| County | February filings | January filings | Feb. '08 filings | February vs January | Feb. '09 vs Feb. '08 |
| Bartow | 1,075 | 2,204 | 501 | -53.1% | +114.9% |
| Chattooga | 129 | 171 | 87 | -24.6% | +48.3% |
| Floyd | 1,354 | 3,035 | 754 | -55.4% | +79.6% |
| Gordon | 1,354 | 2,064 | 767 | -34.4% | +76.5% |
| Polk | 1,188 | 1,599 | 338 | -25.7% | +251.5% |
| Georgia | 86,519 | 120,139 | 40,963 | -28% | +112% |
The first-time jobless report for February is one of those half-full, half-empty arguments. The half-full crowd points to the number of filers dropping by 25 to 55 percent from January's reports. The half-empty side points to 48 to 251 percent year-over-year increases in compensation claims when comparing the past two Februaries. The full impact of what it means won't be known until the February unemployment numbers come later this month or in early April. Today's report:
-Gordon tied Floyd for the most claims last month, 1,354 each. Both posted year-over-year increases in the upper 70 percent range.
-Polk was the hardest hit when comparing year over year, with a 251.5 percent jump (338 applicants to 1,188 last month).
-Bartow and Floyd saw month-over-month claims drop by more than 50 percent.
-For more on the state report, please click Georgia
Statewide layoffs at 5,605 through February
The state Labor Department's jobs warning site notes 5,605 positions have been lost in Georgia between Jan. 1 and Feb. 28. These represent only jobs from larger employers required to file notice of layoffs or closings. The Forbes layoff ticker, which tracks reductions from America's 500 largest public companies, showed 289,339 during the first two months of the year (Forbes). So how do the Georgia numbers stack up with annual reports from the past 10 years?
| 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 |
| 19,163 | 12,516 | 15,173 | 17,742 | 15,852 | 19,128 | 20,706 | 38,323 | 106,555 | 18,407 |
-About 2000's report: There were huge layoffs from some employers that year, including 2,000 from Eastern Airlines and more than 2,000 from Zayre.
-About 2001's report: Many of the reports were filed after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Delta alone laid off more than 3,500 people.
-Bartow Together: Re-Employment Resources Expo March 17> Bartow
Synovus stock dividend: penny a share: Synovus, the parent company of Citizens First Bank, has reduced the quarterly dividend payable on the company's common stock from six cents to a penny a share, effective for the dividend payable April 1 to shareholders of record on March 19. The move lets the company retain an estimated additional $66 million in retained earnings per year> Synovus
-Track today's Dow, other markets> Google FinanceThursday-Sunday: Sixth annual Cowboy Gathering: Downtown Cartersville will get a significant boost as the Sixth Annual Southeastern Cowboy Gathering, brought to you by Booth Western Art Museum, gets under way. Events stretch from Thursday through Sunday. An artist reception, the End of the Trail Supper and Concert, chuck wagon cookoff, cowboy church and other events will fill the weekend. Some events are at The Grand Theatre.
>Updated: Day-by-day schedule of the Cowboy Gathering. Click Booth
Moonlight trail walk is tonight: (Media release) Discover a whole new view of the trails and wilderness surrounding Cartersville with your choice of two new monthly hikes by moonlight. The Cartersville Parks & Recreation Department will be hosting Pine Mountain Moonlight Hikes on the night of the full moon. The first hike gets under way on Wednesday beginning at dusk (around 7:30 p.m.) at the West Trailhead of Pine Mountain Trail at I-75 Exit 288. The hike to the summit for a celestial view of the Etowah River Valley and the City of Cartersville will take approximately 1.5-2 hours. Or you may choose a different view at the Full Moon Hike hosted at Red Top Mountain State Park's Iron Hill Trail. Held on the same evening, participants are asked to meet at the Iron Hill parking lot just prior to 8:30 p.m. This 3.9 mile loop will enchant you with views of moonlight dancing on the water of Allatoona Lake. While designed to be illuminated by moonlight, participants may wish to bring a flashlight. Both hikes may be cancelled due to bad weather. For info on the Pine Mountain hike call 770-387-5626 or for details on the Red Top Hike call 770-975-4226.
March 21/100th Anniversary Confederate Monument Celebration set: The United Daughters of the Confederacy Gen. P.M.B. Young Chapter No. 2373 in Cartersville invites you to attend the 100th anniversary celebration of the Confederate Monument at the 1903 Bartow County Gold Dome Courthouse on Saturday at 2 p.m. Speakers will include Bob Crowe, Commander of the Stiles-Akin Camp No. 670 Sons of Confederate Veterans in Cartersville; and Cassie A. Barrow, a member of the UDC Atlanta No. 18 Chapter since 2001 and currently a resident of Griffin. A gun salute will be presented by the Sons of Confederate Veterans as part of the ceremony. Also participating will be Dale Black, lieutenant commander of the Stiles-Akin Camp No. 670 Sons of Confederate Veterans in Cartersville; Joe Carver and company, 52nd Georgia Infantry Gilmer Light Guards; and Gary Turner and company, 28th Georgia. The event will be held inside the courthouse in the event of rain. Refreshments will follow.Sen. Preston Smith hails passage of amended budget> Senate
Wednesday's Buzz
-Model, Shorter grad's design a finalist for Peachtree T-shirt this year
Hannah Lucas, a 2003 honor graduate of Model High School, is a finalist to 
provide the artwork for the 2009 Peachtree Road Race T-shirt. Lucas, a graduate student art major currently enrolled at the University of West Georgia, is one of five finalists to provide the artwork for the traditional shirt for the annual race held in Atlanta. The artwork for the five finalists will be printed in the March 15 edition of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the public will be allowed to vote for their favorite on the ajc.com web site. The winning design will be printed on the T-shirt presented to runners. The four finalists each receive a $100 award. The winner: $1,000. The winner will not be revealed until race day. Lucas is a 2007 graduate of Shorter College.
Dining & Drink
-St. Patrick's Day dining roundup: We're seeking menu updates from area restaurants planning to serve traditional Irish food on Tuesday, March 17, St. Patrick's Day. Please send a few lines (menu, hours, cost) by clicking e-mail.
-Easter Bunny due March 21: Look for the Easter Bunny and related activities at Mount Berry Square starting Saturday, March 21, at 11 a.m.> Details
WeatherCenter, brought to you by Roman Court
-Wednesday: 20% chance of showers, high of 71, gusts to 20 mph.
-Wednesday night: Mostly cloudy, low of 42. Gusts to 20 mph.
-Thursday: 30% rain chance, high of 58, gusts of 20 mph.
-For more, click Weather Center
Norman Arey's Sports Roundtable / brought to you by Riverside Toyota
-Talk about 'Lame': Vols' Kiffin berates player for signing with Gamecocks. Click Arey
Rome Braves' 2-for-1 Tuesday tickets includes Opening Night> Braves
Downtown Headlines
-Monthly DDA board meeting set for Thursday; home and garden show this Saturday-Sunday. Click Downtown
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