Monday update from www.hometownheadlines.com

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20% chance of rain, snow / Weather Center by Roman Court

-M.L.King Day: A 20% chance of snow showers before 1pm, then a slight chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 46.
-Tonight: A 20% chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 30. North wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
-Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 38. Gusts to 25 mph.
-Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 20. Winds of 5 to 10 mph.

-Extended forecast: Please click WeatherCenter

Freedom march today highlights King weekend celebration: Monday will begin with the annual Freedom March. We ask participants to assemble at 11:00 am at the corner of Broad and 1st. The march will begin at 11:30am and proceed to the Rome City Auditorium where the noon Martin Luther King Celebration will be held. The speaker for the program will be Reverend Joseph Stafford Rowser, Jr. The weekend will culminate with a free lunch at the Rome Civic Center following the noon celebration program.

Get a preview of Rome's State of the City report

 

The above image from the State of the City report shows the planned Town Green project. That's the new parking deck on the left and pedestrian bridge in the upper right corner. You can view the slide show associated with Rome City Manager John Bennett's State of the City report by clicking this link. The slide show is included in the City Commission budget package posted on the city's Web site (6:30 p.m. Tuesday). The 32-page report will take a few minutes to load even on computers with cable or T-1 lines. In it, you'll find updates on:

-Budget updates including the forecast $300,000 short fall.

-Grim building permit reports: "New building permits in the city went from 89 to 57, a 37% reduction and much less than the peak in 2005 of 216. Single family alone went from 51 to 35 and had a peak in 2005 of 129."

-Traffic: Accidents were down 8.6% ; traffic injuries were down 4.3%; and there were no fatalities (vs. 7 in 2006 and 8 in 2007). Also: DUI arrests were up 9.1% and speeding was up 2.8%.

-Updates on completed projects (the pedestrian bridge) and those pending (above). Included: the Treehouse for Rome, eco center, renovations at City Hall and pending deal for the GE property.

-Highlights of the upcoming 175th anniversary of the city of Rome.

>For a preview, please click State of the City

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