Double dose of great local employment news. Plus: graduation updates; council agenda link; 85 today, storms Friday?

Please click www.bartowheadlines.com:

 

Cartersville City Council, 7 tonight. Hear it live on WBHF 1450 AM or Web cast here on Bartow Headlines. Click Agenda

-Latest report to Cartersville City Council members> Details

Bartow County/Cartersville City graduations:
-Cass High School, May 21 at 6 p.m. at stadium
-Cartersville High School, May 21 at 7 p.m. at stadium

-Adairsville High School, May 21 at 8 p.m. at stadium

-Woodland High School, May 22 at 9 a.m. at stadium

Employment: A double dose of good news in April

1) Number of first-time unemployment insurance filers down 44 to 53%

	April 2010	March 2010	April 2009	12-month %
Bartow	823	933	1,464	Down 43.8%
Chattooga	114	105	114	No change
Floyd	864	1,415	1,570	Down 45%
Gordon	614	733	1,232	Down 50.2%
Polk	435	776	923	Down 52.9%
Georgia	60,661	69,265	84,346	Down 28.1%

Source: Georgia Department of Labor

April's first-time unemployment stats were much better than most had assumed. In four of five local counties, the number of filers dropped significantly--by almost 44 percent in Bartow to almost 53 percent in Polk. Chattooga stayed the same as it was a year earlier. Statewide, the drop topped 28 percent.

-The actual numbers are more dynamic than the percentages: from 1,570 filers in April 2009 in Floyd County to 864 last month or from 1,464 in Bartow County to 823 or from 1,232 in Gordon County to 614 in April of this year.

-What it means: We might seen some improvement on the monthly jobless rates, which have been in the 10-plus percentage range for months.

-But more bumps ahead: Coming this summer--350 jobs lost at Pierre Foods plus the exodus of CCH Small Firm Services (up to 400 jobs heading to Kennesaw)

2) Rome/Floyd's labor force GROWS by 400 jobs in April:

39,700 people had jobs here last month vs. 39,300 a year earlier. That's an increase of 1 percent.

The chart to the right shows how Rome/Floyd's labor force has climbed and dropped in the past 13 months. April was tied for the third best month in the past year.(Labor Department chart).

How the state Department of Labor sees it:

-State picture--jobless rate declines: The state's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate declined to 10.4 percent in April, down one-tenth of a percentage point from a revised 10.5 percent in March. The April jobless rate was up 1.2 percentage points from 9.2 percent at this same time last year.

-First-time jobless claims dip: 60,661 laid-off workers filed initial claims for unemployment insurance benefits, a decline of 8,604, or 12.4 percent from 69,265 in March. There was also a decline of 23,685 initial claims, or 28.1 percent, from 84,346 filed in April 2009.

-Most of the first time claims were filed in trade, manufacturing, construction, and administrative and support services.
-Better days? Georgia's job market showed a modest improvement for the third consecutive month. The number of payroll jobs in April increased 26,900, or seven-tenths of a percentage point, from 3,794,700 in March to 3,821,600. However, the number of jobs remains less than in April 2009, when there were 3,912,700 payroll jobs, 2.3 percent or 91,100 more than this year.
-Says Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond: "Although our job market is slowly improving, the continuing increase in the number of long-term unemployed Georgians is troubling," said State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond. "The specter of structural unemployment is beginning to cast a long shadow across the American workplace."

So who is hiring right now?

-As we await April employment reports, Hometown Headlines took a quick look at who's hiring right now. The reason: On Tuesday, rue 21, a retail shop at Mount Berry Square and elsewhere in Northwest Georgia, had a job fair that drew around 100 applicants. And for good reason: the retailer has new stores opening in Acworth and Douglasville.

-Also drawing attention is the sign at Taco Bell on Turner McCall, advertising for managers for the "new store." The new store will be at the same location later this fall, next to the recently opened Zaxby's and Ace Hardware.

-So, who is hiring now? We took a look at local job sites to find out:

Georgia Department of Labor:

-More than 40 opportunities in the "Rome Metro" area, with a range of restaurant managers to caregivers and others. Labor

-In Cartersville, Bartow County: 38 jobs including firefighter. Bartow

-In Calhoun/Gordon County: At last 45 jobs, ranging from e-commerce administrator to farmworker. Gordon

.-In Polk County: 37 jobs, including a business development tech specialist. Polk

CareerBuilder (Hometown Headlines' partner): 17 jobs placed in the past three weeks including medical, retail and restaurants. Click Career

HotJobs (Yahoo!): 9 jobs including nursing positions, physical therapy. Jobs

Political Buzz

-Business connection draws political crowd, too:  Tuesday's Bartow Business Connection gathering at Johnny Mitchell's Smokehouse in Euharlee grew a solid crowd, especially among politics. Attending were state Senate hopeful Barry Loudermilk and two of the men trying to replace him in the state House: Christian Coomer and Greg Bowen. Photos . . . Crowded District 9 congressional race gets slimmer: Republican Bill Stephens has left the race to replace Nathan Deal in Georgia's Ninth Congressional District as has Dr. Bert Loftman. That leaves five in the race, all Republicans, including Ranger's' Tom Graves. . . Another cup of tea? Given Tuesday's big showing by Tea Party-friendly candidates, look for tonight's local meeting to have even more energy. Details ... First candidate to lose our vote this season (i.e., 'robo' political call): Stephen Dale Northington, insurance commissioner wannabe. 

Looking for updated gas prices, maps, directions, and travel information on vacation this summer. Yes, for these needs as well--there's an app for that: And it is a freebie courtesy of the AAA TripTik Mobile iPhone application. Check iTunes

Thursday's Buzz

-Highlands does OK after all when it comes to funds for new year. CH

-Latest update from visitor bureau's Hospitality Headlines. Click

-2010 top nursing award nominees, recipients at Cartersville Medical Center. Click

-Friday: The New Frontier of Bartow County, Inc. will be hosting their annual Memorial Day BBQ Sale. Plates will be available at 151 Firetower Road, NE, from 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. The menu will consist of barbecue chicken or ribs, baked beans, cole slaw, bread, and cake. The cost is $8 for either a rib or chicken plate.  Deliveries are available with a minimum of 10 orders.  The orders are guaranteed to arrive at least 15 minutes in advance of your designated delivery time. The proceeds from this event will benefit the organization's scholarship fund, which will be awarded on June 12 at the Annual Awards Day Program. Details: Michael Dean @ 770-547-5003, Bibby Morgan @ 770-548-5252, Ralph Lowe @ 404-512-8973, or Bryan Canty @ 770-655-0927.

Wednesday's Bartow County Jail intake report. Click

Your latest forecast:

-Thursday: High of 85, low of 63; 60% rain chance overnight.

-Friday: 70% chance of storms, high of 80. Low of 65; 40% storm chance.

-Weekend: Slight chance of rain both days; mid 80s, mid 60s at night.

-Extended forecast> Click  / Regional radar

Norman Arey's Sports Roundtable> Arey 

-The top offensive coordinator in the country may practice at Auburn. 

Rome Braves> Sports 

-Braves finish four-game sweep of Riverdogs, 12-5. 

-Braves on the road until Friday, May 28 vs. Savannah.

-Mills Fitzner's recent game photos> Click