The Buzz of Northwest Georgia (Buzz)
-Primary nears T-minus two-month mark: they key races to watch.
-Partridge adds breakfast ($4.95 special includes coffee) starting today.
-Not-so-Extreme Makeover, Wal-Mart edition: West Rome store done; ribbon cutting on updated Cartersville store; East Rome done by July?
-Big weekend, week ahead for Berry alums.
This week's Focus: (Focus)
-More than 2,000 high school students in the four-county area are graduating this month. Given the recession and tight economy, most are choosing college while some will jump straight to the work while others join the military. Natalie Simms reports.
Your latest forecast:
-Monday: 50% rain chance, quarter-inch of rain possible, high of 82.
-Monday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59.
-Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 80.
-Tuesday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 55.
-Extended forecast> Click / Regional radar
Norman Arey's Sports Roundtable> Arey
-The Florida State brass admits having discussed ditching the ACC for the SEC.
Rome Braves> Sports
-Braves' game suspended because of rain. Rome vs. Riverdogs resumes at 6 p.m. Monday followed by a second game.
-Mills Fitzner's latest game photos> Click
Dining & Drink> Click
-Latest public health restaurant inspection scores
-What's new at local restaurants and what's on the way.
Wine News Vine> Click
-Two wine fests set for Dahlonega on first weekend of June.
This week's focus:
As 2,000-plus local students graduate high school amid one of the worst recessions on record, what is their next step? College tops the list but others are going straight into the work force or joining the military. Click Focus.
Campaign Watch: Signs up; lots of new 'friends' on Facebook
The intersection of Turner McCall and First Street in Rome is seeing more signs each day. The primary candidates aren't wasting any time with the election barely two months off.
-With the primary July 20 (and advance voting even earlier), we're seeing more and more "signs" of the primary races around town. The Larry Maxey signage is dominant with Nathan Deal and John Oxendine signs now at key intersections. We've seen one "Preston Smith for Attorney General" car sign (Jeep actually) so far. While things were a bit quiet after candidate qualifying, the traditional campaign "urgency" is hitting earlier this season.
-Plus, Facebook users are seeing more and more invitations to follow some local candidates. Social media is going to be a huge player in the 2010 races.
-The hottest races to watch in the July 20 primary:
-Senate District 31: Bill Heath, R-Bremen, vs Pete Bridges in July GOP primary; winner faces Democrat Tracy Bennett in November. (Bartow, Polk)
-Senate District 52: Republicans Barry Loudermilk and Jeff Knight in the July primary; winner faces Democrat Mike Burton in November.
-District 14: Republicans Greg Bowen, Christian Coomer, Shep Helton in the GOP primary; August runoff likely. Winner faces the victor of the Democratic primary, Don Ledford vs. Jessica Weaver-Stoll.
-District 15: Republican primary for Paul Battles and Hayden Collins.
-Post 4: Floyd County Commission Post 4 incumbent Eddie Lumsden and challenger Larry Maxey in the GOP primary July 20. The winner faces Rick Garrett, a Democrat, on Nov. 3.
-Floyd County Board of Education, District 1: Incumbent Teresa Lumsden and Terry Williamson in the Republican primary July 20.
Three-Dot Buzz . . . :
-Partridge adds breakfast starting today: Andre Rodriguez' enhancements at The Partridge Restaurant, 330 Broad St., are ahead of target. Breakfast is being served Monday-Saturday from 7 until 11 a.m. starting today. For $4.95, you get a country breakfast featuring two eggs any style; bacon, sausage or ham; hash browns or grit; toast and coffee (or tea). Also on the menu: pancakes, French toast, sausage and gravy, cheese grits. Juices are extra. Sunday hours remain 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
-Wal-Mart's makeover sweep continues: With the West Rome store now remodeled, crews are wrapping up the Cartersville Wal-Mart's refit this week with a grand reopening set for 8 a.m. Friday. The East Rome Wal-Mart should have its new look finished by mid summer.
-Big weekend, week ahead at Berry: Alumni weekend is this Friday through Sunday with a broad schedule of events (click) and it will be followed by Alumni Work Week May 23-28> Click
-More day baseball this week: Rome Braves' fans, especially students, have two day games this week: 10:30 a.m. Tuesday and 1 p.m. Wednesday. The Braves host the Charleston RiverDogs both days> Rome Braves
Recession, tight job market awaits 2,000-plus high school grads.
Most choosing college, some the work force, military for others
By Natalie Simms
More than 2,000 Northwest Georgia high school student are expected to graduate within the next couple of weeks and with today's tough job market, there are higher numbers of students heading to college or technical school.
"Everyone needs additional training and education to succeed in today's job market," says Jeff Cavaness, counselor at Rome High School, which is graduating 308 students this year. Of those graduates, 241 are planning to attend a two-year or four-year academic college and 46 are planning to attend a technical school.
"We have four students planning on immediately entering the workforce," Cavaness says. "All four students have specific employers they are planning on working for already."
Floyd County Schools have a total of 604 students graduating from the county's four high schools. Of those students, 341 are planning to attend a two-year or four-year academic college and 137 are planning to enter a technical school.
"Financial constraints are certainly a driving factor in determining whether a student elects to attend a two- or four-year college versus a technical college," says Dr. Jeff McDaniel, Floyd County's Chief of Academics. "This will certainly magnify with respect to the increase in tuition cost just recently announced by the Board of Regents. Additionally, students whose parents attended college are much more likely to follow in their parents' path."
McDaniel says approximately 115 Floyd County graduates will be heading into the work force with 11 of those already committed to the Armed Forces.
"Given the tough job market and tight economic times, students might be able to enter employment through 'on-the-job' training experiences and/or apprenticeships," he says. "Others will continue to search for employment. Some will realize that given the tight job market, technical college, or a two- or four-year college might be an area of opportunity. Certainly joining the Armed Forces will be an option as well."
McDaniel says schools and counselors offer many opportunities for students to examine post-secondary plans and offering assistance for students to accomplish those plans.
"Senior conferences are held at the beginning of the school year and parents are included. During the conferences, schools discuss post-secondary plans and the direction a student will need to follow to accomplish those plans," he says. "Schools encourage seniors to have a plan before they graduate. Schools even go as far as to schedule 'follow up' conferences with the students until the end of school. Furthermore, life skills-- including job readiness -- are included in the curriculum in numerous classes."
Darlington School had 133 graduate on Saturday and all of those students will be attending either a two-year or four-year college. One student has deferred his admission for a year while he attends the National Outdoor Leadership School.
"One hundred percent of our seniors will attend college," says Sam Moss, Dean of College Guidance at Darlington. "126 will attend four-year colleges, six will attend two-year colleges and one will attend NOLS."
Counselors with Rockmart and Cedartown high schools say they are still seeing trends from previous years with approximately 20 to 30 percent of their graduates heading into the workforce.
"We push them to apply for college but a lot just don't…it's like leading a horse to water but you can't make it drink," says Steve Storey, senior counselor at Rockmart High School. "Most of those going into the workforce already have a part-time or full-time position somewhere and are just going to continue in that job. We don't advocate going straight to work. We really encourage them to get some sort of specialized training because the job market is tough for everybody right now."
Rockmart will have 160 graduates this year. Storey estimates 15 percent will attend a four-year school, 30 percent a two-year school, 20 percent a technical program, 5 percent in the military and remaining 30 percent undecided or straight to work.
Jenny Ware, lead counselor at Cedartown High School, says her school sees the same trends as Rockmart. Cedartown has an estimated 235 graduates this year but final numbers will be determined in two weeks.
"We really encourage them to go somewhere after high school and at least get some sort of training," she says. "We have a large number planning to go to Georgia Highlands and Georgia Northwestern Technical College. We also have several heading to West Georgia and Shorter."
Calhoun High School officials are experiencing the same trends with approximately 70 percent of their graduates headed to some sort of post-secondary college and 30 percent heading into the workforce.
"We have several students involved in our work-based learning program that allows students to work in local businesses and industries for school credit," says Ginger House, work-based learning coordinator for Calhoun High School. "We have a youth apprenticeship program, internship program, cooperative program and employability skills development program. It really provides an opportunity for students to see what it's like in a certain career pathway and if that is really a field they want to go into or not."
Calhoun has 198 students graduating this year with 40 percent heading to a four-year college, 20 percent to a two-year college and 10 percent heading to a technical school.
While Bartow County officials won't have final numbers on their graduates' plans for a couple more weeks, officials say over 90 percent of their students are certified as "work-ready."
"We were one of the first counties to participate in the work-ready program and test every senior with the work keys assessment. We've done this for the last three years," says Dr. John Barge, director of secondary curriculum with Bartow County Schools. "We test students' ability in reading information, locating information and applied mathematics. We have 90 percent or better that qualify for a work-ready certificate when they graduate."
Students are able to take their scores from the work key assessment and give to potential employers to see if their skills match those necessary for a certain job profile.
"It's really good for our students because it makes them really competitive in the job market," Barge says. "And it also communicates back to us that we are preparing our students to be successful."
List of Area High School Graduations:
Floyd County/Rome City
-Rome High School, May 22 at 10:30 a.m. at The Forum
-Armuchee High School, May 28 at 7 p.m. at The Forum
-Model High School, May 29 at 10 a.m. at The Forum
-Coosa High School, May 29 at 2:30 p.m. at The Forum
-Pepperell High School, May 29 at 7 p.m. at The Forum
-Unity Christian School, May 22 at 9 a.m. at Calvary Baptist Church.
-Darlington held graduation on Saturday, May 15 (details)
Polk County
-Cedartown High School, June 8 at 8 p.m. at stadium
-Rockmart High School, June 4 at stadium
Bartow County/Cartersville City
-Woodland High School, May 22 at 9 a.m. at stadium
-Cass High School, May 21 at 6 p.m. at stadium
-Adairsville High School, May 21 at 8 p.m. at stadium
-Cartersville High School, May 21 at 7 p.m. at stadium
Gordon County/Calhoun City
-Calhoun High School, May 28 at 8 p.m. at stadium
-Gordon Central High School, May 25 at 7:30 p.m. at Dalton Trade Center
-Sonoraville High School, May 21 at 8 p.m. at NWGA Trade and Convention Center
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