Bartow GOP meeting part of final two-week blitz of Campaign 2010. Cartersville player saluted. Rome restaurant closes; Opi's is returning.

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T-minus two weeks: Busy wrap-up to too-quiet campaign season

-Two weeks from tonight and it's all over for Campaign 2010--pending a possible runoff, that is. These final days will be busy ones in Northwest Georgia:

-Thursday: Rome NAACP and Rome Tea Party are teaming up for a political forum at 6 p.m. at the Rome Civic Center. Doors open at 5 p.m. for the public to meet local candidates.

 -Saturday: Floyd County Republicans will meet at 8:30 a.m. at party headquarters next to Kroger. The speakers: state Rep. Katie Dempsey, R-Rome, and John Barge, the Republican candidate for school superintendent. Click

-Saturday: Bartow County Republicans meet at party headquarters, 162 W.  Main St., Suite 106, Cartersville, 9 a.m. Speaker: Tim Echols, PSC candidate.Click

-Monday: Several Republican candidates for statewide office will be in Cedartown at 8 a.m. The specific location will be announced soon. 

-Oct. 28/Rome Young Republicans and Berry College Republicans will have joint meeting at 6:30, Krannert Center at Berry.

John McClellan's week nine high school football picks. Click

-This week's winners include:

-Adairsville beats Model / Cartersville over Cedartown

-Chattahoochee thumps Cass / N. Whitfield over Woodland.

Cartersville, Calhoun, Pepperell standouts praised. Football Daily

Bella Roma closes; staff, Thrive menu move to Bella Roma Grill

-Eddie Hasko's first Bella Roma at Martha Berry Highway in Armuchee has closed about two months earlier than planned. Hasko says his employees have moved to the 11-month-old Bella Rome Grill in front of State Mutual Stadium.

-The lease on the original location expires in December and Hasko originally planned to keep both open while trying to sell the Martha Berry location. He'll now move some equipment to the newer restaurant as well as staff and the Thrive menu items the Armuchee site had featured. Delivery service continues for orders of $30 or more within a five-mile radius of the stadium location.

- Hasko continues to expand events thereas well, including a live band on Wednesday (Back in the Day), college football specials and a second wine tasting event following the success of the first one in August.

-Opi's Roadhouse interviewing for expected November return: With a new building and new owners, Opi's Roadhouse returns soon to the Shannon area at Ga. 53 and 140 across from Church Chair. Interviews are set for the restaurant from 2 until 7 p.m. on Thursday and Oct. 27. Also, you can apply at the Rome Career Center on Oct. 25. Details: 706-204-8601.

Monday's Bartow County Jail reports. Click and Click

Your latest forecast:

-Tuesday: high of 81, low of 52, 30% rain chance overnight.  

-Wednesday: High of 75, 30% rain chance. Low of 41.

-Extended forecast: Click / Regional radar: Click

Norman Arey's sports commentary. Click 

-Florida Coach Urban Meyer has got to find it before he can overhaul it.

Shorter Hawks football. Hawks

-Next up: Oct. 23, at Harrison High, vs. Cumberland, Ky. 1:30 p.m.

Rome Braves/State Mutual Stadium. Click Sports

-Oct. 23: Montgomery Gentry concert.  

-Nov. 12: Braves Celebrity Shootout golf match.