Cartersville Purple Hurricanes sweep Perry, 4-3 ad 8-2; await winner of rain-delayed Carrollton vs. Columbus: AAA finale set to start Friday (Click)
-Playoff brackets> Click
-Hear every pitch on WBHF 1450 AM or listen to the station's Web cast here on Bartow Headlines.
The Buzz of Northwest Georgia:
-Big welcome sign for summer tourists: Northwest Georgia saw a third-of-a-billion-dollar impact from tourism in 2007, providing 3,800 jobs to boot. With a lean summer ahead, local tourism leaders believe 'staycations' could mean big things for the region.
-Even with economic turbulence, Russell Airport/Towers Field flying high.
-For the foodies: Edible Metro & Mountain provides regional look at food.
-Have you 'friended' a restaurant? 333 on Broad, La Scala among local restaurants putting on a big Facebook push for local diners.
-Also: Daily high school football e-mail blasts, summer camp reminders.
Peaks & Valleys: The highs and lows of Northwest Georgia
-Peak: Redmond EMS and Gordon's Paul Lowe.
-Valley: The excuse-of-the-day gas prices.
-Valley: Hey, vacation 'hosts,' remember the recession?
-Tuesday: 70% rain chance, high of 81.
-Tuesday night: 50% rain chance, low of 67.
-Wednesday: 70% chance of rain, high of 82.
-What's ahead in downtown Rome: Gospel at The Forum; DDA coffee break is Friday.
Norman Arey's Sports Roundtable/brought to you by Riverside Toyota
-It's all-about-me-Notre Dame is at it again; watch out for Wake Forest football--again
-Braves lose third straight; Drive wins, 5-1
-Braves vs. Drive at 7 tonight, 1 p.m. Wednesday
-Latest Mills Fitzner game photos> Gallery
Berry loses NAIA opener, plays again today: No. 1-seed Lubbock Christian posted six runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to break up a 5-5 tie in its 11-5 win over the No. 4-seed Berry baseball team on Monday at the NAIA Avista World Series. The Vikings 46-15 will play Lee today at 2 p.m.> Vikings
Northwest Georgia's tourism industry: $330 million impact, 3,800 jobs: And those are only 2007 numbers. Since then, tourism options in Floyd, Bartow, Gordon, Polk and Chattooga counties have continued to boom thanks to the new Tellus museum, more hotels, the NAIA football championship and other options. This summer, as "staycations" grow, look for even better numbers. For a look at the region's tourism industry, click MillionsEven with economic turbulence, Russell Airport/Towers Field posts profit
The 2008 annual report for Richard B. Russell Regional Airport/Towers Field is out and the overall conclusion is a good one with a profit of $71,962. The highlights:
-86 of the 88 hangars were rented, a 97 percent occupancy rate. Hangar rentals account for 19 percent of the airport's revenue.
-Fuel sales were down (82,289 gallons of aviation gas; 126,140 gallons of jet fuel). More than three-quarters of the airport's revenue comes from fuel sales.
-Overall 'operations'at the airport were 21,862, including a majority of general aviation (small planes) and some corporate jets as well as military operations from nearby bases.
-The opening of Coosa Valley Technical College's new aviation center (earlier story), including the first classes at the airport (curriculum). Click to watch video.
-The third annual air show in September.
-Infrastructure improvements include added services to help support future aviation-related niche industry.
-Talks to bring limited air passenger service to the airport. Wings Air had been in talks to launch Rome-to-Hartsfield service but that bid fizzled. Talks with another potential carrier have been held (Georgia Skies).
-What's ahead: The economy has chilled talks, at least for now, of a major airport development. The question is whether those talks will be renewed as the economy improves.
-The 2008 report: For a look at the three-page PDF, click Airport Report
Edible Metro & Mountains something to sink your teeth into
We weren't too sure what to think of Edible Metro & Mountains when colleague Charles Wilson III sent it our way.
One more for the foodies: Lizcooks.com
Former AJC writer Elizabeth Lee has a great metro Web site and Facebook page dedicated to food and food lovers. One of the current stories that caught our eye: "If the next meal you ate might be your last, what would you choose?" Give it a look by clicking Liz Cooks.
Local restaurants moving into the Facebook frenzy
In recent weeks, it's been interesting to track the development of 333 on Broad via Jay Shell's frequent Facebook updates on the restaurant's page (click). A new addition is La Scala Ristorante Italiano & Bar (click). An almost veteran of Facebook marketing is Slopes BBQ in Cartersville (click).
>Why Facebook? We had an interesting conversation with a colleague on the northeast side of the state the other day who's helping run a viable cross-media business. His take, and ours: Web sites and blogs are the foundation of the Internet but everything is skewing toward Facebook, Twitter and others.
-What's next: Keep watching how this plays out in politics this year and next.
High school football fans: Subscribe to new state daily updates
Georgia High School Football Daily is a new online-only weekday update of key developments on the state's number one sport. For now, it is available for free via e-mail. We're watching for a static Web site or blog. Recent issues have includes chats with Calhoun High Coach Hal Lamb and other coaches. To subscribe: click Football
Summer camps reminder:
School is out for most area students and parents, and camps are filling up fast. One of the top summer freebies, the library's reading program, gets under way today (click details). For a list of long-form camps, click Kids.
Region's $330 million tourism industry expects busy summer
-Museums, landmarks, sports, outdoor options provide 3,800 jobs here
By Natalie Simms
Even in this tough economy, one local industry that has the potential to skyrocket this summer is tourism.
Visitors are vital to our community; in fact, tourism is the second-largest employer in Rome and in the state. And because of the recession, many predict summer vacations will be spent closer to home, something that could mean big dollars for local economies.
"Traditionally, as we begin each new year, January and February are slower months for tourism in Rome," says Linda Smith, Sales and Events Coordinator with the Greater Rome Convention and Visitors Bureau. "However, March, April and May have developed in a positive direction. The tourism office is excited about the meetings and events that are scheduled for the balance of 2009."
While state tourism figures for 2008 will not be available until later this year, figures for 2007 show the importance of tourism to the Northwest Georgia area, especially Floyd and Bartow counties.
According to the Georgia Department of Economic Development's annual study by the Travel Industry Association, tourism is a $124.9 million industry in Bartow and $112.23 million in Floyd. Tourism is not as substantial in surrounding communities but is equally important. Tourism expenditures were $14.03 million in Chattooga, $43.28 million in Gordon and $35.67 million in Polk.
Northwest Georgia's 2007 tourism snapshot
| Overall impact | Tourism expenditures | Tourism-related jobs | Taxes from tourism | |
| Bartow | $124.9 million | $29.96 million | 1,490 | $3.78 million |
| Chattooga | $14.03 million | $2.58 million | 160 | $420,000 |
| Floyd | $112.23 million | $22.79 million | 1,260 | $3.36 million |
| Gordon | $43.28 million | $8.62 million | 500 | $1.3 million |
| Polk | $35.67 million | $8.11 million | 450 | $1.07 million |
Source: Travel Industry Association
"Tourism is important to the economy of every city and state," Smith says. "Outside dollars spent by visitors are vital to the fiscal strength of our community. SPLOST projects, local taxes, jobs and creation of new infrastructure benefit from this money brought into our community."
"Tourism is a significant industry in Bartow County," says Regina Wheeler, Deputy Director for Cartersville-Bartow County Convention & Visitors Bureau. "Lake Allatoona and Red Top Mountain State Park consistently bring millions of visitors each year. Add to that the historical legacy at Etowah Indian Mounds State Historic Site, Barnsley Gardens (a high-rated boutique resort) and the one-quarter of a million square feet of museum exhibit space and you have a very viable tourism product."
Bartow's newest museum, Tellus (Northwest Georgia Science Museum), opened its doors on Jan. 12. Since that time, some 76,000 visitors have passed through its doors.
"Let's assume that these 76,000 were day visitors and not staying overnight," Wheeler says. "According to the Georgia Department of Economic Development studies, each day visitor spends an estimated $47 per day in Georgia. That totals to $3,752,000 new dollars spent in the local tourism economy."
Rome officials say its tourism "menu" has many options that draw people to the city.
(Photo: Rome Braves' catcher Braeden Schlehuber from the team's May 8 win over the Lexington Legends at State Mutual Stadium. Photo by Mills Fitzner. More Braves' photos> click)
Rome hosted the 2008 championship in December with an economic impact of more than $1.5 million. Rome will also be hosting this year's game in December and hopes to get a one-year extension for the 2010 game. This event provides a big boost in visitors in a normally slow time of the year (December).
"Rome's rich heritage attracts visitors to Myrtle Hill Cemetery, Chieftains/Major Ridge Home, Oak Hill (the ancestral home of Martha Berry), Civil War sites and the downtown historic Victorian 'Between the Rivers' district," Smith adds.
But, like most industries across the country, officials have seen some declines. However, with the summer vacation season now in full-swing, visitors could be staying close to home and spending their dollars locally.
"Right now, corporate travel is definitely down, so that impacts venues like Barnsley Gardens Resort," says Wheeler. "The City of Cartersville, Bartow County and City of Adairsville all collect 5 percent tax on each guest room, cottage or campsite rented in the area. Each municipality keeps 60 percent of this money collected to support their budgets. When tourism sees a decline as we have so far in 2009 (down 13 percent), then the local governments also see a decline."
Officials agree there is lots of room to grow our local tourism industry and are working to do just that.
"Ecotourism is our focus for new growth," Smith says. " 'Green Space' abounds in Rome and Floyd County. Opportunities for hiking, biking, canoeing, fishing, bird watching, wildflower excursions, star gazing and environmental education appeal to a huge population of tourists."
Says Bartow's Wheeler: "Bartow County and its municipalities are moving forward with plans to build a new civic/conference center. This will bring in much-needed flexible meeting space and will bring an untapped market to the community since many meetings have been turned away due to availability of meeting space that fits their needs."
Wheeler also notes that two new lodging facilities will be opening this summer, thus showing the vitality of Bartow's tourism industry. The new Hilton Garden Inn (just off I-75 and Main Street) and new Microtel Inn (on U.S. 41) will be open soon.
Also on the way: Even more museum space as Booth Western Art Museum expands in downtown Cartersville. The photo to the right shows work continuing on the 40,000-square-foot expansion. (Photo from Booth site)
For more information about local tourist attractions, visit www.romegeorgia.org or www.notatlanta.org.
PEAKS & VALLEYS: The highs and lows of Northwest Georgia
Peaks to Redmond EMS and Gordon paramedic Paul Lowe: Both Redmond Regional's EMS Service and Paul Lowe, a paramedic with Gordon EMS, took top honors from state colleagues for their respective efforts in 2008. How many communities can say they're home to both the best EMS and top paramedic in the state?
Valley to oil companies, suppliers (yet again): There could be worldwide peace, absolutely no trouble in the tropics, a glut in overall supplies and tempered use of fossil fuel by U.S. and international motorists, and the oil producers would still find a reason to jack up gasoline prices as summer arrives. It is time for some "change you can believe in" when it comes to fuel prices.
Valley to all those beach condo/home renters: At last check, we were in the middle of a nasty recession. To complicate matters, gas prices are starting to "trickle up" to uncomfortable levels. You'd think you'd see a price break at most, or even a "steady-as-she-goes" rental fee at Atlantic and Gulf vacation rentals. Nope. Some are actually charging more, especially for the July 4th weeks. Yup, time for some "staycations" this year.
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