A quick summary of the impact of the first round of storms at midday Thursday, including hard-hit Cedartown, and a look at what forecasts expect tonight and overnight. 

HHPodcast: Newscast, rants from Northwest Georgia.

Hometown weather podcast: Rough evening ahead.

The last time we did a podcast, former Floyd County Sheriff Tim Burkhalter and the Rome Ga. Cares crew had boots on the ground in Louisiana helping hurricane victims there. We actually did a "pregame" and "on the ground" series of podcasts which became the most listened to in our first season. And it was a great first season with more than 47,500 "listens." Now we're preparing for season two -- and it will be different. Our goal is to add video for those who prefer to see some faces and maybe some images. We'll do that by using Zoom technology, which allows us to interview area newsmakers using the safest COVID protocols. We'll record these Zoom interviews and make them available on our new YouTube channel.  You'll also be able to listen to the broadcasts in more traditional podcast formats such as on Anchor, Apple and all the others. The broadcasts will be available via one quick click from our websites as well as all our social media.  Our second season is part of our celebrating 17 years of Hometown Headlines. Our website went live on Jan. 28, 2004, and we weren't sure we'd be around to celebrate 17 weeks much less 17 years. We thank you and our advertisers for making that possible. We'll get back to work learning more about the Zoom options and making it all work on YouTube and the podcast platforms. Stay tuned. 

The return of the Hometown Podcast -- and then some.

A caravan of hurricane relief supplies, donated by Floyd County residents for victims of Hurricane Laura, left our area on Monday, Sept. 21, for the hard-hit community of Beauregard Parish.  On Wednesday, we talked with Beauregard Sheriff Mark Herford about the storm itself (gusts of 140-145 mph), extensive damage (28,000 structures, minor to major) and the loss of basic power and water services in the storm's wake.  Herford says the community is recovering and was so appreciative of the trucks filled with relief supplies collected from Rome and Floyd County to help his community.  The Rome Ga Cares team remains on the ground, distributing cleaning gear, fans, water and treats for the kids -- even as the remnants of another storm, Beta  -- trigger new flood concerns there. The Rome team is doing fine, Sheriff Tim Burkhalter says -- adding that they're getting to taste a whole lot of boudin (a sausage-like specialty) and other local cooking during their breaks. 

Podcast: Boots on the ground-- Rome Ga Cares, NW Georgia help hurricane victims. An interview with Beauregard Parish Sheriff Mark Herford.

Floyd County Sheriff Tim Burkhalter joins us to talk about the seventh mission of Rome Ga Cares, this time to Beauregard Parish, La., to help the community recover after being devastated by Hurricane Laura.  After speaking with Beauregard Sheriff Mark Herford,  Burkhalter says the community is in major need of Box fans, tarps, infant care (diapers, food, formula), small toys or stuffed animals for children, and cleaning supplies to fill the buckets we will be taking them.  You can drop off those donations at two locations now through Sept. 18, at North Rome Church of God off Broad Street, or Pleasant Valley South Baptist Church. Volunteers will unload it from your vehicle from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The final day to donate is Sept. 18 and crews will leave Sept. 21 to distribute relief items. You're also welcome to donate $75 for a cleaning kit or whatever amount you'd like. To do so, click the sheriff's website/Rome Ga Cares. Burkhalter and Rome Ga Cares already have assisted six other communities hit by hurricanes in recent years, from Texas to Florida to North Carolina.  He commend the community's giving spirit and said Rome/Floyd County has developed a strong reputation of helping others in need. 

Sheriff Tim Burkhalter on the latest mission of Rome Ga Cares: Helping a Louisiana parish recover after the ravaging winds of Hurricane Laura.

Record hospital admissions. Enduring the second deadliest month of the pandemic (with two days to go). Soaring positive test results.  And some still want to use our students as political collateral? That choice is yours. Our "leaders" have had six months -- half a year -- to respond to the pandemic. They failed. Do what's best for your child. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/john-druckenmiller/support

Weekly Rant: Who will make the best decision for your child's health, safety as school begins? Only you.

For five blistering days, most of what we heard about was face coverings -- also known as masks. Yes votes, no votes, "education," "marketing plans," litigation, masks having some imaginary connection to the state's economy and for reasons that should be criminal -- politics as well. All over as simple a thing as trying to save lives -- our own, our friends, our family, our community. By Friday, most of us were numb and confused. The adults needed to take control. They did so in such a way that any executive order signed by a one-term governor trying to bully local governments would have the impact of a dying fly. The private sector stood up and won't be seated any time soon. Starting with Starbacks and later including Walmart, Sam's Club, Kroger, Publix, Target, Kohl's, Lowe's and Home Depot, some of the biggest names in retail make it easy for all to understand: Wear a mask or stay out of our stores. By midday Friday, Harbin Clinic did the same, requiring all patients and visitors to all offices to wear masks during the entirety of their stay. We expect others to follow. And soon. Does the private sector have the clout? You bet. Now's the time for the locals, the moms-and-pops to step up as well. 

Today's Rant: Private sector goes adult, bypasses political grandstanding over face coverings: No mask, no entry. Now how will local businesses, offices respond?

Today's top headlines: Downtown Rome 'special' police unit to patrol for speed, noise and related issues following surprise meeting Wednesday. 16 patients with COVID-19 in Floyd, Redmond, up 2 from Tuesday. A record 2,946 new cases Wednesday in Georgia. Statewide, more than 700 deaths in June. Georgia Health News: As state cases surge, 1,500-plus healthcare workers urge Kemp to require masks in public. Rome committee to discuss naming a citizens panel to study monuments in Myrtle Hill; it is a follow-up to June's emotional Forrest debate. Independence Day: Armuchee Ruritan Club has flags flying; timely new flag at Saint Mary's School thanks to Coosa Valley Credit Union. Plus: Fireworks, parades on the way. Ware Mechanical Weather Center: Heat index of 98 today; low 90s over the Independence Day weekend; rain chance 20% to 50%. Truett's Chick-Fil-A Sports Report: Atlanta Braves to pay minor leaguers through July. Rant of the Day: Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes to our Hometown community: After today, we reducing our rants, newscasts and podcasts. They're not going away; we're just doing fewer of them. We already have two podcasts scheduled for later this month. And on Facebook, we're retiring our Hometown Headlines page and switching to a Hometown group. We've been swamped with toxic comments in recent months that we don't care to read or edit. Under this new format, we'll be able to put those comments in a collective time out while still serving our readers and advertisers. Both changes are effect Friday. We're not going anywhere; we have much more on the way.

Rant. Some changes to Hometown: Fewer rants and a new Facebook home. Plus today's headlines.

Today's top headlines: 14 patients with COVID-19 in Floyd, Redmond hospitals on Tuesday; 4 others awaiting test results. Second Polk resident dies. Local positive tests jump by 53 from Monday. 2020 season of the Rome Braves -- and minor league baseball -- officially canceled. What Braves' fans need to know. Health: State again rejects Floyd's bid to offer adult open heart surgery. Business: Home sales down 20.5% but prices mixed for Northwest Georgia homebuyers, sellers in May vs. a year earlier. Independence Day 2020: Fireworks, parades still on tap although some events have been canceled. What to know. Ware Mechanical Weather Center: Maybe a half-inch of rain today, more storms possible. Independence Day: 89 with a 40% rain chance. Truett's Chick-Fil-A Sports Report: New look, focus for Berry College athletics online. Rant of the Day: What time is it? Cryin' time. Few were surprised to hear the 2020 Rome Braves season was officially canceled -- as well as that of 159 other teams in North America. What makes this even sadder: At least 40 communities will see their teams lose Major League affiliation by year's end. Some will go away. Others will be hammered by pandemic-related losses. The Rome Braves are "safe" and are due to return in 2021 to a recently upgraded stadium. But that is not helping the fans who made State Mutual Stadium their home each spring and summer.  Add in the economic blow to Floyd County and it really hits home.  

Rant: There is crying in baseball after all. Plus today's headlines.

Today’s top headlines: 13 in Floyd, Redmond with COVID-19; state adds 123 more. Monday sees 2,207 new cases in Georgia. Kemp extends public health state of emergency, safety protocol. Cartersville man now faces murder, three other counts following Sunday evening shooting. Politics: District 14 GOP hopefuls John Cowan, Marjorie Taylor Greene in televised debate July 19-20. Floyd Democrats set virtual meeting for Thursday. Business: Prime downtown Rome spot on the market for $450,000 — with parking. Ware Mechanical Weather Center: Another steamer on the way with a heat index of 98. Rain possible on Independence Day, that evening. Truett’s Chick-Fil-A Sports Report: Amid pandemic, a centennial celebration for the Negro Leagues. MLB camps open Wednesday. Rant of the Day: "Upon further review ..." Keep a sharp eye on your sports feeds in coming days -- even if you don't like what you're about to read. Or hear. So what have we seen and heard -- all from reputable news and sports media? Ryan Zimmerman of the Washington Nationals says no thanks to Major League Baseball's shortened season, which technically starts with training camps on Wednesday. At least one other Nats' player has joined him. Other MLB teams are reporting players and coaches who have tested positive, including Minnesota. And as our colleague John McClellan points out, the most recent extension of social distancing and other pubic health protocols by Georgia's governor overlaps with the first weekend of high school football scrimmages. We imagine they'll find a way to properly social distance to comply but it will be tough. And should we worry that Fulton County Schools has opted to delay its start of the new year by a full week -- so far. High schools in Gwinnett County also report four coronavirus cases -- we hear a mix of players and coaches -- and the Georgia High School Association again is reminding schools to report positive virus tests. On Monday, we saw the first official report that a football conference -- the storied Ivy League -- was thinking of switching football to spring. Some college football teams already are canceling nonconference games. At Clemson, 37 players, coaches and staff have tested positive for the coronavirus. That follows the report from LSU. In Alabama, the loss of The Tide could cost the state more than $2 billion. A study from 2015-16 concluded Tuscaloosa alone could see $25 million in game-weekend revenue vanish with each game canceled. Some NBA players are skeptical of the season set to resume, including a lifestyle in the Disney bubble throughout the run. So who do we blame? We see it as a rushing penalty. Too many governors, Georgia's included, preached the need to reopen our state. On Monday, Brian Kemp extended the state's public health emergency until Aug. 11. That includes much-less stringent social distancing rules as well. He's busy taking selfies with him wearing a mask and urging Georgians to do the same. That's way short of what other governors are doing -- ordering masks if you're in public. And yet, the sports machines of America continue to hype the hype about sports being back. Yes, but so is the coronavirus.  

Rant: Time out on the return of sports? Plus today's first headlines.

Today's first headlines: Rome musician Lee Shealy joins legendary Atlanta Rhythm Section. ‘We all get along great. It’s just neat to listen to all their stories from years together.’ Business: As first half of 2020 ends, some big minuses but also hundreds of millions of dollars in new investment across Northwest Georgia despite the pandemic. State-record 2,226 new COVID-19 cases since Saturday; Georgia sees 11,282 additional positive tests in 7 days, a 17.1% surge.  Reports: Woman dead, man shot Sunday evening near Crump Road in Cartersville. Business: Second downtown Rome studio on the way as Playa Azul Media moves in above Jamwich. Rant of the Day: A different way to celebrate the red, white and blue. So how do we celebrate Independence Day this year? The spirit certainly is willing but the options for what helps make it all magical -- the time spent with family, friends and neighbors, from parades to fireworks to picnics and trips to the lakes and rivers -- are limited. Ridge Ferry Park will not be the base for the community celebration we're used to although Rome-Floyd Parks and Recreation and sponsor Redmond Regional Medical Center promise to light up the sky for a good 20 minutes that night. (One of the best seats in the past? Atop the parking deck by Town Green). The day-long celebration in Cartersville is on hold this year as is Calhoun's star-spangled extravaganza. The Rockwell-like community parade in Cave Spring is a go, with social distancing precautions and all, but will people turn out to march or watch? And will the homemade ice cream be served? A three-hour event is planned in downtown Rome -- including prayer, songs and a citizens parade --  but who will show up, especially in 90-plus degree heat and a thunderstorm threat? Will everyone be wearing masks? Will we social distance? And, if not, will we pay a price with more positive test results in mid-July? On the day we celebrate our freedom, we're likewise supposed to be observing vital health restrictions to limit the spread of coronavirus. Perhaps America in 2020 has to learn about new types of sacrifice.   But that doesn't mean we can't come up with new ways to celebrate as well. After all, look what a Cave Spring parent did to both educate and entertain her young sons 35 years ago. Today, it is perhaps the most nostalgic thing we do in Northwest Georgia. It doesn't matter how you celebrate; just remember what we're celebrating.

Rant: The pandemic, patriotism and a different type of Independence Day. Plus today's headlines.

Today’s top headlines: Rome Police: Teen, 16, facing murder charge, to be tried as adult in shooting death of RHS junior Sincere Javier Estrada-Lopez on June 1. 40th Bartow resident dies from COVID-19; 76th victim from Northwest Georgia; 2,745 statewide. 10 in Rome hospitals. Positive tests: Third day of 1,700-plus new cases. Politics: As Aug. 11 runoff ticks closer, some answers to your questions about who can and can’t vote in the sheriff’s, U.S. House races. Ware Mechanical Weather Center: Mid to upper 80s through Sunday with rain chance varying from 20% to 40%; storms possible each afternoon/evening. Truett’s Chick-Fil-A Sports Report: Georgia Highlands’ alum Bryson Horne signs with Atlanta Braves. Advertising: Hardy Realty’s open house gallery for Sunday: Six homes in Rome, Cedar Bluff, ranging in price from $57,000 to $530,000. Rant of the Day:  Time to be adults again with COVID-19. Easily half if not more of us checked out of the coronavirus pandemic almost two months ago. We've heard all the reasons why: I can't handle all the bad news. This is just the Fake News Media spreading fear to sell newspapers (even though we're online?) We've got to move on and reopen the economy. This is no big deal; it is just a major case of the flu. We understand; we're tired of it, too. It adds a few extra hours to our work day. We don't leave home these days without a wallet, car keys, cell phone -- and mask. There are extra masks in the car as well. If we dine out, it is cafe-style only. Church is drive-in or tune-in (Facebook Live). By our estimate, under 30 percent of us are using masks in public -- if that many. Even the more vulnerable older population is easing up on recommended use. We doubt strict hygiene practices are still being observed. Even the grocery shelves have disinfectant again -- and toilet paper. The meat cases are full, the peanut butter section is packed and except for those directional signs on some store floors, it is mostly business as usual from late February 2020. Except for one thing: The pandemic never left and, instead, is spreading faster than before. We've now seen three consecutive days of 1,700-plus new coronavirus cases in Georgia. Before this week, the record was 857 cases in a single day, set on April 13. Exactly what are we all going to do about it?

Rant: Time to be adults again with COVID-19. Plus today's headlines.

Today’s top headlines: Positive tests surge on Wednesday: 24 more in Floyd, state sees 1,703 cases (record was 1,753 on Tuesday); U.S. sets all-time single-day high at 36,358 cases. Floyd Public Defender’s Office closes after positive test there. Jobless drops in May across Northwest Georgia but more than 13,800 people listed as unemployed (vs. 20,800 in April). Creative Flooring Solutions (laminate, wood, luxury vinyl tile) bringing 300 jobs, more than $70 million investment to Calhoun. Ware Mechanical Weather Center: Mid to upper 80s through Sunday with some rain, storms possible. Truett’s Chick-Fil-A Sports Report: Rome High’s Hogan Ingram wins 2020 GSGA Junior Champion. Unity’s Huston Bryant signs to play basketball at Shorter. Lady Wolves’ Amberly Brown signs to play basketball at Florida State College of Jacksonville. Rant of the day:  Stop the General Assembly's Voter Suppression bill. You knew it was coming. Given the overwhelming success of the primary absentee ballot push -- in terms of voter health protection and turnout -- some pencil head in the General Assembly would try to stop it from happening again. According to Thursday's Atlanta Journal-Constitution, a House committee wants to stop Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger -- or anyone else for that matter -- from sending voters absentee ballot applications. The idea: To add a few roadblocks to those hoping to continue to voting from home. Raffensperger mass mailed more than 6.9 million applications earlier this year amid growing concerns about the coronavirus pandemic. The threat already had delayed one primary in Georgia and the health risk was growing, especially for one of the state's most active voter bases -- those of us 60 and older. It was an unqualified success across the state and in Northwest Georgia. More than 1.1 million people voted by absentee. Hundreds of thousands of people avoided potential infection by voting either by mail or else delivering ballots in conveniently placed "drop boxes" in Georgia counties. Floyd County had two such boxes; Bartow had five. But now voter suppressionists in the state House are whining about long voter lines on June 9, alleged voter fraud opportunities and a late vote count as their reasons to prevent another mass mailing. Heck, we're used to late vote counts in Floyd County so what's the issue? Never mind that Georgia is recording a surge in new coronavirus cases each day this week and we have runoff elections on Aug. 11 as well as a general election on Nov. 3. The real reason? Probably because of a surge in Democratic votes in the primary.

Rant: Limit absentee votes after primary success? That's voter suppression. Plus today's headlines.

Today’s top headlines: State’s ‘Hate Crime’ bill needs only Kemp’s signature to become law after passage Tuesday by House, Senate. Business: Two hotels nearing completion in Cartersville — with a pair also due in Calhoun this year. Positive tests: 53 more in 24 hours in NW Georgia; now 1,613 locally; statewide, 67,678 and climbing by more than 1,000 a day. Wade Hoyt III resigns as Floyd County attorney, cites personal reasons. Virginia Harmon named interim county attorney. Ware Mechanical Weather Center: Half inch of rain Tuesday, a bit more possible today. High of 84 degrees. Truett’s Chick-Fil-A Sports Report: GHSA OK’s phased used of 30-second shot clock for basketball. Dr. Glenn White re-elected president of GHSA. RANT OF THE DAY: Pssst --the hate crimes bill passed. Just before dinner on Tuesday evening, this release arrived from state Rep. Vernon Jones, a Democrat from Lithonia which is way away from Northwest Georgia. It was his take on the passage of House Bill 426. “The Georgia House of Representatives voted 127-38 for the hate crimes bill today. It was a good step forward in the right direction although my amendment, which would have included political ideology, party affiliation and freedom of speech as protected classes, was not included in the final version of House Bill 426. I was still proud to support and vote ‘yes’ for this hate crimes legislation.” That was followed by a Tweet -- and nothing more -- from Gov. Brian Kemp's press team that reads: "@GovKemp commends the General Assembly’s bipartisan work and will sign House Bill 426 pending legal review." Twelve hours later, at 7 a.m. Wednesday, that is the collective response we've received on state lawmakers finally stepping up and joining most of the other 50 states in putting a "hate crimes" bill on the books -- again, pending Kemp's signature. So where are the normal self-accolades from our elected leaders on this one? And why was the Northwest Georgia legislative delegation so split on passing it?

Rant: Georgia passes 'hate crimes' bill; silence follows. Plus today's headlines.

Today’s top headlines: COVID-19 patient, 45, walks out of Floyd after 57 days in care both there and at Piedmont. Positive tests: 1,561 in NW Georgia. State death toll at 2,648. Rome City Commission unanimously OKs refunding alcohol pouring license fees to area restaurants for 2 months during COVID-19 shutdown. Combined refund: $41,000. State Patrol: Summerville man faces multiple charges, including 3 counts of aggravated assault against a peace officer, following chase that ends with wreck in Armuchee. Education: Unity Christian School outlines plans for resumption of classes on Aug. 10. A more comprehensive plan to be released in July. Body of 36-year-old man found in Allatoona. Rome Floyd Chamber’s Minority Business Summit today from 1 until 2 p.m. Changes for Cedartown Municipal Court. Ware Mechanical Weather Center: A bit of a temperature rollback today through Wednesday (mid 80s). Storms possible each afternoon, evening. Truett’s Chick-Fil-A Sports Report: GHSA director sees fall sports even if some students are learning online. Rant of the day: Solution for downtown concerns -- sex and alcohol? The under card from Monday night's Rome City Commission meeting was Broad Street, particularly concerns about recent events, both real and another under continuing review. One was a pretty savage beating that involved knives; the other -- at least excessive speeding but perhaps not the incident as originally stated as there is no video from it or witnesses to support it. Throughout the meeting, Broad Street issues continued to be mentioned. But the kicker was the closer when Mayor Bill Collins implied that Commissioner Mark Cochran was perhaps interfering with police as he monitored downtown protests?  All the while, there was no immediate action taken to address rising downtown safety concerns. Other than committee review which take forever. So we suggest they somehow find a way to blend another so-called sex shop relocation into downtown neighborhoods or even open containers of alcohol into the mix. That will get some reaction from the City Commission, for sure.  We have a statewide image to maintain, after all.  

Rant: Solution for downtown concerns -- sex and alcohol? Plus today's first headlines.

Today's top headlines: Still growing: High Voltage Prints gets a charge out of a new site. Dr. Stephan J. LaPointe doubles down on Martha Berry. Lobrillio's brings a taste of Chicago to West Rome. Nearly 1,200 resident tests at area long-term care homes. State death toll at 2,605, up 908 in a month. Positive tests at 60,912 in Georgia, including 1,454 here. Health: Harbin Clinic sets moves for Ansley Park, pediatrics to new building off Redmond, Bypass for July. Redmond Regional adds patient hot line for insurance issues. Protest, prayer service, forum on race, Juneteenth celebration set for tonight through Sunday. Independence Day 2020: Cave Spring parade a 'go.' Ware Mechanical Weather Center: Hot, mostly sunny weekend ahead to celebrate dad's day. Truett's Chick-Fil-A Sports Report:Latest updates from GHSA on summer conditioning, coronavirus. RANT OF THE DAY: What dad needs this Father's Day ain't on a shelf. We have a few different gift suggestions for dad this year. That new grill is fine, thank you. So, too, a rare bottle of bourbon or a case of one of the thousands of craft beers or even "seltzers" premiering by the day. Ties? Well, maybe not this year because they'll go unused unless there's some important meeting on Zoom next week. Just be sure pop doesn't stand up during that video conference, revealing the matching  boxer shorts. This year, give dad something else: The gifts of grace and a chaser of peace as well. He needs both as 2020 continues to be the year from hell. That pandemic that chased many of us indoors isn't going away, no matter how Trump or Kemp try to spin it. There are safety concerns for the family at home and away on top of economic challenges some have never faced before. Race relations are at a critical crossroads, from George Floyd to Atlanta to major companies that can't "ban" some of their more popular brands fast enough -- moves that should have been made 50 years ago. Today, they're basically publicity stunts. Add to that politics -- federal, state and local -- that are so disgusting that you'd think someone forgot to flush the toilet. And we still have a week or more left in June and then July, August, September and October, edging into November. Whatever you do, give dad no sympathy. We still have our man card, thank you.  Today's dads are being tested in ways they've never imagined. What makes them a dad is how they react and overcome all these challenges.

Rant: What dad needs this Father's Day isn't on a shelf or in a box. Plus today's headlines.

From Hometownheadlines.com: -Weekday newscasts and rant of the day for Northwest Georgia. Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/john-druckenmiller/support