Gas prices drop to lowest levels in a year
Gas at $2.54 in some parts of Northwest Georgia; start average at $2.79: This is something we didn't think we'd write for many more months to come. Gas prices today at less than they were a year ago. The statewide average for a gallon of unleaded is at $2.79 vs. $2.82 a year ago. A month ago, we were paying $4.01 a gallon. Check gas prices below; MSN gas feature redesigned.
| Bartow | Chattooga | Floyd | Gordon | Polk | Georgia | |
| Ticker | Down | Down | Down | Down | Down | Down |
| Range | $2.60- $2.70 | $2.83- $3.15 | $2.59- $2.79 | $2.64 $2.89 | $2.54 $2.86 | $2.79 |
| Links | Cartersville | Summerville | Rome | Calhoun | Cedartown | State |
First big chill of the season arrives tonight: If you think it was cool this morning, just wait a few hours. A frost advisory is in effect from 2 to 9 a.m. Monday with temperatures dropping into the upper 30s in most areas. A frost advisory means frost is possible in the "growing season." > Details
The Buzz of Northwest Georgia> Click
-Campaign Watch: DOT 'favors,' final forums, what's next
-Even in troubled economy, time to teach the kids to save
-Hometown's 'Business Buzz' premieres on WLAQ, The Ridge Tuesday
-Peaks & Valleys: The highs and lows of Northwest Georgia
Floyd teacher's national radio gig begins:
David McLaughlin, a reading teacher for Floyd County Schools, joins Spencer Hughes of Fox News Radio each day this week from 8 until 9 a.m. to help co-host a series of election programs. McLaughlin, an active regional Democrat, won an on-air competition to represent the "Heading Left" viewpoint on the Fox News Radio contest "Election 2008: Battle of the Blog Talkers." Representing the right: Kevin Ross of Los Angeles. For more Click
Campaign Watch/For additional updates, click Politics
-Huge week ahead for candidates, voters: A series of forums, meetings and party get-togethers are set for the coming week. Click Politics
-Anyone can vote absentee between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays through Oct. 24. You can vote in the elections office at 12 E. Fourth Ave. or in the commissioners' caucus room on the second floor. Advance voting begins Monday, Oct. 27, and concludes Friday, Oct. 31. Hours will be 8 a.m. until 7 p.m.> Vote
-Sample ballots online: You can preview the ballot for your community online at the Floyd County Web site. The ballots are broken into state House districts:
11th District | 13th District/City | 13th District/County | 14th District | 16th District
>Candidate Q & As posted> Politics
>Dixon & Clemons on the third presidential debate: Your Hometown political columnists have--what else--a split decision on who won last night> D&C
Pepperell fourth, Rome fifth in latest AJC polls> The Football Report
Weather Center/brought to you by Katie Dempsey for State House
-Mostly sunny, highs near 70, lows near in the upper 30s.
-Check the latest radar images> Radar
-For the extended forecast, click WeatherCenter
Norman Arey's Sports Roundtable / brought to you by Riverside Toyota
-Trivia question to decide who buys lunch: Name the ACC's top-ranked AP team? Click Arey
High school and Shorter College football/Brought to you by Printworks
-Shorter's next game: 7 p.m. Thursday, Barron Stadium vs. Union College
-Your links to this Friday's key high school games
-Coming Tuesday: John McClellan's high school picks (20-2 last week)
-Friday recap, preview links: The Football Report
Downtown Headlines
-Banners herald another big weekend downtown. Click Downtown Headlines
Campaign Watch: DOT favors, final forums, what's next
Not exactly cruise control: Here's another sample of how messed up things are within the state Department of Transportation: We're days away from an election that should draw 80 percent of registered voters. The last thing an incumbent needs so close to election day is a pet community project getting sliced and diced. DOT officials did just that Friday in announcing 11 projects statewide, including the 411 Connector, are on ice because of budget problems. Seeing how DOT is in Republican control, it sure puts a smile on the face of Democratic challengers in the campaign's final days.
Debating the dates of debates: Four candidate debates/forums are set for coming days (click meetings) including one with local lawyers and the judicial and district attorney candidates. As several candidates asked last week: Are the debates coming too late this season? The answer: yes. With "early" voting already drawing turnout levels of more than 10 percent of registered voters, a lot of folks have made up their minds and voted as such. Turnout at this week's forums--usually low as it is--could be an indicator. If so, look for post-Labor Day debates in 2010.
About that early vote: Make no mistake, the "top" of the ticket is what's helping fuel the early avalanche of voters. They're steadfast in their choice between McCain/Palin or Obama/Biden. Others are pretty sure on the local level and some just shrug their shoulders when it comes to the court of appeals, public service commission or even the amendments. Whatever drives you, you have until this Friday to vote "absentee" and then wide-scale "advance" voting kicks in Oct. 27-31. Our advice: vote early. The precincts will be swamped Nov. 4.
Speaking of top of the ticket: Give the Bartow County Republican Party full credit. Republicans are tossing a huge get-out-the-vote bash this Saturday (11 a.m.-2 p.m., Cartersville Airport, click) and among the invited speakers: John McCain and Sarah Palin. Given Palin's ability to appear just about anywhere (even with Tina Fey on SNL), we wonder if The Hockey Mom will stop by.
Teaching kids to save, especially with today's economy
By Natalie Simms
We've all heard the saying, "A penny saved is a penny earned." It is a belief many parents try to teach their children, especially with today's economic climate and the next temptation to spend just a Wii game premiere away.
"The importance of saving money is one of the most important things for kids to learn," says Robert Smyth, business development director at Coosa Valley Federal Credit Union. "In our society, we spend more than we earn, so learning how to save is very important."
In fact, it's so important that many local financial institutions have developed special savings programs just for children. The common goal is to get children excited about saving money--and teaching them about personal finance.
"We really put an emphasis on it," says Kay Chumbler with Greater Rome Bank. "We have a 'Teach Children to Save Day' and we bring kids to the bank and teach them about banking and the importance of saving."
Every financial institution in town offers a "minor savings account" for anyone under the age of 18. Most are available with no fees or minimum balances. However, a few have enhanced programs that offer fun and freebies for kids.
Coosa Valley Federal Credit Union offers the new "Savings Crew" Kids Club for children 13 and under. Kids need $25 to open the account and must have a parent/guardian listed on the account. A parent also must have an account with CVFCU, which costs $30 to open. Membership is open to anyone in the 10-county region. Each child receives a T-shirt, treasure chest bank, coloring book and a personalized letter from Captain Jack Dollar. To encourage children to continue saving, they earn one pirate point for each $10 deposit. Points are then accumulated for prizes. Kids can go online to the "Savings Crew" Web site to select prizes for pirate points, play games and e-mail Captain Jack Dollar (Robert Smyth, right). For more information, visit www.cvfcuonline.org.
Northwest Georgia Credit Union offers the "Treasure Hunters Kid's Club" for 
children 12 and under. A minimum deposit of $25 is required to open the account and a parent/guardian must be a member of the credit union. All club members receive a treasure chest bank, membership card, savings passbook to track their "loot," a quarterly newsletter for kids and a birthday card. They also receive a special treasure map to "visually encourage them to save." For each deposit of at least $5, they earn a mark on the map. After 10 deposits, the child gets to select a prize from the secret treasure chest. New treasure maps are available once the old one is filled. For more information, visit www.nwgacu.org.
Greater Rome Bank offers the "Minor Savings Account" for those under 18. There are no fees but a minimum of $25 is required to open the account. Members receive a special "Slinky" bank. To encourage deposits, children can visit the bank and see "Mr. Jingles," a special coin machine. "Mr. Jingles" counts coins for the children and then prints a receipt for their deposit. "We have given him his own personality with a top hat, bow tie and cane," says Chumbler. For more: www.greaterromebank.com.
River City Bank has a "Minor Savings Account" with no fees. A minimum of $50 is needed to open the account. Children receive a piggy bank and can use the coin machine to count the deposit. For more: www.rivercitybankonline.com.
United Community Bank offers a "Student Savings" account for those under 18. There is a $5 minimum balance and no fees. Students receive a piggy bank when the account is opened and get a tour of the bank. For more: www.ucbi.com.
Unity National Bank offers a "Children's Savings Account" for those under 18. The minimum is $25 to open the account. Children receive a "duck" bank when the account is opened and each time the bank is filled, they return to the bank for a prize. Prizes are given for the first three times the bank is filled. For more: www.unitynationalbank.com.
'Business Buzz' premieres Tuesday on WLAQ and The Ridge
Join us each Tuesday and Thursday for a new feature from Hometown Headlines, "The Business Buzz," heard exclusively on Talk Radio WLAQ AM 1410 at 8:30 a.m. and at 95.7 The Ridge at 8:35 a.m. We'll have local and regional business updates, health news and what's new on the regional restaurant scene. Listen for "The Business Buzz" premiering this Tuesday on WLAQ and The Ridge.
Peaks & Valleys: The highs and lows of Northwest Georgia
Peak to Model High School: Principal Dr. Glenn White receives the Governor's Cup from Gov. Sonny Perdue, left, during Thursday's celebration in honor of the school's soaring SAT scores. This is a banner year for Model, given the test scores and the recently passed SPLOST package that will see a new high school rise soon. In fact, it is a good year for local schools, period, thanks to voters' approving the SPLOST, Model's latest honor and East Central Elementary's Blue Ribbon designation.
Valley to the latest news on the 411 Connector: Once again, a major road project serving Northwest Georgia gets kicked to the curb. We've seen the Northern ARC dumped in recent years, leaving area motorists stuck with either a clogged Ga. 20 route when attempting to reach Gainesville/Buford, etc., or else that lovely dip into the Perimeter. Now the once "fast-tracked" connector gets a red light. But we still have the southern end of the Bypass, right? Right?
Valley to Model High math teacher Jennifer Greer: There's that Model name again. Jennifer Greer has been asked to serve on state Schools Superintendent Kathy Cox's state Teacher Advisory Council. The panel discusses "how decisions made at the state level are affecting teachers in Georgia's classrooms. Members consist of Georgia Teacher of the Year finalists, Milken Award teachers, and other teachers throughout the state." Greer is known throughout the region for her teaching abilities.
Peak to local non-profit groups looking for new ways to stay alive: The budget crunch is hitting those who need our help the most the hardest. Just spend a few minutes with a few agency leaders or organization executive directors and you'll learn how severe these cuts have been. What's encouraging: These same leaders are trying new fund-raisers or dusting off tried-and-true methods to get some level of funds heading their way. Whether spelling bees or "Big Dog Days"or whatever the cause, these service agency leaders are trying their best to make it through the tough days ahead. But to make it they need all our help--as do their clients.
Peak to area residents who are voting 'early': We're betting that early voting for the general election will top total turnout for the state primary in Northwest Georgia. The number of people stopping by local elections offices to vote early has been nothing short of amazing. You've got two more weeks to vote early: either absentee this week (open to all) or advance voting next week (also open to all). And, if you can't make it then, there's always election day, Nov. 4. (Logo courtesy of floydcountyga.org)
Peak to Georgia Public Broadcasting: In addition to expanding radio options here from GPB, we're also seeing a surge in Web interest--and high school football. Go to GPB.org/football this Friday night to see the Pepperell-Coosa game via Webcast. This is a great option for high school football fans and great exposure for our home teams. Go, GPB.
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