Friday, May 19, 2017
Lake Oconee News
Page A9
LAKE COUNTRY
March sees unemployment rates decrease in Lake Country
Wil Petty
wil@lakeoconeenews.us
Unemployment numbers
decreased throughout the
Lake Country in March,
according to figures from
the Georgia Department of
Labor.
The figures released
show the total labor force,
employed and unemployed,
as well as the percentages of
those unemployed by state,
county, region, metro and in
cities over 25,000 people.
The numbers for March
of this year were released on
April 27.
According to the report,
Putnam County saw the
largest unemployment
drop in the region, decreas
ing from 6.7 percent in
February to 6.1 percent in
March. Last year, the rate
in Putnam County was 7-1
percent.
Greene County’s unem
ployment rate dropped from
5.5 percent in February
to 5.1 percent in March,
while Morgan County’s
unemployment numbers
dropped from 5 percent to
4.7 percent.
In March 2016, Greene
County’s unemployment
rate was 5.8 percent, while
Morgan County’s was 5
percent.
The number of unem
ployed also decreased
slightly in all three counties.
The unemployment rate
for the Northeast Georgia
regional commission,
which includes Greene and
Morgan counties, was 4.6
percent. The Middle Georgia
regional commission, which
includes Putnam County,
had an unemployment rate
of 5.2 percent.
Morgan County, which is
also included in the Atlanta
Metropolitan Statistical
Area (MSA), saw an unem
ployment rate of 4.6 percent
in March.
According to the report’s
seasonally adjusted esti
mates, the number of Geor
gians unemployed dropped
from 267,114 in February to
257,658 in March. Approx
imately 4.7 million Geor
gians were employed.
The seasonally adjusted
unemployment rate state
wide also decreased from
5.3 percent in February to
5.1 percent in March. In
March 2016, Georgia’s un
employment rate was at 5.5
percent.
Georgia remains above
the national rate of 4.5
percent unemployment.
Throughout the state, 63
counties had an unemploy
ment rate under 5 percent
while 14 counties had a rate
over 7 percent.
Clay County had the
highest unemployment rate
in the state at 9.8 percent
and Oconee County’s rate is
the lowest at 3.6 percent.
Additional figures for un
employment in the region
and throughout the state
are available on the Georgia
Department of Labor’s
website: http://dol.georgia.
gov/.
MORGAN COUNTY
Possibly rabid dog euthanized after biting woman
Katherine Klimt was attacked from behind
katherine@lakeoconeenews.us by the dog. The dog bit
her several times on her
A Madison woman called right arm and once on her
police last Saturday evening left elbow, lacerating her
to report that she had been severely enough to expose
bitten by an aggressive dog adipose tissue, according
while walking on Overlook to Davis’ report. Ward said
Street. Kelvie Ward, 46, that she knew the dog lived
was bitten multiple times somewhere on Creekpoint
on her arms by a beagle mix Drive, but was not sure
owned by Tyrone Gibbs of where. Corporal Trellis
Madison. Elder also responded to
Ward told responding the scene and was able to
officer Justin Davis that identify the dog’s owner,
shortly before 8 p.m. she Police then contacted
Madison Animal Control County man found his
officer Crystal Berisko, who German shepherd bleeding
spoke to Gibbs on Monday, heavily on his front porch
May 15. Gibbs surrendered on May 7-
ownership ofhis 8-year-old He thought coyotes might
dog, which was not current have attacked his dog, but
on its vaccinations and was his veterinarian told the
behaving aggressively. Due bleeding was the result of
to the animal’s behavior, a gunshot wound, more
animal control decided specifically bird shot from a
to euthanize the dog and shotgun,
send its head to Georgia Neighborhood hearsay
Environmental Services for indicated someone may
testing. have intended to hurt the
In another incident in- dog, but no evidence to
volving a canine, a Morgan support that was reported.
We need your donations!
Restore
Putnam County Habitat For Humanity
Call for more information about pickups.
• Washers/Dryers • End Tables • Mirrors
Sofas / Furniture • Chairs • Dishes
Thursday and Friday
10:00am to 4:00 pm
Saturday
10:00 am to 3:30 pm
m fifil i/aa 1027 Lake 0conee pkw y->
Eatonton, Georgia 31024
(across from Goodwill)
Morgan
Continued from A1
al uses.
Jarrell’s letter further
states that residents have
expressed concern at the
lack of public access to
Lake Oconee, though it
is publicly accessible via
the Swords Recreation
Area, part of the Chatta-
hoochee-Oconee National
Forest. There is, however,
no county-owned access
to the lake. Purchasing
the property could open
up more public points of
access to the area.
The property, which
totals around 10.88 acres,
has been appraised at
around $430,000 and
in addition to an access
ramp and campgrounds
also includes a vacant
store building that was
built around 10 years
ago. Quinn is hoping to
receive an offer of around
10 percent less than that
amount, which would be
around $387,000.
Though nothing is settled
yet, county manager Adam
Mestres supported the
idea, saying, “any conversa
tion is worth having once.”
Upcoming developments
at the Morgan County Rec
reation Department were
also discussed, though the
county has yet to award
the projects, which will
aim to improve the center’s
baseball fields and grading
and storm drainage facili
ties. The project has a total
budget of $1.7 million, but
this amount is likely not
enough to complete all the
proposed improvements.
Mestres pointed out that
the current estimates of the
total cost are higher than
initially thought, and that
completion of the fields may
hang in the balance. Lance
Alexander, chairman of the
Recreation Department,
explained that the original
quotes suggested that the
cost for the soccer fields
would be around $1.30 per
foot, when it is now esti
mated to be significantly
higher at $1.45 per foot.
The center also has several
baseball fields that would
cost around $250,000
each to repair.
The deadline for bidding
proposals is Tuesday, June
6, so the Recreation De
partment has limited time
to determine its course of
action. Furthermore, as
finance director Lori Sayer
pointed out, county funds
must be dispersed accord
ing to a set schedule. The
issue will likely be under
further review at the next
meeting of the Board of
Recreation meeting on
Thursday, May 25 at noon.
In other news:
The possibility of seeking
rights to withdraw water
from Lake Oconee was
also under discussion. This
long-term proposal seeks
to anticipate possible water
needs in the county for the
next 20 to 50 years, includ
ing drought contingency
plans.
A spot on the county
library board that has been
vacant since July 1, 2016
was filled by Irene Paul,
whose term will last until
June 30, 2022.
Madison resident Gur-
winder Singh’s application
for a liquor license for the
River Store on Greensboro
Highway was approved.
The discussion of the
proposed Farmview Park
was tabled for further
review. The next meeting
of the Morgan County
Commission will take
place on June 6 at 10 a.m.
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Rock Eagle
Sunday Lunch
Please join us Sunday,
May 21st for our final
Sunday Lunch of the
season! We look forward
to seeing you there!
Adults $14.50
Children (4-10) $7.25
Under 3 eat free with paying adult
11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Museum open each 3rd Sunday
noon till 2 p.m. free of charge
in the county administra
tive building in downtown
Madison.
Get breaking news online!
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