Local News

September 3, 2010

LT. GOVERNOR CASEY CAGLE VISITS ROME, APPEARS ON WLAQ’S GOOD MORNING ROME

Georgia’s Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle paid a visit to Rome yesterday to chat with area business leaders at the Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce.  Prior to that, he made an appearance on WLAQ AM 1410’s “Good Morning Rome”.  Cagle discussed the challenges facing businesses not only in Rome, but across the state.

He contends that initiatives must be taken to create more jobs.  He also wants to see a more educated workforce to increase competitiveness in the business world. 

Learn more about Lt. Governor Casey Cagle and find out how to contact him at www.caseycagle.com. 

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UNITED WAY OF ROME AND FLOYD COUNTY KICKS OFF FUND RAISING CAMPAIGN

The United Way of Rome and Floyd County kicked off its 2010-2011 fund raising campaign earlier this week.  Jim Bradshaw is the coordinator of Floyd County’s 211 Information and Referral Line, which is funded by the United Way.  He says the United Way’s goal for this year is $1 million.  David Newby of Profile Extrusion Company is this year’s campaign chairman.  Money raised will fund some 16 agencies in Rome and Floyd County. 

For more information, call the United Way of Rome and Floyd County at (706) 291-9336.  Or you can call 211.  From a cell phone, dial (706) 232-0210. 

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GEORGIA STATE PATROL ADVISING CAUTION ON STATE’S ROADS OVER LABOR DAY WEEKEND

Labor Day weekend has arrived.  The Georgia State Patrol urges motorists to use caution behind the wheel over the holiday weekend.  The 78-hour Labor Day holiday travel period will get underway this evening at 6 p.m. and will end at midnight on Labor Day (Monday, September 6th).  Predictions are no longer being made by the GSP as to the amount of traffic crashes, injuries and fatalities that will result over holiday driving periods, as has been done in the past.  However, statistics from the Crash Reporting Unit at the Georgia Department of Transportation reveal that there were some 1,917 traffic crashes resulting in 867 injuries and 15 fatalities during last year’s Labor Day holiday period, according to a press release from the Georgia State Patrol. 

Colonel Bill Hitchens, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Safety, indicates that increased patrols for impaired drivers will be conducted over the Labor Day holiday period. 

A number of events will increase traffic on Georgia’s roads over Labor Day weekend, including high school and college football games. 

The highest number of traffic fatalities recorded over the Labor Day holiday period was 35 in 1968.  The lowest was seven in 1939 and again in 1995. 

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LABOR DAY CLOSINGS

Here are your area closings for Labor Day – city, county, state and federal offices will be closed, along with area banks.  The Floyd County remote solid waste collection sites will be closed.  Monday’s and Tuesday’s trash and recyclable items in the City of Rome will picked up on Tuesday.  The Rome Transit Department buses will not run on Monday.  Area schools and the Rome-Floyd County Library will be closed on Monday.  And, of course, no mail will be delivered on Monday. 

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MAJOR ELAINE SNOW TO BE NAMED ROME POLICE CHIEF

Rome Police Major Elaine Snow is expected to become Rome’s next Police Chief.  The decision is expected to be finalized at the next meeting of the Rome City Commission next Tuesday night.  Snow will take the place of Hubert Smith, who retired earlier this summer.