Williams County News

LIBRARIES change lives, then-Sen. Barack Obama told the American Library Association in 2005.

The economy of Williams County, Ohio, is taking another blow. Midwest Stamping LLC told the state that it has cut 198 employees, effective Friday.

Ohio's unemployment rate was 10.1 percent in September, down from 10.8 percent in August, according to data released by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

Car-deer accidents rose in five of the six counties in the Defiance area from 2007 to 2008, bucking statewide numbers that saw deer-vehicle collisions decrease 6.5 percent in 2008.

Motorists thinking about driving excessive speeds or rolling through stop signs should note the safety history of area roadways -- a primary factor in how law enforcement officers determine where to initiate traffic patrols.

Unemployment rates are at historic highs across most of Ohio. Sunday's Numbers, a weekly feature from The Plain Dealer 85 of 88: In 85 of Ohio's 88 counties, the August 2009 unemployment rate announced last week was at its highest level for the month in at least 20 years.

Being born in the United States is no longer a competitive advantage, the president of Northwest State Community College told a group of area business people and students this morning at the Defiance Area Chamber of Commerce "Breakfast of Champions." The presentation was held at the Hubbard banquet room in the Defiance College Serrick Center.

Toledo's unemployment rate fell more than two percentage points -- to 13-point-two percent in August.

Traffic stops initiated by the Ohio State Highway Patrol in northwest Ohio are down when compared to 2008 levels, mirroring a statewide trend.

As the days slip away and the combines stay in the shed, many farmers are warily watching the calendar.

A Williams County, Ohio, 4-year-old died over the Labor Day weekend in a drowning accident, the sheriff's office said Wednesday.

This wagon tells a story. A covered wagon sits off Ohio 2 near Stryker. It's canvas is full of well wishes written by people from South Padre Island, Baltimore, Texas, New York, Vermont and other places around the United States.

It's time to come out and meet your friends and neighbors at the Williams County Fair.

The Montpelier Police Department continues to investigate a robbery and assault that occurred Monday morning at the Eagles Aerie, 214 N. Jonesville St.

Wednesday, September 02, 2009 at 6:06 p.m. PUTNAM COUNTY- Two people are pronounced dead on the scene after a car crash on I-70 near the 29 mile marker at the Clay/Putnam County line.

A legal challenge to the Lick Creek project has apparently delayed further action.

Unemployment dropped significantly in July in two northwest Ohio counties and remained unchanged in two others, according to data released Tuesday.

Columbiana County's estimated jobless rate remained at 14.7 percent in August, while the number of new claims and the people receiving benefits declined sharply.

Williams County's unemployment rate of 17.5 percent for July was the highest in Ohio last month, the state Department of Job and Family Services has reported.

The unemployment figures have been released for July, and the Miami Valley received some good news and some bad news.