WRGA Rome's NewsTalk

11/01/2024

We cannot wait to see everybody at our Chili-Fest Cook-off sponsored by Georgia Power tomorrow Saturday, November 2nd! 🌶️

There will be music, inflatables, chili tasting, a car show, and local vendors!! Make plans to stop by Ridge Ferry Park from 10am-3pm 🍂🏎️🎶

Chili sampling is 10-2 but could end before 2 if teams start running out. So be sure to get here early!

Car show is 10-1.

11/01/2024

🎅✨ Sheriff Santa Sign-ups! 🎁✨
Open: Nov 1 - Nov 22

The Floyd County Sheriff's Office is thrilled to kick off our annual Sheriff Santa program, bringing Christmas cheer to our community's children! 🎄 This year, we’re teaming up with Toys for Tots to make sure every child in Floyd County has a reason to smile this holiday season!

🎁 Sheriff Santa: Applications are open for children ages 13-15 (and older if they have special needs). www.floydsheriffga.gov/sheriffsanta
🎁 Toys for Tots: Accepting applications for children 12 years and under. https://rome-ga.toysfortots.org/local-coordinator-sites/lco-sites/local-toy-request-single-form.aspx

Let’s make this a holiday to remember! 🎅❤️

11/01/2024

Our top local stories for Friday……A former school teacher with the Floyd County School System has been arrested and charged with three counts of felony 1st-degree cruelty to children; the City of Rome’s Landmarking Committee has voted to designate the Lovejoy Baptist Church on Branham Avenue and the Rebecca Blaylock Nursery on Graham Street as local landmarks; the Rome International Film Festival continues today with screenings of full length features and shorts as well as panel discussions; Rome-Floyd Metro Task Force officers executed a search warrant at a residence on East Glover Street on Wednesday and arrested two men on drug charges; and a 55-year old Shannon man is facing charges multiple charges including fleeing or attempting to elude following his arrest Wednesday evening on Kingston Highway at Turner Chapel Road. These stories and more at wrganews.com

10/31/2024

🎃 Happy Halloween from WRGA News! 🎃

Wishing all our listeners a spooky, safe, and fun-filled evening!

Whether you’re out trick-or-treating or celebrating at home, stay safe, keep an eye out for little ghouls on the road, and enjoy some candy! 👻👻👻

October 31st, 5:30 PM Ethan Garrett - WRGA Digital News Editor & Video Reporter - https://youtu.be/6g6C_2hN9Gk?si=zudmZx11E-DF0T9J On Thursday afternoon, children in the Rome/Floyd area celebrated Halloween with the 2024 Downtown Rome Trick-or-Treat event. The annual gathe

10/31/2024

Thursday, October 31, 2024--9:53 a.m. -Floyd County Jail records- A former teacher with the Floyd County School System has been arrested and charged with three counts of felony 1st-degree cruelty to children. According to the arrest warrants: Between September 2 and September 13, 51-

10/31/2024

Today is Halloween and the Trick-or-Treat on Broad Street will befrom 3 until 5 p.m; Floyd County E-911 will also host Sweets not Streets at the joint law enforcement center from 3 until 5:30 p.m; the Rome International Film Festival kicks off later today with a number of event including a 40th anniversary screening of Gremlins with Zach Galligan, who starred in the movie; leading up to Election Day, the popular “Breakfast with Friends” segment from Fox & Friends will broadcast live from Eggs Up Grill in Rome on Monday; a logging truck overturned Wednesday afternoon near the intersection of Redmond Circle and Garden Lakes Boulevard, spilling logs onto the median and pedestrian walkway; and an East Rome man was jailed Tuesday on a drug trafficking charge. These stories and more at wrganews.com

10/30/2024

In an exciting lead-up to Election Day, the popular “Breakfast with Friends” segment from Fox & Friends will broadcast live from Eggs Up Grill in Rome, GA on Monday, November 4, 2024.

Georgia voters are invited to share their thoughts and discuss top election issues with national television host Lawrence Jones, offering a chance to make their voices heard just one day before polls open...

October 30th, 2024 - 4:40 PM WRGA Staff Reports - (Photo contributed by event) In an exciting lead-up to Election Day, the popular “Breakfast with Friends” segment from Fox & Friends will broadcast live from Eggs Up Grill in Rome, GA on Monday, November 4, 2024. Georgia vote

10/30/2024

October 30th, 2024 - 3:45 PM Ethan Garrett - WRGA Digital News Editor & Video Reporter - https://youtu.be/Hsy85nhsBCc?si=P6VvnQZj22T6IbM_ A logging truck overturned Wednesday afternoon near the intersection of Redmond Circle and Garden Lakes Boulevard, spilling logs onto the m

10/30/2024

UPDATE - 5:45 pm
Road is clear and all lanes of traffic are flowing.

______________________

Please avoid the area of Garden Lakes Blvd at Redmond Circle while emergency crews clear up an accident involving a log truck. NO injuries but traffic may be affected for a time.

Cargo and truck removal will be an extensive process and traffic is backed up - please find an alternate route!!!

Photos in comments - thank you to an A+ citizen friend for helping us out!

10/30/2024

Our top local stories for Wednesday….Opponents of a proposed liquor store on Riverside Parkway made their case to the Rome City Commission Monday night; Rome City Commissioners got a trails update during their Monday caucus session and heard about plans for a possible new feature at Ridgeferry Park that would surely be a hit for local cycling enthusiasts; Rome High School Audio, Video, Tech, and Film students recently took third place in the Rome International Film Festival student film competition; and a South Rome man is accused of taking the tip jar from a local restaurant. These stories and more at wrganews.com

10/29/2024

Update: All lanes are open and traffic is moving again.

Previously posted: Crews are clearing a wreck with a rolled-over tractor-trailer on Veterans Memorial Highway at Riverside Pkwy.

Cleanup will shut down east and westbound lanes for some time.

It could be lunchtime or later before the all-clear is given.

Traffic is being diverted down Riverside and Armuchee Connector.

10/29/2024

Our top local stories for Tuesday….Rome Police are continuing their investigation into the apparent murder of a man who was discovered in the parking lot of the Sunoco on Maple Avenue Sunday; the November 5 General Election is one week away and 37 percent of Floyd County’s active voters have already cast their ballots; the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety has announced that the Floyd County Police Department is one of 26 law enforcement agencies to receive a H.E.A.T. grant for the Federal 2025 Fiscal Year; a 23-year-old Rockmart man was booked into the Floyd County Jail over the weekend on a felony warrant charging him with kidnapping; and Georgia gas prices are down a penny from a week ago. These stories and more at wrganews.com

10/28/2024

Our top local stories for Monday…..Rome Police are investigating the death of a man found at the Sunoco on Maple Street in East Rome Sunday; Floyd County Public Works is closing Blacks Bluff Road at Brushy Branch on Monday morning for repairs to a wall on the bridge; a Gordon County substitute teacher has been arrested for battery against a student; Floyd County Commissioner Scotty Hancock has been recognized by the Association County Commissioners of Georgia for academic achievement in the Lifelong Learning Academy; and the Rome City Commission meets tonight. These stories and more at wrganews.com

10/27/2024

Sunday, October 27, 2024--11:30 a.m. --Staff reports-- According to Rome Police, a deceased male was found at the Sunoco on Maple Avenue on Sunday. Police are still processing the the investigation, and the coroner was on the scene. More infoemation will be released as it becomes ava

10/26/2024

The 51st annual Peach State Marching Festival is Saturday with high school bands from across the region converging at Barron Stadium.

Students will be crossing Second Avenue from behind the levee to the stadium. Expect increased bus and pedestrian travel in the area.

10/25/2024

Our top local stories for Friday….Georgia Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson said Thursday that Rome recorded an unemployment rate of 3.2 percent in September, down eight-tenths of a percent over-the-month; early voting continues and Floyd County voters can cast ballots on Saturday and Sunday at the elections center on East 12th Street; 27 bands from as far north as Nashville, Tennessee to as far south as Auburn, Alabama will be in Rome Saturday for the annual Peach State Marching Festival Saturday at Barron Stadium; the Chiaha Harvest Fair is Saturday and Sunday at the Coosa Valley Fairgrounds; and the YMCA of Rome & Floyd County celebrated the groundbreaking for the Gaynelle P. and Vernon D. Grizzard Sr. Recreation Building on Wednesday. These stories and more at wrganews.com

10/24/2024

Our top local stories for Thursday….The Georgia Supreme Court has unanimously denied taking up an appeal to reinstate election rule changes that were recently struck down by a Fulton County Superior Court Judge; five law enforcement officers were honored with lifesaving awards during Tuesday’s Floyd County Commission meeting; a Rome man is accused of biting a teenager during a family altercation on East Drive on Sunday; a Rome man has been arrested on a felony count of enticing a child for indecent purposes; and a 39-year-old Kingston woman has been arrested on a felony warrant charging her with 1st-degree burglary. These stories and more at wrganews.com

10/23/2024

Our top local stories for Wednesday…..Election Day is less than two weeks away and nearly a quarter of Floyd County’s active voters have already cast ballots; variances for Rome’s 50-50 food-to-drink ratio could be eliminated, if the Rome City Commission agrees with the Rome Alcohol Control Commission; the Alcohol Control Commission also voted Monday to approve another extension of the beer, wine, and liquor package license request for Cherokee Valley, LLC at the corner of Riverside Parkway and Riverside Industrial Drive; representatives from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Georgia Environmental Protection Division were in Rome Monday to present a check for $2 million for the cleanup of the former Northwest Georgia Regional Hospital property; and Rome Police responded to a call about a woman lying in the middle of Shorter Avenue near Starbucks on Sunday. These stories and more at wrganews.com

10/22/2024

Our top local stories for Tuesday….The Floyd County Commission is expected to make appointments to the elections board when they meet tonight; a portion of Second Avenue between East Ninth Street and East 12th Stree is closed this week as filming continues for the Netflix series Stranger Things; Georgia gas prices increased compared to a week ago; a Jasper, Alabama man was arrested following an alleged assault at an apartment on West 13th Street early Monday; and a 31-year-old Rome woman is accused of assaulting another woman with a piece of wood. These stories and more at wrganews.com

10/21/2024

Our top local stories for Monday….Early voting continued for the November 5 General Election and advance voting remains brisk in Floyd County; The Rome Alcohol Control Commission will once again discuss the possible elimination of variances when it meets later today; number of jobs rose in Floyd County in September, according to the Georgia Department of Labor while first-time claims for unemployment insurance were down; two people were killed in a single-vehicle wreck in Gordon County Friday evening; and a number of events were held Friday and Saturday in Rome including the annual “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes, the NAMI walk and the Paper Doll Parade and Breast Cancer Awareness 5K. These stories and more at wrganews.com

10/18/2024

Our top local stories for Friday…..Voters can cast ballots on Saturday as early voting for the November 5 General Election continues; if you want to enter this year’s Rome Christmas Parade, you can register now online; Atrium Health Floyd’s Pink Day activities are taking placethis morning at Truett’s Chick-fil-a on Shorter Avenue, meanwhile the Paper Doll Parade and Breast Cancer Awareness 5K will be held tomorrow; NAMIWalks Rome will help the National Alliance on Mental Illness raise awareness for mental health tomorrow at Heritage Park. These stories and more at wrganews.com

10/18/2024

10/17/2024

Our top local stories for Thursday…..Groundbreaking ceremonies were held Wednesday for the Synthica Energy facility Shannon where they will convert organic waste into renewable natural gas; Rome City School students performed well on the ACT, scoring highest in reading and science, according to data released by the Georgia Department of Education; breast cancer prevention and Paper Doll magnets will again be the focus of Atrium Health Floyd’s Pink Day celebration this year on Friday, which is National Mammography Day; four people were arrested on drug charges at the Fairbridge Inn on Martha Berry Boulevard Tuesday; and a Lindale man is accused of kicking a police officer in the leg during an incident on Pullen Road Tuesday. These stories and more at wrganews.com

10/16/2024

Wednesday afternoon, Synthica Energy hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for their upcoming renewable natural gas facility in Floyd County.

Located off West Hermitage Road, the plant aims to divert nearly 250,000 tons of organic waste from local landfills each year, converting it into renewable energy...

*** See our video news report here:

October 16th, 2204 – 6:15 PM Ethan Garrett – Digital News Editor & Video Reporter – https://youtu.be/J5CozevC9_M?si=HRS1-Z35z9jW99hC Wednesday afternoon, Synthica Energy hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for their upcoming renewable natural gas facility in Floyd County. Loca