By Rod Rowe
Elkhart County and its status of being a high unemployment area was in the spotlight after President Obama’s speech, as a crew from ABC News interviewed a group of 17 residents after they watched the speech in a Keystone RV factory Wednesday night.
Many people in the local group are unemployed and some have been without jobs for longer than a year.
They gathered in three rows of folding chairs before two large-screen TVs in the cavernous factory to watch the president address Congress . Afterwards ABC correspondent Debra Roberts and local reporters quizzed them about their impressions.
“There is plenty of anxiety,” said Wendell Wiebe-Powell, Elkhart. “But we have our faith and our church.”
He added that he has tough decisions to make, such as buying medicine for his son’s needs or keeping the roof over the family’s heads.
He said he is encouraged about the president’s drive to get health care reform passed, but, “Jobs and the economy are linked to health care. We gave up health care when I lost my job.”
“My wife was denied health care and our health care bills are piling up,” said Wiebe-Powell. Hundreds of thousands of people are going bankrupt because of health care expenses, he said.
Jessica Wileman, Goshen, said the president spoke about helping small businesses and she sees factory jobs being created, but she is an accountant and needs to work in that field.
Gerry Hertzler, Goshen, told Roberts he remains positive in his job search. He pointed out that President Obama called for members of Congress to work together to find solutions in a bi-partisan way.
Hertzler said Elkhart County government is an example of bi-partisan cooperation. He told the ABC News crew that while Elkhart and Goshen have Democrat mayors and city and county councils have Republican majorities, they do what is best for Elkhart County.
“I’m sure Elkhart County will rebound,” Hertzler said. “Optimism is a coping mechanism for the unemployed. You have to be. I will get another job.”
Moses Huerta, Goshen, has been off work from his RV job for two years. He said he was encouraged by what Obama said in his speech, but Huerta wants to see action.
“Everything sounds good, but I want to see some action. I have a little more hope,” Huerta said.
Susan Christophel, Goshen, said she was impressed with the speech but said she is in the group of unemployed that does not receive benefits. She said she is a single mother and she wants to work to care for her family.
Jeff Vandervliet, Dunlap, said he liked the fact that Obama said, jobs will be the number one priority. “But it is about a year late,” Vandervliet said.
He said the president talked about working on improving infrastructure, but he is not involved in construction and he can’t build things.
Vandervliet said he is sceptical about what Obama said, but hopeful.
The panel came about when executives with ABC News contacted the Elkhart Chamber of Commerce last Friday, asking for help in assembling a local panel to watch the president’s speech and comment on it.
Kyle Hannon, Chamber vice president of public policy, helped assemble the group and received help from Bob Martin, president of Keystone, who opened up an expanding plant south of Goshen for the TV production.
“This is one of our new plants,” Martin explained Wednesday in the former Skyline mobile home facility on U.S. 33, south of Kercher Road. The plant is set up to run three recreational vehicle product lines at once. Martin said starting in February, the plant will even be running on Saturdays.
