2)candidate 3)gown

editorial Board

Steve Baker — Publisher Kaitlin Fleming — Managing Editor www.alexcityoutlook.com

Page A4

High Praise for Low Unemployment

By BETH CHAPMAN

Just 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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The Dadeville Record is contract printed each Wednesday evening in Alexander City by Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. 256-234-4281

Opinion The Record Senate race down to the wire

The 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 resources, mostly from out of state. Allow me to summarize the top three U.S. Senate candidates, as well as their benefactors, their positions and potential.

Mo Brooks is backed by the Club for Growth. This group of very rich folks want less government and free trade with China. They and Mo Brooks are made for each other. They have been tied to the hip during Mo’s entire 11-year career in Congress. They want a senator who will have total disregard for their state or district and have total allegiance to their laissez-faire pro-China trade agenda. That is why Mo has voted against the needs of his district and Alabama. He has actually voted against agriculture and military defense spending, which are the mainstays of Alabama.

Mo has dropped dramatically in the polls since the race began this time last year. He will now probably finish a distant third. When the race first began and it looked like Brooks might be a player, the popular, wise and witty Republican Senator from Louisiana, John Kennedy, quipped, “A senate seat is a terrible thing to waste.” The runoff will probably be a Mike Durant and Katie Britt contest.

Mike Durant has been the wild card in this race, who nobody saw coming but he is a perfect prototype for winning an open U.S. Senate Seat, especially in a pro-military state like Alabama. Durant is a war hero, a POW, and started his own military defense business. He has spent some of his own money, but has been extensively backed by a national liberal group called the “More Perfect Union PAC.” The founder and major benefactor, Jake Harriman, is striving to elect more moderates, including Democrats and Republicans. This PAC wants “Republicans in Name Only” (RINOs). Therefore, RINO probably is the more accurate description of Durant.

Durant is a phantom candidate, who has run primarily a media campaign revealing he was shot down as a helicopter pilot over 40 years ago. If the term carpetbagger ever applied in modern day Alabama politics, it applies to Durant. He has barely campaigned in Alabama and he probably knows very few Alabamians. He hails from New Hampshire, but prefers his palatial home in Colorado. A vote for Durant is like a pig in a poke, you do not know what you will be getting. However, you would be getting a person who decided he wanted to be a United States Senator, but does not care what state you put behind his name: New Hampshire, Colorado or Alabama.

With Durant running a slick television only campaign and not discussing issues, nobody knows where he stands on important issues. The one group that is extremely skeptical and apprehensive of him are the second amendment gun owning NRA members of our state.

Katie Britt is the mainstream conservative, pro-business candidate that understands Alabama and our needs. Most of her campaign contributions have come from Alabamians. In fact, she is the only real Alabamian in the race.

STEVE FLOWERS

Columnist

Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His weekly column appears in over 60 Alabama newspapers. He served 16 years in the state legislature. Steve may be reached at www. steveflowers.us.

Derby and freedom of speech

It 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 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.

ROSIE'S RAMBLINGS

Columnist

Kaitlin Fleming managing editor (256) 414-3179

editor@alexcityoutlook.com

Thursday, May 12, 2022

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Know Your Officials

Communication with elected officials is the key to good government. To let your local representatives know how you feel about city matters, contact your council representative. To contact city hall, please call 256-825-9242.

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

Brownie Caldwell

District 2 256-825-4749 480 East LaFayette St., Dadeville, AL

Teneeshia GoodmanJohnson

District 3 256-825-9946 1191 Fulton Street, Dadeville, AL

Terry Greer

District 4 256-825-9242 1163 E. LaFayette St., Dadeville, AL

Tony Wolfe

District 5 Dadeville, AL 1752 W. LaFayette St., Dadeville, AL

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