• Posts Tagged ‘economy’

    Local Unemployment Rate Unchanged in December

    by  • January 25, 2012 • News & Views • 0 Comments

    Figures released this week by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services show that the area’s unemployment rate remained relatively steady in December.

    For Crawford County in particular, the rate was unchanged, standing at 9.9 percent.

    The county did see improvement during 2011 as compared to other Ohio counties. A year ago, Crawford County had one of the highest rates outside of the southeast region of the state; now, it is tied for 17th highest among Ohio’s 88 counties.

    Statewide, December’s rate stood at 8.1 percent, down .4 percent from the previous month. Year-end figure show the largest sector gains in the number of jobs in Ohio in 2011 were in the areas of educational and health services (24,600 jobs), trade, transportation and utilities (19,400 jobs), and professional and … Read the rest

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    2011 Area Home Sales Show Improvement

    by  • January 22, 2012 • News & Views • 0 Comments

    If the numbers are accurate, not only did Ohio’s housing market see a bit of a turnaround in 2011, but north central Ohio in particular fared rather well.

    The eastern portion of Crawford County, including Galion, is included in numbers compiled for the Mansfield area. Figures for the area include the following (2011 year-end figures first, those for 2010 second):

    • Number of Units Sold: 116 — 84 (a 38.1% increase)
    • Dollar Volume: $8,825,327 — $7,877,755 (a 12.0% increase)
    • Average Sale Price: $76,080 — $93,783 (a 18.9% decrease)

    The year-end totals for the Marion area (including Bucyrus) were also strong, with a 25.9% increase in number of units sold. In fact, the Scioto Valley area (Portsmouth) was the only other region in Ohio other than the local two to register an … Read the rest

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    Alleged Mortgage Fraud Scheme Included Galion Properties

    by  • January 16, 2012 • News & Views • 0 Comments

    An indictment has been filed against David R. Sharrock, Richard W. Balliett, Rhonda J. McElroy, and Ronald L. Kightlinger charging them with multiple counts of bank and wire fraud in connection with a mortgage fraud scheme which caused approximately $1.3 million in losses to Geauga Savings Bank, J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, Washington Mutual Bank, and Suntrust Mortgage, Inc, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

    Sharrock is also charged with making false statements to the FBI relative to the scheme.

    David R. Sharrock, age 69, currently resides in Mansfield, Ohio. Richard W. Balliet, age 44, currently resides in Bucyrus, Ohio. Rhonda J. McElroy, age 49, currently resides in Bellville, Ohio. Ronald L Kightlinger, age 51, currently resides in Crestline, Ohio.

    The indictment alleges that … Read the rest

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    Disappearing Galion Dollars

    by  • January 7, 2012 • News & Views, The Future of Galion • 6 Comments

    Ever wonder how many Galionites head to Ontario, Mansfield, or Columbus to shop? Here’s one way to answer that question.

    Ohio’s think tank for smart and sustainable growth, Greater Ohio, recently issued its third report on the rates of sales tax capture by Ohio counties, and how those rates illustrate what it calls “Ohio’s Horse & Buggy Tax Structure.” It is a structure which, in its words, is “holding Ohio back.”

    While the data shared is intended to illustrate the disconnect between the state’s economic activity and how local tax rates are structured, it also provides a rather interesting look at how the three counties in the MidOhio region – Richland, Ashland, and Crawford Counties – function as economic marketplaces.

    “Sales tax capture” refers to the difference between the census-calculated … Read the rest

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