Economic Storm Batters Ohio Town

60 Minutes' Scott Pelley Reports From An American Town In The Path Of An Economic Storm

(CBS)  John Pica may have a DHL job in another city, but they can't sell the house in this market. Angela, the DHL supervisor is so worried that she’s been looking for work too.

She says she's applied to 35 to 40 different positions, but hasn't gotten any calls back.

"I've been applying for everything. In retail, and supervisor positions. Warehousing positions. I don't think anything's beneath me to do. So, but I still haven't received any call-backs," she says.

Three weeks later, Angela, who spent months walking laid off workers to the gate, found herself among them.

"Today is my last day. I'll be surrendering my badge to my manager today. After 18 years. I'm 37, so that's almost half of my life I've been there," she told Pelley.

With her badge taken, it was real now. Asked what she was thinking, Pica says, "I just can't believe it's over. I'm not gonna see a lot of these people again."

With his job as a DHL bus driver ending, Mike O'Machearley is relying on himself. He's turning a hobby into a business, making engraved hunting knives for collectors. "I'm an old-school kind of guy. And I'm looking at, maybe like on Tuesday nights we're gonna have no electricity Tuesday nights. We're gonna light the oil lamps and play checkers and read books by the candlelight. And just talk to each other. And maybe we'll become a tighter family through it."

This week DHL Express will stop all domestic shipping, except international service. Altogether, about 10,000 people are losing their jobs.

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Clarification: On Jan. 30, DHL Express ended its point-to-point shipping within the United States. Two other DHL brands-DHL Global Forwarding and DHL Global Mail-continue their U.S. domestic operations.

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Says O'Machearley, "Call it ground zero, Wilmington is ground zero. We've got to get back to being America. Because right now we're losing sight of what my son died for. And what those other 16 soldiers died for. We're losing sight of it. We need to fight hard to get it back."

[TRABJA]

It is very unfortunate that Wilmington has lost so many jobs. It is very hard for people when there is loss of income. Unfortunately instead of meeting problems head on, the man in the white house has caused all of this hatred -- one American against another. This is not President Bush's fault. Why are we shooting down corporations and CEO's? It is a sum total of many factors that have caused us so much job loss. The white house, the media who are in the tank for the white house can spin all they want, but it is America and Americans that are suffering. Work together. Unite together. Do NOT fight each other. I agree UNITED WE STAND, DIVIDED WE FALL. I did not vote for job loss did you? I voted for what is good and right in America. Come on and let's build in our communities together. WE can DO THIS WILMINGTON and OHIOANS. God Bless America.

[hisangel11]

I also know the Thomas family, and know that there son got scholarships for his first year of school. After that he had to pay out of pocket and could not afford to send him. It is not because he hates school he is planing on going back as soon as he saves up enough money. Maybe people should look more into what they wirte or actully know the facts instead of just shooting off thier mouth cause they are mad!

[cntrygal05]

I know the thomas family and i can tell you they did not pay for her sons school the government did he and he dropped out because he didn't want to go and he hated it! Unbelievable! I think that she shouldn't have said that because its not true and it aggravates me because i couldn't get help and i work full time and go to school full time. I love school and he got it for free and dropped out. I think they should look into there stories more before reporting them!

[jetranger7]

Well with Idiots like that Bohmer in office, what do they expect ??? He was right beside Bush all the way and often very cozy with him,, get rid of that Bohmer and thats the 1st start to turning ohios troubles around, Bohmer is part of the problem, he needs to go- immediately !!!!!

[former_one]

What good would a donation of a part of the airpark be if Wilmington has no capital to run it? Where will you get customers? It''s not like nearby Sabina Industries is currently making car parts for shipment. You''ll have to find a new way to produce goods or provide services. The town is a great place to live. There are a lot of nice one-story homes in some of the housing developments. Sell those homes to folks from neighboring cities who just want a nice quiet town to retire. You need a public transportation system more than anything. Ask for that instead of that money-sucking air park. Attract folks with retirement checks to live in the town. Then provide services like cleaning, laundry, lawn care, automotives, medical services, and entertainment. The town needs money, and people with pensions have it. The best asset of the town is the wholesome living. You have a good hospital, senior center, and independent and assisted living facilities. Captilize on that. It will be tough, but no tougher than the plight of the county farmers who had to moonlight to pump capital into their farms during the 1960''s and 70''s. It has nothing to do with democrat, republican, or other issues. It''s about economy and capital. You just have to market the best features of the town. Sorry you are all out of work. Hope you are back on your feet soon.

[lookinin1]

My heart goes out to all those loosing their jobs at the airpark AND surrounding business'''' affected by the closing of the air park.

I really like the attitude of Mike, the guy making the knives. He knows what it takes to make it and I am sure he will do great!!!

I feel the problem at DHL comes down to "poor management" period!!! Shame on you high paid CEO''''s for taking advantage of the very people that were making your paycheck!!!!
And as for people being upset about having to pull thier child out of college....What are you thinking anyway???!!! If a "child" over 18 is attending college because his/her parents are paying for it all, what are they learning? Maybe they need to consider a job and paying for their own tuition?!! Especially, if mom and dad are loosing their job! I would think those folks have much more to be concerned with than having to stop paying for thier kid to go to college!! Soo many people live beyond thier means and expect a handout! It is shamefull! The old attitude of giving our children more than we had has gotten clear out of control. What happen to "working for what you have"!

It isn''''t just Wilmington! It''''s everywhere! It could be much worse! These hard times should be a wake up call to all of us, to look for small miracles, see things in a positive light, and do your part!

[lookinin1]

I can''t even believe we have someone trying to turn this into a racist thing! This story has absolutely nothing to do with racism! Maybe your hiding behind your color as a way not to work!!! IF your talking about it, your likely doing it! Get a job and quit hiding behind your color. It is the white man/woman that is the minority these days, but the white person can''t as easily claim, "oh, it''s because of my color"!!!

[chriswalls09]

OH MY LORD!!!We just elected a black president and your still talking about equality????? I will be laughing about this for the next week! to compare this loss of jobs to the sufferring of the african american community is just a little extreme and moronic. I guarantee what little racism is left is not much in wilmington. I dont know to many folks here , black or white that look at oneanother as a color. but, Apparently you do. this election should have proven that color isnt an issue. let it go already. and on a personal note , my best friend just happens to be what you would call african american, and its funny cause niether him nor his parents nor his grandparents have EVER seen africa. my great grandad and grandmother is from eroupe yet I have no desire or reason to call myself eroupean american.
we that are born in this country are AMERICAN regardless of our skin pigmentation. lol sorry this just cracks me up. i''m not trying to be rude nor say that any certain race hasnt suffered due to ignorance of others . suffering is suffering and when that happens we should ALL show compassion and be willing to lend a hand. Not blame other AMERICANS.

[trichar2]

This is something the African American community has suffered from for over 200 years. Yet we are blamed for our own unemployment, inability to afford health insurance and college and lack of economic opportunity. Even in the best of times our unemployment rate in large cities is much higher than what the rest of the country suffers from in the the worst of times. It only appears to be a concern when white America loses or is unable to find a job. Welcome to our world.

[carlottalein]

It is always a hardship to lose your job, but it''s easier to sympathize with people who saw through Bush back in 2000...plenty of us did, and we have been able to feel the hope of Obama, where the jobless still don''t get it....it is payback time.