THE NEWSCASTER
THE NEWSCASTER
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Deborah Russell - Editor/Publisher
Wednesday March 30, 2011
Inglis, FL 34449
Tom Russell - Consulting Editor
A Publication of
Sally Price - Correspondent
Permit No. 14
Newscaster Publishing
Visit our website: www.thenewscaster.com
Mike Moore - Photojournalist
Squawk Box
February unemployment rate
drops in Citrus, Levy and
Marion counties
From Workforce Connection
Joblessness in Citrus, Levy and
Marion counties dropped more than a full
percentage point during February, hitting
the lowest rate here since November 2009,
according to today’s release of unemploy-
ment data from the Florida Agency for
Workforce Innovation (AWI).
Workforce Connection’s three-
county region posted a 12.7-percent un-
employment rate, down 1.10 percent since
January and down one percent over the
year.
Unemployment in Marion County
was 13.2 percent, down from 14.2 percent
in January – the last time Marion County
was lower than 13.2 percent was last May
when it was 13.1 percent; the last time it
was below 13 percent was July 2009.
The unemployment rate for Cit-
rus County was 12.1 percent, down from
13.4 percent in January; and it was 11.4
percent in Levy County, down from 12.4
percent.
“We are cautiously optimistic
about the unemployment decrease. The
employment growth is certainly a positive
sign. We are hopeful that this will be the
turn that we have all been waiting for and
Dolphin Rescue - March 15th a call came into the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline (888) 404-3922 from a local fisherman, Rick Walsh, who had
will continue to be an upward trend.”
taken the day to fish with his son Tyler. While fishing in the shallow backwaters of the Gulf they spotted a severely injured dolphin and con-
Florida’s seasonally adjusted un-
Man Charged in Connection
cerned for it’s wellbeing, called many agencies to ask what to do Continued below. Photo by Mike & Stacy Dunn
employment rate fell from 11.9 percent to
"Tangled Dolphin"
11.5 percent. The non-seasonally adjusted,
dropped from 11.8 percent to 11 percent,
With Hernando Homicide
Rescued by Citrus
representing the largest over-the-month
Continued on page 8 - Feb. Unemployment
Group
Custom
Arthir Neil Sputa, Jr., 48, 6036 N.
seen Mr. Sputa in several days.
Tsala Apopka Dr., Hernando, was arrested
When deputies arrived at the cou-
Special to The Newscaster
Wood Products
by the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office upon
ple’s home, they found Bartlett’s body
by Stacy Dunn
his discharge from Tampa General Hospital
lying behind the shed, blood spatter inside
The Report was given to FWRI
on Thursday, March 24, charged with the
the shed, and a rifle lean-
Home - Industry - Marine
team lead by Andy Garrett and they quickly
murder of Diane Bartlett, 59, his girlfriend
ing against a table. Depu-
assembled local volunteers along with Dr.
who shared the same address.  He was
ties  also  heard  noises
Your plans or ours
Mike Walsh (no relation)- University of
booked into the Citrus County Detention
coming from inside the
Florida and an assisting student, who loaded
Facility just after 5:00 p.m.
home, “which gave them
onto the rescue boat and headed for the last
The sheriff’s office reported that
concerns for others in-
50 years experience
spot the dolphin was reported. To our de-
the couple was in a long-term domestic re-
side,” reported Det. Gary
light Rick Walsh and son Tyler, were still
lationship and were registered co-owners
Atchison. They found Mr.
watching over the injured dolphin even after
of the property where they lived. Deputies
Sputa inside the home, just
Wood Products Division
Sputa
several hours !! Volunteer Stacy Dunn told
responded to the couple’s address, shortly
beyond the front door, in-
Tyler when they safely brought the injured
before 10:00 a.m. on March 17, to check on
jured from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to
Enviro Group of Florida, Inc.
dolphin in to the Ft. Island Trail boat ramp,
them, as neighbors had reported that their
an area inside his mouth. He was taken to a
“you’re the hero for the day!”. Her husband
dog had been roaming the neighborhood for
nearby patrol car.
352-586-9598
days, which was unusual, and they hadn’t
Continuted on page 3- Dolphin Rescue
Continued on page 3 - Homicide