THE NEWSCASTER
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Deborah Russell - Editor/Publisher
A Publication of
Wednesday April 24, 2013
Inglis, FL 34449
Tom Russell - Consulting Editor
Newscaster Publishing
Permit No. 14
Sally Price - Correspondent
Visit our website: www.thenewscaster.com
Mike Moore - Photojournalist
Squawk Box
Unemployment drops
below 8%
Ocala MSA leads Florida metros with
highest job-growth rate
(OCALA) – The jobless rate in March for
Workforce Connection’s Citrus, Levy and
Marion counties region was 7.8 percent,
down 0.7 percent over the month and 2.4
percent lower than the same time last year.
The unemployment rate for the
region is the lowest since June 2008 when
it was 7.7 percent.
For the fourth consecutive
month, the Ocala/Marion County metro-
politan area led the state with the fastest
job-growth rate at 3.3 percent, with 3,000
new jobs over the year. Florida’s job-
growth rate during the same period was
1.9 percent.
According to today’s release of
the March 2013 unemployment rates by
the Florida Department of Economic Op-
portunity (DEO), Marion County posted
an unemployment rate of 7.8 percent, a
drop of 0.6 percent over the month and the
lowest it has been since June 2008 when
the rate was 7.6 percent; Citrus County’s
According to the Citrus County Sheriff's Dept.“The inside of this home at 8623 Elmtree Ave. was nearly unlivable. A large bunch of rotted
rate fell 0.8 percentage points to 7.8 per-
bananas hung directly from the ceiling right inside of the front door, while a mattress lay on the urine-soaked floor. Electric wires entwined
cent, the lowest since June 2008 (8.1 per-
with water hoses crisscrossed the carpets, making the entire environment quite hazardous and unsafe.” See full story below.
cent); and Levy County dropped 0.8 per-
Grow House Found In
Tree service
centage points to 7.6 percent, the lowest
since July 2008 (7.7 percent). Local rates
are not seasonally adjusted.
Crystal Manor Neighborhood
worker killed
The labor force showed slight ex-
pansion in Citrus and Levy counties and
From Citrus County Sheriff Dept.
small plants were found in a bedroom.
remained virtually unchanged in Marion
by fallen tree
Yates also said that a “large, old,
County.
Deputies and members of the Tac-
quite neglected” black Rottweiler stood
Citrus County’s labor force grew
tical Impact Unit with the Citrus County
in front of the N. Elmtree Ave.
by 61 to 56,417, the number of employed
limb
Sheriff s Office, accompanied by officials
house and “happily greeted dep-
rose by 483 to 52,006 while those without
with U.S. Customs and Border Protection,
uties, obviously needing medi-
jobs fell by 422 to 4,411. One year ago, the
busted two grow houses on Thursday morn-
cal attention.” Deputies smelled
Citrus County Sheriffís Office
unemployment rate was 10.0 percent with
ing, April 18, as part of a year-long investi-
the odor of cannabis while out-
911 operators received a call at 1:51 p.m.
5,683 unemployed and two years ago, Cit-
Heredia
gation that began as the result of a routine
side, knocking on the front door.
on Friday, April 19, regarding an industrial
rus County’s unemployment rate was 12.2
traffic stop in April of 2012.
A Hispanic male peeked through the mini-
accident that occurred on Spivey Terrace
percent with 6,857 people out of work.
Detectives identified two homes
blinds on the front door, and allowed offi-
in Inverness. According to Heather Yates,
·
Levy County’s labor remained vir-
where marijuana was being grown illegal-
cials entry into the home. The man was Fidel
Continued on page 2- Squawk Box
manager of Information & Media Services
ly in northwest Crystal River, at 10127 W.
Fernandez Heredia, 55, whose address was
at the sheriff s office, employees of a tree
Dunnellon Rd. and 8623 N. Elmtree Ave., in
listed as the 8623 N. Elmtree Ave. residence.
service, Blades of Green, located in Tampa,
Levy hearing
the Crystal Manor subdivision.
It quickly became apparent that Mr. Heredia
were cutting trees on the county right-of-
The Dunnellon Rd. home was
does not speak English, so a border patrol
way when a limb fell on a worker, fatally
on extending
unoccupied, with the exception of a large
agent, Agent Raymond Lee who is fluent in
injuring him.
collie-type dog that was uncared for, ac-
Spanish, communicated with Heredia and
Citrus County deputies and emer-
alcohol sales
cording to Heather Yates Information Ser-
read the search warrant to him in Spanish.
gency medical services responded, however
vices manager with the sheriff s office. The
Acording to the arrest report He-
the 44-year-old white male was pronounced
details pg 8.
marijuana there had recently been harvested,
redia told Agent Lee that he’s aware of the
dead at the scene. Detectives are working
she said, but two mother plants remained in
grow operation inside the house and said
on notifying next of kin and investigating
a detached garage near the residence, and 79
the incident.
Continued on page 3 - Grow Houses