Wednesday's updates

Click www.hometownheadlines.com:

 

$30 million in expansion planned at Georgia Northwestern campuses: Work is expected to begin this fall on Georgia Northwestern Technical College's new 46,000-square-foot addition to its Gordon County Campus. The $9.6 million building will provide much needed classroom space for several programs. School officials also are working on construction plans for a new campus in Catoosa County. GNTC already has received $3 million for the planning and development of the project. McDaniel made a capital outlay presentation in Atlanta on July 22 for an additional $16.9 million to construct the facility> Campus Headlines

Bartow's Toyo Tire expansion largest 'Top 10' investment in fiscal 2009: The Georgia Department of Economic Development's 2009 fiscal report includes a "top projects" list that shows Toyo Tire's $270 million expansion in White was the largest overall. The project creates 400 jobs. "Despite the uncertainty of our country's business environment, we landed a record number of new projects, keeping Georgia the economic engine of the South and setting up our state to be a leader in the recovery,"said Gov. Sonny Perdue. The department assisted companies with 327 locations or expansions in fiscal 2009, up from 321 last year. The number of qualified business leads increased 1.2 percent. Also, the International Trade division assisted 725 Georgia companies and helped close 219 deals in 42 countries. The number of trade deals increased more than 30 percent, and the dollar amount improved almost 67 percent, to $29.1 million. For more, click Economic Development 

Fuddruckers going mobile thanks to portable kitchen: The owner of the Fuddruckers' restaurants in Rome and Cartersville has a souped-up, self-contained mobile kitchen that can custom cater any part of the restaurant's menu or provide food and drink at regional events> Dining Guide

What's next for Chef Derek Morgan as restaurant closing looms:

Just click to the history and chef sections of  D Morgan's Web site and you get part of the story on the man behind one of the region's premiere restaurants. With Derek Morgan's closing of his namesake restaurant later this week, the e-mails shuffling among local foodies are mostly concerning "what's next?" For almost two years, there's been talk of Morgan and his wife, Meredith, opening Grace Bistro in Rome City Market on Broad. Abbie at D Morgan's says a September opening is still planned. And yet City Market has stopped and started more times than an old lawn mower. Some special events are possible at D Morgan's now through year's end, says Abbie, and a return with a different dining concept could happen as well. Our guess is we haven't tasted the last of Derek Morgan's creations in Northwest Georgia.

-Changing restaurant scene in downtown Cartersville: Even with City Cellar and Schroeder's now open, Cartersville has seen some exits, too. Among them: Moon River, Abrama, Zydeco, M'Vroneen's, Flavor, San Antonio Burrito.

1.55 inches of rain since 1 p.m. Tuesday; more to come> Weather

Wednesday's Buzz:

-Hardy named Redmond Regional's patient access ER supervisor> Health

-Peller outlines Harbin's clinical research for state leaders> Health

-Rome author Atkins to sign books at Barnes & Noble Saturday: Author Raymond L. Atkins will be at Barnes & Noble at Riverbend Center from 1-3 p.m. Saturday signing copies of his new novel, Sorrow Wood, as well as copies of his award-winning first novel, The Front Porch Prophet> Click

-Oak Hill's Movies on the Meadow will conclude Friday Aug. 14: The classic James Dean feature, "Rebel Without a Cause"  will close the summer series. Gates open at 8 p.m.; the movie gets under way at 9. Admission is $10 per car, and concessions will be provided. No alcoholic beverages or pets.  Rain date: Aug. 15.

Join us for 'The Druck Report' local business update at 7:45 a.m. and 12:50 p.m. weekdays on WRGA 1470 AM. Listen to a recent sample> Click

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

-Wednesday: High of 86, low of 70. Rain chance: 60%, then 50%
-Thursday: High of 87, low of 72. Rain chance: 60%, then 70%

-Your extended forecast> Weather / Local radar > Radar

Norman Arey's Sports Roundtable

-Michael Vick fans truly have lost their minds. He ain't the Second Coming

Rome Braves' updates:

-Braves rally for 4-1 win over Intimidators.

-Today: Braves at Kannapolis, 11:05 a.m.; home vs. Asheville Thursday,

-Latest Braves' photos by Mills Fitzner> Gallery

Cartersville, Cedartown profiles in latest Football Daily: Purple Hurricanes picked to finish second in their division> Football Daily