subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite mapBuy a Classified
Fri, Nov 20 2009 

Resources

print this story   Print this story
  Post to del.icio.us

Photos


A NEIL FRIEDER column


Published June 25, 2008 06:43 pm - An introduction to reality check

Beyond wineries and covered bridges …
A Neil Frieder column


The unemployment rate for Ashtabula County in January soared to 8 percent. A month before the county’s rate was 7.5 percent.

The state’s average for January was 6.3 percent. Ashtabula County’s next door neighbors, Lake and Geauga counties, had unemployment rates of 6.1 percent and 5.7 percent, respectively, for the same time period. Ashtabula County had the highest unemployment rate of the 13 counties making up northeast Ohio.

OK, so the state has been in a recession, probably over the last couple of months. That accounts for what is going on in Ashtabula County today. Right?

Yes, but it only is making a bad situation worse. The problem is Ashtabula County has been in a depressed economic state for a number of years. Notwithstanding this current recession, good economic times have eluded much of Ashtabula County and many of its people.

That should beg the question: Why does Ashtabula County consistently have high unemployment? In January it was 68th in a state of 88 counties. For years, it has been near the bottom rung of the state for employment. Unemployment joins two other problems associated with Ashtabula County to form one of those scurrilous ménage a trois of economics: underemployed, underpaid and unemployed.

That then should beg a series of whys: For example, why does Ashtabula County have a low per capita-income average? Or, why don’t people with college degrees or higher choose Ashtabula County to call home? Or, why aren’t there more retailers other than those that cater to low-income people? Why does the crime rate seem to be higher here? Why are there a lot of foreclosed and dilapidated properties in the county? Why do Lake and Geauga counties consistently have lower unemployment rates?

It is inevitable in Ashtabula County when you begin to ask those whys that someone will ask a different series of whys: “Why don’t you point out the good things of the county, like wineries, covered bridges, Lake Erie and its people? Why are you so negative?”

It is true this county has these great attributes. Yet, as the employment and per capita numbers suggest, they are not helping a lot. Perhaps these whys persist because too many people see it as too painful to look at the problems or they are too complacent with the status quo, or dare we say may benefit financially from having a depressed society.

It is hard to arrive at solutions if you are not seeing the problems.

SO…

Over the next two weeks, the Star Beacon is printing a series entitled “Realty Check.” The series examines some of those whys and culminates with some voiced solutions.

This series is the result of months of work — starting in October — by Star Beacon Lifestyle Editor Carl Feather. In putting together the series, Feather interviewed dozens of people at the national, state and local levels. He researched data that compare Ashtabula County to other areas of the state and nation.

The series also offers a reality check into the personal lives of people who are not faring so well in Ashtabula County.

Over this two-week period, beginning today, we are asking you to become active with it. Each day, we will be asking a question regarding this series on our Web-site poll. You also can go to our Web-site forums to discuss the series. Just click at the end of any of the stories as they appear on our Web site and begin your discussion with other readers.

Also, Carl Feather would like to share your personal stories regarding Ashtabula County for possible publication as they relate to “Reality Check.” He can be reached at cfeather@starbeacon.com.



print this story    email this story   






autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide

PREMIUM JOBS

Mechanic
Muscle Cars Light Mechanic,
detail, PT, Geneva (440)466-1011
...>MORE

APARTMENT MANAGERS

Mature Couple
Experienced. To live in nice newer Northeast Ohio Complex. Good personality for leasing. Free r
...>MORE

Assembly & Press Operators
For Girard, PA.
Plastics Manufacturer
15 openings. (814)833-6722
...>MORE

CLERICAL
Collections $12-15/hr
Customer Service $10-15/hr
Office Asst $10-1
...>MORE

Part time Medical Equipment Delivery/Service Technician nician
Cleveland to Erie area.
Customer service skills required, clean driving record a must.
Send resume to PO Box
...>MORE

LPN/RN
Second Shift
FT/PT

Come and join Rae-Ann Geneva, A Family Owned, Skilled Nursing and Rehab Facility. We
...>MORE

LABORER
[No. 991023]
Ashtabula Campus -
Ashtabula, OH

Opportunity for laborer to perform unskilled tasks re
...>MORE

BARTENDER
5 years exp. required. Part time fill in for weekends. Send resume to 17 Wall St.,
Jefferson, Ohio 44047
...>MORE

FACTORY
Assembly & Press Operators
For Girard, PA.
Plastics Manufacturer
15 openings. (814)833-6722
...>MORE

LPNs
Primary Nursing Care has an immediate need for LPN’s for a home-care case in the Thompson area. One-on-one care, 16-32 h...>MORE

See all ads

PREMIUM AUTOS

2005 Chevy Silverado ext. cab,
V6, auto, 42,000 miles $9000. (440)474-2390...>MORE

1997 DODGE STRATUS
Clean car, winter ready $1400 obo. 576-3438...>MORE

1999 Chevrolet Conversion Van
106k, nice shape $4500 obo. (440)951-9705...>MORE

2005 Verucci Motor Scooter
VGC $600 obo. (440)576-1585...>MORE

TIRES!!
Tires: 6 new 8 R 19.5 tires on GM Rims $75 ea. Also over 150 good used tires 13, 14, 15 & 16 $15 and up. 998-0462/ 319-0...>MORE

See all ads

PREMIUM HOMES


1979 14x70, 2BR/2 Full BA, new carpet & vinyl flooring. Asking $6000. Call (440)992-9524...>MORE

RENT TO OWN
Geneva very nice, very large
3BR, new carpets & much more $250/mo. Credit problems ok. 440-673-1955
...>MORE

Kingsville Home for Sale
3-4BR/2ba Home for Sale;
2.25 ac., 2.5 car gar., 2bay carport,
shed, $85,000; Will consider land contract....>MORE

Ashtabula House for Sale
3BR home “as is” $25,000 obo
Call M-F 9-5, Ash. 440-992-9582
...>MORE

OPEN HOUSE
Sundays 11/22 & 11/29
2pm-5pm, 2114 E. 42nd St. 2BR/1ba Ranch, full bsmt,
2 car det. gar. $79,300. (440)812-
...>MORE

OWNER FINANCING
Ashtabula 2BR, 1BA, C/A, vinyl siding, new roof, carpet, plumbing & paint $30,000. 10% down & $324.05/mo. 5312 Madison A...>MORE

KENT STATE UNIVERSITY
Clerical Specialist
[No. 991023]
Ashtabula Campus -
Ashtabula, OH

Opportunity for laborer to p
...>MORE

MOBILE HOMES FOR SALE
Oakwood MHP East Side Ash. Buckeye Schools. Starting $350/mo. Rent to Own Available.
Call Stacy 440-812-2404
...>MORE

Mobile Home for Sale
1967 Globemaster 14x70
decent condition $1,000, new furnace
440-466-7885
...>MORE

See all ads

PREMIUM EXTRAS

SEASONED FIREWOOD FOR SALE
Mixed Hardwoods. Cut & split approx 16” $225.00 cord (+) or Slab wood, cut $150.00 cord(+). Delivered within 15 miles of...>MORE

BUYING JUNK VEHICLES
WE PAY SCRAP OR BETTER
Budget Auto Parts,
6015 Woodman Ave. 992-1111
...>MORE

Tools
Top & Bottom box full of mechanics tools, impacts, air ratchets, grinder, sander, board file etc. If interested bring 4 ...>MORE

MACHINERY & TOOLS
SAFES- Large & small, Forklifts, extra forks, Pallet Jacks, air compressors, (1-20HP), complete torch sets, welding gass...>MORE

Hayward pump (1-1/2 hp) & D.E.
Filter for swimming pool, misc. pool access. $300 obo. 576-1585...>MORE

"WE NEED LAND!"
Paying top prices for farms or acreage in OH, W. Virginia and PA. Call Bruner Land Co. at (740) 685-8138....>MORE

WANTED TO BUY
Immediate Cash for unwanted items.
Call for details 440-319-4274
...>MORE

LAWN & GARDEN
9hp Craftsman 2 stage snow blower 29” path elec. start $650; Torro 5hp 2 stage snowblower elec. start $300; John Deer tr...>MORE

Cemetery Lots
Greenlawn 3 spaces SOM section 2 $500 each. 1 burial vault $700 each. 1 - 28x16 granite base installed $280. Please cal...>MORE

See all ads

PREMIUM RENTALS

Condo's for Rent or Lease
Saybrook Beach Lakefront 2BR 1.5 BA Washer/Dryer. Furnished or unfurnished. 440-536-2604...>MORE

Conneaut House for Rent
Conn. 3BR/1.5ba all appls./ trash inc. $575+sec. (440)265-0100...>MORE

Apartments for Rent
2BR Jefferson/Rome/Orwell Heat furn. No pets. (440)563-5952...>MORE

House for Rent in Ashtabula
Ash 3BR W. 8th, $675+sec. lease no pets, gas incl. (440)964-5797...>MORE

ASHTABULA & CONNEAUT APTS. FOR RENT
Ashtabula
Free rent
Bunker Hill Apartments
2BR starting $480
Call Patrick
(440)993-7411
...>MORE

Saybrook Ranch for Rent
Saybrook 2-3BR Ranch near lake
$675+dep & utils. (440)964-3461
...>MORE

Apartments for Rent
Nice 1 or 2BR apt. Buckeye or Lakeside, carpet, refrig/stove, pay only electric. No pets. $435/mo-$505+sec. 998-2332 or ...>MORE

Conneaut Apartment for Rent
2BR up. Wtr/swr/trsh pd. W/D hookup. $450+sec. 593-4189...>MORE

GOTL Apartment for Rent
Near to Twp Park 1 & 2 BR, util. pd, sec. no pets. 466-3332...>MORE

House for Rent GOTL
3BR 2BA ranch, quiet, shed, $675/mo+util+dep. 440-285-4150...>MORE

See all ads



 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index