90 employed so far at Lowe's center; 500 to go. Bartow board OK's deal for $24 million Bass Pro store. New owners for WYXC. Soggy holiday forecast.

For these updates and today's latest headlines, please see www.bartowheadlines.com:

 

Make that 90 and counting at Lowe's center: With a formal opening set most likely in April, hiring is continuing at the Lowe's Regional Distribution Center in Shannon just north of the Ga. 140/Ga. 53 intersection. At least 90 people are on staff.

New ownership for Cartersville's WYXC: NewsTalk AM 1270 has a new ownership group, John and Brandi Underwood of Cartersville have partnered with Greg Detscher.

Bartow board unanimously OK's memorandum of understanding for $25 million Bass Pro Shops. -Steve Taylor, Bartow County's incoming sole commissioner and resigning member of the development authority on the Bass Pro Shops Outpost coming to Emerson, talks about the deal on today's Hometown Headlines Radio Edition beginning at 7:40 a.m. on WRGA 1470 AM.

AAA Fuel Price Brief: Gas prices making slight increase before year end. Georgia average up 4 cents to $3.19 last week. AAA

Norman Arey's Norman No-Nos, Bowl Edition III: Now through Jan. 4, Norman sizes up who loses in a huge week of college bowl games, including Georgia and Georgia Tech. Arey

Thursday Public Health dining scores for Floyd, Bartow.

Latest jail reports.

Weather
-Friday: 30% rain chance, high of 51, low of 38; rain chance overnight: 100%
-Saturday: 30% chance of rain, high of 48, low of 27.
-Sunday: Sunny, high of 47, low of 25.
-New Year's Eve: 30% rain chance, high of 54, low of 38; 70% overnight.

 

Hometown Headlines Radio Edition, WRGA 1470 AM, 7-9 a.m. weekdays. Listen live online

-Please join our guests including:

-Steve Taylor, Bartow County's incoming sole commissioner and resigning member of the development authority on the Bass Pro Shops Outpost coming to Emerson.
-Hometown Headlines/WRGA News Roundtable as Andrew Carter and perhaps Nelle Reagan join us to discuss the top stories of 2012.

November's jobless rate dips again. Regional Public Health restaurant scores. Sunny but cooler today; rain back Friday.

For these and today's latest headlines, please see www.bartowheadlines.com:

Jobless rate dips again in most local counties:
-The Georgia Department of Labor's November update shows the jobless rate dropped in four of five local counties and stayed the same in Chattooga County compared to October of this year. Even larger decreases were evident when compared to November 2011.
-Only troubling indicator: The number of people working in Floyd and Chattooga counties dropped last month vs. October. In Floyd, 100 fewer people had jobs in November vs. October but compared to November 2011, there were 200 additional jobs.

Today's Buzz
-Jan. 1: Resolution Run advance registration closes Monday.
-Jan. 1: Cave Spring's first Polar Bear Plunge has a 10:30 a.m. registration, 11 a.m. 'jump.'
-Early fourth birthday present for Tellus: Tellus Science Museum tops $100,000 matching challenge grant issued by the 3M Foundation for the museum's Vision for the Future campaign. 3M will match the challenge, raising more than $200,000 toward the $1.2 million campaign. Tellus turns four years old next month.
-Jan. 5: Bring One for the Chipper set for 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Home Depot. Hours 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
-Weekly Public Health dining scores from across Northwest Georgia. Dining

Weather
-Thursday: High of 47, low of low of 28.
-Friday: 30% rain chance, high of 53, low of 37; rain chance overnight: 90%
-Saturday: 20% chance of rain, high of 49, low of 24.

Latest jail reports.

Hometown Headlines Radio Edition, WRGA 1470 AM, 7-9 a.m. weekdays. Listen live online

-Please join our guests including:

-Cheryl Bishop, YMCA, on the 'One Warm Coat' project.

-Elaine Armstrong of Goodwill of North Georgia on final days to donate goods for 2012 taxes.
-Scotty Hancock, Floyd County's Emergency Management director, on our latest storm threat.

The no-show storm: 2.2 inches of rain, gusts to 25 mph but no severe weather (whew). More wind today, colder tonight. Publix work to begin. Doll coming to RiverWalk

For these and today's latest updates, please see www.bartowheadlines.com

 

The storm that wasn't: Severe weather spares Georgia.

-Almost 2.2 inches of rain here in two days.

-Rivers rising but way below flood risk.

-Wind advisory today, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Gusts to 40 mph.

-Wednesday: 40% chance of rain, high of 50, low of 30. Wind advisory.

-Thursday: High of 48, low of low of 26.

-Friday: 20% rain chance, high of 55, low of 37; rain chance overnight: 80%

 

Work on Publix set to begin, according to Construction Journal. The store is at least 10 months away.

 

Doll coming to RiverWalk on Feb. 1

-Women's store has formal opening planned in one-time Sundae's venue.

-Restaurant coming to Etowah Crossing? Activity in one suite has merchants talking about new tenant; no names yet.

 

Latest county jail reports.

 

Hometown Headlines Radio Edition, WRGA 1470 AM, 7-9 a.m. weekdays. Listen live online

-Please join our guests Wednesday including:

-Scotty Hancock, Floyd County's Emergency Management director, on our latest storm threat.

-Mary Hardin Thornton of Keep Rome Floyd Beautiful on Bring One for the Chipper.

Winter arrives with big chill, 30-plus mph gusts. High of 45 today. Communities pause to remember Newtown victims. $1.16 billion deal for Mohawk.

For these and today's latest headlines, please see www.bartowheadlines.com:

 

Winter roars in with 35-mph gusts, low of 24 tonight
-Wind advisory through 7 tonight. Top gust so far: 31 mph.
-Wind chill at 27 degrees at 5 a.m.; cold, blustery day ahead.

-Friday: Sunny, high of 45, low of 24.
-Saturday: Sunny, high of 50, low of 25.
-Sunday: 20% rain chance, high of 58, low of 39.
-Christmas Day: 50% chance of rain, high of 61.

Fiscal cliff: Is there a plan C?
-With House Speaker John Boehner's "Plan B" basically dead on arrival because of a revolt within the Republican-dominated House, what's next? We're hoping to get some indication from representatives Tom Graves and Phil Gingrey later this morning.

 

$1.16 billion purchase made by Mohawk for tile maker

-Calhoun-based company now world's largest tile maker.

 

Remembering the Newtown shooting victims

-Local communities to observe 9:30 a.m. bell ringing to honor those lost at Sandy Hook Elementary.

 

Latest public health dining reports for Floyd, Bartow.

 

Latest county jail reports.

 

Hometown Headlines Radio Edition, WRGA 1470 AM, 7-9 a.m. weekdays. Listen live online

-Please join our guests today including:

-Buzz Wachsteter, Rome city commissioner, on latest local developments.

-Hometown Headlines/WRGA News Roundtable: Our week-in-review with News Director Kevin Karel and Andrew Carter.

100% rain chance, gusts to 25 mph; wind advisory this evening. First-time jobless claims fall again. Latest Public Health restaurant inspection scores for NW Georgia. Latest business updates

For these and today's latest updates, please see www.bartowheadlines.com:

 

Final day of fall to offer perfect prelude to winter: Windy, rainy and colder air on the way.

-Look for a 100% chance of rain, gusts to 25 mph and temperatures in the upper 20s tonight.

-Severe weather should stay below I-20.

-Updates all day on Bartow Headlines.

 

November first-time unemployment claims plunge again

-Compared to October, all but Gordon County report decreases.

-Versus a year earlier, claims down by 25 to 50%

 

Cartersville City Council meets tonight at 7.

 

Latest Bartow County updates.

 

Somewhat of an extreme makeover for Tellus' Appalachiosaurus.

 

Northwest Georgia Public Health restaurant inspection scores: From a low of 67 for a new doughnut chain on Cedartown's Main Street to a series of perfect scores

 

Latest county jail reports.

 

Hometown Headlines Radio Edition, WRGA 1470 AM, 7-9 a.m. weekdays. Listen live online

-Please join our guests today including:

-Ken Davis of Georgia Emergency Management on the Dec. 22 storms, today's weather and the reason behind the Be Ready! campaign.

-Eddie Elsberry of Berry College on the eagles' nest and new webcam trained on them.

Two truck drivers dead following overnight collision on I-75. Storms possible Thursday; don't forget Dec. 22 tornadoes last year. Latest dining and jail reports

For these and today's latest stories, please see www.bartowheadlines.com:

 

Two tractor trailer drivers dead following overnight collision on I-75.

 

Rough weather near Christmas? Don't forget last Dec. 22:

-No one expected the tornado that ripped through part of West Rome near Shorter Avenue and Division Street before 5 p.m. last Dec. 22.
-While Thursday's forecast includes updates about gusts of 25 and thunderstorms as well as nearly three quarters of an inch of rain, there is no mention of severe weather

-Georgia has a "2 to 3" potential (scale of 1 to 8) of seeing tornadic conditions, according to The Weather Channel.
-Today: High of 67, low of 41.
-Thursday: 100% rain chance, high of 53, low of 29.
-Friday: High of 49, low of 25.
-Christmas Day: 40% chance of rain, high of 55.

 

Historic 'The Columns' home in Between the Rivers District sold

 

Last week's NAIA National Football Championship generated $1.1 million in economic impact for Floyd County. Expanded report

 

Tuesday's Floyd, Bartow Public Health restaurant inspection scores.

 

Latest county jail reports.

 

Hometown Headlines Radio Edition, WRGA 1470 AM, 7-9 a.m. weekdays. Listen live online

-Please join our guests today including:

-Bill Peterson, athletics director at Shorter University, on the concept of a fall sports festival.

-Dr. Brad Bushnell of Harbin Clinic Orthopaedics on the 2013 Resolution Run set for Jan. 1.
-Julie Smith of Trails for Recreation and Economic Development.

Latest on late-night murder in Cartersville. Bartow Schools react to Newtown shootings. Sunny but cooler today; cold and rainy Thursday.

For these and today's latest headlines, please see www.bartowheadlines.com:

 

Updates on late-night Cartersville murder.

 

Bartow County Schools react to the Newtown shootings.

 

Graduation from Chattahoochee Tech special for Cass High alum.

 

Berry-Shorter Fall Festival sports rivalry proposed
-Shorter University Athletic Director Bill Peterson and staff have shared an idea with the NAIA Host Committee to establish an annual fall sports competition between Berry College and Shorter University, with 50 percent of the money raised going to a local charity.

Berry launches 'eagle cam' to watch national treasurers:

-Daylight permitting, you can watch the birds with a new webcam set up to track their activities.

 

With Christmas just a week away . . .

-Retail: Extended hours now through Christmas Eve.

Fiscal cliff debate
-Today at noon, the Rome TEA Party's Lunch Bunch will be held from noon until 1:30 p.m. at Fuddruckers. The program: "The Fiscal Cliff: Prevent it or Let Us Fall?"
-Calls mount to oust Boehner -- and replace him with Georgia's Tom Price: Joe McCutcheon of Ellijay, a staunch Republican who's earned the title as the nation's most prolific talk show caller (including Hometown Radio), is among those calling for the ouster of House Majority Leader John Boehner. McCutcheon's call is to replace him with Georgia Rep. Tom Price.

Rain returns Thursday; so do subfreezing overnight lows
-Tuesday: High of 56, low of 36.
-Wednesday: High of 67, low of 42; 20% rain chance overnight.
-Thursday: 90% rain chance, high of 59, low of 27.

 

Latest jail reports.

Hometown Headlines Radio Edition, WRGA 1470 AM, 7-9 a.m. weekdays. Listen live online

-Please join our guests today including:

-Bonnie and Jim Moore of the Rome chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, talking about the Newtown shootings.

-Jose Santamaria, executive director of Tellus Science Museum, debunking the Dec. 21 end-of-the-world chatter.