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Fort Oglethorpe battle anniversary a boon for businesses ...
Found: 18 Minutes ago
Catoosa County News - Includes video:The anniversary of the 145th Battle of Chickamauga has taught Fort Oglethorpe officials at least one thing: the need for even more effort in five years.Mayor Ronnie Cobb said he can remember how the city celebrated the 100th anniversary. Old men grew beards and ladies wore hoop skirts to commemorate the times. That was in 1963, when Fort Oglethorpe had only 2,000 residents, he said.Council Member and City Clerk Harold Silcox said it’s important that people know that even though Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park is in Walker County, it is also inside Fort Oglethorpe’s city limits.“We need to really push this park with the upcoming celebration (of the 150th anniversary in 2013),” Silcox said. “Last weekend, every motel we had was full, and the restaurants were, too.”Chris McKeever, executive director of the 6th Cavalry Museum and an active proponent of Fort Oglethorpe’s tourism industry, said the commemoration on Sept. 19-21 was also an opportunity for the city’s businesses to promote their names to the thousands of visitors who flocked in for reenactments, living histories and other activities.On behalf of the Fort Oglethorpe Tourism Committee, McKeever and other volunteers set up an information tent at the battlefield, where most of the activities were held. They passed out information and discount coupons from local businesses, spending only about $400 on the entire event, she said.“It was good to be able to talk to people at the event and find out their thoughts,” she said. “This was a good learning experience.” McKeever said better directional signage would be helpful at the 150th anniversary. Also, the 6th Cavalry was formed in 1861, she said, so she’ll likely try to plan something special for the commemoration in 2013.McKeever said she received more than 50 calls from people in the community seeking information about the battle commemoration plans before the event.“It was good we were able to offer this kind of service,” she said.The event seems to have been a boon for motel and bed and breakfast businesses, all of which were filled.At the Best Western on Rossville Boulevard, front desk clerk Jackie Boles said people began making reservations in June for the weekend. Rooms were also booked full at Captain’s Quarters Bed and Breakfast and Super 8.Many visitors who came by the Tourism Committee’s tent were from Atlanta, Knoxville, Tenn. and Cleveland, Tenn., McKeever said. They often come to the Chattanooga area a few times a year and will now be more informed about what Fort Oglethorpe has to offer, she said.Although the weekend was designed to commemorate a solemn event in which more than 30,000 soldiers from the North and South were killed during the Civil War, the experience also had its lighthearted moments.McKeever said the Tourism Committee was stationed not far from a family of reenactors who had also brought with them a jersey cow they tied out barely 50 feet away from one of the cannons. Although the cannons were loaded with far less gunpowder than would be used during a real battle, the blast “just knocked you back,” McKeever said, and would rattle the stack of flyers volunteers were handing out.“You’d see those first few sheets rise up from that cannon being fired,” she said. “That cow never flinched ... They take that cow to all the reenactments that they do, so she was used to it.”VIDEO: Chris McKeever speaks about the anniversary’s impact on Fort Oglethorpe businessesTo launch external video player, click hereCLICK ON THESE LINKSFEEDBACK: Send a letter to the editorSUBSCRIBE: Get The Catoosa County News each WednesdayGO BACK:Return to our homepage...
Funding tops debate issues for school board candidates ...
Found: 21 Minutes ago
Catoosa County News - Candidates for the three seats on the Catoosa County Board of Education spent most of the evening fielding questions about budget concerns and the graduation rate.Contenders for seats on District 1, District 3 and for an at-large seat faced each other in a debate sponsored by the Catoosa County Chamber of Commerce at the Colonnade on Thursday, Oct. 2.District 3: Dycus vs. JacksonIn the District 3 race, Incumbent Don Dycus, 60, an aquatic biologist of Ringgold is challenged by Bud Jackson, 51, a general contractor of Ringgold. Dycus has been the board chairman for several years.Asked for their stances on giving property tax breaks to senior citizens, Dycus said he believed the breaks should be age and income-based. Many property owners 65 and older have plenty of income to pay taxes while others do not, he said. Jackson said income should be taken into account, but he would lower the exemption age from 75 to 65 or 70 as neighboring counties have done.Both candidates agreed that the problem with education funding lies in Atlanta, where state legislators have approved budget cuts for local school systems, sometimes even after local school boards have submitted their budgets for the year.Dycus said he has worked with the public and educators to work out compromises on budget cuts and increases. Jackson said he would pursue more grants for the system to lessen the burden on local taxpayers. At that point, the debate moderator posed the first audience question of the night. The inquirer wanted to know if Jackson would vote to hire his wife, Donna Jackson of Paradyne Consulting, Inc. in Ringgold, if elected. Paradyne provides grant application assistance for a fee.“I’m not promoting my wife; I’m promoting a system,” Jackson said, adding that he would not vote to hire her if elected. “It’s just another way to get money without going to the taxpayer.”Dycus immediately quipped that if he were serving on the board there would be no conflict in hiring Paradyne. The audience laughed, and the moderator asked Dycus how he would vote in Jackson’s situation. Dycus said he would not vote to hire someone in his family.At-large: Edwards v. WilliamsIn the midst of the state funding shortfall, the local school board has faced a state funding cut of $1.6 million. Vying for the at-large school board seat are incumbent Melvin R. Edwards, 71, a retired educator, of Chambers; and Brent Williams, 35, an accountant of Poplar Springs. Edwards said the board has already done a decent job of working with what it has and is fortunate to have a healthy reserve fund to cover some of the funding losses. Nevertheless, he said that in the future the board would likely have to cover shortfalls by cutting programs.“The state mandates many things that we have to do,” he said. “Since 2003, our system has lost over $10 million but we’ve opened three new schools during that time.”Williams said he has balanced budgets his entire career.“There’s a lot of ways that we can do more with less,” he said. “We have to do everything we can to keep from cutting where it’s core to education.”He criticized the board’s move earlier in the year to cut back on the number of teachers in the system in response to a budget shortfall, saying leaders should have made more cuts in administration.Asked what he would do to improve the 72.8 percent graduation rate, Williams said he would find alternative ways to teach including using nontraditional settings and using technology. He also criticized the fact that many Catoosa students have to share textbooks for their classes.Edwards said the graduation rate has already risen under his leadership, up from just 59 percent in 2002. The system needs to examine ways to help students have to support their families, to stay in school, he said, and create a safe, caring environment.Williams said he wants the school system to return to being an institution that sets standards and is ready for the challenges of the future. Edwards said he has been in education in Catoosa County since 1960 and wants to see all students graduate.Both candidates have children and/or grandchildren in the school system.District 1: McDaniel vs. SilcoxDistrict 1 seat, incumbent Billy Joe McDaniel, 77, a retired electrician of Rock Spring faces Pat Silcox, 68, a retired human resources professional of Fort Oglethorpe, whose husband, Harold Silcox, is a Fort Oglethorpe City Council member.McDaniel said his 32 years of experience on the board are reason for voters to check his name in November.“I’ve worked with (children) ever since I came back out of the service in the Korean conflict,” he said. “If I make a difference in some child’s life, I have been successful in this life.”Silcox said she has worked for federal, city and county government and is a certified human resources manager. She cited her volunteer work through the Red Cross, at a local hospital and in response to Hurricane Katrina as evidence of her aptitude for public service.Asked how she would improve the graduation rate, Silcox said there needs to be a focus on treating children differently rather than trying to make them “a clone of ourselves.” Not all are college-bound, she said, and training for vocational jobs, including at the Volkswagen plant that is being built in Chattanooga, Tenn., is vital.McDaniel said the graduation rate is still low but a 100 percent rate isn’t possible. Classes in welding, electrical work, iron working and construction are already offered, he said, but the schools also need parents to become more involved.Both candidates agreed they would like to reinstate the number of classes the system offers for gifted students. Silcox criticized cuts to the gifted program earlier this year, saying officials should have anticipated potential state funding losses and been ready to chop elsewhere. McDaniel replied that the board had to make the cuts because news of the state funding cuts came after state officials had already approved the local budget.CLICK ON THESE LINKSFEEDBACK: Send a letter to the editorSUBSCRIBE: Get The Catoosa County News each WednesdayGO BACK:Return to our homepage...
McDaniel to be president of consolidated technical colleges ...
Found: 22 Minutes ago
Catoosa County News - Plans are progressing in the merger of Coosa Valley Technical College and Northwestern Technical College. The Technical College System of Georgia today approved Craig McDaniel, president of Coosa Valley Technical College, as the new president of the consolidated college, effective July 1, 2009."I look forward to working with the folks at Northwestern,"McDaniel said. "They’ve got a good school up there, and it will be a merger of two good institutions that both have a lot of history. "Interim president of Northwestern Technical College Jeff King has been named provost for the merged school. The board has not made any decisions on the school's name.The merging of 14 technical colleges across Georgia is expected to save $3.5 million.The Technical College System of Georgia board also named Dr. Sandford Chandler, president of Appalachian Technical College in Jasper, president of the college formed from the merger of Chattahoochee Technical College and North Metro Technical College. Chandler is a former CVTC vice president who oversaw the Gordon County campus.Ron Newcomb, interim president at North Metro Technical College, will be provost of the merged institution....
Land trust proposal to Catoosa Board of Education a familiar sound to ...
Found: 22 Minutes ago
Catoosa County News - A local couple has voiced their desire to the Catoosa County Board of Education during the Tuesday, Sept. 30 work session, to increase tourism at Barnhardt Circle and to "relieve the financial burden of Barnhart Circle from the school system."The area in Fort Oglethorpe is home to the Performance Learning Center (PLC) and is a residential area on the border of the Chickamauga &Chattanooga National Military Park.Ed and Radonna Parrish seek to preserve and restore Johnston Field, which is currently Polo Field, back to its 1946 appearance. The couple said they would like to eventually remove the PLC, protect the area to remain residential, create a "green space"for recreational use and create a large step towards a tourism initiative. The Parrish’s mentioned to the board that if the PLC were to close at any point, they would like to form a trust that would restore the area back to its original state.Currently the couple is attempting to make an open-ended contract with the school board stating they would be able to obtain grants and charitable funds to help for the trust for returning the area to its historic nature. Although the board made no decision at the time of the meeting, they made it clear at this point the PLC would remain open."There has been no discussion to close the PLC, even after the charter school is opened,"said Catoosa County Public Schools Superintendent Denia Reese. "It's good to know that you want the first option if it ever did close."In previous board meetings; Reese mentioned that the PLC would not close and that the board would more than likely only be able to promise a first option to the couple.In the past the Parrish's have presented their idea to the Fort Oglethorpe City Council. Board member, Jane Everett, suggested that it might be more successful as a countywide proposal rather than just the school board.New Kindergarten Report CardsElementary Specialist for Catoosa County’s Board of Education, Lisa Miller, presented to the board the new progress reports that would be used for kindergarten classes and created a stir amongst the board. The program called GKIDS is an electronic report created by the Georgia Department of Education that provides more detailed information than its predecessor.According to Miller the previous report only had items for whether a child could read, write and a few other broad aspects. The new report card would present more detailed information on whether a student has met certain skills by the following ranks: emerging, progressing, meets standards, exceeds and not attempted yet. Board member Jane Everett did not like the current appearance. “Some parents won’t understand the report,” said Everett. Dr. Kim Nichols, Catoosa assistant Superintendent and Denia Reese, Catoosa County Superintendent said in response that there would be parent-teacher conferences to help parents understand and also wait until the information is printed to see what it looks like in comparison to its digital version on the computer. “Those parents probably won’t come,” said Everett in reference to having informative training sessions for parents. “There just may be an issue of communication; it’s hard for me let alone someone with English as a second language.” She also suggested that the progress reports needed more white space and less wordage to make it easier to understand.According to Nichols, Spanish versions of the report cards and information about them are to also be printed in Spanish to make it easier for those who need it.Other Information ReportsDirector of Student Services, Coleman Burroughs, presented a request to the board to ask The Georgia Department of Education for a waiver of rule 160-5-1.19. According to the rule, sports competitions must be completed within a four-hour time limit of the student’s dismissal from school. Other systems surrounding Catoosa have received the waiver from the state and their students have five hours to complete games when necessary. With the distance they must travel to games, there are times when they need a five-hour window to complete a game. The request to the state also asks for an additional day for make-up games when necessary. The board gave permission to submit the waiver to the state.The school board also received a presentation from Communication Specialist Marissa Bower about a new grant they are perusing. The grant would provide $1.4 million a year for four years to the schools for emphasis on safety and healthy living for students.The bridge at Heritage High School has been completed.CLICK ON THESE LINKSFEEDBACK: Send a letter to the editorSUBSCRIBE: Get The Catoosa County News each WednesdayGO BACK:Return to our homepage...
County hopes to complete road work by year‘s end ...
Found: 23 Minutes ago
Catoosa County News - Work on about 20 county roads slated to be repaved, enhanced or repaired should be completed by the end of the year, officials said.The Catoosa County Board of Commissioners during a Friday morning meeting on Oct. 3 approved a contract with low bidder Talley Construction for $992,005. The contract involves work on roads approved on the state-funded Local Assistance Road Projects list as well as making repairs to roads that suffered damage during a sewer project at Blevins Acres.“We’re hoping to get all of those paved before the end of the calendar year,” said Carl Henson, chief financial officer for the county.Officials said Catoosa County would receive $347,000 in state reimbursements through the LARP funds, about $200,000 from the sewer fund for the Blevins Acres project, and the rest of the money from special purpose local option sales tax.The contract is for six months with an option to renew it for another six months if needed.Catoosa joins development authorityCommissioners also finalized a resolution that has been in the works for months to fund the Northwest Georgia Joint Development Authority at $1.82 per resident each year for two years. The population is based on the 2000 census. Catoosa County is the newest member on the Authority, an economic development organization whose mission is to bring industry to Dade, Walker, Chattooga and Catoosa counties. The fee will drop to $1.50 per resident after two years.“I think it’s especially timely with Volkswagen coming that we become a part,” said County Attorney Clifton “Skip” Patty.The vehicle manufacturing plant is expected to begin production in Chattanooga, Tenn. location by 2011, and leaders from surrounding counties are discussing ways to recruit supply manufacturers.Commisioners unanimously approved appointing Martha Eaker, Randall Peters and Bob Peck as members of the newly restructured Authority board. Eaker, president of the Catoosa County Chamber of Commerce, will serve two years; Peters, a Ringgold businessman who serves on several public boards, will serve three years; and Peck, chairman of the Catoosa County Economic Development Authority, will serve four years. The next appointees will serve full, four-year terms.The commission also met in closed session for two hours to discuss legal matters and land acquisition. When they came back out, they approved spending $25,000 on improvements at the site of an armed forces memorial at Benton Place Campus. Patty said the county had planned to contribute the money to match an $85,000 grant to build the memorial, but plans to instead contribute labor and equipment for building a walking track there and free up the cash for other improvements.State-funded road projectsBenton Drive .28 milesBrowndale Lane .14 milesBrownwood Lane .25 milesLetha Lane .29 milesFoster Drive .28 milesHeadrick Drive .16 milesLeota Drive .22 milesFoster Drive .28 milesSanders Road 1.23 milesMack Smith Road 2.12 milesMcDonald Drive .62 milesMcIntire Road 1.14 milesMelody Lane .28 milesOak Circle Drive .26 milesTanferan Drive .18 milesWagon Wheel Road .24 milesWoodgate Road 1.39 milesYucca Drive .19 milesIn other business at the meeting, commissioners voted unanimously to approve:* Purchasing 11 new patrol cars for the Catoosa County Sheriff’s Department for $216,000 from SPLOST funds. Sheriff Phil Summers said he could potentially save up to $2,000 per vehicle by allocating money from the 2009 SPLOST to purchase the vehicles this month from low bidder Prater Ford in Calhoun, Ga. Officials said the bill would not be due until mid-December, very close to the time the county normally approves a line of credit on SPLOST projects for the upcoming calendar year. The commission also approved allowing the department to purchase $50,000 of equipment. * An amended interlocal cooperation agreement with Hamilton County, Tenn., Chattanooga, Tenn., Dade County and Walker County involving radio communication between law enforcement responders. They also approved agreements from 2006, 2007 and for 2008. Officials said the agreements were reapproved to reflect cooperation with entities that had joined since the last vote. Commissioners also issued a vote of confidence to sign the $5.77 million Homeland Security grant for Motorola communication equipment that allows all the law agencies to be on the same radio system. * An ordinance that requires public utilities to pay to move their lines when the county needs the right of way for something else. No one spoke in opposition to the move at a public meeting before the vote. * An intergovernmental agreement with the City of Ringgold on future sewer projects. Patty said county sewer officials believe the system works better when they use compacted dirt to cap over a sewer line while city officials prefer concrete. The agreement makes Ringgold liable for anything that goes wrong with the system or roads from the bottom of the trench to 18 inches above the crown, and the county liable for everything higher. * Appointing Wayne Lowry to the Lookout Mountain Community Services Board. Commissioners also commended outgoing board member Terri Johnson, who they said resigned after serving since the early 1990s. * Spending $700 to change the design of the Meadowgreen Sewer Project because nine lots were inadvertently left out of the original plan. * Accepting a $4,000 state grant for the juvenile court system. * Appointing County Commissioner Jim Emberson as a voting delegate to the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia. * Appointing County Commissioner Bobby Winters as a voting delegate for the Catoosa County Utility District Board Election. * An annual maintenance contract on three new copy machines for $3,084. * Spending $2,900 on the annual operating system contract with Tyler Technologies. * A 60-month copier purchase contract for $190 at the magistrate office and one for $158 at the probate judge office. CLICK ON THESE LINKSFEEDBACK: Send a letter to the editorSUBSCRIBE: Get The Catoosa County News each WednesdayGO BACK:Return to our homepage...
State House contenders differ on how to resolve budget crisis ...
Found: 29 Minutes ago
Catoosa County News - Several state races and one district judge race are included on this year’s ballot for the Nov. 4 election.The Catoosa County Chamber of Commerce invited each of the candidates to attend an Oct. 2 debate at the Colonnade. Some candidates were not present.House Distrct 3: Noble vs. WeldonDistrict 3 State Representative race, which includes parts of Catoosa and Whitfield counties, Republican Tom Weldon, Jr. faces Democrat Ralph Noble in November in the seat being vacated by incumbent Ron Foster, Republican of Ringgold.Asked about experience related to education – one of the areas lawmakers must attempt to tackle every session – Weldon said his relevant experience includes having three children who attend Catoosa County schools and being a lawyer who has gone through several years of education himself.Noble said he has been a teacher for 32 years and has served as president of the Georgia Association of Educators where he represented the interests of the group in the Georgia Legislature.On the strain illegal immigration causes on the health care system, Noble said he would begin by punishing employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants rather than focusing primarily on prosecuting the immigrants themselves. Weldon said officials should be more forceful using the laws already in place.Weldon said he would deal with the state’s budget problems (Georgia is facing a nearly $2 billion shortfall) by examining ways to reallocate taxes and bring revenue into the state, including making the gas tax more competitive with that of neighboring states. Noble said he would first eliminate unnecessary programs, like vouchers for certain students to attend private schools, since state government’s job is to educate children and care for those who cannot care for themselves.Superior Court judgeOne of the most-discussed topics among the five candidates vying to win the position being vacated by Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit Superior Court Judge Ralph Hill Jr. was scheduling. On court days, defendants, witnesses, attorneys and jurors flood the courthouse, creating crowded conditions. Often, defendants and others must spend several days in court waiting for their case to be heard. However, the overcrowding could be at least reduced by properly evaluating the schedule, several candidates said.Senate District 53: Coker vs. MullisDistrict 53 state Sen. Jeff Mullis (R), 48, an economic developer and community planner from Chickamauga will face Democratic challenger Bruce Coker, 48, a deputy sheriff of LaFayette, in the November general election. Mullis was the only contender in the Oct. 2 Candidates Debate to send a proxy in his place. State Rep. Jay Neal, a Republican from LaFayette, said he agreed to represent Mullis in the debate against Coker. Coker criticized Mullis for not being present, and Neal said Mullis was involved on an important trip to Europe to network with industries that could potentially come to Georgia. See catoosanews.com and the Oct. 15 edition for more coverage.Five people have qualified to run for a nonpartisan post in the circuit, which serves Walker, Catoosa, Dade and Chattooga counties. They are Chris Arnt, 41, prosecutor with the district attorney’s office; J. Michael “Mike” Giglio, 46, attorney; Brian House, 46, attorney; Bill Rhyne Jr., 48, attorney; and Larry Stagg, 42, attorney. Giglio, House and Stagg live in Catoosa County.Each candidate had several decades of experience, but the backgrounds of each one were different.Arnt said a judge’s job is “to seek justice, and that’s what I’ve been doing.” Giglio said he is the only candidate who has been both a prosecutor, owned his own practice and has also been a judge.House said he’s been practicing as a trial lawyer for 21 years and has handled every type of case that would come before a superior court judge. Rhyne said he too has tried every kind of case that would normally come before the judge and has also been involved in the lower courts.Stagg said he has filed more citations than any other individual lawyer in the circuit. “Judge Hill had come to see me and asked me too consider running for his spot,” Stagg said.Asked how they would improve the performance of the position, Giglio said he would to educate the public about courtroom affairs partly by expanding the court’s Web site. House said he would attempt to try drug cases on separate calendar days from other crimes to eliminate some of the courthouse overcrowding.Rhyne said he agreed with House’s proposal to restructure the calendar in some way and would also assign cases to specific judges so they aren’t “blindsided” by receiving a complicated case they weren’t prepared for. Stagg said he would have more calendar call dates so everyone is aware of which cases are coming up and could better prepare a calendar.Arnt said there is a need for more frequent courts with smaller calendars “so we stop wasting people’s time.”U.S. racesState Rep. Jay Neal of LaFayette read a statement on behalf of U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss, a 64-year-old Republican challenged by Democrat Jim Martin, a 62-year-old attorney who also was not present.Chamber member Debbie Roush read a statement on behalf of District 9 Congressman Nathan Deal who, like Chambliss, said he could not attend because of his duties in Congress. Deal’s Democratic opponent, 35-year-old of Jeff Scott, an educator of Chickamauga, did attend the debate and fielded several questions.None of the candidates for state public service commissioner attended the debate, but a representative for Lauren McDonald read a statement on his behalf.CLICK ON THESE LINKSFEEDBACK: Send a letter to the editorSUBSCRIBE: Get The Catoosa County News each WednesdayGO BACK:Return to our homepage...
Colt Ford to play at Guitars and Stars Benefit Oct. 2 ...
Found: 29 Minutes ago
Catoosa County News - The First Annual Guitars and Stars concert series, sponsored by US 101 and Northwest Georgia Bank, will be a benefit concert. The Helene DiStefano Fund will present Jamie Johnson, Luke Bryan, Colt Ford and members of Zac Brown Band with all proceeds going to mothers with breast cancer.“Rather than just handing them a check, we physically pay their bills,” said Rachel Houghton, executive director of the Helene DiStefano Fund. “All of the money will stay local to help mothers reduce stress, and families are able to stay together.”The concert will begin at 7 p.m. at the Northwest Georgia Bank Amphitheatre located at 264 Catoosa Circle, Benton Place Campus, Ringgold, Ga., 30736.“This is a family event,” said Houghton. “We know it’s a school night, but we want people to bring their entire family.”Tickets for the concert are $25 a person and for groups of five or more it’s $20. Tickets can be purchased at all Northwest Georgia Bank branches.The Helene DiStefano Fund was established in July 2001 by Dr. Deborah DiStefano, an ophthalmologist in Chattanooga, Tenn., to honor the memory of her mother, Helene DiStefano who died in May 2000.For more information about the Helene DiStefano Fund check hdfgive.orgUpclose with Colt Ford:A native of Athens, Ga., Colt Ford combines a bit of country with a bit of hip-hop. Ford is only among a few that uses the rap/country combination and as his song, “No Trash in my Trailer” is on regular rotation on CMT and constantly on the top 10 indie country artists on Myspace, he has proved himself to the public.“I’ve collaborated with Jamey Johnson, Montgomery Gentry (remix “Roll With Me”), Brantley Gilbert, Bone Crusher, Jeremy Popoff or the rock band Lit and Adrian Young, guitarist of No Doubt,” just to name a few. Ford is also going to be working with Tim McGraw for his next album, which is due out next summer.Growing up, Ford listened to varied pallet of music. “I like a mix of everything, when I was a kid it was 80s rock, hip-hop and country,” said Ford. “Bands like Run DMC, Elvis, Kenny Rogers, Johnny Cash, Stevie Wonder, anything that’s real,” he said. “I don’t really like the bands that have been obviously put together, but I still appreciate their work. If it’s real, I dig it.”Starting off in his entertainment life as a class clown, Ford strived simply to make people laugh and have a good time. “I always loved music; I was the entertainer, class clown and wanted them to have fun and just make people laugh. It led me to where I’m at.”Ford got started in the music world after a seven year pro golf life, “I play a lot of golf, played pro for seven years and became a golf pro teacher. I also went All American in baseball and had baseball scholarships,” said Ford. “I find stuff to do to keep myself busy; golf keeps me out of trouble.” Ford also mentioned playing golf with friend, Justin Timberlake, “He’s a good player.”While not on the road or playing golf, Ford spends his time with his family. “I have a 13-year-old daughter and a 9-year-old son. A wife that supports me, takes care of everything at home while I'm on the road, I’m just very blessed to have my wife, she’s my best friend.” Ford’s wife was also the one who helped create the name Colt Ford. “When she said it, I just thought it was cool,” he said. Ford had expressed how much he appreciates having his parents and in-laws living near home to help out while on the road and how supportive they are.“Fans on the street don’t bother me at all, I love hearing all their stories, especially those who will come up say how its made their day better, made them laugh, the fans are just very respectful,” he said. “I answer every message that is sent to me on Myspace; my management tells me I’m too accessible, but they can deal with it.”Last Friday, Ford released a remix of,"Roll with me,” in collaboration with Montgomery Gentry on his Myspace page and is working towards the release of his newest album.Ford’s current album, “Ride Through the Country,” can be purchased through his Web site, Myspace.com/coltford, and should be out at Wal-Mart shortly.On the Web:Colt Ford's CMT Web siteColt Ford's Myspace pageCLICK ON THESE LINKSFEEDBACK: Send a letter to the editorSUBSCRIBE: Get The Catoosa County News each WednesdayGO BACK:Return to our homepage...
Pirelli $15 million expansion to increase manufacturing capacity at ...
Found: 30 Minutes ago
Catoosa County News - Pirelli, continuing its expansion in the United States, announced a $15 million investment today that will boost manufacturing capacity by 20 percent at its Modular Integrated Robotized System (MIRS) factory in Rome.The local factory produces high-performance tires for the North American market using state-of-the-art technology.The announcement was made at Pirelli’sworld headquarters in Milan, Italy, during Gov. Sonny Perdue’s economic development missionto Europe. “Pirelli’s announcement is just the latest expansion of international companies here in Georgia,” Perdue said today. “Georgia has all the advantages that companies are looking for when considering investment in the American market, and our expectation is that we will continue to see new jobs and investment stream to our state.”Pirelli leaders say expansion supports U.S. strategyThe investment will increase the number of MIRS production lines from four to five. The expansion phase is scheduled to become operational during the first quarter of 2009, according to the Georgia Department of Economic Development.The Rome facility, headquarters for Pirelli Tire of North America, produces tires for both original equipment and replacement markets in North America.“Our Rome-based MIRS facility supports Pirelli’s strategic growth plan for the North American market. We have achieved significant share of market gains and a 30 percent sales increase over the past three years,” said Hugh Pace, CEO and chairman of Pirelli Tire North America. “The new expansion of our MIRS manufacturing facility will bring high-impact jobs to the Rome area, and also demonstrates Pirelli’s strategy of investing in our ongoing partnership with the state of Georgia and its office of Economic Development.”Pirelli says its decision to increase production of high performance tires in Georgia is part of its North American growth strategy begun at the start of the decade. Over the past three years Pirelli has seen large gains in its North American market share with a 30 percent sales increase, and now supplies its ultra-high performance tires to some of GM and Ford’s highest performing car models, the new Camaro and Mustang respectively, as well as Mercedes and BMW transplant models.“I am very proud of Pirelli’s commitment to growing its Rome-based MIRS manufacturing facility,” said Andrew Kearton, Pirelli’s vice president of Manufacturing and OE Sales. “This expansion demonstrates dedication to strategic growth for Pirelli in the North American market. The additional workforce positions we are adding to support the expansion are high-skill jobs that will operate a state-of-the-art automation process that is recognized as the most advanced in the tire industry. We also look forward to continuing our relationships with local colleges and the Georgia QuickStart program that will help us realize this growth.”MIRS, inaugurated in 2000, is a highly automated system that allows for flexible and rapid response to market demand, making it possible to operate efficiently even in markets where the cost of labor is high. Robots manage the entire production cycle without interruption, and without having to move semi-finished products. That means there is no need for intermediate warehousing phases, thus maximizing energy efficiency during the manufacturing process. Integrated software coordinates all production steps starting with product design — cutting costs and production time.Local officials welcome $15 million investmentLocal officials say the joint announcement from Perdue and Deputy Chairman of Pirelli Tire Alberto Pirelli is welcomed news for Floyd County, the city of Rome and the Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce.“We’re delighted that Pirelli has continued to invest in Rome and Floyd County,” said Jerry Jennings, Floyd County Commission chairman. “We appreciate Pirelli’s confidence in our workforce, business climate and quality of life, and welcome further expansion from this fine corporate citizen.”Added Rome Mayor Wright Bagby, “Another international business expansion means good news for us, and we appreciate what Pirelli does with and for our community.” “Pirelli’s expansion is welcomed news for us,” said Randy Quick, chairman of the Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce board of directors and chairman of the board of the Rome-Floyd County Development Authority. “Existing industry is a high priority and we are pleased with the additional investment Pirelli will bring to our community. Pirelli’s corporate citizenship is truly significant as well.”Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce President Al Hodge is in Italy for the announcement to express appreciation for the important role that Pirelli plays in the local community.Brooks Mathis of Rome, project manager with Georgia Department of Economic Development, assisted the company in its expansion.Pirelli Tire North America in Rome designs, develops, manufactures and markets tires for passenger vehicles, motorcycles and race cars for original equipment and replacement markets. The Rome MIRS site employs state-of-the-art technology to manufacture tires for both export and domestic markets. It has about 250 employees.The Pirelli news comes about a month and a half after Perdue announced Toyo Tire North America Manufacturing Inc. will create an estimated 400 new jobsand invest $270 million as part of its third expansion since 2004....
Results of the Third Annual Ringgold Middle School Duck Race ...
Found: 37 Minutes ago
Catoosa County News - Ringgold Middle School’s (RMS) third annual Duck Race went off without a hitch and helped reach the schools funding goal. RMS’s goal of $40,000 from the duck races and the sales of coupon books have pushed their goal to $40,075, which will result in new equipment for the school and possibly Principal Lamar Brown to dress in a duck costume.Previously RMS would have students sell candy bars; however, while on a trip through Nashville, Tn, Brown noticed a flyer about a local duck race, which is where the RMS duck races now originate. “I pitched the idea to local businesses and it went well,” said Brown.The duck races had over 50 vendors this year, an increase in participation and according to Brown the new duck egg hunt went very well. “We had 125 - 150 people in our 5k race, everybody loved the run,” said Brown.Click here to see the Snaphappy gallery of this event(Photographs of the event contributed by Julia Gaston.)Winners of the third annual Ringgold Middle School Duck Race are: First prize of the 50” HDTV: Lori Holkum.Second prize of the tickets to Disney World tickets: Leslie Canalis.Third prize of the Roadmaster 50 (four wheeler): Dusty Murphy....
Chamber hosts Candidates Debate: Commission hopefuls discuss VW ...
Found: 38 Minutes ago
Catoosa County News - The Catoosa County Chamber of Commerce hosted a Candidates Debate at the Colonnade on Thursday, Oct. 2. All candidates – opposed and unopposed – were invited to attend, and each candidate had an opportunity to respond to questions from both moderators and citizens.Administering the debate were Chamber member and legislative committee member Ron McKelvey as timekeeper, Lauren Williams of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and moderator Nick Pearson of the state Chamber. David Wilson, chairman elect of the Catoosa Chamber, was also one of the presiding organizers as was Chamber President Martha Eaker.About 100 people, including the candidates, attended.“The Chamber’s role in the election process is one that we like to educate the community,” said Wilson. He said the Chamber hosts a debate each year. This year, officials who said they could not attend the debate were allowed to send a substitute, an option that was banned in the last debate. It was a move that some candidates and audience members criticized, but Eaker said organizers decided to allow the proxy system this time because of high gas prices and tougher economic conditions.Candidates were posed questions and allowed two minutes to respond, an additional minute for a rebuttal upon request, and up to a 30-second extension at the moderator’s discretion.Commission chairmanVying for the seat of defeated incumbent Chairman Bill Clark, Republican Keith Greene Democrat Lynn Long will face off in November.Asked to explain both the qualities that would make him effective for the position and the qualities he lacked, Greene said he has served 25 years in the military including being stationed in Iraq in 2003 and 2004 and works at GE Roper Corp. in LaFayette. As for qualities he lacked, Greene replied, “I’m not sure. That’s pretty difficult. I have a lot of good skills, and a good skill that I have is listening.”Long said he has lived in Catoosa County his entire life and was on the Fort Oglethorpe City Council in 1978. He was also the first chairman of the newly formed five-member board of commissioners when the county left the sole commissioner system in the early 1990s and he oversaw groundbreaking for the library and health department, he said. He did not offer any qualities that he felt he lacked.Both men were asked about their long-term and short-term plans for economic development. Long said he is a retired real estate broker and in 1990 was instrumental through his role in county government in bringing Wal-mart to Fort Oglethorpe. The most serious issue in Catoosa County, he said, is money. “We need to generate commercial retail growth,” he said.Greene said the county needs to recruit more industry, and one way to do it is by attempting to purchase the 1,800-acre firing range off of Ga. Highway 41 that is leased by the Tennessee National Guard for potential use as an industrial park. He also discussed the need to strengthen the school system and work with developers to entice them to locate businesses in the county.Commission District 1: Brown vs. MarksIn the debate, incumbent Ken Marks faced Republican Clayton Brown, who is an eligible write-in candidate for the seat.Brown said he is a Post Volunteer Fire Department firefighter, has several years of experience in the business world and has learned to manage both money and people. “By the very nature that I haven’t been involved” in the mess in the county is excellent experience, he said.Marks said his experience includes serving in his current term, on the Fort Oglethorpe City Council for four years and on the Post Recreation Association as well as being an active member of Oakwood Baptist Church, a Walker Technical College graduate and a salesman for 25 years.Marks asked Brown what he meant by his criticism of the state of the county, and Brown replied that several people have said they do not want a commissioner who just “sits.”Marks said he didn’t know what Brown meant, and Brown said “It’s not necessarily what’s being done. It’s what may not be done.” Marks replied that he didn’t know what Brown was “getting at” and that he received about 20 calls a week – some he could address as a commissioner and some of which he couldn’t.Asked about addressing the condition of the roads, Brown said the county should focus on north-south travel since the east-west corridor is being taken care of through the widening of Cloud Springs Road. Marks that in the four years he’s been in office, the county has had more roads paved than ever before.Commission District 3: Cutler vs. DuncanRepublican candidate Jim Cutler faces Democrat George Duncan in the District 3 race held by incumbent Jim Emberson who decided not to seek another term.Duncan said the fact that he’s never been in politics before “is a plus,” and his experience includes being involved through the military with United States security and teaching for 20 years in Catoosa County. He said he’s “interested in an open government in Catoosa County” and would support limiting as much as possible the time spent discussing matters behind closed doors rather than in public.Cutler said his experience includes working for 38 years in marketing in the broadcast industry, serving as president of the Ringgold Kiwanis, and being on the 20/20 planning committee for the county.“I think it’s extremely important to have people in there with business experience and marketing experience,” he said.Asked what he would do to bring cohesiveness to county government, Duncan said he would talk with involved parties from all districts and listen to them. It’s also important for people on all sides not to start with an agenda and then refuse to budge, he said.Cutler said he saw the position as having two priorities – serving his district and serving the county as a whole. “I don’t see the big battleground so to speak, but I do think it’s very important that the commissioners work together,” he said. CLICK ON THESE LINKSFEEDBACK: Send a letter to the editorSUBSCRIBE: Get The Catoosa County News each WednesdayGO BACK:Return to our homepage...
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