Grading begins at future police site
Site will also house new vehicle service building and a recreation parks maintenance facility
Construction of a new Calhoun Police Department facility finally became a reality this week, as grading subcontractors began moving equipment onto the site.
The plot of land on McDaniel Station Road at Recreation Drive will house not only a new police department, but also a new recreation maintenance facility.
Final soil and erosion approval by state officials was received on Feb. 5, according to Calhoun City Administrator Paul Worley at the most recent council meeting.
“That’s something we’ve been waiting on for a while,” Worley said. “It presented a little extra challenge with the close proximity to Oothcalooga Creek.”
Located adjacent to the recreation department’s black and yellow park, football and softball fields, and city dog park, the acreage that will be used by the city was donated by the Gordon County Development Authority at no cost to city taxpayers.
Savings on land purchase costs made the site more appealing to city officials over some other choices in the early planning stages, even though the facility will be slightly outside the traditional downtown Calhoun footprint.
A larger complex, however, will make it possible for a currently fractioned department to reunite under one roof. The department has had detectives working at a rented facility at the Tom B. David Airport, and other employees working at a city-owned building on Piedmont Street.
To build both the new police station and vehicle service building, as well as the recreation parks maintenance building, the city council unanimously approved the recommendation of architect Gregg
Sims back in October to hire Felker Construction Co. Inc. with a low bid of $4.8 million. The project is part of the 2018 SPLOST.
Hoping to address overcrowding at the current downtown police department building at 200 N. Wall St., the initial
possibility of a new facility began after members of the city council toured the 1928 former post office building back in the summer of 2016 and found it unsuitable going forward without either a full renovation or new station.
According to the city, the new police department plan is for a 13,754 square
foot building with a 5,000 square foot vehicle service building, along with an indoor/outdoor K-9 kennel.
The recreation maintenance facility will be around 4,000 square feet. Future plans are to eventually remove the old maintenance building to make way for a new basketball court.
Are you leading with your brain or your heart?
These two organs collaborate to meet any challenge that lies ahead. Both the heart and brain affect every aspect of your health: from how strong your body is to how well your mind processes information and the connections you make with your loved ones.
The heart and brain also have another important connection: they share risk factors.
Understanding Your Heart Disease and Stroke Risk
Each year, about 750,000 people die from heart disease or stroke. Heart disease is the number one cause of death for men and women in the U.S.; stroke is the third most common. These conditions both
block blood vessels and can cause tissue damage. A major difference, however, is that heart disease usually develops over time and has distinct warning signs, while stroke happens suddenly and usually without warning.
“Heart disease and stroke share similar risk factors,” said Destiny Howe, nurse manager of AdventHealth
Gordon’s Cardiac Catheterization Lab. “Unfortunately, having heart disease puts you at higher risk for stroke; and having a stroke puts you at higher risk for heart disease.”
Take control of your health with a better understanding of your risk factors, including:
♦ Diabetes
♦ High blood pressure
♦ High LDL (bad) cholesterol
♦ Low HDL (good) cholesterol
♦ Obesity
♦ Physical inactivity
♦ Smoking
Reduce Your Risk for Heart Disease and Stroke
It’s estimated that 49 percent of adults have at least one major risk factor. Protect your health with a few lifestyle changes that promote your health and vitality:
♦ Get plenty of exercise
♦ Lower your cholesterol
♦ Maintain a healthy weight
♦ Manage your blood pressure
♦ Stop smoking
“Reducing your risk factors for heart disease and stroke is something everyone should take seriously,” said Howe. “It will lead to great improvements in your quality of life and your whole health.”
Improve Your Heart and Vascular Health
To learn more about how we work to improve your heart health, visit AdventHealthGordon.com.
Tuesday’s matchup between Calhoun and Cartersville wasn’t quite do-or-die time yet as the Region 7-AAAAA Tournament doesn’t start until next week, but judging by the urgency and passion on the court and in the gym, you certainly couldn’t tell it.
The two region rivals battled back and forth in an incredible game with each making clutch buckets and gritty defensive stops throughout the contest, but it was the host Jackets who made just a few more to earn a 57-52 double-overtime win in front of a large and loud crowd.
Calhoun (12-10, 6-4 in 7-AAAAA) got a big-time bucket from Dylan Faulkner with 42.5 seconds remaining in regulation to eventually force overtime, but then Cartersville (8-10, 3-6 in 7-AAAAA) returned the favor by rallying from a five-point deficit in the first overtime thanks to a 3-pointer and a runner in the lane from Kam Callahan in the final 45 seconds of the period to force double-overtime.
The Jackets came out in the second overtime session with a 3 by Peyton Law to grab the momentum, and then, after giving up a bucket to Cartersville early, didn’t allow another point as Calhoun’s Christopher Lewis sealed the victory by going 4-of-6 down the stretch in the final minute-plus of double-OT.
“Getting those defensive stops late and getting the early 3 in double-overtime (from Peyton) and those free throws (from Christopher) in a situation like that says a lot about our kids and their ability to do what it takes to win a game like that,” said Calhoun head coach Vince Layson. “Our defense tonight especially in critical moments was really good. If we can play defense like that, we can beat anyone in front of us. And then when we needed big plays and free throws on the offensive end, our guys stepped up and made it happen.”
Calhoun started the game strong, leading 16-4 after one quarter of play, but Cartersville quickly bounced back and cut the deficit to 28-21 at the half.