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OTTUMWA, IOWA -- As the economy continues rebound, unemployment numbers in Southeast Iowa continue to fall.

Below are the unemployment percentages supplied by Iowa Workforce Development.

                           March 2011     April 2011

Appanoose                     8.5                 7.3  

Davis                              7.9                 6.7

Van Buren                      8.1                 7.0

Jefferson                         8.1                 7.2

Wapello                         8.2                 7.4

Ottumwa                        8.0                 7.4

KTVO spoke with Ottumwa Mayor Dale Uehling Tuesday afternoon about the declining numbers; needless to say he was very pleased.

“Well I think the economy in Ottumwa has been fairly strong and it’s getting stronger. As indicated by the numbers going down to 7.4%, and I think this is a good trend, we have a lot of positive things going on,” said Mayor Uehling.

Mayor Uehling talked about how local industries helped keep our unemployment numbers low.

“We have companies like John Deer, Cargill and Cargill Eddyville that are all related to agriculture and agriculture has stayed strong during this downturn in the economy and I think that is why we see this pick-up.  We have people that live here and drive out to other communities and they do the same.  Things are starting to pick-up in other communities and we are glad to see it take a big jump,” said Mayor Uehling