Friday updates from www.hometownheadlines.com

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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 later today.

-Oostanaula climbs to 14.89 feet at 5:45 a.m..> River

-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

-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

-Curves on target for Jan. 2 opening:  Wayne and Kathy Yarbrough, the new owners of Curves fitness center, say the move to 300 Glenn Milner is on for two weeks from today, Jan. 2.  Hours:  Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-7 p.m. and Saturdays, 8 a.m. until noon. Grand opening: Jan. 10. Details: 706-378-7555.

-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.

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

-Updates from Thursday's Downtown Development Authority meeting> DH

-First-time jobless claims soar in November vs. November 2007> Jobs

-Dow down 209 points Thursday; track today's markets.> Google Finance

-Blood drives scheduled by Red Cross, Blood Assurance: There are plenty of opportunities to donate blood now through January. For more, click Blood

-New/Watch the Be Green series on YouTube. Click Mobile

-Tonight's MegaMillions jackpot: $207 million> Lotto

Floyd/Toys for Tots collection day today: Floyd is hosting a community collection today for the Toys for Tots campaign. Floyd paramedics and EMTs will be at the Floyd Corporate Support Center from 4 until 6 p.m. to collect toy and monetary donations. All donated toys will be collected by the Marine Corps to help fulfill children's wishes this holiday season. Also, Floyd paramedics and technicians are collecting toys to help with the campaign. Donation boxes are at:

• Floyd Medical Center's Main Entrance lobby

• Floyd Corporate Support Center, Suite 102

• Floyd Center for Women's Health, 304 Shorter Ave., Entrance 3

• Floyd EMS Headquarters, 1207 Martha Berry Blvd.

Downtown Headlines

-Latest updates from the Downtown Development Authority; what's ahead this weekend> Downtown

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

>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.