West Rome plaza to get 'local' spin. Repairs begin on Rome's DeSoto. Saint Mary's celebrates 65 years with homecoming. Even more heat on the way

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Let the speculation begin on what Oswalt will do with Ozzie's Plaza:

-The closing of the West Rome Kroger five years ago triggered an endless run of possible rumors for the space and surrounding shopping center, including a comeback for the metro area's top-ranked grocer or other tenants. The plaza had been listed on Loopnet for several years with the latest price set at $1.7 million. Randolph Oswalt of Warehouse Beverage (JO-Rand LLC) is now the owner following a deal with United Community Bank. Oswalt plans to offer "a real local flavor," the rumor milll is at it again. Another grocer? Expanded liquor store? Large-scale indoor play center for kids? For more, click Business

Repair to begin today on fire-damage DeSoto Theatre: Look for the upcoming production of "Peter Pan" to be delayed as the venue might not be ready for the Aug. 13 premiere date. Rehearsals continue elsewhere while a church that also meets at the temporarily powerless theater has a temporary home. Click DeSoto

Aug. 21/CRBI's annual River Revelry set: The 2010 River Revelry--A Biodiversity Bash is set for 6:30-10:30 p.m. at Heritage Park at the confluence of the Etowah and Oostanaula rivers. The event will feature live music by Red Eye Jedi, beverages compliments of Eagle Rock Distributing and New Belgium Brewing Co., wine from Redwood Creek Wines,  the third annual barbecue battle for the "Best Barbecue in the Basin", the second annual Ducky Derby from Seven Hills Rotary Club, live and silent auctions, the Blue Sky Outfitter Recycled Raft Race and celebrity judges for the barbecue battle. Tickets are $40 each or $35 each for orders of two or more tickets through Aug. 20. All tickets will be $45 at the door. Click

9/18-19/Saint Mary's School sets Founders' Day Homecoming, Alumni Weekend: Saint Mary's Catholic School turns 65 in September and will celebrate with homecoming/alumni weekend activities Sept. 18-19. It starts at 7 p.m. Saturday with an adult alumni reception for former students. Returning graduates will be able to leave their hand print on our alumni wall. Beginning at 1 p.m. Sunday, a homecoming and alumni picnic for past and present students and families will be held on the school grounds off Seventh Street. Included: Food, music and games. For more information or to RSVP, call the school at (706) 234-4953 or visit us on the Facebook page

11-14/Sixth Annual Rome Fine Wine Festival, benefitting the Rome Symphony Orchestra. Planned are more than 100 wines, food from area restaurants and a silent auction. the venue: The Ballrooms at The Forrest Hotel, Broad Street. $50 per person; $60 at the door. More details soon. RS

Wednesday's Buzz:

-Rome Career Center reopens: The Georgia Department of Labor's Rome Career Center at 462 Riverside Parkway reopened at 7:30 a.m. after being temporarily closed because of damage caused by heavy rain Monday night.

-Aug. 11/Ga. Northwestern hosts seminar on workplace emergency preparedness, safety: Details

-Aug. 3/Floyd County Republican Women's meeting, 11:30 a.m. lunch, noon meeting, Red Lobster on Shorter Ave. Speakers: Amy Cramer and Jennifer Hulsey from the Tea Party Patriots. More politics

-The Coosa High School Engineering and Technology program has earned re-certification. Click

-Allen Gossett, Engineering and Technology instructor at Coosa High School, has been awarded the Golden Gavel Award. Click

For advertisers: Fall football package

-Join the Hometown Blitz fall football package. Pick your page and updates, or brand yourself with our Total Blitz package. Details: Advertising   

Your latest forecast:

-Wednesday: High of 94, low of 75.  30% rain chance. Heat index of 102.

-Thursday: High of 95, low of 72.  30% rain chance. Heat index of 104.

-Weekend preview: Even hotter. Upper 90s all weekend.

-Forecast: Click  / Regional animated radar

Norman Arey's Sports Roundtable. Arey 

-Hokies are underdogs to Boise; Masoli headed to Ole Miss? No worry for Longhorns.

Rome Braves. Click Sports

-Greenville blanks Rome in game 1, 4-0; Braves bounce back, win 8-1 in game two. 

-The Braves are off Wednesday; play in Asheville Thursday.

-Mills Fitzner's latest home game photos. (Click)