Monday updates from www.bartowheadlines.com

Weather Center/ Brought to you by Roman Court

-Wind chill: 9 degrees!

Welcome to winter, Northwest Georgia style. at 7 this morning, it was 19 in Cartersville but thanks to winds of 6 mph, it felt more like 9 degrees. Today: high of 37, low tonight of 19.

-Christmas Day: 60 percent chance of rain, high of 64.> WeatherCenter

The Buzz of Northwest Georgia:

>Economic Roundtable/What to expect in 2009: Natalie Simms interviews four local business leaders on what's ahead here in 2009:

-Shorter professor Gina McDaniel

-Wachovia Securities' Michael Crego

-Board of realtors president Graham Dixon

-Heather Seckman, chamber's economic development director

>Table Talk: A look at what's ahead for America's restaurants

>3-Dot Buzz: WLAQ, The Ridge webcast morning shows as well as sports

>Peaks & Valleys: Special NAIA edition. Plus: The Christmas edition

CMC's Hope Center wins key cancer accreditation> Hope Center

Jan. 10/Trail of Tears membershp meeting: The Georgia Chapter of the Trail of Tears Association will hold its first membership meeting of 2009 at the Funk Heritage Center on Jan. 10. It begins at 10:30 a.m. and will start with a presentation by Erin L. Andrews. The Funk Heritage Center is on the campus of Reinhardt College in Waleska,. The chapter Web site is www.gatrailoftears.org. For more, contact Linda Baker at 770-704-6338 or at badnil@alltel.net.  

Christmas travel updates:

-Gas prices at $1.57 a gallon, up a nickel since last week: But put it into perspective. A year ago, we were paying $2.98 a gallon> Gas prices

-State patrol holiday weekend forecast--19 deaths, 2,945 accidents: Impaired driving and the lack of seat belt use top the list of violations Georgia troopers say they'll be targeting during the Christmas holiday travel period, 6 p.m. Christmas Eve until midnight Sunday. They predict 19 traffic deaths on Georgia roads, 2,945 traffic accidents and 1,494 injuries. In 2007, Georgia recorded 18 traffic deaths, 3,039 crashes, and 1,158 injuries> State Patrol

-DOT suspends road work: Georgia's Department of Transportation is suspending lane closures from noon Tuesday through 5 a.m. Monday, Dec. 29. Another suspension is set for Wednesday, Dec. 31, through Friday, Jan. 2.

-Check the latest traffic conditions> DOT Maps

Cartersville school leaders seek feedback on proposed 2009-10 and 2010-11 calendars prior to Jan. 12 meeting> Detail

Update from the Cartersville-Bartow County Chamber of Commerce:

"We need Bartow County residents who have a GED or who have taken steps to pursue a GED to complete the Work Ready assessments. The assessments are free and the first 25 people who take them will receive a $25 gift card.  Bartow County is working to become a Certified Work Ready Community and the chamber needs your help to make that happen. The assessments will be given Monday, Dec. 22, in the Anheuser-Busch Community Room at the chamber.  The test will begin at 8:30 a.m. and end by noon.  Contact Karen White, karen@cartersvillechamber.com or 770-382-1466 to reserve your space> Chamber

Norman Arey's Sports Roundtable / brought to you by Riverside Toyota

-Gators' next QB now playing at Miami? Auburn pays back Iowa State for coach theft. For more, click Arey

The NAIA Football Report/ brought to you by PrintWorks

-Final updates on the Sioux Falls Cougars' win over Carroll College> Football  Report

Sports updates

-Ingle, Moore returning to coach Rome Braves in 2009> Sports

-Former Rome Braves manager Rocket Wheeler named minor league manager of the year> Sports