New since our morning e-mail alert:

>Darlington honors faculty at annual Brown Dinner> Darlington

>Gingrey to be at Social Security office dedication Monday: Look for U.S. Rep. Phil Gingrey to be at Monday's dedication of the new Social Security office at 480 Riverside Parkway in Rome (10 a.m.) as well as at Redmond Regional for a presentation to Frist Award winner Lisa Dempsey at 11 a.m.

>Redmond Regional's monthly health calendar now posted> Redmond

>Subscribe to our free daily news alerts> Subscribe

WeatherCenter

More storms this weekend: Sunny with a high in the mid-80s. Weekend: Saturday OK, Sunday looks soggy> WeatherCenter

Friday's Health:

>Harbin's Mumber, Santoro, Abdou to staff Ringgold cancer center: Harbin Clinic radiation oncologists Matthew Mumber, James Santoro and J.C. Abdou are assisting Fuller Cancer Center in Ringgold with Mumber also serving as medical director. He'll see patients three days a week; Santoro and Abdou, one day each. A fourth radiation oncologist will join them> Details

>Stop Osteoporosis Train in Summerville Saturday> Chattooga

>Redmond, cancer coalition host 'Let's Talk Cervical Cancer'> Health

>Lots of outdoor exercise options this weekend> Healthy Living

Friday's Buzz

>The Sports Shoe closing: One of the more popular sports retail spots, The Sports Shoe, is closing across from Riverbend Center. The shop shrank by about half its display size more than a year ago as Chef Chen Buffet joined the strip center next to IHOP. The Sports Shoe chain has been around for more than a decade in several forms. The closing is a surprise as Riverbend continues to boom, especially with the new Northwest Georgia Medical Clinic nearing completion.

>Video Rome: Those video commercials proposed for the city of Rome Web site (Click) are now posted. You can get a 30- or 60-second look at some of the major hitters in town. Or you can see the videos on their separate corporate Web sites (CWREIC, Harbin)

>Mother's Day brunch sells out --on Wednesday: Bistro 239 reports Mother's Day brunch sold out late Wednesday. Still available: Tickets for Monday's wine dinner. Mother's Day brunch options. Click Dining

>Regional weekly restaurant inspection scores posted: The Dining Guide lists the scores from restaurants in Floyd, Bartow, Gordon, Polk and Chattooga counties. The scores for this week range from the low 50s to 100>Dining

>Mount Berry Square hosts the Myers International Midways Carnival now through May 17. Carnival hours are Monday-Thursday from 5 to 10:30 p.m., Friday from 5 p.m. to midnight, Saturday from noon to midnight and Sunday, noon to 10:30 p.m.   Discount coupons ($5) for all-day ride passes are at Guest Services.

>Treehouse 'groundbreaking' set for May 20 at Ridge Ferry Park> Buzz

>Latest updates from the NAIA football championship group> Buzz

Sports

>Norman Arey's Sports: Norman  says Appalachian State football coach a popular man with the Big 10> Arey

>Rome Braves: At the midpoint in the first half season, Braves stuck in last place. Drive beats Rome, 5-3> Home Plate

Downtown Headlines

>What's ahead in downtown Rome, from arts walk to tourism week to play.

Gas watch/Updates on local prices (updated 5/9)

>Statewide average climbs to $3.62: A year ago, we were paying $2.87 for a gallon of unleaded and were fuming about it. This morning, the statewide average is at $3.62, up four cents since Monday. Locally, climbed by several cents. .

This week's Buzz (click)

>Primary 2008: The election we almost had

>Campaign Buzz: More of what happened behind the scenes

>Three-Dot Buzz: Dining updates (who's back, who's note), business notes

>Roberts named pastor at West Rome Baptist Church> West  Rome

Chattooga Headlines: (Click)

>Lyerly Elementary wins agricultural awareness honor> Chattooga

>Commission on Women hearing set for today

>Stop Osteoporosis Train in Summerville Saturday

>Northwest Georgia Festival of Balloons set for May 16-18 in Menlo

Today on Healthy Living!

>Great time to get outdoors, weekend or weekdays

>Blood drive across the community next week

>Duck Derby, river paddles coming up

>For more, click Healthy Living

On our other pages today:

>Health: Latest updates from Northwest Georgia's medical community

>Dixon & Clemons:  Who each party should pick as a VP candidate

>Politics: Your one-stop home for local politics

>Home Plate Update: The latest on the Rome Braves, home or away

>Hometown KIDS: What to do--and expanded summer camp listings

>Dining: Mother's Day brunch listings; regional health inspection scores

>Arts: RLT's 'You Can't Take it With You' opens

>Healthy Living!: More reasons to get outdoors on weekends--and weekdays

>Northwest Georgia Ads: Paper Recovery and Greene's Jewelers

New/Wachovia Securities Stock Market News, Commentary: Check the latest from Wall Street and commentary updated three times each business day from Wachovia Securities. Chief Market Strategist Al Goldman keeps you abreast of the latest stock market news, market activity and economic reports in his commentaries. Click Market News

Georgia Trend's Business Daily report.  For more, click Trend

-Green: Jasper port still more than a decade out

-Isdell lauds growth at Coke, but cites potential to do more

-Georgia Trend: Working Moms

-Alcoa in Eastman to expand, adds jobs

-Program links power plant, forests

-Georgia 40th in 2006 federal expenditures

-Airfare anxiety: Travel could lose its appeal

-Georgia task force seeks public input on freight & logistics at forums

-Gainesville area developers may get a water restriction break

-Miller steps down at Savannah Morning News; to launch real estate firm

Each day, Hometown Headlines posts headlines and links to the state's top business stories provided by Georgia Trend and Georgia Daily Digest. Look for these updates by 9 each morning.

Today-Saturday/Museum bookfair at Barnes & Noble: (Media release) Support  the Rome Area History Museum this week at its Barnes & Noble Bookfair. Hear the dramatic telling of the story of John Wisdom, "the Paul Revere of the South," on Monday and Friday evenings; ; and bring the kids for Story Time with Jane Cunningham followed by logic games on Saturday at 3 p.m:  For more, please contact the museum at 706-235-8051.

>Free admission on May 17> Downtown Headlines

Today/CVTC's first plant sale

Coosa Valley Technical College’s Environmental Horticulture program is holding its first plant sale across from CVTC’s Floyd County campus, inside and outside the horticulture greenhouses on the Woodlee campus.  The sale is open to the public today from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.  Cash or checks made payable to Coosa Valley Technical College will be accepted.  Plant selections range from Angel Wing Begonia to Zebrina Wandering Jew and everything in between.  Heirloom and modern tomatoes in 4-inch pots are $1 each.  Big fern baskets are $10.  Also on hand: annuals, perennials and woody plants, lots of color and greenery. 

Today/Development authority meets: The Development Authority of Floyd County is meeting at 8 a.m. Friday at the law offices of McRae, Stegall, Peek, Harman, Smith & Manning (formerly Smith, Shaw & Maddox), 100 E. Second Ave., third floor conference room.

Saturday/Chambliss to address Berry's 300 spring graduates: U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss will serve as key note speaker at Berry College’s spring commencement at 2 p.m. Saturday. Approximately 300 students will receive degrees. The ceremony is scheduled for 2 p.m. on the Memorial Library lawn and will be streamed live at www.berry.edu/webcast. Joining Chambliss as special guests at the ceremony will be Dr. Sam Spector and Truett Cathy, two longtime friends of the college who will be receiving Berry’s honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree in recognition of extraordinary achievement and meritorious service> Berry

Saturday/Rev. Stan Wilkins Annual Memorial Motorcycle Ride & Car Show The twin event, remembering the late Rev. Stan Wilkins of Cartersville First Baptist Church and Shorter College, includes a car show with a 10 a.m. registration. The show lasts until 3 p.m. (Click registration). Also planned is motorcycle ride beginning at 8 a.m. with registration and 9 a.m., the ride. (Click ride).Wilkins died following an accident at his home in November 2006. He was interim pastor at Cartersville First Baptist at the time. Net proceeds go to Stan and Gail Wilkins Scholarship Fund at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

>For more, see the event's special flyer> Click

Saturday/Sheriff's Ride and Car Show for Camp Goodtimes: The fourth annual Sheriff's Ride and Car Show for Camp Goodtimes is set for Saturday at Ridge Ferry Park. Food, entertainment, the ride and a 50/50 drawing and door prizes are planned. Registration is $20 per vehicle and begins at 9 a.m. The ride starts at 10 a.m. and will cover 70 miles. Awards will be presented later that day. Camp Goodtimes is a three-week summer day camp for physically and mentally challenged youth of Floyd and surrounding counties. The camp provides recreational, education and social activities including swimming, bowling, movies and crafts.

May 12-16/Road work on Bells Ferry: Bells Ferry Road will be reduced to one lane at a point 200 feet south of Enoch Road beginning 8:30 a.m. on Monday through 4 p.m. on Friday, May 16, according to county officials..

May 12-13: Auditions set for Broadway Spectacular II: Auditions for Rome Little Theatre's production of Broadway Spectacular II will be held on stage at the DeSoto Theater in downtown Rome. Registration begins at 6 p.m. and auditions will run from 6: to 9 p.m.  Show dates: July 11-13; 18-20. Audition note: Musical numbers and accompaniment will be provided, bringing a prepared piece is not necessary. Additional information may be found on RLT's website, www.romelittletheatre.com, or by calling the RLT office at 706/295-7171. 

May 13/Learn how to be a severe weather spotter> WeatherCenter

Busy month ahead for Seven Hills Rotary Club: Upcoming speakers include:

-May 13: Ken Vance, Executive Director, Peace Officers Standards and Training;

-May 20: Lisa Love, Director of the Georgia Music Hall of Fame.

 >Seven Hills Rotary meets at noon Tuesdays at Coosa Country Club.

American Red Cross blood drives:

-May 15: 12:30-5:30 p.m., Wal-Mart Supercenter, 825 Carterville Highway

May 15/Greater Rome Bank's annual meeting of shareholders set for 4:30 p.m. at the main office at 1490 Martha Berry Highway.

May 15/Greater Rome Chamber of  Commerce's Business After Hours, 5:30-7 p.m., Coosa Country Club. Sponsored by the Rome Chapter, Georgia Society of CPAs including Abbott & Richardson, CPAs, PC; Finney & Associates, CPAs, PC; Haynes & Moore, LLC; Howse & Rice, PC; RL Jennings & Associates; Read, Martin & Slickman, CPAs, LLP; Whittington, Jones & Rudert, CPAs, PC.

May 16/The next Homeless Task Force Meeting is at 1 p.m. in the Sam King Room at City Hall. Dr. Lindsey Stillman with the Georgia Department of Community Affairs will discuss survey options with the group.

May 17/Free admission to Oak Hill/Martha Berry Museum: Oak Hill and The Martha Berry Museum will celebrate International Museum Day on Saturday, May 17, by offering free admission and refreshments for all museum guests. International Museum Day has been celebrated since 1977. The 2008 theme is “Museums as Agents of Social Change and Development.”

May 17-18/American Heroes Air Show coming to Russell airport: This year's American Heroes Air Show for Georgia is moving to Richard B. Russell Regional Airport/Towers Field next month. It is billed as "the nation’s premiere, helicopter–only, admission-free air show event designed to profile rotary-wing aviation’s dynamic role in law enforcement, public safety, communications, search and rescuee as well as homeland security and national defense." The hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. both that Saturday and Sunday with free parking.  It is in addition to the North Georgia Air & Car Show due this fall. For more, click Helicopters.

May 20 groundbreaking set for Treehouse project: The ceremony is set for noon Tuesday, May 20, at Ridge Ferry Park> Details

May 21/Realtors meeting at civic center: The May meeting of the Greater Rome Board of Realtors is set for noon Wednesday, May 21, at Rome Civic Center. The sponsor is Kevin Wall of Cotton State Kevin Wall Insurance. Reservations are due by noon Friday, May 16. Call 706-295-1727.

Busy month ahead for library events: The  highlights:

>May 18: Creative Playhouse Children’s Theatre Company will perform under the direction of Sherrie Bacon at 3 p.m. in the Children’s Theatre.

>May 27: Catch the Reading Bug, the 2008 Summer Reading program, begins.  Free goody bags will be given to the first 1,000 registrations. Photographs will be available for $1. Children may register for the program as well as workshops and contests.  Temporary “buggy” tattoos are available.  Arthur Atsma presents a magical  performance in the Coosa Room for children at 11 a.m.

>May 30: Free movie in the Coosa Room at 2 p.m.  Popcorn and soft drinks available for 50 cents each.

>For more, please click Rome Library

May 22/Blood drive at AT&T Mobility: Blood Assurance will host a blood drive at AT & T Mobility on Thursday, May 22, from 1 to 6 p.m. AT & T Mobility at 617 Martha Berry Blvd. Visitors can register to win a trip for two to anywhere in the continental United States as part of Blood Assurance’s “Rock the USA” promotion. The winner will be drawn June 9.

May 24/Summerville Park plans area's 'largest yard sale': The Summerville Park Neighborhood Association will be hosting the largest yard sale around town on Saturday, May 24, from 8 a.m. to noon. All 400 Summerville Park residents are invited to host individual yard sales. Area realtors will be hosting open house during the event. For more, contact Alice Stevens at 706-238-8226 or email simmadown2007@gmail.com

Now-July 25/New exhibit at Chieftains/Major Ridge Home: Chieftains Museum/Major Ridge Home announces the new exhibit, "Cherokee Clothing Styles."  Now through July 25.  The Cherokees were one of the most successful tribes to assimilate into the white society.  One of the first examples of this was the style of clothing.  See the transformation as the Cherokees moved from animal skins to suit and gown.  Chieftains is open Tuesday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m..  Admission:  Adults, $3; Senior Citizens, $2; students, $1.50.  For information call 706-291-9494.

Kiwanis Club meetings: Here's a look at this month's Kiwanis Club speakers. Members meet Mondays at noon at Harvest Moon.Web site: Kiwanis.

>Monday:  Chris Wilson, River City Bank
>May 19:  Robert Day, Waddell & Reed

>May 26: Memorial Day: No meeting.

Toastmasters meet twice a month: The Rome Toastmasters meet on the second and fourth Mondays of each month at 6 p.m. at the library. Web site E-mail:

Meth awareness, gang seminars seminars set: The Floyd County Sheriff's Office has two annual awareness seminars set for the summer. They are:

>The meth awareness seminar is Tuesday, June 17, from 6-9 p.m. at The Forum.

>Gang awareness, prevention seminar, Tuesday, July 15, 6-9 p.m., at The Forum.

Rome Exchange Club: Meets at noon each Friday at The Palladium.

Noon Optimists' meetings: The Noon Optimist Club of Rome meets on Mondays at 11:45 a.m. in the banquet room at Western Sizzlin, 801 Martha Berry Blvd.  The public is welcome.  For more information, please e-mail noonoptimists@comcast.net

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

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