Frigid Friday begins; latest updates. School COVID cases continue to rise; 4 of 8 Rome schools in 'phase 2' protocols. 90 virus patients in Rome hospitals.

Ware Mechanical Weather Center: Cold morning with 22 degrees due and a wind chill of 13. High today only 39; warmer weekend.

• Updates on any delays or closings.

Also today:

• GBI: Investigation under way into Calhoun Police officer-involved shooting that left a 37-year-old burglary suspect dead.
• COVID on campus: Anna K. Davie, West Central, Rome Middle join East Central on phase 2 of pandemic restrictions; mandatory masks, meals in classrooms, no visitors. Latest count: Rome Schools, 24. Floyd Schools, 31; Polk Schools, 88; Berry College staff, students, 65 active cases.
• 90 virus patients in Rome hospitals, down 2 from Wednesday. State records 18,556 new cases; no local reports Thursday.
• Buzz: Habitat accepting applications through Feb. 25; what to know. Blood Assurance, stung by weather and COVID cancellations, needs donors.
• Services for Ava Freeman set for Tuesday, Wednesday (Jan. 11-12) at Pleasant Valley North Baptist Church. A memorial service set for Jan. 16 for Matthew Hines at Rome First United Methodist Church.
• Obituaries: Mrs. DeJuan Marcelle "Marcie" Thurman Fuqua,  Mr. Benjamin Locke "Ben" Graves Jr., Ms. Katheryne Reynolds Milam Lindsey, Mr. James Vizuet, Mrs. Carol Ann Mathis Watters.
• Dining: Public Health restaurant inspection scores, Tuesday-Saturday.
• Crimewatch brought to you by Big Dan's Car Wash. Updates on arrests.

Truett's Chick-fil-A Sports Report

• Georgia vs. Alabama, national championship, 8 p.m. Monday, ESPN.
• SEC Network coverage plans for championship Monday.
• Falcons vs. Saints, 4:25 p.m. Sunday, Fox 5, 92.9 FM and Le Mejor. Season finale. Roster moves.
• TRED announces 'Assail the Trail' on Feb. 19.
• Parks and Recreation spring signups continue.

 

Rain this afternoon, brutal cold Friday a.m. Rome woman dies in I-75 collision. COVID: School cases, hospitalizations rising. $90 million Bartow project announced.

Today's first headlines:

• Ware Mechanical Weather Center:  Rain, no evening snow, this afternoon and then frigid cold in the morning with wind chills around 15 degrees.
• Rome woman, 24, killed in collision on I-75 north Wednesday morning that blocked traffic from LakePoint to Cartersville.
• 92 virus patients in Rome hospitals, up 10 from Tuesday. Awaiting additional state updates.
• COVID on campus: Rome's East Central moves to phase 2 of pandemic restrictions; mandatory masks, meals in classrooms, no visitors. Rome Schools report 43 positive tests on day 1; 18 more cases at Floyd Schools; 69 at Polk Schools on Wednesday; and 45 active cases at Berry.
• Business: Bartow booming again with $90 million, 1.53 million-square-foot logistics center at Cass-White east of I-75.
• Rome-Floyd Planning Commission to review changes to building code, allowing road setbacks to drop from 60 to 40 feet. Staff recommends the change, in part citing earlier construction and today's urban planning.
• FAIR, dedicated to supporting civil rights and liberties, opens chapter in Rome. A Q & A with Jennifer Thompson who's leading the local office.
• Those railroad crossing blues change: Norfolk Southern won't start Rome repairs until Jan. 17. Work will spread into the county through at least Feb. 4. The schedule and crossings
• Health: Misty Traylor named Georgia market care management director with responsibilities at AdventHealth Redmond, Gordon and Murray.  COVID surge alters annual Heart of the Community plans.
• The Georgia Northwestern Technical College Foundation adds two board members. Floyd Board of Education meets Monday evening.
• Buzz: Rome-Floyd Parks and Recreation donates athletic equipment to Harbor House. PFLAG virtual meeting is Jan. 11.
• Obituaries: Pastor Perry Davis Jr., Ms. Wilma "Jean" Mobbs Gross, Mrs. Sarah Beatrice "Bea" Reeves Purdy.
• Dining: Public Health restaurant inspection scores, Tuesday-Saturday.
• Crimewatch brought to you by Big Dan's Car Wash. Updates on arrests.

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Truett's Chick-fil-A Sports Report

• Georgia vs. Alabama, national championship, 8 p.m. Monday, ESPN.
• Falcons vs. Saints, 4:25 p.m. Sunday, Fox 5, 92.9 FM and Le Mejor. Season finale.
• Shorter women's game postponed; Lee in COVID protocols.
• TRED announces 'Assail the Trail' on Feb. 19.
• Parks and Recreation spring signups continue.

 

 

1,563 new COVID cases here in 4 days. Schools, Berry see highest positive tests in months. 82 patients virus patients in Rome hospitals. Levy buys former Georgia Power building. Expo postponed.

Today's first headlines:

• By the numbers: 1,563 more COVID cases in NW Georgia since Friday; 55,973 in Georgia. 82 virus patients in Rome hospitals, up 7 from Monday. 5 more COVID deaths in region since Friday.
• Floyd County Schools (25), Polk School District (36), Berry College (37) first reports show impact of COVID surge as semester begins.
• Business: Rome Floyd Chamber's Expo delaying next week's Expo to Nov. 3.
• Business: Ira Levy purchases 800 Broad St. at Turner McCall with plans for possible housing in addition to more business tenants.
• Developing: Five people arrested on interference with custody charges after 12-year-old Adairsville boy found safe.
• Buzz: Rome's Gretchen Corbin again among state's '100 most influential' in latest Georgia Trend list. Floyd Democrats meet by Zoom on Thursday.
• Ware Mechanical Weather Center: Snow showers early Thursday followed by a high of 51 and low of 21. Colder on Friday.
• Funeral services pending for Matthew Hines, Ava Freeman.
• Obituaries: Mr. Jerome Benjamin Daniel Sr., Ms. Zinari MaeSara Smith.
• Dining: Public Health restaurant inspection scores, Tuesday-Saturday.
• Crimewatch brought to you by Big Dan's Car Wash. Updates on arrests.

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Truett's Chick-fil-A Sports Report

• Georgia vs. Alabama, national championship, 8 p.m. Monday, ESPN.
• New: Game day summary for Monday night.
• Falcons vs. Saints, 4:25 p.m. Sunday, Fox 5, 92.9 FM and Le Mejor. Season finale.
• Falcons' roster updates: COVID, depth chart for Sunday vs. Saints
• Model to appeal latest classification.

 

Rome residents, 22 and 20, die in Gatlinburg traffic accident. Hospitals treating 86 COVID patients in Rome, Calhoun. Despite surge, only 3 school systems expand safety steps.

Today's first headlines:

• TV stations: Accident near Gatlinburg on Sunday kills Rome driver, 22, and passenger, 20.
• 75 COVID patients in Rome hospitals on Monday, up 14 since Friday and the most since Oct. 8. 11 more in Advent Health Gordon. System 'overwhelmed' by data; no state reports today.
• Education: As COVID surges in Northwest Georgia (2,984 cases in 14 days), just two requiring masks and a third restricting visitors.
• Education: New access road to East Central Elementary off Dean Avenue dedicated; new dropoff/pickup lines start Tuesday.
• Ware Mechanical Weather Center: Colder temperatures remain and maybe another snow bout early Friday.
• Obituaries: Mr. John Ray Baldwin, Mr. Joshua LaVelle Cooper, Mr. Jerome Benjamin Daniel Sr., Johnny Otis Nelson.
• Dining: Public Health restaurant inspection scores, Tuesday-Saturday.
• Crimewatch brought to you by Big Dan's Car Wash. Updates on arrests.

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Truett's Chick-fil-A Sports Report

• Georgia vs. Alabama, national championship, 8 p.m. Monday, ESPN.
• Falcons vs. Saints, 4:25 p.m. Sunday, Fox 5, 92.9 FM and Le Mejor. Season finale.
• Falcons lose a coach before season finale.
• Latest girls, boys high school basketball rankings.
• Berry's Ellis earns league honors.
• Vikings at Rhodes: No fans because of COVID.

 

Overnight updates on our blast of winter weather. Closings and delays. Newsletter: From business updates (old is new again) to baseball questions (play ball?) to politics (who's the mayor). Plus Peaks & Valleys.

Today's first headlines:

• Ware Mechanical Weather Center: The latest on our surprising winter weather and what's next.
• Closings and delays: Growing list of delays for this morning.

Newsletter: Our weekly take on local news.

 

• Something new at Rome's top antiques/interiors shop.
• A 'Remedy' for the January blues.
• More fast food?
• Play ball? Spring training was scheduled to start in under two months.
• Popcorn & politics. Who's the new mayor?
• Peaks & Valleys.

Also today:

• Obituaries: Mr. Jerry Creamer.
• Dining: Public Health restaurant inspection scores, Tuesday-Saturday.
• Crimewatch brought to you by Big Dan's Car Wash. Updates on arrests.

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Truett's Chick-fil-A Sports Report

• Georgia vs. Alabama in college football's national championship, 8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 10, ESPN.
• Latest bowl updates.
• Falcons fall 29-15 to Buffalo; record at 7-9 with a game to go.
• Spring sports registration opens today at Rome-Floyd Parks and Recreation.