CDC updates guidance for facial coverings
July 27, 2021–9:22 p.m. STAFF REPORTS In response to the rising number of COVID-19 cases, primarily due to the more contagious Delta variant, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has updated its guidance regarding facial coverings. The CDC is now recommending that fully vaccinated people wear masks in public indoor settings in areas of…
Polk School District to offer COVID-19 vaccine clinic on July 29th
July 20th, 2021 – 11:45 AM Polk School District – The following is a press release from the Polk School District: As we welcome our students and staff back to school, Polk School District, in partnership with Floyd Medical Center, will hold a Vaccine Clinic on Thursday, July 29th, from 4 to 6 p.m. at…
Man shot by state trooper out of hospital, now in jail
July 20, 2021–10:14 a.m. STAFF REPORTS An Aragon man who was shot in the arm by a Georgia State Trooper late last week is out of the hospital and is now in the Polk County Jail facing multiple charges. 27-year old Shannon Thompson has been charged with fleeing or attempting to elude, failure to yield…
[VIDEO] COVID-19 cases rising in Georgia
July 19, 2021–6:15 p.m. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH We are seeing an increase in COVID-19 cases and public health officials are concerned. In Georgia, positivity rates have increased by 84% over the last two weeks. In the 10-county Northwest Georgia region, the increase hasn’t been quite as dramatic. Dr. Gary Voccio, health director for…
Georgia gas prices up four cents
July 19, 2021–6:10 p.m. AAA SOUTH Peak summer driving season is in full swing as Americans hit the road and gas prices are not backing down. Georgia motorists are now paying an average price of $2.97 per gallon for regular unleaded gasoline. Monday’s state average is 4 cents more than a week ago, 7 cents…
GBI investigates shooting involving a Cartersville trooper
July 17th, 2021 – 3:40 PM GBI NEWS RELEASE On Friday, July 16, 2021, at approximately 11:30 p.m., the Georgia Bureau of Investigation was requested by the Georgia State Patrol to conduct an officer-involved shooting investigation in Taylorsville, Bartow County, GA. At approximately 11:00 p.m., an Aragon Police Department officer attempted to conduct a traffic…
Amnesty program for Cedartown residents begins July 19th
July 17th, 2021 – 3:30 PM The City of Cedartown – The Cedartown Municipal Court System has announced the rollout of a summer amnesty program. The program, offered to individuals with past-due traffic citations and bench warrants for failure to appear, will begin on July 19 and end on August 30. The amnesty program is…
[VIDEO] Dr. Voccio updates NWGA on pandemic situation
July 16th, 2021 – 10:45 AM GA DPH Northwest Health District – Dr. Gary Voccio, health director for the ten-county Georgia Department of Public Health Northwest Health District, updates us on the coronavirus pandemic and our immunization progress in Northwest Georgia. He talks about our recent uptick in cases, Long Covid, and recently released CDC…
First-time unemployment claims decrease in June
July 15, 2021–11:15 a.m. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Initial claims for unemployment insurance were down in the Rome area last month. According to the Georgia Department of Labor, there were 768 first-time claims reported in Floyd County in June. That is down from 799 in May. Surrounding counties also saw a decline over the month.…
Blood shortage continues: Local opportunities to donate
July 12th, 2021 – 8:50 AM American Red Cross of Georgia – While donors across the country have rolled up a sleeve to give this summer, the need for blood remains crucial for patients relying on lifesaving transfusions. The American Red Cross continues to experience a severe blood shortage and donors of all blood types…
Georgia pump prices slightly increase as demand grows
July 12th, 2021 – 8:20 AM AAA – The Auto Club Group – Georgia gas prices increased at the pump compared to a week ago. Georgia motorists are paying an average price of $2.93 per gallon for regular unleaded gasoline. Monday’s state average is 2 cents higher than a week ago, 2 cents higher than last month and 94 cents more than this time last…
Georgia gas prices on the rise
July 8, 2021–6:30 a.m. AAA SOUTH A slight increase in Georgia gas prices this week. Monday’s average was $2.91, unchanged from last week. However, the average had jumped to $2.93 on Wednesday. According to Garrett Townsend with AAA, while Georgians have not seen significant fluctuations at the pump over the last month, crude oil prices…
COVID-19 vaccines seem to be effective against Delta variant
July 5, 2021–1:06 p.m. STAFF REPORTS We’ve heard a lot in recent weeks about the Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus, which now accounts for about half of the current cases we are seeing now in Georgia. Dr. Gary Voccio, health director for the 10-county Georgia Department of Public Health Northwest District, said the Delta…
16 holiday traffic deaths, none in Northwest Georgia
July 5, 2021–11:04 a.m. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY The Georgia Department of Public Safety is reporting that 16 people lost their lives on the state’s highways during the Independence Day holiday travel period. Fatal wrecks were investigated by the Georgia State Patrol Post 17 in Washington, Post 36 in Douglas, Post 40 in Albany,…
State Troopers encourage safe driving habits this holiday weekend
June 30, 2021–7:06 p.m. NEWS RELEASE The Georgia State Patrol and the Motor Carrier Compliance Division encourage everyone to celebrate the Independence Day holiday responsibly. This year, the holiday travel period is 54 hours long. It will begin at 6 p.m. on Friday, July 2, and end at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, July 4. This…
Hospital boards approve foundation agreement with Atrium
June 29, 2021–5:44 p.m. NEWS RELEASE The approval of a resolution establishing a joint flood-Polk health care foundation was finalized Tuesday as the process of Floyd’s combination with Atrium Health advances. The proposal was approved Tuesday by the Cedartown-Polk County Hospital Authority, Polk Medical Center Inc., and the Hospital Authority of Floyd County. “With over…
Georgia gas prices up 2-cents
June 28, 2021–9:15 p.m. AAA SOUTH Georgia gas prices increased by two cents at the pump compared to a week ago as the Independence Day holiday nears. Georgia motorists are paying an average price of $2.91 per gallon for regular unleaded gasoline. Monday’s state average is two cents more than a week ago, one cent less than last month, and 93…
Tropical Storm “Danny” potentially bringing heavy rainfall for NWGA
June 23rd, 2021 – 3:50 PM National Weather Service in Peachtree City – The National Weather Service in Peachtree City has announced that a tropical depression has formed off the lower coast of South Carolina and is likely to become Tropical Storm “Danny” before making landfall. “Danny” will track WNW into northern Georgia overnight tonight…
Georgia reinstates pre-pandemic UI requirements
June 27th, 2021 – 1:55 AM Georgia Department of Labor – The State of Georgia has ended the participation in the federal unemployment insurance (UI) programs enacted through the CARES Act and the American Rescue Plan Act and reinstate many of the eligibility requirements waived during the recent pandemic. The last payable week for Pandemic…
Rockmart: Piedmont Avenue railroad crossing closed on June 28th
June 26th, 2021 – 4:30 The City of Rockmart – Beginning Monday morning, June 28th, the railroad crossing on Piedmont Avenue will be closed due to railroad maintenance. The City of Rockmart has asked the public to prepare to have an alternate route planned to avoid any delays. Other railroad crossings in Rockmart will undergo…