We've Moved to GrowCarroll.com!

Many of you have been following our work here at our Blogspot account for a couple of months now (it's up to 5,000 hits and more than 300 of you are also our friend on Facebook). While I know that internet friendships aren't exactly the most binding of ties, I really think that in the kind of world we live in, they go a long way in helping to foster greater fraternity in a community, whether it be an actual group of people living and working together or an online network. That's where GrowCarroll comes in.

After much hard work www.growcarroll.com was launched earlier today. It will replace this blog as our primary website.

When we were putting GrowCarroll together, we didn't want to create another space online that exists simply as a dumping ground for rote news or static press releases. We wanted to bridge the gap between the internet and the people on the other end of those fiber optic connections.

That's where you guys come in. I know it's cliché, but we want to hear from you. We're not just saying it, either. We really do. Create a commenter account. Talk to us. Talk to each other. Email us stuff for the calendar. Email us about adding locations to our master map. Email us if there's something on here you'd like to see more of. Email us if there's something that we're missing. Email us pictures. Email us blog entries if you're the type to put pen to paper. We want to hear from you. Together, we can really make this something special.

In the meanwhile, click around. Explore. Have fun. It's your community, and it's your GrowCarroll.com.

Visit GrowCarroll now.

Jinkies!

Tanner Health System Contributes $634.6 Million to Region’s Economy

Tanner Health System contributed more than $634.6 million to the region’s economy and created 4,666 full-time jobs in 2009, according to a report from the Georgia Hospital Association (GHA).

The economic impact represents a more than 16 percent increase from 2008, according to the health system.

“This continues to be a period of tremendous growth at Tanner,” said Loy Howard, president and CEO of Tanner Health System. “Over the time that this report documents, we opened Tanner Heart and Vascular Center in Carrollton and Willowbrooke at Tanner, the new inpatient behavioral health facility in Villa Rica. We’ve also seen very strong growth among the practices that are part of Tanner Medical Group, with established practices joining and new practices starting.”

UWG's 26th Annual Sunbelt Jazz Fest Friday

Jazz great Chris Vadala comes to the 26th Annual Sunbelt Jazz Festival at University of West Georgia on Friday, April 22, at 7:30 p.m.

UWG’s Department of Music and the Townsend Center for the Performing Arts host the annual show for lovers of great jazz.

A Note from the Carroll County Tax Assessors Office

By Sandra S. Ferguson

Chief Appraiser

Carroll County residents will see some changes this year to the way the Tax Assessor’s office notifies them about the value assigned to their property, and like all new things, it’s going to be confusing to some who are used to the old system. But there’s good news: it’s really not that different than in years past.

Last year, the Georgia General Assembly passed the Property Tax Reform Bill (SB 346), which made changes to the existing tax code; these changes took effect at the beginning of this year.

A Week Full of Earth Day Events

The University of West Georgia and Keep Carroll Beautiful are working together to host a week full of activities in celebration of Earth Day. Take some time this week to get outside and enjoy all the natural beauty that Carroll County has to offer. All events are free and open to the public.

Monday
• Keep Carroll Beautiful Ribbon Cutting and 6th Birthday Party, 4:30-6:30 PM
105 Folds Dr. Suite 3. Sponsored by Keep Carroll Beautiful
• Movie Night: Disney/Pixar's “WALL-E” at 7 p.m. UWG Callaway Room 145
Sponsored by Love Not Litter, Keep Carroll Beautiful

Tuesday
• Flower Planting at John Tanner State Park, Noon. Sponsored by Love Not Litter, Keep Carroll Beautiful.

It's Not Too Late to Thank a Public Safety Telecommunicator

Carroll County Board of Commissioners Chairman Bill Chappell recognizes public safety telecommunicators at the Carroll County E-911 Center with a proclamation declaring April 10-16 'National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.'

It's National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week in Carroll County, a time when we should all take a moment to recognize all the hard work that goes into keeping our 911 system running smoothly and efficiently. These professionals make us all safer and have contributed substantially to the apprehension of criminals, suppression of fires and the timely treatment of patients experiencing medical emergencies.

The proclamation after the jump.

Community Chorus Peforms 'A Tribute to Disney' Tonight

Carroll County Community Chorus presents the spring concert series, A Tribute to Disney, April 15 @ 7:30 pm, April 16 @ 4 pm and 7:30 pm @ the Carrollton Cultural Arts Center. The concert includes such Disney songs as "Beauty and the Beast," “Can You Feel the Love Tonight,” “Someday My Prince Will Come,” “Whistle While You Work,” “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah,” “When You Wish Upon a Star” and others. Tix are $10. 770-838-1083.

UWG Students Holding Car Wash for Japan

Students from the University of West Georgia's International Students Club and Multi-Asian Student Association will be holding a charity car wash today to raise funds for the Japan Relief Fund. The car wash is being held at the Chevron Gas Station on Maple Street in Carrollton. The event kicks off at 3 p.m. and lasts until 6 p.m.

VRHS Show Choir Performance Tonight, Saturday

Villa Rica High School's Show Choir will be performing a variety of songs tonight and Saturday at the school's Hall Theatre. Songs include Proud Mary, Fever and The Shoop-Shoop Song. The event kicks off both nights at 7 p.m., tickets are $3.

Temple Convenience Center Expansion Complete

The Carroll County Public Works Department recently completed work on an expanded attendant’s office at the Temple convenience center, the latest in a line of improvements to convenience centers around Carroll County; crews should begin work at the Dyer Road location in the next few weeks.

The work done at the Temple location came at a cost of approximately $6,000, which went towards modernizing the existing on-site facility. A new building was constructed, complete with weatherproofing, a heating and air-conditioning unit and new plumbing, altogether marking a significant expansion over the previous space.

Judicial Center has Beautiful View of Carrollton

Carrollton City Hall as scene from the fifth floor of the Carroll County Judicial Center.

Construction crews are making progress on the Carroll County Judicial Center every day. When finished the five-story building will house the majority of the county's court services. For the meantime the center's fifth floor provides a beautiful view of Carrollton and the surrounding area.