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From the Ingles Studio this is The Northwest Georgia News Podcast from the Rome News Tribune, Calhoun Times, Catoosa Walker News, and Polk County Standard
Today is Saturday, June 3rd, and happy 37th birthday to former Atlanta Hawk Al Horford
***Horford highlight***
I’m Brian Giffin and here the top stories Northwest Georgia is talking about presented by Drake Realty
Defendants to pay more than $100 million to resolve Rome PFAS water pollution lawsuit
Property taxes, debt and a balanced budget the focus of talk with Floyd County legislative delegation
And a Bartow County woman killed in hit and run
Plus Leah McGrath of Ingles Markets joins our own Bruce Jenkins to discuss high grocery prices and a little later we’ll hear from Gary Crawford of the US dept. of Agriculture on that same topic
These stories and more are coming up in today’s edition of the Northwest Georgia News podcast
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STORY 1: water suit
A water pollution lawsuit filed by the city of Rome against chemical companies, carpet manufacturers, and other defendants is set to result in a settlement exceeding $100 million, according to a Bloomberg News report. The Rome City Commission recently voted to accept the settlements, avoiding the trial that was scheduled to begin in Floyd County Superior Court. The lawsuit sought to recover the costs incurred by the city and its water department customers to remove PFAS and PFOAS chemicals from drinking water. The settlement involves numerous defendants, including Shaw Industries, 3M, DuPont, and Dalton Utilities. The approximate cost of the settlement matches the estimated expense of constructing a new reverse osmosis filtration plant to treat Rome's water. As the financial details are finalized, Rome's water customers will continue to pay increased rates to fund the new filtration plant…..stay abreast of this story at northwestgeorgianews.com
STORY 2: taxes
Eligible property owners in Georgia can expect a substantial rebate on their property taxes this year, in addition to an income tax rebate due to a state revenue surplus. The Property Tax Relief Grant, part of the amended Fiscal Year 2023 budget, will refund $950 million in property taxes to homestead owners. Despite the state not collecting property taxes, the grant will directly reduce property tax bills. This relief will be beneficial for property owners facing higher assessments and tax bills. However, the refund may not be available next year, leading to potential increases in property tax bills. Lawmakers also discussed the federal deficit and the importance of balancing Georgia's budget during the meeting. Efforts were made to address issues impacting residents' finances, including bills related to workforce housing and incentivizing key fields like healthcare.
STORY 3: hit and run
An investigation is underway into a hit-and-run incident in Bartow County, Georgia, which resulted in a woman's death. The Georgia State Patrol and Bartow County Sheriff's Office responded to the scene where the woman's body was found on the side of East Pleasant Valley Road. The body had been there for several days and had started to decompose. The woman's identity remains unknown, and her body will be sent to the GBI Crime Lab for identification. The state patrol's accident re-enactment team will assist in the investigation. Additionally, another fatality occurred in Rome over the Memorial Day weekend, bringing the total number of deaths on Georgia roads during that period to 15..…..we’ll be back in a moment.
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STORY 4: ATV
Family, friends, and classmates gathered at Pepperell Middle School to remember and celebrate the life of 14-year-old Kyleigh Rampley, who tragically lost her life in an ATV accident. Mourners released lime green balloons, Kyleigh's favorite color, as a tribute to her. The accident occurred on Cherokee County 102 near Cedar Bluff, Alabama, where Kyleigh's ATV veered off the road, hit a guy wire, and overturned. She was ejected and suffered critical injuries to her chest, resulting in her death. An 8-year-old passenger also sustained injuries but was later released from care. This was one of two serious ATV accidents in Cherokee County over the Memorial Day weekend.
STORY 5: codis
A Rome man has been arrested on a felony burglary charge after blood found at a break-in was matched to his DNA profile in a national crime database. Walter Marquez Kirby, 23, allegedly broke into a home and stole gaming equipment in August 2018. Police discovered blood at the crime scene and inside the residence, which was collected and analyzed. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation Crime Lab found a match for Kirby's DNA in the CODIS database, leading to his arrest. The use of DNA matching in investigations is becoming less rare as more DNA profiles are added to the database. Kirby is currently in jail without bond.
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STORY 6: williams
Ten-year-old Zander Williams from Rome showcased his exceptional power at a Perfect Game tournament in Carrollton. Playing for Charlie Culberson Baseball, Williams achieved a remarkable feat by hitting five consecutive home runs in his first five at-bats. The opponent even resorted to intentionally walking him in his sixth at-bat. This impressive display of skill and power is rare at any level of baseball. Williams boasts an impressive season with a .532 average and 49 RBIs. As a valuable player for the Charlie Culberson 10-under team, Williams has contributed to their successful 23-5-2 record, including four tournament wins and two runner-up finishes. The team is preparing for the upcoming Gold Mine World Series in Ellijay
Story 7: Berry
Junior Nick Brunswick, a right fielder from Berry College, was named to the D3Baseball.com All-Region VI second team after an impressive season. Brunswick set Berry's single-season hits record in the Division III era with 69 hits. In Southern Athletic Association (SAA) play, he contributed 35 hits and 21 runs in 21 games. Throughout the season, Brunswick maintained a batting average of .418 and an OPS of 1.036. He recorded 22 multi-hit games, including nine three-hit performances, and ended the season with a 25-game streak of reaching base safely. Additionally, Brunswick received SAA first-team honors for his outstanding performance.
We’ll have closing comments after this
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Thanks again for listening to today’s Northwest Georgia News podcast. For more on these stories and other great content visit northwestgeorgianews.com. Giving you important information about your community and telling great stories are what we do. Did you know over 50% of Americans listen to podcasts weekly? Make sure you join us for our next episode and be sure to share this podcast on social media with your friends and family. Add us to your Alexa Flash Briefing or your Google Home Briefing and be sure to like, follow, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
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