Unemployment Up 95% Over Year

The Georgia Department of Labor says 88,756 laid-off workers filed first-time claims for state unemployment insurance benefits in June, an increase of 94.8 percent from June of 2008. The areas with the highest percentage of increase in claims from June 2008 to June 2009 were Rome up 181.0 percent, Gainesville up 172.8 percent, and Athens up 163.2 percent. The areas with the smallest increase in claims were Dalton up 48.5 percent, Albany up 66.3 percent and Savannah up 68.7 percent. State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond said rising unemployment continues to plague local economies throughout North Georgia. Most of the state initial claims were filed by laid-off workers in manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, construction, and administrative and support services.

(Associated Press)

NW Georgia Dogfighting Ring Busted

A suspected dogfighting operation has been busted in Rome. Two men were charged with cruelty to animals, and 15 adult pit bulls and six puppies were impounded after a raid on a residence in NW Ga. Floyd County authorities say the dogs had been tethered to the ground with logging chains attached to car axles. They say many of the dogs were scarred. A police official says one of the dogs bore scars consistent with dog fighting.

Unemployment Claims Jump Big Over Year's Time

New numbers this morning from the state Labor Department show 96,306 laid-off workers filed first-time claims for unemployment benefits in March. It represents an increase of 126-percent from the same month a year ago.

The metro area with the highest jump in claims was Gainesville, followed by Rome and Brunswick.

Claims filed came from laid-off workers in manufacturing, trade, construction, as well as administrative and support services.

Judge accepts insanity defense

A judge has accepted an alleged murderer's plea of not guilty by reason of insanity. John Clayton Corley is accused of killing another man in 2007 when he opened fire on a neighboring house with an AK-47. A judge in Rome sentenced Corley to confinement in a state mental hospital, where he will likely stay for the rest of his life. Corley is also accused of permanently disabling a woman in that shooting. Her daughter testified that Corley doesn't deserve to live because her mother will never again be able to care for herself. The judge said Corley was not getting off easy and would be locked up for a long time.

(Associated Press)

Sharp rise in state unemployed for September

State Labor officials say there were 56,652 first-time claims for unemployment filed in September. The numbers represent a sharp increase of 76-percent over September of last year. The highest percentage spike in claims was reported in Gainesville, Dalton and Rome. Layoffs are across-the-board, but especially seen in manufacturing, construction, and the trade and services sectors.

Labor officials say as the state is in the midst of a challenging economic environment, the department is doing everything it can to help those out of work.

Volkswagen could bring boost

Some potentially good economic news for northwest Georgia coming out of Chattanooga, Tennessee. A newspaper reports German carmaker Volkswagen is set to open a new car plant there, creating at least 2,000 jobs. Business leaders in the Rome area are hopeful the new facility will attract related businesses to northwest Georgia.

Rome eases water restrictions

The city of Rome has decided to ease outdoor watering restrictions. City officials announced yesterday that residents can now water their lawns and gardens, wash their cars and put water in their pools three days a week between midnight and 10 a.m.

Rome officials received approval from the state Enviromental Protection Division for the loosening of restrictions. Most of north Georgia has been gripped by extreme drought conditions after years of below-average rainfall and parched conditions. The state has slowly begun to lift some bans on outdoor watering.

Fed report critical of state mental hospitals

State health officials say Georgia's mental hospital system is on the road to recovery. That reaction comes as a blistering report was sent by federal investigators to Governor Sonny Perdue.

The U.S. Department of Justice outlined "critically deficient" conditions at Georgia Regional Hospital in Atlanta. Problems such as continued failures to address fatalities and violence were detailed at the Atlanta facility, with similar problems found in facilities in Rome and Savannah.

The federal investigation was conducted last fall. State officials say since then, 'fixes' to the problems have already begun.

Gwen Skinner heads Georgia's mental health system:

"I think that when you get reports like the one from the Department of Justice, it gives you focus. Because you're getting that kind of information from separate groups of people. It helps you focus on the things that are the most critical".

A mental health panel created by Governor Sonny Perdue just released its first progress report this week. The commission was set-up following the start of the federal probe last fall. Perdue spokesman Bert Brantley:

"Much of what’s in that (Dept. of Justice) letter are things that we have identified, things that we’ve already done--some short-term improvements, staffing levels, equipment purchases, those kinds of things. And then some long-term improvements as well many of which are contained in the mental health commission reports".

A federal lawsuit has been threatened by late July unless the state proves concrete
improvements in its mental health system.

Property Crime Up Where the Economy is Down

Property crime in two economically troubled Northwest Georgia cities is on the rise, according to data compiled by the Dalton and Rome police departments.

In Rome, crime statistics show an increase of about 30 more burglaries and property theft cases since this time last year. In February, there were over 100 of these cases. Similar crimes in Dalton rose about ten percent during the same time period. Both rates are higher than the national average.

The two towns are entering recession, and a Rome police department spokesman told GPB "anytime there’s tough times economically there’s some increase" in property crimes.

The statistics also show an increase of DUI, and domestic disturbances in Dalton.

The overall crime rate, including violent offenses, is down.

Five drug gang members convicted in Rome

Five men were convicted Monday in Rome for their part in a violent drug gang that was responsible for five murders, attempted murder and kidnapping in northwest Georgia. A federal prosecutor says the ring was based in Cedartown, and had a hand in half of the murders in Polk and Floyd counties in 2003.

The five men, all in their 30's, were convicted of conspiring to engage in a racketeering enterprise from March 2000 to December 2006. They were also found guilty of conspiring to distribute and distributing methamphetamine and cocaine. The five will be sentenced in May--15 others have pleaded guilty in the case, while another 10 await trial.

Captain Charged With Possessing Stolen Firearms

Wallace, released on a $10,000 bond. (Ken Caruthers/Rome News Tribune)

Barry Wallace, 40, of Cedartown, Georgia, was indicted on Friday by a federal grand jury on charges of stealing firearms while employed as a captain by the Polk County Police Department.

Wallace made his initial appearance and was granted $10,000 bond by a United States Magistrate Judge Friday afternoon.

United States Attorney David E. Nahmias said of the case, “The integrity of law enforcement officers, the vast majority of whom serve with great distinction, is essential to the administration of justice. Wallace used his position as captain in charge of the evidence room to steal guns from the evidence room that he either kept for himself or gave away to others. His actions were dishonest and dangerous to the community. We will continue to prosecute officers who violate the public trust.”

FBI Special Agent in Charge Gregory Jones said:

"Public corruption investigations are an unpleasant but very vital tasking of our agency. Law enforcement officers are often faced with difficult decisions and presented with opportunities that might challenge their integrity and ethical foundations. While we, as members of the law enforcement community ourselves, understand this, we also understand the tremendous damage that can result, to include the public's loss of confidence, when an officer strays from those foundations."

According to the indictment, from in or about April 2003 through July 2007, Wallace knowingly received, possessed, concealed, stored and disposed of twenty firearms that he knew were stolen. Information at Friday's hearing indicated that Wallace was demoted from Captain to Sergeant, and resigned the police department three months ago.

The indictment charges seven counts of stolen firearms. Each count carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

Assistant United States Attorney Glenn D. Baker is prosecuting the case. This investigation is being handled by Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, according to a Department of Justice statement.

'08 Tour de Georgia gets 5 new stops

Next year’s Tour de Georgia includes some new cities on the race course, but comes at the expense of other major stops from previous years.

The cycling event will have five new cities in the week-long race next April. Tybee Island will host the start, and is followed by newcomers Statesboro, Washington, Braselton, and Suwanee. Returning host cities include Atlanta, Augusta, and Brasstown Bald.

Cities left out for 2008 include Macon and Rome. Event director Chris Aronhalt says crafting the new route only had to do with letting residents in other communities share the Tour experience .

"It has nothing at all to do with the support. In fact the race would have loved to go back to those communities like Macon and Rome".

Tour organizers also had to be mindful of the route’s mileage, and incorporating mountain and coastal stages.

Aronhalt says the race expects to be financially healthy, with new headline sponsors to be announced at the start of the year.

Corps: Rains Won't Do Much For Lanier

Recent rains haven't covered the sand bars on the Chattahoochee River at Eagle Phenix Dam in Columbus, Nov. 27, 2007. (Dave Bender)

The rains that swept over much of Georgia in recent days comes as good news, at least for the southwestern part of the state: Columbus and Rome got the most serious soaking in Sunday and Monday's rains.

The National Weather Service in Peachtree City says Columbus got over two and a half inches inches of rain, and Rome just about half that amount. Rob Holland of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says the limited rainfall mostly helped the Chattahoochee River downstream from Atlanta:

"The level of Lake Lanier is not going to be affected very much by the recent rainfall. It did not come far enough north and fall over the basin that feeds the lake itself. However, they did get significant rain in the lower part of the Chattahoochee basin."

Holland says that flow should allow the Corps to halve the amount of water released from Lake Lanier from some 4,000 to about 1,500 cubic feet per second for about a week. Lanier is currently at 19 feet below nominal levels - a record low.

Click here for more GPB coverage of the drought.

Rains drench Columbus, Rome

More real-time weather information is available here.
(National Weather Service)

The cities of Columbus and Rome were the big winners in the rain that fell on Georgia on Monday.

The National Weather Service in Peachtree City says Columbus got 2.56 inches of rain yesterday. Rome got 1.21 inches.

In the words of meteorologist Mike Leary, "They got lucky."

However, the rain had little effect on the drought that is parching the Southeast. Rain and fog caused some problems for travelers at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, which received .46 inches of rain.

Click here for more GPB coverage of the water crisis.

Georgia's oldest resident dies

Georgia's oldest resident has passed away at the age of 112. It was reported that Anne Langston Christopher of Rome died last Wednesday. A memorial service for Christopher was held over the weekend in South Carolina. A Georgia State researcher says Ms. Christopher, while holding the designation as oldest Georgian, was the seventh-oldest person in the country--and 11th oldest person in the world.

Rome drug trial begins today

A Rome man goes on trial this week in U.S District Court for alleged involvement in a drug ring in the Rome area. 45-year-old Mario Armas is said by federal prosecutors to be the ringleader of the operation. Federal authorities say he conspired with two professional rodeo workers and another man to distribute more than a ton of marijuana in the Rome-area between 2003 and 2004. The drug smuggling has been linked to other crimes, such as kidnapping, burglary, and laundering of profits from the drug deals. The trial was delayed from January to give both sides more time to sift through evidence. Testimony begins this morning.

10 Gang Related Arrests in Floyd County

Last week, 10 Gang related arrests were made in Floyd County after a fight broke out in a parking lot. All were teenagers claiming to be members of a new gang known as the Riverside Boys.

The Floyd County Police Department has a very tuff policy on any possible gang related activity.

Mark Corbin is an investigator with the Floyd County Police Department.

Young members in high school want classmates to know they’re part of a gang so they are easy to spot, said Corbin.

“It travels around the school pretty fast. And they you get on a few on em’s my space and it don’t take long at all to discover what they are doing or where they are going to be at,” said Corbin.

Three of the arrests were made in the days following the fight because members of the Riverside Boys posted their involvement on their myspace website.

Lake Allatoona to Release Less Water

This week, in response to Georgia’s worsening drought, officials are cutting the amount of water released from Allatoona Lake by a third. Less water flowing out of Lake Allatoona, located 30 miles north of Atlanta, means less water for communities primarily in North West GA, like Rome, and Cartersville.

Joe Cook, with the Coosa River Basin Initiative in Rome says officials are sacrificing these communities to help metro Atlanta.

“We are concerned about having adequate flows to protect out economy and our ecology in N W GA. They are holding back water in Lake Allatoona primarily to preserve water supplies for communities in metro Atlanta.”

Cook says holding back water will also affect the Coosa River’s wildlife. He says that because water from the river is used to cool Georgia Power’s Plant Hammond the, rivers temperature is elevated. And with less water flowing downstream, the river may get too hot.

VA Clinic Opens in Rome, GA

A new VA Clinic is opening tomorrowin Rome to service some 75 thousand veterans that live in North West Georgia and local veterans will no longer have to drive to metro Atlanta to receive care at a VA Hospital.

Local Congressman Phil Gingrey spent a year and a half trying to get the Veterans Affairs Administration in Washington to open a clinic in Rome. Gingrey says he couldn’t have done it with out heavy lobbying from Georgia’s Veterans.

"The veterans themselves organized and signed over 2,000 petitions letters and when you put that on a desk in front of a commissioner in Washington and he can no longer see over his desk…that has a tendency to get his attention," said Gingrey.

The clinic will have basic laboratory and radiology services. Opening day appointments are already booked.

Rome hosts meeting on high speed rail idea

The Rome Civic Center was the site last night for the second of three exploratory meetings held by Georgia Department of Transportation officials and high speed rail consultants. On the table is the proposal for a high speed rail line that would connect Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport to the airport in Chattanooga, covering about 110 miles.

Officials offer four proposed routes. One is labeled the "Rome Alignment". Another is the easternmost route, which would go through Cartersville and eastern Gordon County, and through Dalton on the way to Chattanooga. The other two proposed routes would use the median of Interstate-75.

Officials will hold a meeting tonight in Chattanooga. Next spring, informational open house meetings are to be scheduled.