet for the County Caucus to elect delegates for the state Democratic Convention in August. Meeting at IHOP, 640 E. Main Street, at 4 p.m. Contact J.M. Prince, Chair, with any questions or issues of concern: 770.386.1379 or Cell 404.285.1450.

-July 24: Bartow GOP to feature runoff candidates: 9 a.m., at party headquarters, 162 W. Main St., Suite 106.

Wednesday report from the Bartow County Jail. Click

Aug. 14: The Etowah Jazz Society Big Band will be performing at Gunn Contracting pavillion by the creek from 6 to 9 p.m. BBQ plates will be available. Tickets are on sale at all Bartow County Bank locations or contact Pam Brown 770-655-3853. Proceeds goes to the American Cancer Society.

Bartow County Schools open house set for Aug. 5-6

-Thursday, Aug. 5: Elementary schools, 4 until 6 p.m.. Middle schools: 5-7 p.m. High schools, grades 10-12, 6-8 p.m.

-Friday, Aug. 6: High school freshman open house, 4:30-6 p.m.

-Additional details: County schools' website

Rome  Braves 2010 Season is here!

Your latest forecast:

-Thursday: High of 95, low of 69. Rain chance: 30%. Heat index: 103.

-Friday: High of 99, low of 72. Rain chance: 20%. Heat index: 105.

-Weekend preview:  No relief! Highs in the upper 90s.

-Extended forecastClick  / Regional animated radar

Norman Arey's Sports Roundtable. Arey 

-It's about time for Southern Cal; are we going to see A.J. Green in Bulldog backfield?  

Rome Braves. Click Sports

-Rome rebounds, beats Legends, 9-5.

-Legends vs. Rome tonight at 7.

-Mills Fitzner's latest home game photos. (Click)  

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Cartersville, Bartow County election updates; preview of the runoff

 
What to expect on the Aug. 10 primary runoff ballot:

-House District 14 race: Republicans Christian Coomer vs. Shep Helton. Winner faces Democrat Dan Ledford Nov. 3.

-Governor, Republican ballot: Karen Handel vs. Nathan Deal. Winner faces Democrat Roy Barnes.

-Attorney General, Republican: Sam Olens vs. Sen. Preston Smith, R-Rome. Winner faces Democrat Ken Hodges.

-Secretary of State, Democrat: Gail Buckner vs. Georganna Sinkfield. Winner faces Republican Brian Kemp.

-Insurance Commissioner, Republican: Ralph Hudgens vs. Maria Sheffield. Winner faces Democrat Mary Squires.

-Public Service Commission, Republican: Tim Echols and John Douglas. Winner faces Democrat Keith Moffett

More from Tuesday night:

-Rep. Paul Battles, R-Cartersville, easily wins second term. No Democratic opposition.

-Barry Loudermilk coasts in state Senate 52 primary fight with Jeff Knight; faces Mike Burton in November. Click

-Attorney general: With 97% of the precincts counted, Preston Smith remains in second place in the GOP primary which guarantees a runoff spot Aug. 10 va. Olens.

-School superintendent: John Barge wins GOP nomination, will face Democrat Joe Martin on Nov. 3.

-Democrat Michael  Thurmond to face Johnny Isakson in U.S. Senate race Nov. 3

-Precinct-by-precinct vote in the commission, school board races. Click

-How you voted: Complete results for each precinct. Click

DOT delays 411 Connector rights of way for four-to-six months. Reports the Atlanta Business Chronicle--"Concerns raised by three federal and state agencies have prompted the Georgia Department of Transportation o delay right-of-way acquisition for the U.S. 411 Connector, DOT spokesman David Spear said Tuesday." Click

-We talked to Spear Tuesday afternoon and he cited an acidic soil test and the claims about the historic value of the mine on the projected route as the issues being examined. Those issues should be resolved in a few days to a few weeks, he says.

-The overall delay in rights-of-way purchase should last no more than four to six months, Spear says, adding he expects "rights of way purchases to start this year."

Your latest forecast:

-Wednesday: High of 96, low of 72. Rain chance: 20%

-Thursday: High of 97, low of 71.  Rain chance: 20%. 

-Extended forecastClick  / Regional animated radar

Norman Arey's Sports Roundtable. Arey 

-How much would you pay NOT to live in New Jersey for 17 years?  

Rome Braves. Click Sports

-Lexington takes game one in series with Braves, 3-1

-Legends vs. Rome today at 1 p.m.

-Mills Fitzner's latest home game photos. (Click)  

Georgia High School Football Daily will return Monday, Aug. 2. Details

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Bartow, please vote; precincts open until 7 tonight. Coverage all day here and on WBHF 1450 AM. Plus: Business profile of Chris Mauer, JEM Manufacturing. AYP updates for local schools.

Please click www.bartowheadlines.com:

Precincts open now through 7 p.m. for 2010 primary vote.

-Elections Supervisor Joseph Kirk says 20 percent of Bartow County's eligible voters will take part in the 2010 primary. As of July 1, Bartow had 48,423 registered voters (some after the primary cutoff). Projected turnout: 9,684 people. Some 1,435 absentee/advance ballots were cast.

-Where to find sample ballots, profiles. Click

-Election coverage begins at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday on AM 1450 WBHF, webcast here on Bartow Headlines.

-Reports from the elections office/results: click

Regional candidate profiles:

-Senate District 52: Republicans Barry Loudermilk and Jeff Knight in the July primary; winner faces Democrat Mike Burton in November. Click Senate 52.

-Senate District 31 GOP primary candidates Bill Heath and challenger Pete Bridges. The winner faces Democrat Tracy Bennett in November.  District 31

-District 14: Republicans Greg Bowen, Christian Coomer, Shep Helton in the GOP primary; August runoff likely. Winner faces the victor of the Demmocratic primary, Dan Ledford vs. Jessica Weaver-Stoll. Click House 14 Republican and Democrat

-District 15: Republican primary for Paul Battles and Hayden Collins. No Democratic opposition. Click House 15

Fewer Georgia schools are in Needs Improvement status, according to the initial Adequate Yearly Progress report released today. More than 14% of schools are in 'NI' status this year, compared to 15.4% last year. Report

-Local schools not making AYP: Adairsville High, Middle schools; Cass High, middle schools; Woodland High, middle schools; Cartersville High, Cartersville elementary.

all day.

Hometown Business Profile

Chris Mauer's JEM Manufacturing is brewing success by mixing chemicals, business know-how.

-Clients of the Rome-based chemical products company are MARTA, restaurants, nursing homes, car washes, school systems and hospitals across the nation. And wait until Colorback for pine straw starts to grow. By Michelle Picon.  Click

 

Monday report from the Bartow County Jail. Click

Rome  Braves 2010 Season is here!

Your latest forecast:

-Tuesday: High of 95, 30% chance of rain. Low of 72.

-Wednesday: High of 95, low of 72. Rain chance: 30%

-Extended forecastClick  / Regional animated radar

Norman Arey's Sports Roundtable. Arey 

-His Airness has the final say; you've got to love Tech coach Paul Johnson's approach.  

Rome Braves. Click Sports

-Braves off Monday; open home stand vs. Lexington tonight; 1 p.m. game Wednesday.

-Mills Fitzner's latest home game photos. (Click)  

Monday, July 19, 2010

Bartow Headlines: 5 final points on 2010 primary

 
The Buzz of Northwest Georgia (click

-5 key points on this even of the 2010 primary election.

-List of live radio coverage Tuesday night (Rome, Bartow, Gordon, Polk).

-Key milestones for Tillman Memorial Clocktower 5K Road Race in 2010.

-Peaks & Valleys: Chumbler, Ga. Highlands, 'bull' fighters, voter apathy.

Precincts open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Tuesday:

-Candidate profiles for Northwest Georgia. Politics

-Bartow's sample ballots.

What's ahead in Bartow County.

Your latest forecast:
-Monday: 40% chance of rain, high of 93; low of 71; 20% rain chance.
-Tuesday: High of 94, 20% chance of rain. Low of 71.
-Extended forecastClick  / Regional animated radar

Your latest forecast:

-Monday: 40% chance of rain, high of 93; low of 71; 20% rain chance.

-Tuesday: High of 94, 20% chance of rain. Low of 71.

-Extended forecastClick  / Regional animated radar

Norman Arey's Sports Roundtable. Arey 

-Could Ole Miss persuade William Faulkner to come back as its mascot?

Rome Braves. Click Sports

-Hagerstown takes finale against Rome Braves, 7-2.

-Braves off Monday; open home stand vs. Lexington Tuesday night; 1 p.m. game Wednesday.

-Mills Fitzner's latest home game photos.  (click)  

Five final points on this eve of Primary 2010

1) Why is this primary so important?

-Republican voters in Floyd, Bartow, Gordon and Polk counties will be deciding some key races in the primary because of a lack of opposition in the Nov. 3 election. -Some incumbents even won new terms without opposition. That might not be such a good thing as we saw in the 2008 election and again this year with the investigation of state Rep. Barbara Massey Reece, a Menlo Democrat, regarding election concerns. That is not a presumption of guilt; it is a statement of fact showing a potential issue an opponent could have tapped.

2) The local races to watch are:

-County school board, Teresa Lumsden vs. Terry Williamson. This is a replay of the race 12 years ago only both are now Republicans; Williamson earlier ran as a Democrat.

-County commission, Eddie Lumsden vs. Larry Maxey.  Eddie Lumsden is credited with helping reshape the local Republican Party so if Maxey unseats him, look for more changes within the party.

-House District 14: Mostly the eastern side of Floyd County votes in this one as well as a big chunk of Bartow. With Barry Loudermilk running for Preston Smith's Senate seat, this one is wide open, drawing three Republicans and two Democrats. Look for a runoff on the GOP side.

3) And what about Facebook without faces, thus promoting local races?

-Apparently the e-mail spread quickly, especially among the GOP, to get candidates already on Facebook to switch from using their mug shots and instead adding a campaign signage. It got so heavy the other night that we temporarily deleted any "sign" Facebook from our Hometown Headlines' and personal "friends" lists. A media organization must be viewed as impartial. Having a Facebook page filled with campaign signs violates that. Plus it's a passive form of free advertising. Thanks but no thanks.

4) Be ready to vote again on Aug. 10.

-You can pretty much assume the governor's race will need another round of balloting. And the campaigning will only get nastier.

-Several statewide races will as well, including attorney general. Rome's Preston Smith is in that one.

-Locally, the District 14 House race (Republican side) likely will need a runoff to untangle the Nov. 3 candidate.

5) And the wild cards in all of this?

There are two:

-The tea party movement, both in local and statewide races. We've seen candidates such as Tom Graves, now an "incumbent" congressman running to keep his seat, certainly drink the tea to paraphrase another cliche. This story about the tea party's potential impact on Campaign 2010, in last week's Jacksonville Times-Union, certainly made the rounds. And look what Sarah Palin's blessing has done for the Handel campaign. (Click)

-The incumbency non-issue. All along, we've heard how voters were fed up with "same ol', same ol'." Rubbish. We have two sitting state legislators automatically earning new terms. Two Floyd County commissioners. One Floyd County School Board member. And U.S. Rep. Phil Gingrey.

Primary radio coverage:

-Bartow: WBHF 1450 AM begins election night coverage at 7:30 p.m. with courthouse updates, results and analysis. Hear the webcast at Bartow Headlines.

-Floyd: WRGA 1470 AM will have live coverage. Webcast

-Floyd: WLAQ 1410 AM will have cut-ins during the Braves' game. Webcast.

-Gordon: WEBS 1030 AM plans continuous coverage starting at 7 p.m. Webcast

-Polk: Tune to WGAA 1330 AM. Click

Tillman Clocktower Road Race crosses twin milestones in 2010:

25 years of helping Rome; 5 years of honoring a beloved friend.

This photo from the 2009 Gary Tillman Memorial Clocktower 5K Road Race helps show just how popular the race has become throughout North Georgia. For more images from the 2009 edition, click Rome Runners Club.

 

By Natalie Simms

nsimmshh@att.net

There's a bit of nostalgia with the Aug. 21 running of what has become North Georgia's premiere five-kilometer race and health walk.

This year marks the 25th Anniversary of the Clocktower 5K Road Race, an event that has become vital to our community. It also is the fifth anniversary since it was renamed the Gary Tillman Memorial Clocktower 5K Road Race in memory of the Rome businessman and avid runner who was killed in a small plane crash in December 2005.


"It is the longest, continuing race in our area," says Gail Johnson, race director. "And through the years, it has benefitted several great organizations including the Children's Miracle Network, Three Rivers Swim Club, American Red Cross and now the Exchange Club's Family Resource Center."


The race was started in 1986 by the Rome Jaycees as a fund-raiser for the Clocktower restoration project, hence the name Clocktower Road Race. Jamie Doss was the race director for the first three years.


Running for a cause

"I was an active Rome Jaycee and we were raising money for the first Clocktower restoration," says the veteran city commissioner. "The Rome Jaycees have since faded out here but it was my first exposure to community service. We were a lot of young guys who were not only having fun, but helping a good cause at the same time.


"There was a lot of excitement during the Clocktower renovation and this was one of the key projects for the club," he says. "I believe we raised about $85,000 from selling prints of the Clocktower and other projects we did along with the race to raise money…there was a lot of support for the restoration."


In 1995, the Jaycees approached the Rome Runners Club to assume responsibility of the race. Under its management, the race has blossomed into a premiere race event in North Georgia.


"I give a lot of credit to the Rome Jaycees because the entire club participated and we had lots of help from volunteers," says Doss, right. "The Rome Runners Club has really made it into a great event and puts on a professionally-organized race. It is now the best 5K in North Georgia. Gail and her volunteers do everything first-class. When you do a good job with a race, people will come back and they do…just like the Peachtree Road Race."


Doss says the race course is virtually the same now as it was then with the exception of the starting point.


"We now start on Second Avenue at Barron Stadium but in the first years, we started on the other side of the levee," he says. "And the only reason we don't now is because of the number of participants. We grew so we needed another place because we kept having a bottleneck on the footbridge."


The course starts at Barron Stadium and winds through downtown Rome, passing through the historic Between the Rivers district, down Broad Street, around Myrtle Hill and across the footbridge at Bridgepoint Plaza. The event also includes a two-mile Health Walk that follows a similar route around Clocktower Hill, crossing Broad Street and returning to Barron Stadium via Fifth Avenue.


The Gary Tillman legacy

Doss, an avid runner, has participated in all but two of the events. "Over 25 years, I have never won but I've been runner-up a few times."

The race now has a very emotional tie for Doss since the death of Tillman.

"Gary was a close friend and a former roommate; we shared an apartment before we each got married," he says. "He was one of the first people to mentor me when I first started running in college. He was kind enough to let me tag along with him.


"The race really took a turn for the best when it became a memorial to Gary. He left us at a high point in his life and that first year (when it was renamed), so many came to celebrate Gary's life, including me. It really helped bring a lot of closure."


Aside from the running, the event raises a lot of money for a great cause. For the past five years, the event has benefitted the Family Resource Center for the prevention of child abuse. The center is a non-profit agency providing support and education to families by strengthening parenting and life skills and preventing child abuse and neglect. The center has been serving families in Floyd County since 1991, all at no cost to families.


"We have made over $88,700 over the past five years and we expect to go over $100,000 this year for the Family Resource Center," says Johnson. "Last year, we raised $20,100 and we're on track to exceed that number. I'd like to raise $25,000."


Last year, the resource center helped 557 families, which included 858 adults and 1,240 children. "The center works to provide a safe environment for these families…teaches them to be families," Johnson says.

About the 2010 race

-Organizers expect between 700-750 runners and walkers for this year's event.

-Participants can pre-register by Aug. 14 for $15 for runners and $12 for walkers.

-After Aug. 14, fees go up to $20 for runners and $15 for walkers. All pre-registered runners will receive a T-shirt. To register online go to www.active.com.
-For more information about the race, contact Johnson at
gailj1@bellsouth.net or call 706-346-9348.

-Also: www.romerunnersclub.org or www.exchangeclubfrc.org.

-On Facebook: Click Tillman Clocktower

 

PEAKS & VALLEYS: The highs and lows of Northwest Georgia

Peak to Kay Chumbler: Remember those Larry Munson-voiced Greater Rome Bank radio commercials that mentioned that "Crimson Tide gal"? She's now interim president of Greater Rome Bank. Northwest Georgia is home to a number of good community bankers but few are on the same level as that "Crimson Tide gal."

 

 

Peak to Georgia Highlands College's 40th 'birthday':

You've seen the banners hanging up and down Broad Street in recent days, saluting Georgia Highlands College as it celebrates 40 years of service to our community. The one-time Floyd Junior College has grown to campuses also in Bartow, Cobb, Paulding and Douglas counties in those four decades and serves nearly 5,000 students.

Valley to the marketing behind 'politifacts' and 'bullfighters': While we applaud the increased focus old media (newspapers, television) gives the 2010 election, we ask this question: Since when did the mission change? For decades, the news media has been charged with being the watchdog of government.  So now we have an avalanche of breast-beating for doing the job they should have been doing all along? Talk about bull... fighters.

Valley to the majority of registered voters in Northwest Georgia:

As we enter Primary Day 2010, the predictions from local elections supervisors are bleak: turnout of 20 to 30 percent. We share the dismay of many local voters; this campaign season certainly has had more valleys than peaks. But we, the voters, also have a job to do. We can't change government by spewing on Facebook or forums or in the grocery store parking lots. Make time to vote Tuesday; make a difference.

 
 
 
Five final points on this eve of Primary 2010

1) Why is this primary so important?

-Republican voters in Floyd, Bartow, Gordon and Polk counties will be deciding some key races in the primary because of a lack of opposition in the Nov. 3 election. -Some incumbents even won new terms without opposition. That might not be such a good thing as we saw in the 2008 election and again this year with the investigation of state Rep. Barbara Massey Reece, a Menlo Democrat, regarding election concerns. That is not a presumption of guilt; it is a statement of fact showing a potential issue an opponent could have tapped.

2) The local races to watch are:

-County school board, Teresa Lumsden vs. Terry Williamson. This is a replay of the race 12 years ago only both are now Republicans; Williamson earlier ran as a Democrat.

-County commission, Eddie Lumsden vs. Larry Maxey.  Eddie Lumsden is credited with helping reshape the local Republican Party so if Maxey unseats him, look for more changes within the party.

-House District 14: Mostly the eastern side of Floyd County votes in this one as well as a big chunk of Bartow. With Barry Loudermilk running for Preston Smith's Senate seat, this one is wide open, drawing three Republicans and two Democrats. Look for a runoff on the GOP side.

3) And what about Facebook without faces, thus promoting local races?

-Apparently the e-mail spread quickly, especially among the GOP, to get candidates already on Facebook to switch from using their mug shots and instead adding a campaign signage. It got so heavy the other night that we temporarily deleted any "sign" Facebook from our Hometown Headlines' and personal "friends" lists. A media organization must be viewed as impartial. Having a Facebook page filled with campaign signs violates that. Plus it's a passive form of free advertising. Thanks but no thanks.

4) Be ready to vote again on Aug. 10.

-You can pretty much assume the governor's race will need another round of balloting. And the campaigning will only get nastier.

-Several statewide races will as well, including attorney general. Rome's Preston Smith is in that one.

-Locally, the District 14 House race (Republican side) likely will need a runoff to untangle the Nov. 3 candidate.

5) And the wild cards in all of this?

There are two:

-The tea party movement, both in local and statewide races. We've seen candidates such as Tom Graves, now an "incumbent" congressman running to keep his seat, certainly drink the tea to paraphrase another cliche. This story about the tea party's potential impact on Campaign 2010, in last week's Jacksonville Times-Union, certainly made the rounds. And look what Sarah Palin's blessing has done for the Handel campaign. (Click)

-The incumbency non-issue. All along, we've heard how voters were fed up with "same ol', same ol'." Rubbish. We have two sitting state legislators automatically earning new terms. Two Floyd County commissioners. One Floyd County School Board member. And U.S. Rep. Phil Gingrey.

Primary radio coverage:

-Bartow: WBHF 1450 AM begins election night coverage at 7:30 p.m. with courthouse updates, results and analysis. Hear the webcast at Bartow Headlines.

-Floyd: WRGA 1470 AM will have live coverage. Webcast

-Floyd: WLAQ 1410 AM will have cut-ins during the Braves' game. Webcast.

-Gordon: WEBS 1030 AM plans continuous coverage starting at 7 p.m. Webcast

-Polk: Tune to WGAA 1330 AM. Click

Tillman Clocktower Road Race crosses twin milestones in 2010:

25 years of helping Rome; 5 years of honoring a beloved friend.

This photo from the 2009 Gary Tillman Memorial Clocktower 5K Road Race helps show just how popular the race has become throughout North Georgia. For more images from the 2009 edition, click Rome Runners Club.

 

By Natalie Simms

nsimmshh@att.net

There's a bit of nostalgia with the Aug. 21 running of what has become North Georgia's premiere five-kilometer race and health walk.

This year marks the 25th Anniversary of the Clocktower 5K Road Race, an event that has become vital to our community. It also is the fifth anniversary since it was renamed the Gary Tillman Memorial Clocktower 5K Road Race in memory of the Rome businessman and avid runner who was killed in a small plane crash in December 2005.


"It is the longest, continuing race in our area," says Gail Johnson, race director. "And through the years, it has benefitted several great organizations including the Children's Miracle Network, Three Rivers Swim Club, American Red Cross and now the Exchange Club's Family Resource Center."


The race was started in 1986 by the Rome Jaycees as a fund-raiser for the Clocktower restoration project, hence the name Clocktower Road Race. Jamie Doss was the race director for the first three years.


Running for a cause

"I was an active Rome Jaycee and we were raising money for the first Clocktower restoration," says the veteran city commissioner. "The Rome Jaycees have since faded out here but it was my first exposure to community service. We were a lot of young guys who were not only having fun, but helping a good cause at the same time.


"There was a lot of excitement during the Clocktower renovation and this was one of the key projects for the club," he says. "I believe we raised about $85,000 from selling prints of the Clocktower and other projects we did along with the race to raise money…there was a lot of support for the restoration."


In 1995, the Jaycees approached the Rome Runners Club to assume responsibility of the race. Under its management, the race has blossomed into a premiere race event in North Georgia.


"I give a lot of credit to the Rome Jaycees because the entire club participated and we had lots of help from volunteers," says Doss, right. "The Rome Runners Club has really made it into a great event and puts on a professionally-organized race. It is now the best 5K in North Georgia. Gail and her volunteers do everything first-class. When you do a good job with a race, people will come back and they do…just like the Peachtree Road Race."


Doss says the race course is virtually the same now as it was then with the exception of the starting point.


"We now start on Second Avenue at Barron Stadium but in the first years, we started on the other side of the levee," he says. "And the only reason we don't now is because of the number of participants. We grew so we needed another place because we kept having a bottleneck on the footbridge."


The course starts at Barron Stadium and winds through downtown Rome, passing through the historic Between the Rivers district, down Broad Street, around Myrtle Hill and across the footbridge at Bridgepoint Plaza. The event also includes a two-mile Health Walk that follows a similar route around Clocktower Hill, crossing Broad Street and returning to Barron Stadium via Fifth Avenue.


The Gary Tillman legacy

Doss, an avid runner, has participated in all but two of the events. "Over 25 years, I have never won but I've been runner-up a few times."

The race now has a very emotional tie for Doss since the death of Tillman.

"Gary was a close friend and a former roommate; we shared an apartment before we each got married," he says. "He was one of the first people to mentor me when I first started running in college. He was kind enough to let me tag along with him.


"The race really took a turn for the best when it became a memorial to Gary. He left us at a high point in his life and that first year (when it was renamed), so many came to celebrate Gary's life, including me. It really helped bring a lot of closure."


Aside from the running, the event raises a lot of money for a great cause. For the past five years, the event has benefitted the Family Resource Center for the prevention of child abuse. The center is a non-profit agency providing support and education to families by strengthening parenting and life skills and preventing child abuse and neglect. The center has been serving families in Floyd County since 1991, all at no cost to families.


"We have made over $88,700 over the past five years and we expect to go over $100,000 this year for the Family Resource Center," says Johnson. "Last year, we raised $20,100 and we're on track to exceed that number. I'd like to raise $25,000."


Last year, the resource center helped 557 families, which included 858 adults and 1,240 children. "The center works to provide a safe environment for these families…teaches them to be families," Johnson says.

About the 2010 race

-Organizers expect between 700-750 runners and walkers for this year's event.

-Participants can pre-register by Aug. 14 for $15 for runners and $12 for walkers.

-After Aug. 14, fees go up to $20 for runners and $15 for walkers. All pre-registered runners will receive a T-shirt. To register online go to www.active.com.
-For more information about the race, contact Johnson at
gailj1@bellsouth.net or call 706-346-9348.

-Also: www.romerunnersclub.org or www.exchangeclubfrc.org.

-On Facebook: Click Tillman Clocktower

 

PEAKS & VALLEYS: The highs and lows of Northwest Georgia

Peak to Kay Chumbler: Remember those Larry Munson-voiced Greater Rome Bank radio commercials that mentioned that "Crimson Tide gal"? She's now interim president of Greater Rome Bank. Northwest Georgia is home to a number of good community bankers but few are on the same level as that "Crimson Tide gal."

 

 

Peak to Georgia Highlands College's 40th 'birthday':

You've seen the banners hanging up and down Broad Street in recent days, saluting Georgia Highlands College as it celebrates 40 years of service to our community. The one-time Floyd Junior College has grown to campuses also in Bartow, Cobb, Paulding and Douglas counties in those four decades and serves nearly 5,000 students.

Valley to the marketing behind 'politifacts' and 'bullfighters': While we applaud the increased focus old media (newspapers, television) gives the 2010 election, we ask this question: Since when did the mission change? For decades, the news media has been charged with being the watchdog of government.  So now we have an avalanche of breast-beating for doing the job they should have been doing all along? Talk about bull... fighters.

Valley to the majority of registered voters in Northwest Georgia:

As we enter Primary Day 2010, the predictions from local elections supervisors are bleak: turnout of 20 to 30 percent. We share the dismay of many local voters; this campaign season certainly has had more valleys than peaks. But we, the voters, also have a job to do. We can't change government by spewing on Facebook or forums or in the grocery store parking lots. Make time to vote Tuesday; make a difference.