The state Employment Security Commission released September’s jobless numbers Friday, and, as has been typical this year, the report combined good and bad news for Vance County. On the plus side, the jobless rate declined half a point to 8.8 percent from August’s 9.3 percent, and fewer than 1,700 people in Vance County are now officially counted as unemployed (1,664 to be exact). The downside is that Vance has the third-highest rate in the state and is at risk of regaining the unwanted top spot (Scotland County is at 9 percent, and Rutherford County is at 8.9 percent). Without seasonal adjustments, the state rate for September was an even 5 percent, so we still have a long way to go to be even average economically in North Carolina. But at least we’re moving in the right direction. And we’re moving into a weekend open to your comments.