Feb. 15: 20th anniversary of 'Early Child's a Star' set for Woodland Performing Arts Center

Media release: Advocates for Children is proud to announce the twentieth anniversary of the perennial fundraising favorite, Every Child's A Star.  The stars of tomorrow are busy polishing their acts for the Friday, February 15  7:30 p.m. performance, to be held again this year at the lovely Woodland High School Performing Arts Center. The show promises acts that will appeal to everyone: singers, dancers, a couple of rock groups, an all guys ensemble, gymnastics, jump ropers, and even a self written monologue from our primary category." Prizes are awarded in Primary, Elementary, Middle and High School age groups, to the best group, and to the Overall Winner.  An additional prize goes to the performer who sells the most tickets.

 

The production is truly a community effort, far too large an undertaking for any one person. Miss Avian Brown, Bartow's and Georgia's Distinguished Young Woman (DYW), is the emcee this year.  In addition to the 29 acts, 2012 overall winner Morgan Cornwell will make a special appearance.  All acts are rated G for children of all ages, and each performer raises money by selling at least 10 tickets.  

 

Regina Gilbert is this year's producer, and she has assembled a remarkable team to help her.   The Woodland CATS ensemble is the major partner in the production.  The county School Board, Assistant Principal Dr. Butler, Booster Club Tom Stuart and Drama Director Elissa Marks are all on the team.  The CATS students will perform during the intermission, with songs from their own February show, All Shook.  Businesses helping include Summit Risk Advisors, Renasant Bank, Expedition Church, Lake Point Church band, Bartow's DYW program and Georgia's 4-H Leadership in Action grant. Bartow County 4-H will run concessions.

 

 For twenty years, Every Child has given young performers a chance to shine in the spotlight on the stage.  Even more importantly, each young performer is giving back to the community, "kids helping kids." Programs include Court Appointed Special Advocates, Rainbows, Safe Place, A Better Way Children's Advocacy Center, a new in-home parenting program called Hope in Your Home, First Steps, and of course the Flowering Branch Children's Shelter. All of Advocates' programs are committed to help prevent Child Abuse, or to help those who are already its victims. So even if the performance were not so professional, it's the right thing to do!  Come out and cheer for your favorite family members, friends, neighbors and classmates.

 

2013 also marks the thirtieth anniversary of the founding of Advocates for Children.  Every Child's A Star is just the first event to celebrate this milestone in caring for kids and their families, offering safety, comfort and hope to over 2,600 kids every year.

 

Tickets are $10, and are available from all the performers, at the door, and at www.advochild.org. (Click "Donate Now" and include in the Notes box the name of the ECAS performer who should receive credit for the sale.) 

 

For questions please call Advocates at 770-387-1143.

Freezing rain, sleet forecast for Thursday night, Friday. Isakson challenges Obamacare, Chambliss brings back Fair Tax. Latest business updates.

For these and today's latest headlines, please see www.bartowheadlines.com:

 

Freezing rain, sleet in our forecast Thursday night, Friday

-Another round of wintry weather is due starting Thursday night.

-Wednesday: A bit warmer, high of 49, low of 36. 20% rain chance overnight.
-Thursday: 20% rain chance, high of 46, low of 30. 30% chance of rain, then freezing rain, then freezing rain and sleet.
-Friday: 60% chance of rain and sleet, then freezing rain followed by rain in the afternoon. High of 38, low of 32.

 

From Georgia's U.S. senators
-Johnny Isakson once again co-sponsoring legislation to repeal the individual mandate contained in Obamacare that requires Americans to purchase health insurance or else face a penalty tax. Isakson.
-Sen. Saxby Chambliss to again push Fair Tax: Chambliss will be a guest on today's Hometown Headlines Radio Edition at 7:40 a.m. on WRGA 1470 AM. Listen live

 

Business
-Cabela's finally picks a new southeastern location: Greenville, S.C.
-Synovus reports fourth quarter earnings of nearly $713 million: It is the parent company of Citizens First Bank andGB & T in Calhoun and Cartersville
-Regions: Birmingham-based bank reports fourth-quarter income of $261 million vs. $301 million a year earlier.

 

Latest local college sports updates.

-Click Hometown Sports

 

Latest jail reports.

 

Hometown Headlines Radio Edition, WRGA 1470 AM, 7-9 a.m. weekdays. Listen live online

-Please join our guests including:

-U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss as he prepares to reintroduce his Fair Tax bill.
-Kristi Kent of Rome-Floyd Parks & Rec on spring sports sign-ups beginning.
-Dione Hodge of Georgia Northwestern Technical College's GOAL program on this year's nominees.

Flood threat ends from recent rain; weather service on storm's impact; 70% rain chance Friday. What's ahead in Bartow County today. Latest police, jail reports. Business updates

For these and continuing updates, please see www.bartowheadlines.com:

 

Weather
-Flood warnings end for Coosa, Oostanaula:
-For nearly a week, forecasters were watching the Oostanaula rise above flood stage in Calhoun, Resaca and Tifton. On Monday, the weather service canceled the flood warnings up and down the river as well as the one for the Coosa River.
-Today: Gov. Nathan Deal will present a proclamation designating the week of Feb. 4-8 as Severe Weather Awareness Week
-Weather service update on Jan.14-18 rain and winter weather: This update looks mostly at the rainfall, including more than five inches in Rome, and a much as an inch of rain in Cedartown on Jan. 17.

70% chance of rain on Friday, Friday night
-Tuesday: Cold and sunny, high of 42, low of 23.
-Wednesday: A bit warmer, high of 50, low of 36.
-Thursday: Sunny, high of 54, low of 44.

 

Dining

-Another step closer for new hibachi and sushi spot at Etowah Crossing.

-239 Broad St. back up for sale ($399,000); DandyLyons remains open.

-No Public Health restaurant scores today; holiday Monday.

 

Business

-Late chamber of commerce updates.

-Cartersville brewery not crafting Bud's latest beer.

 

Latest local college sports updates.

-Click Hometown Sports

 

Latest jail reports.

 

Hometown Headlines Radio Edition, WRGA 1470 AM, 7-9 a.m. weekdays. Listen live online

-Please join our guests including:

-Dr. Chad Wagner of Harbin Clinic orthopaedics and sports medicine, on the latest concerns on concussions.

-Rome Braves General Manager Mike Dunn and Atlanta GM Frank Wren on next Monday's Hot Stove Gathering at lunchtime at The Forum.
-Henry Parkman from the Coalition for the Right Road on the group's renewed push to find another route for the 411 Connector.

'New' area code for Bartow, Polk counties now in use. Low of 22 tonight, Tuesday nights. Latest Cartersville police, Bartow jail reports

For these and today's latest headlines, please see www.bartowheadlines.com:

 

The Buzz of Northwest Georgia. Please click Buzz
-Area code 470 makes debut in Bartow, Polk counties.
-Redmond Circle sudden hot spot for more restaurants. Mi Alazan II on the way.
-Where, when to watch today's inaugural events.
-Chamber annual meeting features Synovus chief executive.
-Biscuits, coffee and a new push from the Coalition for the Right Road (411 Connector)

Freedom March, speech, lunch conclude King celebration
-Today's ceremonies in Rome mark the closure of the four-day celebration of the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as organized the MLK Commission of Rome and Northwest Georgia.

Georgia's average gas price down 3 cents a gallon last week, a dime lower than the same time a year ago. Average price: $3.30 a gallon. AAA South

Low of 22 tonight, Tuesday night; snow showers late Friday?
-Monday: Sunny, high of 55, low of 22
-Tuesday: Cold and sunny, high of 42, low of 22.
-Wednesday: A bit warmer, high of 51, low of 33.

Flood warning continues for Lock & Dam area; 24.4 feet and steady
-Flood warning continues along Oostanaula near Calhoun: Rivers
-The Ooostanaula in Rome was at 21.3 feet and falling.

 

Latest local college sports updates.

-Click Hometown Sports

 

Latest jail reports.

 

Hometown Headlines Radio Edition, WRGA 1470 AM, 7-9 a.m. weekdays. Listen live online

-Please join our guests Monday including:

-Leslie Jackson, principal of the Georgia School for the Deaf in Cave Spring.

-Wendy Davis of the Floyd County Democratic Party live from Monday's inaugural events in Washington, D.C.

Feb. 28: Pre-K registration set for Cartersville schools

Feb. 28: Cartersville School System Pre-K program's one-day registration is from 7:30 until 11:30 a.m. and again from 1  until 5 p.m. at  

Cartersville Primary School (In Character Ed Alley) at 315 Etowah Drive. Slots will be filled by a lottery system and your child must be 4 years old on or before Sept. 1.

 

You need to provide 1 COPY of the following items to register your child:

 

A Copy of Your Child's Certified Birth Certificate

A Copy of Your Child's Social Security Card

Proof of Residency ~ Utility bill (City of Cartersville Bill or Georgia Power Bill), or Copy of Lease,

Your Child's Current Immunization Record on Form 3231 (rev. 03-2007)

Your Child's Hearing, Vision & Dental Screening on Form 3300

Proof of any government assistance (ex. Medicaid, Food Stamps, Peach Care)

 

Registration forms may be picked up at the Pre-K Center (323 S. Erwin Street) or Cartersville Primary School (315 Etowah Drive) anytime after February 20, 2013 to be completed ahead of time; however, registration forms may not be returned until the registration day on February 28, 2013 and MUST be returned by the individual completing the application.

Feb. 1: Rotary Club of Etowah Presents Inaugural Laughs and Libations Event

Media release: Rotary Club of Etowah invites the community to join them for an evening filled with merriment! A limited number of tickets are available for Laughs and Libations, a comedy event hosted at Cartersville Country Club on Friday, February 1. Guests may arrive at 7 p.m. for heavy hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar, and comedians will take the stage at 8 p.m. Dessert selections will be offered after the show.

 

Rising talent Ryan Darling will open for headlining comedians Clint Edwards and Ben Thompson. Edwards, a Cartersville resident, is a 2012 winner of the Dogwood Fringe Comedy Competition and performs regularly at the Laughing Skull Lounge in Atlanta. Thompson, a Trion native, travels nationwide for performances. He made recent appearances at The Punchline Comedy Club in Atlanta and The Comedy Catch in Chattanooga.

 

"Rotary Club of Etowah is so excited to present this unique event to our community," says Club President Laura Allgood. "An upbeat, lively evening is the perfect representation of our club membership. We look forward to a few hours of laughter with friends, old and new. "  

 

The inaugural event is generously supported by Compass Financial Partners, Coosa Valley Credit Union, Fleetwood Security and Electronic Services, Management Recruiters of Cartersville, The TC Show, and Wynn Buick GMC. All proceeds from Laughs and Libations will benefit local charities supported by Rotary Club of Etowah, including Advocates for Children, Boys & Girls Club, Boy Scouts, Cartersville Little League, Girl Scouts, Good Neighbor Homeless Shelter, and others.

 

A variety of items, including several vacation home packages, will be available for silent auction bidding. There will also be a raffle drawing for an iPad. The raffle winner does not need to be present to win. Raffle tickets are $5 each and only 300 will be sold. Admission tickets are $30 each and must be purchased in advance of the event. Contact Rick Kollhoff, 678-721-6888, to reserve your seats or purchase raffle tickets.  

NorthSide Bank raises $2million for future growth

(Media Release) - NorthSide Bank announced today that it has successfully broken escrow on its recent private placement of restricted stock by raising in excess of $2 million to support the bank's future growth. It took the bank two months to raise the capital needed and as of December 31, 2012, the secondary capital raise brings the bank's total risk-based capital ratio to 8.27% and Tier 1 leverage ratio to 5.10%.  Both percentages are above the thresholds considered adequately capitalized by banking regulators.

 

NorthSide Bank is one of only two remaining community banks in Bartow Co. and the bank has not received any government assistance.  The bank was ranked 16^th out of 114 in the state of Georgia for Small Business Administration 7(a) loans granted through September 2012. 

 

"It says a lot about NorthSide Bank that we were able to raise this capital. People are still investing, and we are holding the offering open for a while longer," said Bobby Cox, chairman of the board for NorthSide Bank.  "It also says a lot about the people in Bartow and Gordon counties who want to see a healthy community bank based where they live. We have been profitable each month for more than a year now, and we turned this bank around without taking any government money."

 

Investing in a local community bank is an investment in the community it serves. According to FDIC data, smaller community banks have 54% of the nation's small business loans while the nation's largest banks have only 27% of the small business loans. NorthSide Bank is using the capital it raised to continue to help small businesses grow, create jobs and fuel economic growth in the communities it serves.  The bank is also planning to add new local directors to its board.    

 

"A successful equity raise is quite an accomplishment in the community banking arena today. To do so reflects great effort on the part of the directors and executives of the bank to demonstrate positive and continued growth for the existing and potential new shareholders," said Carolyn Brown, president and CEO of Community Bankers Association of Georgia.

 

Although the bank has achieved more than the minimum requirements to break escrow, the private placement offering remains open until March 31, 2013, or until the offering is fully subscribed. The bank is optimistic about raising even more growth capital before the offering officially closes.