http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/georgia/dalton/ Dalton, GA News http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/georgia/dalton/content/cf37f5cecadbfcfee785ba3cfb4b595f.html Evacuees from Hurricane Gustav flocked to Georgia over the holiday weekend as the state hastened to open more emergency shelters Four members of a family from Marrero La a suburb just south of New Orleans died in a car crash on Interstate 20 in west Georgia Police said they believe family members were fleeing the storm http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/georgia/dalton/content/b015f1d64f7dd49b2a5d5e952566ccf7.html A season of uncertainty followed by a season of uncertainty http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/georgia/dalton/content/7f4b5a14028d7a878f87cb0480278851.html What sets Macon apart from the rest of the state is flowing out of its taps http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/georgia/dalton/content/a5e58d624fca4a6544d410faf8e6c092.html What sets Macon apart from the rest of the state is flowing out of its taps This week the Georgia Association of Water Professionals voted Macon the city with the besttasting tap water in the state Macon beat out Clayton County Barnesville Albany Dalton and Savannah for the title http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/georgia/dalton/content/419ee4c5f01b2299339abf915e6fb48e.html Education options are broadening in Catoosa Coutny A group of investors Souther Educational Investment group SEI is forming a private college based out of Ringgold The group is designed to bring higher education to areas not currently being served or where there may be a higher demandldquo;We may start our own college contract out through an already established college or through a private enterpriserdquo; said Matthew Bryan of the law firm of Brandy and Stagg in Catoosa ldquo;We are balancing closer to creating our own college which has not yet been namedrdquo; For the past three months SEI has been planning the creation of this college and awaiting accreditation Classes were originally planned to start by mid September but according to Bryan this date may be too optimistic While the accreditation of the school may come shortly it may be longer before the college can accept the HOPE scholarship as it is a lengthly process to collarborate with the Georgia state board of educationldquo;I was very pleased to learn that the Southern Educational Investment Group has plans to open a private college in Catoosa Countyrdquo; Catoosa County Public School superintendent Denia Reese said ldquo;I think it takes a broad range of educational opportunities to meet the needs of our students I am sure that some of our students will benefit greatly by having the opportunity to finish high school and begin college in our communityrdquo;The Dalton State Catoosa Center in Fort Oglethorpe offers college courses to students in the Ringgold and Fort Oglethorpe areas located in their satellite center in Fort Oglethorpe DSC offers the following courses: English composition I fundamentals of speech US History college algebra intermediate algebra health and wellness and introduction to psychologyThe new college would be designed to offer people with high school diplomas a bridge between high school and a full college schedule in addition to courses for the community in business technology and skills driven work ldquo;The school would not just be limited to college age studentsrdquo; said Bryan ldquo;Students trucking to Dalton and those who cant schedule around it would have their needs better metrdquo;ldquo;There will be personal growth or life skills classes computer courses business law and business start up courses among some of the types of classes that are to be offeredrdquo; said Donna Jackson a grant writer with Paradyne Consulting Works and SEI business womanWhile Dalton State does have their campus located outside of Catoosa since the fall of 1999 Dalton State has offered classes to freshmen and joint enrollment to high school students out of their satellite Catoosa Center in Fort Oglethorpe Northwestern Technical College also has begun accepting students for joint enrollment however are based out of Rocksprings Galdquo;We have no concern for the competition I canrsquo;t see how they can offer what we have with a lower costrdquo; said Dalton State College Catoosa Center Director and English teacher Madalyn Smith ldquo;It seems they SEI will be offering certificate programs and we offer college credit towards a degreerdquo; Smith also said if they were to offer courses for things like auto mechanics there would be a competition as Dalton does not offer itAccording to Bryan said Catoosa County Commission Chairman had expressed interest in adding a higher education option to Catoosa County Bryan said SEI has also seen interest from teachers and other members of the community eager to collaborate with a new collegeldquo;I know a better educated work force will make our community more attractive to companies that are looking to relocate in our areardquo; said Reese ldquo;I look forward to learning more about the programs this college will provide for our students and our citizensrdquo;Currently Northwester Tech in Rocksprings Ga offers a program called the Early College Program which allows high schools students to get a head start on their college careerWhile the college has not been fully formed SEI does have investors lined up and the other parts of the school will be funded through tuition and later on HOPE scholarshipsldquo;This will not be a typical brick and mortar campus those are not profitable and wouldnrsquo;t meet the needs of the studentsrdquo; said Bryan ldquo;We will meet the specific needs of the students rather than them just sitting around in dormsrdquo; Classes can be located at office spaces and SEI are currently eyeing the Colonnade in Ringgold in addition to the courses that will be offered onlineThe classes will be for accelerated learning ldquo;with less seat time and virtual learningrdquo; said Jackson ldquo;This will give more flexibility for those who have jobs and familiesrdquo;CLICK ON THESE LINKSFEEDBACK: Send a letter to the editorSUBSCRIBE: Get The Catoosa County News each WednesdayGO BACK:Return to our homepage http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/georgia/dalton/content/9aa91798e926b1cfa7bff23b90c5f573.html The Route 27 Association an 18county alliance that includes Catoosa Walker Floyd Chattooga and Polk counties expects to learn in September whether a OneGeorgia Authority grant will fund a 78000 strategic marketing plan for the corridor The highway which is Walker Countyrsquo;s main corridor is one of two highways in Georgia designated as alternative tourism routes through the state ldquo;The Georgia Department of Economic Development already has identified key assetsrdquo; said Lloyd Frasier planning director for the Coosa Valley Regional Development Center ldquo;This study will identify more along with the best ways to promote them to vacation travelersrdquo; Photo:Representatives of the Route 27 Association counties stand with Walker Countyrsquo;s Virgil Sperry who was recognized for his leadership in the alliance Pictured from front to back are: Denise Clopton Sen Isakson field representative; Jerry Jennings Floyd County Commission chairman; Bill Collins Rome city commissioner; Sperry atlarge RDC member; Bebe Heiskell Walker commissioner; Billy Croker Polk commissioner; Mark Fletcher Catoosa RDC member; Scott Tillery Cedartown commissioner; Martha Eaker Catoosa Chamber of Commerce; Mike Garrett atlarge RDC member; and Lloyd Frasier Coosa Valley RDCThe study will take six to eight months to complete Frasier said Meanwhile signs already are going up along the route to mark a historic courthouse tour that starts in Ringgold and winds down along US 27 to Bainbridge in South Georgia The 15yearold signs found in storage last year belonged to the original Highway 27 Association formed to push for fourlaning of the entire length of the road On Thursday the Coosa Valley Regional Development Center gave its ldquo;Distinguished Coosa Valley Citizenrdquo; award to Virgil Sperry of Walker County for his work in reviving the alliance to take advantage of the completed widening ldquo;Hersquo;s been a shining star for usrdquo; said Walker County Commissioner Bebe Heiskell ldquo;This new marketing initiative ought to take us to the next levelrdquo; The Regional Development Center also quickly and unanimously appointed Polk County Commissioner Billy Croker to a privatesector seat on the board effective in January Crokerrsquo;s term on the board would have expired with his county Commission term in December mdash; but Regional Development Center representatives from the 10county region said they did not want to lose his experience and statewide connections Bill Steiner executive director of the Regional Development Center said continuity will be especially important next year as the regional planning agencies reorganize New legislation combines the Coosa Valley and North Georgia Regional Development Centers but North Georgia members have so far declined to sign a resolution accepting the statemandated change Croker has been in talks with the Daltonbased agency trying to work out a smooth transition It is unclear what will happen if they balk but Steiner said a loss of state funding is likely http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/georgia/dalton/content/59f89b59749aa1dc40013ea379ed1962.html The Flowery Branch High softball team earned their first region win of the season defeating Gilmer 43 on Thursday in Flowery Branch http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/georgia/dalton/content/da508be224197d30309cc44f58b22649.html Thousands of people in Catoosa County who buy their electricity indirectly from Tennessee Valley Authority can expect higher bills officials sayTVA on Wednesday raised its rates by 20 percent The hike will take effect beginning Oct 1North Georgia Electric Membership Corp which purchases electricity from TVA has about 26000 customers in CatoosaThe rate hike will be passed on to customers officials said The typical household can expect to see a 1520 hike on their electric billsRon Hutchins North Georgia EMC president and CEO addressed the issue recently at the companyrsquo;s annual meeting in DaltonHutchins stressed that the rising cost of fuel and ongoing drought will continue to drive up customersrsquo; energy costsThe fuel cost adjustment FCA portion of North Georgia EMCrsquo;s rates will rise in coming months because the fuels used by TVA to generate electricity continue to increase in cost Hutchins saidMost of TVArsquo;s 20 percent increase that was announced Wednesday is covered by a quarterly FCA which will increase rates 17 percent The TVA board on Wednesday also voted to raise its base rates by another 3 percent to cover growing expenses for inventory and forward contracts used to help minimize rising fuel costsTVA is facing the same pressures from rising fuel costs as other utilities across the nation Hutchins said at the annual meetingldquo;TVA our power supplier recovers fuel and purchased power costs through its quarterly fuel cost adjustment FCArdquo; Hutchins said ldquo;The FCA is necessary to recover the growing cost of fuels Significant increases in fuel and purchased power will be reflected in future FCA adjustments which mean your energy costs will be going up Despite rising costs and tight supplies I can confidently say that your cooperative has served you and its mission well with reliable safe quality power at the lowest possible costsrdquo;Sixty percent of TVArsquo;s power is generated by coal oil and natural gasTVA then must pass some of the costs to almost 9 million consumers it serves in the Tennessee Valleyldquo;Specifically coal prices have more than doubled since the beginning of the year and continue to riserdquo; Hutchins said ldquo;In addition the TVA region continues to suffer from extreme drought conditions causing the replacement of its cheapest form of generation hydrowater with one of the most expensive mdash; power generated by natural gas or purchased power from other generatorsrdquo;Hutchins said North Georgia EMC strives to keep rates low while offering excellent service to customers on a very small marginHutchins said that 80 cents of every dollar North Georgia EMC collects is paid to TVA for power supply The remaining 20 cents covers expenses for consumer services operating maintaining upgrading and expanding the systemCLICK ON THESE LINKSFEEDBACK: Send a letter to the editorSUBSCRIBE: Get The Catoosa County News each WednesdayGO BACK:Return to our homepage