Local News Briefs

Volunteer work slated for next week at Henry School
The Alcoa Corporation, Thomas & Betts and Hunter Fan will be sending volunteers from each company to work at Henry School the week of October 17-22.

Volunteers will be working at the school from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. each evening and all day on Saturday.

Local businesses are invited to send representatives to help improve the facilities at Henry.

For more information contact Henry School at 662-838-2591.

MS Forestry Commission closes Marshall County office
As part of the $3.9 million budget reduction, the Mississippi Forestry Commission has closed the offices in Pontotoc and Marshall counties effective October 1.

The following shows the changes and contact numbers to get forestry advice and services. Please call to set an appointment – service forester, Lee McCord, Oxford, 662-234-1182; cell, 662-791- 9746.

To report a wildfire call 1-800-681-8760.

Harvest Festival on tap for Oct. 29 in Holly Springs
The third annual Harvest Fest on the square in Holly Springs will be held Saturday, Oct. 29.

There will be gospel singing, arts and crafts, food vendors, pony rides, merchant open houses and more.

All businesses surrounding and near the square are urged to participate by decorating windows with a fall or Halloween theme, having sidewalk sales, giving away a prize that will require customers to come in and register, contributing toward a grand prize to be given away in a special 5 p.m. drawing.

For more information, contact Lisa Cole at 252-8855 or the Holly Springs Chamber of Commerce at 252-2943.

August unemployment rate rises in state and county
The state’s unemployment rate rose to 7.0 for August, up from July’s 6.7 percent, the Mississippi Department of Employment Security (MDES) announced.

The number of employed Mississippians dropped by 16,400, while the number of unemployed rose by 2,400.

Thirty-one counties reported unemployment rates equal to or less than Mississippi’s 7.0 percentage rate with DeSoto County showing the lowest rate of 3.6 percent and Rankin County posting the second lowest rate of 4.8.

Only 14 of the 82 counties posted double-digit unemployment rates for August, with Jefferson County reporting the highest rate of 14.8 percent and Benton County posting second highest at 12.9 percent. Marshall County’s unemployment rate for August was 10.7, up from 7.6 in July.

“The devastation brought by Hurricane Katrina in the latter part of August should have a negative effect on the labor force conditions for September,” said Wayne Gasson, chief of Labor Market Information.

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