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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, January 27th, and happy heavenly birthday to musician Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland.
***01.27.24 – BIRTHDAY – BOBBY BLUE BAND***
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: West Rome Man Facing Charges Stemming From Two Robberies
A West Rome man, Nicholas Dimetrious Alexander Butts, was arrested and charged with robbery after demanding money and making threats at the credit union inside the West Rome Walmart. Butts is also accused of robbing a convenience store on Elm Street, stealing vape cartridges, and fleeing in a silver Dodge Charger. Police pursued Butts, and with assistance from the Georgia State Patrol, the Dodge was stopped after a collision. Butts attempted to flee on foot but was apprehended and tased by Floyd County police. He faces felony charges, including robbery, fleeing, destroying an electronic monitoring device, and probation violations.
STORY 2: Winter Weather Leads to Emergency Blood Shortage
The American Red Cross has issued an emergency call for blood donations due to a severe shortage caused by recent winter weather conditions. Severe weather has led to the cancellation of numerous blood and platelet drives, resulting in about 15,000 missed collections in January alone. The national blood supply levels are critically low, and donors are urged to contribute immediately. The Red Cross emphasizes the importance of blood donations for lifesaving medical procedures. To make an appointment, individuals can visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS. Donors can also participate in the Red Cross Blood Donor Rewards Program, earning points for e-gift cards and exclusive merchandise.
STORY 3: Exchange Club Helps Build New Playground and You Can Too
The Exchange Club of Cedartown has donated $5,000 to support the city's Play at Peek campaign for the construction of a new playground at Peek Park. The estimated $800,000 project aims to replace the current playground, built 25 years ago, and will include features such as a dual racing zip line, ADA accessible merry-go-round, rubberized surfacing, playhouses resembling downtown Cedartown architecture, a replica of the Big Spring bridge, crawl tunnel, and picnic area. The new playground will be constructed during a five-day community build starting March 20, and volunteers are encouraged to participate in various aspects of the project.
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Back in a moment
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STORY 4: State Senate Panel Votes to Eliminate QR Codes from Paper Ballots
The Georgia Senate Ethics Committee has approved Senate Bill 189, a measure aiming to eliminate QR codes on paper ballots. Under the proposed legislation, only the text portions of paper ballots would be counted, addressing concerns from some voters who find QR codes confusing and a barrier to transparency. The bill's chief sponsor, Sen. Max Burns, highlighted the need for a $15 million investment in new scanners capable of reading text from paper ballots. Senate Republicans have urged Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to expedite a planned software upgrade, but Raffensperger cited insufficient time before the upcoming elections.
STORY 5: CRBI Contamination Study Shows Widespread PFAS Contamination In Local Lakes And Rivers
The Coosa River Basin Initiative (CRBI) and Coosa Riverkeeper are collaborating on a project to monitor per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination in the Coosa River Basin in Georgia and Alabama. PFAS are human-made chemicals linked to potential health risks. Sampling conducted in the summer of 2023 revealed widespread PFAS contamination, with 84.62% of sampling sites showing some level of contamination. The joint project aims to provide valuable insights into the distribution of PFAS contamination in the Coosa River Basin, emphasizing the importance of monitoring surface water levels and contributing to ongoing efforts to address water quality and public health concerns in the region.
Back in just a moment
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STORY 6: Model Middle's Brandi Corley named Georgia Music Educators Association District 7 Educator of the Year
Brandi Corley, a music educator at Model Middle School, has been named the Georgia Music Educators Association Music Educator of the Year for District 7. The award recognizes her significant contributions to the community through music and her dedication to building up musical programs. Corley, honored at a banquet in Athens, is now a contender for the GMEA State Educator of the Year. Recognized for going above and beyond for her students and community, Corley has been praised for her ability to embrace the diverse talents of each student and help them reach their potential in music.
STORY 7: Georgia Northwestern Technical College Announces Finalists for 2024 GOAL Award
Four students from Georgia Northwestern Technical College, namely Sonia Avalos, Jacqueline Beck, Ashley Cowan, and Fabiana Whaley, have been selected as finalists for the Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL). The GOAL program, part of the Technical College System of Georgia, recognizes students for academic and leadership excellence. These finalists will undergo a second round of judging by the Rome Floyd County Chamber, and one student will be selected as the college's 2024 winner. The overall state winner will serve as a student ambassador for TCSG, making public appearances, addressing the state General Assembly, and more.
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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. If you enjoy these shows, we encourage you to check out our other offerings, like the Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast, the Marietta Daily Journal, the Community Podcast for Rockdale Newton and Morgan Counties, or the Paulding County News Podcast.
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