Tuesday updates from www.bartowheadlines.com

Census stats show Georgia's growth rate slowest in five years

A fresh batch of numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau shows Georgia's growth continued strong between July 1, 2007, and this past July 1. Georgia checked in at 9,685,744 residents, up by 162,447 year over year. That qualifies the Peach State as the fourth fastest-growing state overall in terms of new residents and ninth by percentage(1.7, tied with North Carolina).

>Sudden drop: Georgia's latest growth numbers were the lowest since 149,250 people moved to the state between July 2002 and July 2003.

>Boom years: July 2005-06, up 224,757 residents; July 2006-07, up 204,582.

>Georgia has added 1.5 million residents since the 2000 Census or more than 187,000 a year including this latest report.

>County-by-county estimates were not available in this latest report.

>For more:  State population estimates // Fastest growing states report

Tuesday's Buzz

-Synovus merging two S. Georgia banks: Synovus, parent company of Citizens First and Georgia Bank & Trust, is merging Security Bank & Trust in Albany and Sumter Bank & Trust in Americus.  The new name: SB&T Bank> Synovus

-Berry forensic team takes third in 'Holiday Frolic' tournament>Campus

NORAD ready to track Santa's trek: NORAD, the U.S.-Canadian military organization responsible for the defense of aerospace and maritime of North America, is tracking Santa again this Christmas Eve. You'll even be able to do it by mobile phone if needed. For more, click NORAD

-Christmas Eve: 60% chance of showers, low of 47> WeatherCenter

-Christmas travel updates> Click Travel

Consider it a Christmas bonus

(Media release) An Adairsville man is wild about aces and eights. Kenneth Kinsey, 40, won a $28,888 top prize playing the new Georgia Lottery instant game Aces & 8's. Fast Track Food Mart, 7320 Adairsville Highway in Adairsville, sold the winning ticket.

 "I saw that it was a new game, so I decided to try it," he said. "I immediately called my wife." He and his wife, Sheila, have one daughter and two sons. The couple have no immediate plans for their winnings.

>For more: Georgia Lottery

 

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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

 

 

Weather Center / Brought to you by Roman Court

-Today: high of 44, low tonight of 40 with a 40% rain chance.

-Christmas Eve: 70% chance of showers, low of 44

-Christmas Day: Sunny with a high of 58 degrees

-For additional updates, please click WeatherCenter

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

- Is Wake Forest's run in the ACC over? Coach-in-waiting: Not my idea, Bowden says. For more, click Arey

Sports update

-Atlanta Braves tweak some minor league assignments>  Sports

NAIA championship report / Brought to you by Printworks

Community gets rave reviews for NAIA game, hospitality> Football  Report