Legends comic book store moving to Mount Berry Square:

A huge clearance event in recent days at the 317 Broad St. mainstay opened a few eyes. And now comes word that Gordon Lee's shop will leave Broad Street after more than two decades and take the former Walden Books space at Mount Berry in late February. Lee is the third local retailer to move into new quarters at the mall in recent months. Initially Twisted moved from Village Plaza and Pokey's Hometown Sports switched from Armuchee Village. Legends

United Community Banks Inc. posts $9.9 million profit in fourth quarter; net loss for 2011 at $227 million. UCBI

Watch out for wind chill tonight, Sunday.

-With forecast low temps (mid 20s) and winds of 15 mph, we could see wind chill readings in the teens again.

-Saturday: low of 24. Gusts: 15 mph.
-Sunday: Sunny, high of 57, low of 26. Gusts: 15 mph.

-Monday: High of 61, low of 29.

-Extended forecast / Latest Radar / West Rome

Weekend headlines:

-Shorter University's baseball opens the 2012 season today in Lakeland, Fla., with a doubleheader at noon against Southeastern University. Home opener: Feb. 4. Hawks

-Tonight's PowerBall jackpot at $146 million. Lottery

-Sheriff's Office announces annual awards. Click

-Updates from the chamber of commerce. Chamber

-The Atlanta-based archbishop of the Catholic Church, Wilton D. Gregory, is calling on church members to oppose 'a matter of grave moral concern -- freedom of religion and freedom of conscience.' At issue: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services requiring all employers, including Catholic employers, to offer their employees health coverage that includes sterilization, abortion-inducing drugs, and contraception. Gregory's letter

-Three Rome restaurants score below 60; 15 other earn 95 or better in latest public health inspections. Dining

Updates from Hometown Headlines

-We have a new "navigation" bar starting today across the top of our pages, designed to bring together our most popular web pages, Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, our page for mobile updates and our blog as well as a link to our news partners at WRGA 1470 AM.

-Our first "advertorial" page premieres. Rome Dining Guide, offers restaurant operators a spot to tell their story. This week's snapshot features 333 on Broad.

Hometown Headlines Radio Edition, WRGA 1470 AM

-7 to 9 a.m. weekdays. Listen online

-Another busy week ahead as we'll talk local business, politics and take a look at the March SPLOST package.

Jan. 28: Georgia School for the Deaf hosts 60th annual Mason-Dixon Basketball Tournament.

Tournament games continue today. Results from Friday's action and for more:

masondixon.org/bbb/

Round 5

-Boys' results
-Girls' results

About the tournament:

Details

Derrick Good (32) South Carolina; team played against and lost to Kentucky 30-28 in round 4 of the tournament. Photo: Katherine Kennedy.

Rome Braves: Sports

-Jan. 30: The Rome Braves' 10th Annual Hot Stove Gathering is scheduled for 5:30 until 8 p.m. at The Forum and leading the roster of guests is Atlanta Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez.  Proceeds from the event benefit the Braves Miracle Field of Rome which broke ground last August. Sports

-New Facebook page for the Braves' Miracle Field of Rome premieres. Miracle

On our other pages today:

-Downtown: What's ahead in downtown Rome.

-Dining: Latest public health restaurant inspection scores.

-Business: Jobless rate climbs in December in our region.

-Health: Floyd honors staffers with Celebration of Service.

-Jobs: Looking for a job? Try careerbuilder.com

The Buzz of Northwest Georgia. Buzz

-Chieftains Museum envisions a $13 million upgrade.

-Steel shell of Lowe's a sign of things to come.

-Campaign 2012 heats up with party meetings, deadlines.

-No changes for now at El Toro on Shorter Avenue.

Latest library newsletter. Link

Georgia Trend's Business Daily report.  Trend

• Mitsubishi Electric division HQ to allow expansion in Suwanee
• A 2nd cancer center in GA the goal
• Augusta company builds big trucks for rich clients
• Shoppers still wary of spending, Newell Rubbermaid CEO says
• ATL ranked 34th in tax friendliness for business
• UWG prof says more foreclosures are likely

Georgia Political & Policy Digest Daily Report. Politics

The Floyd County Elections Office seeks poll workers to assist with elections to be held during 2012.  Politics

-Absentee voting starts Saturday for Georgia's presidential primary; advance voting starts Feb. 13. Primary

-Your link to 2012 campaign contributions: Reports through Dec. 31 from the State Ethics Commission. Politics

Calendar/Your links to local events

Floyd County Schools Pre-K registration period to apply for the 2012-2013 school year is Feb. 20-March 2. Rome Kids

Jan. 29: The Floyd County Commission will conduct a Work Session at 2:30 p.m. for the purpose of discussing legislative and policy objectives for 2012, and any other items the Board deems appropriate. The meeting will be held in room M103 on the Marquis level of the Atlanta Marriott Marquis where commissioners will be attending a legislative conference.

-Rome Symphony Orchestra announces Concerto Competition winners. Details

Jan. 30: Coosa River Basin Initiative’s Annual Membership Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Georgia Northwestern Technical College (Rome Campus). Included: Panel discussion on dams and water supply reservoirs in the Upper Coosa River Basin. Panelists: John Bennett, Rome City Manager and chairman of the Coosa North Georgia Water Planning Council; Gil Rogers, an attorney with Southern Environmental Law Center; and Scott Cole, an attorney and reservoir consultant with Hall, Booth, Smith & Slover. CRBI will also present its 2011 Annual Report and recognize key volunteers and supporters. CRBI

Feb. 2: The Shane Richardson Memorial Adult Spelling Bee, benefitting Harbor House, begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Krannert Center at Berry College. $250 entry fee for team of three adults (age 18 and up). Bob Berry is the master of ceremonies and the word caller is Susan Carlson from the Sara Hightower Library. Returning Champions:  The Loquacious Litigators from McRae, Stegall, Peek, Harman, Smith & Manning. Contact: Gail Garland, Harbor House, at (706) 235-5437 x 15.

Feb. 3: The Rome committee of Ducks Unlimited will host its annual Membership and Fund Raising Dinner at The Forum at 6 p.m. "We are looking forward to a great crowd at this year’s 75th Anniversary dinner," said committee chairman David Culp of Rome. Details

Feb. 13: Triple Threat Arts Company will perform its second Holiday Dinner Theatre production for Valentine’s Day at The Palladium. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with the show starting at 7 p.m. Details: website or 706-728-6200 (reservations required).

Feb. 17: The Georgia Southern University Faculty Brass & Percussion will perform at 7:30 p.m. at the Berry College Ford Auditorium. The brass and percussion faculty will perform a wide variety of styles. The event is free and open to all.

Feb. 18: Women Build 2013 sponsors the Second Annual
Pancake Breakfast at Applebee’s; seatings at 8-9 a.m. or 9-10 a.m. Cost $7 (includes a $5 coupon for next visit to Applebee’s).
Tickets on sale at HomeMart. Details: Dee at 706-378-0030.

Feb. 20: Redmond Regional Medical Center is hosting the ‘Redmond Has Heart’ community education event at the Forum from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Redmond will share heart health information and education with local middle and high schools, colleges and all interested community members.  The free vent features the Ameriheart exhibit, a walkthrough, interactive heart exhibit which educates visitors on heart anatomy, disease and disease prevention. Redmond

Feb. 23: Mohawk to post fourth-quarter earnings. Mohawk

Feb. 24-26: Darlington’s fine arts department presents Broadway's 'Crazy for You,' Rome City Auditorium. Friday-Saturday shows, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, 2:30 p.m. Admission: $10 adults; $7 for children, students and seniors. For more

Feb. 25: Fourth Annual Heart of the Community Walk kicks off at 10 a.m. at Citizen’s First Bank. The walk honors heart disease survivor Terry Simmons, a State Farm Insurance Agent and two-time survivor of heart complications. Heart walk 

Feb. 28: 12th Annual 'A Night at the Movies,' benefitting the Exchange Club Family Resource Center. Sponsored by Rome Cinemas and the Rome Hospitality Association. Hors d oeuvres and drinks at 6 p.m.; your choice of six movies at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $40 per person, two for $75 or groups of 10 or more, $35 each. Details: 706-290-0764.

March 1: Floyd County Courthouse security gets tighter: One key change will be the ban on all cell phones, says Sheriff Tim Burkhalter. That's similar to the federal courthouse standards as well. The only exceptions at the Floyd courthouse will be cell phones used by staff, judges and attorneys.

Community service groups

Kiwanis Club: Mondays, noon, Western Sizzlin. Kiwanis. 

The Noon Optimist Club of Rome, Mondays at 11:45 a.m., Three Rivers Club at State Mutual Stadium. The public is welcome.  noonoptimists@comcast.net

Seven Hills Rotary, noon Tuesdays, Coosa Country Club.

Rome Rotary, noon Thursdays, Coosa Country Club.

-Feb. 2:  Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta

-Feb. 9:  Valentine Party; evening meeting

- Feb. 16:  Dr. Randy Sumner will discuss his trip to Ethiopia with Rotary’s PolioPlus effort at global eradication of the disease

 -Feb. 23:  Rotary World Understanding

Rome Toastmasters meet second and fourth Mondays of each month at 6 p.m. at the library. Website

Rome Exchange Club: Meets at noon Friday, The Palladium:

-March 2: STAR Student and Teacher recognition at the Exchange Club of Rome.

Humane Society meets second Thursday: The meetings begin at 7 p.m. at 518 Broad St. Everyone is welcome. 706- 234-7979.

Corrections, typos, broken links: If you spot a fact error or typo, please let us know. And if links to any stories or advertisers don't work, please click Report

-State business headlines from Georgia Trend. Business

-Georgia Political & Policy Digest's daily headlines. Politics

 

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