January jobless rate climbs to 11.3% in Polk; 14.2% in Gordon

Source: Georgia Department of Labor

-The new year isn't bringing much hope in terms of new jobs. The January unemployment numbers are out for Northwest Georgia and they continued to climb when compared to December 2009 and a year earlier.

-Polk County saw a 2.3-point spike, from a 9 percent unemployment rate in January 2009 to 11.3 percent this year.

-Gordon County's jobless rate hit 14.2 percent with 3,480 people looking for work. The was the highest in the region.

-Bartow County had the most people looking for work--5,852--for a jobless rate of 12.8 percent. Better days? Several retail outlets are opening in Cartersville this month, including T.J. Maxx (March 21) and a new Arby's on the west side.

-Floyd County came in at 10.9 percent, up two points from January 2009. Some 5,412 people were without jobs last month. Better days? The chamber jobs site has new listings, especially in education. Also, several restaurants are opening including Johnny's New York Style Pizza and The Greener Burger, both on Broad, and El Toro on Shorter Avenue.

-Chattooga County, which saw early layoffs in the recession, was at 12.6 percent compared to 12.2 percent a year earlier.

-Statewide: The state’s unemployment rate rose to 10.4 percent in January, topping the previous record high of 10.3 percent reported in December. This marks the 28th consecutive month that Georgia has exceeded the national seasonally adjusted rate, which was 9.7 percent. The state’s January jobless rate was up 2.0 percentage points from 8.4 percent at this same time last year.

Your latest forecast: 100% all wet. 1 to 2 inches of rain today.

-New: Flood watch in effect through Thursday morning> Click

-Summary: Look for close to two inches of rain today and more throughout the week. As of 8 a.m., an inch of rain had fallen in our area. Thunderstorms also are possible over the next few days. We'll have updates throughout the day.

-Wednesday: 100% chance of rain, one to two inches possible. High of 56.
-Wednesday night: 100% chance of rain, half-inch or more possible. Low of 53.
-Thursday: 80% chance of showers, thunderstorms. High of 68. Gusts to 15 mph.
-Thursday night: Mostly cloudy, low around 44.
-Extended forecast> Click  / Regional radar

A Hero's Welcome

Spc. Justin Evans (right, center) and his colleagues in the 108th Calvary, Company A of the U.S. Army National Guard got a hero's welcome as they traveled along Turner McCall, Broad Street and Second Avenue on Tuesday following 12 months of duty in Afghanistan. Waiting for Evans, 24, on Broad Street were his mother,  Cindy Kelley, and her own army of family and friends. Hometown's Natalie Simms, a family friend, writes about Cindy's anxious final minutes awaiting her son's return and the overwhelming pride she felt. Click Homecoming

-Photos from Broad Street as the heroes' welcome grew> Downtown

-Video of some of those who joined the salute to Company A> Click

-Additional photos from Broad courtesy of Natalie Simms> Click

-Armuchee photographer Joel Lieberman's photos of the day> Click

Wednesday's Buzz

-New spin on Coosa Valley CU's $1,500 United Way donation> UW

-Berry College’s yearlong focus on the artwork of talented alumni artists continues in March with an exhibit by Marty Kahnle. Moon Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, or by appointment. The exhibition will be displayed through April 2. Call 706-236-2219> More details

-Saturday's Shorter Hawks-Emmanuel College double header baseball game also is Military Appreciation Day. Events include camouflage uniforms, pre-game ceremony, and Branch of Service Recognition. Game times Saturday are 1 and 3 p.m. For more: Coach Matt Larry at 706-233-7510. Game admission is free  

-Rome Braves' single-game tickets go on sale Saturday, March 20: The box office opens at 10 a.m.; ticket prices remain the same: $10, $8,. $6 and $4> Sports

Tonight's PowerBall jackpot worth $170 million> Lottery

What's ahead in Polk County:

-April 5: Red Cross blood drive, 2-7 p.m., First Baptist Church, Cedartown

Norman Arey's Sports Roundtable> Arey

-Georgia's future non-league football schedule is dull; Mettenberger got his money's worth.

The Buzz of Northwest Georgia (Please click)

-Gubernatorial Soup: 411 Connector part of spicy week for GOP candidates.

-Cartersville, Bartow voters to hear about education SPLOST 'extension.'

-Floyd Relay for Life going back to basics in 2010.

-Busy weekend ahead in Rome (expo), Cartersville (cowboy gathering).

-Peaks & Valleys: Northern Arc returns; just build it.

Sports/Rome Braves/State Mutual Stadium> Sports

-Braves announced 2010 promotional schedule.

-Rome Braves launch 'official fan page' on Facebook

-Redneck  Rummage Sale at State Mutual Stadium March 20> Click

Get Polk County updates via Twitter:

-Follow us at www.twitter.com/polkheadlines

Polk County, Ga., Facebook Directory: www.polkheadlines.com brings you a new community Facebook group to help you find other friends in the community> Facebook

What's new at the Cedartown Library

Cedartown Public Library, 245 East Ave. Cedartown: 770-748-5644. Library hours: Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Closed Sundays. Email: whatsnew@cedartownlibrary.org    

Do you want to have a great time with the kids and not break the bank?

Bring the family to the library this weekend and enjoy our new Cinema Saturdays movie lineup! We have changed our movie dates to Saturdays so that we can serve more families.  These showings are FREE through a paid subscription for public performance rights with Movie Licensing USA. A small bag of fresh popcorn is just 25 cents and there is a vending machine available for drink and snack purchases.

Cinema Saturdays (formerly known as Thursday Theatre)

Showing Saturday, March 13th at 1:00pm

Planet 51  Rated PG  (2009) More at IMDbPro »

Lem is just an average teenager working on getting the girl and furthering his career at the local planetarium - except that he's an alien. At least to U.S. astronaut Captain Charles T. Baker who lands on Lem's planet hoping for a quick flag plant and a hasty return to earth and his millions of screaming fans. But on this alien planet the media has tagged spacemen as brain-eating, zombie-creating monsters, causing Baker to run for his life and into Lem's house. Now it's up to the green native to get the clumsy astronaut back to his spaceship before military dictator General Grawl and mad scientist Professor Kipple manage to exterminate the Earthly visitor.

Showing Saturday, March 13th at 1:00pm

Where The Wild Things Are!

Genealogy Classes with Pat Millican   

Sign up for a Free 1 hour class on online researching of your family history. Rome-Floyd County Library’s genealogist Pat Millican will be in Cedartown to help you navigate the various sites and get you started on the right trunk of your family tree. In order to get the most out of the classes you must be computer literate and able to use a mouse. A minimum of four people must be registered at least 24 hours before the class time to avoid cancellation. Call 770-748-5644 to register today!

Class dates in Cedartown are as follows: (all dates are Thursdays)

April 1st – 1:00pm

May 6th – 1:00pm

It’s In Our Hands - Get Counted!

This library will also be serving as a Census site several hours each week during March. Please be sure to “get counted” and fill out Census forms mailed to your home. (Census takers will only visit homes that do not respond by mail.) The information collected by the U.S.Census 2010 is used by the government to help determine what resources and funds are needed in our area.

AARP Tax Aide

Free tax assistance will be available at the library on Wednesdays only  now through April 14th. Volunteer tax preparers will be on site from 9am until 1pm to help seniors and low-income individuals with e-filing their returns. This is done on a first come first served basis and the AARP will determine a cut-off point for the maximum number of people they can serve that day. These volunteers are tax professionals and are well qualified to handle your taxes.

$$$ Tax Forms Have Arrived $$$

State and Federal Forms are now available for individuals to pickup at the library. (no tax preparers please!) Libraries will no longer offer employer forms such as the 1099, W-2 & W-4.  These forms must be ordered by the employers from the IRS website www.irs.gov

Remember: Library staff gives out Tax Forms. We do not give out Tax Advice.

New Books!  (click titles to link to catalog for more info or to place a Hold Request)

Adult Fiction

Matthew’s story from sinner to saint – Tim LaHaye

A Dead Hand: a crime in Calcutta – Paul Theroux

The Last Surgeon – Michael Palmer

Last Snow – Eric van Lustbader

Game Over – Fern Michaels

Young Adult Fiction

Num8ers - Rachel Ward

Lockdown – Walter Dean Myers

MJ (Middle Juvenile) Fiction

How I survived Middle School – I thought we were friends -  Nancy E. Krulik