Monday updates

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Reports: Another Northwest Georgian killed in action

-Just weeks after the death of Sgt. Jeffrey Jordan of Cave Spring comes reports of another Northwest Georgian killed in action in Afghanistan. Official word has yet to come from the military but former employers are saying a Calhoun man has died on duty in Afghanistan. We'll have additional coverage later today.

The Buzz of Northwest Georgia:

-Monday Focus: Town Green under way; much more to come.
-Some pros, cons and prose about the proposal 2009 SPLOST package.
-Economic slump hitting Rome Braves, too; ticket sales down.
-$pecial $ession? Steeplechase splash. Over/under on City Market.

-Peaks & Valleys: Library reading program, Gingrey job retraining; colleges pitch community projects; Canton planning.

Weather:
-Hazardous weather: Potential for thunderstorms today.

-Monday: High of 95, low of 70. 20% chance of rain.

-Tuesday: High of 94, low of 71. 20% chance of rain.

-Extended forecast> Weather
-Latest local Radar / Latest regional Radar

Norman Arey's Sports Roundtable:
-Zook just laughs as he's mentioned as cause of Gators' law problems..

Rome Braves updates: 

-Braves end first half with a thud, lose 6-4 to Augusta.

-Up next: All-Star break through Wednesday; in Augusta Friday, Saturday.
-Braves baseball camp for kids set for June 29-July 1.

-Latest Mills Fitzner game photos> Gallery

Downtown Headlines:
-What's ahead this week in downtown Rome.

What's below:Proposed SPLOST, take one:

Barron Stadium renovation rendering/Mike Page P & C Design Build

 

The pros and cons started the day the idea of a 2009 SPLOST surfaced:

-Pro: 40 percent of the penny sales tax is paid by out-of-towners.

-Con: The economy stinks and people can save a penny per dollar.

-Pro: This isn't an additional penny tax; it is an extension of the current one.

-Con: Where are all the projects funded by the 2006 tax? (Archive & see below)

-Pro: This is a municipal election year (Rome and Cave Spring city posts).

-Con: This is a municipal election year (only thing on the ballot for county voters will be the SPLOST proposal on Nov. 3 which means low turnout).

And we could go on and on. But the new package comes with a critically needed digital communication system that will help first responders communicate, especially in times of crisis. We've seen chemical spills and a fatal tornado in recent years, helping underscore a need for precise communication with modern equipment.

Add to that list an investment into Barron Stadium. At $3.369 million, and $400,000 from Shorter College, Barron would be dressed up to become an even larger sports hub. For one, it would land us the NAIA football tournament for a multiyear contract.  As the first one left $1.5 million in economic impact, we'd realize the return on that investment in two additional years.

The industrial park money is needed as Rome/Floyd County watches surrounding communities rollout massive new potential homes for industry (Highlands 75, Highwoods in Emerson). Think of this as leveling the playing field--a bit.

What did surprise us: the timing of the Berry tennis center announcement. It went public June 17, the day before the SPLOST advisory committee was to make its final list of funding possibilities. With $20 million needed to make the center a reality (Berry College would donate the land), the big question remains: Who pays and how? Can this wait until 2012 for a future SPLOST?

94,590 tickets sold so far this year at State Mutual Stadium

We're at the All-Star break for the South Atlantic League, home of the Rome Braves, and the numbers are disappointing. The Braves, over 32 home games in the first half, drew 94,590 in ticket sales or 2,955 per outing.  The average for 2008 (full season) was 3,243, so the new year is down about 9.7 percent. The economy is being blamed for reduced ticket sales in a number of baseball venues and Northwest Georgia has had a rough few months with layoffs and cutbacks. As for the rest of the season: Time to put on the rally caps with 35 home games to go in 2009.

-One more reason to go: Try the new buffet in Three Rivers Club. For about $10, you get the entree of the day, soup, salad, sides and dessert (lots of desserts). Recent entrees: Shrimp one day, pork chops the next.

Stories in a sentence or two (Twitter news?):

-Can we afford a special session? Just so we have this straight. Talk continues about convening Georgia's legislators for several million dollars--errr, several days--to help with state budget issues. (Click) Let's save a few million and let the administrative side sort through it all. Remember: election year is next year.

-Rome City Market gets another 'exclusive preview' this Friday when the Downtown Development Authority Coffee Break meets there at 8:30 a.m. We hear there's an over/under bet on opening day (even year) given all the delays so far.

-The 2009 Steeplechase got a page with six color photos in the "early summer" edition of Southern Seasons. Big hats got the most play (page 72).

Town Green: Labor Day debut with a lot more to come

 

This rendering shows what to expect as Town Green rises between The Forum and the new Third Avenue Parking Deck along the Oosatanaula.

By Natalie Simms

natsimms76@gmail.com

The long-range goal of developing Rome's urban riverfront is coming one step closer to reality with the construction of the Town Green. The project, which is under way along the Oostanaula River between The Forum and the new Third Avenue parking deck, is just the first phase of the city's master plan for downtown development.

"We have a master plan with a focus on downtown development," said Sammy Rich, Rome's assistant city manager (right). "With the Town Green and the new pedestrian bridge over toward Floyd (Medical Center), we really have a refocus on the river. We want to be like Chattanooga, which has created a successful downtown area along the river … they've had a real economic boom and are a good example."

Rich said the city has worked for the past several years to acquire property along the river. The city currently owns four acres along the West Third Street riverside.

"Rome has a great love affair with water," he says. "This is really a phased approach for our urban riverfront that will take several years to finish."

The next phase after the Town Green completion will be the extension of the green down to the river with a new dock for the Roman Holiday. Development will depend upon money.

"Funding is a challenge," Rich says. "We do have some city capital funds for urban waterfront along with a $950,000 transportation enhancement fund but we project the riverfront development will cost $1.4 million. When the economy picks up, then we will look at development along the river."

Meanwhile, the completion of the Town Green--which was included in the 2006 SPLOST with a budget of $1.69 million -- is on schedule to be completed by Labor Day, just in time for Rome's 175th Anniversary. The Town Green is a joint city and county project with the city funding the project through its SPLOST funds and the county providing the property.

"We've been very fortunate to work so closely with the county on this project," Rich says. "We are still having ongoing discussions about who will be responsible for the maintenance and upkeep between us."

The centerpiece of the area will be an interactive fountain that is designed to look like the river patterns of the city. The design also incorporates green space, spring pedestals, reflecting ponds, sidewalks and berms to represent the city's seven hills.

"There is also a rain garden to filter storm water," Rich says. "Ninety-five percent of the water from the parking deck will be filtered out keeping a lot of pollution from making it to the river."

While the landscape will be irrigated, the water in the fountain will have to be specially treated like water in a swimming pool, says Rich, because kids will be allowed to play in the fountains similar to what happens with Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta..

"We've seen how successful interactive fountains have been to communities like Suwanee and Duluth," he says. "We could potentially have kids come from outside our community to enjoy the fountain."

When all is said and done, one thing is certain: Rome will have a new area to attract visitors to downtown.

"This brings about a new heart to downtown that we have not had," Rich says. "With the new bridge and the Town Green, we have a refocus along the river. Folks will stroll on over to the green after dinner or shopping on Broad Street."

PEAKS & VALLEYS:  The highs and lows of Northwest Georgia

Peak to the Sarah B. Hightower Library System's summer reading program:: Some 4,782 children and teens are involved in this year's "Be Creative at Your Library" reading program at libraries in Floyd and Polk counties. That's almost enough to fill State Mutual Stadium (5,105). This is a wonderful program that keeps kids reading, learning and plugged in throughout the summer. It helps them develop a healthy reading habit and they earn prizes for each two hours read. Those prizes include donated items from area merchants. This is a win-win scenario and one of the best services provided by your public library. (Background)

Peak to the college/community projects:

Last week, we heard about an ambitious plan from Berry College to create a championship tennis venue for all of Northwest Georgia (click). Earlier in the year, Shorter College offered $400,000 -- the amount budgeted for a campus-based all-purpose practice field--to go toward getting artificial turf at Barron Stadium. That helps the Hawks, the Rome Wolves, Peach State and many, many others should Rome/Floyd voters OK the latest SPLOST idea.  Both Berry and Shorter are huge economic engines for the community, and both provide excellent arts, athletics and recreation options for the area. These two proposals show leadership and we hope to see one more blossom soon: a college-community performing arts center.

Peak to U.S. Rep. Phil Gingrey's job retaining events: US. Rep. Phil Gingrey has organized two job retraining workshops, on June 30 at Coosa Valley Technical College and the other July 2 at North Metro Tech. The idea is excellent for these times. As the technical colleges and Georgia Highlands officials will tell you, they're seeing a surge in students looking to expand their job options because of the economy. Great idea.> Click

Valley to the planners of Canton Marketplace: Is it just us or did someone forget to put in needed four-lane highways going east from Sembler's new shopping mecca? It is a huge new investment for that part of the region, the sprawling retail center with plenty of big-box stores, shops and restaurants. But unless you're turning into the center, you're in trouble just about as soon as you exit I-575 to get back on Ga. 20. This should have been handled in the planning phase. Of course, if we had the Northern ARC of another major four-lane connection I-75 and I-85, it wouldn't be a problem. But solving traffic woes is not something Georgia governments understand.