Wednesday updates

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AJC on $6.3 billion in TARP funds sent to state banks, including River City: The story looks at the Troubled Asset Relief Program funds funneled to Georgia and whether any of the funds have been repaid to the federal government so far. The AJC quotes some state bankers as "saying they'd have survived without the money but applied for the funds as an insurance policy of sorts to weather the severe recession. Some recipients say the additional money has allowed them to maintain and even boost lending in their communities, despite the downturn" In Rome-based River City Bank's case, $8.7 million in TARP funds were approved for RCB Financial, the bank's holding company. River City also has a bank in Carrollton. Overall, RCB received the 10th largest allotment among state banks. Other banks doing business in Northwest Georgia that received TARP funds include:

-SunTrust Banks, $4.85 billion.

-Synovus (Citizens First, Georgia Bank & Trust): $968 million.

-United Community Banks: $180 million

-SouthCrest Financial (First National, Polk County): $12.9 million.

-CBB Bancorp (Century Bank of  Georgia) $2.6 million.

-For more on the story, please click > TARP

General manager sought for Mount Berry Square: The company that has assumed operations of Mount Berry Square for most of the past year is advertising for a general manager. The position is posted on the corporate Web site of Jones Lang LaSalle. The company was named receiver of Mount Berry and three other malls (click) in January; all four are on the market today . Lori Wilcoxon, who currently is Mount Berry's general manager, is relocating with a new company in Alabama after she directs the start of the Christmas shopping season. (Loopnet).

Weather: 70% chance of rain today; .64 of an inch overnight> Forecast

500 doses of swine flu vaccine for healthy kids, ages 2-4, Thursday: Some 3, 500 does are being spread through the 10-county region including 600 for Bartow and 300 each for Gordon and Polk counties > Health

-More about swine flu: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has an excellent Web site filled with updates, tracking cases, etc. Click CDC

Wednesday's Buzz:

-Huge fall enrollment for Georgia Northwestern: Preliminary numbers show an enrollment of 6,072 students at Georgia Northwestern Technical College> CH

-GBI: 8 charged in alleged vehicle theft ring, including former officers> Polk

-Fair update for today:  The Coosa Valley Fair's 'school's out special' is as follows for Wednesday, Oct. 7: 1-3 p.m., free admission for all students plus $16 arm bands valid until 6 p.m. (arm bands must be sold between 1-3 p.m.)> Fair 

-Library's Storytime resumes Oct. 13: Storytime will begin on Tuesday at the Rome Floyd County Library for children aged 18 months through 5 years old> Kids

MegaMillions: No winner Tuesday; Friday's jackpot: $145 million: Tuesday's numbers: 9-33-51-53-56 and MegaBall 39> Ga Lottery

-Rome woman wins $400,000 instant jackpot: Lisa Churchwell Chastain, 38, played Fast Play and won a $400,000 prize> Click

Notes: Natalie Simms will be on the news desk most of the morning. Natalie has access to all our e-mail addresses.
-Also, Thursday's and Friday's e-mail alerts will be sent a bit later because of fall break schedules.

Your latest forecast:

-Wednesday: High of 76, low of 49. Rain chance: 70%
-Thursday: Sunny with a high of 83, low of 64. Rain chance: 20%

-Rivers: Oostanaula / Etowah-Rome / Etowah-Cartersville

-Latest weather: Extended forecast /  Local radar / Regional radar

Norman Arey's Sports Roundtable:
-Hey, Dawg Nation! It's time to move on now about the celebration penalty vs. LSU >Arey

John McClellan's weekly picks/Football Report:
-Big rebounds for Rome High, Pepperell High.
-Calhoun to stay perfect after showdown with undefeated Chattooga.
-Surging Darlington faces reality check with Bremen.
-Coosa, Rockmart in key 7-AA throwdown; Yellow Jackets win by 6.

Georgia High School Football Daily updates> Click

Rome Braves/baseball updates> Click
-Upcoming events at State Mutual Stadium. Did someone say wing ding?

Downtown Headlines: (Click)

-What's ahead in downtown Rome: Final classic cruise-in of the season.