City of Rome joins the Georgia Purchasing Group

January 19, 2022–11:43 a.m. NEWS RELEASE The City of Rome has officially joined the Georgia Purchasing Group, one of bidnet direct’s regional e-procurement solutions, providing vendors throughout Georgia easy online access to its upcoming solicitations. The City of Rome invites all vendors to register online at https://romega.us/552/Bids-RFPs. The regional purchasing group connects local governments with vendors…

Free at-home COVID-19 tests now available for order

January 19, 2022–10:25 a.m. STAFF REPORTS Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order 4 free at-⁠home COVID-⁠19 tests. The tests are completely free. Orders will usually ship in 7-12 days. Visit https://www.covidtests.gov/ to place your order.

Teacher from Tunnel Hill arrested in Floyd County

January 19, 2022–10:04 a.m. FLOYD COUNTY JAIL RECORDS A 36-year old man is accused of engaging in a graphic sexual conversation with someone he thought was under the age of 16 online. According to Floyd County Jail records, Michael David Powers also sent four pictures, exposing himself, and threatened to tell others about their conversation…

Floyd County students return to class Wednesday

January 18, 2022–5:00 p.m. STAFF REPORTS It’s back to school Wednesday for students in the Floyd County School System following an extended holiday. Schools have been closed since last Friday due to a recent increase in staff absences due to COVID-19 and other reasons. During the break, the school system completed a deep clean of…

Man arrested on an aggravated assault charge

January 18, 2022–4:51 p.m. FLOYD COUNTY JAIL RECORDS A 45-year old Rome man has been arrested in connection with an incident that occurred back on December 21 at Banty Jones Park. According to the arrest warrant, Lamar Cantrell Hunter threatened another person with a firearm during an argument. Jail records indicate that Hunter put several…

[VIDEO] New Floyd County Board of Elections members sworn in

January 18th, 2022 – 3:30 PM Ethan Garrett – WRGA Digital News Editor & Video Reporter – On Tuesday morning Probate Judge Steve Burkhalter held the swearing-in of the new five-member Floyd County Board of Elections Chairman Jerry Lee, Ralph Davis, Pam Peters, Gary Stamper, and Corey Townsend.  After the swearing-in process was complete, the…

Railroad work in Floyd County this week

January 18, 2022–11:19 a.m. NEWS RELEASE This reminder…..Norfolk Southern is working on several railroad crossings in Floyd County. They are removing old rotted ties, replacing them with new ties, and surfacing through the crossings. This is not a County project.  Each crossing should take 1-2 days of work. This week’s schedule includes Erwin Coker Road,…

African American History Month: A Call For Nominations

January 18, 2022–11:07 a.m. NEWS RELEASE February is recognized as African American History Month across the United States, and Floyd County would like to recognize members of our community who have made an impact.  Citizens such as Professor Edward S. Brown, Henry Chubb, members of the 1963 Student Sit-Ins, Elgin Carmichael, Napoleon Fielder, Judy Sims,…

Residential fire claims life of one in Bartow

January 17th, 2022 – 3:40 PM WBHF Radio – (Via WBHF Radio) A residential fire in Bartow County claimed the life of one person on Sunday morning. According to Bartow County Fire Chief and Emergency Services Director Dewayne Jamison, a structure fire at 48 Lingerfelt Way off Highway 61 resulted in a fatality. Bartow County…

[VIDEO] 2022 Downtown Rome MLK Freedom March

January 17th, 2022 – 1:00 PM Ethan Garrett – WRGA Digital News Editor & Video Reporter – The 2022 Martin Luther King JR Freedom March began in Downtown Rome on Monday morning. The cold temperatures did not deter the public from gathering together for the community event, which celebrates the birthday and life work of…

Report: Inmate assaulted jail nurse

January 17, 2022–10:38 a.m. FLOYD COUNTY JAIL RECORDS An inmate is facing felony charges after he reportedly assaulted a nurse at the Floyd County Jail on Sunday. According to jail records, 50-year old Joe Matthew Nix struck the nurse several times in the head and neck, knocking her to the ground. He then continued to…

The Rome Alcohol Control Commission meets Tuesday

January 17, 2022–10:36 a.m. STAFF REPORTS The Rome Alcohol Control Commission is expected to discuss an ordinance amendment regarding allowed hours for wine pouring when they meet Tuesday night. The ACC meeting begins at 5 p.m. at Rome City Hall. Other agenda items include a new beer and wine package license at Little Garden on…

Floyd Board of Elections meets Tuesday

January 17, 2022–10:33 a.m. STAFF REPORTS The Floyd County Board of Elections will hold its first meeting as a five-member board on Tuesday. The meeting will begin at 10 a.m. in the Community Room of the County Administration Building on East 4th Avenue. The meeting is open to the public. The board is expected to discuss…

Georgia gas prices unchanged

January 17, 2022–10:31 a.m. AAA SOUTH Georgia gas prices remain unchanged this week. Georgia motorists are now paying an average price of $3.11 per gallon for regular unleaded gasoline. Monday’s state average is 2 cents less than a month ago, and 88 cents more than this time last year. According to AAA, as crude prices continue to climb,…

Texas woman charged with auto theft, fleeing

January 17, 2022–10:30 a.m. FLOYD COUNTY JAIL RECORDS A woman from Burnett, Texas was arrested after she fled from Floyd County Police while in a stolen vehicle Sunday. According to jail records, 29-year old Mariah Shelby Jones was stopped after a brief pursuit on Highway 27 South. She screamed “You aren’t real” at police before…

[VIDEO] Northwest Georgia COVID-19 update

January 17, 2022–10:23 a.m. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH We continue to see high rates of COVID-19 cases in Northwest Georgia. Around two-thirds of those hospitalized for COVID-19 are unvaccinated. In addition, about 80% of ICU patients and 90% of those on ventilators are unvaccinated Dr. Gary Voccio, health director for the Georgia Department of…

Wind Advisory in effect

January 17, 2022–6:04 a.m. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE A Wind Advisory is in effect for much of the state until 7 p.m. Monday. According to the National Weather Service, west to northwest winds 15 to 20 mph and gusts 30 to 35 mph are expected. Possible higher winds in the mountains. The advisory area includes north-central,…

Power restored to more than 110,000 in Georgia Sunday

January 16, 2022–7:03 p.m. GEORGIA POWER Managing through waves of high winds, snow and freezing rain, thousands of Georgia Power workers are restoring power for customers Sunday as Winter Storm Izzy continues through the state. Crews are repairing downed power lines and damaged poles caused by high winds, fallen trees and ice accumulations. The majority…

Report: Woman participated in armed robbery

January 16, 2022–7:00 p.m. FLOYD COUNTY JAIL RECORDS A 19-year old from Plainville has been arrested on a felony warrant charging her with being a party to a crime. According to the warrant, Tatiana Cynthia Clifton aided and abetted in an armed robbery back on November 1 at a location on Maple Avenue. Clifton and…

[VIDEO] Snow in Northwest Georgia Sunday

January 16, 2022–5:54 p.m. STAFF REPORTS While most of the heaviest snow was in Northeast Georgia Sunday, Northwest Georgia did get various amounts. The snow in the video below is from West Rome Sunday afternoon. Areas of Chattooga County got even more snow. Cherokee County, Alabama also received substantial snowfall, especially in the higher elevations.…