Rain on the way; HCA searching for new CEO of Redmond; Final Campaign Finance Reports

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Weekend Weather forecast: Chance of Rain

-Friday: Sunny, high of 96. Heat Index of 101. 54% chance of afternoon showers/thunderstorms.

-Friday Night: 40% chance of rain. Low of 73.

-Saturday: 40% chance of morning showers, high of 89, low of 68.

-Sunday: Mostly sunny, high of 96, low of 68.

-Extended forecast: Click  / Regional radar

HCA begins search for new CEO of Redmond Regional/Polk Medical Center as Brenda Waltz leaves for another HCA facility in Gulfport, Mississippi

Waltz is leaving Rome to become the the new CEO of Garden Park Medical Center effective August 16. Garden Park Medical Center, is a smaller 130-bed facility compared to Redmond's 230-beds. HCA officials say they have begun the process to look for Waltz's replacement. "We have a great leadership team in place at Redmond and do not currently plan to name an interim. We will continue with business as usual through the transition period," says Cheryl Read, VP of Marketing and PR for HCA-TriStar. Waltz has been at Redmond since 2004. Health

We'll be watching today to see if Greater Rome Bank announces an interim president to replace Dwight Stout who resigned this week. The Board of Directors of Greater Rome Bank did meet late Thursday, but no word yet on any decisions that may have been made.

-However, the bank is planning to expand in Calhoun. A legal notice was published Thursday for the bank's application to the Georgia Dept. of Finance and Banking to open a branch at 305 West Belmont Drive. Bank officials say the plans are preliminary right now and could take up to a year to be approved by regulators. Legals (search "Greater Rome Bank" notice RN730)

Politics:

-Final Campaign Finance Reports have been submitted for reporting period of April 1- June 30. For complete list, click Politics

-State Sen. Preston Smith (R-Rome) has raised more money that his two opponents over the past 60 days with a total contributions of $253,774.11 compared to Max Wood with $21,425.51 and Sam Olens with $193,076. Smith's Report

Education:

-School-level CRCT tests results are now available online. GDOE

-GNTC switching from Quarters to Semesters in Fall 2011. GNTC

What's ahead in Bartow County:

-July 10: Free Downtown Cartersville Summer Concert Series will feature Still Cruzin', 7-9 p.m. Bartow History Museum and Booth Western Art Museum will host a Backyard BBQ before the concert from 5-7 p.m. Held on the South Lawn of the Booth Museum (501 Museum Drive), guests may enjoy games, music, kids' activities, $7 (plus tax) barbecue plates courtesy of Johnny Mitchell's Smokehouse

Thursday report from the Bartow County Jail. Click

Norman Arey's Sports Roundtable. Arey 

-One prognosticator says Georgia will be in top three surprise teams in college football

Rome Braves. Click Sports

-Braves win 10-4 over Charleston on Thursday.

-Next game: Game 2 of Braves vs. Charleston, Friday 7 p.m.

-Mills Fitzner's latest home game photos.  (click)