Fay's remnants on the way: 100% chance of rain today, Tuesday
>Flash flood watch in effect from 4 this afternoon until Tuesday evening
The remnants of Tropical Storm Fay were in Mississippi this morning and the storm has turned to make a run northeast through Alabama into Tennessee. Northwest Georgia will see substantial rain later today and Tuesday. A flash flood watch goes into effect at 4 this afternoon. We'll have updates all day. For now:
Today: Occasional showers and possibly a thunderstorm between now and 2 p.m., then occasional showers and thunderstorms. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. High near 80. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph. Chance of rain: 100 percent.
>Tonight: Occasional showers and thunderstorms before 2 a.m., then occasional showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 a.m. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Low around 72. Southeast wind around 10 mph. Chance of rain: 100 percent.
>Rainfall since since noon Sunday: 0.39 of an inch.
>Expanded details> WeatherCenter
This week's Buzz of Northwest Georgia
>Shorter football: Fourth (year) and goal to go
>Later this week: Updates on our football coverage plans
>Closer look at 'Armas auction.' Site has 150-plus pictures of what's for sale
>3-Dot Buzz: Business update pending; latest AJC rumor
>Peaks & Valleys: The highs and lows of Northwest Georgia
Also today:
>Gas prices call another dime per gallon (below)
>Fall semester under way today at Berry College> Berry
>Fall garden lecture series begins Thursday> Garden
>Latest regional public health restaurant inspection scores> Dining Guide
College Football Previews from Norman Arey
Norman Arey, Northwest Georgia's most experienced sports journalist, presents his annual series of college football previews now through Aug. 28. Starting Friday, Aug. 29, "Norman's No-Nos," Arey's weekly pick of football losers, returns>Arey
>Monday, SEC West, part II: Lots of questions in the SEC West including who'll be best, LSU or Auburn?
>Tuesday, Wednesday: SEC East
>Thursday: National Preview
>Friday, Aug. 28: First Norman's No-Nos of the season
Rome Braves-Sand Gnats split Sunday doubleheader> Sports
-Final home stand of the year starts Thursday
-Recent game photos from Mills Fitzner> Focus
Traffic
>The south leg of Old Rockmart Road, from Ga. 101 to the Polk County line, will be reduced to one lane from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 26, through Thursday, Aug. 28. There could be traffic delays in the work zones. Use Ga. 101 to avoid the construction area.
Blood drives
>Red Cross sets regional blood drives over next few weeks> Health
Downtown Headlines:
>What's ahead this pre-Labor Day week> Downtown Headlines rter Hawks football: Fourth (year) and goal to go
>Later this week: More football from Hometown Headlines
Photos courtesy of Shorter College
Shorter Hawks' linemen go through drills at a recent practice as they prepare for Thursday's season opener against Western Carolina on Thursday night. Hear the game live on The Ridge 95.7 FM or via Web cast on exterranet.com and linked from hometownheadlines.com.
By Natalie Simms/For Hometown Headlines
Some of the season-starting college football games this weekend feature major powers taking on smaller schools with barely a chance of repeating an Appalachian State-beats-Michigan upset.
The Shorter College Hawks start their fourth year with a "reverse" if you will--taking on a bigger school and doing it on the road -- and on Thursday night, not Saturday afternoon.
"Our first game is at Western Carolina, an NCAA Division I school, so it will be our first step in the big leagues," says Dawn Tolbert, Shorter College Director of Institutional Relations.
It is a season of big steps for the Hawks, including a definitive mention in the preseason NAIA Top 25 poll and serving as the host college of the first of at least two NAIA championship games (Dec. 20 at Barron Stadium and next year, too).
Although the Hawks' first home game will not be until Sept. 27 against Faulkner University, there is lots of anticipation on and off campus.
"We are extremely excited about the upcoming season and all the potential this year brings," said Assistant Coach Bill Peterson, Shorter athletic director. "We have five home games and lots of event planned. You can still buy season tickets and it's great family entertainment."
But some fans can't wait that long and are joining the road trip to Cullowhee, N.C., this week. Shorter has chartered a bus for booster club members and college staffers, leaving Rome at 1 p.m. and arriving at Western Carolina at 5 p.m. The return trip starts at 11 p.m.
Campus spirit also is on the rise, as well as male student enrollment, and officials give credit to football. "It (football) has definitely helped increase our enrollment some. Male enrollment is just slightly higher than female enrollment right now," said Tolbert. "It is very interesting considering Shorter College started as a female college."
CALL THEM GAME-DAY GOURMETS: The football season also is having an impact on the community. Local attendance at each game averages 5,000. With that number of folks in the downtown area for an event, local businesses are bound to see an impact.
"Anytime there is something that close to downtown, we do have an increase in our business," said Jefferson's Christina Clayton. "We do expect business to pick up on game days."
John Schroeder with Schroeder's New Deli said his shop benefits from all local events not just football. "Saturdays are always busy when there is something going on. We benefit from all the tennis tournaments, football games and festivals … it's all good for business," he said.
And for those who want to eat at the game, the Shorter Booster Club is working to partner with Outback Steakhouse for a tailgate event at every home game, says Elaine Abercrombie of Greene's Jewelers, a booster club member.
"We really work to raise money to better the program," Abercrombie said. "And this is our first year to have a full graduating class, so we want to do some special things for them this year."
ALREADY 'TRIPLE OT' FOR HAWKS: That special thing includes a brand-new packaging program for the team and the season.
"Our Team, Our Town, Our Time" is the theme of this year's season as it honors the first seniors who have played football all four years at Shorter.
For those who can't make the games, radio station 95.7 The Ridge will be carrying all of the Hawks games this year. You will want to tune in to Jim Bojo, "The Voice of Shorter Football," to hear all of the pre-game stats.
"One hour prior to kickoff, we will have the Coach Phil Jones Show, which is a 30-minute talk show about the previous week's game, followed by the pre-game show that will highlight the other teams in the conference," Bojo said. "We will also feature a five-minute player profile with a Shorter Football player hosted by Randy Bowen, followed by a segment on the team that Shorter is playing."
You also can tune into the game on the web at www.exterranet.com and find links with game previews on Hometown Headlines each week.
Shorter officials also are working this season on preparations for the NAIA National Football Championship game on Dec. 20 at Barron Stadium. A crowd of 7,500 to 10,000 is expected as well as a national television audience. Peterson is co-chairing the host committee with Rome attorney Bob Berry.
"We have lots of different areas that we are working on and have come a long way to get ready for the game," Peterson said. "We fully expect the student athletes to leave Rome and Floyd County feeling that they have been a part of something special."
Season ticket packages are available for $50 from the Shorter College Box Office.
'Armas auction' gets major spread in weekend mailer
If you have an afternoon to burn, check out the Four Seasons Auction Gallery listing that serves as a preview of the 309 E. Fourth Ave. auction of the Mario and Julie Armas estate. A full-color, four-page triple fold flyer was delivered to Rome area addresses last week with the Armas estate getting the back cover.
Even this Life magazine-sized page doesn't provide the depth of the preview available on the Four Seasons' Web site detailing the Sept. 13 auction ("11 a.m., rain or shine.").
On the Armas page, you'll find a link to at least 151 photos of the home and the antiques lining almost every open square inch. Grandfather clocks, buffets, art, chairs--the showcase includes it all.
As for Mario Armas: He remains in federal prison after being sentenced last December on charges of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana as well as money laundering. Details> U.S. Attorney's Office
Three-Dot Buzz ... :
Rumor of the week: Keep checking back this week for a surprising business announcement. The e-mail and phone have been busy for weeks with all sorts of speculation. We should be able to confirm a few things and shoot down the rest by midweek . . .
Is the AJC also on the market? There's a bizarre story on today's Fulton County Daily Report speculating about the fate of the AJC, especially in light of Cox's decision to sell most of the chain's smaller newspapers. We doubt a sale is pending at this time but we're also keeping a closer eye on the Web sites monitoring the news business. The reason: Once all the fall campaign ads and Christmas sales go away, the newspaper industry could be facing even tougher times . . . > AJC
Designated intelligence: We like the idea of the First Rome Beer Festival on Sept. 20 and like even more two forward-thinking moves on the part of the sponsor, the Rome Area Council for the Arts. What works: Offering $10 admission tickets for designated drivers (vs. $25 for those wishing to sample brew in five-ounce pilsners) and having Safe Ride America on hand to help those perhaps in need to get home safely . . .
Peaks & Valleys: The highs and lows of Northwest Georgia
Peak to Courtney Hizer as he sets his seventh record at landmark Bonneville speed week: 
Rome's Courtney Hizer owns his seventh record at the Bonneville Salt Flats speed competition as the 60th edition of the series sped through Utah. Hizer had an average speed of 254.135 miles to take the C/BFALT category. He was driving a 1987 Buick T-Coupe. Hizer already is a member of the group's prestigious 200 mph Club. Courtney and Villa Hizer have been regulars at Bonneville for 22 years. The speed week series is considered a classic in the racing world--and sounds like even more fun.
Valley to Jim O'Hara's exit from the Rome News: Talk about a fumble. How the newspaper let veteran Sports Editor Jim O'Hara get out the door is an error, especially with the start of football season. The big guy says he's tired and that it is time for a change after 30 years in the business. Jim will find a surprising number of options available, thanks in part to the generations of friends he's made while writing and editing sports in the region> O'Hara
Valley to the blizzard of campaign signs at the wrong spots: We fully support the use of hundreds of yard signs around our communities placed by the candidates and their campaign teams. But we draw the line when we see one plastered to the side of a fence of a graveyard. Sorry but the dead only vote in Chicago, not Rome.
Peak to the Rome Braves' Cody Johnson: There are few bright spots for the minor league team this year (no playoffs, no overall winning record) but No. 18 Cody Johnson has been a highlight reel. Sure, he's set a franchise strikeout record--but he's also hit more home runs than any of the nearly 200 players to wear Rome jerseys since 2003. Johnson has 24 dingers for the season with eight games to go.
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