Tuesday updates

Click www.hometownheadlines.com:

Significant restaurant 'rumor' circulating: We've got more calls out today to follow up two reports of a major restaurant closing in Northwest Georgia. This one came out of the blue. We'll have updates soon.

Speakers list grows at Saturday's Fifth Annual Republican Rally: The event, set for 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Earl Tillman's Hangar at Richard B. Russell Airport/Towers Field, is scheduled to feature speakers: U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson; U.S. Rep. Phil Gingrey; Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle; and Republican candidates for governor (confirmed so far on Nathan Deal's Web site), as well as other state and local candidates. Tickets for the barbecue plate at $10 per person or $25 per family. Details: Floyd GOP

-More politics: Meetings for a third Rome 'tea party' under way.

Open house on Ga. 140 widening has immediate and big-picture impact: You can appreciate the Greater Rome Chamber's urging of area residents to "drop in" at Thursday's public hearing/open house to discuss DOT's plans for the widening Ga. 140 in Floyd and Bartow counties (4 until 7 p.m., the Jackson House, 203 N. Main St., Adairsville). Why is the road so critical? As stated on today's Druck Report (WRGA 1470 AM, 7:45 a.m.; 12:50 p.m., second item or Click here to listen):

-A four-laned Ga. 140 makes the proposed new industrial parks a much easier commute to, from I-75 in Adairsville--and much more attractive to industry.

-It also eases the path to Martha Berry Highway, Russell Airport (much-discussed site of potential new employer), Berry College and Chattooga County> Details

Number of the day: 28,000. That's the estimate on the North Georgians who have Alzheimer's disease, the "first epidemic of the 21st Century." And that's why hundreds are expected to take part in the Saturday, Sept. 19, Memory Walk set for Berry College. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. with the walk beginning at 9:30 a.m. For expanded details, click Memory Walk

New auxiliary bishop of Atlanta has ties to Rome, St. Mary's:  Pope Benedict XVI has named Monsignor Luis Rafael Zarama, 50, vicar general of the Archdiocese of Atlanta, as auxiliary bishop of Atlanta. Bishop-Elect Zarama has a close connection to St. Mary's Catholic Church here in Rome, says Deacon Stuart Neslin, Parish Administrator at St. Mary's. During the past year, the then-Msgr. Zarama would come to Rome on a monthly basis to celebrate the Sunday 1 p.m. Mass in Spanish and to participate in the various activities of the St. Mary's Hispanic Community. "He is a fine priest," Deacon Neslin says, "very knowledgeable in Canon Law and the Liturgy of the Church, and wonderful with parishioners. . . we are very blessed to have a man of his calibre as auxiliary bishop." For more on his new duties, please click Bishop

Tuesday's Buzz:

-Berry earns provisional membership in NCAA Division III: Berry College has been approved for provisional membership in NCAA Division III by the NCAA Management Council, beginning this season> Campus Headlines

-Chamber making 'Shop Rome' campaign a year-round effort: Media conference Monday outlines goals of expanded campaign supporting local business, sales, jobs. The campaign comes as the Sales Tax Holiday begins> Business

-DOT suspends road work to help Sales Tax Holiday shoppers: Road projects will be idle from 9 a.m. Friday until 9 p.m. Sunday.

-U.S. Rep. Phil Gingrey's op-ed piece on the healthcare debate now posted on last edition of Politico. Click Gingrey

-Citizens First's Taylor new regional credit/risk manager for Synovus> Biz

Join us for 'The Druck Report' local business update on WRGA: Local business news, updates and analysis each weekday at 7:45 a.m. and 12:50 p.m. on WRGA 1470 AM. Listen to a sample by click TDR

Downtown Headlines:

-Tillman race, Rome's 175th anniversary party, First Friday(s), film festival, beer festival just part of a busy few weeks ahead for downtown Rome.

Weather: Wet Tuesday ahead (check Intellicast radar below)

-Tuesday: High of 88, low of 71. Rain chance: 80 percent.

-Wednesday: High of 85, low of 70. Rain chance:  60, then 30 percent.

-Your extended forecast> Weather / Local radar > Radar