THE NEWSCASTER
THE NEWSCASTER
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Deborah Russell - Editor/Publisher
A Publication of
Inglis, FL 34449
Wednesday December 26, 2012
Tom Russell - Consulting Editor
Newscaster Publishing
Permit No. 14
Sally Price - Correspondent
Have a Safe and Happy New Year!
Mike Moore - Photojournalist
Squawk Box
Unemployment rate up
slightly for the month,
down 2.4% for the year
(OCALA, Fla.) – Workforce Connection’s
regional unemployment rate for Novem-
ber was 9.2 percent, up 0.1 percent over
the month and down 2.4 percent from one
year ago. Out of a labor force of 206,777
there were 18,993 jobless, a drop of 135
over the month and 5,016 fewer than in
November 2011.
The November 2012 unemploy-
ment rates, released Friday by the Florida
Department of Economic Opportunity
(DEO), were 9.2 percent in Marion Coun-
ty, up 0.1 percent over the month; 9.2 per-
cent in Citrus County, unchanged since
October; and 8.8 percent in Levy County,
also unchanged over the month. Florida’s
not seasonally adjusted unemployment
rate was 7.9 percent in November, down
0.3 percent, and the national unemploy-
ment rate was 7.4 percent, a drop of 0.1
percent.
Workforce Connection CEO
Snow on the river? Hardly, but the foam on the bypass spillway, Withlacoochee River makes for an interesting photo. David Crane, Structure
Rusty Skinner said that the slight fluctua-
Operations Mgr. for Southwest Florida Water Management District explained that the dam and bypass are fully open and the action of the tur-
tion over the month is “puzzling” – since
bulence creates the foam. Full story on page 11. Newscaster Photo by Sally Price.
the influx of seasonal hires was expected
Citrus SO Shuts Down
CCSO Issues Scam
to have a greater impact – but not alarm-
ing.
Alert for Phoney
“To gauge how we’re doing,
Grow House in Citrus Springs
you have to look at where we were a year
ago,” Skinner said. “And we re definitely
Fund Raising
seeing some positive movement.” Skinner
From Citrus County Sheriff Dept.
noted that while the labor force is about
From Citrus County Sheriff Dept.
the same size as it was in November 2011,
“These plants were fully matured
CCSO TIU members responded
there are 4,711 more people with jobs and
Right after last week’s successful
and ready for harvest. Each plant would
to 3241 W. Higgins Place in Citrus Springs
5,016 fewer unemployed.
CCSO Shop with a Cop events held on Dec.
produce approximately three to four pounds
reference a possible marijuana grow house.
Skinner also pointed out that last
10-12, the Citrus County Sheriff s Office
of finished product with a total approximate
After securing a search warrant, deputies
month, 545 employers posted 1,602 jobs
started getting calls from concerned citizens
street-value of $384,000,” according to TIU
found the house to be unoccupied, however
with Workforce Connection, represent-
about a male caller who was telephoning
Sgt. John Novy. The investigation is still
they did discover a residence that was being
ing a 57.5-percent increase in employers
them to solicit funds for these annual holi-
ongoing and significant evidence was seized
solely used for the cultivation of marijuana.
over the year and a 98-percent spike in
day shopping sprees for deserving children.
from the scene which will later result in an
There were no beds, no television sets, and
job postings. At the same time, Workforce
Fortunately, to date at least, no citizens
arrest.
no living quarters were established within
Connection placed 1,161 unemployed in
have reported being victimized or losing any
the residence. The electricity that was be-
jobs in November.
money.
ing utilized to facilitate the grow was being
Since January, Workforce Con-
Please be advised that the Sher-
stolen from Progress Energy.
nection has placed 9,011 in jobs.
iff s Office never conducts fund-raising via
Two bedrooms and a spare bath-
According to Rebecca Rust,
telephone. Citizens are being warned sim-
room located on the south side of the resi-
ply to ignore any solicitation calls they may
dence had been converted into an intricate,
Continued on page 4 - Squawk Box
receive requesting money for Shop with a
hydroponic grow operation. The bathroom
Pet Patrol
Cop.
walls had been removed so that water could
Anyone who may have been victimized
be easily pumped into the adjoining rooms
by this solicitor already is asked to call Det.
where it was constantly circulating to the 24
Jon Seffern at (352) 249-2740. The unfortu-
On Page 2
plants, approximately eight feet tall. All of
nate side effect is a call like this makes you
View from the bathroom where wall was re-
the plants were in the final stage of growth,
suspicious of others who call for legitimate
moved into adjoining bedroom. CO2 tank
which is the flowering stage, where the THC
reasons.
used to increase growth of the plants.
is produced in the buds.