On this week's Buzz: (click)
>Not-so-super Tuesday? Turnout a real concern in Floyd races
>Campaign notes and media coverage plans
>Going the wrong way on Turner McCall
>Massive media meltdown continues: papers, magazines, radio
>Peaks and Valleys: The highs, lows of our region
Coming Tuesday: Restaurant review. more updates on The Dining Guide
Primary 2008
>Turnout a primary concern on Tuesday> Buzz
>A closer look at the court clerk candidates: Spend a few minutes getting to know John Harkins and Barbara Penson, the two Democrats on the July 15 primary ballot. This is a winner takes all primary as there is not Republican opposition.> Harkins | Penson
>Sample ballots for Tuesday's primary> Sample
>Campaign finance reports> Politics
>More election updates> Campaign Watch
Anheuser-Busch, InBev apparently have a deal: Overnight reports say America's top brewer has agreed to sell to InBev for $50 billion or $70 per share. No major changes are forecast at this time, which is good news for the Cartersville brewery and AB subsidiary Metal Container Corp. of Rome> Merger
State honors for local trucker: Adairsville's Jonathan Churchwell is the state's top truck driver after winning the three-axle competition and receiving the top overall score in 2008 Georgia Truck Driving Championships, reports TruckingInfo.com.
Sports
>Norman Arey's Sports: Duke to go winless again the ACC? No-no> Arey
>Rome Braves: Sunday rainout means double header tonight> Sports
>Recent Rome Braves game photos by Mills Fitzner> Focus
WeatherCenter
>Cold front on the way; high of 88, low of 60. Winds up to 15 mph> WeatherCenter
>Track Hurricane Bertha> Hurricane Center
Downtown Headlines
> Family fun day at museum this Saturday; beer tasting set for Old Havana; final weekend of Broadway Spectacular II > Downtown Headlines
Not-so-super Tuesday: Turnout a real concern as primary arrives
Together, the two Democratic candidates for Floyd County superior court clerk have spent nearly $50,000 on their winner-takes-the-office campaigns. Billboards, signs, print ads, radio ads, Internet ads, mailers--John Harkins and Barbara Penson have used just about every possible media combination we have.
Their average cost per vote could wind up being surprisingly high, especially for an office that doesn't attract that much attention. Here's why:
>Fewer than 5,300 of Floyd's 43,614 registered voters (perhaps 11 to 15 percent) are expected to cast ballots in the primary.
>Of that total, at least 40 percent will vote Republican (more than a few members of the GOP have or will crossover to vote in the Harkins-Penson race and maybe have a little fun with the 
Democratic U.S. Senate candidates, too).
>So it could come down to 3,180 votes combined for the two clerk candidates.
>That would mean $15.41 per vote based on June 30 campaign finance report totals and the above turnout projections.
You can't blame the candidates. Both have worked to get their message to voters. Harkins was campaigning last November at the Optimist pancake breakfast and at most home Rome Braves' games this season. Penson had a fund-raiser with Elvis. And, again, both have exhausted local media options.
The result? As one of our veteran election observers mentioned in a weekend note: two colleagues who normally keep a solid eye on local campaigns had to ask him who's on the ballot this time. That's how off-radar this primary seems to be.
And the key thing is the Democrats have the "best" ballot this time around: In addition to Harkins-Penson, they have to pick from five Senate hopefuls and two seats on the Public Service Commission. For Republicans, the PSC races are it.
Again, back to our election watchers: Their turnout predictions are in the low teens--11, 12 and 15 percent, respectively. We'll go a little higher, 18 percent at best.
Campaign notes/Races to watch:
>In Floyd, the Harkins vs. Penson race is the one to watch.
>In Bartow County, it's the House District 15 GOP showdown with incumbent Jeff Lewis and challenger Paul Battles (no Democratic challenger this fall).
>In Gordon and Bartow counties, also watch the GOP primary race between incumbent District Attorney Joe Campbell and challenger Christian Coomer. Again, there's no Democratic challenger this fall.
>In Polk County, there's a four-way shootout among Democrats for the sheriff's nomination. The winner faces a Republican challenge on Nov. 4.
Campaign notes/Election results:
>We'll post our election plans Tuesday afternoon. We'll have regional results.
>Georgia Public Radio will have six-minute state updates on the hour beginning at 8 p.m. and continuing until 11 (or later). Tune to 97.7 FM, WGPB.
>You can hear Bartow results from WBHF 1450 AM via the station's Webcast on our Bartow Headlines' site.
Going the wrong way on Turner McCall
Suppose you're a Realtor or business specialist trying to sell a prospect on Rome/Floyd County. When it comes to showcasing what's possible, you're going to make a few key stops. Among them:
>The bustling Riverbend Center off Turner McCall, usually packed with shoppers from the just-spruced-up Kroger to Barnes & Noble to Panera Bread and Talbot's. And just behind Riverbend: a brand new medical center.
>The brand-spanking new DLS Financial center at TMB and Broad Street. The potential here is excellent, especially for companies in search of high profile.
>The Verizon Wireless building across the street that always seems packed.
>RiverWalk, the latest success story from Ledbetter Properties, that just welcomed Laredo's to the dining mix with more shops opening soon.
>River Center, which saw a huge chunk of the hotel removed to allow for Santa Fe Cattle and a strip center that is now home to Firehouse Subs and the soon-to-open Blue Fin restaurant as well as a few other clients.
This "tour" you're doing with the out-of-town prospect showcases millions of dollars in mostly unrelated enhancements along Turner McCall. The client probably will ask about one prime tract that is vacant--844 Turner McCall, the former auto dealership.
"Oh that," you say, "is about to become an auto body and glass shop."
Nothing compliments enhanced redevelopment of prime retail/office more than a paint and body shop on one of the community's busiest streets. The shocking vote by the planning commission to green light this site for auto/body is staggering.
Surely there's a better development option for this site, especially in light of what's been done by the Ledbetters, the DLS partnership, Verizon and others. There's nothing wrong with paint and body shops; the owners and crews perform very necessary work. But does that work have to be done along a main highway?
The final call on this one is up to the City Commission.
Massive media meltdown continues
Keep an eye on what comes out of media circles in coming days. The rumors are rampant that more cuts among out-of-town newspapers are brewing.
If the layoffs are true, it will be the latest in an endless wave of job cuts within the media. Almost every day, Jim 
Romenesko's media watch report from Poynter tells of another cutback, large or small. It isn't just the jobs. Newspaper stocks are taking major hits (Stocks).
And the newspaper groups aren't alone. The Drudge Report featured an AP story last week that started with this sentence: "A Citi Investment Research analyst said Thursday that radio stocks will fall as advertising revenue continues to decline and lending and credit pressures increase."
Add to that a report showing magazines also are reeling from ad losses (magazines).
Back to newspapers for a minute. A study by the Readership Institute concludes newspaper readers aren't leaving at the brisk pace set by advertisers. Still, a look at the numbers shows area concern, especially for younger readers. Click
But with newspapers raising prices by 50 percent, from 50 to 75 cents at vendors and vending machines, you might see more erosion in overall sales. The AJC announced a price hike earlier this month; more papers will do so in August (click)
The bottom line: That's the mystery, finding the bottom line. Yes, some ad dollars continue to migrate to online sources. Advertisers are following consumers. As for radio: iPods, MP3s, satellite radio--all are having an impact. The secret to survival on all fronts: a five letter word called l-o-c-a-l. Local news, information and--in radio's case, effective local, interactive talent and not voiceovers. That's the key to surviving history's largest media meltdown. But with continued staffing cuts, the media continues to cut off the major component that makes it vital: local, local, local.
Peaks & Valleys: The highs and lows of Northwest Georgia
Peak to Booth Western Art Museum as it celebrates five years:
Opened in August 2003, the museum has become a regional favorite and has helped augment redevelopment in downtown Cartersville. Even better: Booth continues to expand to serve its patrons (see image to the right). Look for an August celebration.
Peak to Holly Hardin of Rockmart: The teen needed a second chance but she's "going to Las Vegas" for a shot at being the next champion of America's Got Talent (NBC, 9 p.m. Tuesdays). Watch the YouTube replay> Holly
Valley to Jesse Jackson: The only thing nuts concerning Jesse Jackson is what's looking back at him in the mirror--provided his "I am somebody" ego thinks a mere mirror does him justice. Time to call it a career, Jesse.
Peak to grassroots campaigning: From the Obama Mamas to meet-ups in Gordon County and elsewhere, there's a fresh movement of political activity in our community and in our country. No matter which side of the aisle you prefer, you've got to like seeing high-dollar politics roll back to the community level.
Valley to last-minute 'exposes': It happens every election and this weekend was no exception. Some accusations--including those not directly tied to a candidate but to the candidate's supporters--made the rounds Saturday night.
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