GoCo360

Rescue Me

2012-02-22T16:30:00.000-08:00

A frightened, adorable young dog.

Today I joined a few members of our local photography group to help shoot some images of animals at the Gordon County Animal Shelter. Members of the Friends of Gordon County Animal Shelter met with us to help with the animals.

The Gordon County Animal Shelter takes in thousands of dogs and cats each year. Before the "Friends" began working to help find rescues and homes for the animals, less than 10% of the animals were rescued. Thanks to the volunteer group and staff at the shelter, more than 40% are now rescued or adopted.

If you're considering a new pet, please look into rescuing one of these wonderful animals. Sadly, there are always many to choose from at the shelter. The Gordon County Animal Shelter can be reached at 706.629.3327, and is located on Harris Beamer Road in Calhoun. Please spay and neuter your pets. It saves lives.

One of the many puppies needing a loving home.

Foreclosure

2012-02-09T05:58:00.000-08:00

Auction

A familiar sight across the country during the past few years: a home being auctioned. It is perhaps one of the defining themes nation wide over the past 5 years, as millions of homes have been lost to foreclosure. What is a heartbreaking disaster for one family is an incredible opportunity for another.

The housing and overall economic downturn has also reshaped the construction and wider real estate markets. When the housing boom was at it's height, hundreds of new homes were being constructed each year in Gordon County. This year there have been virtually zero. Construction jobs have vanished. What little construction remains is either remodeling or a tiny amount of commercial work. Developers have either stopped work and abandoned projects, gone bankrupt, or shifted into other markets (rental). Existing home sales have slowed to a stand still as prices of existing homes have plummeted, due to the inventory of foreclosed homes and decreased demand.

Home.

The Best Mexican Food You'll Never Eat

2012-01-21T12:38:00.000-08:00

Tacos from El Rodeo

A friend recently suggested that I check out a local place for some authentic tacos. So one rainy Friday night, we drove to El Rodeo in Calhoun, and I had some of the best tacos I've ever tasted.

Sadly, many of you who read this may probably never attempt to eat at El Rodeo. It's a small Latino store on North 41 in Calhoun. There, a limited amount of groceries and phone cards are available for purchase, a couple of pool tables provide entertainment for those who seek it, and a small restaurant nestled in the rear of the store offers an array of authentic comida (food). The menu is in Spanish; however, the staff speak a bit of English. The salsa is HOT, and the menu items are not what you'll find at Taco Bell or any of the Tex Mex type of Mexican restaurants which are so popular in the area.

View El Rodeo in a larger map

I sampled a variety of tacos: cabeza (meat from the head of a cow), lengua (tongue), tripa (stomach), al pastor (pork), and chorizo (spicy sausage). Some will cringe at the thoughts of eating any of these tacos; however, I am convinced that if I gave you a bite and didn't tell you what you were eating, you would love it. Then you would go on to tell me this was some of the best tasting, most tender, delicate (ok, not the tripe, it's a tad chewy, but awesome) pieces of meats you've ever eaten. How do I know this? Because that's exactly what I thought when I first tasted these types of tacos years ago. I didn't know what I was eating, but after the first bite I didn't care. This is some of the best food that you'll never eat.

We are lucky to have such authentic food from a different culture so readily available, at such cheap prices (~$2 per taco). Be adventurous. Try something a little different. The staff were so kind and helpful. Another customer even offered to help translate the menu for us. If you decide to try out some tacos (or other items), it might be helpful to look up some of the items on your phone so you'll know what you're getting (or maybe not!). Don't be afraid of the drinks (aguas frescas) either. We tried horchata and pineapple, and both were great. Get out there and EAT!

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ConTreeversy

2012-01-10T05:49:00.001-08:00

This past year, a new Christmas tree was unveiled in Calhoun, causing somewhat of a controversy. It was quite the departure from a traditional tree. Some people loved it. Many more did not. If nothing else, it was a lively topic of discussion during Christmas.

The Tree as traffic passes by.

Tree from the Court House

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