Campaign 2009 analysis: The highs & lows
-Upset of the year-- SPLOST passes: You would have been hard-pressed to find anyone willing to bet on the $42.3 million SPLOST package passing last week. As late as Monday, a Tweet went out to stating: "Scotty Hancock joins us today . . . a to talk about the controversial communications system on tomorrow's SPLOST ballot." Now that's objective. But between Sunday morning and election day, there was a shift as some naysayers started to weigh the project's overall pros and cons. At the polls: As expected, it pretty much split down city vs. county lines.
-Winner of the year: public safety. The stealth whisper campaign to derail the emergency communications push backfired. Voters put the safety of their families first. The idea of two radios or a radio and a cell phone in an emergency situation? Cell phone coverage in Floyd is sporadic at best. We learned from the '08 tornado.
-Co-winner of the year: Barron Stadium. This is a multiple winner, the planned enhancements of Barron. Fans of Rome High, Shorter College and Peach State benefit, not to mention our chances of a continuing to host the NAIA football championship in coming years. Annual impact: $1.5 million each December. It also is another plus for downtown coming days after the cancer center announcement.
-Comeback player of the year: Ga. 140/53 tracts: The results in 2005 were crippling for the proposed industrial zone. Now let's see if they can lure second- and third-tier suppliers for VW and KIA. Still key: four-laning Ga. 140 to I-75.
-Drink of the year: H2O: Cave Spring gets a critical water enhancement -- and it is deserved. The precinct provided a critical 51-vote yes majority for SPLOST.
-Surprise of the year: The ease with which Rome commissioners Jamie Doss and Duane Reid won re-election. The sign ordinance, the water lines issue and other matters didn't do the incumbents any favors. No problem. Doss and Reid got the most votes among the six candidates on the ballot.
-Campaign of the year: Sue Hamler Lee. With a Web site devoid of her own picture and a slogan imploring you to "honor our veterans--vote!"), Lee waltzed to third place, earning enough votes to assume Bill Fricks' seat in January. There was a strong push on for both Jeff Brown and Steven McDowell. Just not strong enough.
-Losers of the year: The community. Around 21 percent of Rome's registered voters took the time to do just that this year even though early voting started Oct. 13--for the Nov. 3 election. Even worse: Countywide turnout was 16.67 percent. Maybe Sue Hamler Lee is on to something.
-For election results and more, please click Election aftermath
-Several incumbents out in area cities: Bartow / Gordon / Polk
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-Great fall forecast through Monday morning> Weather
-Seven Hills Rotary speakers schedule for Nov., Dec.> Click
-High School football: Cartersville's playoffs; Adairsville nod> Click
-Latest state business updates from Georgia Trend> Ga. Business
-Track today's Dow, other markets> Google Finance
-Georgia Political & Policy Digest's daily headlines> Ga. Politics
Today's Buzz:
-Adairsville man, two others indicted on federal security fraud counts: Rufus Paul Harris, 41, of Adairsville, and two other men made their first appearance before a U.S. magistrate judge Tuesday on federal charges of securities fraud and conspiracy in connection with a scheme to defraud investors of the publicly traded entity known as Conversion Solutions Holdings Corp. Also indicted were Darryl Horton, 48, of Okemos, Mich., and Benjamin Stanley, 47, of Kennesaw, authorities said. Click Details
-Free swine flu vaccine available Thursday for children, pregnant women, healthcare workers, those with existing medical conditions> Health
-As VW begins hiring process, KIA seeking more workers> Ledger-Enquirer
-Rome Christmas Parade deadline is Nov. 10: You can register for the 6:30 p.m. Dec. 1 parade by clicking Here. There is a $50 late fee after Nov. 10. The theme: "An Anniversary Christmas: Celebrating 175 Years of Christmases in Rome."
-Community in Schools' Run for Success 5K is Nov. 14> Healthy Living
-SADD program focuses on teaching young drivers about safety> Click
-Nov. 14/Wilderness walker and folk musician Walkin' Jim Stoltz returns for a concert to benefit the Coosa River Basin Initiative> Details
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-More mall news: Santa Claus makes a trip from the North Pole to Mount Berry Square on Friday, Nov. 13, at 6 p.m.
-Nov. 17/Chamber's Young Professionals of Rome meet from 8:30-9:30 a.m. at Panera Bread. Click Here to register: $5.
Your latest forecast:
-Wednesday: Sunny, high of 71, low of 41.
-Thursday: More sun, high of 67, low of 36.
-Weekend: No rain until Monday!
-Latest weather: Extended forecast / Local radar / Regional radar
John McClellan's football picks> Football Report
-Armuchee, Darlington in playoffs; Pepperell, Calhoun, Cartersville look for wins.
Georgia High School Football Daily: Forecasters say Cartersville vs. Gainesville in first round of AAA playoffs. Adairsville gets a nod as one of the five best AA teams not making the playoffs> Details
Norman Arey's Sports Roundtable>Arey
-Why would playing another quarterback be seen as throwing in the towel for Bulldogs?
Shorter: At Belhaven (Jackson, Miss!) 12:30 p.m. ET Saturday > Click
Upcoming events at Rome Braves/State Mutual Stadium> Sports
-Braves' first Celebrity Shootout with Rocket Wheeler, Frog Smith.
-First annual Wing Ding due Nov. 21.
-Links to winter baseball leagues.
Downtown Headlines> Click
-What's ahead in downtown Rome: Chamber expo Friday, Saturday.
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