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Eclectic Observer The
WEDNESDAY • JANUARY 2, 2019
TheWetumpkaHerald.com
Vol. 30, No.1
County at 3 percent Elmore County among state’s lowest unemployment rates By AMALIA KORTRIGHT Bureau Chief
Submitted / Lt. John Sanford
Crews work to remove a pickup truck that reportedly crashed into a power pole from West Collins Street.
Single-vehicle crash 1 injured in West Collins Street wreck By AMALIA KORTRIGHT Bureau Chief
T
he driver of a pickup truck received minor injuries during a single-vehicle accident in Eclectic on the afternoon of Dec. 26. At around 4 p.m., the Eclectic Police and Fire Departments responded to a report of a pickup truck that hit a power pole on West Collins Street, close to Georgia Road.
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Firefighters said the driver, who was the only person inside the truck during the head-on collision, sustained minor injuries and was transported to a nearby hospital. Firefighters said the truck’s airbags deployed in the collision. It is currently unknown if the driver was wearing a seatbelt. The power pole was discovered broken in half and Alabama Power was notified, police said. Eclectic police are currently investigating the cause of the crash, firefighters said.
Over the course of 2018, Elmore County has consistently been listed among counties with the lowest unemployment rates in the state. According to the Alabama Department of Labor, Elmore County tied with Morgan and Limestone counties in November for the third-lowest unemployment rates, each at 3 percent. Elmore County Commission Chairman Troy Stubbs said he was delighted to see the county’s unemployment steadily declining and attributed the county’s low unemployment to a strong business community and a well-prepared workforce. “We have large industries in the county but we also have a strong support for local businesses from the community,” Stubbs said. “We also have a qualified workforce from our local schools.” The county also came in third for the lowest unemployment rate in October, September, May, April, February and January, often tying with several counties in north Alabama. Elmore County also came in second in June, fourth in March and fifth in May. According to ADL statistics, 1,124 Elmore County residents were counted as unemployed in November, yielding the 3 percent unemployment rate. Between October and the end of November, ADL statistics indicate 35 Elmore County locals gained employment, causing the county’s unemployment to decrease by 0.3 percent. The most recent ADL statistics indicate Shelby County has the state’s lowest unemployment rate at 2.5 percent, and Marshall, Madison and Cullman counties tied for the second at 2.9 percent. According to the ADL, the state as a whole recently reached its lowest unemployment rate in Alabama history. More than 2 million Alabamians were listed as employed in November and the number of jobs in the state increased by 35,400. “Business is booming in Alabama,” ADL Secretary Fitzgerald Washington said. “We are continuing to shatter employment records month after month. Jobs are growing at a record 1.7 percent yearly growth rate. It’s a great time to be doing business in Alabama.”
Paying it forward
Food pantry hosting Taste of Elmore County
Hope for Donalsonville raises thousands
By AMALIA KORTRIGHT Bureau Chief
By AMALIA KORTRIGHT Bureau Chief
The Elmore County Food pantry is gearing up for its biggest event, Taste of Elmore County, on Jan. 28 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Wetumpka Civic Center. According to food pantry director Kathy Moseley, this is the eighth consecutive year Taste of Elmore County has been held. The event will feature a diverse selection of food samples from local vendors, live music, door prizes and a silent auction.
Eclectic community members recently donated thousands to a small Georgia city that was devastated by Hurricane Michael in October. According to volunteer Stephanie Southerland, the town’s Holiday Hope for Donalsonville initiative raised $7,000 for families in need. On Dec. 20, Southerland took a trip to Donalsonville and distributed a check for
See PANTRY • Page 2
File / The Observer
Representatives from local restaurants will be onsite with a variety of different food samples during the eighth annual Taste of Elmore County.
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