SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 815 AM
FOR SOUTHERN FLOYD AND POLK COUNTIES
... AT 744 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO INDICATE A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS UP TO 60 MPH. THESE STORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM LINDALE TO CEDARTOWN TO 10 MILES SOUTH OF ESOM HILL...MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH. More weather below
Double-digit jobless rates across the region; 17,260 idle
| Working in February | Unemployed in February | Feb. 09jobless % | Jan. 09 jobless % | Feb. 08 jobless % | |
| Bartow | 40,949 | 5,293 | 11.4% | 10.7% | 6.1% |
| Chattooga | 9,934 | 1,603 | 13.9% | 12.1% | 14.0% |
| Floyd | 43,765 | 4,896 | 10.1% | 9.3% | 5.6% |
| Gordon | 23,812 | 3,235 | 12.0% | 10.6% | 6.8% |
| Polk | 19,538 | 2,233 | 10.3% | 9.1% | 5.3% |
| Georgia | 4,350,305 | 453,248 | 9.4% | 8.7% | 5.3% |
Source: Georgia Department of Labor
Some 17,260 Northwest Georgians were without work in February as the jobless rate in five area counties jumped above the 10-percent mark. A county-by-county look shows:
-Chattooga's rate of 13.9 percent was a bit better than the 14% posted a year earlier. The February 2008 numbers were in part because of the shift layoff at Mount Vernon Mills.
-Bartow had the highest number of people unemployed last month, 5,293 or 11.4 percent of its labor force. Bartow, like Floyd and Gordon, saw Goody's close last month with Office Depot also closing soon. The chamber earlier this month helped coordinate a "re-employment" expo for displaced workers.
-Floyd has seen month after month of layoffs and closings, the latest being Goody's and Circuit City. A "Shop Rome" campaign is under way, trying to keep retail dollars and jobs in town vs. Chattanooga or Kennesaw.
-Gordon lost its Goody's store and now is bracing for several hundred additional filings as Shaw Industries closes a yarn plant there.
-Polk's jobless rate continued to creep up as well.
-Said State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond. "In 87 of our state's 159 counties, double-digit unemployment is a sobering reality. A rising tide of joblessness is spreading across our state."
Business Buzz
-Greater Rome Bank reports solid year in 2008: Among the highlights were deposits of $138 million and assets of $185 million> Business
-Local Pier 1 stores remain open: The Rome and Cartersville stores are not among 16 the chain is closing in coming weeks, a company spokeswoman confirms> Background
-Cycle Therapy combining locations, moving to Broad Street> Downtown Headlines
-More post-Paul Harvey chances at WRGA: With ABC discontinuing the long-form midday report made famous by the late Paul Harvey, WRGA (1470AM and 95.3 FM) has opted to add part of Neal Boortz' Overload Hour from 12:06 until 12:30 p.m. WRGA also carries the Boortz feed from 10 a.m. until noon. The station's midday report continues at 12:30 p.m. weekdays.
Politics:
-Smith's life without parole bill passes state House> Politics
-Gingrey op-ed on health care published by Washington Times> Op-Ed
Campus Headlines:
-GHC's Spranza honored for promoting campus activities> GHC
-Virtually Shorter for March now posted> Shorter
-Celebrate Shorter set for April 1> Campus Headlines
-Floyd Schools' Cole Benefield earns key chef honors> Click
WeatherCenter/brought to you by Roman Court
-Flood Watch: Tonight through Saturday night.
-Hazardous Weather Outlook: Stormy days ahead.
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Weather Statement
Short Term Forecast
| Police scanner | Live radar | (if needed) | Click WBHF for storm updates if needed |
Today: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 2pm, then a slight chance of showers. High near 72. South wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.
Tonight: A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Friday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 69. Calm wind becoming east between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
-For more, click WeatherCenter
-For the latest local weather radar, click Here
-For the latest from the weather service, click Here
-Floyd adding 'CodeRED' emergency notification system: Floyd joins Gordon and Polk counties in offering phone notification system to area residents and businesses. For easy enrollment, click RED (updated link)
What next for the AJC after latest round of job cuts, reduced circulation?
-Wednesday's news that the AJC is slicing 90 jobs from the already-downized newsroom and trimming more counties from delivery lists hit earlier than expect. When all is said and done, the 320-person newsroom will be down to 230 people. Many part-timers already are gone.Plus: Delivery will be cut from 27 to 20 counties (Floyd continues to be a delivery county). Wednesday's cuts are sad news for readers and former employees. In an era where "news" operations need only a Web site to conduct "Amateur Hour" journalism, it chills us to see 90 more news professionals unemployed> AJC
Latest Stargazer's Journal now posted> RomeSG
Pollen count starting seasonal climb: Another sure sign of spring--all that sneezing going on and some new yellow tint on vehicles. Check the Atlanta Allergy & Asthma Clinic's updated Web page> Pollen
Norman Arey's Sports Roundtable / brought to you by Riverside Toyota
-Hide your pets and cell phones, Arkansas is practicing football; more on Wonderlic> Click Arey
Rome Braves preseason updates
-Former Braves catcher Javy Lopez to throw first pitch Opening Night.
-Single ticket sales under way at State Mutual Stadium
Downtown Headlines
-Bryan Mullins of Mullinsmania: What's ahead in downtown Rome. Click Downtown
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