People in Snohomish County who lost their jobs because of the recent flooding may be eligible for special unemployment benefits, the state Employment Security Department reported. To qualify, people must be out of work as a direct result of the recent storm, which was declared a disaster in the county by the federal government. Some examples include people who lost their job because their place of work was damaged or destroyed, is inaccessible or depended on business from another business affected by flooding. Workers in Snohomish County have until Jan. 17 to apply. Check www.dua.go2ui.com, call 877-416-7274, e-mail dua@esd.wa.gov or visit an unemployment office for an application.
Registry scam hitting businesses
Businesses should watch out for a possible scam involving a company called National Business Registration, the secretary of state reported Friday. Sam Reed said the company sends “final notices” saying the Patriot Act requires them to register. The business is a fraud and the act doesn’t require a national registry, Reed said. The kicker is that the company asks for a $487 fee within 14 days. Companies are asked to keep the notice, its mailing envelope and its return envelop for a mail fraud investigation. They can file a report at postalinspectors.uspis.gov by going to the investigations menu and selecting mail fraud.
Air fares increase 6 percent in fall
Air fares have risen nearly 6 percent this holiday season as carriers take advantage of strong demand to recoup some of their higher fuel costs. The average air fare booked between Dec. 19 and Jan. 1 was $362, up 5.8 percent from last year and 13.8 percent from the same period in 2005, said Chris Spidle of Sabre Airline Solutions. Jet fuel prices are up 47 percent this year.
Billionaire roofer dies in roof fall
A high school dropout who became a billionaire roofing company executive and one of the nation’s richest people died Friday after falling through his garage roof. Ken Hendricks, 66, was the 91st richest man in the U.S. with a net worth of $3.5 billion, according to Forbes magazine. Hendricks grew up working alongside his father, a Janesville roofer. After dropping out of high school, he started his own roofing business at age 21, according to a biography supplied by his company. He formed ABC Supply Co. in Wisconsin. Hendricks was unfazed by his wealth, saying he could never spend it all. Entrepeneur Magazine named him Entrepreneur of the Year in 2006. Editor Jane Berentson described him as “a scrappy, Midwestern dirt-under-the-fingernails type of guy.”
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