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Tuesday's Buzz
>Battle brewing for your food dollar: We didn't give the coupon insert for Steak N Shake much notice Sunday as it fell from our AJC. Never mind the nearest stores are in Acworth and Hiram, "and coming soon to Rome." The news was the coupons themselves. A Web story Monday (click) outlines what the burger chain is doing to combat soft sales, and both locals and franchisees are watching.
A local restaurant owner/watcher predicts we'll see a lot of buy-one, get-one deals as well as discounted kids meals as the fight for your dining dollar heats up. What's interesting: Area independents are stepping up -- and even opening up -- as the chains continue to arrive. Consider:
>Sassafras Grille is expanding hours and starting a Sunday brunch> (Dining)
>Bistro 239 also has added lunch and dinner hours.
>The Catering Co. resumed Sunday lunch service after a nine-month hiatus.
>Troy's moved to an expanded site; Butter's took over Troy's former home.
>Silwan is opening at Central Plaza with a new taste for Rome: Middle Eastern.
>Cafe Luna will site atop the new Bella Luna on Third Avenue.
>Sweet Pickles is promising a different downtown menu (and Chicago-style dogs).
>And on the way in are Blue Fin, Ru Sans and Laredo's.
The bottom line: How far will the disposable income food dollar stretch in a recessionary economy and $4-a-gallon gas prices?
>A big scramble for your back-to-school dollars, too?: Look for some big pitches from retailers later this summer as back-to-school shopping begins. It could be the boost retailers need to make it to the lucrative Christmas shopping season. The U.S. Census Bureau reports this week that Americans spent $7.5 billion in "family clothing stores" last August; only Christmas sales were better. Bookstores saw a $2.3 billion month as well. Fueling the local school shopping spree: The "back to school" sales tax holiday July 31 through Aug. 3. You'll be able to purchase certain clothing items, computers and accessories tax-free> Census
More 'Thunder' in the forecast: State public safety officials promise another round of Operation Thunder as they watch fatality counts in Bartow and Paulding counties climb. This time, no advance warning on the crackdown> Bartow
>Polk Medical Center adds MRI unit> Polk Headlines
>Coosa Valley Technical College's 'STARS' honored> Buzz
> Help sought in finding missing Jack Russell Terrier: Asa is 22 pounds with brown spots above her eyes and around her mouth. She is wearing a red collar. Her tag has the number to Glenwood Veterinary Clinic> Details
Sports
>Norman Arey: Austrian brewer offers free beer for life for tournament goal; Vastic delivers> Arey
>Norman Arey's college football preseason predictions start Aug. 8. See the day-by-day guide of what's ahead> Arey
>Rome Braves send Heyward, Freeman to tonight's All-Star game > Sports
Downtown Headlines
>Busy weekend brewing in downtown Rome> Downtown Headlines
WeatherCenter
>High of 90 with a 20% chance of rain; cooler nights ahead> WeatherCenter
>Also: Full moon Wednesday; year's longest day on Friday.
Gas watch/Local prices steep--and steady--for now (updated 6/16)
Statewide average 'steady' at $3.99: A year ago, we were paying $2.88 for a gallon of unleaded. Today, the state average is at $3.99, the same as a week ago.
| Bartow | Chattooga | Floyd | Gordon | Polk | Georgia | |
| Range | $3.84- $4.10 | $3.95- $4.10 | $3.95- $4.05 | $3.92- $4.13 | $3.90- $4.06 | $3.99 |
| Links | Cartersville | Summerville | Rome | Calhoun | Cedartown | State |
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