Thursday's updates: Some Bartow voters could go to the polls four times this summer

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Some Gordon, Bartow residents could be voting four times in four months:

-With state and U.S. House seats to fill, the upcoming special election will bump against some of the "normal" election cycle this spring and summer. Consider:

-Gov. Sonny Perdue has now set May 11 as the election day to fill both the Ninth Congressional District seat in Congress vacated by Nathan Deal and for the District 12 seat in the Georgia House, from which Tom Graves just resigned.

-Part of Gordon County will join North Georgia counties in deciding the congressional seat. Deal resigned to run for the Republican nomination for governor.

-Parts of Gordon and Bartow counties will join with Pickens County to elect a successor to Graves. The Ranger Republican resigned to run for Congress in the special election.

-Up next for both seats: qualifying periods for the candidates. Both are set for next Monday-Wednesday. Voter registration deadline: April 2 (most likely will change).

-Special election/advance voting: Will be scheduled prior to the May 11 vote.

-Special election/runoff: Set for June 8.We'll need it to decide Congress at least.

-Making it all crystal clear: candidate qualifying for the July 20 primary and Nov. 2 general election is April 26-30. This includes legislative, county, federal and statewide offices. It is separate from the special election qualifying.

-The statewide primary is Tuesday, July 20, with advance voting even earlier.

-The primary runoff is Aug. 10.

-The bottom line: Some Gordon and Bartow voters could be voting May 11, June 8, July 20 and Aug. 10--in addition to Nov. 2.

Downtown Cartersville adding First Friday Family Fun Nights this summer: Live music, children's games, contests, give-a-ways, photo booths, balloons, food, T-shirts, outdoor movies on large inflatable screen, special sales and discounts in stores are part of the plan beginning with the May 7 showing of The Blind Side. Upcoming movies include: June 4, Up; July 2, The Tooth Fairy; and Aug. 6, The Wizard of Oz.

Cartersville Medical Center will host a blood drive with Blood Assurance on Wednesday, March 31 from noon to 5 p.m. Volunteer blood donations, not paid blood collections, are the only source of blood products used for patient transfusion. Blood Assurance is the only provider of blood products for Cartersville Medical Center. All donors must be at least 17 years old (16 years old with parental consent), weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health. Visitors at any blood drive during the month of March can register for an earth-friendly gift basket containing household items. All donors will receive a complimentary snack and t-shirt. Blood Assurance also has a new location across from Cartersville Medical Center in the Collins Pointe Plaza. For more information, please contact Sandra Kerr, donor recruiter for Blood Assurance, at 706-235-9853 or visit www.bloodassurance.org.

Darlington's Van Es stepping aside at headmaster's urging> Hometown Headlines

-Twin Facebook pages, with almost 1,000 members, laud longtime middle school leader.

What's ahead in Bartow County:

-March 27: 2010 Women's  Expo returns to Cartersville: The latest Women's Expo is set for Saturday, March 27, at the Cartersville Civic Center, sponsored by Coosa Valley Credit Union along with Georgia Power, Plant Bowen. The line-up: Learn about products and services that will help you look and feel better; examine career choices; sample a "Taste of Bartow;" and try your luck on the door prizes. (Schedule of Events) Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $5 at the door. Advance tickets may be purchased at the Red Cross office, 320 W. Cherokee Ave., Suite 109. Call 770-382-0981. Advance ticket holders will be entered into a special door prize drawing. For more, e-mail karonmauney@comcast.net.

-March 27: 2010 Duck Derby Kickoff is 10 a.m. at Dellinger Park in Cartersville:  The race itself is May 15> Details

-March 27/Bartow GOP meets: The Bartow County Republican Party meets at 9 a.m. at Slope's Barbecue, Tennessee Street. Speakers: Commissioner for Insurance candidate Gerry Purcell; gubernatorial candidate Eric Johnson> Click

Thursday's Buzz

-Senate OK's Smith's 'smash and grab' crackdown: The Georgia Senate unanimously voted in favor of Sen. Preston Smith's legislation> Click

-Maddox interim chair of Highlands' Health Sciences> CH

-April 17-18/Chieftains Museum/Major Ridge Home announces the annual Chieftains Herb and Plant sale. 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. Saturday, 1-3 p.m. Sunday. Expert gardeners will be there to help you select the right plants for your garden.  The sale will be held at the Coosa Valley Fairgrounds, rain or shine.  All proceeds benefit Chieftains Museum.  Chieftains at 706 291-9494 or www.chieftainsmuseum.org

 

Your latest forecast:

-Thursday: 70% chance of storms; high of 65.

-Thursday night: 80% chance of storms, low of 48.

-Friday: 10% chance of showers, high of 61.

-Friday night: Partly cloudy, low of 39.

-Extended forecast> Click  / Regional radar

Norman Arey's Sports Roundtable> Arey

-Cinderella teams are great for the fans but not for the big TV executives.

Sports/Rome Braves/State Mutual Stadium> Sports

-Rome Braves' single-game tickets on sale: Ticket prices remain the same: $10, $8,. $6 and $4. Home opener: April 16 vs. Savannah.> Sports

-Braves announced 2010 promotional schedule.