Thursday updates

Please click www.bartowheadlines.com:

Health

-Floyd building Urgent Care facility in Cartersville on Joe Harris Parkway. Look for the 12,263-square-foot office to be completed by May. The project's estimated value is $2.2 million and that includes construction, architectural and engineering fees, furnishings and equipment. The new office will be equipped with digital x-ray capabilities as well.

Business

-Oct. 29: The chamber's 2009 Business Expo, "Keeping Business in Bartow," which will be at The Church at Liberty Square. From the chamber site: Business-to-Business networking is from 3:00-5:00 PM; only those with a business card will be admitted during this time. The Expo will be open to the general public from 5:00-7:00 pm at $2 admission per person, or two non-perishable food items each to be donated to the Cartersville-Bartow County Community Foundation. No strollers will be permitted in the Expo area.  Pre-Expo Seminar: A Social Media for Business "sneak peek" seminar will be offered from 2:00 to 3:00 PM on October 29, just before opening of the Expo. Flammer Relations, Inc. will offer a look into the 4-part series the Chamber's Small Business Council will host this winter.

-Nov. 4/UGA president due in Cartersville: Michael Adams, president of the University of Georgia, is the keynote speaker at the Nov. 4 Business Over Breakfast meeting at the Cartersville-Bartow County Chamber of Commerce, 7:30 a.m. Tickets: $15. Contact: Martha Macon for reservations> Chamber

Media:

-Nov. 10/Rome's first Tweet Up: These days social media can be found everywhere. From the grocery store to your favorite news channel, it feels as though everyone is talking about Facebook, blogging Twitter. It's time that you make yourself part of the conversation. Come to Rome's first free Tweet Up on Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 333 on Broad and enjoy snacks and $2 draught beer while listening to guest speakers share their tips and tricks on how to use Twitter and other social media forms to promote your business. You'll also network with other business owners in Rome so grab a stack of business cards and be at 333 on Broad from 6-8 p.m. Click Facebook or check the tweets of @hometown or @CarolFlammer.

-Bartow chamber, Flammer Relations present next Social Media Lab> Click

Real estate

-Extension, expansion of homebuyer tax credit brewing: The Wall Street Journal reports that "Senate negotiators reached a tentative deal to extend a tax credit for first-time home buyers but its passage remains uncertain." The specifics: The current $8,000 federal tax credit would be extended through April 30 for first-time buyers--and existing owners earning up to $125,000 as individuals or $250,000 as a couple would be eligible for a $6,500 break> Details

>Why the extension is key: Real estate sales have been sustained by the current tax credit program, which expires Dec. 1. Still, local home sales have been below 2008 levels for much of this year.

State football site predicts who plays where in first round of AA playoffs: Georgia High School Football Daily's  experts expect to see the following games:

 -Westminster at Armuchee
-Cook at Putnam County
-Chattooga at Buford
-Avondale at Calhoun
-Pepperell at Lovett

-For more, click Football Daily

>See what local expert John McClellan has to say about this week's games and the regional play-in showdowns> Football Report

Thursday's Buzz:

-New reason to visit downtown Chattanooga: Already a playground for Northwest Georgians, downtown Chattanooga has added another perk: Carmike's Majestic 12 opens at 311 Broad St. as a 100 percent digital movie theater with digital pictures and sound, wall-to-wall screens, three auditoriums with 3D capabilities and a VIP screening room for adults serving beer and gourmet food. Carmike also owns the Carmike 12 in Cartersville and Martin's 3 in Calhoun> Details

-Sheriff's office planning extra patrols on Halloween>Click

2009 Vote: Final seven days

-Two days left to vote early in city elections.

-Sample ballots for the city of Cartersville> Click

What's ahead in Bartow County:

-Oct. 30: High school football: Adairsville vs. Calhoun; Cartersville vs. Haralson County; Cass vs. Woodland. Click Football Report

Your latest weather:

-Thursday: Some clouds, high of 73, low of 58.
-Friday: 20% to  60% chance of rain, high of 73, low of 63.
-Halloween: 60%, then 40% chance of rain, high of 68, low of 45.

-Latest weather: Extended forecast /  Local radar / Regional radar

Norman Arey's Sports Roundtable>Arey

-Tech gets a rush out of season; Gators can't seem to pull the trigger in red zone.

John McClellan's high school football picks> Football Report

-Big Ws for Pepperell, Darlington, Coosa, Armuchee, Calhoun, Cartersville.
-Rough night for Cedartown, Model.
-Close calls for Cass, Sonoraville.
-Plus: John sets up the playoff picture.

Upcoming events at Rome Braves/State Mutual Stadium> Sports

-Braves' first Celebrity Shootout with Rocket Wheeler, Frog Smith.

-First annual Wing Ding due Nov. 21.

-Links to winter baseball leagues.