Tuesday updates from www.bartowheadlines.com

Click www.bartowheadlines.com

 

The Buzz of Northwest Georgia:

-Isakson formally declares bid for a second Senate term today

-Icahn clips investments in Temple-Inland, Forestar (Town West developer)

-Gordon County video:  Ready for prime-time business

-Rome Braves get a new online look this season

-'BBQ Bailout' and other ways to make lemonade from sour economy

-Georgia's agri-tourism event, Wine Highway Weekend, March 21-22

-2009 Relay for Life: Lots of changes, same goal: Drive Out Cancer

-Links to Relay events in Polk, Gordon, Bartow counties

-Plus: Others also walking the walk for good causes this spring

-Business Calendar: Busy week for Realtors, chamber

Unity National 'suffering' with customers, 'in a position of fiscal integrity,' CEO says:: Sunday's AJC reports that 42 banks in the state had ratios topping 100--"a measure that some industry analysts say indicates which financial institutions face a higher risk of insolvency." Cartersville-based Unity National's rate was 108 percent, the AJC reports, while the overall range was from 102 to 393 percent. Click AJC.

>Michael McPherson, right, Unity's president and chief executive officer, told bank employees on Friday to expect the report in Sunday's newspaper. McPherson said, "You should know that the Texas ratio is the level of non-performing assets versus the level of bank capital.  Non performing assets are loans in excess of 90 days past due or on non accrual of interest plus foreclosed property held by the bank.  It should be noted that Unity has one of the lowest Texas ratios that will appear in the article. 

>"Are we suffering?  To a degree, yes. We're suffering because our customers are hurting. The trickle-down effect of the problems on Wall Street and to a handful of unmanageable big banks have touched the lives of nearly everyone in the country.  As a result, we are seeing our fair share of problem loans, like most all other banks.  Given time, the normal self-correcting nature of the market should help resolve these issues.

>"We are moving forward in serving our customers from a position of fiscal integrity and soundness; and we are not operating as a statistic ratio on a chart.

>"Our economy and our customers are experiencing difficult times and that impacts the bank as well.  We are, and remain, well capitalized by regulatory standards."

>In a telephone discussion Monday, McPherson says the bank's offices in Cartersville, Adairsville, Rome and Calhoun "by all means" remain open for business. He says most of the troubled loans have already hit with two or three more possible in coming weeks.  For more on the bank, click Unity

Bartow School  Board meets tonight at 6: For the agenda, please click Here

-Dean's list announced for fall quarter at North Metro Technical College> Dean's list

Weather Center / brought to you by Roman Court

-Tuesday:  Sunny with a high of 56.

-Tuesday night: 80 percent chance of rain, low of 42.

-Wednesday: 90 percent rain chance, high of 63.

-Extended forecast: Please click WeatherCenter

Norman Arey's Sports Roundtable / brought to you by Riverside Toyota

- SI: Central Florida brings in outside investigator to probe O'Leary's training practices. Click Arey