Happy New Year: Rain returns tonight, stormy weekend ahead? Rome's Applebee's to renovate, expand. Ozzie's Plaza in West Rome set for auction. New Year's buzz. Weekend: Polar Plunge and Bring one for Chipper. Full day of College Bowl games, GA Tech wins Or

Get the first look at today's top headlines and at what's ahead at www.hometownheadlines.com and at www.bartowheadlines.com:

 

We at Hometown Headlines and Bartow Headlines wish you the brightest and healthiest of new years. We thank you for your trust and support in 2014, and promise to earn both again in the new year as we continue to offer additional news and information you need. We begin our 11th year of service to Northwest Georgia on Jan. 28 and we promise the best is yet to come.

 

Ware Mechanical forecast:

•  A 20 percent chance of rain after 4pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 52, low of 37. Storms return this weekend with 1-2 inches of rain possible.
  

Headlines:

• Rome's Applebee's getting an inside update, expansion; to close Monday, Tuesday, reopening Wednesday. Applebee's
• Ozzie's Plaza -- one-time home of Kroger in West Rome -- set for auction Jan. 28. Auction
• New Year's Buzz: Loudermilk's congressional swearing-in ceremony is Tuesday. Goodwill job fair in Rome on Jan. 14. Buzz
• Happy New Year from the Hometown Headlines multimedia family. What's ahead in 2015. Hometown
• Holiday weekend: Polar Plunge, 'First Day' hikes at state parks, Bring One for the Chipper. Calendar
• Public health restaurant inspections scores for Northwest Georgia. After today, next report due Tuesday. Dining.
• Floyd County Jail reports. CrimeWatch

Regular features:

• Today's business headlines from  Georgia Trend
• Georgia Health News: Weekday updates on the state's top health stories. GHN
• Northwest Georgia's best source for job leads. Click Career Builder

Chick-fil-A Dwarf House Sports Report  (click)

• Orange Bowl: Georgia Tech tops Mississippi State, 49-34.
• Norman Arey's Norman's No-Nos, bowl edition: In the really big game, it looks to me like Alabama will finally meet FSU.
• This week's college football bowls, times, teams and broadcasts.
• Links to latest local college results.

Hometown Headlines Radio Edition on WRGA 98.7 FM & 1470 AM

• 7-9 a.m. Click to listen live online
• Join us for a replay of our Hometown Headlines/WRGA News Roundtable Year in Review.