Thursday updates

First-time jobless insurance claims see-saw in Floyd

	Oct. 2009	Sept. 2009	Oct. 2008	12-month %
Floyd	1,067	1,022	1,025	Down 5.2%

Source: Georgia Department of Labor

-You have two ways to look at the latest first-time unemployment insurance claims for Floyd County last month. Compared to September 2009, the October report was up 4.4 percent. Year over year, claims were down 5.2 percent.

-County-by-county stats had not been posted by the state Department of Labor as of this morning. We'll post them as them are released. September reports

-Statewide, 70,597 laid-off workers filed initial claims for state unemployment insurance benefits in October, a decrease of 2.8 percent from October 2008. The number of claims increased by 3,983, or 6.0 percent, from September when 66,614 claims were filed.

-The average length of time jobless Georgia workers drew benefits increased from 11.6 weeks in October 2008 to 14.4 weeks in October 2009.   
- "The October jobless claims report provides a revealing snapshot of the condition of Georgia's job market and viability of the nascent economic recovery," says State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond. "Most striking is the lack of improvement in initial claims, which showed a decline of only 2.8 percent over the year. This is a stark reminder that job losses are continuing at rates comparable to those experienced at the height of the Great Recession."
-Most of the initial claims were filed by laid-off workers in manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, construction, and administrative and support services.

-Finding jobs/Northwest Georgia companies due at Dalton job fair Nov. 19: 1 to 5 p.m. at the Northwest Georgia Trade and Convention Center.  All tables are at no charge for employers.  > Details

Latest updates on flooding along local rivers, creeks:

-Latest overall status report from the National Weather Service> Click

-Flood warning for Armuchee Creek in effect until further notice. At last report, the creek was at 19.4 feet and rising. Flood stage is 19 feet. It will remain above flood stage overnight, the weather service reports> Click

-Coosa: At last report, it was at 24.1 feet and rising.

-Oostanaula: At 24.85 at 4:45 a.m. and rising. To peak at 25.4 feet. Flood stage is 25 feet.

-Oostanaula @ Resaca: At 20:42 feet at 4 a.m. and rising. Flood stage is 22 feet. Flood warning issued.

-Etowah/Rome: At 30.63 feet at 5 a.m. and rising. To peak around 30.7 feet, below flood stage of 32 feet. High water alert issued.

-Etowah/Cartersville: At 11.09 feet at 4 a.m. and dropping.

-Rainfall on Tuesday from Ida: 3.46 inches. Latest weather, below.

Today's Buzz . . . :

-Major renovations almost done: Look for updates soon on a not-so-old favorite that has undergone extensive renovations and upgrades just in time for the Christmas season. The formal announcement should be out soon. It is first of several enhancements under way there.

-Downtown Rome goes Facebook: The Downtown Development Authority has been flirting with online ideas in recent months. Step one is the creation of a new Downtown Rome Facebook page that already has nearly 90 fans. Downtown

-Nov. 12/A graduation ceremony for the second session of the Georgia Northwestern Technical College Law Enforcement Academy is set of 1 p.m. Thursday at the Raymond F. King, Auditorium on GNTC's Gordon Campus.

-Nov. 21/Author-illustrator Margaret A.W. Ingram to sign 'Invasion of the Sparkspitters' at Dogwood Books & Antiques, 240 Broad St., noon to 3 p.m.

-Dec. 12/Rome Area Council for Arts will host an Open Gallery for metal artist Stephanie Dwyer from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. www.romearts.org.

-Dec. 12, 19/Oak Hill and The Martha Berry Museum present Oak Hill in Lights from 5-7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, and Dec. 19. Admission is $10 per car and $20 for buses. Contact Patrice Shannon at 706-368-6775.

Today's Wine News Vine:
-Two wineries, tasting room add to Clayton's appeal in Northeast Georgia. Tiger Mountain, Persimmon Creek are must visits; spend time outdoors at Tallulah Gorge. And feed... we're serious... Goats on the Roof.
-Plus: Big weekend ahead in the heart of N. Georgia's wine country: Dahlonega.
-Updates from across our state's wine region through Dec. 12.
-Click http://www.winenewsvine.com

Latest forecast:

-Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 66. North wind between 5 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
-Thursday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 39.
-Friday: Sunny, with a high near 69. Low of 39.

-Extended forecast> Click    Local radar  / regional radar

John McClellan on the playoffs: Who's in, who's out> Football Report

-Darlington, Calhoun survive week one; Pepperell, Armuchee, Trion, Chattooga eliminated?

Norman Arey's Sports Roundtable>Arey

-Nobody wants to play Boise State. Clemson coach about to become instant millionaire.

Shorter closes season vs. Bethel College at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Barron Stadium> Details

Georgia High School Football  Daily: A look at the AA playoffs featuring Pepperell, Calhoun, Chattooga, Armuchee> Click

Upcoming events at Rome Braves/State Mutual Stadium> Sports

-Braves' first Celebrity Shootout with Rocket Wheeler, Frog Smith.

-First annual Wing Ding due Nov. 21.

-Links to winter baseball leagues.

Downtown Headlines> Click

-What's ahead in downtown Rome: Christmas open house Friday, Saturday.

-Bryan Mullins of MullinsMania: What's ahead in downtown entertainment.