THE NEWSCASTER
THE NEWSCASTER
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Deborah Russell - Editor/Publisher
Wednesday December 22, 2010
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Tom Russell - Consulting Editor
A Publication of
Sally Price - Correspondent
Permit No. 14
Newscaster Publishing
Have a Safe & Merry Christmas
Mike Moore - Photojournalist
Squawk Box
Unemployment rate
for Citrus, Levy, Marion
Tops 14 Percent
From CLM Workforce
This month's release of unem-
ployment data for Citrus, Levy and Mar-
ion counties from the Florida Agency for
Workforce Innovation (AWI) indicated
joblessness topped 14 percent in the three-
county region for November 2010, with
the Ocala Metropolitan Statistical Area
(MSA) climbing to the second highest un-
employment rate in the state.
Workforce Connection’s region
posted a 14.3 percent unemployment rate,
up 0.8 percent since October and a 0.5 per-
cent increase over the year.
Marion County’s unemployment
rate for November is 14.6 percent, a rise of
0.8 percent since October and 0.4 percent
higher than November 2009. The Ocala
MSA ranks third highest in the state for
job losses, losing 900 jobs over the year
which, at -0.1 percent, is also the third
steepest job decline rate in Florida since
November 2009.
Rusty Skinner, chief executive
office for Workforce Connection, said “it’s
obvious we’re in a situation when we’re
bouncing back-and-forth.”
Our Photographer Mike Moore found the secret “Santa’s Workshop South” annex in Hernando on Mary Lue Street the “Sjoka Wonderland”
Skinner said that the driving force
house; finally the Santa impossible world logistics mystery is solved. From the staff of The Newscaster, happy holidays and best wishes for a
D u n n e l l o n Man Injured After Argument
behind the bounce is the same as in Oc-
happy and prosperous New Year. TheNewscaster/Mike Moore
tober when the unemployment rate dipped
below 14-percent despite concomitant de-
creases in the labor force and number of
man killed in Over Getting A"Ride Home"
jobs.
“It’s just very unstable,” Skinner
said in describing the “economic situa-
motorcycle
tion right now with respect to our business
From Citrus County Sheriff Dept.
community’s ability to hire … I hate to say
James Perry Dowling, 48, Homosassa, was arrested by the Cit-
it, but it is what it is.”
crash
rus County Sheriff’s Office, Dec. 17, charged with aggravated battery
Out of a regional labor force of
with a deadly weapon. According to the sheriff’s office, Dowling was a
206,076 – which represents slight expan-
friend of 42 year-old William Haeger, who had picked him up and drove
sion – there were there were 29,470 with-
him to his home off W. Oaklawn Dr. in Homosassa with the promise to
out jobs in November. Florida’s seasonally
From the Florida Highway Patrol
drive him home later. The two were drinking alcohol. An argument be-
adjusted unemployment rate in November
gan when Haegar said he was too intoxicated to drive and repeatedly told
A traffic crash at 3:20 a.m., Dec.
was 12 percent which represents 1.11 mil-
Dowling to go home. Dowling said he couldn’t drive in his condition,
19, took the life of a Dunnellon man. Ac-
lion jobless out of a labor force of 9.24
and he’d been promised a ride home.
cording to the Florida Highway Patrol, Ron-
million.
The argument continued like this, back and forth. Dowling
ald Glen Powell, 46, Dunnellon, was driving
pulled out a folding box cutter and sliced Haegar in the chest. According
Dowling
a 2008 Honda 600 motorcycle, eastbound on
Citrus County followed with a rate of 13.8
to the sheriff’s office, the injury did not appear to be life threatening.
S.W. 156 Place at S.W. 55 Avenue, when he
percent, up 0.8 percent from the previous
Haegar was transported by Emergency Medical Services to Seven Rivers Regional Medical
traveled onto the south shoulder and contin-
month. Levy County posted a 13.2 percent
Center for treatment. The call came into the sheriff’s office at 2:54 p.m.
ued east through shrubbery.
rate, which is also up 0.8 percent since Oc-
Powell was ejected from the mo-
tober. Citrus County’s unemployment rate
Merry Christmas - Happy New Yearr
Merry Christmas - Happy New Yea
torcycle onto the road. He was pronounced
is up 0.6 percent over the year and Levy
deceased at the scene by the Marion Coun-
County is 0.4 higher than in November
Frrom Alll off Us at The Newscasterr
F om Al o Us at The Newscaste
ty Fire Department. The report stated that
Continued on page 3 - Squawk Box
Powell was not wearing a helmet.