Jobless payments lowest since '69
Michigan's low unemployment rate last year produced a 30-year low in jobless benefit claims.

The total number of weeks of unemployment benefits that jobless workers claimed last year fell to 4.9 million from 5.6 million in 1998, the state Unemployment Agency announced last month. The last time unemployment claims were lower was in 1969, when the state processed claims for 3.5 million weeks of unemployment.

Unemployment Agency Director Jack Wheatley said jobless benefit payments were also lower in 1999, dropping to$883.1 million - an 11 percent decline from 1998.

The construction industry had 17.8 of all claims, third behind manufacturing (25 percent) and the service sector, 21.9 percent.

Voter registration deadline is July 10
Are you registered to vote?

Saturday, July 10 is the last day to register to vote for the Tuesday, Aug. 8 primary election. Registering now will also allow you to participate in the Nov. 7 general election for president, U.S. Senate, Michigan Supreme Court, Michigan House and Senate seats, district and county judgeships, and numerous city and township offices.

So if you haven't registered, pay a visit to your city, county or township clerk's office. While you're at it, you can pick up an absentee ballot if you won't be in town on election day.

Operators sit atop softball standings
With the Detroit Building Trades Softball League season winding down, both of the Operating Engineers Local 324 teams are in the driver's seat to take home the championship.

The Local 324 Red team sits atop the standings with a 9-0 record, while the local's Blue team sits in second place at 7-2.

The Monday night league was scheduled to wrap up its season with a position round on July 17, but two rainouts are expected to bring changes to the schedule. Any changes weren't available at press time.

Following are the league standings:
Operators Red 9-0
Operators Blue 7-2
Millwrights 6-3
Electricians 6-3
Sheet Metal 5-4
Plumbers 2-7
Carpenters 1-8
Iron Workers 0-9

Lapham appointed to state boiler board
Jim Lapham, business manager of Pipe Fitters, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Service Local 636, has been appointed to a three-year term to the Michigan Board of Boiler Rules.

He also serves as a member of the state Construction Code Commission and chairman of the Michigan Mechanical Board of Rules.

"Those committees carry a lot of influence over the construction industry in this state, so I accepted the appointments hoping I can do some good," Lapham said. All three panels traditionally have had a presence by organized labor, and Gov. John Engler makes the appointments.

Lapham, who holds an unlimited license for installing boilers, said the board oversees boiler rules in the state and promulgates new regulations.