Friday updates from www.bartowheadlines.com

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

Health updates

Big week for Cancer Navigators gets bigger:

It started with reports of the proceeds from the 2009 Rome Braves Hot Stove Gathering being earmarked for Cancer Navigators  It is ending with news that General Electric is planning to donate $75,000 toward the ongoing operations of the total resource center dedicated to cancer patients and their families. When coupled with the new Breast Center initiative at Floyd Medical Center (story), it puts a fitting end on Northwest Georgia's continuing battle against cancer. We're hoping 2009 brings word of the long-planned cancer center.

>For more on Tuesday's donation, click Health

Campus updates

-Leadership team set for Georgia Northwestern Technical College> CVTC

-Five members join Georgia Highlands College Foundation board> GHC

-Now posted--latest edition of Virtually Shorter> Newsletter

NAIA championship report/ Brought to you by Printworks

-Latest pregame headlines from Rome, Montana, South Dakota

-The Ridge 95.7 FM broadcast starts Saturday at 9:30 a.m.

-Fisher DeBerry lauds 'character' during NAIA breakfast

-Governors from Montana, South Dakota to attend game

-Weather forecast/A split decision: The National Weather Service predicts a 60 percent chance of rain, high of 67. The Weather Channel's hour-by-hour forecast calls for a 30 percent chance of rain around kickoff and a 10 percent by 4 p.m. Temperatures in the upper 60s (WC: Hourly)

-For these and more, please click Football  Report

Restaurants: Latest regional public health inspection reports> Dining

Christmas travel updates:

-Gas prices at $1.59 a gallon, up a nickel since last week: But put it into perspective. A year ago, we were paying $2.99 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, Dec. 23, 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: 20% chance of showers today, tonight. High of 71, low of 55.

-Extended forecast. What's ahead> WeatherCenter

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

- Bowl No-Nos I: With gritted teeth, Norman's Hawaii-Notre Dame bowl pick is ... For more, click Arey

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

Thursday updates from www.bartowheadlines.com

Click www.bartowheadlines.com:

 

State's jobless rate hits 7.5% in November; 25-year high

Local numbers due later this month: Georgia lost another 20,500 jobs between October and November, according to the state Department of Labor, which pushed the jobless rate to its highest level since July 1983. The jobless rate was up from 4.5 percent a year ago and up from 6.9 percent in October  "Job losses are accelerating throughout most of the state's economic sectors, with the exception of healthcare, education, and the federal government," State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond said. Over the last year, the number of payroll jobs decreased 94,400 or 2.3 percent. Manufacturing, construction and trade--along with administrative and support services, including temporary employment agencies-- were especially hard hit.
-Albany's Cooper Tire closing; 2,100 jobs could be lost> Labor Department

-Track today's Dow: Wednesday close, down 100 points> Google Finance

Thursday's Buzz:

-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. The 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

-Make that Georgia Northwestern Technical College come July 1> Campus

-Hot Stove Gathering features McCann, benefits Cancer Navigators-Sports

 

NAIA championship report/ Brought to you by Printworks

-Latest pregame headlines from Rome, Montana, South Dakota

-Cows to parachute into NAIA game: Not those big ones from the Chick-fil-A commercial but smaller versions; fan to win CFA for a year> Football

-Latest updates on the teams.

-Breakfast begins formal NAIA events today

-Weather: High of 73, 30% chance of rain.

-Fighting Saints due at St. Mary's Friday a.m.

-Shorter's role in bring the game to Rome

-Click Football  Report

What's ahead this week in Bartow County

-Tonight: Cartersville City Council meeting, 7 p.m. Hear it live on WBHF 1450 AM or here on Bartow Headlines

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

 

Weather Center/ Brought to you by Roman Court

-Warm today, high of 670. Tonight, a 20% rain chance and low of 53.

-Extended forecast. What's ahead> WeatherCenter

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

- Who needs to win their bowl game the most: Sooners' Stoops or UGA' s Richt? For more, click Arey

Downtown Headlines

-NAIA football championship dominates downtown events; Braves' Hot Stove Gathering coming to Forum in January; latest updates from Bryan Mullins of Mullinsmania.com > Downtown

Wednesday updates from www.bartowheadlines.com

Click www.bartowheadlines.com

What's ahead this week in Bartow County

-Dec. 18: Cartersville City Council meeting, 7 p.m. Hear it live on WBHF 1450 AM or here on Bartow Headlines

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

Wednesday's Business Buzz:

>Ho, ho, uh-oh?: As we begin the final seven days of the Christmas 2008 shopping season, a report in Retail Week showcases what we've seen in stores this year: Record-setting pre-Christmas discounting in attempts to offset concerns about the economy. The prediction: A 2 percent year-over-year drop in sales. While the sales help consumers, what do they do to retailers who depend on the Christmas season revenue to get them through much of the rest of the year?> Trend

>State economic development team hits '08 highlights, including Toyo Tire:

Even as they "acknowledged the challenges currently facing the state," three key economic leaders also accented the highlights of 2008 on Tuesday. Among them:

• Toyo Tire's expansion in Bartow County (Archive)
• Job expansion by NCR Corp., Newell Rubbermaid.
• The new Kia plant and satellite businesses
• The state "worked 313 business location and expansion projects" (File).

"The fact is that our state has strong assets upon which we will continue to build. Working together, I have no doubt that we will not only survive this recession, but come out of it well positioned for growth," says Ken Stewart, state economic development commission. For the entire release, click Development

>Johns picked as CVTC Eagle rep; Pegg, Snider honored as well> Campus

>CVTC's Aviation students refurbishing state patrol Cessna> Campus

NAIA championship report/ Brought to you by Printworks

--Latest pregame headlines from Rome, Montana, South Dakota

-Carroll College due for dinner tonight; late flight for Sioux Falls

-Why's the weather forecast so important for Saturday? Check last year's game photo

-Caroling set for 6 tonight, weather permitting

-Fighting Saints due at St. Mary's Friday a.m.

-Shorter's role in bring the game to Rome

-Click Football  Report

Weather Center/ Brought to you by Roman Court

-50% chance of rain, high of 63. Tonight, 51 with a 30% rain chance.

-Extended forecast. What's ahead> WeatherCenter

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

-Chizik fallout erupts on both ends; NASCAR team workers feeling budget crunch. For more, click Arey

 

What's ahead in Bartow County:

-Dec. 18: Cartersville City Council meeting, 7 p.m. Hear it live on WBHF 1450 AM or here on Bartow Headlines.

-Dec. 19-20: 1902 Stock Exchange Public Square Opera House presents its annual Holiday Dinner Theatre. Tickets are $45 per person. Details: CVB.

-Jan. 29: Chamber annual meeting: The Cartersville-Bartow County  Chamber of Commerce's annual meeting is set for Thursday, Jan. 29, at Cartersville First Baptist Church, 241 Douthit Ferry Road.  The guest speaker is Alan Essig, Executive Director of the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute. The reception begins at 5:30 with dinner at 6:30 p.m. For tickets: reception@cartersvillechamber.com.

The Buzz of Northwest Georgia

-The NAIA game: What it means to Northwest Georgia

-Three Dot Buzz: New site for El Nopal; Southern Buffet is cooking

-Peaks & Valleys: The highs and lows of Northwest Georgia

Tuesday updates from www.bartowheadlines.com

click www.bartowheadlines.com

 

What's ahead this week in Bartow County

-Dec. 16: Euharlee City Council, 7 p.m., work session

-Dec. 18: Cartersville City Council meeting, 7 p.m. Hear it live on WBHF 1450 AM or here on Bartow Headlines

Tuesday's Business Buzz:

-Rome's Comfort Suites, Rockmart's Econo Lodge among 37 hotels Choice opened in November alone: Look for some of the traveling contingent for the NAIA title game to stay at Comfort Suites this week as well> Hotels

-LaQuinta opening listed as 'late December':  The third member of  Rome's "Hotel Hill"--Hampton Inn, Comfort Suites and now LaQuinta Inns & Suites--is listing a late December opening date on real estate and travel sites.

-More good news for Mohawk Industries: Analysts raise stock from 'neutral' to 'outperform'; stock still dips $1.49 Monday> Mohawk

-Cartersville Fuddruckers' manager to forum -- we're not closing: In what could be a local market first, the general manager of the Cartersville Fuddruckers went on www.bartowlife.com Monday to slap back new rumors the location is closing. "We have had lots and lots of phone calls and visits from our loyal guests telling us they heard a very nasty rumor that we were closing after the first of the year. Guess what? We are NOT closing! We are, as always, here to serve you ... "

-Synovus consolidation two Florida-based banks: The Bank of Pensacola and Vanguard Bank and Trust in Valparaiso will become Coastal Bank and Trust of Florida. Synovus is the parent company of Citizens First> Details

-Track today's Dow:  Down 65 points on Monday> Google Finance

NAIA championship report/ Brought to you by Printworks

-Your online home for all local events tied to Saturday's NAIA National Championship football game at Barron Stadium

-Latest pregame headlines from Rome, Montana, South Dakota

-A look at Shorter's role in bring the title fight to Rome

-Latest weather forecast for Saturday's game (noon kickoff)

>Click Football  Report

Weather Center/ Brought to you by Roman Court

-60% chance of rain today, 50% tonight; high of 58, low of 52

-Extended forecast. What's ahead> WeatherCenter

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

-CU stands for Confused University (Auburn); 'Bama celebrates being SEC's No. 2. For more, click Arey

Monday updates from www.bartowheadlines.com

Click www.bartowheadlines.com

What's ahead this week in Bartow County

-Dec. 15: Bartow County schools meeting, 6 p.m.> Agenda

-Dec. 16: Euharlee City Council, 7 p.m., work session

-Dec. 18: Cartersville City Council meeting, 7 p.m. Hear it live on WBHF 1450 AM or here on Bartow Headlines

The Buzz of Northwest Georgia

-The NAIA game: What it means to Northwest Georgia

-Three Dot Buzz: New site for El Nopal; Southern Buffet is cooking

-Peaks & Valleys: The highs and lows of Northwest Georgia

Business Buzz

-Business Chronicle: Ban on new banks in Georgia? Here's a story that will get plenty of eyes in Northwest Georgia today: The Atlanta Business Chronicle's report quotes some bankers as saying the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.'s new policies are hurting bank start-ups. That report comes as prep work continues on another new community bank in Rome/Floyd County> Chronicle

-'Ms. CEO Show,' an Atlanta-based radio-style program dedicated to women entrepreneurs, premieres Tuesday on BlogTalkRadio> Details

Weather Center/ Brought to you by Roman Court

-50% chance of rain today, high of 60. Tonight: Low of 48, 40% rain chance.

-Extended forecast. What's ahead> WeatherCenter

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

-Strange but true sports headlines: Bradford over Tebow; Chizak replaces Tuberville. For more, click Arey

The Football Report/ Brought to you by Printworks

-Starting today, your online home for all local events tied to Saturday's NAIA National Championship football game at Barron Stadium.

What's ahead in Bartow County:

-Dec. 15: Bartow County schools meeting, 6 p.m.> Agenda

-Dec. 16: Euharlee City Council, 7 p.m., work session

-Dec. 18: Cartersville City Council meeting, 7 p.m. Hear it live on WBHF 1450 AM or here on Bartow Headlines.

-Dec. 19-20: 1902 Stock Exchange Public Square Opera House presents its annual Holiday Dinner Theatre. Tickets are $45 per person. Details: CVB.

-Jan. 29: Chamber annual meeting: The Cartersville-Bartow County  Chamber of Commerce's annual meeting is set for Thursday, Jan. 29, at Cartersville First Baptist Church, 241 Douthit Ferry Road.  The guest speaker is Alan Essig, Executive Director of the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute. The reception begins at 5:30 with dinner at 6:30 p.m. For tickets: reception@cartersvillechamber.com.

Friday updates from www.bartowheadlines.com

Click www.bartowheadlines.com

Weather Center/ Brought to you by Roman Court

-Clear, dry and cooler today-Sunday: Aside from some 20-mph gusts today, our two days of heavy weather are over. It was never cold enough for snow or snow showers in Northwest Georgia as the winter weather advisory was canceled late Thursday. The only remnants: more than three inches of rainfall continues to flow into local rivers with the Oostanaula expected to crest above 15 feet today.

-Wind advisory extended until 1 p.m. Friday> Click

-Forecast: Mostly sunny, mid-50s, upper 20s at night. More of the same Saturday, Sunday.

-For more, please click WeatherCenter

Friday's Buzz

-Isakson, Chambliss vote no on $14 billion auto bailout: Georgia's Republican senators, Johnny Isakson and Saxby Chambliss, both voted "no" Thursday as the Senate considered the auto bailout package. Details

-Georgia banks getting $6 billion in bailout money from feds: SunTrust, United Community and Synovus among those in the hunt> Business Chronicle

-Mohawk, Shaw executives discuss outlook for flooring in 2009: Soft start to the new year predicted with unemployment hitting 9 percent; some consolidation within the industry as well>  Floorbiz

-Cartersville's Tractor Supply Co. store opens Jan. 3: The region's newest Tractor Supply Co. store at U.S. 411 and Peeples Valley Road in Cartersville opens Saturday, Jan. 3, with a grand opening date to be set.  The company currently has stores in Rome, Calhoun and Dallas.

-Hilton Garden Inn & Suites due in first quarter: So posts the company's Web page devoted to upcoming openings (click). It will feature 108 rooms. and meeting space. It is the second hotel to rise along the Main Street/I-75 corridor. Fairfield Inn & Suites opened this past summer just off I-75.

-Jobs: First-time jobless claims skyrocket in November> Business

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

-Holtz skips Syracuse opening in hopes of a possible shot at Notre Dame next year? For more, click Arey

Friday's High School playoffs / Brought to you by Printworks

-It's Calhoun vs. Buford in state Class AA finale set for 5 p.m. Friday.

-John McClellan says Buford wins by 15

Calhoun Yellow Jackets (12-2) v. Buford Wolves (14-0)

Media: WEBS 1030 AM, Webcast)

Media: Georgia Public Television, 5 p.m.

John McClellan's High School championship picks

-John takes a final look at this season's high school games, picking the winners in five state title matches. He sees Buford taking a 15-point win vs. the Calhoun Yellow Jackets for the Class AA title> The Football Report

The Road to  Rome: NAIA National Championship

Rome NAIA premiere championship to host a rematch of 2007 teams

Carroll (Montana.) and Sioux Falls (South Dakota) are the teams in the Dec. 20 NAIA national championship here in Rome on Dec. 20> NAIA

Thursday updates from www.bartowheadlines.com

click www.bartowheadlines.com

More cuts as economy continues to sputter

>Cartersville's Office Depot closing: Barely 16 months ago, community leaders were on hand for the ribbon cutting for Office Depot's "first store in Cartersville" at 433 Main St. Within three months, that store will be empty as the office supply chain continues a series of cuts. The Cartersville store, 20,735 square feet, opened with 20 full-time and part-time employees (archive)

It is now listed as one of 112 "under performing retail stores" that will close within three months (click Announcement). The company's Rome store at 2112 Shorter Ave. closes this week.

>New round of layoffs at Suzuki Manufacturing: Citing "the economic recession and the significant drop in sales of all-terrain vehicles," Suzuki Manufacturing of America Corp. is undergoing a third layoff in recent months. The number of workers idled was not released but the local work force is expected to settle at 150 people, roughly half of what it used to be. Demand for the Rome-produced ATVs is said to be "50 percent of normal."

-Said Nobuyuki Yamane, Suzuki Manufacturing president: "By making these very difficult changes at this time, we hope to ensure that SMAC will continue to produce top-quality ATVs and to play a significant role in the local economy for years to come." The company is "conscious of the financial burdens this decision imposes upon those team members who become part of the workforce reduction and will be undertaking certain steps to mitigate them."

-The plant at 1520 Technology Parkway opened in May 2002 and produced its 250,000th vehicle on March 31.

>Media/More circulation, job cuts by the AJC: Another 22 counties, mostly in Northeast Georgia, will lose AJC delivery come Jan. 11. Northwest Georgia will continue to have home delivery> AJC

>Additional layoffs by Mohawk--in Pennsylvania: Mohawk, whiich owns Dal-Tile, is laying off 105 workers at the Gettysburg plant> Mohawk

-Brewer's parent company pulls plug on Bud Productions: Anheuser-Busch InBev, which has the brewery in Cartersville, is scuddling Bud Productions> TV

>Track today's Dow: Up 70 at Wednesday's close.> Google Finance

Weather Center/ Brought to you by Roman Court

More rain, tiny chance of snow, in today's forecast

-Local radar as of 7 this morning. Latest radar> Click

-Twenty-four hours ago, we were under a tornado watch, flood watch and flood warning. Now forecasters are tracking the possibility of snow starting later today and into the night thanks to the soggy, cold air above Northwest Georgia.

-Mostly rain, slight chance of snow, overnight: 40 percent.

-Rainfall since 12:01 a.m. Wednesday: 2.38 inches through 7 this morning.

-Oostanaula to crest at 9.4 feet Friday afternoon, at 7.56 feet at 5:45 a.m.> River

-Flood watch in effect through this evening> Watch

-Wind advisory through 2 a.m. Friday as cold front slows in> Click

-Today: High of 54, 100 percent chance of rain. Low of 35.

-Friday, weekend: Finally clearing, mid-50s, upper 20s at night.

-For more, please click WeatherCenter

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

-Are college presidents listening or will they defy the incoming president of the United States? For more, click Arey

Friday's High School playoffs / Brought to you by Printworks

-Calhoun prepares for Buford at the Georgia Dome, 5 p.m. Friday.

-Watch the game live on GPB television> Link

-Radio, Web coverage: WEBS 1030 AM, Webcast)

John McClellan's High School championship picks

-John takes a final look at this season's high school games, picking the winners in five state title matches. He sees Buford taking a 15-point win vs. the Calhoun Yellow Jackets for the Class AA title> The Football Report

The Road to  Rome: NAIA National Championship

Rome NAIA premiere championship to host a rematch of 2007 teams

Carroll (Montana.) and Sioux Falls (South Dakota) are the teams in the Dec. 20 NAIA national championship here in Rome on Dec. 20> NAIA

>Barron Stadium and Maddox Track will be closed Dec. 15-22 because of the Dec. 20 NAIA college football national championship game and related activities, according to a release from the park and rec department.

-Doctors named for championship game. Click NAIA