-Former Walker's Garden Center blooms--and booms--as flea market.
-New West Rome Taco Bell finally taking shape.
-Touchdown! NAIA football championship game extension looks like a go.
-Registration ends today for new, lapsed voters who want a voice Nov. 2.
-Candidate profiles: House District 14 (Floyd, Bartow): Republican Christian Coomer vs. Democrat Dan Ledford.
-Coosa Valley Fair ramps it up on site, online.
-Peaks & Valleys: Rome's top teachers, staff; Bobby Cox; Dish vs. Fox.
Your latest forecast:
-Monday: Mostly sunny, high of 69, low of 42.
-Tuesday: High of 71, low of 42.
-Extended forecast: Click / Regional radar: Click
Norman Arey's sports commentary. Click
-Must we suffer through a season with only a 'Bama-Ohio State match up to look forward to?
John McClellan's high school picks for week 7 post Tuesday. Click
Darlington, Calhoun in respective Top 10 in weekly high school polls. Click
Shorter Hawks football. Hawks
-Oct. 9: Hawks (3-2) at Cumberland, 2:30 p.m.
Rome Braves/State Mutual Stadium. Click Sports
-Oct. 16-17: Second Annual Softball Slam.
-Oct. 23: Montgomery Gentry concert.
Flea market packing 'em in off Shorter
Our tipster nailed it over the weekend when he wrote this about the Rome USA Flea Market: "Their private security is even having to stand in the highway and direct traffic!" That highway is Ga. 20 and the flea market covering 16 acres has opened in the former location of Mike Meadows' Walker's Garden Center. Open four days a week, the market is indeed popular enough to charge $1 for parking alone. The lot was just about full by 12:30 p.m. Sunday and that was before the wave of after-church shoppers hit. Given the new round of bargain-hunting spurred by the economy, the flea market could be busy for months to come. It is a perfect use of the former garden center. For more: call 706-234-9201.
Taco Bell finally taking shape
More Westside stories: The new Taco Bell at Shorter Avenue and Redmond Circle finally has a wooden frame, hinting at the new design. The West Rome shop was leveled as part of a series of traffic changes and the reshaping of some of the outparcels at Gala Plaza. We're checking on when the business will reopen.
Touchdown! Extension expected in NAIA title game
-We'll go out on a limb here and predict a five- to seven-year extension of the NAIA's pact to play the conference's national title game at Barron Stadium. The third game of the existing series is Saturday, Dec. 18. The original contract was for two years but an extension was granted for 2010. Game website.
-A media briefing is due at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Barron Stadium with more details.
-The local host committee, Shorter University and local voters have done their part to win a new contract. Last November, voters approved a SPLOST package that included almost $3.4 million in upgrades to Barron Stadium, including artificial turf, locker rooms and other amenities. The turf already is down; a new scoreboard is up; and other improvements are continuing.
-What's in it for us? Continued national television exposure for nearly four hours the Saturday before Christmas. CBS College Sports has the broadcast rights. Plus: More than $1.5 million in economic impact, in part from the teams, families and other fans traveling to Rome to see the game. The tourism dollars are key especially during slower winter months.
Coosa Valley Fair ramps it up on site, online
-'Fall's finest festival' returns Tuesday to the Coosa Valley Fairgrounds, continuing through Saturday night but you don't have to wait that long for a sample.
-More tinkering has been done to the fair's ambitious website and it is again joined by Facebook and Twitter.
-The website includes a pretty solid bit of one-stop shopping in terms of day-by-day, hour-by-hour schedules; key events; and new this year: being able to purchase ride armbands online click.
-Saturday: Miss Georgia 2010, Christina 
McCauley, will be at the fair at 3:30 p.m. She'll tour the exhibits and,
that evening, will emcee the Miss Teen and Miss Coosa Valley Fair pageants. A recent graduate of Birmingham Southern college, McCauley received a BBA Degree in Music. She will represent the Miss Georgia Pageant at the Miss America Pageant on Jan. 15 in Las Vegas. She'll sing while at the fair as well.
Today's the deadline to register to vote in Nov. 2 election
-New or lapsed voters need to register today if they want to vote in the Nov. 2 general election. Election offices are open until 5 p.m. in Northwest Georgia. As of Sept. 1, here are the county-by-county breakdowns on registered voters:
-Bartow: 49,103. Sample ballots / elections office
-Chattooga: 11,465. Sample ballots / County website.
-Floyd: 44,864. Sample ballots / elections office
-Gordon: 24,216: Sample ballots / elections office
-Polk: 18,916: Sample ballots / elections office
Candidate profiles
-Hometown Headlines begins a series of candidate profiles for the contested races appearing on the Nov. 2 ballot. The profiles are written by Natalie Simms.
State House District 14 (Floyd, Bartow counties).
-Christian Coomer, Republican, vs. Dan Ledford, Democrat
Question: What specific legislation would you introduce or co-sign regarding job stimulations in Northwest Georgia? We're not seeing the hoped-for spinoff effect from the VW plant in Chattanooga and efforts to bring major tourist attractions to Bartow County keep stalling. What definitive relief can you provide on the state-level?
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Coomer: "I support reintroducing the Georgia JOBS bill, which would incentivize reinvestment by businesses, encourage hiring people from unemployment rolls, and reduce taxes. After attending and listening to the Tax Reform Commission's hearing in Rome, I am convinced that part of the reason we are not seeing more benefit from Volkswagen is Georgia is not competitive with Alabama, Tennessee, and North Carolina when it comes to creating an environment where corporations want to put down roots and invest hard capital. We have to be willing to entice those employers into Georgia by giving targeted incentives that make Georgia competitive. I would eliminate or reduce inventory taxes in Georgia. I will fight against any proposal for a value added tax, which is a tax on goods at every link in the manufacturing chain. A value added tax increases transactional costs, which results in a "hidden tax" on consumers by increasing the end price without identifying the tax as the basis for the increase."
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Ledford: "I would support a jobs bill that would provide tax cuts and incentives to all companies who create jobs and bring jobs to GA, has a 2-year break on payroll taxes an employer would have to pay. I would support a prison reform bill because we are wasting close to $100 million dollars a year to house non-violent criminals, who could be in rehabs, counseling, and monitoring programs that only cost $2-$14 a day compared to $45 a day to keep them in prison. Plus, we could require, as part of an earlier release for non-violent offenders, they must commit to equal number of days for everyday they get out earlier for community service. In regards to VW, first I would talk with all parties involved to find out what and why we have run into these issues and delays and stalling. Because we cannot have this happen anymore.
To me, communication is key and that has not happened; that will change if I am elected."
Question: With the 411 Connector stuck in another delay and expanded litigation expected, what are the realistic chances that work will begin on the highway before you complete your next term?
-Coomer: "Many road projects see litigation before they're completed—that's not an excuse to stand still for years on end. I will work to do what I can to move this project forward."
-Ledford: "I think we can and will make progress and must make progress. My goal is to break ground before I run for re-election if elected."
Question: What would you do to make it happen?
-Coomer: "Address it directly to the next governor and work with fellow legislators in both houses and parties to make sure DOT gets unified pressure to make 411 its top priority."
-Ledford: "First, let me be clear I have already begun opening the lines of communication with all parties and have met with GDOT ... because I feel if we can all sit down and talk, this issue can be resolved and save the taxpayer money in legal fees due to suits that may be filed if route DVE goes forward.
Question: Do you support or oppose the 411 Connector as the route is drawn today?
-Coomer: "Support."
-Ledford: "I oppose the current route due to it costs $180 million more than the alternate route G, it will take longer to complete and it will create a lot more traffic issues during construction. I cannot support a route that will waste $180 million of tax payer money that can be used for other road repairs and widening of other roads that are needed.
Question: There are a multitude of issues facing Georgians from cuts in education, healthcare reform and job losses. What will be the first area of concern you will address?
-Coomer: "Taxes and spending. Tax increases would lead us to deeper economic problems. Tax cuts will help the private sector get traction and move us forward again. Regardless of tax revenues, we need to trim spending now so that when the economic cycle turns into the positive again, we will be ahead of the game—growth will be faster, steadier, and more sustained as a result of the measures we take now. Second to taxes and spending, I will be focused on education. We have to find ways to make tax dollars go further and get better results. Spending more money on cookie-cutter education isn't the simple answer we need. It's going to take a hard look at innovation, like charter schools, to determine what options we have for education spending and reform in Georgia. At this point, everything is on the table for education and no idea should be dismissed without serious consideration."
-Ledford: "Jobs and education and transportation: all of these are interlinked and must be worked on equally right away if we are going to have a full stable recovery."
Question: What will you do to improve this issue/area of concern?
-Coomer: "Co-sponsor and work for zero-based budgeting... It's a bill that had bi-partisan support in the last General Assembly and I want to make sure the next governor signs it into law. I'll also work to make sure teachers and parents have more control over the classroom, rather than giving more control to unelected government agents in Washington or Atlanta."
-Ledford: "I would work with the governor to start bringing jobs here right away. Start asking companies looking to move here what they are looking for to come to Georgia and then work very hard to meet their needs so we can provide good jobs to Georgia again. Start working on a bill that would prevent any more cuts to education on a permanent basis by law. Meet with GDOT and the people to find out what they want and, if needed, get a vote on which route the people want in Bartow, Floyd counties for the 411 Connector. This issue may need to go on the ballot because I think it's time to let the people decide what they want again… not telling them what they are going to get, and making sure they have all the facts not just some. Bottom line it's time to give this seat back to the people because they are the boss."
PEAKS & VALLEYS: The highs and lows of Northwest Georgia
Peaks to Brenda Coult-Bailey, a third grade teacher at West End Elementary School, who is the Rome School System's 2012 Teacher of the Year for the Rome City School System. Lori Wilson, academic math teacher/coach at Main Elementary School, was named runner-up. Evelyn Couey was named the district's 2012 Support Employee of the Year. Details.
Peak to baseball legend Bobby Cox:
-Adairsville is home to this living legend of baseball and we're hoping Bobby Cox will be a bit more visible around the Rome Braves' organization as he steps away from managing duties and into a new role with the Atlanta ball club. Cox has brought nearly three decades of sports entertainment to Northwest Georgia fans. A tribute ad in Sunday's AJC talked about how some names live on forever in baseball history. Bobby Cox's name already is one of them. Great job, skipper.
Valley to DISH and Fox Sports:
-Did you see the Braves' regular-season finale on Sunday? Or Saturday's stunning Bulldogs' game? A lot of us DISH customers didn't because of some escalating you-know-what contest over carrier fees. We don't care if the satellite provider or media giant is at fault. What we do know is this: The fans--the ones paying for satellite service--are the ones who got the hook and missed a ringside seat at baseball history. Dust-ups between TV providers and network owners aren't new. Cable has them all the time as well. But in each case, something is missing: the fan hurt by losing service. Who speaks for that fan? And could there by any worse timing than this? Here's hoping the evolution of the Internet makes both DISH and the Fox group expendable in coming years.
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