Local News
Cope concerned about long-term water supply
Georgia’s persistent drought is expected to stretch well into 2008.
But beyond 2008 and what will be left of the state’s dwindling water supply are what worry Dalton Utilities president Don Cope.
“You’ve heard the governor (Sonny Perdue) last week make the statement that Georgia has enough water if it conserves,” Cope told the utility’s governing board during its monthly meeting on Monday. “That scares me not for our lives, but for the lives of our grandchildren. It scares me because that approach may not allow us to put in place the long-range planning and development that we need for the water supply.”
State officials are currently putting together a long-term water management plan. Cope, along with other utility officials, has met with several state department heads and spoken to local legislative representatives about the drought. Utility board member Smith Foster has accompanied Cope to Atlanta and said the face-to-face meetings have been useful.
“They listened and they were receptive to it,” Foster said.
The entire state remains under strict Level 4 watering guidelines, which ban most outdoor water uses. Level 4 restrictions were put in place on Sept. 28 and Cope expects them to remain throughout 2008.
“My concern is we enter the summer in a drought condition and a Level 4 condition, we’re going to have lots of people upset because they can’t water because those state restrictions will still be in effect,” Cope said.
Rain forecasts are not positive for northwest Georgia. Cope said a wall of high pressure, which does not produce favorable conditions for rain, remains over the area, resulting in seasonably warm temperatures. In fact, a high temperature record for the state was set on Sunday.
“I duck hunted in a T-shirt this year,” Cope said. “Usually when you duck hunt you’ve got icicles coming off your nose.”
Also from the meeting:
• A water main break on Walnut Avenue last week resulted in the loss of about 1.5 million gallons of water, Cope said. The 36-inch pipe burst sometime around 11 p.m. Monday night. It took utility crews about four hours to isolate the break and stop the water loss. Water service was restored to all affected locations by midweek.
• The utility held two separate deer hunts on its Land Application System property. During the Nov. 17-18 archery hunt, five doe and one buck were harvested by 64 hunters. During the Dec. 1-2 adult/child hunt, 15 doe and six bucks were harvested by 63 hunters.
- Local News
-
-
Deadly blast ruled accidental
An explosion and fire that killed two people in a Dalton apartment complex in August has been ruled accidental by the Dalton Fire Department.
-
Spring arrives
Starts today at 1:32 p.m.
-
Woodlawn archery team takes first
Woodlawn Elementary School just hit the bull’s-eye with a first place win among 21 schools competing in Georgia’s National Archery in Schools state tournament.
-
Planting seeds all over the world
Asked how many countries he has traveled to, Richard Edwards thinks for a second.
-
Grant applications accepted
The Dalton-Whitfield Community Foundation is accepting fall grant request applications through March 31, 2010, according to board chairwoman Linda Blackman.
-
Area arrests for March 20
Recent arrests from the Whitfield and Murray County jail reports.
-
Man charged with sodomy
A Chatsworth man has been charged with a sex offense against a minor in Whitfield County.
-
Ecumenical Earth Day is April 25
The 14th Ecumenical Earth Day in Dalton will be on April 25 at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 623 S. Thornton Ave. in Dalton. The event will run from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. and feature live music, recycled crafts, petting zoo, a free hot dog lunch and exhibits from local agencies and groups promoting recycling, conservation, and more.
-
Church news
Upcoming church-related events
-
Whitfield County Board of Commissioners meeting agenda
Board will meet Monday at 6 p.m.
- More Local News Headlines
-
