Please click www.bartowheadlines.com:
The Buzz of Northwest Georgia (Buzz)
-Bartow Business Connection is sizzling as group looks to grow into Floyd, Gordon, Polk, Paulding and Cobb counties.
Campaign Watch:
-Preston Smith opening campaign HQ at Riverbend...
-Thursday primary forum gives first look at key local races...
-Newspapers unite for political coverage--or are they circling the wagons?
-Sample ballots already out for July 20 primary...
Three-Dot Buzz . . .:
... Spicy chicken sandwich launch burning up the social media sites--and buzzing into old media, too.
... Rx for our rivers? Medicine dropoff proves to be powerful stuff.
... Fireworks to ignite holiday weekend at State Mutual Stadium.
... Gas: Good news: prices drop. Bad news: Much higher than a year ago.
Your latest forecast:
-Monday: 20% rain chance, high near 88.
-Monday night: 20% chance of showers before 2 a.m. Low, 63.
-Tuesday: 30% chance of showers, thunderstorms after 2 p.m. High of 81.
-Tuesday night: 30% chance of showers before 8 p.m. Low, 60.
-Extended forecast: Click / Regional radar
Now posted: Sample ballots for July 20 primary vote. Click
City of Cartersville Fire and Water Departments to begin testing fire hydrants over the next several weeks. Testing will always take place Monday through Friday and will be completed by noon to allow ample time for any challenges that are encountered. This process should not cause any inconvenience to the public, however, occasionally, testing the hydrants does stir up some sediment in the pipes, causing some minor discoloration. If this occurs, the water is perfectly safe for drinking, but please run your water until it is clear prior to washing any laundry. Details
-Listing of Fire Hydrant Testing Location. List
Sunday's Bartow County Jail intake report. Click
Campaign watch: Offices opening, forums forming for primary
Rome state Sen. Preston Smith's bid to be Georgia's next attorney general has a storefront campaign headquarters at Riverbend Center next to Kroger. For now, some signs on the windows, some chairs and desks are inside the former Hallmark. Look for the big sign to go up Monday night or later this week. A grand opening is set for early June. Smith faces fellow Republicans Sam Olens and Max Woods in the primary July 20; early signs show this will be decided in a runoff. The winner faces Democrats Ken Hodges or Rob Teilhet in the Nov. 3 general election.
Thursday night forum offers first look at primary candidates
-The Floyd County Republican Women are sponsoring a GOP Candidates' Forum Thursday and the headliners are the Senate seat, the House District 14 seat, and one post each on the county commission and school board. The forum is from 7-9 p.m. at the Etowah Senior Citizens Center, Kingston Highway What to watch:
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Senate District 52: Jeff Knight, Barry Loudermilk.
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House District 14: Greg Bowen, Christian Coomer, Shep Helton.
- Floyd County Commission Post 4: Eddie Lumsden, Larry Maxey.
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Floyd County School Board District 1: Teresa Lumsden, Terry Williamson
Election notes:
-Sample ballots for the July 20 primary for Bartow County voters are now posted. Click Bartow ... Here's a twist: the Ninth Congressional District runoff election is June 8, with Ranger Republican Tom Graves and Gainesville dentist Lee Hawkins. The winner is a member of Congress for the rest of the year, replacing Nathan Deal. A day earlier, early voting starts for the July 20 primary --which again pits Graves, Hawkins and others in the Ninth Congressional District. A bit confusing.
Three-dot buzz . . . :
-More free stuff: There's still time to make reservations for a free spicy chicken sandwich at either Rome Chick-Fil-A location--the mall or Shorter Avenue--before sampling begins Memorial Day. Click Here to reserve your time and which location. What's of interest: How The Chick is using social media to promote the giveaway--and even reservations for said sampling (i.e., 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Memorial Day, etc.)
... Rx for local rivers? The final numbers on Redmond Regional's/CRBI's Clean Rivers for Rome Medication operation on Saturday: " 405 1/2 pounds of medications, sharps and needles ... We took back meds dating back to 1988!"
...Speaking of the holiday weekend: the biggest surprise has to be the sudden drop in gas prices. A gallon of unleaded is down more than seven cents a gallon-- a penny a day-- to $2.69 a gallon. Or on the flip side: We were paying $2.28 a gallon a year ago. Notes AAA: " The price of crude oil dropped for the third week amid concerns the financial crisis in Europe will worsen and put a halt on global economic recovery. Crude oil closed Friday at $70.04 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange."
Bartow Business Connection connecting with small businesses in Floyd, Gordon, Polk, Paulding and Cobb the 'old-fashioned way'
Parnick Jennings Jr., left, and Frankie Johnson of Styles Collision Center at May's Bartow Business Connection meeting at Johnny Mitchell's Smokehouse in Euharlee last week. Photo/Johnny Mitchell's Smokehouse Facebook page.
By Natalie Simms
With $1.4 million generated in local business over the past 17 months, the Bartow Business Connection has found success using "the old-fashioned way." And now members are branching out to include small business owners in Floyd, Polk, Gordon, Cobb and Paulding.
"Our goal is to return to the old-fashioned way of doing business where you meet in person, shake hands, introduce yourself and your service," says Parnick Jennings Jr. of Shaw Hankins and co-founder of the Bartow Business Connection. "We're focused on keeping business local, keeping jobs in the community…it's doing business you like to do, there's no magic to it."
Parnick and co-founder Jessica Fleetwood, with Fleetwood Securities, launched the group in January 2009 after a group of small business owners expressed a need for a morning networking meeting.
"That first month we had 125 people and since then, we've averaged 100-200 people per month," Jennings says. "We now alternate our meetings with every other month meeting at a business location in the morning and then the following month meeting at a local restaurant in the evening…it's a great opportunity for our hosting restaurants to gain some new customers."
The Mitchells welcome the business connection to their popular barbecue spot near the Covered Bridge in Euharlee. Photo/Johnny Mitchell's Smokehouse Facebook page.
The group's May meeting was at Johnny Mitchell's Smokehouse in Euharlee drawing it's largest attendance yet with approximately 300 people. After the meeting, Jennings estimates 50 or more stayed for dinner, thus boosting the restaurant's sales.
"I would like all who are in business to stay in business," says Fleetwood. "There's not a lot of money to spend on advertising right now and this is a great way to meet people, get the word out about your business, give out business cards…a lot of people have benefitted."
James Hall, owner of JDH Electric based in Cartersville, has seen his business grow over 25 percent in the last year from his connections through the group.
"For me, a small business owner in Cartersville, I have been able to meet and do business with people that I might not haveotherwise had the opportunity to meet or do business with," he says. "It's definitely helped my business in a great way by being able to make face-to-face connections.
"I'm developing trusting relationships with people that know you and respect you. When someone asks you about a service, you are more likely to refer them to someone you already have a connection to…refer to those you know."
Jeff Osborn, Benefits Manager with Harry Daniel Insurance in Cartersville, says the group has generated some sales leads to help build his business.
"I've got one solid lead already and made some connections with a few others…definitely good getting our name out there," he says. "It is really a good opportunity to network and meet some folks you haven't met before. In today's economy, the biggest objective is helping overcome the shortfalls we're all facing and this is helping build business."
Jennings says another bonus to business owners is that membership is completely free. There are no dues or membership fees. The monthly business host does have to provide refreshments but pays no hosting fee.
"I've had over a half-dozen businesses tell me that if it were not for the Bartow Business Connection, they would not be in business right now," he says. "It's a good multiplier and directly responsible for generating business. We are encouraging folks from Floyd, Polk, Bartow, Paulding and Gordon to come and join us. We don't turn anyone away because we all hope to do business with each other. We are not competitors with any other group…we get along with all the local chambers and groups."
New business owner Mike Murphy says the group has given him a couple of solid business leads for his three-week-old financial/accounting consulting firm.
"This is a terrific opportunity…definitely filling a void in providing a common meeting place for business folks," he says. "I've lived here 13 years, worked in Cartersville four years, and now I'm three weeks into my own venture. This has been a great way to get to local businesses and tell them what I'm doing. I've had a great experience."
Jennings says the group is developing a website but does have an active page on Facebook for more information. Bartow Business Connection
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