Employment
Second Shorter Job Fair couldn't come at a better time
-Shorter University is bringing back a regional job fair for a second year, and the timing is critical. Unemployment rates remain in the double digits across Northwest Georgia (June stats) and with plant closings soon in Floyd (Pierre Foods) and Bartow (Mohawk), another 570 people most likely will be out of work.
-The Second Annual Northwest Georgia Shorter University Job Fair will be at The Forum from 1-5 p.m. Sept. 23. Expect around 75 employers who will be accepting applications and resumes. Attendees should be prepared to speak with employers, complete applications and turn in resumes.
-Certified resume writers will be available to give advice on resumes. Computers will be provided by the Georgia Department of Labor for job searching and completing applications. To save time at the entrance door, attendees are encouraged to pre-register and print a free ticket (click here).
-Employers interested in a free booth can register by clicking here.
-Look for the formal announcement at Tuesday's Business Before Hours at Shorter University. Click Chamber.
-Additional details: Rome Career Center at 706-295-6051.
-Federal extended unemployment insurance benefits are now being paid to 90,994 jobless Georgians, says Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond. Details
Business
-Bartow chamber's 2010 Business Showcase moves to new Brown Center: With the theme "Roll Out the Red Carpet for Business in Bartow," the Cartersville-Bartow County Chamber of Commerce's annual business showcase is set for 3-7 p.m. Oct. 28. This year, it moves to the just-about-finished Clarence Brown Conference Center across from the Georgia Highlands' Bartow campus. Early booth registration for members is $250 but rises to $300 after Sept. 4. Booths for prospective members are $400. Details: Chamber
-More Cartersville-Bartow chamber updates. Click
Health
-Latest updates from the Northwest Georgia Regional Cancer Coalition: Report outlines local screenings, upcoming health events. Click
Friday's Buzz
-Latest public health restaurant inspection scores now posted. Click
-GNTC hires Early Childhood Education Program instructor; Polk campus open house Aug. 4. GNTC
-Berry's Karr continues success on pro diamond. Click
-Shorter boasts six NAIA Scholar Team Award winners. Hawks
-Georgia Northwestern announces president's, dean's list. Click
For advertisers: Fall football package
-Join the Hometown Blitz fall football package. Pick your page and updates, or brand yourself with our Total Blitz package. Details: Advertising
Your latest forecast:
-Friday: High of 98, low of 69. 10% rain chance. Heat index of 102.
-Saturday: High of 97, low of 72. 40% rain chance. Heat index of 103.
-Sunday: High of 96, low of 73. 20% rain chance.
-Forecast: Click / Regional animated radar
Norman Arey's Sports Roundtable. Arey
-Which sports team do you hate the most? Which college coaches are over the hill?
Rome Braves. Click Sports
-Rome Braves hang on to win series opener in Asheville, 7-6.
-Braves play in Asheville tonight-Sunday.
-Mills Fitzner's latest home game photos. (Click)
The Atlanta paper says copies of the divorce proceedings have been mailed to media outlets in recent days. Smith finished second in the July 20 GOP primary for attorney general and faces first-place vote-getter Sam Olens in the Aug. 10 runoff. 
All-Star Pizza and Subs closes on Redmond Circle, returning as a bar: Last fall, Terry Wanzer opened All-Star in the new strip center off Redmond Circle with seven-day service and "New York-style brick ovens" to create pizzas and subs. Nine months later, the shop is vacant. But on Shorter Avenue, near Big Lots, All-Star Sports Bar went before the Alcohol Control Commission Monday, seeking a permit for beer and liquor. The applicant: Linda Wanzer. Terry Wanzer also had a pouring license for Stroker's Club on Shorter.
9/18-19/Saint Mary's School sets Founders' Day Homecoming, Alumni Weekend: 
Your weather -- or is that the misery index?: 
"We took a lot of hits at Paulding and Douglasville when we said we would have to close those campuses if the state forced more budget cuts last year," says Pierce, right. "But that didn't happen. We're doing OK and holding our own. We're continuing to move forward from an enrollment standpoint and increased revenue, so we are strategically positioning ourselves to grow."
-For more than a decade, Lumsden has helped enhance the largest public school system in our community, serving more than 10,000 students. Working with--and not micro-managing--able professionals such as Kelly Henson and now Lynn Plunkett and their staffs, Lumsden has helped craft a school system that is training all levels of students. As the vote count favored her opponent in Tuesday's primary, Lumsden quickly thanked the staff, faculty, parents and students of the Floyd County school system and congratulated Terry Williamson on his victory. That's another class act by someone who's focus has always been on the classroom. Her term expires in December.
Peak to the children's department of the Sara Hightower Regional Library System: Once again, our regional library system has dazzled thousands of area children with a solid summer of reading and entertainment. The "Make a Splash--Read!" touched kids in Floyd and Polk counties. It kept their minds active in a fun, even rewarding way while they enjoyed the summer as well. The summer reading program is an investment not only in our children's futures but our own as well. Congratulations on another job well done by our library system.
-A story earlier this month in the 
-Courtesy Finance getting close at Riverbend Center: The signage for the shop is now in place but work continues inside. It replaces SOHO Hero small/home office business center between Michael's and Panera Bread. 
Stained glass window at St. Mary's a tribute to its late pastor, Jim Miceli, and has a story of its own: 
supporters: From Post 4 commission hopeful Larry Maxey: "I want to thank all my supporters. Together, we brought to light the importance of running government like a business with common sense decisions. I encourage all of you to stay involved with our local government and to hold our county government accountable for their decisions, both good and bad. These are hard economic times and we need good leadership to get us through it. I congratulate Mr. Lumsden on his win. I wish Mr. Lumsden and Mr. Garrett good luck in November."
-Aug. 3/Business Before Hours, 8-9:30 a.m., sponsored by the Institute of Professional Development and Shorter University. Site: Austin Moses Room in the Sheffield-Thompson Building, 315 Shorter Ave. 
"We're very excited that we won the primary and will be representing the Republican party in November. It is very humbling and I'm very grateful for the support around the state and looking forward to becoming the next School Superintendent of Georgia. I absolutely have to start raising some money and I will be hitting the ground running with fund-raisers next week. I will also be keeping up my grassroots efforts… modern technology is wonderful and I will continue to use e-mail and Facebook to reach people. Right now, my campaign is regrouping and planning our strategy to distinguish ourselves from the Democratic opposition." (vs. Democrat Joe Martin)
-Post-primary update from Sen. Preston Smith, in a runoff for the GOP attorney general nomination: "We had a great night and did well considering that we didn't enter the race until late April. We had a lot of momentum statewide and I feel good about the run-off. We've got a lot of momentum and I hope to carry that forward and encourage people to get to polls. We are going to continue to get out to the people and share our message. Really just encourage people to vote because it is even more important now because turnout is usually very low for a run-off." (vs. Sam Olens)
-Unofficial final vote: Lumsden 3,311 (50.41%) to Larry Maxey's 3,257 (49.59%). That's a 54-vote margin. His primary race with aggressive Maxey came down to the absentee vote and then yet another technical issue at the elections office. This time, a troublesome optical scan machine.
-Teresa Lumsden congratulates Terry Williamson in School Board win. Said Lumsden, first elected in 1999: "Congratulations to Terry Williamson.... I hope he enjoys the wonderful folks in the Floyd County Schools as much as I have. Great teachers, wonderful parents, the best administrators and taxpayers who are willing to build schools. I wish him, the board and School System all the best! Thanks, Floyd County, for great memories. I look forward to what God has in store for me next."