Hydro Power

Ormet's announcement of massive layoffs was a vicious blow to Monroe County. It was not a lethal one, however. Monroe County's economic well-being is closely tied to Ormet, but not totally. That was reaffirmed with the announcement of some 50 new jobs courtesy of a hydroelectic generation manufacturing facility planned in Hannibal. That is welcome news to a county in major need of some. The hydro jobs are a shot-in-the-arm, albeit a small one, to the county's economic ills. Hopefully, the new facility generates more jobs in addition to power.