Single Copy Cost 50¢ Volume 148 No. 14
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Wednesday, December 2, 2015
Not as good as it sounds ...
Illinois Policy Institute releases labor report By Dave Cook
news@putnamcountyrecord.com
On Nov. 20 the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics released the economic and unemployment statistics for the states. The Illinois Policy Institute, a nonpartisan research and education organization, has headlined its’ press release to say the report shows Illinois is beginning to keep pace with neighbor state job growth. However, a closer look at the numbers show the state is still far behind the rest of the Mid-
west, and its’ economic condition is far from favorable. The figures which are being shown as a positive sign are from October, when Illinois added 14,100 payroll jobs on net, which brings the total job growth for 2015 to 20,200 new jobs. According to the release, Illinois’ manufacturing district, which is an important indicator of the economic health of the middle class, lost 1,900 jobs in October and 14,100 in 2015. Illinois has the worst loss of manufacturing jobs in the region for October
and the year overall. “Although it’s only one month, this is a positive sign for the state that has had the slowest recovery from the Great Recession in the country. However, Illinois’ manufacturing and blue-collar industries are continuing to fall dangerously behind its neighbors. Illinois’ inability to keep manufacturers in our state is devastating areas around Illinois where families rely on these blue-collar jobs to survive. It is always a positive sign to see job growth in the state, but Illinois lawmakers should be looking at what policies can improve jobs across the economic spectrum, not
Labor report Page 2
On target State announces the first weekend of firearm deer season totals By Dave Cook
news@putnamcountyrecord.com
So far, 2015 has been a good year for deer hunters in Illinois. According to an Illinois Department of Natural Resources report released on Nov. 24, hunters took a preliminary total of 57,968 deer during the opening weekend of the state’s firearm deer season on Nov. 20-22. During the same period in 2014, hunters took 51,830 deer or 6,138 less than this year. Hunters in Bureau County successfully downed 714 deer, 38 more than the 2014 opening weekend total of 676. Putnam County hunters bagged 12 more deer this year than last with an opening weekend total of 252. In LaSalle County, 547 deer were dropped, seven more than the 2014 opening weekend total of 540.
Deer Page 3
PCR photo/Trudy Heinz
The first weekend of deer season saw hunters harvest more deer than they did in 2014. The second round of firearm deer hunting is set for Dec. 3 through Dec. 6.
Are you ready for Old Man Winter? Emergency Management officials, National Weather Service encourage winter preparedness
SPRINGFIELD – While the winter of 2015-16 is expected to be milder thanks to the effects of El Nino, its unlikely Illinois will completely avoid the cold temperatures, snow and ice that define Midwestern winters. To help people prepare for potentially dangerous winter weather, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA), the National Weather Service (NWS)
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and local emergency management agencies are highlighting winter weather preparedness. “There hasn’t been a winter in Illinois without at least one winter storm in the past century,” said IEMA Director James K. Joseph. “Right now, before that first snowstorm or ice event, is the perfect time to prepare yourself, your home and your car for winter.”
Joseph said that includes checking and restocking vehicle emergency supply kits, which should include items such as: • Blankets or sleeping bags • Flashlight with extra batteries • First aid kit • Non-perishable snack food • Water • Sand or cat litter • Shovel
Winter preparedness Page 3