🌱 Bartow Firefighter Has Died + Rezoning Hearing + Verdict Upheld

Good morning, friends. It's me, Josee Noble, your host of the Cartersville Patch newsletter — here to tell you everything that's fit to print about what's happening in town. Today we'll cover these stories and more...

• Bartow County firefighter dies six days after medical emergency
• Aubrey rezoning hearing set for March 27
• Court of appeals addresses siren failure case

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But first, today's weather:

Mostly sunny. High: 82 Low: 57.

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Here are the top three stories in Cartersville today:

1. A Bartow County firefighter has died. After suffering a medical emergency during a training exercise, Matthew Smith was transported to Piedmont Cartersville Medical Center. Having been on life support for six days, he passed away on Tuesday "from complications related to his medical emergency." (Northwest Georgia News)
2. On March 27, the Bartow County Planning Commission will be hearing the rezoning request for the proposed "planned greenspace and development district." The PGDD "spans roughly 16,500 acres, covering a wide swath of northeastern Bartow County running parallel to Highway 20 and Highway 411." Commissioner Steve Taylor is expected to reject or approve the proposal on April 12 at a public meeting. (Subscription: The Daily Tribune News)
3. On April 13, 2020, a tornado came through downtown Cartersville, killing William McConnell. It was discovered that a tornado siren was not sounded upon notification by the National Weather Service to BCSO's 911 operations center of a tornado in the area. The former supervisor of the BCSO 911 operations center, who duty it was to activate the siren upon knowledge of a tornado, was sued by the victim's partner. The Georgia Court of Appeals has upheld a lower court's verdict that the supervisor was ultimately not responsible for damages. (Subscription: The Daily Tribune News)

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Today in Cartersville:

• Surviving the Sandwich Generation - Tiger Lily Estates (5:00 PM)
• The Vow: A Love Story and the Holocaust Presented by Michael Ruskin - Cartersville Library (6:30 PM)
• Trivia Night with Rich Brock - Big Door Vineyards (6:30 PM)

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From my notebook:

• There were Three more COVID deaths in Northwest Georgia even as new reported cases drop.(Northwest Georgia News)
• "The Bartow History Museum, located in the 1869 Courthouse "under the bridge" in downtown Cartersville, preserves the cultural, industrial and agricultural heritage of Bartow County and northwest Georgia. Visitors will delight in this glimpse back into the workshops, farmsteads and mercantile located in this center of trade, politics and transportation." (Cartersville-Bartow County Convention & Visitors Bureau via Facebook)
• "Spring time means animal time! This is a very exciting time to observe an abundance of wildlife throughout Georgia. The state mammal (whitetail deer) are fortunately quite prominent throughout the state and can be found in nearly all the Georgia State Park woods." (Friends of Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites via Facebook)
• "Check out this video from BamCam Visuals featuring Cartersville Bicycle Service & Supply! They have done such a gorgeous job upgrading this building - and it's stocked to the brim with amazing bicycles! You should come downtown and do a test ride!" (Downtown Cartersville via Facebook)
• "Have you ever wondered how an idea becomes a picture book or what it takes to become a published children's author? Join Randi Saturday as she shares her journey to publication and answers your burning questions about writing for children and the publishing world." (Bartow County Library System via Facebook)
• "We are hosting a Manufacturing Industry Roundtable event in partnership with the Bartow County School System, Cartersville City Schools, and the Cartersville-Bartow County Department of Economic Development. Manufacturers are invited to join us for networking and an industry-wide discussion about workforce-related issues, solutions, and partnerships for growth." (Cartersville-Bartow Chamber via Instagram)
• "Saturday is Great American Cleanup Day! Celebrate with by helping keep our communities clean. The City of Adairsville is partnering with Keep Bartow Beautiful, Georgia Cities Week, and Republic Services to clean up trash in the community. Get a team together or come individually for a morning of community service and team building! Meet in Downtown Adairsville at Logtown to register." (Cartersville-Bartow County Convention & Visitors Bureau via Facebook)
• "Latitude Blue has an opening for a Pool Service Tech. Qualifications: Communication skills, schedule flexibility, reliability, an excellent customer service attitude, tolerance of pets and a self-motivated desire to learn and have fun!" (Cartersville-Bartow Chamber via Instagram)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Thursday. I'll see you around!

— Josee Noble

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Cartersville Patch newsletter? Contact me at Cartersville@Patch.com