That is it for today's BathurstAM report.

The Western Advocate would like to say a big congratulations to all of the businesses that have been nominated for the Crowe Horwath Carillon Business Awards. 

For more details about the businesses nominated for this year's awards, pick up a copy of today's Western Advocate for our Carillon Business Awards feature. 

8:50AM

Here are a number of events happening in the Bathurst community over the next couple of days;

- Bathurst Regional Art Gallery will host a guide to social media from 2pm- 4pm tomorrow. It will look at developing relationships and communicating with your audience and potential customers – vital to the success of any arts business.

Tickets are free and available from www.eventbrite.com.au/e/the-art-of-online-a-guide-tosocialmedia-tickets-11641836045.

- The premiere Bathurst season of I Might Just Take You On The AstroTurf will open at Bathurst Uniting Church Hall, 140a William Street, at 6.30pm tomorrow.

This performance is a participatory audio theatre experience about falling in love with a beautiful stranger in a park and the way a crush can turn us all into nervous dreamers and amateur psychics.

Further shows will be held on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Tickets: www.trybooking.com/91594. This show is strictly 18-plus.

- Steve Woodhall will recall his 30 years as a local forest ranger at Rahamim’s Green Drinks this Friday. This month’s Green Drinks will also feature a Vale Creek wine tasting.

It will all begin at 5.30pm at 34 Busby Street. Entry: $10. Bookings on 6332 9950 or bookings@rahamim.org.au.

8:40AM

Bathurst's economy is continuing to perform well.

According to a report compiled by council’s economic development section, it is humming along nicely, showing a steady growth of 2.2 per cent as at June 30, 2014 as compared to June 30, 2013.

A report to councillors has completed research regarding the impact of recent changes in the employment market in Bathurst.

“Whilst the region has experienced job losses in the manufacturing sector, growth in construction and wholesale trade industries remains strong,” the report states.

“In order to remain proactive on this issue, council’s economic development section proposes to run a Jobs Expo in late 2014.

“The expo will provide residents with the opportunity to meet with employment agencies and businesses that are looking for staff or have future potential growth opportunities.”

According to council, funding for the initiative is contained within existing budgets

8:33AM

Have you found a dark coloured female chihuahua with white patches? The family pet went missing in the Howick and Peel Street area. If you spot the lost dog please contact 6334 3931.

8:25AM

The Commonwealth Games will kick off in Glasgow tonight. The opening ceremony is due to begin at around 8pm at Celtic Park in Glasgow and will be aired on Channel 10 from 5:30am tomorrow morning. 

Australia has sent its largest ever Commonwealth Games team, with around 417 athletes expected to compete in Glasgow. 

Among them will be Bathurst cyclist Mark Renshaw, who is in his third week of the Tour de France. Renshaw has been selected for the men's road race on August 3, which will take place one week after the Tour finishes.

Carcoar's Kurt Fearnley will also be competing in Glasgow. The paralympian will compete in the 1500 metre wheelchair race, which is a short distance in comparison to the marathons he regularly contests.

8:05AM

Rain is on the way to the Bathurst region with weather forecasters predicting falls to arrive tomorrow, along with a temperature range of four to 12 degrees.

According to www.weatherzone. com.au, today should start with a frosty morning ahead of a sunny conditions. 

For Friday, there’s the chance of showers, 5-15 degrees and more of the same for Saturday, 4-13 and possible showers.

Sunday should dawn fine and clear, frosty with a temperature range of 2-13 degrees. 

Weatherzone data showed Bathurst has received 22.4 millilitres of rain so far this month, the heaviest falls were on July 16 with 14.4mm recorded.

7:45AM

The Penrith Panthers will arrive in Bathurst this afternoon ahead of their match against the Cronulla Sharks at Carrington Park on Saturday. 

They will be conducting a junior league clinic at the Bathurst Sports Ground from 4pm, before they head to the Mayor's Civic Reception at The National Motor Racing Museum at 6pm.

Ahead of their arrival, local school kids tested their footy throwing skills in a 2BS/B-Rock FM Rock of The West promotion yesterday. 

A big congratulations to The Assumption School students Molly McCrossin and Jack Lynch who won the promotion which was held to select a local ball boy and girl to support Saturday's big match. 

7:30AM

In regional news this morning,

ORANGE athlete Kate Smyth has encouraged Orange residents to get right behind Australia’s athletes as they aim for gold at this year’s Commonwealth Games that start in Glasgow tonight.

CHILDCARE providers in Dubbo have welcomed proposals to change funding methods for the industry, expand services to include nannies and grandparents and give more money to disadvantaged children.

AFTER a search that's spanned social media networks and search engines worldwide, Trish Moerkerken has finally found the owners of the cattle that had taken up residence in her paddock.

While in national news,

A POWERFUL right-wing union currently under investigation by the royal commission into union corruption has had its formal influence in the Labor Party slashed after it was caught grossly inflating its membership numbers.

PRIME Minister Tony Abbott has dismissed a Productivity Commission suggestion that funds be redirected away from his signature paid parental leave scheme and into childcare services, arguing the two are ''very separate issues''.

7:15AM

In local news this morning,

LEGAL proceedings have been brought against the former Anglican Bishop of Bathurst, Richard Hurford, and current Bishop Ian Palmer by the court-appointed receivers of the Anglican Development Fund (Bathurst Diocese). 

AN online petition opposing the proposed co-naming of Mount Panorama has collected almost 500 signatures in just four days.

SITE work is set to begin on council’s multi-million dollar Manganese Removal Project infrastructure next month.

KFC in Bathurst closed its doors during the lunchtime rush on Monday after brown water started flowing through the pipes at the fast food restaurant. 

7AM

Morning, Bathurst. We're half way through another week. As you decide what to pack in your bag today, keep in mind we are expecting a partly cloudy day with areas of fog early in the morning. We should reach a top of 14 degrees.

Here is what is happening on the radar this morning: