Hometown Mobile: Retiring Sheriff Tim Burkhalter proudest of 'strong community relationships.' COVID: Hospitals near capacity; 55 new cases here Sunday. Voting: Today is the last day to register; absentees already in the mail. John McClellan's playoff picks.

Today's first headlines:

As Sheriff Tim Burkhalter retires after a 34-year career with Floyd County Sheriff's Office, he says his biggest accomplishment has been 'building strong community relationships.'
Health: In Northwest Georgia and across the state, hospitals are nearing capacity as coronavirus cases surge.
55 new cases reported Sunday in Northwest Georgia: 20 in Floyd, 30 in Bartow. Changes at free test sites begin Monday.
Voting: Absentee ballots being received -- and returned -- in Floyd County. How to check your status. Today is the final day for new or lapsed voters to register for Jan. 5 primary.
Rant: 793 reasons Northwest Georgia needs to take those hard steps now or face a deadly winter.

Also today:

Ware Mechanical Weather Center: Another chilly week ahead but at least under sunny skies. Today's high: 50.
Obituaries: Mr. Charles Leon Caldwell Jr., Mr. Kenny Casey, Stephen Ray Johnson, Marta Maria Ouseley Turner.
Dining: Public Health restaurant inspection scores, Tuesday-Saturday.
Crimewatch: Updates on area arrests.

Truett's Chick-Fil-A Sports Report:

John McClellan's high school playoff picks: Rough Friday ahead for remaining Northwest Georgia playoff teams. McClellan
A NW Georgia first? Rome alum Knox Kadum makes his debut for Virginia Tech. Across the field: Cartersville's Trevor Lawrence and the Clemson Tigers. Kadum

Colleges:

Shorter posts five-game spring football schedule.
No change in the top five: Alabama is no. 1 followed by Notre Dame, Ohio State, Clemson and Texas A & M. Georgia drops to no. 12.
Georgia Tech vs. Pitt, Thursday at 7 p.m. Georgia Tech.
Georgia: At Missouri, noon, SEC Network. Georgia
Alabama: At Arkansas, noon, ESPN. Alabama.
Other SEC game times, networks on Saturday.

Falcons

Monday, December 7, 2020