Thursday, March 26, 2009

STUART — The Martin County Clerk of the Circuit Court laid off nine workers in response to a steep decline in fee and fine revenue, but the clerks in St. Lucie and Indian River counties said they don’t have to go that far yet.

Martin County Clerk Marsha Ewing said she was forced to resort to layoffs in response to projections showing a $400,000 deficit in court-related revenue.

“When your budget is 90 percent salaries, obviously, that’s where the cuts have to come from,” Ewing said. “It was the hardest decision I’ve had to make in my career but, unfortunately, I was forced to lay off nine people.”

Court clerks throughout Florida are facing similar revenue shortfalls because the recession has resulted in fewer people filing lawsuits and paying fines and service charges, Ewing and other court clerks said.

St. Lucie County Clerk Joe Smith and Jeff Smith, the chief deputy clerk in Indian River County, said they don’t anticipate laying off any workers in the near future, but that could change depending on what happens with the economy and the state Legislative session.

“We will not have layoffs this week,” Jeff Smith said. “We are barely holding our own at the present time. Of course, this situation is fluid and could change at anytime in the future, but as of now we don’t have layoffs planned for the near future.” (more…)

VERO BEACH — A man who secretly buried his mother in their back yard to cover up her death will be serving 20 years in state prison for second-degree murder, court files show.

In mid-2008, Vero Lake Estates resident Kelly Smith, 38, argued with his mother, Lynn Schuler, 59, over his unemployment. (more…)

Beth Mazzouccolo, a widow with two children and her 86-year-old mother living at home, is concerned about landing a new job and being able to pay for health care.

But she’s hopeful that President Obama’s $75 billion housing plan will allow her to reduce her monthly mortgage payments.

With her unemployment benefits soon to run out, Mazzouccolo’s income tax refund has allowed her to catch up on her $1,600-a-month mortgage on the Fisherman’s Cove duplex in Stuart that is now worth nearly $40,000 less than the $195,000 she bought it for two years ago. (more…)

Tammy Wilson still has handguns for sale. But lately she’s had trouble keeping them in stock.

“Handguns are crazy right now,” said Wilson, manager of Express Huntin’ N Fishin’, a sportsman’s supply store in Sebastian. “A lot of them are on back order.”

The owners of many Treasure Coast gun and pawn shops say they’ve also seen a jump in gun sales, fueled by fears the new presidential administration will impose new regulations on gun ownership.

The economy is also a factor, as homeowners arm themselves against a perceived spike in home break-ins tied to the rising unemployment rate.

(more…)

The $50 copay for his Plavix prescription was more than Leon Graybill could afford, even before he was laid off.

As of Saturday, Graybill and the other 299 people laid off Feb. 10 from Piper Aircraft Inc. are without employer-based health insurance. They join the growing ranks of unemployed people struggling to pay for individual health insurance — or more often, daring to go without insurance so they can pay to keep a roof over their heads and food on their table.

Graybill is a 55-year-old stroke and heart attack survivor with a bum knee. His wife is a 53-year-old per diem nurse, meaning she doesn’t get benefits. She is diabetic and needs some dental work.

“With all of that hanging around, insurance is crucial,” Graybill said.

But it also might be unaffordable.

(more…)

Greg Osborne has trouble sleeping at night.

Osborne, a former Piper Aircraft Inc. employee who got laid off earlier this month, wonders how he’ll be able to pay for his five prescriptions when his medical insurance runs out at the end of the month. He worries about how he’ll make rent this month and how he can delay paying for utilities.

But most of all, he prays that his kidney cancer doesn’t return.

“I loved my job. I loved that company, I loved my co-workers, it was my life. It was my family,” said Osborne, a former aircraft inspector at Piper for more than 11 years. “There’s days go by, I don’t even eat.”

Osborne joined other former Piper employees at a workshop organized by the United Way and Workforce Solutions of Indian River County Monday. The two agencies held seminars to help former Piper employees find social services and other financial assistance from the county and state. (more…)