2005buzzmayjuly

TOUR DE GEORGIA ALUMS DOING WELL IN 'DE FRANCE': Six teams competing in the 2005 Tour de France battled in the 2005 Tour de Georgia. The teams: Discovery Channel, Team CSC, Phonak Hearing Systems, Saunier Duval-Prodir, Credit Agricole and Gerolsteiner.

Also, 23 pro cyclists in this year's TDF have competed in the Tour de Georgia. In fact, both athletes who have worn the yellow jersey thus far in the Tour de France (David Zabriskie and Lance Armstrong) competed at the 2005 Tour de Georgia.

Some of the notable athletes to compete in both events include:

Lance Armstrong* (USA ): 2004 Tour de Georgia champion and six-time TdF champion

David Zabriskie (USA ): With Team CSC, finished second on Stage 3 (Time Trial, held in Rome) at 2005 Tour de Georgia

Peter Wrolich (AUT): with Gerolsteiner and winner of Stage 2 of 2005 Tour de Georgia (race to Rome)

Bobby Julich* (USA): with Team CSC and bronze medalist in Time Trial at Athens Olympic Games

Levi Leiphemier (USA): team leader for Gerolsteiner

Floyd Landis* (USA): team leader for Phonak, and winner of Stage 3 (Time Trial, held in Rome) at 2005 Tour de Georgia

Jens Voigt* (GER): with Team CSC and second-place overall at 2004 Tour de Georgia

Chris Horner (USA ): with Saunier Duval – Prodir and 2003 Tour de Georgia champion

Source: Tour de Georgia

FIRE VICTIMS NEED YOUR HELP

(7/11) Eighteen to 20 units of the Ashton Ridge apartments on Callier Springs Road were destroyed by fire about 6:30 this morning. No injuries have been reported, thankfully, and the cause of the blaze remains under investigation.

You could still see smoking rising from the charred middle building as of 9:15 this morning

The Coosa Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross needs help in caring for 18 families who lost just about everything in the blaze, says Molly Collins, area coordinator for the local chapter.

The best option is to donate money, she says, and not clothing or household goods. You can drop or mail donations to the Red Cross office at 112 John Maddox Drive NW, Rome, GA. 30165. Contact number: 235-2842. You also can donate online by going to the site's "donation" folder (PayPal). Web site: HERE.

K98 News Director Ed McIntyre contributes to this report. For more, go to www.k98radio.com

17 DEATHS ON GA. WATERWAYS THIS YEAR

With the deaths of three boaters on Lake Allatoona in less eight days, marine safety officials are especially cautious about how busy area waterways will be during the July Fourth holiday weekend.

Seventeen fatalities have been recorded on Georgia waterways so far this year, including the couple killed on Allatoona overnight. They`ve been identified as Jason Dean, 40, of Acworth and Lauren Mills, 24, of Kennesaw.

A week ago Monday, Dustin Bell, an 18-year-old Cartersville man, died in a night boating accident.

Some 50 boating accidents so far this year also have injured around 30 people.

Another 50 people have been charged with boating under the influence, according to reports from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

The agency`s Wildlife Resources Division is offering these boating safety tips:

For more, click HERE

WORK STOPS, CRACKDOWNS START ON HIGHWAYS

The state Department of Transportation is suspending all construction-related lane closures beginning at noon Friday, including that on Second Avenue in Rome, in an attempt to ease holiday traffic.

Work will resume at 5 a.m. Tuesday. The only exception will be emergency maintenance.

A record 40 million Americans are expected to travel during the holiday weekend, which officially begins at 6 p.m. Friday and ends at midnight Monday.

The Georgia State Patrol predicts 14 people will die on Georgia roads during that time. That`s two more than died during the 2004 Independence Day holiday which was a day shorter because the holiday itself fell on Sunday.

The record for July 4th fatalities was 34 deaths set in 1972. That many people died on Georgia roads during summer 2005`s first holiday, Memorial Day.

Because of the high death count on Memorial Day weekend, troopers are planning a significant crackdown on Interstate 75. The campaign`s name: Saving Lives One Ticket at a Time.

new titles, duties at darlington

Darlington's new president starts on July 1 and so, too, will several changes to the school's organizational chart.

In a letter to the Darlington community posted on the school Web site, board chairman Roby Robinson says trustees have approved the following changes:

Tom Whitworth, the school's new president also will have the title of headmaster.
David Rhodes, who had the title headmaster, becomes associate headmaster and Upper School principal.
Bob Rogers becomes chief financial officer.
Joe Montgomery is now chief advancement officer.
Bruce Watterson will be chief communications officer.
Sam Moss will be Dean of College Guidance.
Jim Van Es will be Middle School Principal.
and Mark Tayloe will be Lower School Principal.

Jim Hendrix spent the past year serving as interim president following the resignation of David Hicks.

Read Robinson's column by clicking HERE.

ROME STADIUM COMMITTEE MEETS JUNE 23

The newly formed city committee charged with reviewing the Barron Stadium/West Third Street project meets for the first time at 10 a.m. Thursday, June 23, in the city manager's conference room. It is open to the public.

Mayor Ronnie Wallace appointed city commissioners Wright Bagby, Bill Fricks and Norman Skidmore to the panel. Their job: to review the proposal from Dee Yancey and Doc Kibler, and report to the full city commission within 60 days.

Yancey and Kibler want the current site of Barron Stadium and surrounding properties for a massive redevelopment effort that stretches from the banks of the Oostanaula River to Floyd Medical Center.

They plan more than 900,000 square feet of buildings and parking, including six buildings (hotel, cancer center, offices, condos, retail and more).

Yancey and Kibler are proposing a land swap and some relocation assistance, with the football stadium rising adjacent to State Mutual Stadium, home of the Rome Braves. The new Rome/Floyd Tennis Center would double in size (33 courts in all), most likely built on city-owned property across from Ridge Ferry Park off Riverside Parkway.

Next Thursday's meeting comes two days after two key community votes:

All Floyd County voters are eligible to decide the fate of a $36.5 million SPLOST issue that includes $4 million for new recreation offices and a gymnasium. The current sites are included in the Yancey/Kibler plan but government officials say new facilities were under discussion before the redevelopment issue surfaced. The new rec center has been designed to go with a new stadium but it's new location is undecided.
Also on Tuesday's ballot for Rome voters only: A proposal to expand economic development powers to create special taxing districts that would aid both the Yancey/Kibler plan and areas such as South Rome.

EX-CLERK GETS THREE YEARS: A former Floyd County probate clerk will spend the next three years in jail following her sentencing this morning on 46 felony and misdemeanor counts. Staci Mechelle Chaffin pleaded guilty last month to stealing $54,250 between September 1998 and January 2004.

Most of the charges she faced involved theft of funds. She has since made restitution. Superior Court Judge F. Larry Salmon sentenced her to 10 years, mandating she serve at least three years. She also faces seven years probation as well as 100 hours of community service. Her attorney was Wade Hoyt III while Assistant District Attorney Hal Goldin represented the state.

REGION LOSES 400 JOBS IN A MONTH: Greater Rome lost 400 jobs between April and May, according to preliminary reports from the Georgia Department of Labor. Some 42,500 people were employed last month, down from 42,900 in April. It was the second month of declines. There were 43,000 people employed in the local market in March.

The Rome numbers are the exact opposite from statewide figures. Georgia had 3.92 million jobs in May, up 10,500 from the previous month. The state's tentative unemployment rate for May is 5.0 percent.

The labor report comes on the heels of the May summary of those filing first-time unemployment insurance claims. Rome saw a 20.4 percent increase between April and May, rising from 511 to 615.

NEW AREA CODE, 10-DIGIT DIALING ON THE TABLE: We'll take our first steps toward a new area code and mandatory 10-digit dialing starting today. Georgia`s Public Service Commission meets at 10 a.m. in Atlanta to discuss the new area code.

The numbers are not known as yet. It will be what's referred to as an "overlay" and not assigned to a specific area, much like the 678 area code used in the metro counties.

The new area code is needed because the PSC believes we`ll run out of 706 options by this time next year.

The reason: fax, cell and computer lines.

We should know the new number by month's end.

At the same time, we'll be required to start dialing 10 numbers, even to your next door neighbor, on April 3.

LEONARD TAKES SIMILAR POST IN GORDON COUNTY: Former Floyd County Comptroller Al Leonard is returning to Northwest Georgia. Starting July 11, he’ll be finance director of Gordon County, replacing the man who took his place: Brent Burdette. Leonard stepped down earlier this year and announced plans to move to South Florida.

SPLOST VOTING UNDER WAY

Advance voting continues for the latest SPLOST package in the recently remodeled Fourth Avenue courthouse (use the First Street entrance). You can stop in to vote on the $36.5 million special purpose local option sales tax through 5 p.m. Friday. The actual vote is Tuesday, June 21.

For a list of the proposed projects, please click SPLOST. For the sample ballot, click BALLOT. You can contact the elections office by calling 291-5167. There's more on the county Web site but the information is out of date (offices, etc.)

The next big development in the SPLOST rollout is 4 p.m. Tuesday. Rome city commissioners will meet to hear the developers' proposal for the Barron Stadium neighborhoods. (Details below)

The SPLOST connection: the $4 million for the new Sportsplex and recreation offices that could be part of the new Barron Stadium infrastructure next to State Mutual Stadium. The rec offices would need to move if the city and developers Dee Yancey and Doc Kibler strike a deal for the current Barron site.

Directly or indirectly, we've seen the SPLOST proposal rolled out in four phases: signs promoting the new Boys & Girls Club as part of the East Main community center; the Sportsplex/stadium/new tennis center unveiled two weeks ago before city commissioners; the 411 corridor study last week (part of the SPLOST package features funds for 411 frontage roads); and now this grand finale with the West Third property.

KEY MEETING ON BARRON STADIUM PLAN TUESDAY

Rome city commissioners will meet at 4 p.m. Tuesday to "receive plans for the proposed redevelopment of the West Third Street area." Translation: This looks like the big meeting most have anticipated since the Dee Yancey/Doc Kibler redevelopment plan surfaced in mid-December.

It will be the second such meeting in as many weeks: the plans to build a new Barron Stadium, track and sports complex in one superstructure was unveiled last week. Also included: a new Rome/Floyd Tennis Center twice the size of the current one.

The current stadium, tennis center and recreation department would need to go to make way for the massive redevelopment effort proposed by Kibler and Yancey. Prime real estate between Floyd Medical Center and the Oostanaula River would give way to new medical, professional, retail and residential developments.

The property has been assessed at more than $11 million. What has yet to be worked out: How the developers would compensate for the land, relocation and related issues.

3. Receive plans for the proposed redevelopment of the West Third Street area.

NO BOND FOR MURDER SUSPECT

Murder suspect Michelle Sullins Reynolds' latest bid for freedom has been denied.

Reynolds' attorney, citing her 11-month incarceration while awaiting trial on charges of killing her husband, made the latest appeal for her release this afternoon.

Thad Reynolds was stabbed to death outside the Frito-Lay distributorship near Rome last July.

Michelle Reynolds and her reported lover, Richard Scott Harper, were arrested several days later on charges of killing her husband.

This afternoon, her attorney, Jimmy Berry of Marietta, asked Superior Court Judge J. Bryant Durham to release her, citing a lack of movement in the death penalty case as well as other issues regarding her family.

District Attorney Leigh Patterson disagreed and asked the court to recall the testimony when both murder suspects sought bond last September. Durham declined their requests.

He did so again on Thursday but said he’d take Michelle Reynolds’ latest request under consideration again on July 18 if raised by Berry. Durham told both prosecution and defense attorneys to be prepared for more hearings in the case that day.

Patterson said she’d have key evidence in her cases against both suspects prepared to share with defense attorneys by the end of this month.

*Correction: We originally reported the judge would consider the bond request between now and July 18 hearing. Durham instead denied bond but agreed to hear a new request then. We apologize for the error.

STATE UNVEILS A DIFFERENT LOOK AT 411

UPDATED THURSDAY: The Georgia Department of Community Affairs has hired an Atlanta design firm to look at the potential for the U.S. 411 corridor linking Rome and Cartersville.

The study by Tunnell-Spangler-Walsh & Associates is a concept plan for the stretch, one that looks at the "character, density and location of potential development." TSW's summary is that "growth along the corridor is inevitable."

The timing of the unveiling today certainly is convenient. Floyd County voters go to the polls 13 days from now to decide the fate of a $36.5 million, 30-month SPLOST project. (Early voting starts Monday at the elections office).

Included in the SPLOST proposal: U.S. 411 right of way engineering and purchases, set at $3 million. Says the SPLOST review: The purchase is "so as to restrict access to highway and provide for future frontage roads."

SHORTER WANTS A RECONSIDERATION

Attorneys for Shorter College have filed for a reconsideration before the Georgia Supreme Court in an attempt to void an earlier ruling that gives control of the college back to the Georgia Baptist Convention.

Shorter's lead attorney, Bruce Brown of the Atlanta law firm of McKenna, Long & Aldridge, challenges the way "dissolution" was debated by the justices on both sides of the ruling. (Read the motion by clicking HERE)

Last month, the Georgia Supreme Court--in a close 4-3 vote--gave control of the Rome-based school back to the Georgia Baptist Convention.

Brown, in his 18-page motion, says the issue is over the way "old Shorter" was dissolved and its assets transferred into a new entity. He's based his motion for reconsideration on the need to clarify the dissolution.

Shorter officials originally sought the separation from the Baptist convention, citing concerns about future accreditation of the school.

RIBBON CUTTING FOR BARTOW CAMPUS AUG. 26

Ribbon-cutting for Georgia Highlands College's new Bartow campus is now set for Aug. 26.

OPEN HOUSE ON GA. 140 WIDENING JUNE 14

You can get a look at the plans to four-lane seven miles of Ga. 140 in Floyd and Bartow counties during an open house set for Tuesday, June 14, from 5 to 7 p.m. in Adairsville's Depot.

The project calls for widening the road from Ga. 53 east to U.S. 41 in Adairsville. Included would be the replacement of two bridges, one crossing the Oothkalooga Creek and the other the CSX railroad.

CEDARTOWN MAN FACES 117 COUNTS: A Cedartown businessman faces 117 counts of theft by receiving stolen property, allegedly tie to his A to Z Discount Warehouse, according to FBI reports.

Robin Cheatwood, 50, was arrested following a multi agency search warrant was executed May 19. Additional charges are possible, the FBI says.

Joining in the investigation were the FBI, GBI, Floyd County law enforcement, Cedartown Police and the Clayton County Police Department. Cheatwood remains in custody at the Polk County Detention Center.

A private probation service employee has been charged with attempting to have sex with a woman in custody as well as bribery, Rome police say.

Howard R. "Randy" Pitman, who works for Maximus' probation service, was arrested Tuesday on the felony counts following an investigation that began May 19. He's being held at the Floyd County Jail.

Capt. Denise Downer-McKinney, commander of the detectives division, is asking others who may have come into contact with the suspect to call her office at 238-9129.

(From Floyd County:) The Floyd County Board of Assessors is mailing the 2005 Property Assessment notices today. Only those properties with increased valuations or special situations will receive a notice. The assessment notices reflect the current property values.

All property owners who feel their new values are incorrect should file a written appeal. A property owner has 45 days from the date on the notice to file an appeal. Appeals should be sent to:

Floyd County Board of Assessors
4 Government Plaza, Suite 10
Rome, Ga. 30161

The written appeal should include the map reference from the assessment notice, an estimate of what the value should be, a brief reason for the appeal and a daytime phone number should the property owner need to be contacted.

The Assessors' office may be contacted by phone at the following numbers:

At least 34 people have died on Georgia highways this holiday weekend, including three locally, setting a record for carnage on state highways over summer's first holiday.

The Georgia State Patrol had predicted 17 people would die in 2,550 accidents during the 78-hour holiday that began at 6 p.m. Friday and ended at midnight Monday. The death count passed that prediction on Sunday and soared past the previous record--27 deaths--later that day.

A Saturday afternoon accident on U.S. 278 killed two people in Polk County while a wreck in Bartow took one life.

What already is the saddest period in Darlington's 100 years took another grim turn Sunday night.

Erika Binns, a 16-year-old day student from Marietta, died following a single-car accident on Booger Hollow Road near the Floyd-Polk County line, according to police reports.

Erika, a sophomore, was driving to Cedartown to spend the night with the parents of one of her classmate's, says Dr. Jim Hendrix, the school's interim president.

Erika, the daughter of Dr. Mike and Susan Black Binns, had been on campus studying for exams and was going to stay in Cedartown to avoid the commute the next day, Hendrix said in a statement posted on the school's Web site.

Her vehicle left the road at New Prospect Baptist Church, hit the church sign and flipped twice, according to reports on www.k98radio.com. Police believe she fell asleep behind the wheel.

Darlington students assembled in the school chapel this morning to remember Erika.

Visitation will be held at Daniels Funeral Home in Rome from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday. A memorial service will be held Thursday at 2 p.m. at Darlington's Morris Chapel with the Rev. Don Black, St. James Episcopal Church, Cedartown, officiating. Family will receive friends at Home-on-the-Hill, the Darlington president's residence, following Thursday's memorial service.

Her death comes just months after two students, Clay McKemie and Sean Wilkinson, were lost during a spring break canoe trip off Florida's Gulf Coast.

This has been a year of transition for the Darlington community following the retirement of David Hicks, the interim presidency of Hendrix and this summer's arrival of Tom Whitworth. The school held graduation services on Saturday.

Erika also is the second high school student to die on local roads in recent months. Andrew Alexander, a Model High senior, died in a collision on the bypass in April.

PERDUE SIGNS NEW CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS

Northwest Georgia's congressional district has a new look that should stick unless the federal Department of Justice finds flaws.

Gov. Sonny Perdue on Tuesday signed HB499 realigning the state's 13 congressional districts, including the 11th which includes much of Northwest Georgia.(MAP)

The new 11th District includes all of Floyd, Chattooga, Bartow, Polk, Harralson and Paulding counties as well as parts of Gordon, Carroll and Cobb counties.

The new boundaries won't be official until blessed by the Justice Department. Until then, the current boundaries remain in place. The district, as is, stretches from Chattooga County to Columbus and resembles a backwards "J."

U.S. Rep. Phil Gingrey, a Marietta Republican, currently represents the 11th District and would be eligible to seek the seat again in 2006 under the new boundaries.

An eastern chunk of Gordon County as well as the northern tier of counties in this part of the state would now be part of the Ninth Congressional District currently represented by Nathan Deal, a Gainesville Republican.

Bob Saylors, who has led the Rome-Floyd County Parks and Recreation Authority for almost 25 years, is retiring effective May 13. During a staff meeting this morning, Saylors told colleagues he was stepping down. His retirement was affirmed this afternoon during a meeting with the rec authority.A search committee is being formed to find a replacement for Saylors, who turns 59 in September.

Saylors and the Rome/Floyd program are known statewide for its success, especially tennis. Saylors' retirement comes following a tumultuous few months at the rec department that's included complaints about concert noise and related issues.

Saylors steps down just as the authority is seeking a new Rome-Floyd Sports Center, valued at $4 million, in the upcoming SPLOST package going before Floyd County voters on June 21.

NEW VENUE FOR ROME GLADIATORS

The Rome Gladiators open season two with a new venue: Shorter College's Winthrop-King Centre at 315 Shorter Ave. starting tonight.

The Gladiators, part of the WBA, played the first season to small crowds at The Forum. And the team was supposed to be there again this year, says Forum Manager Brent Poplin.

"All dates were scheduled," he said, "but we could not come to terms on an agreement."

So tonight's exhibition game vs. The Georgia Grizzlies is at Shorter and the Gladiators' 12 regular-season home games are set for Shorter as well. Tonight's game start at 7 and there is no admission charge. >SCHEDULE

The Gladiators, owned by NBA superstar Theo Ratliff, open the season at Shorter at 7 p.m. Monday vs. Birmingham. General admission tickets are $5 per person.

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Germany has been selected as the new pope to more than 1.1 billion Catholics around the world. He has adopted the papal name of Benedict XVI. Ratzinger was perceived as the likely choice to replace the late John Paul II.

His selection on Tuesday was greeted with the release of white balloons by students at St. Mary's Catholic School in Rome. Earlier in the day, as the cardinals failed to reach agreement, the students released black balloons. Both simulated the white and black smoke spotted above the Sistine Chapel during the cardinals' voting.

Father James Miceli, pastor of St. Mary's Catholic Church, said this of the new pope: "Cardinal Ratzinger had the support of many of the Cardinals going into the Conclave. The fact that he was elected on the fourth vote indicates that the respect, confidence, and the affection of the Cardinals for him coalesced very quickly.

"This is a good thing for the Church. He has one of the greatest theological minds in the Church today. He speaks several languages, and they say his English is perfect. Obviously, he is a son of the Second Vatican Council. The direction begun by the Council and so brilliantly carried out by John Paul II will obviously continue under Pope Benedict the XVI.

"People who know him well speak of him as a humble, holy, and disarmingly affable. Of course, we don't know if he will travel to the extent that John Paul II did, but I am sure Benedict will win the minds and hearts of Catholics and all people of good will in the course of his Papacy."