On Sept. 18, 2026, Coosa Valley News (CVN) proudly celebrates its 20th anniversary, marking two decades of delivering free local news, sports, information, entertainment, and community-focused content to residents across Northwest Georgia and Northeast Alabama.
What began as an idea between two local business leaders in 2006 has grown into the region’s most widely read locally owned news and entertainment website, reaching readers not only throughout the Coosa Valley but across nearly 30 states and 10 countries each month.
As CVN enters its third decade, its mission remains remarkably similar to the vision established 20 years ago: provide local residents with a one-stop destination where they can find the information that matters most to their daily lives.
From Radio to Digital Pioneer
The story of Coosa Valley News actually begins one year earlier.
In 2005, Georgia Public Broadcasting purchased K98 Radio. While the station itself changed ownership, one asset was left behind: K98Radio.com.
Since GPB already operated a website, the domain was not included in the purchase. That created an opportunity that would ultimately become one of Northwest Georgia’s earliest and most successful digital media ventures.
Former radio station owner Thom Holt, who is still the Editor and CEO, and business partner John Bailey III saw a future in the internet that many people had not yet fully embraced.
At a time when social media was still in its infancy and many local newspapers were only beginning to establish an online presence, Holt and Bailey believed the web would become the primary source of information for communities in the years to come.
Rather than simply replacing a radio station website, they envisioned creating something much larger.
They wanted a local online destination where residents could find virtually anything they were looking for in one place.
That vision became Coosa Valley News.
“We recognized early on that the internet was going to transform how people received information,” Holt said. “When Georgia Public Broadcasting purchased K98, it created an opportunity for us to build something entirely new. Our goal was never just to create another website. We wanted to create a community resource where local residents could find news, sports, weather, community information and support local businesses all in one place. We believed small businesses deserved affordable ways to reach customers, and we wanted CVN to help our communities grow together.”
The “5 C’s Bubble”
From the beginning, CVN’s founders focused on what they called the “5 C’s Bubble.”
Rather than concentrating exclusively on Rome and Floyd County, the site sought to serve a larger regional audience connected by commerce, schools, sports, and community interests.
The coverage area stretched from Cherokee County, Alabama, through Chattooga County, and included Calhoun, Cartersville, Cedartown, and, of course, Rome in between.
The philosophy was simple: communities throughout Northwest Georgia and Northeast Alabama shared common interests and deserved a media outlet that reflected the region as a whole.
Over the years, that approach has allowed CVN to build a loyal audience throughout multiple counties while maintaining a strong local identity.
Readers could visit the website and learn about a city council meeting in Rome, a football game in Cedartown, an economic development announcement in Calhoun, or community events taking place in Cherokee County.
That regional focus continues to define CVN today.
More Than Just News
While local news remains the foundation of the site, CVN was designed from day one to be much more than a traditional news outlet.
The founders envisioned a platform where residents could access a wide variety of information without having to visit multiple websites.
Today, readers can find:
- Local news
- Local sports
- Obituaries
- Weather information
- National news
- National sports coverage
- Health and fitness features
- Financial information
- Entertainment news
- Travel content
- Community announcements and events
The concept may seem common in today’s digital age, but when CVN launched in 2006, creating a comprehensive regional information hub was still a relatively new idea.
The goal was convenience.
CVN wanted readers to know that whenever they needed information, there was one trusted website they could visit first.
Twenty years later, that philosophy remains unchanged.
Continuing a Community Tradition
One of the earliest decisions made by CVN ownership was to continue a popular promotion that had begun during the K98 Radio years.
The E-Code Contest had already developed a strong following among listeners, and Holt and Bailey recognized its value as a way to engage the community.
As a result, the contest became part of the CVN experience.
Each day, readers have an opportunity to win $100 in cash if their registered number matches the randomly generated E-Code number.
The promotion continues to attract participants and remains one of the site’s most recognizable features.
For readers who have not yet signed up, CVN encourages registration and participation in the daily contest.
What started as a radio promotion has become a two-decade tradition that continues to reward loyal readers while maintaining a connection to the company’s roots.
Enter Tony Potts
Building the website was only part of the challenge.
The next question was who would oversee day-to-day operations and help transform the vision into reality.
That answer came in the form of Tony Potts.
At the time, Potts had already established himself in local media. After working for South 107, Q102, and WRGA in Rome, he had moved on to WJTH Radio in Calhoun, where he was covering sports.
Recognizing both his media experience and deep understanding of the region, CVN ownership approached Potts about becoming involved in the new venture.
The relationship began as a contract position and quickly evolved into a long-term commitment.
Since 2006, Potts has served as the site’s Chief Operations Manager and has played an instrumental role in shaping the direction and growth of Coosa Valley News.
From overseeing daily content operations to developing new initiatives and expanding coverage, Potts has helped guide the website through the rapid changes that have transformed digital media during the past two decades.
The journey has not been accomplished alone.
Numerous local contributors, community writers, photographers, interns, and volunteers have contributed to CVN’s success over the years.
Many have gone on to successful careers in journalism, communications, marketing, education, and business while carrying with them lessons learned during their time with the organization.
Together, they have helped create a publication that reflects the communities it serves.
Growing Through Change
The media landscape of 2026 looks dramatically different from the one that existed in 2006.
Over the past 20 years, newspapers have shuttered, websites have launched and disappeared, social media platforms have risen and fallen, and the ways people consume information have changed repeatedly.
Through it all, Coosa Valley News has continued to evolve.
The organization has embraced new technologies, expanded its content offerings, and adapted to changing reader habits while maintaining its commitment to local reporting.
That ability to change while remaining true to its mission has been one of the keys to the site’s longevity.
Today, CVN has grown into the number one news and entertainment-based website in Northwest Georgia.
The website averages nearly 200,000 unique IP addresses each month and regularly reaches readers in nearly 30 states and 10 countries.
Those numbers represent something larger than analytics.
They demonstrate the enduring connection readers have developed with a publication that has remained focused on local communities even as its audience has expanded far beyond the region’s borders.
Former residents living across the country often rely on CVN to stay connected with hometown news.
Military personnel stationed overseas use the site to keep up with events back home.
Families scattered across different states follow local sports scores, obituaries, and community milestones through the publication.
As the internet has made the world smaller, CVN has helped keep Northwest Georgia connected.
A Commitment to Free News
One of the defining principles of Coosa Valley News has always been accessibility.
From its earliest days, the website has remained free to readers.
Long before subscription models became common across the digital publishing industry, CVN chose a different path.
The organization’s leadership believed community news should remain available to everyone regardless of income.
That decision has only been possible because of the support of local advertisers.
Businesses throughout the region have partnered with CVN over the years, allowing the site to continue providing free content to its audience.
The relationship has always been mutually beneficial.
Readers receive access to news and information without a paywall, while local businesses receive affordable advertising opportunities that help them reach customers throughout the region.
For Holt, affordability was a central component of the business model from the beginning.
He wanted small businesses, startups, nonprofits, and community organizations to have access to marketing opportunities that fit their budgets.
That philosophy remains a cornerstone of the organization today.
As many longtime advertising partners can attest, CVN’s success has always been closely connected to the success of the communities and businesses it serves.
The Readers Who Made It Possible
While ownership, staff, advertisers, and contributors have all played important roles in the site’s success, CVN leadership is quick to point out one undeniable fact:
There would be no Coosa Valley News without its readers.
Every click, every story read, every comment shared, every submission sent to the newsroom, and every advertisement viewed has contributed to the growth of the organization.
For two decades, readers have trusted CVN to deliver information about major breaking news events, local government meetings, high school sports, business openings, community festivals, and the moments that shape life throughout Northwest Georgia.
That trust is something the organization does not take lightly.
As CVN celebrates its 20th anniversary, the company extends a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has visited the website over the years.
Simply put, Coosa Valley News would not exist without you.
Looking Toward the Future
Reaching 20 years is an achievement few local digital media organizations can claim.
Throughout the past two decades, countless websites have launched with great expectations only to fade away after a few years.
Others have been acquired, consolidated, or closed altogether.
CVN is proud not only to have survived but to have continued growing.
As the company enters its third decade, leadership remains focused on future opportunities.
Among the organization’s priorities is the continued growth and development of CVNTV, the publication’s YouTube-based video platform.
Video consumption continues to grow across all demographics, and CVN sees tremendous potential in expanding local video content for readers and viewers throughout the region.
Celebrating 20 Years
Twenty years ago, a vacant website domain and a bold idea created an opportunity.
What followed was two decades of innovation, community service, local storytelling, and regional growth.
From the earliest days following the K98 Radio sale to today’s position as Northwest Georgia’s leading news and entertainment website, Coosa Valley News has remained committed to serving its readers.
The world has changed dramatically since Sept. 18, 2006.
Technology has evolved. Media has evolved. Communities have evolved.
But one thing has remained constant: the desire for reliable local information and a trusted source that understands the region.
For 20 years, Coosa Valley News has worked to be that source.
As CVN celebrates this milestone anniversary, everyone associated with the organization offers a simple message:
Thank you.
