WRGA Rome's NewsTalk

06/08/2022

Our top local stories for Wednesday……Plans are progressing for the next Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, which could go to voters in Rome, Floyd County, and Cave Spring in November of next year; negotiations are expected to start soon regarding how local sales tax revenues will be divided up between the City of Rome, Floyd County, and Cave Spring; authorities are continuing to investigate what appears to be a murder-suicide in Bartow County that occurred on Friday of last week; a 41-year old Lindale man is facing multiple charges in connection a series of incidents that occurred back on May 22 and May 23; and a 35-year old Rome man was arrested Monday after he allegedly threatened to burn down a home on Huffaker Road. These stories and more at wrganews.com.

06/07/2022

Our top local stories for Tuesday……Rome Police continue to investigate after a fatal accident involving a pedestrian shut down Turner McCall Boulevard between East 12th Street and East 8th Street for a couple of hours Monday morning; the Floyd County Board of Elections & Registration will hold Logic and Accuracy testing on the voting machines today in preparation for the upcoming runoff election; Georgia gas prices are up 14 more cents compared to a week ago; additional drug charges have been filed against three of the eight people arrested last week following the execution of a warrant related to a murder investigation; and a Rome teenager is facing a felony charge of fleeing or attempting to elude following an incident on May 25. These stories and more at wrganews.com.

06/07/2022

06/06/2022

Turner McCall Boulevard and East 12th Street have been reopened.
The roads were closed early this morning due to a fatal accident involving a pedestrian and a motor vehicle.
We will have more information regarding the accident later today at wrganews.com.

06/06/2022

Our top local stories for Monday……Area residents gathered Saturday in front of the joint law enforcement center in downtown Rome to call for change in the wake of continued mass shootings across the US; a Rome man was arrested following a high-speed chase in Polk County on Saturday; an inmate at the Floyd County died Friday after suffering a medical episode and the GBI has been contacted to investigate as a standard procedure; The Cartersville Police Department is investigating the death of a woman who was found inside her vehicle in a parking lot on Postelle Street on Friday morning; and High Path Avian Influenza has been identified in Georgia and the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension strongly encourages small flock owners to take precautions. These stories and more at wrganews.com.

06/06/2022

06/06/2022

Rome Police are at the scene of a fatal accident involving a vehicle and a pedestrian on Turner McCall Boulevard in the area of Zaxby’s.

According to 911, Turner McCall is closed from the interchange to East 8th Street.

Traffic is currently being rerouted down Dean Ave to E 2nd Ave.

There is no estimated time for reopening.

Please avoid that area if at all possible.

06/05/2022

Photos from Polk County Police Department- Georgia's post

06/04/2022

[VIDEO] "LoDown" & "A1A" Rock the Downtown Rome First Friday Concert

The first musical talent group to kick off the Downtown Rome, GA First Friday Concert was the duo LoDown Music. Shortly after Lodown finished their performance the headlining band A1A took to the stage. ***Check out the WRGA News event recap in the video article linked here!

June 3rd, 2022 - 12:55 AM Ethan Garrett - WRGA Digital News Editor & Video Reporter - Friday Evening the Downtown Rome First Friday Concert Series returned to the Town Green, along with various local food and drink vendors for the public to enjoy. The first musical talent openin

06/03/2022

We are saddened to share with the community that retired Officer Mike Simmons has passed away.

Officer Simmons started his career with the Rome Police Department in 1988 where he served as a patrol officer. He served as a Field Training Officer for several years before joining the motorcycle unit for the remainder of his career. Officer Simmons trained many officers who went on to become ranking members of the department. Mike retired in 2019 after 31 years of dedicated service to the Rome Police Department and the citizens of Rome.

Mike will be greatly missed by all.

Please keep Mike's family in your thoughts and prayers.

06/03/2022

Search warrant related to Rome murder results in eight arrests

Search warrant related to Rome murder results in eight arrests

June 3, 2022--11:46 a.m. NEWS RELEASE On June 2, 2022, at about 8 pm, members of the Rome/Floyd County SWAT Team along with Rome Police Department Criminal Investigations Division, GBI, Rome/Floyd Metro Drug Taskforce, and the Bartow County Special Operations Team served a search warrant a

06/03/2022

06/03/2022

Our top local stories for Friday……The Georgia Bureau of Investigation Region 1 Office in Calhoun is seeking information regarding the murder of a Rome man earlier this month; a Rome teenager is facing multiple charges following a police pursuit that occurred on May 25; Floyd Medical Center now has a robot-assisted biopsy tool that can help doctors diagnose lung cancer earlier; in response to recent mass shootings across the nation, Turn Your Back on Hate – a local non-profit activism organization – will hold a rally, “Rise Up Against Gun Violence” on Saturday; and the Downtown Rome First Friday Concert Series returns to the Town Green this Friday, June 3 with a free concert featuring A1A – the Official and Original Jimmy Buffet Tribute Show. These stories and more at wrganews.com.

06/02/2022

Our top local stories for Thursday…..A Rome man has been charged with 1st-degree vehicular homicide in connection with a wreck that claimed the life of a Summerville woman back on April 22; a 43-year old Rome man was jailed Tuesday on charges of aggravated assault, aggravated battery, kidnapping, and theft by taking; a Silver Creek man is lodged in the Floyd County Jail on aggravated animal cruelty and dogfighting charges dating back to March of 2021; the dates have been announced for the 2022 Wings Over North Georgia Air Show; and a ribbon-cutting event was held on Wednesday morning for the local PFLAG nonprofit organization. These stories and more at wrganews.com.

06/01/2022

[VIDEO] FCPD announces "7 Hills Rubicon" Fundraising Event

According to Floyd County Police Sgt Chris Fincher, the event is on Saturday, June 25th at Richard B. Russell Airport. ***Gates open at 9:00 a.m. with group rides at 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.

All proceeds from this fundraiser will benefit the Floyd County Police Department’s Santa Bike Patrol, a fundraiser program that helps local children receive a bicycle for Christmas.

June 1st, 2022 - 5:00 PM Chris Fincher - Floyd County Police Department The 7 Hills Rubicon event is a fundraising "Jeep ride and vehicle show" hosted by the Floyd County Police Department. According to Floyd County Police Sgt Chris Fincher, the event is

06/01/2022

Photos from Floyd County Police Department's post

06/01/2022

Our top local stories for Wednesday……The Floyd County Board of Education is set to adopt the tentative FY23 budget when they meet later today; the Georgia Department of Transportation has awarded a contract for the repaving of seven miles of Highway 27 South; Dixie Specialty Fiber has shuttered its manufacturing facility in Trion; Georgia Northwestern Technical College will host a Free Application Week, July 11-15, to help those who are seeking to enroll in the fall semester; a man has been charged with aggravated assault in connection with an incident that occurred last Friday on Calhoun Road in Rome, and Coosa Valley Credit Union will once again be replacing torn or faded American flags in the communities the credit union serves. These stories and more at wrganews.com.

06/01/2022

05/31/2022

Our top local stories for Tuesday…..Georgia gas prices decreased by a penny compared to a week ago, but you can expect prices to remain elevated through the summer; public health officials are expressing concern about a recent uptick in COVID-19 cases in Northwest Georgia; the Floyd County Board of Elections and registrations will certify the results of the May 24 Primary and non-partisan elections during a called meeting today; starting today, the Rome Transit Department has a new bus stop at Ridgeferry Park; and on Monday, a Memorial Day ceremony was held at the Coosa Valley Fairgrounds. These stories and more at wrganews.com.

05/30/2022

[VIDEO] Memorial Day Ceremony held at Coosa Valley Fairgrounds

On Monday morning Rome and Floyd County residents gathered at the Coosa Valley Fairgrounds to remember and honor those in the military who gave their lives in defense of freedom.

* For more on this event, please see the WRGA Video article linked below:

May 30th, 2022 - 11:45 AM Ethan Garrett - WRGA Digital News Editor & Video Reporter - On Monday morning Rome and Floyd County residents gathered at the Coosa Valley Fairgrounds to remember those in the military who gave their lives in defense of freedom. The annual Memorial Day

05/29/2022

05/29/2022

The Northside Swim Center is set to open on Tuesday, May 31, 2022. Due to a nationwide lifeguard shortage the pool’s hours and days of operation, as well as rental dates and times and pool capacity has changed for the 2022 summer swim season.

The pool will be open for open swim from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday until the end of July. Pool capacity is 125 people. Pool rentals are available for Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Pool rentals are handled on a first-come, first serve basis and the fee to rent the pool is based upon the number of people attending the party. To inquire about pool rentals, please contact the office at 706.291.0766.

Admission to swim is $5 per day and the pool only accepts cards. Large groups, day cares and camps wishing to swim need to contact Jim Alred by email at [email protected] to check availability.

“We’ve been working on getting lifeguards for the pool since January, and we’re glad that we’ve been able to get enough to be able to open the Northside Swim Center,” RFPRA Director Todd Wofford said. “We hope everyone comes out and enjoys the pool.”

For more information, please visit our website, rfpra.com.

@romefloydparksandrec
Rome-Floyd Parks and Recreation

05/27/2022

05/27/2022

Our top local stories for Friday…..Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that Rome recorded an all-time low unemployment rate of 2.4 percent in April; Floyd Emergency Medical Services will become Chattooga County’s official emergency medical service provider beginning this August; the Georgia Department of Public Safety is encouraging motorists traveling the roadways throughout the state or visiting Georgia’s beaches to practice safe driving habits this Memorial Day weekend; to allow for an anticipated increase in Memorial Day weekend traffic congestion, Georgia Department of Transportation is suspending lane closures on Georgia interstates and state routes beginning at noon today; and a woman who was lying in the highway was struck and killed by a car Thursday morning; in Chattooga County. These stories and more at wrganews.com.

05/26/2022

City of Rome offices are closed Monday, May 30 in observance of Memorial Day.
- Walker Mountain Landfill is open Monday, 8-11am
- Rome Solid Waste will service Monday routes on Tuesday, Tuesday routes will be serviced on Wednesday
- Please have carts out by 7 a.m.

05/26/2022

Westbound traffic is limited on Alabama Highway as crews work to clean up wood chips following an overturn at Ga Loop 1.

05/26/2022

Our top local stories for Thursday……The Floyd County Board of Commissioners, Rome Area Council for the Arts, and the Floyd County Library Board recently broke ground for a new amphitheater near the library; a Rome man has been arrested on a felony warrant accusing him of threatening to burn down a local hospital; a Calhoun woman has died from injuries sustained in a motorcycle crash in DeKalb County, Alabama; and the Rome City School Board has voted to appoint Misty Tucker as the school system’s new Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education director. These stories and more at wrganews.com.

05/25/2022

05/25/2022

05/25/2022

Our top local stories for Wednesday……Incumbents locally and across the state during Tuesday’s Primary Election; Rome and Floyd County voters have overwhelmingly approved the continuation of a one-penny sales tax for education; a 40-year old man drowned Monday near the Main Street Grocery & Bait on Allatoona Lake in Bartow County; a 46-year old Rome woman has been arrested on a felony warrant charging her with 2nd-degree cruelty to children in connection with an incident dating back to December 10 of last year; and Cartersville Police have arrested a man after he allegedly started a dumpster fire on South Tennessee Street. These stories and more at wrganews.com.

05/25/2022

We have our first Floyd County numbers of the night.

With 60% of the precincts reporting in, 14th District Congressman Marjorie Taylor Greene has 61% of the vote in the Republican Primary while Marcus Flowers has 65% in the Democrat Primary.

For State Senate in District 52, incumbent Chuck Hufstetler has 80% of the vote.

For State House in District 12, Eddie Lumsden has 80% in Floyd County and is also leading district-wide.

In District 13, Katie Dempsey is leading with 74%.

For Floyd County Commission, incumbent Larry Maxey has 58% of the vote to Ronnie Kilgo’s 42%.

The SPLOST for education is passing by a 76% to 24% margin.

Election updates at wrganews.com

05/25/2022

The polls have closed and we are awaiting our first Floyd County results for the May 24 Primary Election.

Some numbers are coming in from Chattooga and Gordon County, where incumbent 14th District Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has a sizeable lead over the other candidates in the Republican Primary.

Marcus Flowers is leading the other candidates in the Democrat Primary.

Statewide, Governor Brian Kemp is off to an early lead over challenger David Perdue, and Hershel Walker is leading the Republican Primary for US Senate.

In addition to federal, state, and local primary and non-partisan contests, voters in Rome and Floyd County are also deciding the fate of a Special Local Option Sales tax that would raise $130 million for education projects, including a new Rome Middle School.

Election updates at wrganews.com

05/24/2022

The polls have closed and the first statewide elections returns are coming in. We will have election updates throughout the evening at wrganews.com