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Local News Briefs

County’s unemployment 7.3; Benton’s rate falls to 8.9

The state’s economy continues to show signs of recovery in April as the unadjusted jobless rate fell seven-tenths of a point to stand at 7.3 percent, the Mississippi Department of Employment Security (MDES) announced last week.

Areas dependent on farm-related jobs continued to show the highest job gains due to workers engaged in spring planting activities. However, coastal counties also showed job gains due to continued hurricane cleanup and reconstruction contracts.

Forty counties reported unemployment rates equal to or less than Mississippi’s 7.3 percentage rate. Six counties had rates below 5 percent, topped by Lafayette at 4.0 and Lamar at 4.1, then followed by Rankin at 4.2 percent, DeSoto at 4.5 and Madison at 4.7.

Only 13 counties posted double-digit unemployment rates, with Hancock and Harrison having the highest rates at 14.3 and 14.2 percent, followed by Noxubee at 13.8, Jefferson at 13.5 and Holmes at 11.4.

Marshall County’s April unemployment rate was 7.3, identical to March. Benton’s was 8.9, down from 9.6 in March.

The Marshall County tax collector’s office at the new substation, 1311 Highway 309 North, will be open on a part-time basis until the public begins coming to the substation to purchase vehicle registration tags and to pay real and personal property taxes.

Tax Collector Betty Byrd said the office will be open on Wednesday and Thursday each week from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. until October 1, 2006, when the fiscal year 2006-2007 budget goes into effect.

Satellite office in place at new facility on Highway 309

The Marshall County Sheriff’s Department has been open at the new substation for several months, plus the ambulance service is quartered there.

The new telephone numbers at the substation are: tax collector’s office, 662-838-5395; sheriff’s substation, 662-838-5394; ambulance service, 662-838-3601.

Patrolling officers are in and out of the substation at anytime, according to Melinda Endersen, receptionist and records clerk. Her regular office hours are from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Dollar General announces new store opening in Byhalia

Shoppers in Byhalia will have a new place to shop for basic consumable merchandise at everyday low prices when Dollar General opens its new store at 3408 Highway 309 North.

The grand opening begins Saturday, June 17, at 9 a.m., and continues through June 18. The new 8,492-square-foot store employs approximately six to 10 people.

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