Tuesday, March 24th, 2015

Mercer County no longer has lowest jobless rate in state

By Daily Standard Staff
Mercer County in February for the first time in more than three years does not hold the lowest unemployment rate in Ohio.
The county's jobless rate fell from 4.2 percent in January to 3.7 percent in February but was bumped from the bottom spot by Delaware County at 3.6 percent, according to data released today by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
Mercer County's unemployment rate had risen in January - along with most other Ohio counties - from a low of 2.6 percent in December.
Auglaize County's unemployment rate also dropped in February to 4.1 percent, keeping it at the fifth-lowest ranking in the state. The county's January rate was 4.7 percent and its December rate was 3.1 percent.
Jobless rates in neighboring counties for February were 4.6 percent in Van Wert, 5.1 percent in Darke, 4.9 percent in Shelby and 5.4 percent in Allen.
Ohio's revised unemployment rate for February was 5.1 percent - the same as in January and December. The state posted a 6.2 percent jobless rate one year ago.
The U.S. revised unemployment rate for February was 5.5 percent, down from 5.7 percent in January and 6.7 percent one year ago.
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Subscriber and paid stories on this date
Snow causes havoc on area roadways
CELINA - Dozens of accidents and slide-offs occurred Monday afternoon after several inches of snow blanketed the area just three days into spring.
At least five people were injured in two accidents in Mercer County when white-out conditions made it difficult for drivers to see.
FORT RECOVERY - A roomful of Fort Recovery residents burst into applause Monday night after all but one village council member voted to annex and rezone 6.19 acres south of town on state Route 49, paving the way for a Dollar General.
CELINA - School board members want to replace as many as five buses next school year and another five over the next five years to update an aging fleet.
CELINA - Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine has ruled former mayor Sharon LaRue does not have to repay the city $6,107 for medical insurance premiums, ending a lengthy dispute with the state.
CELINA - The city remains on firm financial footing due to the responsible fiscal management by administrators and city council, mayor Jeff Hazel asserted Monday night during his belated state of the city address.
NEW BREMEN - State Route 274 in New Bremen will be detoured for two weeks in April so PAB Construction can replace deteriorating curbs and gutters.
ST. HENRY - Village council members on Monday night began preparing for summer by approving first reading of legislation setting pay rates for pool employees and fees for pool passes and shelters.
COLDWATER - Village officials may require an employee to gain certification to inspect backflow protectors for residents using cisterns, according to village administrator/engineer Eric Thomas.
An free event offering information on both traditional and nontraditional farming topics will be Saturday at Wright State University-Lake Campus.
It will be held in James F. Dicke Hall.
To say that Earl Baltes was a one-of-a-kind person would be an understatement.
Baltes, the founder and longtime owner of Eldora Speedway who passed away Monday morning at the age of 93, turned a plot of land outside Rossburg into one of the most famous dirt tracks in the world.
Division I & II Boys Basketball All-Ohio
Celina's Ryan Hoyng added another honor to his stellar basketball career as he was selected second team All-Ohio in Division II by the Associated Press on Monday.