Jobs

Maryland voters approved a referendum last November expanding gaming in Maryland. It allowed for a new casino in Prince George's County, the operation of table games in Maryland, and 24-hour gambling. “Tables create jobs, they create a whole heck of a lot more jobs than slot machines,” said Frank Fantini of Fantini Research, a gaming industry e-daily. Each 24-hour table will employ about five dealers and additional staff such as supervisors and money handlers, Fantini said.

Smelly, dirty, greasy, men, noise. These are descriptions a few of the Washington County Public Schools guidance counselors gave when Volvo Group Trucks Operations Vice President Wade Watson asked what they think of when they hear “diesel engines.” Approximately 70 guidance counselors, from elementary to high schools, listened to Watson talk about changing perceptions of manufacturing, including job opportunities and workplaces. “We've really modernized the way of working, (we)

Name of business: Valley Crane Service, a division of Valley Directional Drilling Inc. Owner: Perry Crouse Address: 5959 Cumberland Highway, Chambersburg, Pa. Opening date: May 2012 Products and services: Crane rental service Target market: Construction jobs; farmers; residential (roof trusses, pools, etc.); tree removal; mechanical contractors How did you get into your business, and what motivated you to start it? Crouse saw a need for crane service in the area due to the closure of other local businesses that offered crane services.

“Thanks, Herald-Mail, reporting the Tri-State area about the state of the economy. I hope Washington County and our elected officials in the county, city and the state read that. Why is Franklin County, Berkeley and Jefferson, exceeding us in job creation and development? Especially on these good jobs like the tractor-trailers and trains and everything else. We're missing the boat here somewhere. Where's our economic development?” - Leitersburg “I have a question I wish someone would answer.

Hostess Brands, the company behind confections such as Twinkies and Ding Dongs, announced Friday that they would be going out of business. In Hagerstown, which has a Hostess bakery outlet and distribution center on the National Pike, about 18 employees likely will lose their jobs, a manager said. Nationwide, 18,500 employees will lose their jobs, according to the company. Hostess said employees at its 33 factories were sent home and operations suspended Friday. Its roughly 500 bakery outlet stores will stay open for several days to sell remaining products.

The timing was most fortunate. I was reading “The Opinion Makers: An Insider Exposes The Truth Behind The Polls” during the final weeks of the 2012 presidential campaign. Almost daily, there were new polls revealing the present standing of many candidates and the attitudes of citizens about a dozen social issues. The art of polling, now 73 years of age, had become the accepted tool to measure everything from causes of the fall of Rome to who had last seen Elvis Presley. One can but ponder why this book carries the title “Opinion Makers” rather than “Opinion Finders” since the book is filled with graphs and studies of what pollsters have uncovered about the opinions and habits of people the world over.

Duvinage, which makes circular and spiral staircases, has purchased an Ohio stair manufacturer and is shifting the production work to Hagerstown. Duvinage President Robert A. Maruszewski said Monday that the purchase of Sharon Stairs of Akron, Ohio, and the transfer of its equipment and work orders are complete. Because of the additional production, he said, Duvinage expects to add 50 more jobs in Hagerstown in the next five years - and possibly more, as the economy improves. Duvinage, which is on West Oak Ridge Drive, had 47 employees in 2007.

U.S. Rep. Roscoe Bartlett, R-Md., Democratic challenger John Delaney and Libertarian candidate Nickolaus Mueller debated on issues including the federal deficit, health care costs, infrastructure, the economy and immigration during a forum Wednesday night at Hagerstown Community College's Kepler Theater as the three prepare for the Nov. 6 general election. One of the more spirited moments came near the end of the forum when Delaney referred to Bartlett's affiliation with the Tea Party.

Within 20 minutes of showing up at The Valley Mall for a job fair Friday, Hagerstown resident Wilma Ammons, 26, scored a future interview with an insurance company. “I'm very encouraged by what I've seen,” Ammons said. The Autumn Job Fair featured more than 30 vendors spread throughout the mall. Education, government, nonprofit and private sector opportunities filled the area along with interested people. Hagerstown resident Valerie Zehringer graduated from Kaplan University in March and was looking at opportunities.