Hometown Headlines Radio Edition: Local news without the static‪.‬ John Druckenmiller

For many years, Christmas was prime time for Harry Musselwhite, the longtime senior lecturer in music at Berry College and one of the most popular voices in Northwest Georgia. He moved to New Mexico six years ago where he's stayed very busy in the music, acting and the production business as well as becoming a podcast mainstay.

On Thursday, we arranged for Harry to join us to update friends in Northwest Georgia on his multiple passions (he filmed an episode of the Peacock Network's new MacGruber now streaming) as well as started another business. 

We spent nearly 19 minutes reconnecting with Harry who, as always, is both informative and entertaining. While much of the chat is about acting and music production, you'll hear some great takes on Northwest Geogia, on Nelle Reagan's famous "gang's all here" Christmas episodes, one of Harry's favorite Berry traditions and some other local memories (and names).

The Knights of Columbus Labor Day Barbecue returns Monday, Sept. 6, to the Rome Civic Center  with some key changes to keep guests and volunteers safe. 

Mel Thomas, the grand knight of the Knights of Columbus Council 4410 of St. Mary's Catholic Church, and barbecue co-chair Jim Powell join Hometown's John Druckenmiller to talk about staging one of Rome's culinary highlights.

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. 

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.

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. 

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.