Hometown Mobile: Wednesday's updates

Healthcare

Gingrey starts series of healthcare meetings; security a consideration: Most likely as you're reading this today, U.S. Rep. Phil Gingrey is addressing the healthcare reform debate before several hundred people in Gainesville's Civic Center about 75 miles to our east. With him is Gainesville's congressman, Nathan Deal, also a Republican candidate to be Georgia's next governor.

-Gingrey goes solo on Thursday in Rome, from 3 to 4:30 p.m., as he holds a healthcare reform town meeting at the Rome Civic Center. Next up:

-Aug. 23: Cedartown: 2 to 3:30 p.m., in the commissioners' room of the Georgia State Patrol in Cedartown.

-Aug. 25: Summerville, 12:30-2 p.m., Chattooga County Library.

-Aug. 25: Cartersville, 3-4:30 p.m., Bartow Senior Center, 102 Zena Drive.

-About the meetings: As some healthcare meetings have gotten almost hostile, extra precautions are being taken. Asked about security, Gingrey's district manager, Janet Byington, said, "Congressman Gingrey is looking forward to hosting several town hall meetings, and always looks forward to getting around the 11th district and meeting with his constituents. These events have proven to be a valuable forum for a meaningful exchange between the congressman and those who attend, and have never gotten out of order. Similarly, that is the expectation for these town hall meetings. However, as a precaution only, there will be some security at the events but again, we do not expect any incidents."

-Gingrey talks healthcare, cash for clunkers at auto dealership> Marietta

-Track updates from this morning's Gainesville town hall> The Times

Business

-HON shifting some N. Carolina work to Cedartown: HON Inc. plans to shift some of the work performed at the Louisburg, N.C., plant to Cedartown and other areas now that the decision to close Louisburg has been made. The closing will idle 93 works, according the Triade Business Journal.

-Greater Rome Chamber says 'thanks' 800-plus times today: Volunteers and staff from the Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce launch "Operation Thank You" at 8:30 this morning in the chamber boardroom. Crews will be distributing gifts to chamber members in appreciation of their membership and commitment in Rome. More than 800 packets will be delivered> Chamber

-State revenue collections drop another 9.6%: Net revenue collections for the month of July came in at $1,096,238,000 vs. $1,213,291,000 for July 2008, a drop of $117,053,000 or 9.6 percent, according to Gov. Sonny Perdue's office. The period included the first two days of the 2009 Sales Tax Holiday on school-related purchases. In 2008, one day of tax-free sales fell in July. For a detailed look at the July numbers, please click Revenue

Health

-Redmond, Cartersville, Polk medical centers seek breast cancer survivors' stories: Breast cancer survivors are invited to share their stories of survival and hope in the seventh annual Surviving to Share contest> Health

Education:

-Meet Darlington's new staff for 2009-10 school year> Tigers

-Also: Darlington coaching/sports updates> Click

-Shorter promotes Tolbert to vice president/public relations> Campus

-Shorter Hawks ranked 11th in preseason poll: The Shorter College football team will begin the regular season as the No. 11 team in the nation. This comes according to the NAIA Football Top 25 Preseason Coaches' Poll> Hawks

Tuesday night's MegaMillion numbers: No winner so Friday's jackpot jumps to $146 million. Your odds: 1 in 176 million>Georgia Lottery