News briefs: DDDA holds annual meeting; Great America Smokeout is today; DOT suspending lane closures over Thanksgiving holidays

Published 12:01 am Thursday, November 16, 2017

n The annual meeting of the Downtown Dalton Development Authority was held Nov. 9 at City Hall. There was a great turnout for the meeting, which included election of two board members for three-year terms.

The program included an update of the DDDA’s program of work by interim director George Woodward. David Aft and John Davis, co-chairs of the Downtown Working Group of Believe Greater Dalton, also provided a presentation.

T.J. Kaikobad and Davis were both re-elected to the board representing business owners and property owners respectively.

DDDA vice chair Jane Marie Wilson offered closing comments and officially adjourned the meeting.

n Ready to quit smoking? You can do it for at least for today during the Great American Smokeout. Every year on the third Thursday of November, many Georgians join tobacco users across the nation in giving up using tobacco and electronic cigarettes for the entire day during this Great American Smokeout event, initiated by the American Cancer Society.

Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States and in Georgia. More than 11,500 Georgians die each year from tobacco-related diseases, including cancer and heart disease. Quitting tobacco and eliminating exposure to secondhand smoke are two proven ways to decrease the risk of tobacco-related death and disability.

The Georgia Tobacco Quit Line is a free resource that can help tobacco users reach their goal of quitting. The Georgia Tobacco Quit Line (877-270-STOP; Spanish speakers call 877-2NO-FUME) provides counseling for Georgia tobacco users ages 13 and older. Callers speak with tobacco cessation counselors who help to develop a unique quitting plan for each person.

n Here’s some good news for travelers during the Thanksgiving holiday. The Georgia Department of Transportation will suspend all construction-related lane closures on interstate highways and primary state roads in northwest Georgia from 5 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 22, through 5 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 27.

“Northwest Georgians have been very patient with our construction throughout the year,” said Dewayne Comer, district engineer at the DOT office in Cartersville. “We appreciate it very much and enjoy giving them these well-deserved breaks from lane closures. We hope everyone has a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving.”

The department reminds travelers to exercise caution nonetheless as heavy holiday traffic is expected throughout the state. In addition, crews may be working and equipment may be staged in proximity to roadways; and safety concerns may require some long-term lane closures remain in place. Also, incident management or emergency maintenance-related lane closures could become necessary on any route.