Cartersville cracks Top 10 football poll. What's ahead in Bartow County. Early voting, debates begin.

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What's ahead in Bartow County:

-Sept. 20: Early voting begins for Nov. 2 elections. Click

-Sept. 20: Bartow County Board of Education business meeting. Agenda

-Sept. 20: The next meeting of the Bartow County Democratic Party begins at 7 p.m. at IHOP at 640 E. Main St. Contact: J.M. Prince, Chair, 770.386-1379.

-Sept. 21: A debate among candidates for Georgia House District 14 and State Senate District 52 at 7 p.m. in the Adairsville High School Auditorium. Due: District 14: Dan Ledford (D) and Christian Coomer (R), and Senate District 52 Mike Burton (D) and Barry Loudermilk (R)

-Sept. 22: Floyd Primary Care and Center for Diabetes in Taylorsville will host a ground-breaking ceremony Sept. 22 at 12:30 p.m. Hills Creek Road and Ga. 113. Update

-Sept. 24: Bartow Business Connection will meet at Hilton Garden Inn from 4 p.m. until Midnight. This is a "drop in" event, so you can stay five minutes, an hour, or the entire evening.

-Sept. 25: Booth's Ansel Adams exhibit opens: The Booth Western Art Museum in downtown Cartersville welcomes its largest temporary exhibition yet with Ansel Adams: A Legacy.  Details

Johnny Mitchell's, Tellus win People's Choice awards.

-Winners list from Rose Lawn. Click

The Buzz of Northwest Georgia: Click

 

-As we cross Steak N Shake off our retail 'bucket list,' what's next? Mellow Mushroom on Broadfor one. After that?

-Campaign 2010 heats up with debates this , early voting starting today, registration.

-Three-dot Buzz with:

-Big win for Johnny Mitchell's Smokehouse.

-Halloween City opens in Rome.

-White Rabbit going out with class.

-Papa John's was in the house this weekend after all.

Your latest forecast:

-Monday: High of 94, low of 58.

-Tuesday: High of 93, low of 62.

-Wednesday: 20% rain chance. High of 92, low of 62. First day of fall (11:09 p.m.)

-Extended forecast: Click / Regional radar: Click

Cartersville, Darlington, Calhoun ranked in latest polls. High School Football Daily

Latest Bartow County Jail reports. Click & Click

John McClellan's High School picks. McClellan  

-John went 12-4 in local games Friday night and 24-7 overall.

-Week five picks to post Tuesday morning.

Norman Arey's Sports Roundtable. Arey  

-Dan Houston is subbing for Norman today through Thursday.

-Dan's column today: With 0-2 SEC start, Miss. State game key to Richt's 'long-term job security' at UGA?

AP Top 25 College Football. Click

Shorter Hawks football. Hawks  

-Home opener 1:30 p.m. Saturday vs. Georgetown, Ky., Barron Stadium.

Rome Braves. Click Sports

-Oct. 16-17/Rome Braves to host Second Annual Softball Slam. Braves

-Next: April 7 vs. Hagerstown. Check for events at State Mutual Stadium.

As we cross Steak N Shake off our 'bucket list,' what's next?

This is rare air for Northwest Georgia. On Wednesday, the long-sought, once spurned Steak N Shake opens on Turner McCall, ending years of pleas for a local franchise.

We had that near-miss at RiverWalk several years ago. You'll even find the "footprint" for the restaurant in front of the strip center next to Las Palmas, complete with curb cuts.

Wayne Robinson and Brooke Temple picked up that fumble and as of 10 a.m. Wednesday, Steak N Shake is open for business in Rome.

So what's next?

We're watching the signs for Mellow

Mushroom at 238 Broad Street in what was to be home to Rome City Market. Among the most encouraging: the beer, wine and liquor pouring permit application sought from Rome's Alcohol Control Commission by Jeremy C. Duke, one of the partners in the venture. A December grand opening is planned after even more remodeling of the longtime downtown storefront. And keep watching for more updates on the shop's Facebook page.

But again, what's next? During our Druck Report radio update today on WRGA 1470 AM (audio), we go over the list of retail bump-and-runs, each of which has promised a Publix and/or a Target.

We'll believe Publix is coming to Turner McCall at the former Hight site as soon as the Lakeland, Fla.-based grocer inks a lease (or would it be a digital signature?) We were just about sure a deal for the Coosa Valley Fairgrounds would net a Target as well. Instead, the fair returns next month--with the only target being those on the kiddie games in the midway.

The list of what-ifs and might-bes is a long and confusing one. The answer to when we'll get a Publix and/or Target is easy: As soon as those retailers deem our community is large enough to support either or both.

To which we say: Each day those retailers and others fail to act on building here, the more money they're losing We indeed can--and would--support those and other major retailers. The effective buying power of Northwest Georgia is a lot larger than most developers realize. They'll learn--but millions of dollars too late.

Three-Dot Buzz . . . :

Johnny Mitchell's Smokehouse wins People's Choice dining award: The honor

comes from the latest People's Choice Awards conducted by the Cartersville-Bartow County Convention and Visitors Bureau. More than 900 votes were received overall in the contest, including those for 65 non-franchise restaurants in Bartow County. Appalachian Grill was second; Adams Barbecue was third. About Johnny Mitchell's: This is becoming a must-go place just down the street from Euharlee's famous covered bridge. Our favorite at Johnny's: Redneck Reuben. For more, click Facebook.

Halloween City brings Circuit City store back from the dead

-The new seasonal shop is now open next to The Landmark off Martha Berry Highway in front of Mount Berry Square. Hours: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sundays.

-And speaking of Mount Berry: James Dolan is the new general manager of the mall, now operated by Urban Retail Properties.

Papa John's makes football deadline

-Those repairs and remodeling to Papa John's on Turner McCall at West First Street stretch a bit longer than planned but the "open" sign was back this weekend.

Going out with class

-As The White Rabbit prepares for its final days,  and eventual retirement, the owner and staff are leaving with the same class and professionalism customers enjoyed for more than two decades. The signage on the windows at Broad Street and Sixth Avenue reads: "Thank you, Rome, for 21 great years!" As for those final days, this update: "Starting Monday, the White Rabbit will begin it's final days.  We'd like to thank Rome for a wonderful 21 years, so please come by and enjoy an additional 25 percent off all merchandise.  Stock up on your Christmas decorations, including trees, garlands and ribbon!" 

Campaign season gearing up for November elections as early voting begins today; fall debate series begins this week, too

By Natalie Simms
nsimmshh@att.net

With six weeks to go until the Nov. 2 elections, the campaign season will be going full force as early voting begins across Northwest Georgia today. Candidates and local political party groups will be pulling out all the stops to earn votes in crucial statewide elections.

"I think it's going to be a big Republican year with the low approval ratings of the president and other Democrats," says Elaine Watson, president of the Floyd County Republican Women. "The public doesn't like the direction they (Democrats) are leading our county. We're excited about our nominees and believe they will make for a Republican victory in November."

Local Democrats are equally excited about this election season.

"Our theme is restoring leadership and it's clear to the people of Georgia that we lack leadership," says Mary Caldwell, chair of Floyd County Democrats. "Our statewide candidates are excellent and I believe the Democrats have the answer to our problems. But overall, I am glad to see so many people involved in all different parties."

Voters already are getting the barrage of political mail and phone calls as early voting gets under way today in Floyd and Bartow counties. Gordon County started early voting last Friday. Voters will be able to cast early votes from now through Oct. 29 in all counties. Anyone currently registered to vote is able to vote during early and advance voting.

In Floyd County, early voting is open at the Floyd County Elections Office at 12 E. Fourth St. from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday. Advance voting will be Oct. 25-29 with voting available at both the elections office and the Rome Civic Center.

In Bartow County, early voting is open at the Bartow County Voter Registration/Elections office in the Annex Building at 105 N. Bartow St. in Cartersville from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday. Advance voting will be Oct. 25-29 with voting available at both the elections office and the Cartersville Civic Center, 122 W. Main St.

In Gordon County, early voting is under way at the Elections and Voter Registration office located in the Gordon County Annex Building, 101 S. Piedmont Street in Calhoun.  Voting hours are from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m.. Monday-Friday.

Elections representatives are predicting half of the local registered voters will turnout for the upcoming General Election. Voters will be casting ballots for a number of local and statewide offices, including governor of Georgia.

"I am predicting a 50 percent turnout for the upcoming General Election.  I arrived at that prediction examining the trend in voter turnout of similar elections," says Joseph Kirk, Bartow County elections supervisor.

"We are predicting a 50 percent turnout for the General Election.  This year our voters will be voting on an Educational SPLOST for Gordon County and Calhoun City Schools, also Calhoun City Schools will be voting on a bond referendum," says Shea Hicks, Gordon County elections chairperson. "The residents of the Town of Resaca will have a special election for a proposed referendum:  "Shall the governing authority of the Town of Resaca be authorized to issue licenses to sell distilled spirits for beverage purposes by the drink, such sales to be for consumption only on the premises?  Yes or No."

Anyone who is not yet registered to vote can do so by Oct. 4. Voter registration forms are available online at www.sos.ga.gov, or they may be picked up at your county's election office or local library. Completed forms can be mailed to your local elections office or to the Secretary of State's office.

There are a number of upcoming candidate forums, debates and events for the public to meet and learn more about local candidates and their positions.

-Sept. 21/Advance Adairsville is sponsoring a debate for candidates of state House District 14 and State Senate District 52 at 7 p.m. in the Adairsville High School Auditorium, 519 Old Highway 41 NW. Candidates taking part are District 14: Dan Ledford (D) and Christian Coomer (R), and Senate District 52 Mike Burton (D) and Barry Loudermilk (R).
-Sept. 23/Floyd County GOP Women is sponsoring a debate from 7-9 p.m. at the Etowah Senior Citizens Center on Kingston Highway. Democratic and GOP candidates for four local races are invited: County Commission Post 4; House districts 13 and 14; and Senate District 52.
-Sept. 25/Bartow County Republicans are hosting a Family Freedom Fest at 11 a.m. at the Bartow Carver Park, 3900 Bartow Carver Road in Acworth. Candidates for state and local offices are due.
-Oct. 2/Floyd County Democrats are sponsoring the Annual J.J. (Jefferson Jackson) Dinner at the Coosa Country Club. Statewide candidates in attendance include Carol Porter for lieutenant governor; Michael Thurmond for U.S. Senate and Karen Hodges for Attorney General.

-Oct. 11/Polk County Democrats will be hosting their Annual J.J. Dinner at 7 p.m. at the Rockmart Community Center. Gubernatorial candidate Roy Barnes is scheduled to appear.
-Oct. 14/Floyd County Farm Bureau candidate forum at 7 p.m. at the Rome Civic Center.
-Oct. 21/Rome NAACP and Rome Tea Party are teaming up for a political forum at 6 p.m. at the Rome Civic Center. Doors open at 5 p.m. for the public to meet local candidates.