Wvw Girls Maintain Win Streak

Alfred Evarts 
February 1, 1997 
Alfred W. Evarts, 83, Of Benton Township, Benton R.r. 2, Died Saturday At The 
Bonham Nursing Center, Stillwater R.r. 1, Where He Was A Resident.

Tuesday, February 04, 1997 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 





AROUND TOWN &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 UNEMPLOYMENT RATE RISES: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The unemployment rate for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre/Hazleton metropolitan
statistical area rose 0.1 point to 6.5 percent in December, the state &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Department of Labor and Industry reportedThe December seasonally adjusted
unemployment rate was down 1.7 percentage points from December 1995. The local
seasonally adjusted figure is higher than the state rate of 4.9 percent and
the national rate of 5.3 percent. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The department said the civilian labor force, seasonally adjusted, dropped
by 100 since November to 295,000. That number is 7,800 above December 1995. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The labor department also reported that: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Nonagricultural wage and salary jobs dropped 2,500 from November to 277,300
in December. That number is up 3,700 from December 1995. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Goods-producing industries recorded a net job decline of 1,800 from
November to 68,100 in December. Goods-producing jobs were up 1,000 from
December 1995. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Service-producing industries posted a monthly job loss of 700. Since
December 1995, the net gain in service-producing jobs was 2,700. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 December's average weekly earnings were $503.06, up $25.06 from December
1995. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 COUNSELING SERVICES OFFERED: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Free small-business counseling services provided by the Wilkes University
Small Business Development Center will be provided three times in February by
the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Sessions are scheduled from 9:15 a.m. to noon Feb. 5 and 12 and from 9:15
a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Feb. 19. For an appointment, call the chamber at 455-1508. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 FARMING CONFERENCE SLATED: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture is sponsoring a
"Farming for the Future" conference Feb. 7 and 8 at the Nittany Lion Inn on
the Penn State campus, University Park. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The conference will include dozens of sessions for food producers, resource
managers and other agriculture professionals and consumers; a trade exhibit;
and discussion sessions and networking. For information, call Tim Bowser at
(814) 349-9856. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 UTILITIES PLAN LAWSUIT: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 PP&amp;L has joined other utilities in a lawsuit aimed at resolving a
long-standing issue on long-term storage of used nuclear fuel. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The suit will seek permission to suspend payment of nuclear waste fees to
the U.S. Department of Energy unless the department begins accepting used
nuclear fuel as agreed in its contract with nuclear utilities. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 PP&amp;L produces energy at the Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, a nuclear
power plant in Salem Township, near Berwick. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 PP&amp;L and the Energy Department signed a contract in 1983 in which PP&amp;L
agreed to pay a nuclear waste fee and the department agreed to begin accepting
used nuclear fuel by Jan. 31, 1998. PP&amp;L has been paying the fee, about $15
million per year, since 1983. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 When the energy in uranium fuel is depleted, the fuel is removed from
Susquehanna's nuclear reactors and placed in special pools of water next to
each reactor. The company plans to increase its capacity to store used fuel,
to ensure safe storage for as long as needed. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 More than 30 electric utilities plan to participate in the lawsuit, to be
filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals. About 50 state agencies also are
expected to file a petition. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 UGI DECLARES DIVIDEND: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Directors of UGI Corp., a holding company with utility and propane
marketing subsidiaries, have declared a quarterly dividend of 35.5 cents a
share on the company's common stock. The dividend is payable April 1 to
shareholders of record Feb. 28. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Separately, directors of UGI Utilities have declared dividends of 45 cents,
$1.9375 and $2 respectively on the $1.80 series, $7.75 series and $8.00 series
preferred stock. The preferred dividends are payable April 1 to holders of
record Feb. 28. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 BANK REPORTS EARNINGS: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Community Banks, parent company of Community Banks, N.A., has reported
earnings of $1.385 million for the fourth quarter of 1996, compared to
$972,000 for the fourth quarter of 1995. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The company also reported record earnings for the year ended Dec. 31 of
$5.63 million or $1.94 per share compared to $4.81 million or $1.66 per share
for 1995. ROA approximated 1.4096 for 1996. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Total bank assets approximated $433 million on Dec. 31. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 -- From staff reports &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Around Town 
Unemployment Rate Rises: 
The Unemployment Rate For The Scranton/wilkes-barre/hazleton Metropolitan 
Statistical Area Rose 0.1 Point To 6.5 Percent In December, The State 
Department Of Labor And Industry Reported.

Around Town Unemployment Rate Rises: The Unemployment Rate For The Scranton/wilkes-barre/hazleton Metropolitan Statistical Area Rose 0.1 Point To 6.5 Percent In December, The State Department Of Labor And Industry Reported.