Wednesday updates

Click www.hometownheadlines.com:

 

Business

Eagle Rock to merge Rome, Dalton distributorships -- but who goes where? Two years ago, Eagle Rock Distributing Co. bought Simpson Grocery, the local Anheuser-Busch distributor, and did the same with Dalton's A-B distributor in February. Now "available" signs are in front of both locations as Eagle Rock seeks to combine the two into one location. The current option, says Vice President Fred Millard, is to sell or lease one location and to consolidate in the remaining site. Rome's operations could go to Dalton or vice versa. Then, once the economy settles, Eagle Rock will look at what's the best final strategy for locating the combined operation, he says. At the time of the purchase, the Rome distributor had 75 employees and was moving two million cases  a year s in Northwest Georgia, controlling 60 percent of the market, a Business Chronicle story shows.

Downtown

There's a lot bubbling in downtown Rome, in addition to all the "for sale" signs now up. What we're hearing in the wake of Tuesday's real estate report:

-More property on the market? At least one more, if not two, pieces of Broad Street real estate could be in play soon. One would be a big surprise, given some recent pandering headlines (not appearing here), while others see it coming.

-Size matters in terms of smaller quarters: At least one business will relocate to a smaller shop in coming weeks if not months to make way for bigger things.

-Remember those Shorter rumors about a Broad Street move?: There are options still in consideration on The Hill but don't be surprised by perhaps a different choice (Example: Who saw the nursing school going to Riverbend Center?)

-For more on downtown real estate, click Downtown Headlines

State jobless rate soars to record 10.1% in June, an 'economic crisis'

We're days away from seeing the county-by-county stats but the state jobless rate is staggering enough. A record 10.1 percent of Georgia's labor force was idle last month, up from 9.6 percent in May. Says Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond's release: "Georgia is in the midst of a deepening economic crisis."

- 483,394 unemployed Georgians were looking for work, an increase of 65 percent from June 2008. Of that number, 160,249, or 33 percent, are receiving state unemployment insurance benefits while 93,000 are getting federal extended benefits. 
-In June 2008, the unemployment rate was 6.1 percent.

-Biggest losers: The number of payroll jobs in June decreased 209,500, or 5.1 percent, from June 2008. The over-the-year losses came in professional and business services, including temporary employment agencies, manufacturing, trade, transportation and warehousing, and in the construction industry.
-Biggest gainers: Healthcare and educational services, up 12,000 jobs.
-Says Thurmond, right: "Georgia leaders should develop a bipartisan recovery plan that focuses on three critical elements: protecting vulnerable citizens, including children, the elderly, and the sick; preserving our health, safety, and educational institutions; and encouraging economic development investments that promote job creation and future prosperity."

Health

Latest sign(s) of downtown Rome cancer center? WRGA 1470 AM first reported this clue Tuesday. At June's Board of Adjustments (zoning) meeting, members voted 5-0 to reduce landscaping provisions for a "proposed project (that) would add a medical clinic/office building to the southwest portion of the property." The site front North Second Avenue, near the old bank building, which continually is identified in conversations as the site of the cancer center. It adds to some raised eyebrows about $20 million Floyd Healthcare wants for future development, perhaps something due for next year.  Click Background; see item no. 4.

-Desmond joins faculty of Floyd Family Medicine Residency Program> FMC

Education

All Rome,  Floyd schools make AYP:  The Department of Education's 2009 Adequate Yearly Progress Report is all As for city, county schools> AYP

-For Floyd County schools, click Floyd

-For Rome city schools, click Rome

-Annual Brown Bag Luncheon set for July 31: (Media release) The Brown Bag Luncheon, an annual event hosted by Northwest Georgia Credit Union for new educators and their administration, will be held on Friday, July 31, at 11:30 a.m. at Coosa Country Club. This is the fifth year that Northwest Georgia has hosted the luncheon, which is designed to honor, celebrate, and inspire teachers who are new to Floyd County Schools, Rome City Schools, Darlington School, Unity Christian School, Saint Mary's Catholic School, Berry Elementary School, and Berry Middle School. Northwest Georgia RESA's Executive Director, Dexter Mills, is the event's keynote speaker. The upcoming event has already drawn community-wide support from many local organizations, such as Redmond Regional Medical Center, Berry College, Shorter College, Christie's Office Supply, Georgia Northwestern Technical College, Starbucks, Sincerely Yours, The Forrest Interior Designs, Honey Baked Ham, Buffalo's Café, and others.

-'Be Green' thinks trees in two new episodes including a home run of an idea: The Library Channel series features the Rome Braves' Romey with hosts Susan Cooley and Mary Hardin Thornton as well as this pitch: the Braves planting a tree for each home run hit this season> Be Green

Politics

Gingrey to Pelosi--where are the jobs? U.S. Rep. Phil Gingrey spoke on the House floor Tuesday, questioning Speaker Nancy Pelosi about the success of the Economic Stimulus bill given the June unemployment statistics which revealed a 25-year high 9.5 percent jobless rate. Watch it on YouTube.

Downtown Headlines:

-What's ahead in downtown Rome including a quick look at all the properties on the market.

Weather

-Wednesday: High of 92, low of 72. 20% rain chance.

-Thursday: 50% chance of rain, high of 89; low of 70; 30% chance of rain.

-Your extended forecast> Weather / Local radar > Radar

Norman Arey's Sports Roundtable

-Be sure to clip this story to use later: Urban Meyer isn't going to Notre Dame  --- ever

Rome Braves' updates:

Photo by Mills Fitzner/For more on the Braves' game, click Gallery

You make the call: The Rome Braves had another close call at home Tuesday night as second baseman Yoel Campusano slid into home plate. The Braves won, 3-2. But was Campusano safe?  Click Gallery to find out.

-Braves get the W, win 3-2 over Grasshoppers.

-Today: Rome vs. Greensboro; 1 p.m. game

-Latest Braves' photo gallery by Mills Fitzner> Gallery

Braves honor the late John Henry Moss, longtime league president: Moss died July 1 at age 90. Look for the JMH patches on the Braves' uniforms> NYT

Shorter Hawks' A.J. Cooley named to NAIA football's 'Super Six'> Hawks