Unemployment is now at 9.8%...so when you go to the store this weekend, count all the people... nationally that 10th person is unemployed. And it won't improve for a while. We've lost so many jobs that if we added jobs at the rate we did from 2002 until 2007, in 5 years we'd still be at 7-8% unemployment. I count my blessings EVERY day. But, don't let this get you down... the Atlanta market is one of the BEST in the nation for housing....and speaking of housing -- which in my opinion will lead us out of this recession -- we have some good news.....
The Case-Shiller Index came out this week and while house prices nationally show a decline from 2008, the month to month stats show a majority of the cities have home prices maintaining or increasing in value. So house prices are starting to go back up. In other good news for housing, pending home sales came in far above expectations as people take advantage of the First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit. And there is strong sentiment in DC that this program will be extended for six months. Email or call your senator or representative!
This week, because of unemployment and a week economy, rates dropped again into the 4's, ranging between 4.5% and 5.25% depending on credit, points and program.
For Further Questions feel free to contact us.To check Your Local Market Data go to Your Market Snapdshot CheckOut the latest Douglas county happenings and for further information about Metro Atlanta. If you have a Real Estate need in Atlanta trust the Full time Local professionals at Team Renton Keller Williams. For Free Home Search for Douglasville or Metro Atlanta go to http://www.servingdouglasvillehomes.com
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HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND
Thursday, October 1st: "Douglasville Celebrates Photography" and "Images of Shaanxi" Exhibit Opens at the Cultural Arts Center
6 p.m. Opening Reception, Open to the Public, Free Admission ~ On view through October 30th
GALLERY TALK AND TOUR: Sunday, October 4th, 3 p.m., with Ed Krebs and the China Bridge
8652 Campbellton Street, 770.949.2787, www.artsdouglas.org 
Friday, October 2nd: "Movies in the Park" at Clinton Nature Preserve
At Dark: "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa" ~ Free Admission, Open to the Public ~ Bring your lawn chair or blanket
a program of the Douglas County Board of Commissioners through its Parks and Recreation Department
Saturday, October 3rd: St. Theresa's Catholic Church Fall Festival at Clinton Nature Preserve
10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Open to the Public, Free Admission ~ Food, Entertainment, Fun and Games, Raffle
Lynne Cole, 678.838.9760
Saturday, October 3rd: Midway Methodist Men's BBQ
11 a.m. - 1 p.m., at the Church, 1930 Midway Road ~ $8 per plate, $5 children's plate
James Austin, 404.578.5608
Saturday, October 3rd: New Manchester Elementary School Fall Festival
11 a.m. - 3 p.m., at the School, 2242 Old Lower River Road ~ Moonwalk, Slide, Games, Cake Walk, Silent Auction, Food and Drinks ~ $8 admission
New Manchester Elementary PTA, Lara Deatherage, 678.294.5770
Sunday, October 4th: Blessing of the Animals at St. Julian's Episcopal Church
3 p.m. at the Church, 5400 Stewarts Mill Road ~ Open to the Public, Free Admission ~ Celebrating the life and ministry of St. Francis of Assisi ~ Public is invited to bring their pets for a blessing ~ You do not have to be a member of the Church
Rev. Stewart Tabb, 770.949.9949
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HAPPENING SOON
Tuesday, October 6th: "ABC: Abstract - Baroque - Collages" Exhibit of Citizen Talent Opens in the Courthouse Gallery
4:30 p.m. Opening Reception, third floor, Douglas County Courthouse ~ Open to the Public, Free Admission ~ On view through October 29th
a program of the Douglas County Board of Commissioners through its Department of Communications and Community Relations
Tuesday, October 6th: Upward Basketball and Cheerleading Evaluations
For children 1st - 6th Grades ~ Register at Central Baptist Church or West Metro Church of God ~ Basketball for Boys and Girls, Cheerleading for Girls Only ~ Evaluations at West metro Church of God on October 6th and 9th
770.942.9492, register on line at www.cbc-douglasville.org
Wednesday, October 7th: Monthly Testing of the Weather Sirens/Weather Warning System
12 noon, throughout the County, weather permitting ~ monthly test that sounds the sirens and does not mean that severe weather is approaching
Saturday, October 10th: Scouts to Clean Dog River ~ Come Join Them!
8 a.m., Riverwalk Community Recreation Facility ~ Part of Rivers Alive, a program of the Adopt-a-Stream Program and Keep Georgia Beautiful
James Hembree, 770.843.6215, www.RiversAlive.org
Saturday, October 10th: 2nd Annual Vulcan Materials Toys for Tots Motorcycle Ride
8:30 a.m., Vulcan Materials, 25 Old Rock Quarry Road, Villa Rica, to begin a 50-mile escorted ride ending at Quaker Steak and Lube, Arbor Place Mall ~ $20 single/$30 double
Kathy Key, 770.459.3582
Saturday, October 10th: Rabies Vaccination Clinic to Benefit Douglas County 4-H
9 a.m., Douglas County Courthouse Parking Lots ~ $10 per pet, limited to 170, pre-pay by Thursday, October 8th to guarantee your shot
UGA Cooperative Extension, third floor, Douglas County Courthouse, 770.920.7224
Saturday, October 10th: 1st Annual West Georgia Outdoor Beer Festival to benefit Camp Twin Lakes
12 noon, Taco Mac, 7397 Douglas Boulevard ~ Beer Tasting, Music, Prizes ~ Must be 21 to attend the outdoor event
Saturday, October 10th: "Dancing Under the Stars" Street Dance for the American Diabetes Association
6 p.m., O'Neal Plaza ~ $5 per person, $15 for families ~ Live Bands, Food and Drinks, Games, Info on Diabetes Wellness, Diet and Prevention
Becky Lewis, 404.751.7874
Saturday, October 10th: Courage Concert at Tributary to Benefit the Wounded Warrior Project
7 p.m., Tributary Founder's Park, 9914 Ashford Green Way ~ Good Music, Good Beer, Good Company, Good Cause ~ Tickets at the Gate ~ Tributary Fall Festival All Day ~ Open to the Public
www.woundedwarriorproject.org, Sara Skinner, 678.213.3659
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Government Meetings and Notices
Douglas County Board of Commissioners: www.CelebrateDouglasCounty.com
Douglas County Courthouse, 8700 Hospital Drive, Douglasville ~ 770.949.2000
Work Session: Monday, October 5th, 10 a.m., Commissioners' Conference Room, Third Floor, Courthouse
Commission Meeting: Tuesday, October 6th, 10 a.m., Citizen's Hall, Courthouse
Commission Meeting televised live on dctv23 and simulcast live on www.CelebrateDouglasCounty.com
NO PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD MEETING FOR OCTOBER DUE TO THE LACK OF APPLICATIONS
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City of Douglasville Mayor and Council: www.ci.douglasville.ga.us
City Hall, O'Neal Plaza at Church Street, Historic Downtown Douglasville ~ P. O. Box 219, Douglasville 30133 ~ 770.920.3000
Douglas County School System: www.douglas.k12.ga.us
9030 Georgia Highway 5 at Gurley Road (next to Hunter Park) ~ P. O. Box 1077, Douglasville 30133 ~ 770.651.2000
CHARACTER WORD FOR THE WEEK OF OCTOBER 5TH: RESPECT FOR AUTHORITY
Respecting the authority of others in official positions
Thursday, October 8th: Annette Winn Elementary Parent University Workshop Series
Making the Grade, Grades 3 - 5 - grade-level workshop to help parents understand what their child will be learning and how they can help ~ 6 p.m. at the school for parents
Denine Pope, 770.651.3148
Thursday, October 8th: North Douglas Elementary Workshop Series
How to Help Your Child with Writing Skills - learn quick tips to help your child improve writing skills ~ 8:30 a.m. at the school for parents
Susan McCoy, 770.651.4828
Thursday, October 8th: Stewart Middle School Workshop Series
Internet Safety for Students and Parents ~ learn how to be safety conscious while on the Internet ~ 6:30 p.m. at the school for parents
Denny Bridges, 770.651.5460
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Douglas County Chamber of Commerce: www.douglascountygeorgia.com
6658 Church Street, Douglasville ~ 770.942.5022
Thursday, October 8th, 8 a.m., Coffee and Card Exchange, Jones-Wynn Funeral Home, Midway Road at Fairburn Road
Tuesday, October 20th, 12 noon, Public Safety Appreciation/Heroes Luncheon, Downtown Douglasville Conference Center
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A FEMA/GEMA agent stopped by our house today and gave us this information to give to our neighbors who had flooding. I've copied it for you to share with your clients/friends/neighbors in case they haven't had the opportunity to get in touch with FEMA. There is no guarantee they will get assistance.
FEMA and GEMA
DISASTER ASSISTANCE
IS AVAILABLE NOW
If you sustained losses or damage in one of the counties declared a federal disaster area following the September 18 storms and flooding, you may be eligible for federal and state disaster aid.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, TO APPLY BY PHONE OR TO CHECK ON YOUR CLAIM, CALL:
1-800-621-FEMA (3362)
TTY 1-800-462-7585 (FOR THE SPEECH-OR- HEARING IMPARIED)
APPLY ON-LINE:
Please have the following information available when you call:
· A phone number in case they need to call you back
· Social Security number
· Current mailing address
· Address of the damaged property
· Brief description of damages
· Insurance information (if you have insurance)
YOU MAY BE ELIGIBLE, BUT YOU MUST APPLY

Road Updates: Wednesday morning, September 30th
Traffic is bad due to the closed roads throughout the County. Please know that the Douglas County Department of Transportation is working 24/7 to re-open as many roads as possible as soon as possible. At the height of the disaster, about 170 roads were closed. That list is now down to 57.
These are estimated repair times, and we hope that repairs can be accomplished earlier; prolonged means more than 2 months. The Douglas County DOT staff is working on roadways and construction contractors are being brought in to work on roads, bridges and culverts. Your patience is greatly appreciated.
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