Bartow County sees health dip in unemployment claims--but more looming.

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First-time unemployment claims drop again in June . . .

	June 2010	May 2010	June 2009	12-month %
Bartow	729	620	1,251	-41.7%
Chattooga	120	97	158	-24.5%
Floyd	730	789	1,453	-49.8%
Gordon	721	442	1,089	-33.8%
Polk	284	289	540	-47.4%
Georgia	64,794	57,919	88,756	-27%

Source: Georgia Department of Labor

. . . while Rome's labor force climbs by 1,400 vs. June '09

You'd think two scoops of positive employment reports would satisfy Georgia Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond. Instead, he issued the following comment as the department released preliminary June numbers: "Georgia's job market is showing signs of renewed deterioration. A sharp increase in the number of discouraged workers, rising long-term unemployment, increased new layoffs and anemic job growth suggests that the fledgling economic recovery may be losing steam."

Economic forecasters have warned about job losses continuing in 2010 before rebounding next year. You can add Thurmond's name to that list.

But for the short-term, the June reports show:

-Rome's overall labor force grew by 1,400 jobs to 40,300 in June 2010, up from 38,900 a year earlier. One note of caution: A 100-job dip from May.

-First-time unemployment insurance claims dropped in all five counties--and around the state--by significant percentages.

-Floyd claims were down almost 50 percent compared to June 2009, from 1,453 to 730. But brewing out there: Pierre Foods' shutdown and the loss of CCH Small Firm Services to Kennesaw.

-Bartow and Gordon counties also saw big drops but, again, a note of caution: Mohawk's spun yarn plant in Cartersville closes next month, idling 229 employees.

-For more on the latest jobless numbers, click Business.

Harbin Clinic Cancer Center about a week ahead of schedule. Hometown

Goodwill opens today in Cartersville: The store is in the former Winn-Dixie supermareket off Joe Frank Harris Parkway and will employ 40 people, reports AM 1450 WBHF. The Cartersville station also marks its 64th anniversary today.

'Taste of Cartersville' seeks local restaurants: Cartersville's Downtown Development Authority seeks local restaurants to be part of  Taste of Cartersville on Saturday, Oct. 16, from 11 a.m. u ntil 6 p.m. The day will feature live music and entertainment on stage, cooking demonstrations, the Atlanta Braves Kids Corner, giveaways and much more. The event is open to all Cartersville restaurants and caterers. For more information, please call the Cartersville DDA at 770-607-3480.

Tonight: Cartersville City Council, 7 p.m. Hear it live on WBHF 1450 AM or Web cast here on Bartow Headlines. Agenda (Work session starts at 6 p.m.)

Wednesday police report from the Bartow County Jail. Click

Your latest forecast:

-Thursday: High of 94, 20% rain chance.

-Thursday night: Slight chance of rain, low of 73.

-Friday: 30% chance of rain, high of 92.

-Friday night: Low of 74, 30% chance of rain.

-Weekend: Low 90s, low 70s at night; 40-50% rain chance.

-Extended forecast: Click  / Regional live (animated) radar

Norman Arey's Sports Roundtable. Arey 

-Want to know the secret of having a great football season? Schedule cup cakes.

Rome Braves. Click Sports

-Braves drop opener to Hagerstown, 5-3.

-Now-Monday: in Hagerstown, Md.  

-Mills Fitzner's latest home game photos.  (click)