Thursday, October 21, 2010

Double dose of good news on local jobs. Bartow: First-time jobless claims drop

Surprising double dose of good news on local labor trends

-Rome/Floyd picks up 800 jobs in September vs. same month last year

-Bartow's first-time unemployment insurance claims drop sharply.

-But state's jobless rate in September, 10%, unchanged from August. Click

With the Pierre Foods plant closing in Rome in August and Mohawk's idling the spun yarn plant in Cartersville, local employment trends were expected to sink yet again. The closings took nearly 600 jobs out of the market, and that didn't count for the CCH Small Firm Services relocation to Kennesaw (nearly 350 more jobs lost).

Instead, Rome/Floyd saw an 800-job gain in September vs. the same month last year, boosting the local labor force estimate from 38,600 to 39,400.

Just as surprising: The number of people filing for first-time unemployment insurance benefits dropped both month-over-month and year-over-year in all five local counties and statewide.

 
September
August
Sept. 2009
12-month %
Bartow
668
930
882
Down 24.3%
Chattooga
73
111
86
Down 15.1%
Floyd
713
1,283
1,017
Down 29.9%
Gordon
564
841
875
Down 35.5%
Polk
333
411
444
Down 25.0%
Georgia
57,146
70,264
66,614
Down 14.6%

Source: Georgia Department of Labor

Oct. 28: Flu shots available at Bartow Public Health: The Bartow County Health Department will be offering flu shots to everyone over six months of age from 8 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.at the Civic Center (next to the Bartow County Public Library), 435 W. Main St. Nurse Manager Cathy Green says the agency is trying to make it an easier, more convenient stop this year. "Vaccination is the single most important thing you can do to protect yourself and your loved ones from getting the flu," said Green.  The flu shot will cost $20; Medicare, Medicaid, cash, check and credit card will be accepted as well as Wellcare, Amerigroup, PeachState and State Employee Insurance (UHC and CIGNA). Pneumonia shots will be available for those persons meeting the high-risk criteria and will be provided at no charge through a state grant.  For more information about flu shots, contact the Bartow County Health Department at 77o-382-1920.  For more information about flu, go to www.cdc.gov/flu

Statewide GOP candidates bring bus tour to Cartersville Sunday: The rally is set for 2:30 p.m. at the Train Depot on Public Square.

5,000-plus due at four-day Southeastern Cowboy Festival and Symposium: Concerts, lectures, exhibits, vendors and a Sunday morning "Cowboy Church" are part of the eighth annual celebration at the Booth Western Art Museum today through Sunday. A closer look: Click

Wednesday's Buzz:

-Oct. 21: Chamber's Business After Hours, hosted by Cartersville Medical Center. Go to the north tower, classrooms one and two, 5-7 p.m. Chamber

Thursday's Buzz:

-Oct. 30: The Coosa River Basin Initiative will host a 12-mile paddle on the Etowah and Coosa rivers from Grizzard Park on the Etowah to Lock and Dam Park on the Coosa River. The "Fall Foliage Paddle" takes adventurers through the heart of downtown Rome and on to the historic lock and dam. Click

-Nov. 13: The Ninth Annual CRBI-Northwest Georgia Credit Union Fish Fry & Green Expo is at Rome First United Methodist Church in Downtown Rome. The meal will feature fried catfish filets, hushpuppies, cole slaw, cheese grits, tea and homemade desserts. Advance tickets are $8 for regular plates and $5 for small fries in advance and can be purchased online or at the following locations: CRBI in Downtown Rome, Kroger in East Rome, Lavender Mountain Hardware in Armuchee or Cedar Creek Park in Cave Spring. The Green Expo will feature exhibits about environmentally friendly consumer products and games.  Details

-Oct. 23: 37th Annual Peach State Marching Festival ready for Barron

The 37th annual Peach State Marching Festival will be held on Saturday, October 23, 2010 at the historic Barron Stadium in Rome. Peach State is the longest continuously running marching band festival in Georgia. Details

-Oct. 25: Synovus, parent company of Citizens First Bank in Rome and GB & T in Calhoun and Cartersville, to announce third quarter results. Click

Wednesday's Bartow County Jail reports. Click and Click

Your latest forecast:

-Thursday: Sunny, high of 78, low of 39.

-Friday: High of 77, low of 43.

-Weekend: Upper 70s, lows near 50. Some rain.

-Extended forecast: Click / Regional radar: Click

Norman Arey's sports commentary. Click 

-Olympic hopefuls, beware of mail enhancement products; Tiger gives up only $110 million

John McClellan's week nine high school football picks. Click

-This week's winners include:

-Adairsville beats Model / Cartersville over Cedartown

-Chattahoochee thumps Cass / N. Whitfield over Woodland.

Shorter Hawks football. Hawks

-Next up: Oct. 23, at Harrison High, vs. Cumberland, Ky. 1:30 p.m.

Rome Braves/State Mutual Stadium. Click Sports

-Oct. 23: Montgomery Gentry concert.  

-Nov. 12: Braves Celebrity Shootout golf match

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