Deal-Handel: Votes to count but Deal 'confident.' Preston Smith loses attorney general bid. Coomer wins GOP nod for District 14 House. Business updates.

Please click www.hometownheadlines.com:

 

Primary runoff aftermath:

-Governor: It's Roy Barnes vs. . . . ? As of this morning, there's still no official word on the winner of the GOP gubernatorial runoff: Nathan Deal or Karen Handel. With nearly a 2,500-vote lead, Deal spokesman Brian Robinson says: "We're confident the margin of victory is large enough to ensure that Nathan Deal will be the Republican nominee to be the governor of Georgia."

-Christian Coomer wins House District 14 GOP nomination, beats Shep Helton 2,368- 2,237 (51.4-48.6%) Floyd vote powers Coomer as he draws 59 percent of the Floyd vote (869 to 608) while Helton carries Bartow County, 1,629 to 1,499. Next up: Democrat Dan Ledford vs. Coomer in the Nov. 2 general election.

-Preston Smith loses attorney general runoff to Sam Olens by a 59-41% margin. Says the four-term state Senator on his Facebook page: "Heartfelt appreciation for the support I received from so many. I had a great campaign team and we all gave it all we had. I'm proud of the campaign we ran and I'm humbled by the love and encouragement I got from so many who stood with me to promote a conservative vision for Georgia. Congratulations to Sam Olens on his successful bid to be the Republican nominee. I wish him success in the fall and look forward to helping him win."

-Breakdown of statewide results. Click

-Complete results from Floyd County: Click

-A breakdown of how Floyd voted in the runoff. Politics

-Next: Floyd GOP at airport 8/14; Democrats in Atlanta 8/12. Politics

Business Buzz:

DeSoto Beauty Shoppe, Steakhouse II almost ready; El Pueblito open

-The DeSoto Beauty Shoppe is coming to 311 Broad St. According to the Rome Downtown Development Authority, Beauty Shoppe owner Christopher Carter is working on renovations to the building and hopes to open in the next couple of weeks. The DeSoto Beauty Shoppe previously was at 717 E. Second Ave., where it had been for more than a decade, before it was destroyed by a fire two years ago. According to a sign at the new salon, it will be open Tuesday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

-The Steakhouse II is scheduled to open in Cartersville in Thursday, Aug. 26. Owner David Edge says they are still working on renovations to the restaurant at 650 Henderson Drive, the former spot of Hearth & Harvest in West End Commons. The Steakhouse II will be open Tuesday-Saturday for dinner starting at 4 p.m.

-El Pueblito Mexican Grill in Cartersville has moved into its new location at 148 W. Main St. The restaurant opened at the new spot last week after moving from their old location on Highway 20 Spur. El Pueblito is open Tuesday-Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Friday-Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. and Sunday from noon-3 p.m.  (Updates by Natalie Simms)

Wednesday's Buzz:

-Make that a 'green' Christmas in Rome: The downtown Rome Christmas Parade will have a "green" theme this year as it moves down Broad Street starting at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 30. Parade

-Aug. 14/CRBI and New Echota Rivers Alliance for this 18-mile paddle down the Coosawattee, ending near the New Echota Historic Site. Click

.

Your latest forecast: Tuesday's high was 99.

-Wednesday: High of 97; low of 70. Heat index of 100.

-Thursday: High of 99, low of  72. 20% rain chance. Heat index of 104.

-Forecast: Click  / Regional animated radar

Norman Arey's Sports Roundtable. Arey 

-'Eight Not So Dumb BCS Title Longshots' from Bleacher Report has some familiar SEC names.

Rome Braves. Click Sports

-Greenville takes finale over Rome, 4-1.

-Braves off Wednesday; home Thursday vs. Augusta.

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

Good year for Cartersville's Purple Hurricanes. High School Football Daily