Storms arriving just in time to soak drive to work, school. Continuing updates. Sunny, cooler weekend ahead. Jandy's expanding to Cartersville. Slope's BBQ closing. Latest dining updates. In Bartow: Body found in Etowah River

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

 

Storm system arriving just in time to soak commute to school, work this morning.
-Strong winds, rain in our forecast.
-Some storm advisories out for Chattooga County north.
-Continuing coverage at Hometown Headlines.

Weekend forecast:
-Today: 100% rain chance, high of 62, low of 36.
-Saturday: Sunny, high of 67, low of 46.
-Sunday: Sunny, high of 70, low of 50.

Jandy's to open Cartersville location in new Bojangle's restaurant by July.
-Cartersville continues to be a battle ground for frozen yogurt shops.

Slope's Barbecue on Tennessee Street near Carmike 12 to close after business on Sunday after seven years.

Body found in Etowah River in Bartow County.

Weekend guide:
-GNTC plant sale (today through Sunday) gets busy weekend under way. Plus: More weekend events.

Thursday Public Health restaurant inspection updates from Floyd, Bartow counties.

Latest jail reports. 

 

Hometown Headlines Radio Edition

7-9 a.m. weekdays. Listen live online

-Please join our guests today including:

-The Hometown Headlines-WRGA News Roundtable: We'll have an extended edition of the Roundtable today, from 7:40 until 9 a.m., as we discuss the week's national and local headlines. Kevin Karel and Andrew Carter (and maybeNelle Reagan) join us to go beyond the headlines on the Boston bombing, the Washington poison scare and Northwest Georgia updates.as we review the headlines of the past week and  put them into context.

-Also, corrections from our Thursday report. Susan Babcock of Toles, Temple & Wright is the Realtor who worked withConnie Bradshaw on a recent home purchase that will be showcased on HGTV's House Hunters soon.

 

Hometown Sports

-Big win for Rome Braves, 7-1, over Tourists.

-Rome vs. Asheville Tourists at home through Sunday.

-See Mills Fitzner's latest home game photos. Click

More local jobs in March vs. same month last year while first-time jobless claims fall. Also falling: the temperature. Low 80s today, mid-60s Friday and Saturday. Regional Public Health restaurant inspection scores.

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

 

300 more jobs in March -- fewer jobless claims, too
-Rome/Floyd County saw 300 more people at work in March vs. the same month last year even as the total number of people working here -- 38,600 -- stayed flat compared to February.
-Bartow saw an 11.4 percent drop in first-time jobless claims.
-Who's hiring: latest jobs update.

Another view of Charles Hight Square as pace picks up at retail center.

 

Weekly Public Health restaurant inspection scores from Floyd, Bartow, Gordon, Polk and Chattooga counties.

 

One more round of 80s -- and then mid-60s, rain.

-Thursday: High of 84, low of 52; 60% rain chance overnight.

-Friday: 80% chance of rain, high of 66, low of 40.

-Saturday: Sunny, high of 66, low of 43.

 

Latest jail reports. 

 

Hometown Headlines Radio Edition

7-9 a.m. weekdays. Listen live online

-Please join our guests today including:

-Joe Schulman of Tellus Science Museum on National Astronomy Day and Family Science Night this Saturday.  Special guests include Geoff Notkin and Steve Arnold, the "Meteorite Men" as seen on Science Channel.

-Connie Bradshaw (homebuyer) and Realtor  Susan Blalock of Toles, Temple & Wright about Connie's pending show with Home Hunters from HGTV.

-U.S. Rep. Tom Graves on what's happening in the Capitol with all these suspicious packages.  

 

Hometown Sports

Charleston RiverDogs beat Rome Braves 4-1,

-Rome opens up a four-game home stand vs. Asheville Tourists beginning at 7 tonight at State Mutual Stadium.

-See Mills Fitzner's latest home game photos. Click

Weather service confirms Polk tornado last week; likely same 'supercell' that had Bartow on alarm. High of 83 today; rain back Friday. Latest regional business reports. Dining updates

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

 

 Weather service update: Tornado in Polk last Thursday
-An updated report from the National Weather Service now confirms am F1 tornado with maximum winds of 80- to 105-mph winds did touch down near the Braswell community in SSS Polk County just after 7 p.m. last Thursday.

 

Burger's Market opens in former Walker's Garden Center spot in West Rome.

-Latest regional business updates.

 

Latest Public Health restaurant scores for Floyd, Bartow.

-Mellow Mushroom to donate 5% of proceeds to Exchange Club Family Resource Center on Saturday.

 

Your hometown weather forecast:
-Wednesday: High of 83, low of 63; 20% rain chance overnight..
-Thursday: High of 83, low of 55; 60% rain chance overnight.
-Friday: 100% chance of rain, high of 67, low of 42.

 

Latest jail reports. 

 

Hometown Headlines Radio Edition

7-9 a.m. weekdays. Listen live online

-Please join our guests today including:

-Janet Eberhardt, immunization coordinator for Public Health, on National Infant Immunization Week.

-Dr. Brian Carroll, Berry College communication professor, on the media coverage of the Boston Marathon attacks and tension between the First Amendment and other interests, in this case national security

 

Hometown Sports

-Rome Braves bounce back, beat Charleston, 3-0.

-Braves on the road through Wednesday; home games Thursday-Sunday.

-See Mills Fitzner's latest home game photos. Click

Latest updates, reaction from Boston terror attacks. Ga. Trend spotlights Bartow, regional growth in 2012. More than 1,100 due here this weekend; $530,000 economic impact.

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

 

Latest updates from the terror attacks on Boston.

-3 dead, at least 130 injured; investigation ramps up.

-Links to additional coverage.

-Reaction from Georgia's congressional delegation.

   

Republicans from the 14th Congressional District will spend part of Friday and Saturday in Rome as the group adopts rules for the 14th District GOP and elects officers for the 2013-2015 term as well as district members of the State Committee of the Georgia Republican Party.

 

Georgia Trend's economic year book looks at regional growth with highlights from Shannon, Calhoun, Bartow.

 

Bowhunting event, women's softball tournament to bring more than 1,100 to Bartow County, region this weekend, leaving as much as $530,000 in their wake.

 

Monday's Public Health restaurant inspection scores from Floyd, Bartow.

Your hometown weather forecast:

-Tuesday: 20% rain chance, high of 82, low of 59.
-Wednesday: 30% chance of storms, high of 82, low of 60.
-Thursday: 20% rain chance, high of 85, low of 55.

 

Latest jail reports. 

 

Rome Braves pummeled 12-2 in  Charleston.

 

Hometown Headlines Radio Edition

7-9 a.m. weekdays. Listen live online

-Please join our guests today including:

-Layla Shipman, chairman of Floyd County Republicans, on the 14th District Republican Party Convention.

-Mary Hardin Thornton, director of Keep Rome-Floyd Beautiful on Earth Day, April 22.
-Reba Barnes, director of Servant Leadership at Darlington School, on the Light the Lake event.

Busy Weekend Ahead as CVB Nets Two Sporting Events Attracting 1,000+

 

Media Release- On the heels of an "extremely successful weekend" in hosting the Atlanta Steeplechase at Kingston Downs, the Cartersville Bartow County Convention & Visitors Bureau is pleased that efforts to capture additional sporting events will be paying off April 18-21, as two events courted by the CVB will attract more than 1,000 visitors to the community.

 

The International Bowhunting Organization Spring National event will be held at Anheuser-Busch Farm on US 411.  The CVB has been working with IBO regional coordinators to bring this new and exciting event to Cartersville for 11 months.  More than 600 bow shooters from across the United States are registered to participate.  "We are encouraged by the interest in the IBO Spring Nationals and are looking forward to growing the event in years to come," said CVB Executive Director Ellen Archer.  "This event certainly meets our goals of increasing overnight stays and introducing new audiences to our community through public sporting events."

 

In addition, the CVB is delighted that the Softball Players Association Mid-South Nationals Tournament returns to Dellinger Park for the second consecutive year.  The SPA event has 36 teams of senior adult softball players registered with an expected 500+ players and families set to visit Cartersville this weekend.

 

"The CVB is proud of the economic impact these events will have on our hotels, restaurants and retail establishments," Archer said.  Overall, the two events will bring more than $530,000 in direct expenditures within the local economy.  "We trust that participants and their families will enjoy our area attractions and will look forward to returning annually," concluded Archer.

 

Adairsville tornado, Plant Bowen blast taxing Bartow's budget. Local food truck rally set for June. Gas prices down 45 cents vs. a year ago. Drizzle, mid 70s today; mid 80s by Wednesday.

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

 

The Buzz of Northwest Georgia:

-Crawdaddy's, a fudge factory on wheels, snow cones, cupcakes -- several mobile food vendors were at the civic center for art market Saturday (photo, above). Wait until you see what's due in June: a food truck rally..

-Two tragedies in Bartow County -- the Jan. 30 tornado in Adairsville and the blast at Plant Bowen -- have made an already tight budget year even tougher.

-Chick-Fil-A's secret is out: salads due, some menu options going away.

 

Georgia gas prices dip another six cents to $3.39 per gallon; down 45 cents from a year ago, says AAA South.

-Get your county-by-county prices at Hometown.

Your hometown weather forecast:
-Monday: Slight drizzle, high of 75, low of 58.
-Tuesday: 20% rain chance, high of 81, low of 62.
-Wednesday: 30% chance of storms, high of 85, low of 63.

Trying to make tax day a bit less taxing:
-To give some tax relief to our wallets, a few local restaurants are offering some freebies today -- National Tax Day, April 15.

 

Latest jail reports. 

 

Hometown Headlines Radio Edition

7-9 a.m. weekdays. Listen live online

-Please join our guests today including:

-Tim Adams, Floyd's director of palliative care, on National Healthcare Decision Day on Tuesday.

-Shannen Ferry, director of environmental horticulture at Georgia Northwestern Technical College, on this year's plant sale.

 

Hometown Sports

-Rome Braves edge Savannah, 2-1

-Braves on the road through Wednesday.

-See Mills Fitzner's latest home game photos. Click

Sunny Saturday, Soggy Sunday for busy weekend in NW Georgia. Steeplechase gates open at 9 a.m. Rome Spring Art Market continues today. A former major league baseball player dancing in Rome. Friday's dining scores and latest jail reports.

For expanded coverage, please see www.hometownheadlines.com

 

Weather should stay clear for busy weekend -April 13: Berry College will host its first Student Enterprise Development Conference featuring top executives at Coca-Cola and Ford Motor Company. -April 13: The Second Annual Spring Art Market returns to the Rome Civic Center with more than 50 artists, authors and food producers. -April 13: 20,000 visitors heading to Kingston Downs Saturday for the 48th running of the Steeplechase. Gates open at 9 a.m. -April 13-14: The Chieftain's Museum/Major Ridge Home Herb and Plant Sale will take place at the Coosa Valley Fairgrounds. Saturday hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sunday, noon-3 p.m. -April 13: Cedartown Block Party and Cruise-In set for 7-11 p.m. in the downtown community.    Your forecast: -Saturday: Sunny, high of 74, low of 46. -Sunday: 40-60% rain chance, high of 71, low of 55. -Monday: 30% chance of rain, high of 77, low of 61.   Weekend's latest headlines: -Aug. 17: Former Major League baseball player Cecil Fielder among those competing in the Third Annual Rome Celebrity Dance Challenge benefiting the Sexual Assault Center of Northwest Georgia. -Chloe Schuttinga is parks & rec's first national qualifier: Chloe placed second overall in the regionals held in Jackson, Miss. Only the top six finishers make it to the nationals. -April 15: WRGA adding earlier local news, Wall Street Journal This Morning, from 5-7 a.m.: Listen for earlier local news reports beginning at 5 a.m. this Monday as WRGA 1470 AM also adds Wall Street Journal This Morning from 5 until 7 a.m. weekdays. -April 18: The Civil War Symposium at the library will feature Dr. Keith S. Hebert, Assistant Professor of History and Co-Director of the Center for Public History at the University of West Georgia. -April 20: Berry College will host its eighth annual World Music and Dance Festival on the lawn in front of the college library.   Friday's latest Public Health restaurant scores.    Latest jail reports.

Hometown Headlines Radio Edition 7-9 a.m. weekdays. Listen live online -Please join our guests Monday including: -Tim Adams, Floyd's director of palliative care, on National Healthcare Decision Day. -Shannen Ferry, director of environmental horticulture at Georgia Northwestern Technical College on the spring plant sale April 19-21. Hometown Sports -Rome Braves get quick win over Savannah, 5-2. -Braves on the road tonight through Wednesday. -See Mills Fitzner's latest home game photos. Click