Thursday, September 17, 2009

Thursday's updates

 

Mixed report on Rome jobs: Up 300 from July, down 1,800 vs. Aug. 08

Source of chart, text: Georgia Department of Labor

In an economy hungry for good news, let's look at the positives first:

-300 more jobs were filled here last month, 39,500 vs. 39,200 in July.

-Georgia's jobless rate dipped to 10.2 percent, a tick down from 10.3 in July.

-But on the flip side, there were 1,800 fewer jobs in Rome/Floyd County last month vs. the 41,300 people working here in August 2008. And the statewide jobless rate 13 month ago was 6.4 percent.
-Says Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond:"Tens of thousands of jobless Georgians are facing an increasingly difficult job market. The slight decline in the August unemployment rate appears to be a bit of positive news, however, a closer examination reveals that the reduction was primarily due to work force shrinkage."
-Georgia's labor force has shrunk by 79,039, jobs from 4,823,467 to 4,744,428; the number of unemployed workers nearly doubled from 244,962 to 481,588; the number of jobs declined by 314,100 from 4,181,100 to 3,867,000.
-In August, the over-the-year losses came in trade, transportation and warehousing, manufacturing, professional and business services, including temporary employment agencies, and construction.

-Job growth came in healthcare; private educational services (13,400 jobs). 
-Next week: The county-by-county unemployment rates.

-Sept. 24/Shorter, Forum, Labor Department team up on job fair> Click

-Latest local jobs posted on CareerBuilder> Click

Closings & openings:

PDI closing Rome, Douglasville stores: PDI, known for its plumbing and lighting fixtures as well as accessories and parts, is closing the store at 246 N. Fifth Ave. as of Friday, Sept. 25. The Lawrenceville-based company bought H & H in 2001. The PDI group has eight stores but is reducing locations to six with the closing of both  Rome and Douglasville> PDI

-Two more restaurants close in Cartersville . . . :  Two relative newcomers, Avalon on Slopes Drive off Tennessee Street and Michaela's Smokehouse on Ga. 20 near I-75 have closed.

-. . . and Game Time, new sports bar/grill, on the way in: A new sports bar in the Avalon spot behind Slope's BBQ and next to the Carmike 12 theaters is just about ready. Game Time sports grille should open in mid-October and more is on the way for the plaza just off Tennessee Street near the U.S. 41 interchange.

Realtors elect 2010 officers: The Greater Rome Board of Realtors have elected officers for 2010. Wednesday's vote went as follows: Ruth Terry, president; Debbie Hayes, president-elect; Graham Dixon, treasurer; and Jane Slickman, local director> Greater Rome Board

Rome candidates getting the word out--signs, online, social media:

>At least three of the six candidates on the ballot this fall to fill three seats in Ward 2 on the Rome City Commission have active campaigns under way.

-Sue Hamler Lee had signs up before qualifying even ended Sept. 4. Even more yard and corner signs flew up afterward and Lee hasn't stopped there. She's also put together a Web site, VoteSueHamlerLee.com. The site was created on Aug. 24.

-Steven McDowell, making his third bid for City Commission, recently launched the Steven McDowell for Rome City Commission page on Facebook. He had 50 members as of Wednesday.

-Incumbent Duane Reid was on Facebook with a re-election page at least a year ago. Reid had 141 members as of Wednesday.

>Other candidates running for the three seats in Ward 2 include incumbent Jamie Doss, Jeff Brother and Harold Pledger.

>The first candidate finance reports are due to City Clerk Joe Smith's office on Sept. 30 with the next round due Oct. 25.  The final report is due Dec. 31.

>15,425 people are eligible to vote in Rome's City Commission and school board races this year. Voter qualifying ends Oct. 5. Election day is Nov. 3. Click Politics

Rome Area History Museum's fall fund-raiser to use Town Green as venue Oct. 16:   The city of Rome's newest attraction will be the scene of a fund-raiser for one that salutes more than 175 years of history. Called "Party on the Green" the event is scheduled to feature bands, a fully catered dinner, beverages and other amenities. Tickets are $40 per person or $75 per couple. The performs include Blu Thunder, Kneckdown, Thunderbolt Patterson and Stephen Smith. For more, call 706-235-8051 or click Museum.

Downtown Headlines: (Click)

-Big week starts tonight with 'Sunset,' 'A Tasting of Rome' and gets busier with Shorter football and the beer festival on Saturday.

-Bryan Mullins' Mullinsmania.com report: what's up downtown.

Dining & Drink:

-Latest restaurant health inspection scores later today> Dining

-Busy weekend at North Georgia wineries; what's ahead> News Vine

High School Football:

-John McClellan's Friday night picks> Football Report
-Armuchee, Gordon Central, Chattooga to stay perfect.
-Rome, Darlington, Rockmart, Sonoraville all looking at wins.
-Coosa, Cartersville, Cedartown, Woodland  have tough nights ahead.

Latest from Georgia High School Football Daily> Details

Your latest forecast:
-Thursday: High near 81, lows of 70. Rain chance: 60% to 80%
-Friday: High of 82, low of 69. Rain chance: 40% to 60%

-Your extended forecast> Weather / Local radar> Radar

Norman Arey's Sports Roundtable:

- If you don't like some of my observations, tough. Want to make something of it?> Click

Shorter Hawks

-Preview of Saturday's Shorter-Pikeville football game at Barron> Click

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