The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/879797
A-6 Local Wednesday, September 27, 2017 The Press-Dispatch Flea Market in the Community Center at Stendal, IN. Saturday, September 30, 8 am to 3 pm. Food served by the St. Peter's Lutheran Church Group, beginning with breakfast at 7:30 am EDT. Sweet rolls, sausage, biscuits, gravy and drinks. Serving throughout the day: Soups, Sandwiches, Desserts and Drinks. 55 tables rented. • • • • • • FREE ADMISSION • • • • • • VALLEY OPTICAL 812-254-6594 SAME DAY SERVICE • Complete plastic lab on premises • Quality eyewear by Karen Memering, Optician • Professional eyecare by Dr. Steve Gregory & Dr. Cindy Lang • Most insurance plans accepted WE FILL ALL DOCTOR'S PRESCRIPTIONS Complete Contact Lens Care & Service *In most cases **Some restrictions apply. Call for details. 812-254-6594 Corner of Hwy. 50 & 57, Washington, IN Pike County's jobless rate rises to 4.2 percent By Ed Cahill Pike County's jobless rate rose to 4.2 percent in August, according to pre- liminary figures released by the Indiana Department of Workforce Development on Monday, Sept. 18. August's 4.2 percent job- less rate was eight-tenths of a percentage point high- er than the revised 3.4 per- cent unemployment rate Pike County recorded in July. According to estimates released by the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, 6,200 of Pike County's labor force of 6,470 were employed dur- ing July, leaving 270 per- sons without jobs. In August 2016, when the county's jobless rate was 4.4 percent, it was estimat- ed that 6,083 of the coun- ty's labor force of 6,363 were employed, leaving 280 persons without jobs. In adjoining counties: • Daviess County's job- less rate rose from a re- vised 2.8 percent in July to a preliminary 3.3 percent in August. In August 2016, Daviess County's jobless rate was 3.5 percent. • Dubois County's job- less rate rose from a re- vised 2.6 percent in July to a preliminary 3.0 percent in August. In August 2016, Dubois County's jobless rate was 3.1 percent. • Gibson County's job- less rate rose from a re- vised 2.9 percent in July to a preliminary 3.5 percent in August. In August 2016, Gibson County's jobless rate was 3.6 percent. • Knox County's jobless rate rose from a revised 3.4 percent in July to a pre- liminary 4.0 percent in Au- gust. In August 2016, Knox County's jobless rate was 4.4 percent. • Warrick County's job- less rate rose from a re- vised 3.1 percent in July to a preliminary 3.6 percent in August. In August 2016, Warrick County's jobless rate was 4.1 percent. Statewide, county non- seasonally adjusted unem- ployment rates increased in an all 92 counties from July to August. Elkhart and Dubois counties tied for the state's lowest unemployment rate during August at 3.0 per- cent while Bartholomew and LaGrange counties tied for the second-lowest jobless rate in August at 3.1 percent. Vermillion County re- corded the state's highest unemployment rate during August at 5.8 percent, fol- lowed by Lake County at 5.6 percent. The Elkhart-Goshen metropolitan statistical area had the state's low- est jobless rate among the state's 13 MSAs in August at 3.0 percent, while the Gary MSA had the state's highest MSA jobless rate in August at 5.3 percent. The jobless rate for the Evansville MSA was 3.9 percent in August, which was up one-half of a per- centage point from 3.4 percent in July. In August 2016, the Evansville MSA's jobless rate was 4.2 per- cent. According to data pro- vided by the Indiana De- partment of Workforce De- velopment, the Evansville MSA – which includes Gib- son, Posey, Vanderburgh and Warrick counties – had a total of 161,100 jobs in Au- gust, an increase of 2,700 jobs from August 2016. From July to August, the Evansville MSA expe- rienced significant increas- es in the trade, transporta- tion and utilities (+300), re- tail trade (+300) and gov- ernment (+300) sectors. Those gains were par- tially offset by losses in the manufacturing (-100) and professional services (-100) sectors from July to August. Indiana's seasonally-ad- justed unemployment rate rose from a revised 3.1 per- cent in July to a preliminary 3.5 percent in August while remaining lower than the national jobless rate of 4.4 percent. With the excep- tion of one month when it was equal (October 2015), Indiana's unemployment rate now has been below the U.S. rate for four full years. Indiana's labor force in- crased by 4,615 over the previous month due to an 8,007 decrease in employ- ment and a 12,622 increase in unemployment. Indi- ana's total labor force con- tinues stands at nearly 3.34 million, and the state's 64.4 percent labor force partic- ipation rate remains above the national rate of 62.9 percent. In addition, Indiana's ini- tial and ongoing unemploy- ment insurance claims are at historical lows. Private sector employ- ment has grown by more than 25,400 jobs over the year, and has decreased by 4,900 jobs over the pre- vious month, primarily due to losses in the leisure and hospitality (-4,800) and the private, education- al and health services (- 2,100) sectors. Losses are partially offset by gains in the trade, transporta- tion and utilities (+2,600) and the financial activities (+700) sectors. Total pri- vate employment stands at 2,683,600 and is 6,700 above the November 2016 peak. Tractor Drive A long line of tractors are lined up and ready to go in the parking lot behind the former Otwell Elementa- ry School. Twenty-three trac- tors participated and 41 peo- ple went on the drive. At least two trailers and wagons made the trip from Otwell to Ire- land Sportsman Club, where the Pike County Young Farm- ers fed about 80 people. At left, Ross Elmore and Mike Whaley lead the group off on their journey. Below, Tom Lee, of Win- slow, and Russell Dukes, of Edwardsport, Ill., talk trac- tors prior to the drive. Dukes has a 1953 Ford Golden Jubi- lee tractor. Golden Living car show Tom Hunt holds Maddex Haggard while they look over a classic car during the Golden Liv- ing Car Show recently. Below: John Wood, Tom Kirby and Ron Wells visit and talk cars while they eat in front of Kirby's 1940 Chevrolet.