Local jobless rates decline, Record rainfall for March, New radio station launches in NWGA

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Local unemployment rates decline slightly, still 11.6% in Bartow County above state average of 10.2%

February Jobless Rate

	February employed	February unemployed	February % jobless	January % jobless	Feb. 2010 % jobless
Bartow	39,734	5,199	11.6	12.4	12.1
Chattooga	9,118	1,238	13.0	12.9	13.7
Floyd	42,729	5,128	10.7	11.1	10.7
Gordon	21,989	2,944	11.8	12.5	13.7
Polk	18,064	2,140	10.6	10.9	11.4
State	4,202,094	478,104	10.2	10.3	10.5

Source: Georgia Department of Labor

Georgia's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for February was 10.2 percent, down one-tenth of a percentage point, from a revised 10.3 percent in January. The state's jobless rate was also 10.3 percent in February 2010. February marked the 41st consecutive month that Georgia has exceeded the national unemployment rate, which is currently 8.9 percent.

March goes out like a "roaring wet lion" with record rainfall

As of March 30, there was a total of 10.31 inches of rainfall in Rome for the month of March with 13 rainy days. This goes down in the record books as one of the rainiest Marches since historical rainfall data has been collected by the University of Georgia weather station in Rome. Last year, there was 4.50 inches of rainfall in March. Since January 1, Rome has recorded 18.17 inches of rainfall, which is way ahead of last year's total of 13.55 inches for the same time frame.

Your latest forecast:

-Thursday: 50% rain chance; high of 56, low of 36.

-Friday: 30% rain chance, high of 66, low of 40.

-Saturday: Partly sunny, high of 72, low of 41.

-Your extended forecast: Click // Latest local radar: Click

-Click Pollen: From Atlanta Allergy & Asthma Clinic.

Northwest Georgia's newest radio station is on the air. The question is: What is it? WRBH 104.9 FM started broadcasting Wednesday and went to what you're hearing today late Wednesday. Good luck if you can decipher the format. WRBH is owned by Howard Toole of Rome Radio Partners. It is being managed by the partnership that also brings you WRGA 1470 AM, Q102, South 107 and several other local stations. Toole was the winning bidder for the Plainville signal in an auction held by the FCC several years ago.

The latest public health restaurant inspection scores are up. Dining

Week ahead in Bartow County:

-March 30-31: Ga 140 detour: Media release: Georgia DOT is advising motorists in Bartow County of a detour off Ga. 140 at the CSX Railroad crossing near the intersection of Ga. 140 and U.S. 411 in Rydal, scheduled for March 30 and 31. Ga.140 at this location will be closed to traffic from 7 a.m. on Wednesday, March 30 until 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 31, to accommodate work by the railroad company on upgrading the crossing. Westbound traffic will be detoured off Ga.140 onto U.S. 411 to Ga. 53 and back to140.  Eastbound traffic will be redirected to Ga. 53, U.S. 411 and back to Ga. 140. Detour signs will be in place to help motorists navigate around the scheduled road closure.

-March 31: Bartow Business Connection, 4 to 7 p.m., Booth Western Art Museum. Details

-April 1: Advocates for Children along with Cartersville Mayor and Bartow County Commissioner will hold a press conference at 12 p.m. at Friendship Plaza to discuss their plans for Child Abuse Prevention Month this April.

-April 1-2: The Grand Theatre will present "Kiss Me, Kate" on Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday. Advance tickets are $10 adults, $7 children. At door, tickets are $15 adults, $10 children. Call 770-386-7343. Details

-April 2: The Home Depot & City of Cartersville will host a Spring Event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Cartersville Home Depot. The event will feature information on energy savings, home safety, lawn & garden tips and services provided by City of Cartersville. There will be lots of kids activities including a kids' workshop at 9 a.m. Lots of giveaways and food.

Wednesday's Bartow County Jail reports: Jail Intake Report // Incident Reports

-Links: Local police scanner.

Norman Arey's Sports Roundtable. Arey

-Are the top four college bowls getting ready to shift to a new site?