Mixed report: First-time jobless claims in July down for '09, up from June
| | July 2010 | June 2010 | July 2009 | 12-month % |
| Bartow | 943 | 729 | 1,616 | Down 41.6% |
| Chattooga | 128 | 120 | 155 | Down 17.4% |
| Floyd | 1,259 | 730 | 1,584 | Down 20.5% |
| Gordon | 964 | 721 | 1,061 | Down 9.1% |
| Polk | 543 | 284 | 640 | Down 15.2% |
| Georgia | 68,089 | 64,794 | 93,988 | Down 27.6% |
Source: Georgia Department of Labor
Yet another good news/not-so-good news report from the state Labor Department:
-More jobs, less jobs: Floyd County added 800 jobs in July vs. July '09. But compared to June, the county lost 800 jobs (40,200 to 39,600). Chart below
-Troublesome June: While the number of first-time applicants filing for unemployment insurance dropped in July vs. the same month in 2009, the number of claims month over month rose, especially in Floyd County (up 72.5 percent).
-Numbers game: While the state's jobless rate dipped to 9.9 percent last month vs. 10 percent in June, state Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond says "a growing number of discouraged workers dropped out of the workforce. For the second consecutive month, the number of jobs in our state declined, new layoffs increased, and long-term unemployment continued to rise." More state stats: Click Business.
-As for first time claims: Bartow County saw the largest year-over-year drop, at 41.6 percent. The smallest decrease was in Gordon County: 9.1 percent.
-What to watch: Pierre Foods is closing its Rome plant this month, idling 350 workers. In Bartow County, Mohawk Industries is closing a spun yarn plant, laying off nearly 230 people. Not included: CCH Small Firm Services' exodus from West Rome to Kennesaw, taking more than 350 jobs out of the market.
-Down the road: Recent Rome/Floyd County expansions will add 75 jobs in coming months. Also: The Labor Department's Rome Career Center will be interviewing applicants for Steak N Shake on Aug. 23. About 110 jobs will be created.
-The Northwest Georgia/Shorter University Job and Career Fair is at The Forum from 1 until 5 p.m. Sept. 23 with more than 30 employers. Business.
-And the Cedartown Career Center will be the site of a job fair Sept. 9, 1-4 p.m.
The above chart, from the Labor Department, shows Rome/Floyd gained 800 jobs compared to July 2009 but also lost that many jobs compared to June 2010.
Aug. 19: Cartersville City Council, 7 p.m. Hear it live on WBHF 1450 AM or Web cast here on Bartow Headlines. Work session begins at 6 p.m. Agenda
Autographed Bobby Cox commemorative T shirt, pennant added to Model/Johnson auction Saturday: The retiring Atlanta Braves' skipper and Adairsville resident has signed both items for the auction to benefit the Model and Johnson Schools Foundation set for Saturday at Model Middle School. The dinner is from 5 until 6:30 p.m. with the auction to follow. The dinner is $5 per person (five tickets for $20). Call 706-295-5713.
Thursday's Buzz:
-Tonight/Stevi B's Second Annual Free Pizza Day at the Cartersville shop at the Wal-Mart/Lowe's plaza is taking part -- if you're one of the first 100 customers beginning at 6 p.m. Click
-Latest public health restaurant inspection scores for Bartow, Floyd, Gordon, Polk and Chattooga counties: several 100s, a 68 and a 52. Click
-CRBI and Keep Bartow Beautiful, along with students from Berry and Georgia Highlands, cleaning up river access point. Details
-Georgia DOT will present draft FY 2011-14 State Transportation Improvement Program for public review, comment. The four-year program specifies federally funded transportation projects for non-urban communities in rural Georgia. Two Open house meetings will be held Wednesday, Aug. 25, from 5-7 p.m. at the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce, and Thursday, Aug. 26, from 5-7 p.m. at the GDOT District 6 Conference Room in Cartersville.
What's ahead in Bartow County:
-Aug. 20: First Friday Family Fun Night; reset from Aug. 6: 7:30 p.m. "The Wizard of Oz" is the featured presentation.
-Aug. 21: Tellus Mineral Symposium on Gold from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Enjoy four in-depth lectures by local and national gold experts at this one-of-a-kind symposium. Tickets to the event include refreshments, lectures on the mineralogy and history of gold, a live auction to benefit Tellus Collections, and a weekend museum pass to Tellus. Tickets are $8 for members and $20 for non-members. Please pre-register by calling Tellus 770-606-5700 ext. 417.
-Aug. 21: The Bartow County Friends of the Library is sponsoring the 2nd Annual Book'in It for the Friends of the Library 5K race and 1mile Fun Run. The fun run is at 7:30 a.m.. and the 5K is at 8 a.m.. This is an off-road race held at the Woodland High School Cross Country course in Cartersville, Georgia. The course is both scenic and challenging as it covers an open field, shaded trails and one hill. Please visit www.bartowlibraryonline.org for registration info. Current race registration is $15 and increases to $20 on race day. All proceeds will benefit the Bartow County Library System.
Wednesday's Bartow County Jail reports. Click & Click
Your latest forecast:
-Thursday: High of 90; low of 72. 70% rain chance. Heat index of 99.
-Friday: High of 92; low of 73. 50% rain chance. Heat index of 100.
-Weekend: Low 90s, low 70s, some rain.
-Forecast: Click / Regional animated radar
Norman Arey's Sports Roundtable. Arey
-Most folks agree that Ohio State is the team to beat but I'll take Iowa this season.
Rome Braves. Click Sports
-Finally a W! Braves end skid, beat Charleston, 2-0.
-Braves in Charleston, S.C., through Friday.
-Mills Fitzner's latest home game photos. Click
John McClellan's High School Football Picks & Forecasts
-Mr. High School Football looks at all the changes since last season; predicts opening week games.
-Plus: Unity Christian's first game at Covenant Christian is Friday night.
-For more, click Football
Cartersville Fire Chief Scott Carter has been elected as President of the Georgia State Firefighters Association. The association is the largest and oldest Fire Service Organization in Georgia with over five-thousand members. The membership is comprised of all ranks from firefighters to Chief Officers; career and volunteer, with an emphasis placed on improving and promoting the fire service profession here in Georgia.
Dining for a cause--Chick-Fil-A and Memory Walk: Dine in at the Chick-Fil-A Dwarf House from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday and part of the proceeds will go to 
Shorter Hawks go prime time:
-Starting today: Fans of Norman Arey's Sports Commentaries appearing on this site and broadcast on WRGA 1470 AM are getting 14 consecutive columns dealing with the start of college football. Those columns start today and stretch through Thursday, Sept. 2. The following day, we'll see the first 2010 edition of Norman's No-Nos, guaranteed losers in 15 major college football games each week. 
Peak to Berry's Dr. Bruce Conn, selected for Jefferson Science Fellowship, and advising the State Department: 
-That's the buzz in Downtown Rome as a franchisee prepares to bring the
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