Briefly
By News-Argus Staff
Published in News on May 30, 2004 9:13 AM
Gardening tools needed
The Wayne County Arts Council needs donations of gardening tools.
Alice Strickland, council executive director, said the tools need to be in good shape, but not necessarily new.
People interested in donating can bring the tools to the art center on the corner of Spence Avenue and Ash Street from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Arts Council will be closed on Monday in observance of Memorial Day.
Unemployment falls
Unemployment rates fell in 84 counties in April, including Wayne.
Around 2,163 Wayne County residents, or about 4.3 percent of the workforce, were unemployed in April.
That's a decrease of about 138 people from March, when the county's unemployment rate was 4.6 percent.
The statewide rate in April was 5 percent, which was down from 5.3 percent in March.
The unemployment rate in Duplin fell from 5.8 percent in March to 5.6 percent in April. Other surrounding county rates were Johnston, 3.5 to 3.1 percent; Sampson, 4.9 to 4.5 percent; Lenoir, 5.1 to 5.2 percent; and Wilson, 9.4 to 9.8 percent.
Vance County had the state's highest unemployment rate in April, 11.7 percent. Currituck County had the state's lowest rate at 1.6 percent.