Editorial Board
Steve Baker — Publisher Kaitlin Fleming — Managing Editor
www.alexcityoutlook.com Page A4
High Praise for Low Unemployment By BETH CHAPMAN
J
ust about everyone who wants a job in most parts of Alabama should have one by now with unemployment at 2.9 percent. That low rate is tied for the all-time low in our state’s history. The latest numbers show an improvement over the 3.0 percent rate in February and 3.7 percent in March of this year. For the most part, Alabamians have never had a problem wanting to work. We have an innate work ethic and, as a whole, we take a great deal of pride in the work we do. That’s of course not everyone everywhere, but that is the spirit of the average Alabamian I believe. Things are on an upswing and attribute it to whomever and whatever you’d like, it’s a great thing for our state, our citizens and our economy. While the March rate represents 65,485 unemployed people, that’s the lowest number recorded in our state’s history. That number is down by 8,663 in February and an astounding 82,443 in that same time in 2021 – six months before the beginning of the COVIC-19 pandemic. The number of people employed rose by 36,734 over the year to 2,204,978, and there have been 40,000 jobs gained since last year. According to the Alabama Department of Labor, the civilian labor force increased by 9,901 to 2,270,463 over the month. The number of people employed increased by 36,734 over the year to 2,204,978. Alabama has seen excellent job growth with more than 40,000 new jobs since last year. Since last month, the greatest gains were seen in construction with 2,200 jobs; leisure and hospitality with 2,200; and the government sector with 2,500. Shelby County had the lowest unemployment rate in the state with 1.7 percent. Cullman had 1.8 percent; and Limestone, Marshall and Morgan counties all followed with 1.9 percent. Counties with the highest unemployment rates are Wilcox County with 8.8 percent; Lowndes with 6.5 percent; and Perry with 6.3 percent. Major cities with the lowest unemployment rates are: Alabaster and Vestavia Hills at 1.4 perent; Homewood at 1.5 percent; and Hoover and Trussville at 1.6 percent. Major cities with the highest unemployment rates are: Selma at 6.9 percent; Prichard at 5.0 percent; and Anniston at 4.7 percent. While high gas prices approaching inflation and taxes might be fodder for political speeches, you won’t hear anyone talking about unemployment. There’s only high praise for low unemployment in Alabama.
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USPS-1411660 ISSN: 0739-9677 The Dadeville Record is published every Thursday, by Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc., 548 Cherokee Road, P.O. Box 999, Alexander City, AL 35011. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to P. O. Box 999, Alexander City, AL 35011. Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. manages The Alexander City Outlook, The Dadeville Record, The Wetumpka Herald, The Tallassee Tribune, The Eclectic Observer, Lake Magazine, Lake Martin Living, Elmore County Living, Kenneth Boone Photography and a commercial web printing press. © 2011 Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. Reproduction of any part of any issue requires written publisher permission.
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Opinion The
Record
Kaitlin Fleming Managing Editor (256) 414-3179
editor@alexcityoutlook.com
Thursday, May 12, 2022
Our
Senate race down to the wire Mission
T
he GOP Primary is less than two weeks away on May 24. It has been an interesting and expensive race to fill the seat of our venerable and powerful senior Senator Richard Shelby. There are three major primary contestants. Katie Britt, Mike Durant, and Mo Brooks are the horses or as some might say combatants given the nature of the prevalence of negative advertising. Two of these three gladiators will be the recipient of the most votes on that momentous day and will face off in a runoff set for six weeks later on June 21. The winner of that June 21 runoff will be our next U.S. Senator. Winning the GOP Primary is tantamount to election for a statewide office in the Heart of Dixie, especially for a U.S. Senate Race. This race will probably wind up being the most expensive race in Alabama political history, especially when you add up the third party expenditures. In modern day national politics, a candidate’s individual war chest is not the telling story. We live in a world of third party political action committees (PACs). These third party PACs, based out of Washington, have spent more on their preferred candidate than has been spent directly by the candidates’ campaigns. These PACs are not supposed to coordinate with their preferred candidate, but they do. They share all information and polling, and script their attack ads based on what they think you want to hear. These innocuous PACs have the meanest hired guns, who relish negative ads and seek to destroy their opposition. Why? Because negative ads work. The other political adage that has never changed is that money is the mother’s milk of politics. These three candidates possess or have received plenty of campaign
Union PAC.” The founder and major benefactor, Jake Harriman, is striving to elect more moderates, including Democrats and Republicans. Columnist This PAC wants “Republicans in Name Only” (RINOs). Therefore, RINO probably is resources, mostly from the more accurate description out of state. Allow me to of Durant. summarize the top three U.S. Durant is a phantom Senate candidates, as well candidate, who has run as their benefactors, their primarily a media campaign positions and potential. revealing he was shot Mo Brooks is backed by down as a helicopter pilot the Club for Growth. This over 40 years ago. If the group of very rich folks want term carpetbagger ever less government and free applied in modern day trade with China. They and Alabama politics, it applies Mo Brooks are made for each to Durant. He has barely other. They have been tied campaigned in Alabama and to the hip during Mo’s entire he probably knows very 11-year career in Congress. few Alabamians. He hails They want a senator who from New Hampshire, but will have total disregard for prefers his palatial home in their state or district and Colorado. A vote for Durant have total allegiance to their is like a pig in a poke, you laissez-faire pro-China trade do not know what you will agenda. That is why Mo has be getting. However, you voted against the needs of would be getting a person his district and Alabama. He who decided he wanted to has actually voted against be a United States Senator, agriculture and military but does not care what state defense spending, which are you put behind his name: the mainstays of Alabama. New Hampshire, Colorado or Mo has dropped Alabama. dramatically in the polls since With Durant running the race began this time last a slick television only year. He will now probably campaign and not discussing finish a distant third. When issues, nobody knows where the race first began and it he stands on important looked like Brooks might issues. The one group that be a player, the popular, is extremely skeptical and wise and witty Republican apprehensive of him are Senator from Louisiana, the second amendment gun John Kennedy, quipped, “A owning NRA members of our senate seat is a terrible thing state. to waste.” The runoff will Katie Britt is the probably be a Mike Durant mainstream conservative, and Katie Britt contest. pro-business candidate that Mike Durant has been understands Alabama and our the wild card in this race, needs. Most of her campaign who nobody saw coming contributions have come from but he is a perfect prototype Alabamians. In fact, she is for winning an open U.S. the only real Alabamian in Senate Seat, especially in the race. a pro-military state like Alabama. Durant is a war Steve Flowers is Alabama’s hero, a POW, and started leading political columnist. his own military defense His weekly column appears in business. He has spent some over 60 Alabama newspapers. of his own money, but has He served 16 years in the been extensively backed state legislature. Steve by a national liberal group may be reached at www. called the “More Perfect steveflowers.us.
STEVE FLOWERS
Derby and freedom of speech
I
t was a beautiful day on first Saturday for all of the special events going on around the area. We’ve been so confined for so long, and now the COVID-19 and other strains are seemingly more under control, and mask orders are lifted, we feel freer to get out into real life again. That is a wonderful thing indeed. We happened to run across seeing one of the movie channels that showed ‘Jane Eyre’ this week; and it was fabulous being quite a recently re-done film. Holding our attention and with such a sweet story. My mother gave me the book when I was about ten, I loved the look of the paper cover on this hardbound treasure, but I found reading boring at that age, as I was into more active things, like dance. Quite a chore these days to find interesting things to watch; most of my favorites are on PBS on Sunday evenings. The one I enjoy the most is, “Call the Midwife”, this takes place in the mid-sixties set in a small London town, and so reminiscent of my growing up days as it depicts everyday life as it was then. I had a good long chat with Pat Garnett in Odenville, we got caught up. We talked of
ROSIE'S RAMBLINGS Columnist memories from when she lived around the corner on Coosa 63. Please keep Pat’s brother Wayne Stephens of Equality in your prayers. Wayne still requires a 24-hour nurse as he continues in recovery from that bad spinal injury almost two years ago. Leaving from Alex City last Friday, an oil tanker was delivering gasoline, and on the side of the tank close to the driver’s door, it said, “Let’s go Brandon” with some stars and stripes. It made me smile to know that there are still some other folks out there brave enough to believe they still have freedom of speech and don’t plan on giving it up. You really must be brave enough to tell the truth, instead of saying what you think the others may want to hear, if untrue, it’s a lie; as my niece called them at three years old, “porky pies”. A very big happy birthday wish to Ed Reid at Brown’s Nursing Home in Alex City, he adds another year on May 13. While my Ron was in Re-Habilitation at Brown’s after his DKA
and strokes, Ed Reid was in the room next door, Ed was almost the same age as our son Jamie. Ed and Ron became good friends having a lot in common. Ed had a bad spinal injury from a car accident some years back. The two talk on the phone, and Ron visits him occasionally so they can really catch up. Happy birthday to Rebecca Shivers on May 17, a sweet caring lady from Kellyton. A very special gathering will be taking place in Equality for Yvonne Myers, celebrating her 93rd birthday on May 15. Family will be coming in to join Ms. Yvonne who has lived in Equality for so many years and loves the area dearly, and all her friends at Equality UMC. She always has a great story to share with friends. Wasn’t that something at the Kentucky Derby; one of the horses set to run had an injury, so was replaced at the very last minute and he won it all. What a great surprise for all concerned for this ‘longshot’, he had run four races, lost two; then win the biggest of all. It was good for those that go to the races, to be able to congregate and compare hats again this year. It seems there were big, decorated hats, as well as the popular fascinator.
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Jimmy Frank Goodman Sr. Mayor 256-825-9749 241 Goodman Road, Dadeville, AL
Darryl Heard District 1 256-825-9242 269 Wink Street, Dadeville, AL
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