Rome News-Tribune
Weather shifts graduation indoors
The Pepperell High School Class of 2026 celebrated graduation under a roof instead of the open sky this year, as rain forced the ceremony indoors to the Forum River Center — where a packed crowd of family, friends and supporters filled the arena to...
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Community celebrates Armuchee grads
Under the blazing sun at H.A. Lindsey Stadium, Armuchee High School’s Class of 2026 pushed through the heat to celebrate a milestone years in the making. Students, families and faculty gathered for the ceremony, primarily in the shade, to honor the...
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GSD celebrates 4 graduates
The Georgia School for the Deaf celebrated the graduation of four seniors, marking a milestone achievement for the Class of 2026 during a ceremony filled with reflection, gratitude and hope for the future. Family, friends, and school staff gathered...
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Rome, Floyd County voters go to the polls
Braving the hot temperatures, Rome and Floyd County citizens turned out for election day, although the trend of low voter turnout continued. Tuesday was the primary election day, when Floyd County residents voted for their party’s nominees to run in...
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CAPS OFF!
The Darlington School Class of 2026 marked a milestone as graduates, families and faculty gathered for the school’s 121st commencement ceremony that was filled with reflection, celebration and anticipation of the future. In addressing the graduates,...
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Alto Park Elementary revives career day for future workers
Students at Alto Park Elementary got a hands-on look at their futures as the school hosted a career day featuring more than 20 local professions. The May 14 event, held for the first time in seven years, brought together representatives from a wide...
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With the hard work done, young Olympians fill Barron Stadium
Laughter, cheers and friendly competition filled Barron Stadium as West End Elementary students wrapped up the school year with their annual Olympic Day. Thursday and Friday students took part in a full day of activities that included football...
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Stadium is filled for Education Day
The sun shone brightly over 4,500 screaming fans packed into Adventhealth Stadium as the Rome Emperors hosted schools from around the region for their annual Education Day game. Students and teachers from across Northwest Georgia and the surrounding...
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Local students celebrate as their classes end for the year
Students and teachers across Floyd County schools wrapped up the school year with field day celebrations, turning campuses into playgrounds of games, laughter and community, an annual tradition that is one of the best ways to end the academic year,...
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Berry College graduates 545
Hundreds of Berry College students, adorned in caps and gowns, filled Valhalla Stadium to celebrate the end of a chapter and the start of their lives as college graduates. A total of 545 students graduated from Berry College during the 2026 spring...
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Shorter University honors graduates during spring commencement
The Winthrop-king Centre was packed with families and friends as they gathered to celebrate Shorter University’s 2026 graduating class during faith-centered commencement ceremonies. The commencement was split into two ceremonies held on Thursday, one...
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Georgia Highlands softball wins GCAA championship
CARTERSVILLE — It was Athens Hudson who woke up the Georgia Highlands College softball club with a game-tying solo home run in the bottom of the fifth inning Saturday. When her next turn at-bat came up, leading off the bottom of the seventh, she had a...
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GNTC celebrates 2,230 graduates
Georgia Northwestern Technical College celebrated its Class of 2026 on Thursday, recognizing 2,230 graduates during spring commencement ceremonies as students marked the completion of their academic journeys and prepared for the next chapter. The...
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Prayer Breakfast speaker: Live faithfully
Hundreds of Christians filled the Forum River Center bright and early for a morning of prayer and fellowship at the annual Rome Area Prayer Breakfast. The early Thursday morning event brought in guest speakers from throughout the community to pray...
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Kids meet the ‘superhero of snakes’
Clear Creek Kindergarten students from Cartersville learned why the king snake is called the “superhero of snakes” during a visit to the Rome-floyd ECO Center Wednesday morning. The king snake is not venomous, according to Sarah Johnson, ECO Center...
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New ‘Rome Is ...’ mural unveiled
A new mural in downtown Rome is serving as both a piece of public art and a renewed call for community pride, as local leaders officially unveiled the “Rome Is” campaign during a ribbon-cutting ceremony this week. “We have a new campaign called ‘Rome...
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Hundreds gather at Ridge Ferry Park to sample savory selection
Close to 1,000 barbecue fans cooked and sampled some of the best barbecue in the county as the RomeFloyd Parks and Recreation Department hosted its annual Backyard BBQ Bash in Ridge Ferry Park Saturday afternoon. Eight teams competed for coveted...
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Baconfest and Car Show draws crowds to Cave Spring
This was not a drill, it was a bona fide bacon bonanza Saturday at the Cave Spring Baconfest and Car Show. Sponsored by the city’s downtown development authority, the event is one of many meant to draw in visitors to downtown. Baconfest has become a...
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Cancer Pavilion due to open in July
Three adjacent construction projects on Braves Boulevard NE near AdventHealth Stadium are all coming to a head, including AdventHealth Georgia’s new Cancer Pavilion, due to open in July. “We’re thrilled to open the AdventHealth Cancer Pavilion in late...
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‘Fantastic turnout’ at Senior Inforum
The only thing missing was John Travolta and a mirrored ball at the Thornton Center in Armuchee as almost 600 seniors gathered for the disco-themed Senior Inforum. The 38th annual Senior Inforum was hosted by the Rome-floyd Parks and Recreation...
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RCS cuts ribbon on new middle school
Rome City Schools officially cut the ribbon on its new Rome Middle School, celebrating the completion of a long-anticipated $108 million project aimed at expanding capacity and enhancing opportunities for students. “It means we just cut the ribbon of...
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Rome Clock Tower restoration earns top preservation award
The restoration of the Rome Clock Tower, one of the city’s most iconic landmarks, received the Marguerite Williams Award from the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation, recognizing the project with the greatest impact on preservation in the...
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Local legislators discuss recent session at chamber luncheon
The 2026 Georgia legislative session came to a close earlier this month, and most of our local legislators were at the Forum River Center Monday for a luncheon to give their take on what occurred. State Rep. Eddie Lumsden, R-armuchee; Rep. Katie...
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Early voting starts for May 19 primary
Early voting gets underway Monday and Floyd County voters have local races to decide in addition to statewide contests ranging from governor and attorney general to commissioners of agriculture, labor and more. The May 19 primary will decide the...
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Downtown walk raises awareness, support for child abuse survivors
Dozens of community members took to the streets in downtown Rome, walking and holding up signs in support of child abuse survivors during the “Walk to Support Survivors” Event as part of Child Abuse Prevention Month. The event was organized by the...
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Pinwheel garden is a symbol of partnership against child abuse
A gentle breeze blows on an unseasonably warm Thursday as volunteers spend the afternoon planting a garden — not with flowers but with blue pinwheels. Surrounded by brightly colored flora and fauna, the pinwheels, planted into the mossy soil, spin...
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Children celebrate Earth Week with seed bombing at library
Children got their hands dirty — and had plenty of fun — when they gathered at the Rome-floyd County Library for a hands-on Earth Week activity focused on environmental education. The event, hosted by Keep Rome-floyd Beautiful, invited families to...
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Cave Spring hosts Porches and Pastries
The hum of good music dueled with the sweetness of pastries at Porches and Pastries in Cave Spring as neighbors gathered for an afternoon of companionship and delicious baked goods. The Cave Spring Downtown Development Authority hosted the April 18...
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Church gives hope, fuel to hundreds
Waves of gospel music could be heard drifting through the air, a sweet melody amid the buzz of activity at the Circle K on North Broad Street Saturday, as hundreds of patrons gathered for the chance to get free gas. The weekend event, Prayers at the...
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A wild week: Floyd County students visit zoo, farm
Floyd County elementary students celebrated the warmer weather with trips to the zoo and Pettit Creek Farms last week, and local families may want to take a page from their (school) book. Garden Lakes Elementary students headed to the zoo for a bit of...
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AdventHealth brings heart services together
A new chapter in heart care opened in Rome as community leaders, physicians and residents gathered to celebrate the ribbon cutting of the AdventHealth Heart, Lung and Vascular Institute, a facility designed to bring decades of specialized services...
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Event connects neighbors with resources, fosters imagination
On a bright, sunny day, children were creating art projects, tilling dirt to plant their own flowers, dancing and running free, enjoying Building Community Day. The Wednesday event was all about fostering imagination and neighborhood...
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3rd graders prove smarter, again
Do you know what the largest organ in the human body is? Can you give an example of a consonant digraph? The questions are so simple a third grader could answer them, and a group of students was up to the challenge April 14 in the “Are You Smarter...
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Bills await Kemp now that lawmakers’ work is done
Georgia lawmakers went home in a flurry of ripped paper, as is the custom at the end of the 40-day legislative session. The shreds floating through the House and Senate included some of the 2,241 bills introduced during the biennial assembly that...
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Rome, Floyd go to the polls
Floyd County residents hit the polls Tuesday for what many reported to be a seamless day of voting in the special election runoff for Northwest Georgia’s U.S. House District 14 seat. “The poll workers did a great job; they were really nice,” said Tom...
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Thunderbirds’ performance thrills attendees at airshow
The Wings Over North Georgia Air Show went off without a hitch with droves of attendees gathering at Richard B. Russell Regional Airport, despite the rain, to watch the highly anticipated performance of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. “We had...
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COMPROMISING AND REVISING
State Rep. Eddie Lumsden, Rarmuchee, saw much of his priority legislation gain passage this year — just not in ways he expected. The veteran lawmaker was not the only one working in the hectic final days of the Georgia General Assembly to ensure that...
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‘Largest contamination in history’
Erin Brockovich, a famed environmental advocate, is sounding an alarm on the dangers of forever chemicals in the rivers of Floyd County. Brockovich spoke at a town hall meeting at the Forum Tuesday, as part of efforts to rally the community to speak...
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Giveaway adds 225+ trees to Rome
The first community tree giveaway was a rousing success, if the numbers tell the story. The Rome Tree Board, along with Keep Rome-floyd Beautiful, held the giveaway Saturday at the GE Plant parking lot, and the response was very positive. “We were...
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Exchange Club names Youth of the Year
The Exchange Club of Rome presented its Youth of the Year award Friday to Armuchee High School’s Manrajpreet “Mannu” Singh during its regular meeting. A panel of judges selected the winner from nominations submitted by local high schools. The award...
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Ga. lawmakers negotiate in final week of session
Sen. Chuck Hufstetler, R-rome, was working at the state Capitol this weekend, getting a jump on the long hours lawmakers will be putting in during the next few days. Tuesday and Thursday are the last two voting days in the 2026 Georgia General...
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Georgia’s hidden industry
It’s been a long time since two fairly innocuous words have caused as much concern as these: data and center. This is the first article in a five-part series on a topic that has placed Northwest Georgia on the frontlines of a national...
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‘It’s heartbreaking’
Floyd County Tax Commissioner Kevin Payne had an office in the Historic Courthouse for nearly a quarter-century. Thursday, he recalled how it felt when he heard the first fire call and began to smell smoke. “Ryan and Blake came running through our...
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‘They saved Broad Street’
Floyd County officials heaped praise on the Rome-floyd Fire Department and other first responders for their performance during the devastating fire that destroyed the historic county courthouse. The Monday fire, which remains under investigation,...
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‘What we’re called to take care of’
At the junction of the Etowah and Oostanaula rivers sits more than a waterfront park; there’s a history that tells the story of “The Rivers Beneath” in a powerful way. A ribbon cutting Monday, March 23, unveiled an art project shaped through...
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‘DEVASTATING’
The tower of Floyd County’s Historic Courthouse fell at about 4 p.m. Monday, as flames engulfed the lower floors of the Rome landmark that had stood at the heart of downtown since 1893. Rome-floyd firefighters responded shortly after 2 p.m. as smoke...
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Local state lawmakers head into final stretch
With five voting days left in the 2026 Georgia General Assembly, Floyd County’s delegates are keeping a close watch on their outstanding legislation. Sen. Chuck Hufstetler, R-rome, is pushing a bill that would remove the opt-out provision in the...
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Something for everyone
The newly opened Rural King in the Mount Berry Mall appears to have something for everyone. The long-awaited Rural King has opened, though it is in its soft-opening phase, and an official ribbon-cutting with the Rome Floyd Chamber is scheduled for...
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Coyote puppy season
Unless you live in a loft on Broad Street, there’s a good chance you’ve seen, and especially heard, a coyote here in Rome and Floyd County. Well, the University of Georgia wants everybody to know that it’s coyote puppy season, and to be on the...
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Owner vows to reopen Ole Tymer BBQ
The original Ole Tymer BBQ on North Broad Street was damaged by a fire Tuesday night, leaving Floyd County residents concerned about where to get some of their famous breakfast biscuits or hamburgers. However, owner Julie Owens has vowed that they...
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Quiz Bowl tests FCS students’ knowledge
Floyd County Schools gifted students went head-to-head at the district’s annual Quiz Bowl at Berry College recently. Fourth-grade, fifth-grade, sixth-grade and seventh-grade students from Floyd County elementary and middle schools competed in academic...
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Green means go!
There must have been a pot of gold hidden on Broad Street somewhere, because Saturday’s 10th Annual Leprechaun-a-thon was a huge hit as over 500 runners and walkers participated. The Leprechaun-a-thon 5K and 2K Health Walk transformed downtown Rome...
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County library offering Art Club for splash of creativity
The Art Club at the Rome-floyd County Library sprang into being a little more than a year ago, sparked by reflection on a common question. “What would I do if I had unlimited money,” Deanna Headrick asked herself. The answer turned out to be something...
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Mount Berry Trail playground opens
As much as the Mount Berry Trail has already brought enjoyment and recreation to community members, it got a little better Thursday afternoon when the ceremonial ribbon was cut for a new playground at the trailhead behind the U.S. Post Office off...
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TIGERS TAKE THE TITLE
The Darlington Tigers of 2025-26 made school history Wednesday at the Macon Coliseum. With a hard-fought 53-50 victory against defending GHSA Private Boys champion Holy Innocents’, Darlington and head coach Nathan West won their first boys basketball...
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Locals visit Georgia State Capitol
With 10 days remaining in the 2026 Georgia General Assembly, legislators are hard at work fighting for their causes and locals have joined the fight, visiting the State Capitol and advocating for change while seeing what goes into creating state...
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Simple test: ‘Helping prevent tragedy’
When Dale Clements suddenly struggled to breathe after fishing with his grandkids, he had no idea that moment would change the future of his entire family. What started as shortness of breath quickly led to an important discovery. After an...
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Banners up at Floyd leader schools
Armuchee Elementary School was a place of celebration and cheer as students and staff from Floyd County Schools gathered to welcome the state superintendent and celebrate seven schools’ academic achievements. State Superintendent Richard Woods arrived...
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Local lawmakers see some success on ‘crossover day’
Local lawmakers had mixed results last week in ensuring their legislation passed over to the other chamber by Friday’s deadline. Missing the “crossover day” deadline essentially means a bill won’t be considered by the Georgia General Assembly this...
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Naturalization: New citizens are sworn in at federal courthouse
Under normal circumstances, it’s extremely rare to find a brass band and lots of smiling faces if you’re sitting in a courtroom in front of a federal judge. However, Friday morning in the Harold L. Murphy Federal Building in Rome, Federal Magistrate...
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Brick repairs underway at courthouse
If you’ve been to the Floyd County Tax Office recently, you’ve probably noticed several bucket trucks filled with workers precariously perched at the roofline, furiously working like bees on the hive. These workers are performing necessary brickwork...
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Chamber hosts annual meeting at Forum
The Forum River Center was packed Wednesday afternoon as a virtual who’s who of the local business world turned up for the Rome Floyd Chamber’s annual meeting. Chamber President Pam Powers-smith hosted the event, which was presented by Atrium Health...
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Georgia House passes insurance reform package
The Georgia House has sent a package of legislation aimed at addressing insurance costs and violations to the state Senate for consideration. The four bills passed by the House Thursday aim to curb excess insurance industry billing and profits while...
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County honors 3 for Black History Month
The Floyd County Commission marked Black History Month by recognizing three members of the community for their contributions to education, civic engagement, advocacy and historic preservation. The commission recognized Joyce Perdue-smith, Candice...
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