According to a story [1] in the Savannah Morning News, first-time unemployment claims in Valdosta and Hinesville rose during the month of October.  Valdosta saw 30 new claims filed, an increase of 5.5%. In Hinesville, first-time unemployment claims rose from 151 in September to 194 in October, an increase of 28.5%.  Statewide, over 41,000 workers filed first-time unemployment claims, an increase of 29.1% from September and an increase of 5.2% from the number of first-time claims filed in October of 2006.