Friday updates from www.hometownheadlines.com

Here's the latest from www.hometownheadlines.com:

WeatherCenter: Friday: Partly sunny, high near 64. Gusts to 15 mph.

 

This morning's headlines:

-Fate of Mount Berry Square? 'Mall is open!' Let the rumors end.

-Dubious distinction:  Georgia just two ticks away from jobless percentage record (8.3%, we're at 8.1%)

-Bank: Losses for Synovus (Citizens First); SunTrust; United Community report due today

-Berry/Shorter games are nail-biters; winners are Boys & Girls Clubs, colleges

-Health: Big endorsement for buck-a-pack cigarette tax; honors for two public health workers 

-Restaurants: Huge number of updates on public health inspections in Bartow (even jail does well)

 

Chamber annual meeting:

-Overall tone: 'A crisis is a terrible opportunity to waste'

-New chair Newby: Education, retirement hub push among goals

-Greater Rome Bank's Chumbler named Ambassador of the Year

-R.L. Jennings picked as Small Business of the Year

-McNiece selected as Wesley Johnson Leadership Award winner

-Keynoter Kathy Cox: Math, 'achievement gap' education targets

 

Downtown Headlines: Busy Saturday, Sunday, Monday at The Forum; downtown entertainment updates

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

Bo Jackson knows football, Bo Jackson knows baseball. But does Bo know cooking?

 

On our other sites today:

-Business: State's jobless rate jumps to 8.1%; local stats next week

-Campus Headlines: Latest edition of Virtually Shorter posted

-Health: Two health department employees win state honors

-Healthy Living: Polar Bear Paddle Jan. 24; Berry Half Marathon March 7

-Jobs: Looking for a job? Try careerbuilder.com

-Politics: Floyd County Republicans set precinct mass meeting, convention

-Dixon & Clemons: Political columnists Graham Dixon and Dr. Adam Clemons begin a three-part look at the 2010 campaigns

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

-Hometown Kids: Busy spring ahead for kids at Booth

-Dining: Latest updates from area restaurants; new regional winery links

-Arts: RACA launching expanded arts classes beginning in February

-Looking for a pet? Check the Rome-Floyd County Humane Society: To see who's available for adoption, click Hometown Mobile

-NW Georgia Ads: Paper Recovery & Greene's Jewelers

-Plus: Your link to Coosa Valley Classifieds (all free)