Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Freeze warning from 8 p.m. until 10 a.m. Thursday. Rome paper auctioning Calhoun, other property. Downtown celebrates Halloween. Latest jail updates

For these and today's latest headlines, please see www.bartowheadlines.com:
 
Auctions set for Rome News properties in Calhoun, LaFayette and Centre.
-Two are absolute auctions. All set for Nov. 28.
-It is the latest twist in the company's financial troubles.
 
Freeze warning from 8 tonight until 10 a.m. Thursday.

-Halloween: Sunny, high of 62, low of 31. Gusts to 20 mph.

-Thursday: Sunny, high of 62, low of 37.

-Friday: Sunny, high of 69, low of 43.

Hurricane Sandy: Recovery efforts continue.
 
Halloween
-Forecast looks good at 6 p.m. 61 degrees.
 
Dining
-Tuesday's Public Health restaurant inspections: A 56 for South Broad restaurant.
 
Voting
Only three days left to advance vote; elections office and civic center venues close at 5 p.m. Friday.
 
Latest Bartow County Jail report.

Sports: Big day for Double Day baseball team.
Hometown Headlines Radio Edition, WRGA 1470 AM. 7 to 9 a.m. weekdays. Listen live online
-Please join our guests including:

-Ben Wilder of the Georgia Sports Council and the Greater Savannah Sports Council on sports tourism and the potential impact of LakePoint.
-Jim Galloway, the AJC's Political Insider, on the final days of Campaign 2012 and what to watch for in these final hours.

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Applications now being accepted for 2012 Cartersville Exchange Club Christmas Parade

 
(Media Release) The Cartersville Bartow County Exchange Club is excited to announce that applications are now being accepted for entry into the 2012 Cartersville Exchange Club Christmas Parade. The parade will take place on Thursday, December 6, 2012; keeping tradition with the parade being held on the first Thursday of December.

 

Businesses, non-profits, civic clubs, individuals are all encouraged to visit our website CartersvilleExchange.com for information, rules and regulations as well as an application. All applications need to be mailed to P.O Box 970, Cartersville, Georgia 30120.

 

The Exchange Club organizes the Christmas Parade for the benefit of the community and anyone who would like to come out and watch the parade. Exchange Club members would like to remind everyone   to please bring one dollar or your extra change for The Bucket Brigade that leads off the parade and has buckets for you to make your donation.

 

All monies raised from the Parade including registration fees and The Bucket Brigade will be donated to the children's charities of Bartow County including Advocates for Children, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Bartow County, Bartow Christmas Coalition and The Etowah Foundation.

 

New this year to the parade is the Jingle Jog, a short foot race just before the start of the parade. Participants are encouraged to dress in their best holiday costume as they run the 1.4 mile parade route and help get the crowd ready for the main event. For more information on the Jingle Jog as well as the registration form, click on the link on the Exchange Club website or visit the Advocates website at Advochild.org. All participants who complete the jog will receive a long sleeve T-shirt, all proceeds will benefit Advocates for Children.

 

For more information about the 2012 Cartersville Exchange Christmas Parade, call 678.719.2306 and a member of the Exchange Club will return your call to answer any questions you may have.

 

Freeze warning tonight; wind advisory today. Latest on Sandy's aftermath. Local power crews reminded to vote before leaving to help storm victims. John McClellan's high school football picks

For these and today's latest headlines, please click www.bartowheadlines.com:
 
Weather
-Freeze warning tonight through 8 a.m. Wednesday.
-Wind advisory in effect until 8 tonight; gusts to 35 mph.
-Today's high 57; tonight's low, 31.
-Halloween night: Less wind, not as cold.
-Complete weather and continuing updates on Hometown Headlines today.

Hurricane Sandy:
 -Latest updates from The Weather Channel: At least 13 dead; 6.5 million powerless.
-Local Georgia Power crews on the clean-up scene; were reminded to vote early before leaving for extended duty.


Business

-State labor department to help temp firm interview applicants for manufacturer in Chattooga.
-Shaw Turf, a synthetic turf company that's part of Shaw Industries Inc., is moving corporate offices from Kennesaw to Calhoun.
-Thursday ground-breaking set for LakePoint Sporting Community & Town Center.
-Mohawk Industries of Calhoun is buying Pergo, a manufacturer of laminate flooring, for $150 million.
 
Football
John McClellan's Friday night football picks: Unity Christian opens playoff season; other games to set up playoff berths and seedings.
-Cedartown, Calhoun, Cass players in hunt for Player of the Year honors.

Monday's Public Health restaurant inspections scores. Cave Spring restaurant gets a 53 rating.

Latest Bartow County Jail report.
 
Hometown Headlines Radio Edition, WRGA 1470 AM. 7 to 9 a.m. weekdays. Listen live online
-Please join our guests including:
-John Kraft of Georgia Power on local crews being sent to New York and elsewhere to assist with storm recovery.
-U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson on demanding answers in the Libya mission invasion.
-The Rev. Chris Barbieri of Rome First United Methodist Church on Stop Hunger Now volunteers.

Monday, October 29, 2012

Nov. 1 groundbreaking set for LakePoint Sport Community & Town Center

Media release: The groundbreaking ceremony for one of the largest construction projects Georgia has seen in many years will take place on
Thursday, November 1 at 1 p.m. at the LakePoint Sporting Community & Town Center
site at 755 Highway 293 in Emerson, GA 30137.
 
In attendance will be LakePoint
Development partners and Atlanta Braves former manager Bobby Cox and current
manager Fredi González, as well as Kansas City Royals manager Ned Yost and
Georgia Governor Nathan Deal to announce one of the world's largest and most unique
amateur sports complexes. The more than 1,200-acre development is located in
Emerson, Ga., just north of Atlanta. LakePoint will feature state-of-the-art venues for
more than 20 of America's favorite sports, and 5 million square feet of mixed-use
development consisting of commercial, retail and entertainment options.
 
Just last month, Wake Park Atlanta LLC closed on 20 acres to be the future home of Terminus Wake
Park, the largest and most unique cable wakeboard park in North America.
 
"This is the biggest construction project the state has seen in a long while," said Judy
Sparks, Partner and Chief Marketing Officer of LakePoint. "We are going to move
roughly 15 million cubic yards of dirt, a little more than what was moved for the Kia plant
in West Point, Georgia," said Sparks. "LakePoint is positioned to become one of the
state's key attractions when it opens in 2014."
 
But the most important numbers will be the economic impact the park will have on
Georgia jobs. LakePoint's sports complex will produce approximately 2,400 jobs, while
the entire development at full build out is projected to produce up to 26,000 jobs, making
the new development one of the largest employers in the Northwest Georgia Region.
 
"Not only will LakePoint have a positive effect on the economy by creating approximately
26,000 jobs and bringing more than 4 million visitors to Georgia each year, it will also
promote the physical and developmental well-being of youth," said Sparks.
 
The LakePoint Sports Village will features 16 major league sized baseball fields, 14
soccer/lacrosse fields, 16 fast pitch softball and junior baseball fields, a 20 acre wake
park, 2 Miracle League fields, and a 100,000 SF indoor facility for gymnastics, wrestling,
volleyball, basketball, cheerleading and other sports, as well as 5 million square feet of
retail, hotels, restaurants and other amenities. Designed for sustainability, durability and
injury prevention, LakePoint will be the largest installation of synthetic sports surfacing in
the world.
 
LakePoint Sporting Community & Town Center will be home to three major tenants.
Perfect Game, USA, the "gold standard" resource for baseball recruiting for collegiate,
minor and major league scouts. LB3 Lacrosse, one of the nation's premier organizers of
Lacrosse camps, clinics and tournament travel teams, and North Atlanta Soccer
Association (NASA), the largest youth soccer organizations in the Southeast.
 
The privately-funded LakePoint project will see its first pitch, kick and shot in 2014.
Construction will begin mid-winter 2013.
 

Gusts as high as 40 mph possible; low of 33 tonight. Buzz: The election serves as a teaching tool in local schools. Gas prices fall another 13 cents. Cartersville No. 6 in latest AAA poll.

For these and today's latest headlines, please see www.bartowheadlines.com:
 
Cartersville rises to no. 6 in latest AAA poll.
 
Weather
-Winds to 25 mph, gusts to 40 mph today, Tuesday.
-The situation: A one-two punch from Hurricane Sandy and high pressure building south from Canada is fueling high winds and strong gusts across North Georgia. -What to watch for: The wind chill factor.
-Monday: High of 56, low of 33. Gusts to 35-40 mph.
-Tuesday: High of 57, low of 32. Gusts to 35 mph.
-Halloween: Sunny, high of 59, low of 35. Gusts to 20 mph.

Tracking 'Frankenstorm' Sandy: The latest from The Weather Channel. Among the top concerns: growing winds, storm surge.


Continuing updates today on Bartow Headlines.

The Buzz of Northwest Georgia.

-Using election season as a learning tool at local schools: Mock elections are part of a curriculum built around the 2012 election season. Natalie Simms reports.
-More cheap eats: Last week it was quarter Krystals; this week: a free taco.
-Halloween on 'church night.' Wednesday events normally are reserved for church services at many local congregations. This year, some are combining 'trunk or treat' and other events. Also on tap: Downtown Trick-or-Treating in Rome, Cartersville and Cedartown; at Mount Berry and Calhoun Premium outlets; and the final days at ZombieLand.
-Midnight madness a tick past Thanksgiving; Nov. 9 arrival of Santa signal return of Christmas shopping season.

Gas prices
-Add in some discounts and you're paying close to $3.15 a gallon.
-AAA South: Georgians now paying 13 cents less a gallon than we were a week ago; average price three cents higher than late October 2011.

Election

-Advance voting continues today through 5 p.m. Friday.

 

Latest Bartow County Jail report.
 
Hometown Headlines Radio Edition, WRGA 1470 AM. 7 to 9 a.m. weekdays. Listen live online
-Please join our guests Monday including:
-Barbara Beninato, Debra Cook on the Rome Symphony's new season.
-Dr. Brian Carroll, Berry College professor of communication, on Newsweek's dropping print -- and Clark Kent dropping The Daily Planet.

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Cartersville police warn about vehicle break-ins. Community updates. Dining report and restaurant health scores. Job expo set. Cooler weekend ahead.

For more on these and today's latest updates, please see www.bartowheadlines.com:
 
Community:
-Cartersville police warn about vehicle break-ins.
-Downtown Cartersville leader dies.
-Final full day to vote in WSB poll on which game to cover Friday night (Cartersville vs. Adairsville).
 
Election
-'Dirty season' arrives in final days of Campaign 2012 in Floyd.Vile flyer left at community center sparks immediate reaction from leaders with both local parties.
-County Commission Post 2 race (Fricks, Harrell) heats up with Harrell Facebook page focusing on Fricks' unpaid property taxes from 2011.
-Early voting continues.
 
Jobs
-Nov. 1: Georgia Department of Labor and Chattahoochee Technical College will host a Career Expo from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Chattahoochee's North Metro campus 

Dining
-The Water Club Restaurant closes in Cave Spring.
-Magnolia Restaurant cuts lunch hours.
-Another new player in frozen yogurt: Yoli's a hit in Summerville.
-Two Bartow restaurants get unsatisfactory public health restaurant scores: For more, please see the weekly edition of the public health regional restaurant report
-Nov. 4: Rome Fine Wine Festival to benefit the Rome Symphony Orchestra, from 3-6 p.m. at the Forrest Place Ballroom. Wine from around the world and food samples from local restaurants and caterers. 

Latest forecast:
-Weekend chill on the way; 37 Sunday night.
-Thursday: Sunny, high of 79, low of 54.
-Friday: Mostly sunny, high of 79, low of 54.
-Saturday: 20% rain chance, high of 68, low of 44.

Latest Bartow County Jail report.
 
Hometown Headlines Radio Edition, WRGA 1470 AM. 7 to 9 a.m. weekdays. Listen live online 
-Mike Morton of the Rome Tea Party on tonight's forum on the charter schools amendment.
-Charles Smith on the incredible performance by the Rome sixth, seventh and eighth grade football teams this year, especially as the playoffs begin. 
-Dr. John Barge, Georgia's superintendent of schools, on education updates and the school charter amendment.
-Robert Smyth of Coosa Valley Credit Union and Ray Powell of Kroger's new cheese shop on the 2012 Chamber expo.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Cartersville Police Department asks public's help to stem tide of breaking and entering incidents.

Media release: Over the past several weeks, there has been an increased number of breaking and entering into vehicles in the City of Cartersville. Chief Thomas Culpepper stated today that the Police Department is seeking the help of the citizens of Cartersville in this matter.

The Police Department is asking residents to follow these guidelines as a matter of safety precautions:

Do not leave any valuables in your vehicle. This would include items such as cellular phones, computers, tablets, laptops, CD players, calculators, packages, loose change or money, jewelry, and anything else that a thief would consider worth taking. Do not leave guns in vehicles.

Make sure your vehicle is locked. The easier it is to gain entry into a vehicle, the more likely it is that something will be taken. Thieves usually try several vehicles until they find one that is unlocked in order to avoid any noise.

As we approach the Christmas shopping period, keep packages locked inside the trunk if at all possible. Again, do not leave valuables visible in the vehicle while the vehicle is parked.

If you see someone suspicious peering into vehicle windows, call 911. Do not attempt to make contact with the individual. Try to get as accurate a description of the subject as possible. The more information the Police Department receives, the more likely the apprehension if there is a theft.

One particular area of interest is the parking lots of gyms and workout centers. Thieves know that people are more likely to leave valuables in the car rather than take them inside and put them in a locker. If you must leave something in the vehicle, lock it in the trunk if possible, or have it out of sight with the vehicle locked..

Chief Culpepper said, "Working together we will be able to apprehend those responsible. The Department continues to follow all leads that we receive. This matter has become a top priority for everyone in the Department."

Anyone with information concerning these incidents is asked to call the Police Department's Criminal Investigation Division at 770-607-5690.

Cartersville DDA mourns death of Chairman Harry Finchum

Cartersville Downtown Development Authority Mourns Passing of
Harry Finchum, Chairman of the Board of Directors

 

(Media Release) Cartersville Downtown Development Authority is deeply saddened by the death of Harry Finchum, Chairman of the Downtown Development Authority Board of Directors. Mr. Finchum passed away on Tuesday, October 23, 2012.

"On behalf of the Board of Directors, we extend our deepest sympathies to Harry's family and his many friends," said Tara Currier, manager of Cartersville Downtown Development Authority. "Harry was an integral part of the DDA, and many benefitted greatly from his thoughtfulness, integrity and commitment to the community. What has been truly evident during Harry's time as Chairman of the Board was his long-standing connection with the people of Cartersville. He was indeed one of a kind and he will be missed."

Mr. Finchum was appointed to the DDA board in 2005. In 2007, he was elected Chairman and served in this capacity until his death. Having been a merchant in downtown Cartersville, he understood the issues faced by a small, independent retailer and had a strong passion for the economic vitality of the downtown historic area. Mr. Finchum founded Wall Street Cigar, which he ran for a number of years at 10 South Wall Street.

Born in Winchester, Virgina, in 1933, he retired to Cartersville with his wife Peggy after a long, successful career in the paper industry.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time, but will be made available by the Parnick Jennings Funeral Home, 430 Cassville Road in Cartersville, later this week.

GDOL to assist Chattahoochee Tech with career expo in Acworth

(Media Release) The Georgia Department of Labor's Cartersville Career Center
will assist Chattahoochee Technical College with a career expo for veterans
and other job seekers Thursday, Nov. 1, in Acworth. The expo will be held
from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Building 400 on Chattahoochee Tech's North Metro
Campus, located at 5198 Ross Rd.

The expo will feature a number of employers, educational institutions, and
resource agencies that provide assistance to job seekers. The employers will
be hiring or discussing current and future employment opportunities, while
other organizations will provide educational and other resources. Applicants
should bring plenty of resumes and be prepared to fill out company
applications and interview for available job openings. Attendees are
encouraged to dress professionally to improve their opportunities for
employment.

Those expected to participate in the expo include: A-One Staffing, Aaron's,
AFLAC, American Intercontinental University, Assurant, Authorized Service,
Avant Gardener, Axis Teknologies, Belhaven University, Bettis Electric
Company, Brickman Group, Caraustar Industries, Car Max, Carolina Handling,
Child Care Careers, City of Woodstock, CNN/Turner Broadcasting, Compass
Technology, Crete Carrier Corporation/Shaffer Trucking, CTC-C&ED Department,
DeVry University, FCI Talladega, Fox 5-Atlanta, Georgia Power Company
Georgia Department of Public Safety, Georgia State University, Granny
Nannies, Hire Dynamics, Home Depot, IMMCO, Kaiser Permanente, Kauffman Tire,
Kelly Services, Kennesaw State University, Life University, Life Well Lived
Services, Medline Industries, Modern Woodmen of America, Mutual of Omaha,
National University, North Georgia Staffing, Pike Nurseries, Pivotal
Consulting, Race Trac Petroleum, Resurgens Hospitality Group, RGC
Restaurants, Rock Creek Manor, Salem Communications-Atlanta, Shaw
Industries, Six Flags Over Georgia, Southern Company, Southern Polytechnic
State University, Teachers R Us Placement Agency, The Pantry, Traylor
Business Services, U.S. Marines, University of Phoenix, Voice Today, Well
Street Urgent Care, WUPA-TV CW 69, Cable 10, and Wynn Buick GMC.

For more information about the expo, or employers wanting to register,
contact Janice Couch or Jennifer Stephens of the Cartersville Career Center
at (770) 387-3760 or Melissa Day at Chattahoochee Tech at (770) 975-4271.
The e-mail addresses are Janice.couch@gdol.ga.gov,
Jennifer.stephens@gdol.ga.gov, and Melissa.day@ChattahoocheeTech.edu

Rome no. 21 nationally in cities with best potential for restaurant growth; Calhoun also gets a nod. Dining scores. Early voting continues. Santa arrives Nov. 9? High near 80.

For these and today's latest updates, please see www.bartowheadlines.com:
 
Dining
Rome ranks 21st in the nation when it comes to restaurant growth potential:
 A recent survey showed 189 restaurants here averaged more than $1 million in annual sales each. It also shows that local and visiting diners could handle a virtual buffet of new options, too.
-Tuesday's Public health restaurant inspection scores.
 
Business
-Synovus, parent company of Citizens First Bank, posts another quarterly profit and announces goal to repay TARP funds next year.
-Record arrival for Santa? He'll be at the mall starting the evening of Nov. 9.
 
Don't forget to vote in WSB poll on Cartersville vs. Adairsville football game Friday night.
 
Early voting continues in Bartow County for Nov. 6 general election.

Weather
-Wednesday: Sunny, high of 79, low of 51.

-Thursday: Sunny, high of 78, low of 53.

-Friday: Mostly sunny, high of 80, low of 53.


Late-season tropical storm has Florida's southeast coast on alert. 

Latest Bartow County Jail report.
 
Hometown Headlines Radio Edition, WRGA 1470 AM. 7 to 9 a.m. weekdays. Listen live online 
-Please join our guests this including:
-Bill Peterson, athletics director at Shorter, on Thursday's 'championship' night football game for the Hawks at Barron Stadium. -Brian McClellan, Gordon County's IT director, on the new Apple iPad mini and other "toys" 
-Janice Hopkins of the Tony E. Warren MD Harbin Clinic Cancer Center on the Early Bird Cancer Walk.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

CNN poll give Obama final debate edge; local analysis on Hometown Radio. Surge in advance voting. John McClellan's high school picks. Vote in WSB poll: Cartersville vs. Adairsville. Latest restaurant scores. High near 80.

For these and today's latest updates, please see www.bartowheadlines.com:
 
Debate
-CNN poll gives President Obama the edge over GOP challenger Mitt Romney in the final presidential debate.
-Tune in to Hometown Headlines Radio Edition at 8:10 and 8:40 this morning on WRGA 1470 AM for an indepth review of whether it was an Obama or Romney win as we're joined by Wendy Davis of the Floyd County Democratic Party and Layla Shipman of the Floyd County Republican Party. 
 
Vote in WSB's Cartersville vs. Adairsville poll.

Lunch plans Wednesday? 25-cent Krystal burgers on the menu: Those square hamburgers that helped make Krystal famous for the past 80 years are on sale from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Wednesday for 25 cents each (limit six per person or $1.50) at all 350 locations.
-Monday's Public Health restaurant inspection scores for Floyd, Bartow counties. Dining

John McClellan's high school picks for Friday: Coosa-Model, Pepperell-Chattooga look big this Friday; rebound for Rome Wolves. 

Tickets are on sale for the Miss Georgia USA and Miss Georgia Teen USA pageants to be held at Woodland Performing Arts Center in Cartersville on Nov. 16-17. 

Latest forecast:
-Tuesday: Mostly sunny, high of 80, low of 46.
-Wednesday: Sunny, high of 79, low of 48.
-Thursday: Sunny, high of 81, low of 56.

Latest Bartow County Jail report.
 
Hometown Headlines Radio Edition, WRGA 1470 AM. 7 to 9 a.m. weekdays. Listen live online 
-Please join our guests Tuesday including:
-Tim Hensley from Floyd County Schools on the superintendent finalists. 
-Wendy Davis of the Floyd County Democratic Party and Layla Shipman of the Floyd County Republican Party on who won Monday's presidential debate.

Monday, October 22, 2012

USA Pageant tickets now on sale

Photo: Miss Georgia USA Jasmyn Wilkins at her crowning in 2011.

 
Media release: Tickets are on sale now for the Miss Georgia USA® and Miss Georgia Teen USA® pageants to be held at Woodland Performing Arts Center in Cartersville on November 16-17, 2012.  Youth Tickets (ages 13 & under) are half-price for all shows. 
 
The Preliminary Show is Friday, November 16, at 7 PM.  All contestants in both pageants competing in sportswear, evening gown, and swimsuit categories will be presented in this show.  Preliminary Show tickets are $35 each. 
 
The Teen Final Show is set for Saturday, November 17, at 3:30 PM, followed by the Miss Final Show at 8 PM.  Tickets for each Final Show are $40, with youth ages 13 & under admitted half-price. 
 
Call 770-387-1357 to reserve your seats with Visa, MasterCard, or American Express or stop by the Visitor Information Center inside the Clarence Brown Conference Center during office hours Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-5 PM.  Only cash or credit cards accepted. 
 
The pageants hosted by the Cartersville-Bartow County Convention & Visitors Bureau and a host of community sponsors is produced by Greenwood Productions.  Winners crowned will go on to represent Georgia in the 2013 Miss USA® and 2013 Miss Teen USA® pageants.