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-Sipp: 50 single-family homes sold last month: While better than July's 47 home sold, August wasn't a month to remember for Greater Rome Realtors. Also, the average price of homes sold was low: $87,450. Details from Sipp Realty.
-Latest state business updates from Georgia Trend.Ga. Business
-Georgia Political & Policy Digest's daily headlines.Ga. Politics
Scaring up a little business at former Circuit City
One of the more appealing retail slots on the market--the 33,056-square-foot former home of Circuit City--has a temporary client. Halloween City is opening soon at 2700 Martha Berry Highway near Mount Berry Square and The Landmark (background). Calling itself the "costume superstore," Halloween City features all sorts of characters and get-ups. That's Fred Flintstone on the right. A Cartersville shop is opening in the former Office Depot at 433 E. Main St. as well. The Rome store is accepting applications for temporary positions via e-mail at enelson@halloweencity.com. The building itself remains up for permanent lease. Details
-It's the season premiere of Norman's No-Nos, 15 college football teams all but guaranteed to lose this weekend.
-Norman's No-Nos: Hokies upset the Broncos; Notre Dame has no trouble with Purdue.
-John McClellan's high school picks for tonight.McClellan.
-Shorter Hawks pounded by first-year Georgia State, 41-7, drop to 0-2 on new season.Hawks
Friday's Buzz
-City Manager John Bennett is recommending the City Commission confirm his appointment of Maj. Elaine Snow as the next police chief. Says the city media release: "After thorough and thoughtful deliberation, Elaine Snow has been selected as Police Chief for the City of Rome, according to John Bennett, City Manager. The appointment is contingent on confirmation by the Rome City Commission at its meeting on Sept. 7."
-Party on the Green II highlights Rome Area History Museum's busy September. Click
-Floyd County School Nutrition Program Receives School Meals for Healthy Children Award. Details
-Banks, city, county offices closed Labor Day; no postal service.
-State patrol drops holiday traffic death predictions--kind of. No estimates for the 78-hour Labor Day holiday travel period that begins at 6 p.m. Friday and ends at midnight Labor Day, Monday. Even more bizarre: They release last year's stats and a cumulative report from recent years. Odd. Click
-Georgia DOT is suspending construction-related lane closures now through 5 a.m. Tuesday.
-Gas averaging $2.52 for a gallon of unleaded: that's up from $2.43 a year ago. Check local, regional prices. Click
-Weekend events: Barbecue, pow-wow, Peter Pan.Click
-Forecast for Labor Day weekend: Mid-80s, low 50s at night. Below
Your Labor Day weekend forecast:
-Friday: Sunny with a high of 93, low of 59. 20% rain chance; gusts: 20 mph. -Saturday: Big change: High of 84, low of 51.
Meet the Noon Optimist Club of Rome's students for the month of August:
They are, from left to right: Kyle Fleming, Floyd County College and Career Academy; Hannah Blanton. Coosa High; Casey Kean, Pepperell High; Megan Bardwell, Model High; Laura Thompson, Unity Christian School; Keri Lauren Strucher, Rome High; Lucas Jennings, Darlington; and Ben McWhorter, Armuchee High. The Noon Optimist Club of Rome meets on Mondays at 11:45 a.m. at the Three Rivers Club at State Mutual Stadium. The public is welcome. For more: noonoptimists@comcast.net
-Sept. 7/Floyd County Republican Women's meeting, 11:30 a.m. lunch, noon program, Red Lobster, Shorter Avenue. Speakers: Ralph Hudgens, insurance commissioner candidate, and Christian Coomer, candidate for state House 14.
-Sept. 23/Floyd County Republican Women set first debate for general election: It is set for 7 to 9 p.m. at the
Etowah Senior Citizens Center on Kingston Highway. Democratic and GOP candidates for four local races are invited:
County Commission Post 4; House districts 13 and 14; and Senate District 52.
-Latest local politics, results, profiles. Politics
Georgia Political & Policy Digest Daily Report. Click Ga. Politics
Study ranks GA road system among tops in U.S.
Ethics Commission caps donations by campaigns
Deal releases 30 years of tax returns, but Barnes wants more
Cancer a main issue for Barnes
Deal, Barnes among gubernatorial rivals in 20 states backing anti-immigration laws
Hodges appeals to Rotarians
Cagle courts support during Rome visit
Charges dropped for sick illegal immigrant
McKee: Deal running against Obama in gov. race and it's working
Athens: Tax reform will be question of balance
Downey's 'Get Schooled': Head of PAGE says Perdue's legacy will not be Race to the Top, but austerity cuts to education
Willard Ralston, father of House speaker, dies
Rep. Jim Marshall featured as poster child for Democrats' woes
'The Druck Report' local business update now WRGA: Local business news, updates and analysis can be heard each weekday at 7:40 a.m. and 12:40 p.m. on WRGA 1470 AM. The program delivers a different perspective on current and upcoming business reports found on Hometown Headlines each day. Retail, restaurants, residential and commercial real estate, banks and credit unions, healthcare, tourism, colleges, media and sports/business will anchor our reports. Please join us for The Druck Report.
-'Rome, Ga, Facebook Directory' at 2,400 members: The popular social media network has a booming group of users in Rome/Floyd County. Hometown Headlines has a Rome directory group open to all. Add your name: Rome, Ga., Facebook Directory
-Join Hometown Headlines' Linked In group: We're forming a network of local professionals and other colleagues interested in community topics. The group is open to all. Click Hometown
Click-through calendar/Your links to local events
Shorter sets 2010-11 School of Fine & Performing Arts events.Shorter
Now-Sept. 18/Rome photographer Paul O'Mara's The 2.8 Project photo collection at The Moon Gallery at Berry College. O'Mara will discuss the unique assortment beginning at 7 p.m. Aug. 30 at the gallery. Click
Earthworks Pottery is offering two fall classes, Adult Intermediate Wheel Throwing, taught by Janda Canalis and Kim Vasil, and Adult Beginning Wheel Throwing taught by Lisa Brown. Classes run for six weeks starting the week after Labor Day. Click here for more information or to sign up Earthworks
Sept. 3-4/Armuchee Bluegrass Festival. Ga. 140 in Armuchee. Details
Sept. 3-5/Rome Little Theatre's Peter Pan. Shows on Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for senior adults and students. Tickets
Sept. 4-5/21st Annual Running Water Powwow – Cherokee Homecoming and Ripe Corn Festival, Ridge Ferry Park. Admission: $ 7; children 12 and under and Seniors 65 and over, free. Hours: Saturday, Sept. 4, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday, Sept. 5, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Details
Sept. 4/Come to Chieftains Museum/Major Ridge Home for "Old Ways Demonstration Day" from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Come and see how things were done in the "Old Days" as skilled craftsmen demonstrate the old jobs and skills. Basketweaving, quilting, quilling, chair caning, old time pickin' and singin', weaving, spinning, old time gas engines. Special guest Robin Jumper of the Cherokee Nation will demonstrate Cherokee fingerweaving. Games and crafts for the kids. Adults-$5, senior citizens-$3 and students-$2. For information call 706 291-9494 or go to www.chieftainsmuseum.org
Sept. 4/Mountain Music Series at Red Top Mountain State Park from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Bring your instrument or just come listen. Open jam is from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m., open stage is 6-8 p.m. and bluegrass concerts are at 8 p.m. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and have fun with the whole family. $5 parking. (770) 975-0055.
Sept. 6/Barbecue time again: Labor Day means barbecue in Greater Rome courtesy of theSaint Mary's Knights of Columbus. This year's barbecue is from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Monday or until sold out (usually 12:30-1 p.m.) at the Rome Civic Center. Tickets are $8 per person. Proceeds are used by the Knights to help charitable causes in Rome/Floyd County. You can dine in or get it to go. The menu includes: a plate for $8; pound of pork, $8; pound of beef, $8.50; half chicken, $4; sandwich, $3; quart of Brunswick stew, $8; full rack of ribs, $16. A bake sale will be held in conjunction with the barbecue.
Sept. 7/Young Professionals of Rome meets at West Rome Baptist Church's The Warehouse (an XL ministry). $5 per person. Details
Sept. 7/The Special Council on Tax Reform and Fairness for Georgians will hold a fact finding session from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Forum Click
Sept. 7/Rome City Commission meeting, 6:30 p.m.Click
Sept. 7-9/The Georgia Department of Transportation is advising motorists in Floyd County of night road closures on the 1 Loop/Redmond Road at Elm Street in Rome, scheduled for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 7, 8 and 9. The Loop will be closed to traffic every night from 8 p.m. until 6 a.m., to accommodate work on the sewage system at that location. Traffic will be detoured off Redmond Road onto Elm Street. This utility operation and the road closures it necessitates are weather permitting and subject to change.
Sept. 9 open house to highlight adult education, family literacy week: The Language & Literacy Center, a cooperative program of Georgia Northwestern Technical College and the Rome-Floyd County Library, is hosting an Open House in celebration of National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week 2010. The drop-in Open House is from 11 a.m.- 2: p.m. The Center is located on the 2nd floor of the Rome-Floyd County Library.
Sept. 9/Former prosecutor J. Tom Morgan will speak to school administrators, teachers, law-enforcement personnel and parents on Thursday, Sept. 9 at 10 a.m. about teenagers and the law. The session will take place at the gym at Georgia Highlands College. He will repeat his presentation at the Forum in downtown Rome at 6 p.m. for the public. The event is sponsored by the Floyd County School System, and is free.
Sept. 10-11/Stress the 'international' in this year's Rome International Film Festival: The adjudication board for the Rome International Film Festival sent invitations to filmmakers over the weekend. More than 70 films were selected, including an impressive showing from China, Canada, Hong Kong, Israel, Italy, South Korea, Sweden, The Czech Republic, United Kingdom, Australia, The Netherlands, Germany and the United States. "I am again pleased with our international slate of films," said RIFF Executive Director Harry Musselwhite. "I am so happy that we were able to get the winner of the Producer's Guild of America short film competition that I attended recently in Hollywood, and many more exciting choices for our dedicated RIFF fans."
The festival takes place at the DeSoto Theatre and Heritage Hall in downtown Rome. Click RIFF
Sept. 11/Coosa Valley Federal Credit Union will host an Indoor Yard Sale from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. to benefit the Northwest Georgia Chapter of the American Red Cross. The Yard Sale will be rain or shine at the Coosa Valley Federal Credit Union Annex, 5 Redmond Court, directly behind the CVFCU main office. Yard Sale spaces will be rented to the public for a donation of $10. Any interested parties should call 706-235-8551 and ask to speak with Bethany.
Sept. 11/Class of 1975--all of them--reuniting on Sept. 11: Plans are under way for a reunion of all local classes of 1975 in September. 1975 graduates of Armuchee, Berry Academy, Cave Spring, Coosa, Darlington, East Rome, Model, Pepperell and West Rome High Schools are included. The reunion will be held on Saturday, Sept. 11, at the Rome Civic Center on Jackson Hill. The cost is $20 per person and includes dinner catered by Bella Roma Grille. Organizers plan to have a deejay playing music popular in 1975. Reservations are required. For more or to register, go to the e www.romefloydclassesof1975.com. There is also a link to a list of those attending. Registration is limited to members of 1975 classes and their guests/spouses until Sept. 1. On Sept. 1, registration will be opened to other classes from Rome-Floyd County Schools in the 1970s.
Sept. 11/The Rome Composite Squadron, local unit of the Civil Air Patrol, is hosting an open house from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. in the squadron headquarters located at Richard B. Russell Airport, 100 Russell Field Road. Click
Sept. 11/Georgia Northwestern Technical College's Second Annual Ultrasound Health 5K Run/Walk. The proceeds benefit the GNTC students in the Ultrasound program. Site: Georgia Highlands' Rome campus. The 5K Run begins at 8 a.m.; the Fun Walk at 8:30 a.m. Registration forms can be picked up at the GNTC front office and are also available at www.gntc.edu. Race numbers and T-shirts may be picked up on the day of the race. Details: Dawn Irwin at 706-295-6887.
Sept. 11/Household Hazardous Waste Day and Computer & Electronics Recycling Day. Call the Recycling Center at 706-291-5266 to schedule your appointment. This will be the last one until next year.
Sept. 12/Grand opening and dedication of
the Faith Center Warehouse-
Bagwell Food Pantry, 1:30 p.m., 207 E. 19th St.
Sept. 17/Coosa Alumni Homecoming 2010- All Alumni Reunion. Tailgating at 5 p.m. Kickoff at 7:30 p.m. Facebook page.
Sept. 18/Next Berry College Farmers Market set, 7 a.m.-2 p.m.
Sept. 18-19/Saint Mary's School sets Founders' Day
Homecoming, Alumni Weekend: Saint Mary's Catholic School turns 65 in September and will celebrate with homecoming/alumni weekend activities Sept. 18-19. It starts at 7 p.m. Saturday with an adult alumni reception for former students. Returning graduates will be able to leave their hand print on our alumni wall. Beginning at 1 p.m. Sunday, a homecoming and alumni picnic for past and present students and families will be held on the school grounds off Seventh Street. Included: Food, music and games. For more information or to RSVP, call the school at (706) 234-4953 or visit us on the Facebook page
Sept. 18/Rummage sale to benefit Free Clinic: Harbin Clinic employees, under the leadership of Amy Forston in the Vascular Clinic, are holding a huge Rummage Sale to benefit the Free Clinic of Rome and the Hospitality House Thrift Shop. The sale will be from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Harbin Specialty Center parking lot on Redmond Road. 100% of proceeds will benefit the Free Clinic and any remaining items will be donated to the Hospitality House Thrift Shop. Details, call the Free Clinic: 706-234-1331. Flyer
Sept. 18/Coosa Alumni Classes of 1981 and 1982 party from 3-6 p.m. at Floyd Wildlife Club. Families are invited. Facebook page.
Sept. 18/Roman Rumble 5K & 2 Mile Health Walk to be held at 8 a.m. at the Shoals area of Ridge Ferry Park. The 24th annual event is presented by the Rome Runners Club; it benefits the Rome and Floyd County Habitat for Humanity. Click
Sept. 18/19: Arts Festival at Rose Lawn tuning up: More than 85 artists have been selected for the 35th Annual Arts Festival at Rose Lawn to be held in Cartersville. The show takes place Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sunday, noon-5 p.m. on the lawn of historic Rose Lawn, home of evangelist Sam Jones. Admission is free. Details / Barefoot, Warren to judge Rose Lawn.Click
Sept. 23/The Northwest Georgia/Shorter University Job and Career Fair is at The Forum from 1 until 5 p.m. with more than 30 employers.Business.
Sept. 23/The Perimeter Flutes will perform at 7:30 p.m. in the Ford Auditorium. Perimeter Flutes was created in 2005 by members Jeanne Giager, Laura Philpott, Kathy Farmer, and Slava Prudchenko. They perform regularly in the Atlanta area. Their goal is to entertain and educate through concerts, recitals, public broadcasts, and recordings. Admission is free and open to the public. More information is available from the Berry College fine arts department at 706-236-2289.
Oct. 2/The Berry College Wind Ensemble will perform at 11 a.m. at Berry College’s Mountain Campus. The wind ensemble’s outdoor performance is always a crowd favorite at the annual Mountain Day festivities. Their performance will be a part of the birthday celebration of Berry College founder Martha Berry. Several thousand students, parents, alumni, and others from the Berry community attend the Mountain Day festivities.
Oct. 5/National Alliance of Mental Health will hold annual candle light service for mental illness awareness at 7 p.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church.
Oct. 10/Darlington School will host the Rome Triathlon Club’s 3rd Annual Navigator Sprint Triathlon at 1 p.m. Proceeds benefit Cancer Navigators. Details
Oct. 15-17/Darlington will host its annual Alumni Weekend celebration: The weekend will celebrate class years ending in 5 and 10. Darlington
Oct. 23/Inaugural Gran Fondo Rome to draw 500-plus cyclists: Starting from Bella Roma Grill, the event offers rides of 40, 60 and 100 miles throughout Northwest Georgia with proceeds benefiting the Magnolia Foundation. Details
Nov. 5-6/Chamber's Business Expo 2010 set for Nov. 5 (members), Nov. 6 (public). This year's theme: "Every day's a holiday when you ShopRome." Details
Nov. 14/Sixth Annual Rome Fine Wine Festival, benefitting the Rome Symphony Orchestra. Planned are more than 100 wines, food from area restaurants and a silent auction. the venue: The Ballrooms at The Forrest Hotel, Broad Street. $50 per person; $60 at the door. More details soon. RS
Area community service groups
Kiwanis Club meetings: Members meet Mondays from noon to1 p.m. Kiwanis.
Noon Optimists' meetings: The Noon Optimist Club of Rome meets on Mondays at 11:45 a.m. at the Three Rivers Club at State Mutual Stadium. The public is welcome. For more: noonoptimists@comcast.net
Seven Hills Rotary, noon Tuesdays, Coosa Country Club.
Rome Rotary, noon Thursdays, Coosa Country Club. Speakers:
Toastmasters meet twice a month: The Rome Toastmasters meet on the second and fourth Mondays of each month at 6 p.m. at the library. Web site E-mail
Rome Exchange Club: Meets at noon Friday, The Palladium.
Humane Society meets second Thursday of each month: The meetings begin at 7 p.m. at the office at 518 Broad St. Everyone is welcome. Also: The Humane Society needs volunteers. The all-volunteer staff has improved conditions for pets in our county for 15 years. Many opportunities exist. Please call 234-7979.
Corrections, typos, broken links: If you spot a fact error or typo, please let us know. And if links to any stories or advertisers don't work, please click Report
New since our free morning e-mail alerts (subscribe here)
-Latest state business updates from Georgia Trend.Ga. Business
-Georgia Political & Policy Digest's daily headlines.Ga. Politics
One of the more appealing retail slots on the market--the 33,056-square-foot former home of Circuit City--has a temporary client. 
-Norman Arey's Sports Roundtable.
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