The Lincoln News Sentinel

~June rate 11.6 percent

By SEÁN O’DONOGHUE

Managing Editor

HAMLIN - After May's jobless data suggested the unemployment rate in Lincoln County had been leveling off, June's report halted the trend with another steep hike in unemployment. The number of those unemployed in the county is now close to 1,000.

According to data released recently by WorkForce West Virginia, there were 950 people unemployed in the county in June. The June rate of unemployment was 11.6 percent, well up from May's rate of 10.7 percent. The rate of unemployment for the same June period last year was just 5 percent, representing 410 individuals out of work.

Lincoln County's rate continues to be worse than the state…

HUNTINGTON - The Region 2 WORKFORCE Investment Board recently announced that it has received funding for the Region 2 WORKFORCE Investment Board Summer Youth Program. Backed by the American Recovery and Reinve-stment Act (ARRA) of 2009, the Summer Youth Program is a work-learning program for economically disadvantaged youth between the ages of 14 to 24. R2WIB has met its goal for this summer of 45 work sites, with more than 150 youth participants.

“It is encouraging to have the opportunity to offer educational and training programs for the youth of West Virginia, especially in these challenging economic times,” said Claude “Jake” Hunt. “R2WIB is designed to encourage youth participants to…

By TOM MILLER

 CHARLESTON – A crowded public hearing on efforts to amend the state constitution to prohibit same-sex marriages in West Virginia kicked off the three days of monthly interim meetings at the State Capitol here last week.

An overflow crowd showed up for the hearing including President Jeremiah Dys of the Family Policy Council of West Virginia who told delegates and senators on the interim study committee that they have “no legitimate reason” to deny his membership their desire to have a statewide vote on this controversial issue.

Opponents of the proposed constitutional amendment claim the state’s Defense of Marriage Act, a law passed by the 2001 Legislature that prohibits…

$567,660 for center in Hamlin

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senators Jay Rockefeller and Robert C. Byrd, together with Congressmen Nick J. Rahall and Alan B. Mollohan (all D-WV), recently applauded an announcement by the Obama Administration that community health centers across the country – including 28 in West Virginia – are being awarded funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (“Recovery Act”) to support existing jobs, create new construction jobs and address immediate and pressing facility and equipment needs.

Among the funding provisions is $567,660 for Lincoln Primary Care Center in Hamlin.

“West Virginia’s community health centers are absolutely vital to people in rural…

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Robert C. Byrd (D-WV) last week announced the awarding of additional “Teaching American History Grants” from the U.S. Department of Educa- tion to three local jurisdictions in West Virginia.  Each grantee will be awarded approximately $1 million over a five year period.  These grants are designed to raise student achievement by improving teachers’ knowledge and understanding of and appreciation for traditional U.S. history.

“By helping teachers develop a more complete and well-rounded understanding and appreciation of American history, this program will, in turn, ensure that our students get the education they need in this important subject area,” said Byrd, who…