Tuesday updates

Click www.hometownheadlines.com

Regional Buzz:

-Highland 75 industrial park gets green light from planners: The massive Highland 75 industrial project has been deemed as being "in the best interest of the region and therefore of the state" by the Coosa Valley Regional Development Center. The designation, made April 15, is key for the project planned on 707 acres north and east of Cartersville. Once finished, it could include 8.4 million square feet of covered industrial space. the property is owned by the Cartersville-Bartow Joint Development Authority, which is working with Technology Parkway/Atlanta. The industrial site is drawing lots of eyes from the development community, especially from other parts of Northwest Georgia.

-Forestar Group, which has plans to develop Town West near Adairsville with 2,550 residences, is scheduled to release first-quarter financial reports on May 6.

-Mohawk falls in latest Fortune 500 list:The annual salute to the nation's best companies shows Calhoun-based Mohawk Industries Inc. at 367 compared to 328 a year ago> Details.

Team Bartow ready for 2009 Steeplechase this Saturday

The economy:

>Key timing for Berry's Business Outlook, Realtors push

The word heard most often regarding the economy these days is "hints." That is, continuing hints of  the bottom having been hit and a slight rebound beginning.

-There are positive signs in the housing market. The state and Greater Rome boards of Realtors are urging would-be buyers to "get off the fence" and commit. They cite 50-yard lows in mortgage rates for qualified buyers, an $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit and overall inventory. Says Graham Dixon of Lambert, Dixon & Tate, president of the Greater Rome board, "for the past 40-years, real estate has delivered the most consistent positive return over any investment."

-But have we hit bottom yet? Answers Wednesday: Another look at the overall economy will be heard Wednesday at Berry College's 2009 Business Outlook Conference, beginning at 11:30 a.m. in the Ford Dining Hall. .Dr. Rajeev Dhawan, associate professor of managerial sciences and director of the Economic Forecasting Center in the Robinson College of Business at Georgia State University, is the main speaker. Dhawan is an expert analyst of regional and state economic forecasts (click Bio). He was among the first to predict any substantial turnaround would occur in mid-2010 ( analysis). Tickets are $30 or $200 for a Lunch begins at 11:30 a.m. and the program at 12:15 p.m. Contact Nancy Johnston at 706-238-5835 or njohnston@berry.edu.

Politics

-Fuel to the Preston Smith/attorney general fire? During straw balloting at this weekend's GOP district conventions, state Sen. Preston Smith, R-Rome, picked up three votes to run for the attorney general's post.  That tied David Ralston while Ed Lindsey picked up 28 votes and Robert Highsmith, one vote, according to Peach Pundit.

Tuesday's Buzz

-Key grant for Berry communication department> Campus

-Purple People Eater, Energizer Bunny  and lots of hot air May 15-17: Tillotson Field near Menlo will again be home of colorful hot air balloons on May 15-17 as part of the Second Annual Northwest Georgia Balloon Festival. John Calvin of Menlo and the Purple People Eater will be there as will the Energizer Bunny balloon.  There are five flights scheduled this year if weather permits.  The first will be Friday around 6 p.m. Other flights are set for 6 a.m. Saturday and Sunday mornings, and 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday nights. There will be a tethered balloon on site doing rides as long as the winds cooperate.  Also, the carnival is back with more rides for adults. Vendors will be on site, too. Music is planned Saturday and Sunday. Click www.nwgballoonfestival.com

WeatherCenter/brought to you by Roman Court

-Wind advisory in effect from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday
-Tuesday: 20% chance of showers, high near 70. Gusts to 25 mph.
-Tuesday night: 20% chance of rain, low of 37.

-Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 73. Gusts to 20 mph.

-Live radar views:  Click The State or The Region

-For more, click WeatherCenter

 

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

-500 home runs doesn't mean what it used to; can Tebow leap small buildings, too? > Arey

Rome Braves' updates

-Rome Braves 3, Augusta GreenJackets 2. Rematch tonight.

-Next four games on the road; home again Saturday.

-Recent game photos courtesy of Mills Fitzner> Click