Thursday's updates

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Employment

Good news: First-time jobless claims drop dramatically . . .

	February	January	Feb. 2009	12-month %
Bartow	790	1,577	1,075	Down 26.5%
Chattooga	115	142	129	Down 10.9%
Floyd	1,000	1,483	1,354	Down 26.1%
Gordon	652	1,156	1,354	Down 51.8%
Polk	740	834	1,188	Down 37.7%
Georgia	66,069	95,264	86,519	Down 23.6%

Source: Georgia Department of Labor

. . . Bad news: Rome sees 800-job loss last month vs. Feb. 2009

Source: Georgia Department of Labor

Call it a good news/bad news report in terms of employment news from the Georgia Department of Labor for the month of February.

-On the negative side: The state's jobless rate rose to a record 10.5 percent in February. January's rate was 10.4 percent while the February 2009 total was 8.7 percent. The county-by-county jobless rates are due later this month.

-Also a negative: Rome/Floyd County saw an 800-job dip in the labor force in February with 39,300 jobs vs. 40,100 a year earlier. Statewide, Georgia payroll jobs in February decreased 137,500 or by 3.5 percent, year over year. The losses came in manufacturing, construction, trade, transportation and utilities, along with professional and business services and financial activities. Educational and health services added 5,700 jobs.

-A positive sign: First-time unemployment insurance applications fell by almost 11 to 52 percent in the five-county area last month vs. February 2009. The latest report also was down when compared to January applications.

-Gordon County saw the largest drop, from 1,354 in February 2009 to 652 applications last, a decrease of almost 52 percent.
-Says Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond: "Record unemployment, half-a-million jobless workers, tens of thousands of lost jobs, tempered only by tepid job growth and lengthening periods of unemployment are stark reminders of the economic challenges that still lie ahead. However, the significant decline in February initial unemployment insurance claims suggests that Georgia's job market may be stabilizing."

2010 Duck Derby Kickoff is 10 a.m. March 27 at Dellinger Park in Cartersville:  The race itself is May 15> Details

'100 Grand' celebrates 100 years of The Grand Theatre> Details

March 18: Cartersville City Council, 7 p.m. Hear it live on WBHF 1450 AM or Web cast here on Bartow Headlines> Agenda

Media:

-Magjk 1360 offers Steve Harvey, urban contemporary format> Business

Health:

-March 26/Ground breaking set for Harbin Clinic Cancer Center: The 11 a.m. ceremony will be at the site at Second Avenue and West Fifth Street.

-Ashley Smith, hero from the Brian Nichols' case, is prayer breakfast speaker: The guest speaker for this year's Gordon Hospital Prayer Breakfast is Atlanta hostage hero Ashley Smith, who persuaded Brian Nichols, "Atlanta's courtroom killer" to surrender to police. She will share her story at the 9th Annual Community Prayer Breakfast event set for Thursday, May 6, at Sonoraville Recreation Complex> Details

Transportation

-The final open house on the 411 Connector is set for 4 until 7 this evening at the Cartersville Civic Center at 435 W. Main St.> DOT

Dining & Drink

-Spring wine celebration Saturday at Johnny Mitchell's Smokehouse> Dining

-5th Annual Wine Highway Weekend begins Friday> Wine

What's ahead in Bartow County:

-March 19: Chamber lunch and learn topic--'What Business Owners Need to Know about Commercial Insurance.' 11:30 a.m. The presenter is Steve Molina, ARM, CIC, senior partner of Risk & Insurance Consultants. Complimentary lunch will be provided by C.L. Smith/State Farm.

-March 20: 'Bikers for Babies.' Area bikers will ride Saturday, March 20 to benefit the smallest members of the community.  Sponsored by Cartersville Medical Center's "March for Babies" team for the March of Dimes, registration is $25 per biker and $10 for riders. Registration will begin at The Hope Center in Cartersville at 9 a.m.  Kick stands will go up at 10 a.m. and the race will begin.  The bikers will travel the 50 mile route north on Highway 411, then east on Highway 140, continuing south on Highway 108, then west on Highway 20 to south on I-75 and down Main Street in Cartersville. The final destination for the ride is Dellinger Park, where lunch will be served beginning at 11 a.m.  Paid participants will receive their meal free; others may purchase meals for $5 (adults) and $3 (children). To register or for more information about the event, please contact Ami Bowman at 404.358.2173.

-March 24: The United Way of Bartow County's annual luncheon is at noon Wednesday, March 24, at the Cartersville-Bartow Chamber of Commerce, Anheuser Busch room. The cost is $15 per person. Please RSVP by March 22 to morehouseb@bartowga.org or 770-386-1677.

-March 27: 2010 Women's  Expo returns to Cartersville: The latest Women's Expo is set for Saturday, March 27, at the Cartersville Civic Center, sponsored by Coosa Valley Credit Union along with Georgia Power, Plant Bowen. The line-up: Learn about products and services that will help you look and feel better; examine career choices; sample a "Taste of Bartow;" and try your luck on the door prizes. Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $5 at the door. Advance tickets may be purchased at the Red Cross office, 320 W. Cherokee Ave., Suite 109. Call 770-382-0981. Advance ticket holders will be entered into a special door prize drawing. For more, e-mail karonmauney@comcast.net.

-April 1: Cartersville City Council, 7 p.m. Hear it live on WBHF 1450 AM or Web cast here on Bartow Headlines.

-April 3/Car show set:

Advance Auto Parts presents the Tom Clayton Memorial Car Show in downtown Cartersville from 5-8 p.m., featuring hourly giveaways, People's Choice Award and a DJ on site. $2 admission per classic car. Contact: Cartersville DDA, 770-607-3480.

Your latest forecast

-Thursday: 20% chance of rain, high of 61.

-Thursday night: 39 degrees under partly cloudy skies.

-Friday: Sunny and 71 degrees.

-Friday night:  41 degrees under cloudy skies.
-Extended forecast> Click  / Regional radar

Norman Arey's Sports Roundtable> Arey

-Will the opening day at Augusta be declared a national or international holidays?