Single Copy Cost 50¢ Volume 147 No. 23
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Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Unemployment holds steady in PC By Ken Schroeder
kschroeder@putnamcountyrecord.com
HENNEPIN — The unemployment picture is looking better for the United States, better for the state of Illinois and better for Illinois’ metropolitan areas. Unfortunately, that trend didn’t quite continue locally. The number of jobless people in December 2014 held steady in Putnam County, registering 7.1 percent, the same percentage as November. Nationwide, the numbers continue to improve steadily with a change from 5.5 percent unemployment in
November to 5.4 percent in December. That continues a trend started after the January 2010 peak in the recession and is the lowest unemployment figure since the summer of 2009. Illinois figures are showing more improvement, with unemployment dropping to 5.7 percent after November’s 6 percent number. It was spring 2009 when the rate was at this level, and the closest the Illinois and U.S. figures have been in three years. Still, only 15 states have a higher unemployment percentage than Illinois, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Locally, numbers are not as encouraging in nearby counties. LaSalle County’s unemployment dropped 0.1 percent to 7.8 for December, still the second highest in the state. Bureau County’s unemployment figure actually went up, climbing from November’s 7.2 to 7.4 percent in December. Unemployment is highest in Stark County with a December 2014 figure of 9 percent unemployment. Henderson County on the west side of the state boasts the state low of 5 percent. Health services and construction companies contributed the most to new Illinois jobholder figures, according to the Illinois Department of Employment Security.
Will we pay for it later? With fuel prices at their lowest in years, will there be a backlash? Ken Schroeder
kschroeder@putnamcountyrecord.com
According to Newton’s Third Law of Motion, for every action, there’s an equal and opposite reaction. It’s commonly applied to situations outside of the realm of physics incorrectly, but we still ponder cause and effect. Currently, prices for oil and gasoline are at the lowest they’ve been in years. The question is ... is someone suffering because of that now, and will we see a backlash in the future? While one might think the drop in gas prices would negatively impact ethanol production, Mark Marquis of Marquis Energy in Hennepin said that’s not the case. “Gas and ethanol prices aren’t directly tied together,” Marquis said. “Gasoline isn’t involved in ethanol production, and the prices don’t really have an impact. Right now corn prices are down. Natural gas prices are down. Those are two things we use to produce ethanol, so that price drop really helps. Right now, we’re at a record high production.” Some ethanol producers and economists have bemoaned the impact of cheaper gas on ethanol production; Marquis doesn’t see it that way. “Each year at this time, it’s a slowdown because people drive less in the winter months,” Marquis said. “That’s normal. During the winter, we’re producing too much for demand, and we have tighter margins. During the summer, we aren’t meeting demand, and we have higher margins.” However, other sections of the country are feeling the
Fuel prices Page 3
PCR photo/Ken Schroeder
The morning after ... Troy Taylor of Granville clears the way to his mailbox for his postman on Monday, Feb. 2. Despite the severity of the Feb. 1 snowstorm, no major accidents were reported in Putnam County. Putnam County Sheriff Kevin Doyle noted some cars were stuck in ditches and on the roadways, but all of them had been removed by Monday morning. Sporadic power outages continued into Monday morning as well. Putnam County amateur meteorologist Billy Faletti, 15, of Granville reported he measured 13 inches of snow in Granville with some 2- to 3-foot snow drifts. As an aside, groundhog Punxsutawney Phil said we can look forward to six more weeks of winter.
Helping low-income students ... one bag at a time By Ken Schroeder
kschroeder@putnamcountyrecord.com
HENNEPIN — The free and reduced school lunch program ensures students from low income families can receive nutritious meals each day at school. But what happens to those students during the weekend? Putnam County Backpack Ministries is a volunteer organization now in its sixth year in Putnam County, which provides weekend packed lunches for school-age students that are eligiVol. 147 No. 23 One Section - 16 Pages
© The Putnam County Record
How can you help? Check out a list of items you can donate on Page 3. ble for free or reduced lunches. When the program started, it provided 23 meals. Presently, the ministry packs and delivers 77 lunches per week. Each Friday, lunches are distributed by the staff at the Putnam County Primary, Elementary and Junior High schools. The confidentiality of the
students is maintained by the school system. The Backpack Ministries was started locally under the guidance of Pastor Carol Stufflebeam with the help of several area churches. The program is assisted with food from the Midwest Food Bank and local food
Backpack Page 3
Boy Scouts Kaleb Wright (left), Zachariah Carroll and Nick Bruch fill bags full of food and school supplies for the Backpack Ministries program. The packages go to low-income students to help their families make ends. Clients of the program are kept confidential and all of the work is done by volunteers. PCR photo/Ken Schroeder