This week's Buzz (click) >5 items to watch in coming days: Politics (x 2), police, banking, media >Double takes on some recent local, state updates >Floral designer due Thursday to be followed by huge weekend of activities >Peaks & Valleys: The highs and lows of Northwest Georgia >Latest market update from the bumps (prices still lower in Cartersville) >Chattooga preps for the first Northwest Georgia Festival of Balloons Busy day for Gingrey: Look for U.S. Rep. Phil Gingrey to be at Monday's dedication of the new Social Security office at 480 Riverside Parkway in Rome (10 a.m.) as well as at Redmond Regional for a presentation to Frist Award winner Lisa Dempsey at 11 a.m. Following lunch at a popular Rome landmark, he'll be at the chamber at 1:15 p.m. to present a check for airport upgrades. Sports >Norman Arey's Sports: Norman asks, 'How dumb can they be?'> Arey >The Rome Braves, off Sunday, start an eight-game homestand today vs. Augusta> Home Plate Update. WeatherCenter Another windy day with gusts of 25 mph and a high of 76> WeatherCenter >Windy day at the airport; gusts to 44 mph. >Tornadoes hit south metro area, Macon>AJC Downtown Headlines >What's ahead in downtown Rome: Senior Inforum> Downtown Headlines Gas watch/Updates on local prices (updated 5/12) >Statewide average climbs to $3.67: A year ago, we were paying $2.87 for a gallon of unleaded and were fuming about it. This morning, the statewide average is at $3.67, up five cents since Friday. Locally, climbed by several cents. $3.54- $3.84 $3.66- $3.71 $3.60- $4.20 $3.59- $3.76
Bartow Chattooga Floyd Gordon Polk Georgia Range $3.60-$3.80 $3.67 Links Cartersville Summerville Rome Calhoun Cedartown State
The summer disconnect is about to click in. With school just about out and vacation plans all but firm, the annual "see you in August" checkout is under way. Summer camps, summer schedules, summer breaks--all are here. What won't slow down: the news business. Politics is a big reason but there's more to it than that. Below are five key things to watch in coming days:
1) Floyd County tax commissioner's race: This was supposed to be an anointing Republican Kevin Payne, who took over for Jim Ford on Jan. 1, was supposed to win this seat without a fight. Then came sheriff's deputy Ron Morris on the Democratic ticket. With six months to go before their general election showdown, accusations are flying. Morris has been hit with tax payment questions--and more is said to be brewing from both corners.
2) The 2010 election: Let's fast forward right by the primary and November election. One whole scenario collapsed Friday as Johnny Isakson announced his plans to seek another term in the U.S. Senate. That opens up the governor's race (Republicans John Oxendine, Casey Cagle and Glenn Richardson are committed or likely contenders) while Democrats apparently won't have Cathy Cox on the ballot. The Isakson announcement derailed rumors of a Phil Gingrey Senate run but would the three-term House member and former state legislator consider a bid for governor? Rumors have some Northwest Georgians considering a congressional run (a long shot given Cobb County's majority in this district) and a boat load of others considering "office upgrades."
3) Rome police: The city of Rome's budget woes (and the county's aren't far behind) are hitting the police department hard. The timing is awful, given efforts to boost law enforcement salaries. You're seeing some police shifts double up to save gas; two to four vacancies might not be filled immediately; and then there's the pay increase reduction (from 4 to 3 percent for city staffers). The revenue shortfall is real. At the same time, some officers are asking why their agency is being hit hard. (See minutes from the city commission meeting on cutbacks: RCC)
4) Banking updates: Several local banks are holding annual meetings over the next few days: River City Bank's meeting is this evening. Greater Rome Bank has a meeting set for 4:30 p.m. Thursday at the main office. On the agenda: re-election of 15 directors.
5) Media changes: These games got under way Sunday, a bit earlier than expected. The Rome News/News Publishing Co. is shifting duties and further dividing the group's focus on print and Web as industry leaders have been doing for several years now. New Web projects, the upcoming Magnolia women's magazine and other changes are in the works. (Click RNT). But have they waited too long?
>Our take: Don't buy into the spin in Sunday's epic page one press release; it's about as effective as spreading pine straw on "wild areas" in your front lawn. Critical advertising dollars have been shifting to new homes (Web sites, even the city of Rome's Web site via a third party) and audiences continue to transition to online venues for news, real estate, cars, jobs, etc. This has been a tough year at Sixth Avenue with layoffs, ads and other issues. This move is two years too late.
Double-takes on recent headlines
Some head-scratchers from recent local and Georgia headlines:
>Gas prices vary by 9 cents between Wal-Marts in Rome, Cartersville: And yes Rome's Murphy Oil station was the one with the higher price, $3.68, at 8 p.m. Sunday vs. $3.59 in Cartersville at 7:35 p.m. In fact, gas overall remains cheaper in Cartersville/Bartow County as our latest market survey shows.
>The RNT management/focus shift: We've dealt with that above. But along the same lines ...
>. . . From frying pan to fire? Julian Miller resigns as publisher of the Savannah newspaper, a common move these days as advertising, circulation, online competition (news, real estate, employment, autos) and delivery (fuel costs) swamp the industry. What's odd: Miller is leaving to start a family real estate management business. While there are signs of a rebound in the housing market, this isn't exactly a step toward job insurance.
>Another 'spinning' bridge: We didn't know it until a beautiful trip along the Oostanaula Saturday aboard the Roman Holiday but the first pedestrian bridge at Ridge Ferry used to turn or spin. There's seemingly a spin on the $2-plus million new bridge at The Forum. It was thought that tennis players and fans would use it to visit downtown. The bridge was vacant on both our underneath passes Saturday but surely had some foot traffic. Our question: Does the new bridge need regular "spin" to justify its very existence?
Decorated floral designer at library Thursday; big weekend ahead
Every other year, the Rome Federated Garden Clubs sponsor an educational program for the community as well as members. This year, Betty Benson, a retired attorney from Douglasville, has been hired to do floral designs similar to the ones the clubs will do at Coosa Valley Fair in October.
Benson has served on the Garden Club of Georgia's Board of Directors for 20 years, wrote the first Basic Design courses for Garden Club of Georgia, served on the committee that wrote and compiled At Home with Flowers and is the author and photographer of Natures Melody, a book on Georgia's wildflowers.
Jane Davis and Vivian Toles of Spade and Trowel Garden Club are co-chairing this event and all of the 10 clubs are helping with the food. The program will be held at Rome-Floyd County Library's meeting rooms at 10 a.m.
As for the weekend--no time to be bored, that's for sure. Consider:
>Northwest Georgia Festival of Balloons in Menlo, Friday-Sunday
>The American Heroes Air Show at Russell airport, Saturday-Sunday
>The annual Duck Derby Friday night and Saturday, Cartersville
>The Battle of Resaca Reenactment, Friday-Sunday
Peaks & Valleys: The highs, lows of Northwest Georgia
The very tip of the peak to Leanne Maule, Georgia's teacher of the year: an English teacher from Cartersville High School, Leanne Maule was named the 2009 Georgia Teacher of the Year during ceremonies Friday night. She'll now go on to represent Georgia in the national teacher of the year review. She was one of 10 finalists from a pool of more than 140 district-level teachers from around the state.
Peak to the Treehouse of Rome: The May 20 groundbreaking at Ridge Ferry Park is a significant milestone for the volunteers uniting to create this unique opportunity for those with mobility issues. It is yet another example of the community's commitment to our youth (and others). Donations are still needed as the building phase begins. To help, contact David Smith at 706-291-8853 or at dsmithrome@gmail.com.
Peak to Petland's hamster races May 24: Since moving to Turner McCall, Petland has made creative use of its sign/billboard space. The one that caught our eye: the May 24 hamster race, set for 2 p.m. at the store. Be sure your critter has one of those rolling balls to enter. This is a great idea to drum up business and lure kids--and parents. Our insider tip: Beware Whiskers!
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