Bartow's jobless rate at 11.6% in December: same as November, down from Dec. 2009. New industrial park's value: $85 million, $1.3 million in annual taxes?

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December jobless: Little, no improvement vs. November or Dec. 2009

	December employed	December unemployed	December % jobless	November % jobless	Dec. 2009 % jobless
Bartow	40,099	5,276	11.6%	11.6%	12.3%
Chattooga	9,201	1,539	14.3%	12.0%	11.2%
Floyd	43,951	5,186	10.6%	10.6%	10.4%
Gordon	22,062	2,987	11.9%	12.1%	13.1%
Polk	18,100	2,139	10.6%	10.5%	10.8%
State	4,213,160	478,889	10.2%	10.2%	11.0%

Source: Georgia Department of Labor

-Jobless report puts somber tone on four chamber annual meetings tonight: By coincidence, the chambers in Bartow, Floyd, Gordon and Polk counties all have annual meetings scheduled for tonight. Our bet: Recruiting jobs will be the key topic, either from the main podium or among assembled members in Rome, Cartersville, Sonoraville and Rockmart.

-No improvement: The December employment report from the state Department of Labor shows why: In Floyd, the unemployment rate was 10.6 percent last month, the same as in November but up from December 2009. Some 5,186 people were looking for jobs. In Bartow, 5,276 were jobless, pushing the unemployment rate to 11.6 percent. That also was the same as in November but down from 12,3 percent.

-Regional view: The news was a bit better in Gordon and Polk counties in terms of decreases while Chattooga County saw 1,539 people looking for work, putting the jobless rate at 14.3 percent.

-No immediate prospects: Several big projects are on the board in the region, from Dream Parks at Lakepoint to a new industrial center in Bartow County, but none offer significant short-term relief. And Floyd County could be facing more than 750 additional layoffs if the state mental hospital closes this summer as is now scheduled.
-Statewide report: The number of payroll jobs decreased 21,800 in Georgia last month, the labor department reports. Most came in construction, leisure and hospitality, the public schools, professional and business services, and wholesale trade. Compared to December 2009, the state had 7,800 fewer jobs.

Bartow industrial project valued at $85 million

-The Cassville White Road Industrial Park project listed in Wednesday's Headlines has a few updates. The latest data filed shows the project's overall value at buildout will be $85 million. Developers also estimate it will yield $1.3 million a year in tax revenue. And finally: The existing labor force to staff the center is "sufficient to fill the demand" created by park tenants. Details

Severe Weather Awareness Week (Feb. 7-11) focuses on being ready

-Consider it a lesson in current events. Our recent snow storm and icy roads are being used to remind Georgians to be ready for the next bout of severe weather. The state's annual Severe Weather Awareness Week is Feb 7-11 with different drills and lessons assigned to each weekday. The schedule:

-Monday, Feb. 7 – Family Preparedness/NOAA Weather Radio Day

-Tuesday, Feb. 8 – Thunderstorm Safety

-Wednesday, Feb. 9 – Tornado Safety and Statewide Tornado Drill)

-Thursday, Feb. 10 – Lightning Safety

-Friday, Feb. 11 – Flood Safety (alternate tornado drill date).

Business:

-Four chambers: By coincidence, the chambers in Bartow, Gordon and Polk also have annual meetings tonight. Our bet: Recruiting jobs the key topic.

Education

-Shorter to establish a club sports program this fall. Shorter's athletic department will provide scholarship funding for the new club programs. Hawks

-Latest edition of 'Virtually Shorter' now posted. Shorter

-Faculty updates from Georgia Northwestern Technical College. GNTC

Dining & Entertainment

-Latest public health restaurant inspection scores: A lot of 95-or-betters this week but also a few below our 'Mendoza Line.' Dining

Wednesday's Bartow County Jail reports. Jail Intake Report // Incident Reports

Latest updates:

-Busy February at Booth Western Art Museum: Vice Presidents and First Ladies. Click Booth Events

Your latest forecast: Nice weekend ahead.

-Thursday: Mostly sunny, high of 48, low of 30.

-Friday: Mostly sunny, high of 52, low of 31.

-Weekend: Sunny, upper 50s both days.

-Extended forecast: Click / Regional radar: Click

Norman Arey's Sports Commentary. Arey 

-Ochocinco is getting his Johnson back; Polamalu is the most popular with women.

Rome Braves/State Mutual Stadium. Click Sports

-Jan. 31: Phil Niekro headlines Rome Braves' Hot Stove Gathering.  Sports

-New: List of some of the items up in Monday's Hot Stove Gathering silent auction. Memorabilia

-Matt Walbeck to manage Rome Braves in 2011. Rome Braves