With U.S. forces in the middle of their `surge` against
a resurgent Taliban, the U.S. lost sixty-three dead
in July. That was the most in the nine year history
of the war.
President Barack Obama ordered 30,000 reinforcements to
Afghanistan last December. With those additional troops,
commanders have launched attacks against Taliban forces
in Helmand and Kandahar provinces. British and Afghan
troops launched yet another offensive Friday in Helmand.
These losses are the latest in a string of problems
for the administration. To get funding for the war,
it needed a solid Republican vote after a majority of
Democratic legislators voted against it. A large volume of
government documents on the war in Afghanistan were published
by WikiLeaks. While none of the documents was a `smoking
gun,` they showed just how difficulty the war is.
Less than two months ago, President Obama had to fire
the U.S. commander in Afghanistan for publicly criticizing
the administration.
Trina Rohner is a woman in a man`s world. She has been part of the
automotive industry for several years and working her way to the top
in the process. Trina is now co-owner of The Garage on Martha Berry Blvd.
This week Coosa Valley News sits down and talks with Trina about her
journey to the top as well as the obstacles and challenges she faces.
That is why Trina Rohner is this week`s Coosa Valley News Person of the Week.
If you would like to nominate someone as Coosa Valley News Person
of the Week, email us their name and contact information at
news@coosavalleynews.com
Floyd is Top-Ranking Blood Donor Group in Region
- According to Blood Assurance, blood donors at Floyd Medical Center
ranked as the largest donor group in the Blood Assurance service
region. Donors gave 796 units of blood were collected in 2009
at blood drives hosted by Floyd.
RFPRA Now Hosting Soccer Registration
- The Rome-Floyd Parks and Recreation Authority is now registering
for Youth Fall Soccer and Adult Fall Soccer. Youth league will
be open to ages 5-10 with the control age date being January 1, 2010. The
league runs September 14 through October 21. The adult league is
open to ages 16 up and will run September 11 through November 14.
Rome Fails to Make Finals for `Best Tennis Town`
- Rome failed to make the final 3 for the Best Tennis Town in
America contest, but was given $2,000 since it made the top 10 list. The top three
cities were Atlanta, Charleston and Richmond. The winner of
the contest will be awarded $100,000 at the U.S. Open
in September.
RFPRA To Host Candidate Forum
- The Rome-Floyd Parks and Recreation Authority is hosting a
Candidate Forum on Tuesday, October 12 at the Senior Adult
Recreation Center on Kingston Road. The evening event will begin
with a dinner and silent auction followed by the candidate forum.
The non-partisan forum will give candidates the opportunity to
express their views on current issues and to educate the voters
on their positions.
Two Arrested for Stealing 100K Worth of Tires
- Two Rome men, Jaiefam Odeh, 32, and Fares Mohammed Samha, were
arrested after police accused them of steaing over $100,000 worth
of tires from Pirelli Tires. Floyd County Investigators caught the
two men taking 152 tires from the company with a rental truck
Monday night.
Cedartown City Manager Quits Over Rome `Incident`
- Charles Akridge, Cedartown City Manager, resigned Monday after
an incident in a Rome bar over the weekend. Akridge said about his resignation,
`for an incident that occurred over the weekend, which caused
potential embarrassment to the city, and for which he was truly
sorry.` An incident occurred at 333 on Broad in which Rome PD was
involved, but no arrest were made.
Coosa High’s Allen Gossett earns state award
- Allen Gossett, Engineering and Technology instructor at Coosa
High School, has been awarded the Golden Gavel Award from GAeTE
(Georgia Association of engineering and Technology Education).
The award was one of several that GAeTE presented recently at
the group’s Affiliate Luncheon at the 2010 Georgia Association
for Career and Technology Education (GACTE) Conference held at
the Cobb Galleria.
Coach Allen Gossett was presented the award recognizing `faithful
and outstanding leadership` for serving as the Georgia Affiliate
for Technology Education and GACTE Board Vice President from 2003
- 2006.
CHS Engineering and Technology Program earns Cert.
- The Coosa High School Engineering and Technology program has
earned re-certification by the Society of American Military
Engineers (SAME.), Atlanta Post and the Georgia Department of
Education Career and Technology Education Division. Coosa High
passed the 71 Industry Certification standards/criteria and will
be certified for the next five years as meeting the highest of
industry standards. The program was reviewed by a committee
representing SAME and the Georgia Department of Education during
the month of May.
GNTC to Host Emergency/Safety Training Courses
- On August 11, Georgia Northwestern Technical College’s Office of
Economic Development is sponsoring a six-hour workshop from 9 am
to 4 pm to assist companies in emergency preparedness and
workplace safety. The workshop will be held at the Calhoun
Convention Center, 100 Peters Street, Calhoun, Georgia.
As the chart (right) illustrates, the economy may be facing
a `triple dip.` The current recession is generally dated
from the slight dip in the GDP (green) in the chart that
took place in the first quarter of 2008. Thanks to
the `Bush` $250 stimulus, there was a small uptick in the
second quarter of 2008 before the bottom fell out
in the third quarter of 2008.
Some economists, including Yale`s Robert Shiller, are
saying the `probability of that kind of double-dip is more
than 50 percent. I actually expect it.`
Part of the reason for Shiller`s point of view is that
consumers are pulling back. The red line in the
chart illustrates a measure of consumer big ticket spending.
After taking off last summer with the `Cash for Clumkers`
and housing tax credits, it peaked in November of 2009
and has fallen steadily since then.
As the graph shows,
the Obama administration`s stimulus along with an inventory
rebound have helped produce three quarters of growth. However
that growth hasn`t helped much with unemployment, new
home construction, consumer debt, or government finances.
The result is that several factors will put pressure on
the economy in the last half of 2010 and the beginning of
2011, including:
Less Federal stimulus spending
End of the inventory correction
Less consumer spending
Another downturn in housing
Slowdown in China and Europe
State and local cutbacks
It doesn`t appear that there are many bullets left in
the `stimulus` gun. Laurence Kotlikoff, professor
of economics at Boston University, says that the U.S.
budget deficit through 2020 will be close to 20%.
That is almost twice Greece`s 11.5% deficit.
List of Political Races and Candidates
- Following the primaries, Coosa Valley News has updated the list of
political races, including runoffs, that are sure to be battles this
November!
Smith Issues Statement about `Affair with Staffer`
- Sen. Preston Smith has issued a release reguarding the news story
of his past relationship with a staffer. Smith said, `As far too
many Georgia families will understand, my failed marriage was a
complicated and incredibly difficult personal situation that I
still live with every day. Without a doubt, I fell short in my
personal life by getting a divorce, and people have the right to
make a moral judgment on that if they chose. However, focusing
on the personal lives of the candidates allows Sam Olens to get
away with the fact that he is former Democrat party official that
doesn’t have it in him to stand up and fight against ObamaCare
and illegal immigration.
Barnes issues Statement on Arizona
- Democratic candidate for Georgia Governor Roy Barnes issued a
statement Wednesday concerning a judge`s ruling to block parts
of Arizona`s controversial illegal immigration law.
Vast majority of state Senate GOP rallies to Deal
- Deal for Governor today announces the endorsement of the vast
majority of state Senate Republicans. In all, 24 of the body`s
34 Republicans have publicly signed as Deal backers. `Nathan Deal
is the principled conservative leader who can work with the
Legislature to make the tough decisions that face our state in
the coming years,` said President Pro Tem Tommie Williams
(R-Lyons).
Smith Campaign Getting Attacked on `Values`
- The AJC along with other media outlets have started to question
the campaign of Sen. Preston Smith, R-Rome, who is running
for the state`s Attorney General seat. Reports of his divorce
as well as his `intimate` relationship with a staffer while married
has been released. While not new to those in north west Georgia,
the story could end up costing Smith the job.
TEA Party 2010 To Host Run-off Candidate Forum
- The Rome/Floyd GA TEA Party 2010 will host a run-off candidate
forum and debate on Monday, August 2nd 2010. The forum will
feature candidates for District 14 State Representative Christian Coomer
and Shep Helton as well as candidates for Georgia Insurance
Commissioner Ralph Hudgens and Maria Sheffield. The event will be held at In Focus Worship Center, 710 East First
Street and will begin at 6:30
Cities and Counties to Cut 500,000
- A report by the National League of Cities (NLC), National
Association of Counties (NACo), and the U.S. Conference of
Mayors (USCM) estimates that local governments will
cut approximately a half million employees during the
next two years.
California to Start Furloughs
- With a $19 billion deficit and no progress toward fixing it,
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has ordered furloughs
for many state workers.
Preston Smith Releases Statement
- Preston Smith, Republican candidate for Georgia attorney general,
has released the following press release. `Preston is quickly
becoming an internet star with his web video `Uncommon Courage.`
Released less than three weeks ago, the video is on the verge of
receiving 80,000 views on YouTube, an astounding number for a
political video in this year’s Georgia primary season.`
Financial Reform? - SEC Can Duck Info Requests
- According to the Fox Business Network, the Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC) believes that it no longer has to
comply with requests for information from the public.
Kingston endorses Deal
- U.S. Rep. Jack Kingston, R-Savannah, announced his endorsement of
Nathan Deal for Governor. Kingston said, `I encourage
conservative Republicans in Southeast Georgia to join me in
rallying behind Nathan Deal to be Georgia`s next governor. For
those who supported Eric Johnson, Nathan is the natural fit for
the Aug. 10 runoff.`
Europe - Bank `Stress` Tests
- The results of `stress` tests have European banks were designed
to re-assure markets rather than provide useful information.
The tests didn`t include any government defaults, lower
property prices, or higher unemployment.
Pick Your Headline -
- The following two headlines are reporting the same fact,
the Census Bureau reported that New Home Sales in June were
at a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of 330 thousand.
The headlines are:
Extended unemployment benefits now being paid
- State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond announced Thursday
that federal extended unemployment insurance benefits are now
being paid to 90,994 jobless Georgians. The benefits were enacted
by Congress and signed by the President last Thursday, July 22.
The law extends the qualifying time for eligible recipients from
June 2 through Nov. 30.
Fayetteville Mother Charged With Murder
- A Fayetteville mother, Kaisha Poulson, has been charged with
the murder of her two-month old son. An autopsy performed by
the GBI said that the child died from methamphetamine intoxication.
Body Found in Search for Missing Student
- A body has been found by Carrollton police, which they say
could be that of missing 21 year-old West Georgia
student Marcelle Elliot. Two arrest have also been made in
the case.
Sherrod Plans to Sue Blogger
- Ousted Agriculture Department employee Shirley Sherrod said
Thursday she will sue a conservative blogger who posted a video
edited in a way that made her appear racist. Sherrod was forced
to resign last week as director of rural development in Georgia
after Andrew Breitbart posted the edited video online. In the
full video, Sherrod, who is black, spoke to a local NAACP group
about racial reconciliation and overcoming her initial reluctance
to help a white farmer.
Burkhalter Names Aragon City Attorney
- Former Roman, Zachary Burkhalter, has been named the new city
attorney for Aragon. Burkhalter`s responsibilities will
include providing legal advice and support to
city council members, represent the City in Civil
Litigation and be responsible for drafting contracts, easements
and other real estate documents where Aragon is a party. He
will also be responsible for drafting municipal ordinances and
resolutions.
'The Eagles' to Perform in Piedmont Park
- The Eagles announced on its website Thursday that the band will play at
Piedmont Park in Atlanta this fall. The concert is presumably
this year`s `Green Concert`, an annual event hosted by the
Piedmont Park Conservancy and organized by Live Nation.
Georgia Among Nation`s Worst Economies
- According to a midyear review of state employment trends by
Portfolio.com and bizjournals, Georgia is listed as the sixth-weakest
state economy. The study gives Georgia a -9.32 score for
employment, pointing out the State lost 74,600 jobs from
2009 to May 2010. Georgia now has 3,139,200 private sector
jobs and a 10 percent unemployment rate.
Conservation Award Nominations
- Organizers of the Conserve Georgia Awards are asking
for submissions in the group’s annual Natural Leaders Awards
October 6. The awards are open to any resident, business,
education (schools, groups, or educators), institution,
nonprofit and government entity, and recognize outstanding
achievements in the conservation of energy, land, water, the
improvement of air quality, and promotion of recycling and waste
reduction. To be eligible for an award, achievements must have
been made in the last 12 months in Georgia. Submissions must
clearly define the motivation for the project or program and
submit the application in the proper format by August 30.
Ga. Makes Cut for Federal Education Grants
- The U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced Tuesday
that Georgia, along with 18 other states, are finalist for a
second round of grand funding from the new education reform
program. Almost $3.4 billion in federal economic stimulus fund
will be available to states whose comprehensive school reform
plans are chosen for funding through President Obama’s Race to
the Top initiative.
I think the `T` on the Tennessee helmet should stand for Titanic.
One of the most highly touted high school stars over the last
few years, Bryce Brown, has jumped ship. Add on the fact that he
did so without even telling head coach Derek Dooley so face-to-face.
Even though I have not missed a UGA game since 2000, I would probably
skip out and attend a game in Knoxville if USC came to town. Can you imagine
what would happen if Lane Kiffin pulled over and pumped gas there?
Speaking of the loudmouth, if you get a chance take a look at
the 2010 Media Guide for the Trojans. They have listed 11 national
championships, including the one in 2004 in which their wins
did not count. However, they only listed 6 Heisman Trophy winners.
Why is that odd? Well, counting Reggie Bush that would have made 7.
Just a thought? So it`s ok to cheat and possibly murder two people.,
but you can not, must not live in a home for free and have a lemo
take you places? Thank God, I don`t live in California!
Speaking of things going down like the Titanic. Get ready Atlanta
Braves fans. Your season is about to drop out of first place
and a playoff position. The Phillies are finding it just in time.
They are just over .500 this month with the Mets, Giants and Dodgers,
whom are all in a pennant race, lurking next month.
Ochocinco and Terrell Owens on the same team! Genius! In my opinion, I think the Bengals failed to make the playoffs last year, attendance was down and it was time to make the team fun again. Smart move in my book!
Has anyone else noticed the amount of money Rent-a-Center has paid for television commercials featuring
Troy Aikman and Hulk Hogan? Well, I read from a source this week that Hogan wants to be the next Billy Mayes as far as infomercials go. Look at the bright side Hulkster, you have already probably done way more drugs than Mayes did and you are still living! Here`s to a long tenure on tv! Now get off TNA so that I can enjoy wrestling on Thursdays!
Ahh, do you know how great it is to actually be able to talk about college football?
Baseball season has been old and boring since June and I am about to
die for some hard-hitting real, all-American football! Not that sisy
kind you cant run with the ball futball either!
Next will I`m gonna take a look at my Georgia Dawgs and give some
`real time predictions` about the 2010 season. I`m pretty optimistic!
Just wait!
Until next week!
Tony Potts
Rome Starts Road Trip with Win
- The Rome Braves got their road trip to Asheville off to
a good start with a 7-6 victory Thursday night.
Shorter University boasts six NAIA Scholar Awards
- Shorter University, on the heels of its most successful season of
intercollegiate athletic competition in school history, saw six
of its athletic programs earn NAIA Scholar Team Awards for the
2009-2010 academic year. The NAIA released its complete list of
NAIA Scholar Team Award winning schools this week.
Berry Alum Continues Success in Pros
- Fresh off an appearance in the American Association All-Star
Game, former Berry College outfielder Palmer Karr is getting
back to the business of helping his current team toward its goal
of a league championship while continuing his own chase of a
dream. Karr, who turned 28 in June, was one of the nation’s most
feared power hitters while playing left field for the Vikings in
2004 and 2005. An NAIA All-American as a senior, he earned
National Player of the Week honors twice during his Berry career.
Now a member of the Shreveport-Bossier Captains, Karr is showing
the power that made him a fan favorite at Berry. He’s hitting
.343 with 10 home runs and 45 runs batted in prior to this past
Tuesday’s All-Star Game, in which he went 1-for-3 and drew a pair
of walks while helping the South Division to a 12-3 victory over
the North.
Phillies Close in on Braves
- Not only have the Braves lost four of their last six games,
including a 5-3 defeat by Washington on Thursday, the Phillies
have finally gotten their act together closing to within
2.5 games of Atlanta.
Hawks Release Statement on Wright
- The Atlanta Hawks issued a statement Thursday reguarding
the death of former Hawks player Lorenzen Wright. Wright`s body was found in a field in southeast Memphis
Wednesday afternoon. The former NBA star had been missing for
more than a week. `The Atlanta Hawks family and our fans are
tremendously saddened upon hearing the news of the death of
Lorenzen Wright. A two-time Hawk, Lorenzen was a hard-working
athlete whose fun-loving personality livened the mood of many
teammates and those around him.`
Rome Braves add pitcher Willie Kempf
- The Rome Braves have added right-handed pitcher Willie Kempf to
their roster from Danville. Kempf played college baseball at
Baylor. In 2010, he went 9-2 overall (in 22 appearances and 12
games started) with a 3.02 ERA.
Georgia Northwestern To Join NJCAA
- A commitment to student athletics has Georgia Northwestern
joining the National Junior College Athletic Association this
summer. In a signing ceremony held at The R.A.C., Rossville
Athletic Complex on July 19, Bobcat Athletics officially made
its intentions known to enter the Georgia branch of the NJCAA.
Shorter Finalizes Mens `10 Bball Class
- The Shorter University men`s basketball coaching staff had one
mission when hitting the recruiting trail in preparation for the
2010-11 season: find players who could not only fill the void
left by the graduation of five seniors, but also provide the
Hawks with immediate contribution to help take the program to
the next level. Mission accomplished.
Toyota Motor Corporation`s recall woes have resurfaced Thursday
with official word that the company will recall some 373,000
second-generation Toyota Avalon models built between the 2000
and 2004 model years.
According to the Japanese automaker, the full-size sedans`
steering lock bars can crack, eventually leading to a break. If
that failure occurs, the steering column interlock system can
become difficult to unlock when parked, potentially disabling
the vehicle. Worse, if the driver is in a right-hand turn with
`sufficient lateral acceleration,` under very specific conditions,
the damaged lock bar can actually engage, locking the steering
wheel and disabling steering control of the vehicle, a condition
that increases the likelihood of an accident.
For its part, Toyota says it is unaware of any crashes stemming
from the Avalon`s steering interlock issue, and it will replace
the steering column bracket in affected vehicles for free.
Steve St. Angelo, Toyota chief quality officer for North
America, said, `Toyota is continuing to work diligently to
address safety issues wherever they arise and to strengthen our
global quality assurance operations so that Toyota owners can be
confident in the safety of their vehicles.`
Detailed information and answers to questions are available to customers at www.toyota.com/recall and at the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331
Cherokee Artists and Historic Demonstrations
- Cherokee Artists and Historic Demonstrations are held at New Echota State Historic Site in Calhoun Saturday, July 31, from 10am until 4pm.
Annual Golf Classic
- 100 Black Men of Rome sponsor their 5th annual Golf Classic at Stonebridge Golf Course in Rome Saturday, July 31.
