Storm dumps 1.11 inches of rain on Bartow in an hour; more rain today. Housing starts show promise. Lake Winnie's water park making a splash. So is Linde Marie's Steakhouse on the Square.

For these and today's latest news and weather updates, please see www.bartowheadlines.com:

 

The Buzz of Northwest Georgia. Click Buzz  -Local housing starts showing signs of 'new life' as market continues to recover.  -Lake Winnie's new water park another great reason to go. Lazy river, tube/slides add to summer fun. -First bites at Linde Marie's Steakhouse on the Square:The remodeling alone is worth the trip to Cave Spring. The menu is, too.   Weather: Up to 1.5 inches of rain expected   -Late Sunday: Surprise storm dumps more than 1.10 inches on Bartow County in an hour. -Monday: 60% rain chance, high of 88, low of 70. -Tuesday: 60% rain chance, high of 86, low of 65. -Wednesday: 20% rain chance, high of 86, low of 65.   This week's gas updates: -We're paying two more cents a gallon vs. the same time last week. Even worst: Almost 20 cents more than a year ago -- and prices could go higher, AAA South says. -Check our county-by-county look at lowest gas prices.   Lindale planning another community clean-up this Saturday.   Latest county Jail reports.

Hometown Headlines Radio Edition  7-9 a.m. weekdays. Listen live online -Please join our guests Monday including: -Brian Robinson of Gov. Nathan Deal's staff on the 411 Connector updates and what's next for the proposed highway. -Henry Parkman, the attorney for Cartersville Ranch, on the decision and the effort to avert the route from the Rollins' family land.

Hometown Sports -Rome Braves toppled by Kannapolis again, 6-4. -All-Star game break Monday-Wednesday.Seven-game home stand starts Thursday. -See Mills Fitzner's latest home game photos Click

Bartow manufacturer laying off 91 workers. Floyd Medical Center named to 'Elite Circle" in GHA Network. Former Magistrate Judge sentenced to 100 years. Beautiful Saturday with high of 88. Latest dining reports and today's jail reports.

For continuing updates, www.bartowheadlines.com   State: 91 people laid off at Cartersville's Applied Thermoplastic Resources office. That's the largest layoff announced this year in Northwest Georgia. Floyd Medical Center named to the 'Elite Circle' of Georgia Hospital Association's Hospital Engagement Network.  -Polk Medical Center was one of 11 hospitals to be named as part of HEN's Chairman's Circle, the second highest recognizable category. Former Floyd County Magistrate Judge Chris Mathis, 48, sentenced to 100 years in prison and 60 years probation in Superior Court Friday.     Weekend forecast: Mid to upper 80s  -Saturday: Sunny, high of 88, low of 64.  -Father's Day: 20-30% rain chance, high of 87, low of 68.  -Monday: 50% rain chance, high of 88, low of 70.     Friday's Public Health restaurant scores from Floyd, Bartow. Latest county Jail reports.

Hometown Headlines Radio Edition  7-9 a.m. weekdays. Listen live online -Please join our guests Monday including: -Brian Robinson of Gov. Nathan Deal's staff on the 411 Connector updates and what's next for the proposed highway. -Henry Parkman, the attorney for Cartersville Ranch, on the decision and the effort to avert the route from the Rollins' family land.

Hometown Sports -Rome Braves fall 6-4 to Kannapolis -Tonight-Sunday in Kannapolis. -See Mills Fitzner's latest home game photos Click

Cleaning up from Thursday evening's wild weather. Upper 80s today-Sunday. Governor upset by new 411 Connector detours. Floyd sales tax rolls back to 6 cents on the dollar July 1. Mathis sentencing today.

For these updates and today's latest news and weather headlines, please  see www.bartowheadlines.com:

 

Wild weather night in Northwest Georgia -Trees down in Floyd, Bartow, Gordon counties; quarter-inch hail in Cedartown; major wrecks on I-75 near Cartersville; close to 100,000 lose power statewide, mostly in Atlanta. -Father's Day weekend forecast: Upper 80s, some rain possible on Sunday. Floyd County residents to pay a penny less in sales tax starting July 1 as 2009 SPLOST ends. -Nov. 5 ballot to feature 'general,' education special purpose local option sales tax package.   Latest twists in 411 Connector route. GPB reports Deal upset with federal authorities latest request. WRGA: Chris Mathis to be sentenced this morning following conviction on 52 counts Thursday. Weekly Public Health restaurant scores from Floyd, Bartow.  -Plus: See what won the race to be the top Minor League Baseball park food item. Think ... sweet. Latest county Jail reports.

Hometown Headlines Radio Edition  7-9 a.m. weekdays. Listen live online -Please join our guests Friday including: -Bob Blumberg of Johnny's New York Style Pizza at 223 Broad St. on his recent investment to further remodel the building, restoring much of the former facade. -Hometown Headlines/WRGA news roundtable as Kevin Karel and Andrew Carter (and maybe Nelle Reagan) join us to analyze the week's local headlines.

Hometown Sports -Rome Braves fall 4-3 to Kannapolis -Tonight-Sunday in Kannapolis. -See Mills Fitzner's latest home game photos Click

Severe weather expected between 3-6 p.m.; updates all day on Bartow Headlines. Cartersville police seek shooting suspect; two women hurt. Regional Public Health restaurant scores. Latest jail reports.

For these updates and today's latest news and weather headlines, please see www.bartowheadlines.com:

 

Please monitor this afternoon's weather updates -Severe weather is expected between 3 and 6 p.m. as a cold front sweeps into the state. -No watches or warnings as of yet; continuing updates from Hometown Headlines throughout the storm threat. -Wednesday's numbers: 102-degree heat index, high of 9`. -Today's forecast: High of 91; heat index of 98 before storms arrive. -Weekend: Upper 80s, low 90s, slight chance of rain.   Cartersville police seek suspect in Wednesday shooting. Two women treated at area hospitals following the attack. Magretta Hall, former Mercy Senior Care sites up for sale in downtown Rome.  Building at Broad and Second: $1.2 million. -Building next to Courtyard by Marriott site: $650,000.  Bank account, social media helping raise donations for Rockmart hero critically injured in weekend rescue. That Jandy's mobile unit? Turns out to be the first of its kind -- at least from one food truck vendor. Weekly Public Health restaurant scores from Floyd, Bartow, Gordon, Polk and Chattooga counties. -Rough week for three Rome restaurants. Latest county Jail reports.

Hometown Headlines Radio Edition  7-9 a.m. weekdays. Listen live online -Please join our guests Thursday including: -Courtney Cash and Ben Culbertson of West Rome Baptist Church on the congregation's outreach to feed hungry kids during the summer break from school. -Brian Carr, director of communications with The Clear Air Campaign, on 2013 smog season and 'Dump the Pump' week June 17-21. -Mark Cochran and Kelly O'Mara of Cevian Design Lab on their new study to confirm -- or debunk -- stories about the raising of Broad Street.

Hometown Sports -Rome Braves take finale in Lexington, 3-2. -Today-Sunday in Kannapolis. -See Mills Fitzner's latest home game photos Click

Lemmon honored by Chattahoochee Tech. Changes coming to Red Lobster. Latest dining scores. Heat index of 96 Tuesday, even higher today? Latest jail reports

For these updates and today's latest news and weather headlines, please see www.bartowheadlines.com:

 

Chattahoochee Tech honors economic development director, board member Melinda Lemmon.

 

Rome man's photo wins visitors center's spring photo contest.

 

Firefighter/Explorer competition coming to Cartersville June 15.

 

Red Lobster getting a new look -The Shorter Avenue mainstay was touched up after the December 2011 West Rome tornado. Latest project is a company-wide initiative. Heat index was 96 Tuesday; look for 100 or more today -The actual high was 90 and today we'll see 93. -Plus: Three-day forecast. Floyd Emergency Management offers new ReadyWarn service via Facebook. App automatically sends you news of weather watches, warnings in our area. Tuesday's Public Health restaurant scores. -Yet another score in the 60s for a Rome restaurant. Latest County Jail reports.

Hometown Headlines Radio Edition  7-9 a.m. weekdays. Listen live online -Please join our guests Wednesday including: -Andy Morris, founder of Jandy's, on the company's fourth location, this one opening soon in Cartersville. -Julie Smith and Mark Webb on efforts to get new trail connections included as part of the 2013 SPLOST vote.

Hometown Sports -Rome Braves win 4-1, remain three games back with five games to play in first half season of 2013. -Wednesday: 12:05 p.m. in Lexington. -See Mills Fitzner's latest home game photos Click

Bartow economic development director Melinda Lemmon honored by Chattahoochee Tech Board

Media release: Described as remarkable and committed, Chattahoochee Technical College Board Member Melinda Lemmon was honored at the college's monthly meeting of its Board of Directors. After serving on the North Metro Technical College Board and the Chattahoochee Technical College Board for the last nine years, Lemmon is rotating off the board.

"Counting up the time she has served this college and this community by being a board member comes up to a gift of over 700 hours during those nine years," said Chattahoochee Technical College Board Chair Mitzi Moore. "She has made that commitment and seen it through with each meeting, committee and project."

Lemmon has served as the Economic Development/Executive Director for the Cartersville-Bartow County Department of Economic Development for more than half a decade. She came to Cartersville from Dalton where she was the coordinator for the Carpet Capital Consortium, handling Tech Prep and School to Work, at Dalton State College.  She has served in various economic, community and workforce development capacities for many years through several chambers of commerce and development authorities.

"Remarkable is the right word to describe Melinda," said Chattahoochee Technical College President Dr. Ron Newcomb. "She's an incredible advocate for technical college and an educated workforce in the economic development of Cartersville and Bartow County. During all this time she has been careful to include Chattahoochee Technical College in discussions with any prospect for business and industry."

 

Rome photographer wins Spring Shoot-Out in Bartow

Media release: The Cartersville-Bartow County Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) has honored photographer Greg McCary with First Place in the Spring Shoot-out in Bartow Photo Contest.  McCary's image of sunrise at Allatoona Lake was chosen from 88 image submissions defining the spring season and community locations that are uniquely Bartow County. 

 

 

A resident of Rome, McCary said he was looking for places to photograph and marveled "I had not been to Allatoona since I was a kid."  McCary noticed the island and Bethany Bridge and "thought it would be a good frame for the sunrise."  He captured his image with a Sony digital camera, and was also awarded Third Place for a photograph of the Kennedy gravestones at Friendship Cemetery.  "This cemetery seemed like a lost treasure so I stopped to capture it.  While I was there I noticed a Bible was placed in a zip lock bag and open to the book of Isaiah, marking a gravestone that was so old its name could not be read," said McCary.

Nancy Floyd received the Second Place prize for her Duck Derby photography taken from Riverside Park in 2012.  As a founding member of the Booth Museum Photography Guild, Floyd has recently sold some of her photographs in the Downtown Gallery in Cartersville.  She used a Nikon 3100 with a long lens to capture the moment as kayakers herded the ducks downstream.

Charity Chastain of Cartersville was honored by Facebook fans as the People's Choice for her sepia image titled "In the Valley."  Chastain was honored with Second Place in the recent CVB photo contest "Merry & Bright Bartow."

Two Honorable Mentions were also awarded to Clara Williams for her close-up of Spinning at Civil War Comes Alive at the Booth Western Art Museum, and to Robbie Hicks for her sunflower image titled "Boot Scoot'n Bumble Bee."

Serving as judges were Neil McGahee, renowned photojournalist and Oskar Barnack Award winner; Connie Salter, Cartersville-Bartow County Economic Development information specialist; and Kathy Lyles, CVB Board of Directors – Marketing Chair.

Winners received certificates and cash prizes.  Images will be displayed seasonally at the Georgia Visitor Information Center inside the Clarence Brown Conference Center.  The CVB will also reproduce images periodically in marketing materials, publicity releases and in advertising the community. 

For a complete look at the winning images and more see the CVB's Facebook page, www.facebook.com/VisitCartersville.