News Line for Dalton

City Council approves new turf for soccer field at Lakeshore Park
Lakeshore Park could become the home of Dalton State College’s soccer program, and the City Council took the first step on Monday in getting the park ready for college sports.
Source: Dalton Daily Citizen

Dalton mayor mulls challenge to Deal
David Pennington, the mayor of Dalton, is making noises about challenging incumbent Gov. Nathan Deal in the 2014 Republican primary. Say what?
Source: Bryan County News

Mount Rachel trails near finish
Trail runners and mountain bikers will soon have a place to play right in the heart of Dalton.
Source: Dalton Daily Citizen

Dalton, Whitfield hotel tax revenues continue to climb
Dalton and Whitfield County collected a record $1.3 million in hotel/motel taxes in 2012, up about $100,000 from 2011. This marks the third straight year hotel/motel tax collections have set a record.
Source: Dalton Daily Citizen

City Council gives up small portion of Gordon Street
The Dalton City Council voted 2-0 Wednesday night to abandon a 0.06-acre portion of right of way on Gordon Street to First Presbyterian Church of Dalton.
Source: Dalton Daily Citizen

Dalton court settles into new location
When people think of court, they obviously think of the courthouse, says Dalton Municipal Court Judge Jim Wilbanks. But for the past two years, Municipal Court has met at the trade center.
Source: Dalton Daily Citizen

Code enforcement initiative gets results
The Dalton Police Department’s new municipal code enforcement plan has been in place for nearly 60 days and it is already leading to positive changes.
Source: Dalton Daily Citizen

Despite long odds, Dalton mayor considers challenging Deal
Dalton’s City Hall is an unlikely springboard to the state’s top office, but Mayor David Pennington seems eager to try his luck.
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Dalton council certifies grant requests
The Dalton City Council voted 3-0 Monday night to certify that an application by the Northwest Georgia Family Crisis Center for a $20,000 grant from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs is consistent with the city’s consolidated plan.
Source: Dalton Daily Citizen

Cohutta police get safety grant
Cohutta Police Chief Ray Grossman announced the police department has been awarded a public safety partnership grant totaling $10,000 from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS).
Source: Dalton Daily Citizen

Dalton firefighter wins climb competition
Dozens of firefighters, each wearing 40 pounds of gear, gathered to climb 52 flights of stairs at 191 Peachtree Tower in Atlanta Saturday. Nine minutes and 39 seconds after the start, Dalton Fire Department Engineer Douglas Kerns was the first to the top.
Source: Dalton Daily Citizen

Dalton Police seek national accreditation
Dalton resident Palmer Griffin was the lone member of the general public who spoke at a forum Monday to comment on the Dalton Police Department during its bid for national accreditation — and he had high praise.
Source: Dalton Daily Citizen

Pennington to run for governor?
Gov. Nathan Deal hasn’t done anything really bad, says Dalton Mayor David Pennington.
Source: Dalton Daily Citizen

Code crackdown: Police warn property owners of violations
Neighbors who don’t mow their grass, residents who use their lawns for junkyards, land owners who allow their property to fall into disrepair — under a revamped initiative to tidy up properties inside Dalton’s city limits, all could face fines if they don’t correct their behavior after a warning.
Source: Dalton Daily Citizen

Dalton recreation department expands background checks for volunteers
Coaches and other volunteers with the Dalton Parks and Recreation Department have long had to pass a criminal background check. But officials have adopted a new system just in time for spring sports that they say will be even more comprehensive.
Source: Dalton Daily Citizen

Dalton recognized for curbside recycling program
Dalton residents recycled 1,252 tons of paper and cardboard, plastics, glass and aluminum in 2012.
Source: Dalton Daily Citizen

Council renews school system resource officers
The Dalton City Council voted 3-0 Monday night to renew its contract to provide school resource officers for Dalton Public Schools.
Source: Dalton Daily Citizen

Dalton council approves purchase of fire truck
The Dalton City Council voted 2-0 on Friday to approve a five-year, lease-purchase agreement with Leasing 2 Inc. of Tampa, Fla., for a new 100-foot ladder truck for the fire department.
Source: Dalton Daily Citizen

Tunnel Hill approves smaller budget
The Tunnel Hill City Council approved a $622,000 budget this week.
Source: Dalton Daily Citizen

Dalton should support statue of Catherine Evans Whitener
Tuesday night, the man who created the Ray Charles statue in Albany and many other acclaimed works, McDonough-based sculptor Andy Davis, briefed the Dalton City Council on his desire to create a slightly larger than life-sized statue of Catherine Evans Whitener, the woman widely regarded as the mother of Dalton’s carpet industry.
Source: Dalton Daily Citizen

A bright future ahead
With the new year here, Dalton is positioned to become the “winner” that it always has been. So says the city’s mayor, and I couldn’t agree more.
Source: Dalton Daily Citizen

Tourism study finds Dalton not likely to attract water park
Don’t count on developers building a large water park in Dalton. A study prepared by Key Advisors of Atlanta found that “mega water parks” are located either in established tourism destinations or large metropolitan areas.
Source: Dalton Daily Citizen

Dalton’s 2013 budget could allow continued property tax cuts
Dalton City Council members say that, barring any unexpected shocks to their 2013 budget, they should be able to cut property tax rates in 2013 for the sixth straight year.
Source: Dalton Daily Citizen

Dalton, Whitfield budget votes set for today
Both the Dalton City Council and the Whitfield County Board of Commissioners are scheduled to adopt their 2013 budgets today.
Source: Dalton Daily Citizen

Dalton council accepts ownership of part of downtown building
The Dalton City Council accepted ownership of part of the downtown Lee building Monday night, and members said that they want the whole building.
Source: Dalton Daily Citizen

Dalton officials to release 2013 budget next week
Dalton officials are putting the final touches on the 2013 budget and expect to have it ready to unveil next week.
Source: Dalton Daily Citizen

City council approved funds for new police car
The Dalton City Council voted 4-0 Monday to approve an amendment to the 2012 budget that will, among other things, allocate $32,500 from the confiscated asset fund to purchase a 2013 Ford Fusion for the criminal investigations division.
Source: Dalton Daily Citizen

Police chief on his morning jog nabs alleged burglar
Dalton Police Chief Jason Parker got a little more of a workout than he was planning on Thursday morning while enjoying his Thanksgiving holiday.
Source: Dalton Daily Citizen