Rome film fest gets underway

Fifteen Georgia films will be among the offerings at the 5th annual Rome International Film Festival. The festival began Thursday and will feature a total of about 140 films during its four-day run. That will include 20 international films. Creative director Harry Musselwhite said the point of a film festival is to give people access to films they wouldn't regularly see at the local multiplex. The categories of films at the festival include narrative, documentary, animation and experimental, both feature and short lengths. Films will be shown at Rome City Auditorium, Forum Civic Center, Hairstory Salon, Heritage Hall, Forrest Park Ballroom and Magretta Hall.

Georgia's Drought: Update

Much of Georgia is still in an historic drought. With the state entering the hot season, and winter rains having failed to replenish many of the state's northern reservoirs, the chance to undo last year's water loss is almost gone.

Over all, the states water levels look a lot like they did this time last year - when Georgians were told the state was entering into extreme drought - and then just months later, metro Atlanta's was counting down the days till they ran out of water entirely.

State Climatologist, David Stookesbury said the outlook for this year’s hot season is the same.

"We are starting at very low levels, already, across much of the state. The conditions will slowly worsen, even if we have normal rain fall through October," said Stookesbury.

Stookesbury said South Georgia is looking a little better but could see drought conditions within a month. For North Georgia, Lake Lanier, unlike last year, is starting at a deficit and Lake Allatoona- while it fills quickly, also looses water just as fast.

Dalton to Change Housing Laws

The City of Dalton wants to cap the number of unrelated people living in the same household to two, and each other resident would then need about four hundred feet of living space; the same goes for vehicles parked outside.

Dalton’s Mayor David Pennington said those changes would help support sagging property values.

"We got beighborhood with single family home with eight, nine, cars parked outside. If you have multiple adults living in one house, that's not a single family,” said Pennington.

But local Hispanic advocates said the code changes mainly affect Latino families. They say some renters go overboard renting to individual, immigrant workers, but with families, it’s a part of the culture.

Bobby Womack, from Latino's for Justice and Education, says its not fair for immigrants.

"Our orginization- we believe in individual human dignity and the attacks on the immigrant is very upsetting. Its just sad, " said Womack.

Pennington disagrees; he says it’s a universal matter of economics.

Unemployment Rising in North West Georgia

Statewide, unemployment claims have risen almost 40 percent from last year, and more than doubled in North West Georgia.

Unemployment is up 65 percent in Whitfield County, and almost 25 percent in neighboring Gordon County.

Sam Hall, from Georgia's Department of Labor said he is concerned about the recent job loss in the region.

"The bulk of the layoffs in the Dalton and Gordon County area have been in carpet and other manufacturing industries. These layoffs are the reason North Georgia is the region with the largest amount of claims," said Hall.

Hall said last year, Dalton's unemployment rate was lower than the State's average. But, because of the housing slump, the region is expected to have stagnant job growth for the rest of the year.

Georgia Water Update

Recent rains are helping quench Georgia’s thirst for water. The state has received more rain during this winter than the previous one; Lake Allatoona is at normal pool, and Athens-Clarke County is relaxing its watering restrictions.

Chris Purvis, from the Army Corps of Engineers, says despite Georgia's drought, the water levels are higher than normal for this time of year.

"We're basically trying to even this out, to keep a two foot curve so we're about two feet a head of schedule. But for us to maintain that, we will have to at least keep our historical average of what we get- normally get in a month of rain fall."

Purvis expects Lake Allatoona to reach its normal summer volume - the Lake needs 5 more feet of water.

In Athens-Clarke county officials are finally relaxing watering bans, allowing pools to be topped off and some hand watering. Officials say the new restrictions go into effect this weekend. Athens was the first to enforce a no-watering ban and still, the watering bans are stricter in Athens- Clarke County than the rest of the state.

Georgia's Agruculture Economy Overview

Agriculture experts from the University of Georgia met with local farmers to discuss the industries outlook for the upcoming year. Crops across the board, such as corn, pecans, soybeans, and peanuts are selling at an all time high. But, the drought has wiped out Georgia’s livestock feed, and fuels costs have tripled. John McKissick, an agriculture economist from the University of Georgia said livestock farmers aren’t as lucky as crop farmers.

“Beef cattle producers are faced with rising costs from the energy side, yet their selling prices aren’t going up, in fact their's is going down some,” said McKissick.

According to the University of Georgia's Department of Agriculture, Georgian agribusiness brought in $2.5 billion dollars last year, even with the slump in landscaping and livestock profits.

Propex Files Chapter 11

Propex carpet manufacturer, which employs almost two thousand Georgians, is filing for bankruptcy.

With the housing slump, and fall out from shaky sub prime mortgages, bankers will not offer refinancing for Propex.

Company Vice President, Matt Bridges said he expects Propex to come out of the bankruptcy intact.

“This chapter filing is not about head counts or plants closing or some of the things you read about in higly publicized Chapter 11 filings. It is all about our balance sheet. It is about creating a more healhty Propex with less debt on the balence sheet and in essence, becomming a stronger company,” said Bridger.

Bridger said all 1700 Georgia workers will keep their jobs.

“So many of our businesses are tied to the housing market and the residential construction business. However, we have some very unique and aggressive marketing strategies that will hopefully drive more volume into these plants.”

The company runs five plants in Georgia.

Bears in Catoosa County

A mother bear and her two cubs were spotted this morning near an elementary school in Catoosa County. The Department of Natural Resources says the bears migrate west each year. While they’re not considered dangerous, DNR and local law enforcement are closely following their progress. Because it’s a natural process, the bears will remain undisturbed unless they pose a threat to public safety.

Endangered Whooping Cranes in Georgia

Seventeen endangered whooping cranes are following a lightweight plane through Georgia on their annual migratory path. The flock of birds arrived yesterday in Gordon County. They will stop up to five times in Georgia.

Since 2001, Operation Migration has been trying to establish a new winter migration route for the endangered whooping crane. It spans from Wisconsin down to Florida.

This year the route has taken more time than ever before. The journey usually ends in mid-December.

Liz Condie works for Operation Migration and has been on the trip for three years. She said someone has to show the birds born in captivity how to migrate.

“Because most avian species learn the migration route, the ability to migrate, from their parents, once the last bird is lost from a range, the migration route, of course, is lost as well,” said Condie.

Operation Migration is trying to rebuild the Eastern Whooping Crane population. If all goes as planned, it should be off the endangered species list within the next few years.

Immigration and Customs Training

Northwest Georgia police are receiving federal training to help identify illegal immigrants. Whitfield County is the second in Georgia to gain access to the federal database of ICE, or Immigration and Customs Enforcement. It’s a record of fingerprints taken from arrested illegal immigrants. It will help officers determine the residency status of newly arrested people faster since a person can only be detained for 48 hours.

Whitfield County Sheriff, Scott Chitwood said his department applied for the program after hearing from worried locals.

“Well, in the last several years we’ve seen a large increase in the Hispanic population here in our community and there’s a very large concern by our local citizens,” said Chitwood.

Chitwood said the community thinks the overall crime rate is growing, but the majority of crimes committed by the Hispanic population are misdemeanor traffic violations.

Northeast Neighbor, Gwinnett County is under pressure from local officials to apply for the program as well. Last year, 360 inmates were deported from Gwinnett County’s jail.

Christmas Shopper Bus

Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer is in Rome, getting shoppers where they need to go this Christmas Eve.

The Rome Transit department has a bus with a route specially designed for last-minute Christmas shoppers. It is equipped with a red nose, antlers, and a smiling face.

Phyllis Lee from Rome’s Transit Department, said Rudolph the Red Nose Shopper Bus carries passengers in style.

“Santa drives the bus and we also have Santa’s helper on the bus giving out candy to the kids, giving kids the opportunity to talk to Santa. And Santa, of course, waves and greets the passengers as he goes by,” said Lee.

The bus visits major shopping sites in Rome including the Historic Downtown. It costs a dollar to ride.

Georgia Gets Local Clinical Cancer Trials

Only 1 out of 7 cancer patients participate clinical trials becuase until now, the newest treatments were mostly available in major metropolitan areas. Cancer patients across rural Georgia now have access to the newest cancer treatments, once available only in large cities.

The National Cancer institute is funding clinical trials in Columbus, Savannah and Rome as part of a three year study.

Dr. Ken Davis, with Harbin Clinic in Rome said travel expenses can often put cutting edge treatments out of reach.

“It’s just totally inconvenient and totally so expensive that there’s no way that someone in Rome, Georgia can afford it. Plus, the volumes you can have, in six institutions, you can’t have all these patients in those locations,” said
Davis.

The clinical trials will offer the newest chemotherapy programs and cancer research drugs. If the study goes well, the National Cancer Institute may offer clinical trials in more areas.

Rome Has Plenty of Water

The Environmental protection division released a list of the cities that decreased water use by 10 percent. Rome, as predicted by local city officials, didn’t make the cut.

Rome’s Water Department director, Lee Ross, said Rome doesn’t have a water problem and shouldn’t have to cut back.

"I think Rome’s major issue is that we feel like we shouldn't be in the level four district, we feel like we're in no different situation than the City of Macon," said Ross.

Ross said Rome returns, more than half of the water taken out of the Etowah River, the most of any city in North Georgia.

Cobb May Need New Water Source

Cobb county may soon have to find other water options. Right now, the gate on Lake Allatoona that provides almost half of Cobb County with water is less than 10 feet away from being exposed. The gate pulls water from the lake into the pipes that transfer it to Cobb County. Two other gates are already out of commission.

Cobb County-Marietta Water Authority Manager, Glen Paige, said there is one gate left, 7 feet deeper than the other three. No one knows if it even works; it’s never been used. But, Paige said not to worry, there are other options.

“If the lake level continues to fall, we will need to take other measures, including what we’re considering, which is installing some temporary pumps nearly a mile away in a deeper pool in the lake,” said Paige.

Before the deepest gate can be used, two or three feet of silt have to be removed and the gate must be tested. That process will cost a hundred thousand dollars. Temporary water pumps would cost six times as much.

State Patrol Targets Agressive Drivers

Tomorrow, the Georgia State Patrol will put a second wave of officers on the road to ticket aggressive drivers. The jump in patrols is part of the Targeting Aggressive Cars and Trucks program, which aims at preventing accidents between cars and semi-trucks.

Major Chris Long from Georgia’s Department of Public Safety said the main goal of TACT is to educate drivers on how a semi-truck works. He said many don’t know and they put their lives at risk.

“The passenger vehicles, naturally, they can make stops more quickly than a commercial vehicle can. You’re talking 6, 000 lbs vs. 80.000 lbs. or more on a commercial vehicle. Those truckers can’t stop as fast a car can. So, that’s one of the dangers,” said Long.

Long said two-thirds of fatal accidents involving a passenger vehicle and a semi-truck are caused by passenger vehicles.

Officers are now patrolling Interstate 75, from Cartersville down to Marietta. In January, the program expands to Interstate 95 in the South East.

Winter Planting Still Effective

Good news for gardeners: despite GA’s drought, it’s still possible to enjoy spring flowers even without May showers.

Experts say most people want to plant in the spring because the weather outside is enjoyable. But for Georgians, fall and winter is the best bet for seeing results.

Metro-Atlanta Landscaping and Turf Association’s director, Mary Kay Woodworth, said having flowers next spring, even with the drought, is possible because bulbs need very little water.

“When you plant a bulb, put a little water on it initially, the day you plant it, and you don’t have to water anymore. Bulbs are very drought tolerant,” said Woodworth.

Woodworth said the winter soil is cooler and holds water better. Even if there’s only a little rain, plants can still make it.

So far, Georgia’s Landscaping industry has lost upwards of a billion dollars in business and over 14,000 workers have lost their jobs, as well.

Dawson County May Get Reservior

In response to the State’s new Reservoir Development and Drought Relief Act, Dawson County may soon get one of its own. The Reservoir Development and Drought Relief Act makes it easier for local governments to build reservoirs.

One new reservoir is expected to add 11 million gallons of water a day solely to Dawson County. It will be built on Russell creek, one of three untapped watersheds in the area.

Etowah Water and Sewer Authority Manager, Brooke Anderson, said he chose Russell Creek so they would not have to start from scratch.

“We will actually have to remove the existing damn in order to construct a much larger damn turning it into a drinking water supply reservoir,” said Anderson.

The project is expected to cost 36 million dollars. Construction will begin in December pending a loan from the Army Corps of Engineers.

North Georgia Gets Thanksgiving Rains

November marked the end of Georgia’s long, dry season. Thanksgiving week brought two inches of rain across North GA, where the drought hit hardest.

But, officials said it’s not enough to make a difference. That’s because the soil around Lake Lanier and Lake Allatoona is so dry, the rain made almost no change in water levels.

State climatologist David Stooksbury said getting through the winter is possible, but without rain, 2008 could mean even more damage to Georgia.

“I think we will muddle though the winter with winter rains, good conservation and good management of our water resources. My real concern is next June through October,” said Stooksbury.

As long as officials continue to let more water out of the lakes than comes in, no amount of winter rains will help deter the possibility of running out of water next dry season, said Stooksbury.

Christmas Trees are Aplenty

Many people will get their Christmas trees over Thanksgiving weekend. But, because of the drought, some are worried there won’t be enough healthy trees to go around.

But, neither the Grinch nor the drought will steal Christmas from Georgian’s this holiday season because most Christmas tree farms in the state are doing just fine.

Andy Kinsey and his brother own Kinsey Family Farm in Forsyth County. Kinsey said they’ll have over 2,500 Leland Cypress and Caroline Sapphire trees for sale, which are naturally drought resistant.

“In all honestly, they prefer a drought compared to a wet, wet summer. I mean, this is much better than a summer when we got 20 extra inches of rain, that is when you really see problems,” said Kinsey.

Kinsey said there won’t be a decrease in available trees until three years from now; when trees planted this year mature. He says he expects most of his trees to make it through, but if all else fails, he can always import trees from North Carolina.

Police Officer in Rockmart: Found Out Felon

A North Georgia Police officer was arrested after officials discovered he was a convicted felon.

After working for a year as a Rockmart police officer, Jedson Leist decided to apply for work as deputy sheriff in Haralson County. Officials there ran a background check, and found out Leist was a convicted felon in Colorado.

Assistant United States Attorney Bret Williams is prosecuting the case. Williams said he’s never seen anything like this.

“It struck me as an unusual case when you have someone who is a convicted felon, first of all, looking to get a job of all things, as a police officer, and then covering up their record using fake fingerprints,” said Williams.

Williams said it was possible for Leist to become an officer because Rockmart Police allowed him to turn in his own background check, which unknown to them, he limited to the state of Georgia.

Officials suspect Leist had help from inside the Rockmart Police department because he used a fake fingerprint for the in-house background check.

Rockmart Police Chief Larry Harris took leave as a result of this investigation.