2017 Dalton lodging tax reaches all-time high

DALTON, Ga. — The Dalton Convention & Visitors Bureau reports that 2017 total lodging tax receipts were $1.771 million, up 6.5 percent over 2016. This is the largest collection on record and the eighth straight year of growth. “In 2017 Georgia Department of Economic Development and Tourism highlighted Georgia’s growing movie industry and Dalton fully participated with an ‘Art of Cinema’ exhibit at the Creative Arts Guild, followed by featuring the Buster Keaton-directed movie ‘The General’ played at the Freight Depot during Train Day, and Tunnel Hill became our county’s first location for a major motion picture shoot,“ said Brett Huske, director of tourism. The major motion picture shoot was for “Godzilla 2: King of Monsters.” “We also launched our Explore Boards in the Ringgold and Valdosta visitor centers providing information to travelers on available services in Dalton, and we increased our presence on I-75, adding billboards which highlighted the vibrant new businesses in downtown Dalton. This is just a sampling of the many activities we implemented to attract visitors to Dalton in 2017.”

TCC Live Oak donating backpacks

LIVE OAK, Fla. — TCC Live Oak will be part of a nationwide campaign to donate backpacks full of school supplies later this month.

Round Room LLC, the nation’s largest Verizon Authorized Wireless retailer, has announced that its TCC and Wireless Zone stores — including TCC Live Oak, 634 S. Ohio Ave. — are donating 187,000 backpacks to ensure children across the United States are well prepared for the start of the school year.

The annual School Rocks Backpack Giveaway, the sixth year TCC has held the event in which stores have donated 752,000 backpacks, will be held July 22 from 1-4 p.m.

Local families are invited to bring their children to the store to pick up a backpack filled with pencils, paper, a pencil box, folders, glue and more. One backpack per child present will be given away on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last.

Each TCC store is donating up to 220 backpacks.

“We are thrilled to support the education of our youth in our communities,” Scott Moorehead, CEO of Round Room, said in a release. “By providing families across the country with essential school supplies, we’re easing the back-to-school shopping burden and helping set children up for success.”

According to the National Retail Federation, families with school-aged children plan to spend an average of $687.72 each — an 8 percent increase — for a total of $29.5 billion on school supplies this year.

ABAC to host day of service

TIFTON, Ga. — The faculty, staff, and students at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College are hosting the first ever Day of Service on Aug. 14 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. to give back to the Tifton community. Bernice Hughes, dean of students, said ABAC is currently seeking community partners to be on the receiving end of its free service.  Churches, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and individuals may submit project requests to:  https://www.emailmeform.com/builder/form/dfKer8pH597EfZ21QDIm The organization or person in need of help must supply all materials and equipment needed, and ABAC will provide the people power to get the job done. The project submission deadline is July 24. Community partners will be notified regarding project selection by July 31. For more information, interested persons can contact Hughes at deanofstudents@abac.edu or call 229-391-5130.