Monday, April 13, 2009

Monday updates

 
Gusts of 39 mph, some rain sweep NW Georgia

latest Base Reflectivity radar loop from Peachtree City, GA

-Hazardous Weather Outlook: Isolated thunderstorms possible today, tonight
-High Wind Warning: Gusts up to 45 mph  possible through 10 this morning
-Morning update: High winds and some rain continue to dominate the morning weather picture. Scattered power outages are being reported with some limbs and trees down. At the airport: Gusts of 39 mph--tropical storm strength--were clocked between 5 and 6 a.m., and up to 36 mph between 6 and 7 a.m.
-Today: Showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 2pm. High near 69. Southeast wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
-Tonight: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55. Southeast wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
-Tuesday: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 65. West wind between 5 and 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

-Live radar views:  Click The State or The Region

-For more, click WeatherCenter

WeatherCenter/brought to you by Roman Court

The Buzz of Northwest Georgia:

-Star power (Javy Lopez, Danielle Peck) help open Rome Braves season
-Stricklin named president of Northwest Georgia Credit Union

-Restaurant activity picking up in Cartersville

-'09 Rome International  Film Festival puts out call for early entrees

-It's open season on ducks again as Duck Derby nears
-GOP's 11th District convention should draw 2010 candidates
-Call it a 'matinee with a mission' as Seven Hills Fellowship works with the Historic DeSoto Theatre
-Peaks & Valleys: The highs and lows of Northwest Georgia.

Rome Braves drop opening weekend road trip to Charleston. Sunday's score, 2-0. RiverDogs take three of four games. Next for Rome: Home opener vs. Savannah Tuesday night> Sports

-New/Visit the online home of the Rome Braves Fan Club> Fan club

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

-Kentucky basketball hire already paying dividends; Nick Saban is raiding state> Click Arey

Rome Braves updates (click Sports)

-Country star Danielle Peck (left) to sing National Anthem at home opener next Tuesday> RB

-Meet the 2009 Rome Braves

-K-Man's countdown-to-the-home-opener photo> Clock

-First photos of the new season from Mills Fitzner> Click

-Former Braves catcher Javy Lopez to throw first pitch Opening Night.
-Single ticket sales under way at State Mutual Stadium

-New/Visit the online home of the Rome Braves Fan Club> Fan club

Three-Dot Buzz . . . :

Opening night highlights--Javy, new Braves, ballpark changes: The 2009 edition of the Rome Braves open the home season Tuesday night with extra star power. Former Atlanta catcher Javy Lopez will toss the ceremonial first pitch; country singer Danielle Peck will sing the National Anthem and fans will get their first look at changes around State Mutual Stadium. Among them: the rechristened Miller Lite Marina and a new display board above the marina off the third base line. Tickets also are two-for-one this Tuesday and every Tuesday this season> Braves

Restaurant activity heating up in Cartersville: There's talk of a new tenant at the former M'Vorneen's site, 110 S. Museum Drive. The name we hear: The City Cellar & Loft. Appalachian Grill also just came off a remodeling job.

'Duck season' opens in Cartersville:

One of the area's most popular fund-raisers, the Duck Derby sponsored by Advocates for Children, is back in the spotlight this Saturday with the annual Duck Parade in Cartersville. The event begins at 10 a.m. at Friendship Plaza next to the Depot. The groups' goal: Making life better for kids. For more, click www.advochild.org

>Upcoming events include:

-May 15: Duck Derby Concert, Riverside Park, Cartersville

-May 16: Duck Dash 5K, Cartersville Soccer Complex

-May 16: Duck Derby Race and Festival, Riverside Park, Cartersville.

GOP's 11th District convention this Saturday: Floyd, Bartow, Gordon, Chattooga and Polk Republicans will join those from other nearby counties this Saturday for the 11th District Republican Convention at the Dallas Theater, 204 Main St. With the 2010 governor's race drawing a wide field (Cagle, Handel, Oxendine, etc.), look for a few key visitors. District 11

RIFF 2009 gives a shout out for early entries: The Web home of the Rome International Film Festival has a new look for the new year (click www.riff.tv). The festival's Facebook page also features an early call for entries. The 2009 edition of RIFF is set for Sept. 11-12 in downtown Rome.

Stricklin named president of Northwest Georgia Credit Union

(Media release) Northwest Georgia Credit Union's board of directors has named Michelle Stricklin as president and CEO of the credit union. Mrs. Stricklin has served as interim president of Northwest Georgia Credit Union since August, upon the retirement of former president and CEO Cheryl Huffman.

Mrs. Stricklin has worked in multiple areas of the Northwest Georgia Credit Union since 1994. Prior to serving in her current leadership capacity, Mrs. Stricklin most recently served as the director of accounting and human resources. She also sat on various board committees and has been an integral leader in setting credit union policy.

Said board Chairman Robert Young:  "The Northwest Georgia Credit Union board of directors is excited and pleased about the direction that Mrs. Stricklin will take the credit union as its new president and CEO. The board took several months to come to its decision about this position, and this was deliberate. We were intentional about not making a hasty decision because of the magnitude and implications for the future, and also because we felt a great sense of confidence in our interim president. The board attracted and interviewed external candidates, deliberated on the strengths of each, and ultimately agreed that Mrs. Stricklin was the most excellent selection. Northwest Georgia Credit Union has been a safe and strong financial institution in the past, it remains so now, and it will remain so in the future under the leadership of Mrs. Stricklin."

Mrs. Stricklin said, "Northwest Georgia Credit Union is a unique financial institution. We are member-owned and not-for-profit, and our business philosophy is one of simply helping people and teaching solid personal finance practices. I am truly thrilled and humbled to have been selected to lead such a passionate organization that puts people first. I am eager to explore our potential in the days ahead."

'Matinee' with a mission: Seven Hills Fellowship at the DeSoto

By Natalie Simms

natsimms76@gmail.com

Rome's Historic DeSoto Theatre has a tenant in addition to the Rome Little Theatre. For just over a year, the new Seven Hills Fellowship has been holding its Sunday morning church service inside the DeSoto. It's a partnership that has been beneficial to both parties.


"When we first came to Rome, we walked around downtown and looked at buildings where we could meet," says Bryan Pierce, pastor of Seven Hills Fellowship. "At the time, I thought the DeSoto would be great for church."

That point in time was August of 2006 and the church only had two members, Pierce and his wife. They were starting a "plant" church from the Perimeter Church in Duluth.

They began meeting people and holding services in their home until they outgrew their space four months later. Then, they met inside the Rome Civic Ballet building for eight months until they again outgrew that space.

"We then spoke to the board at the DeSoto and began slowly developing a relationship with them," says Pierce, pictured with his family to the right. "At the time, they were trying to raise money for the foyer renovation, so we gave them the money they needed to complete the project in exchange for a year's worth of rent space."

Pierce said they gave approximately $10,000 for the DeSoto to complete the front entry (foyer) renovation. According to Paul Griffin, president of the Historic DeSoto Theatre Foundation and Rome Little Theatre, the DeSoto already had raised some money from the "Reel" Trees fundraiser to pay for the plaster repair to the entryway ceiling, along with funding it received from the Fox Theatre Institute.

"The Fox Theatre Institute was founded to help historic theatres in Georgia to maintain their historic attributes," Griffin says. "There were 350 theatres identified in Georgia, out of which 260 are still around. They then found 15 to be charter members, of which we (DeSoto) were selected."


Griffin said the money from the Fox Theatre Institute was used to pay for the painting in the front entryway.


But as the Seven Hills Fellowship began to use the facility, they noticed that more work was needed.

"There were five rooms upstairs, near the sound booth, that were badly damaged from the leaking roof," Pierce says. "We talked to Paul (Griffin) about using that space for our nursery and children's area. So, we gave them the money to remodel the upstairs."

Pierce says the church gave between $75,000-$80,000 for the upstairs renovation project, which included a total remodel of the five rooms, replacing the heating and air unit, and adding a bathroom.

"In exchange for the contribution, we have worked out an agreement to use the facility through 2013," Pierce says.

Griffin says the DeSoto still has many more areas that need attention and will begin prioritizing a list of those repairs. The board is working on grants to repair the main roof.

As for the future of Seven Hills Fellowship, Pierce says the church is growing and believes the DeSoto can handle its needs for the next several years.

"The main theatre seats 450 people," he said. "Right now, our average attendance is 150. As we continue to grow, we may look at future deals with the theatre for more space in exchange for helping with projects."

The Seven Hills Fellowship meets at 10:15 a.m. on Sundays. Click Web site.

 

PEAKS & VALLEYS: The highs and lows of Northwest Georgia

Peak to Floyd County's bid to put a member on the Rome Downtown Development Authority: County officials want a seat at the DDA table and they're on target, especially since the county is the largest property owner in the downtown zone. Just how that happens is up for debate. It could involve some legislative mumbo jumbo. With the DDA limited to seven seats, the quickest way is for a current board member to step aside--a move that would encourage even more cooperation between city and county governments.

Peak to the Code RED alert system: Talk about a baptism by fire. Floyd County's recent rollout of the Code RED phone alert system is burning up the lines. We received update calls twice on Friday as dawn-and-dusk storms plowed through the region. The service is free and the message is both basic and critical: You're told of extreme weather in the area and to take steps to protect yourself. Short, sweet--and safe. To enroll, click Code RED.

Valley to the likely loss of the red light cameras: We pretty  much agree that we don't like "Big Brother" watching us as we drive. But we also agree that some motorists need extra supervision as they race through the final seconds of an amber light for no apparent reason, dangling a cell phone between chin(s) and shoulder. Some of the stunts we've seen of late--including just driving through the red light if no one is approaching from the cross lanes-- are a prelude to more highway carnage. If the lights aren't paying for themselves, do the easy thing: increase the fines for violators.

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