Newsline: What’s buzzing today. Business. Politics. Churches. The arts.

Newsline is a mix of information gathered Thursday by Hometown Headlines from a variety of sources.

Late 2015 opening for Kroger Marketplace? That’s what the marketers for other retail spots of Main Street in Cartersville as they try to fill the storefronts adjacent to Kohls. They write: “New 100,000 (square-foot) Kroger relocating across the street - opening fourth quarter 2015.” If so, they better start turning lots of dirt real soon. It was all woods when we drove by last week . . .

No decision yet on Coosa School Board pick: The Floyd County Board of Education met in a work session Thursday night and, according to WRGA, “members agreed they still need more time before they make a decision on a replacement.” The final three: Kim Holtzendorf, Mary Lee and Jay Shell. The board meets again Tuesday. Background

Moving on up: Ember Bishop, a Shorter University graduate who left Rome Radio Partners more than four years ago to serve as executive assistant to Georgia First Lady Sandra Deal, has been named Deputy Commissioner of International Relations at Georgia Department of Economic Development . . .

Help for suicidal veterans: On Monday, the U.S. Senate will vote on the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act. Last week, the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, chaired by U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., unanimously passed the prevention act. The House vote was 403-0. Says Isakson: “I am pleased the full Senate is acting quickly on this emergency legislation following VA Committee passage last week. When you have 8,000 veterans a year committing suicide – which is more veterans than have died in all of Iraq and all of Afghanistan since we’ve been fighting – then you have a serious problem. This legislation is an important step toward providing better access to mental health resources for our veterans.” …

Rangers rock: Six Georgia Department of Natural Resources rangers from across the state were nominated for Investigative Ranger of the Year including Northwest Georgia’s Cpl. Casey Jones. The winner was Ranger First Class Fred Hays of Jasper County …

Happy 130 to Admiral Towers: If you’re close to Rome City Hall today, drop by the plaza and salute the statue honoring the life and achievements of Admiral John Henry Tower, naval pioneer. He was born in Rome 130 years ago today. (Thanks for the head’s up, Howie Lowden).

Helping hands: During the first three weeks of 2015, Red Cross responded to 16 incidents and provided emergency assistance to 51 people in Northwest Georgia . . .

The Cartersville-Bartow County Chamber of Commerce’s quarterly luncheon is Monday, Feb. 23, at the Clarence Brown Conference Center. The guest: Dent Thompson of Phoenix Air, the “biggest company you’ve never head of” until the Ebola outbreak. Table sponsorships are $250 for 10 seats and individual seats can be reserved for $25 each. Click chamber . . .

Dr. Tom Long will present a seminar, ‘What Makes Funeral Christian’ at First Baptist Church on Wednesday, Feb. 4 at 6 p.m. in the sanctuary. Dr. Long is Bandy Professor of Preaching at Emory University’s Candler School of Theology and author of 21 books including Accompany Them with Singing, which provides cultural critique of today’s Christian funeral. First Baptist invites anyone interested to attend. First Baptist is at 100 E. Fourth Ave. in downtown Rome. Website . . .

St. Peter’s Episcopal Church announces Ash Wednesday service times on Feb. 18: The church at 101 E. Fourth Ave. will have services at 8 a.m., noon and 7 p.m. at St. Peter’s and at noon at Barnwell Chapel on the Berry College campus . . .

First Presbyterian Church Weekday Preschool at 101 E. Third Ave. in downtown Rome is accepting applications for the 2015-16 school year. Please contact Regina Detweiler Director of Preschool, [email protected], or call 706-291-6034 . . .

Rome’s 60-member community chorus, The Three Rivers Singers, presents ‘Valentunes for Valentines III - An Evening of Love Songs’ on Sunday, Feb. 15 at 4 p.m. in the auditorium at Heritage Hall. Len Willingham, music director, will conduct and Joan Hill will accompany, along with an instrumental ensemble. They will present such favorites as Blue Skies, At Last, All the Things You Are and Tuxedo Junction The concert is free and open to all – donations are tax deductible and are always appreciated. Heritage Hall is at the corner of Glenn Milner Boulevard and East Third Avenue in downtown Rome. For further information, go to www.threeriverssingers.org or call Lynn at (706) 232-7411 . . .

Registration is under way for the Third Annual Rome Writers Forum, to be held on the campus of Berry College on March 21. This year’s forum features novelist Terry Kay, author of To Dance with the White Dog, Bogmeadow’s Wish, The Book of Marie and several other novels. Also on the program are: Lauretta Hannon, author of The Cracker Queen and a sell-out speaker at past Rome events; Calhoun novelist Mignon Ballard, the author of the Augusta Goodnight and Miss Dimple mystery series; and Victoria Wilcox, who is coming off a national book tour for “Southern Son: The Saga of Doc Holliday,” the legendary Georgia dentist who moved west seeking relief for his tuberculosis, fell in with Wyatt Earp and was at the legendary Gunfight at the OK Corral. Early bird tickets are $75 for the general public; $50 for Rome Area Writers members; and $25 for students. After Feb. 1, tickets increase by $10. Ticket prices include a continental breakfast and lunch. Registration forms and the authors’ biographies can be found at romeareawriters.com. The event will be at Winshape Wilderness Center, 2277 Martha Berry Highway. Sign-in, mingling and coffee/breakfast begin at 8 a.m.