The economic recovery appears to finally be showing signs of reaching
Hancock County and the surrounding area as several local industries recently
started hiring additional workers since the new year. The thaw in hiring
started slowly.

In mid-January the Domtar paper mill located east of Hawesville placed a
help wanted advertisement for an IT specialist/technician. One week later,
Parker-Hannifin Corporation in Tell City, Ind., placed advertisements in the
Hancock Clarion for a maintenance technician, and another ad for production
employees.

As the calendar turned toward February, Aleris Rolled Products in Lewisport
entered the hiring fray. The company advertised the need for maintenance
licensed electricians. After this ad, the pace of hiring slowed until the
end of February.

Waupaca, located in Tell City, started hiring production employees for it
iron casting plant. Then this week, Aleris announced another round of
hiring. It placed advertisements for general production, mechanical,
electrical and maintenance positions.

Aleris plans to take these applications starting March 5 until March 19. The
company encourages former employees of the plant to apply, but all persons
interested in the positions need to provide Work Keys or T.A.B.E. results.

The applications are available through local career centers, but not at the
plant.

The thaw in the local hiring market comes as good news to a county battered
by the loss of several hundred manufacturing jobs the past year. The
aluminum industry in Hancock County took a major beating during this latest
economic downturn.

Century Aluminum and Aleris, two of the largest employers in the county,
each enacted large layoffs. Aleris furloughed approximately 200 employees,
and Century around 150. Several other plants also adjusted their employment
in response to the deep recession.