Monday's updates: Busy week ahead in Bartow

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The Buzz of Northwest Georgia: (click here)

-Building, changes continue across Northwest Georgia.

-In Calhoun: McDonald's almost done; Bojangles, too.

-In Rockmart: RaceWay could mean lower prices for region.

-In Rome: New tenant at RiverWalk; downtown changes.

-'10 political season already different with GOP changes, Tea Party, conservative groups.

-More student growth for Georgia Northwestern Technical College but threat of funding cut could lead to tough choices in 2011

-Peaks & Valleys: Relay for Life; Tiger's Nike commercial; baseball's back. 

What's ahead in Bartow County:

-April 12: Bartow County Board of Education, work session, 6 p.m.> Agenda

-April 12: Cartersville Schools Board of Education meeting, 6 p.m.

-April 14: 'Local Government Expo' highlights 'energy to transform: A free lunch and giveaways are part of the program set for 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. by the fountain and in Friendship Plaza. Participating are: the City of Cartersville; Advocates for Children; Georgia Museums Inc.; Keep Bartow Beautiful; and the Cartersville-Bartow Chamber of Commerce.

-April 15: Cartersville City Council, 9 a.m. (new time) Hear it live on WBHF 1450 AM or Web cast here on Bartow Headlines.

-April 19: Bartow County Board of Education, regular meeting, 6 p.m.

Weather: Low 80s, sunny days, no rain this week

-Monday: More sun, more heat. High of 81.

-Monday night: Mostly clear skies, low of 46.

-Tuesday: Another great spring day: sunny and 81.

-Tuesday night: Mostly clear, low off 47.

-Extended forecast> Click  / Regional radar

Norman Arey's Sports Roundtable> Arey

-Are we going to see college football expansion take place before our very eyes?

Rome Braves> Sports

-Braves earn opening series sweep of Kannapolis.

-Monday-Thursday at Greenville.

-First home game: April 16 vs. Savannah.

-Pete Van Wieren to throw ceremonial first pitch April 16.

-Rome Braves' single-game tickets on sale: Ticket prices: $10, $8,. $6 and $4.

-Braves announced 2010 promotional schedule.

Across Northwest Georgia: What's on the way . . .

Photo/Jack Druckenmiller

. . . Rockmart's new RaceWay station could have wider impact: This new gas station and convenience store could have more impact than realized. The station, rising quickly in front of the Wal-mart SuperCenter at U.S. 278 and Ga. 113, could bring more competitive gas prices to Polk County and perhaps Floyd as well. QuikTrip and RaceTrac in Cartersville generally have per-gallon prices anywhere from a nickel to a dime less than what's on sale in Greater Rome (click) Look for the Rockmart opening in coming weeks.

. . . Calhoun's fast-food freeway tuning up: The rebuilt McDonald's on Ga. 53 just before I-75 is zipping along as well. Look for the grand reopening shortly. Also getting a remake--although still open in the process--is the Bojangles a bit more to the west on Ga. 53.

. . . Cartridge World comes to Rome: RiverWalk is about to get a new tenant. Cartridge World, an international franchise-based company that describes itself as "an environmentally sound, economical solution to the growing costs of replacing printer cartridges," is coming to the strip center anchored by Olive Garden and Shane's Rib Shack. Advertising is under way for counter help. The company had a shop in Cartersville off U.S. 41; it closed last year.

. . . Next for Alley/McCrobie's:  Broad Street Station. Yet another restaurant and bar will give it a go at the spot most recently known as McCrobie's. Broad Street Station has signs up for pouring permits with Don Canada listed as the agent. The 325 Broad St. location has been in the headlines repeatedly in recent years, including the McCrobie's/Girls Gone Wild send up last fall to lease holder Doug Pedrick's run-ins with the city over liquor issues during the final days of The Alley. Before that, the site was known as The Firehouse and has been known as a few other spots in the past decade. Photo/Jack Druckenmiller

. . .   And one more tease: We're tracking reports of another business change that popped up over the weekend. More later today.

Political forecast gets a bit cloudy in Floyd County

With candidate qualifying just two weeks away for the July 20 primary, Floyd County's political scene is a little fuzzy.

The Mike Morton-to-Dan Hanks chairman switch among Floyd County Republicans raised some eyebrows last week. Morton remains very active in the Rome/Floyd Tea Party movement and is urging colleagues to join the sponsored bus ride to the Atlanta Tax Day Tea Party at the Capitol on April 15. The event is at 6 p.m. with the bus leaving early afternoon. Cost: $20 plus meal. Details: 706-346-3400.

The Floyd County Conservative Party continues to establish local roots after meeting at Landmark Restaurant this past weekend.

The traditional Republican groups--the month-ending Saturday breakfast group (9 a.m. April 24, Harvest Moon), the Rome Young Republicans (meeting Tuesday, 6:30 p.m., 333 on Broad) and Floyd County Republican Women all remain active.

What we're watching: The possible impact of both the Tea Party movement and the conservative party. Both groups are spinoffs from the more traditional Republican Party.

But don't worry about the local GOP. The party's April 17 rally, taking in both the Ninth and 11th congressional districts, is set for Gordon County with an A-list of Republican guests. Click Details

Ditto on the Floyd County Democratic Party. This past Saturday's gathering was the first public meeting we're aware of in months. The party's Web site, long dormant after a quick refit, is active again and includes details about a June 5 "Day for Democrats" at the civic center (details).

And something else to watch: Rumors continue about a key domino that must fall into place before the end of qualifying week (April 26-May 1) in order for a few more changes to occur.

More student growth for Georgia Northwestern Technical College but threat of funding cut could lead to tough choices in 2011

By Natalie Simms

natsimms76@gmail.com

Enrollment at Georgia Northwestern Technical College  continues to grow as the economy remains stagnant in the region.

Preliminary figures show the school's spring quarter enrollment to be 5,887 students, an increase of 14.8 percent or 759 students over last year's Coosa Valley Technical College and Northwestern Technical College's combined spring enrollment of 5,128 students. School officials noted final numbers will be released later this month.

"The increase in our enrollment is primarily due to two factors," says Dr. Craig McDaniel, president of GNTC. "The first, obviously, is the economy and high unemployment rate. Two-year college enrollments always increase in a down economy. The technical colleges are inexpensive, have a direct relationship to the job market and all programs are two years or less in duration.

"The second factor is the significant increase in the number of high school students who are making Georgia Northwestern their first choice upon graduating high school," says McDaniel. "We have almost tripled that number of the past five years."

To go with the increasing students, GNTC has added a number of full-time and adjunct faculty members to accommodate growth. However, increasing state budget shortfalls have caused the college to tighten its purse-strings.

"We have not reduced any instructional programs but we have reduced a number of administrative positions and services," says McDaniel. "The merger (between Coosa Valley and Northwestern) allowed us to more efficiently operate our four campuses and we continue to seek ways to stretch our dollars. Further cuts to our state funding or the inability of the HOPE program to meet its obligations to the citizens of Georgia could cause us to look at closing programs, shuttering campuses or lay off large numbers of employees."

GNTC's budget was reduced by almost $3 million this fiscal year alone in state dollars but the school did receive federal stimulus funds to offset those cuts. In addition, GNTC staff members have taken eight furlough days over the past 14 months.

"The downside to the stimulus funding is that it goes away in 2012," says McDaniel. "We stand to lose $3 million in the fiscal year that begins July 1, 2011, and without state funds to offset the reduction, we could be faced with substantial reductions in personnel."

PEAKS & VALLEYS: The highs and lows of Northwest Georgia

Peak to the 2010 Floyd County Relay for Life: With pledges of nearly $100,000 and more on the way, the organizers and walkers and survivors and campers and donors should be proud of another great year of putting both people and passion into the fight against cancer. Relay for Life

Valley to Nike and Tiger Woods: Nothing like gravy-training the words of a dead man (Earl Woods) in hopes of revitalizing the ad luster of the dumbest athlete on the planet. Kenan Thompson's latest Tiger parody on last weekend's Saturday Night Live said it all. You can find the Nike parody inside this SNL "Masters" video.

Peak to the return of baseball season:

Photo by Mills Fitzner/Click Archive

From the majors to the minors to the kids stepping up to the plate around Northwest Georgia, it is great to hear the bats swinging and balls flying. That includes former Rome Brave Jason Heyward's dazzling premiere with the big club and the hot start by the Rome team as well (home opener is this Friday at State Mutual Stadium, 7 p.m., vs. Savannah). The above photo, from last Thursday's rainout in Kannapolis, includes, from right, returning catcher Braeden Schlehuber, manager Randy Ingle, hitting coach Bobby Moore and pitching coach Jim Czajkowski.