Webster County's unemployment rate fell from 7.9% to 7.3% between January and February according to data released by the Kentucky Office of Employment and Training.

In all, 456 Webster County residents were without a job in Febraury.  

In Union County, unemployment dipped from 7.4% to 7.2%.  A year ago, the county's unemployment rate was 8%.

Unemployment rates fell in 91 Kentucky counties between February 2012 and February 2013, while 26 county rates increased and three stayed the same. 

From the Kentucky Corn Growers Association

According to an August NASS report, Kentucky corn production is predicted to be the lowest since 1983 at 96.9 million bushels, down 46 percent from the previous crop. While acreage is up, expected yields are down significantly from the previous year. Yield was estimated at 65 bushels per acre, down 74 bushels from the 2011 level. Harvest is about 40 percent complete state wide.

Bob White, who farms with his family in Union Co., has harvested half of their corn crop and reports yields are the worst he has seen since he began farming in 1974.

Green River Area Development District (GRADD) approved two low-interest Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) business loans, totaling $400,000, for Union County Livestock, Inc. at this month’s GRADD Board of Directors meeting.

The loans are part of a $3.3 million expansion that is projected to create over 60 full-time jobs at the Uniontown agricultural firm.

The RLF funds will enable Union County Livestock (and its marketing division Mid-South Sales) to purchase equipment and utilize working capital to expand product lines to include chicken salad, ham salad, tuna salad, pimento cheese, and barbecue ribs, as well as new party trays.