Cobb

Unemployment in both the city of Denton and in Denton County took a dip in February, according to reports from the Texas Workforce Commission.

Denton’s unemployment rate dropped two-tenths of a percentage point from 3.8 percent in January to 3.6 percent in February. The drop goes against past years’ comparisons for the same months. In 2007, the unemployment rate remained static at 4 percent; in 2006, the rate rose two-tenths of a percent from 3.5 percent in January to 3.7 percent in February.

The unemployment rate for Denton County dropped three-tenths of a percentage point from January’s 4.2 percent to 3.9 percent in February. Those figures also showed a difference as compared to the previous two years at the same time period. The unemployment rate remained static in 2007 at 4.1 percent. In 2006, the unemployment rate rose one-tenth of a percentage point from 4.4 percent in January to 4.5 percent in February.

The seasonally adjusted rate for the state also showed a drop of two-tenths of a percentage point from 4.3 percent in January to 4.1 percent in February.

Texas Workforce Commission offices indicated the state was showing a spur in job growth with 13,500 positions added across a broad range of industries, according to a news release. 

December sales taxes for the city of Denton were up by 1.1 percent over budget and 5.53 percent over December 2006 numbers, according to city records. The December upswing followed a strong November, which showed a 4.45 percent increase over the budget in sales tax allocations for the city and 4.64 percent above the November 2006 sales tax figures.

Word is that the building at University Drive and Carroll Boulevard, where the former Texadelphia restaurant was located, is being renovated into a shopping center. The developer is Randy Holcombe, owner of Holcombe Properties LLC of Dallas.

For all those who wish to get rid of confidential paperwork in a timely manner, DATCU will host Shred Day. The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 19, at 225 W. Mulberry St. in Denton.

Kay Schroeder, vice president of human resources for DATCU, informed us via e-mail that the paperwork will be shredded on-site and that for security reasons, experts recommend shredding any unneeded paperwork that contains account or credit card information, Social Security numbers and receipts. Shredding will be limited to three boxes.

For more information, contact Kay Schroeder at 940-442-5442 or send an e-mail to kschroeder@datcu.org.

Congratulations

Dallas Magera has taken a new position as office administrator at James Sawyer & Associates, a real estate firm in Corinth. She previously served as the city of Corinth’s economic development representative.

Coming up

North Central Texas College will host its second annual conference on American leadership. The conference will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 12, at the Corinth campus. The conference, made possible by an NCTC Go-For-It Grant and the Social Sciences Department, will focus on the state of the Iraq war, issues with proportional representation and democracy, personal vs. national security and energy issues facing the United States.

Speakers include U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess, University of North Texas regents professor Dr. Mike Campbell, University of Texas at Dallas professor Dr. Thomas Brunell, retired FBI special agent Charles Williams and Bruce Bullock, director of Southern Methodist University’s Maguire Energy Institute.

The conference is open to the public, and registration is required. To put your name on the list, contact Lisa Morales, NCTC social sciences instructor, at lmorales@nctc.edu.

The Denton Young Profes­sionals will host an auction benefiting Fred Moore High School at a luncheon on Tuesday, April 8, at Metropolitan Catering. The luncheon will be from 11:30 a.m.to 1 p.m. Supporters and donators are needed. Call 940-565-1959 for questions. Also, the group will host its next “Meet & Greet” at Fuddruckers from 11:30 a.m. to 12: 30 a.m. Tuesday, April 29.