The Newscaster/Nature Coast News
PAGE 11 - April 3, 2013
From Dawn's Front Porch
Charter Amendments - Continued from page 1
By Newscaster Contributor Dawn Clary
The judge said amendment 6 in requiring voter approval of assessments, limits the town
Long Haul – The building at Withlacoochee Gulf Preserve has received its Certificate of Oc-
commission s levy authority. Voters had passed charter amendment 6 by a vote of Yes
cupancy (CO). The news brought many cheers from all the people who have been involved
245, No141. Read this full story on thenewscaster.com and link to the full document
with the project for years trying to convert the building from residential to public use. It
here: www.thenewscaster.com/pdf/inglisinjunction.pdf
seemed to resist any progress toward the dream of the late Ellie Schiller of the Felburn
Squawk Box
Foundation and many Yankeetownians to transform it into some type of educational facility.
Continued from page 1
The CO now means that the building can be open to the public. The place was originally
that the drop in unemployment is due to discouraged workers leaving the labor market.”
the residence of Jeffery Knotts and built in 1979. He then sold it to Dr. David Ohlwiler in
Skinner added that the gains aren t due to one company but to solid growth in small
1989. Ohlwiler greatly expanded the building to the total area of 6225 sq feet it is today
businesses.
(including the ground floor screened area). Yankeetown bought it, along with the over 400
“When you talk to business owners, uncertainty has been the key issue,” he said.
acres it sat on, in 2002 using state grant funds. Ellie had donated $100,000 toward conver-
“Whether it has been uncertainty about the leadership in Washington or lack of information
sion of the building which at the time seemed like an enormous amount of money and cer-
about the Affordable Care Act, there has been a hesitancy to hire. As those uncertainties
tainly enough but the building just seemed to absorb money like a giant sponge. Now with
clear up, it gives a little breathing room to make staffing decisions.”
new grant money from Felburn Foundation for exhibits, already received, and the CO, the
Also, as economic conditions improve, companies are seeing an uptick in con-
Town will finally get the project completed. The building will also be available to rent for
sumer demand which creates greater need to add staff, Skinner said.
events.
Out of a slightly expanded regional labor force of 205,440, there were 17,383 un-
April is Water Conservation Month – In the sixties, which seems like a thousand
employed, down 1,329 over the month and down 4,424 since February 2012. Here is how
years ago, there was a very creative TV series called the “Twilight Zone”. In one of the
the employment numbers break down for each county in the Workforce Connection region:
episodes a bunch of bank robbers found a way to put them selves in suspended anima-
Citrus County s labor force remained virtually unchanged at 56,300, the number of
tion. They got the bright idea that they would rob a bank and put themselves to sleep for a
employed rose by 437 to 51,498 while those without jobs fell by 444 to 4,802. Compared to
hundred years and really avoid capture. So they did, but when they woke up 100 years later
February 2012, the labor force expanded by 139, the number of employed rose by 1,161 and
they found themselves in the middle of a desert. Their cars had long since deteriorated, so
the number of jobless dropped 1,022 from 5,824. Two years ago, Citrus County s unemploy-
they had to walk out. Things did not go well and one by one they killed each other or died
ment rate was 12.2 percent with 6,857 people out of work.
for some reason. The last one, carrying as much gold as he could but dieing from thirst,
Levy County s labor force fell slightly by 46 since January to 16,176, employment rose
finally found help. He offered them gold to help him but it was too late, he died from lack of
by 52 to 14,812 and the number of unemployed dropped by rose by 98 to 1,364. Over the
water. In the futuristic world, people had long since found a way to make gold, they couldn’t
year the number of unemployed dropped by 319 from 1,683. In February 2011, the jobless
understand why he offered them gold as it was now worthless but it was now water that was
rate was 11.5 percent with 1,938 people unemployed.
really valuable. I sometimes wonder if the lesson will not become more and more to our
Marion County s labor force rose slightly by 36 to 132,964, the number of those with
time as the water becomes a resource stretched further and further especially in Florida. Try
jobs rose by 880 to 121,747 and those who were unemployed fell by 844 to 11,217. That
to help by conserving as much as you can. Good Night and Good Luck
represents over-the-year gains of 436 to the labor force, an increase of 3,519 in the number
of those with jobs and a drop of 3,083 in unemployed from 14,300. That compares to an
R&M
unemployment rate of 12.8 percent two years ago when 17,002 were without jobs.
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A/C - Brakes - Front End - Exhaust - TuneUps
Computer Diagnostics
Oil Changes While You Wait
4X4’s - RV’s - Trucks - Autos
Free Estimates
Foreign & Domestic
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Visa - Mastercard - Discover
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CALL 352-447-6002 • Locally Owned & Operated
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Newly elected Inglis Town Commissioners Ann Morin, Drew White and Sally Price as well
SAME AS
as Mayor Glenda Kirkland were sworn into office by Levy County Sheriff Bobby McCallum April
CASH
1, 2013 6:00 PM at the Inglis Town Hall. The brief agenda included appointing the com-
Whole House Iron, Sulfur,
Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water
missioners as liaisons to town departments. Sally Price was voted Commission President
Hardness, & Odor Removal
Systems Great for Residential,
and Drew White Vice. Ann Morin will be over Budget and Finance, Sherry Ely will take Roads
and Bridges (Maintenance) again, White will head the Inglis Police and Fire, Drinda Merritt
Services Available
RV & Commercial Use
will be over the Water Operations again, Sally Price will continue Health, Welfare and Recre-
ation, Drew White will be Liaison to the Planning Commission, Sherry Ely to Land Use Officer/
SALT DELIVERY AVAILABLE
Code Enforcement and Mayor Glenda Kirkland will cover the Levy County Commission meetings
twice monthly and report back to the commission. Photo by Darryl Diamond.
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Quarry Mgr.
SPECIALTY GEMS
Broker/Owner
Call 352-634-0129
Email: plantationlisa@yahoo.com
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Established 1985
Aggregates Division
See all the Citrus County listings on our Website:
600 S.E. Highway 19 • Crystal River, FL 34429
www.plantationrealtylistings.com
Office (352)793-4526
Florida Region
HOURS:
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Fax (352)793-5682
Bushnell, FL. 33513
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Tuesday - Friday 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
352-795-5900
Cell (352)427-6664
brcampbell@cemexusa.com
Charity Yard Sale" Feb 23rd"
Saturday 10:00 am - 2:00 pm