Signs of Christmas -- but not exactly as you remember. Two big stores missing as shopping season begins. Woman killed in motorcycle accident near Silver Creek. Latest on Polk County, other fires; drought continues.

For these and today's latest news, please see www.hometownheadlines.com:

Ware Mechanical forecast:

•  Less than a quarter of an inch of rain due Wednesday afternoon, early Thanksgiving. Weather

Today's other headlines: 

• Christmas suddenly popping up across Northwest Georgia -- but not quite the way we're used to seeing it. Christmas 
• Business: Two major players missing this year as Christmas shopping season begins. Business
• Deputy coroner: Woman driving a motorcycle loses control on Reeceburg Drive, dies at the scene. Fatality 
• Latest on the Polk County fires. Also: drought restrictions. Fires 
• Buzz: Lumsden named 'deputy whip' of state House. Advocates for Children adds ability to donate by text. Remote sites closing for Thanksgiving only.  Buzz 
• Remembering Mr. Robert Freeman Horsley, Mrs. Frances Roberson Knowles, Mr. Robert Jerry Overby, Mrs. Mary Lois Stover Willerson, William Gordon Yarbrough. Obituaries 
• Public Health restaurant inspection scores. Dining
• Area arrest reports brought to you by Dr. Miniyar's Pediatrics. Crimewatch

Also today:

• Christmas Headlines: Your guide to parades, concerts and more this season. Click Christmas
• Traffic: Georgia DOT, Google Maps or Waze. 
• State business headlines: Georgia Trend
  
• Northwest Georgia jobs: Career Builder
  

Chick-fil-A Dwarf House Sports Report 

• John McClellan's high school playoff picks:  Rome, Cartersville only local teams to survive this Friday.
• Updates on tickets for the Rome, Cartersville games.
• Georgia High School Football Daily.
  
• Local college basketball updates.
• Community: Weekly soccer update (with pictures). Also: Tennis updates. 
• Community: Run Off The Turkey 5K & Health Walk is Saturday.
• Georgia Tech football: At Georgia, Saturday at noon.
• UGA football:  At home vs. Georgia Tech, Saturday at noon.
• Norman Arey's Norman's No Nos: Rivalry weekend losers coming Friday.
• Atlanta Falcons:  Home Sunday vs. Cardinals, 1 p.m., Fox.

Hometown Headlines Radio Edition, 7-9 a.m., WRGA 98.7 FM. 

• Please join our guests including:
• 7:40 a.m.: Luke Chaffin and Linda Smith on the Rome Area Heritage Foundation's "Holiday Tour of Historic Houses of Worship" in Downtown Rome on Saturday, Dec. 3,from 3 to 6 p.m.
• 8:10 a.m.: Greg Jackson, APEX Direct Care and Chair of Small Business Action Council, on the chamber's Small Business Saturday kickoff this Saturday.
• 8:40 a.m.: Jim Andrews, director for Shaw's contact (commercial) division, on the grand opening of the new plant in Adairsville.