Around Town: Local Travel Pro Weathers Beryl, Chris in Mexico. RaceTrac Ramps Up New Store

First, it was 2024’s “No-Name Storm,” a tropical system that came across Mexico’s prime resort areas from Tulum to Cancun/Cozumel. It eventually would become Tropical Storm Chris off the other coast.

Conditions were intense as Cedartown’s Kyle Pinkard of Travelmation shared it all in his version of The Weather Channel’s Jim Cantore.

Even as conditions quickly recovered, there were the reports about what’s next: Beryl, already a history-making hurricane with Category 5 status, whipping through the Windward Islands, then Jamaica and bee-lining for the resort coast once again.

Pinkard had never been through a tropical weather mass; now a second was en route as he and his travel partner, Mallory Talbot, continued their tour of mostly all-inclusive resorts, primarily for business purposes.

They wanted a taste of each — dining and accommodations — to share with their Northwest Georgia clients. Little did they know they’d be adding some tips on weathering a hurricane.

As the resort was winding down dining service and asking guests to hunker down, Pinkard and Talbot were stocking up: Food, water, beverages — as storm-ready as can be.

Anxious friends were on Facebook, begging for updates as Beryl moved through. As spotty phone service returned, Pinkard eased their concerns: “We are good. We fell asleep and slept like rocks.”

Says Pinkard: “The resort staff here in Playa Mujeres worked hard to get our resort ready. I’m just thankful there were no injuries or deaths here in our area and my prayers go out to those affected by Hurricane Beryl.”

Pinkard also shared a list of tips for clients who might be caught in future tropical endeavors, including charging portable devices, stocking up on necessities and, most of all, “Do not let weather ruin your trip. Make the best of it. You worked hard for it.”

Adds Pinkard: “As a travel agent, being prepared is key — knowing how to advise clients and how to keep them safe.”

That’s a nice refrain from all the weather panic we hear. Perhaps Cantore might want to share it as well.

RaceTrac ramps up I-75 battle

First came Love’s, in Emerson near LakePoint and Calhoun off Union Grove. Next was Buc-ee’s, barely three years ago, armed with 120 fuel stations, brisket, beaver nuggets, fudge and just about anything else.

Around the same time, RaceTrac was studying plans for something smaller but certainly a step up from the growing convenience store’s presence in Northwest Georgia.

It took a few years but RaceTrac’s big plan for Red Top Mountain Road and Joe Frank Harris Parkway in Emerson is open. Initial state reports showed a $9.2 million campus.

A corporate media release identifies it as “RaceTrac’s largest store model, with 8,000 square feet of interior shopping space and dedicated fueling areas for vacation travelers, commuters and professional drivers alike.”

By comparison, the store at Martha Berry and the Armuchee Connector is 5,500 square feet.

The Emerson “travel center” is open 24/7 and offers all of the services of the smaller stores in Rome and Cartersville, including grab-and-go food, Swirl World frozen desserts and other options.

Popcorn & Politics

“Fear and loathing, 2024 style:” We’re 14 weeks out from advance voting in the Nov. 5 general election and what are we hearing the most about?

Biden’s age♦ and whether he should step aside for younger Democrats.

Project 2025 and what the conservative Heritage Foundation♦ “think tank” thinks a Trump return should dictate following inauguration day.

Those are the national story lines through this morning but what’s the real issue? Turnout. Both Democrats and Republicans know their core voters who will show up — advance, absentee or election day.

It will come down to those undecided and those too busy to get out of the recliner despite three weeks of advance voting (some weekend options included). They’ll cite that both candidates are too old or prices are too high or the pending loss of true democracy and women’s rights can’t be stopped.

And yet for all of Biden’s blunders in that first debate, did the 6-3 Supreme Court decision on presidential immunity mitigate some of those concerns?

We’ve not seen a presidential summer like this one since 1968. For all those on the fence, or adhesed to the recliner, you have until Oct. 7 to register to vote in a most critical election.

You can do so online: Georgia.gov/register-vote .

We don’t care who you vote for; just make your vote count.

Peaks & Valleys

The highs and lows of Northwest Georgia

Peak to Bobby Cox’s return to the ballpark: The skipper himself, now 83 and swatting away health issues like the big leaguer he is, attending Saturday night’s Braves’ win over the Phillies. Cox, with strong ties to the Adairsville area, received a well-deserved standing ovation from the 41,006 fans as he was introduced at Truist Park. That robust reception just clarifies the love and appreciation for one of baseball’s best.

Valley to another year without a back-to-school sales tax holiday: So let’s be clear on this — Georgia has a $16 billion budget surplus (including reserves and such). And yet once again, the state won’t observe a family friendly tax break on back-to-school needs. Every state bordering Georgia has one — and that’s tempting when you look at our proximity to Alabama and Tennessee. With all this talk about “hard-working Georgians” in need of tax breaks, why do state leaders continue ignore something that worked so well?