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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, March 23rd and happy 71st birthday to singer Chaka Khan.
***03.23.24 – BIRTHDAY – CHAKA KHAN***
I’m Keith Ippolito and here are the stories Northwest Georgia is talking about presented by Drake Realty.
These stories and more are coming up in today’s edition of the Northwest Georgia News podcast, and if you are looking for community news, we encourage you to listen and subscribe!
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STORY 1: Time Running Out In 2024 Georgia Legislature To Secure Compensation For Wrongfully Convicted Floyd County Men
Several wrongful conviction compensation resolutions, including those for Lee Clark and Joey Watkins, have stalled in the Georgia Senate, leaving exonerees in limbo. Clark and Watkins, wrongfully imprisoned for decades, seek compensation to rebuild their lives. Their cases involve new evidence proving innocence, prompting bipartisan support in the House. However, delays in the Senate Appropriations Committee, led by Sen. Blake Tillery, have hindered progress. Lawmakers face a looming deadline as the General Assembly session ends soon. A proposal to reform the compensation process aims to depoliticize the issue and provide a fair evaluation of claims. Despite bipartisan efforts, the fate of these resolutions remains uncertain.
STORY 2: DuPont Seeks To Drop Appeal Concerning Water Pollution Settlement Amount With Rome
DuPont is retracting its appeal to withhold settlement details regarding PFAS pollution in Rome's water supply. Initially, the chemical company sued to prevent the release of the settlement amount paid to the city. This reversal follows a Floyd County Superior Court ruling stating the figure must be disclosed under the Open Records Act. The settlement involves various parties, with DuPont estimated to pay around $43 million of the $184 million total. These funds will finance a reverse osmosis water filtration facility, enabling Rome to resume using the Oostanaula River as its primary water source. The project is in the design phase, aiming to mitigate PFAS contamination.
STORY 3: Northwest Georgia Sees Rise in Job Numbers. Here's What We Know.
Between February 2023 and last month, Rome/Floyd County saw a gain of 1,700 jobs, with 47,600 employed residents. Despite a decline from December's peak due to the holiday season, the market added 100 jobs last month compared to January. First-time jobless claims dropped significantly across the region, with notable decreases in Floyd, Bartow, and Chattooga counties. Statewide, Georgia's February unemployment rate remained at 3.1%, with the number of employed reaching an all-time high. Initial claims decreased by 39% month-over-month and were down 1% year-over-year, reflecting positive labor market trends.
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STORY 4: Movie Made in Catoosa and Walker Counties, with Mostly Local Actors and Crew
Kenyon T. Henry, a Catoosa County native, fulfilled his dream of making a movie with "Country Rain," a faith-based film shot in Ringgold and surrounding areas. Henry, also an author and actor, wrote the script and played the lead role of Pete Ford. The film follows Ford, a country singer, as he navigates personal and career challenges with faith-based themes. Utilizing local talent and locations, the production involved about 40 people, with notable contributions from volunteers and professionals like actor Dean Cain. Despite challenges, including some unexpected horse antics on set, Henry found the filmmaking experience gratifying. "Country Rain" is set to premiere in May or June, with plans for the first showing in Ringgold. Interested viewers can find more information on social media and JC Films' website.
STORY 5: California Man Facing Child Exploitation Charges From 2016
Zechariah Thomas Elijah Engdahl, 35, a California resident, was apprehended after being placed on Floyd County's Ten Most Wanted List in January. He faces charges of sexual exploitation of children and possession of materials depicting minors in explicit conduct. The charges relate to an incident in 2016 at an address in West Rome, where Engdahl was discovered in possession of multiple images depicting minors in sexually explicit situations. Engdahl is currently in custody in California awaiting further legal proceedings.
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STORY 6: Gordon Central JROTC Named Honor Unit with Distinction
Gordon Central High School’s JROTC program achieved the prestigious Honor Unit with Distinction status for the 2023-2024 academic year, showcasing outstanding performance across all program aspects. The designation necessitates scoring between 90-100% on the annual Unit Report and 95-100% on the JROTC Program of Accreditation. Evaluation, conducted by an inspection team led by Willie Burton, covered diverse areas such as Battalion Staff Continuous Improvement, Service Learning, Cadet Portfolios, Drill, and Color Guard. With an impressive 97.50% overall evaluation score, the program secured the HUD designation, reflecting excellence. The cadet leadership team, led by Col. Wallace E. Steinbrecher and Sgt. 1st Class John Windom, contributed significantly to this achievement.
STORY 7: Polk 4-H Students Win Big At District Competition
Polk County's 4-H program excelled at the annual Junior/Senior Northwest District Project Achievement competition at Rock Eagle, with several first-place winners among the 10 participants. The event, featuring over 500 competitors from 36 counties, requires participants to present projects and speeches on topics of their choice after compiling a record book of their activities over the past year. Summer Gonzalez from Rockmart High School secured first place in Food for Fitness and advances to the state competition in July. Other first-place winners included Bella Nesbitt from Rockmart Middle School in Fashion Revue, and students from Cedartown Middle School in various categories. Additional participants from Rockmart High School and other schools also showcased their talents, contributing to Polk County's success. For more information on 4-H activities, contact the local office at 770-749-2142 or email polk.extension@uga.edu.
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