The Apopka Chief

02/27/2025

Apopka Police Chief Michael McKinley swore in nine new police officers on Tuesday, Feb. 25, at the Apopka City Hall council chamber.

Apopka PD sponsored six of the officers Staff Reports Apopka Police Chief Michael McKinley swore in nine new police officers on Tuesday, Feb. 25, at the Apopka City Hall council chamber. One by one, the officers were introduced to the community at the ceremony with his biography read. Afterward, McK...

02/27/2025

The Apopka Progressive Senior Citizens Club, Inc., celebrated Black History Month and the accomplishments of Black Americans with addresses about their significance in the nation’s history, artifact displays, and more.

The club held the event at its monthly meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 25, at the John H. Bridges Community Center in Apopka. https://theapopkachief.com/senior-citizens-club-celebrates-black-history-with-event/

02/27/2025

Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings and District 2 Commissioner Christine Moore will host a grand opening ceremony for the Greeneyes Wildlife Preserve at 1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28. The event will take place at 951 W. Kelly Park Road, Apopka. https://theapopkachief.com/greeneyes-wildlife-preserve-to-have-grand-opening/

02/27/2025

The Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously to ratify a $1.4 million contract for an emergency improvement project to mitigate the frequent flooding on Ocoee-Apopka Road in Apopka impacting nearby residential dwellings. https://theapopkachief.com/county-awards-1-4-m-contract-for-ocoee-apopka-road-improvements/

02/27/2025

Twenty-eight Black Apopka legends were recognized at the third annual Celebrating Legends of Apopka Black History Month event on Tuesday, Feb. 25, at the Apopka Community Center. Families of the deceased were in attendance to receive the honor on the legends’ behalf. https://theapopkachief.com/city-celebrates-black-history-month-by-honoring-local-legends/

02/25/2025

New publisher J.C. Derrick writes in his Feb. 21 column that The Apopka Chief will remain committed to reporting local news that matters to the Apopka community. https://theapopkachief.com/derrick-introducing-the-new-chief/

02/24/2025

Senior U.S. District Judge John Antoon II has sentenced Dudzinski Edwinn Poole of Apopka and 16 co-conspirators – including three from Apopka – to federal prison terms ranging from six years up to life imprisonment in a multi-state drug trafficking and money laundering conspiracy.

Four that were convicted are Apopkans, including ringleader Staff Reports Senior U.S. District Judge John Antoon II has sentenced Dudzinski Edwinn Poole of Apopka and 16 co-conspirators – including three from Apopka – to federal prison terms ranging from six years up to life imprisonment in a mu...

02/24/2025

All throughout March, people can donate money to Loaves & Fishes during March Madness, the organization’s only annual fundraiser. https://theapopkachief.com/loaves-fishes-to-kick-off-march-madness/

02/22/2025

Representatives of the Station Street redevelopment updated the City Council this week on the ongoing project that isintended to foster interconnectivity with the rest of downtown Apopka.

City hopes upgrades will help revitalize downtown By Teresa Sargeant Reporter Representatives of the Station Street redevelopment updated the City Council this week on the ongoing project that isintended to foster interconnectivity with the rest of downtown Apopka. At the Wednesday, Feb. 19, Apopka....

02/21/2025

The winners of the city of Apopka’s community flag and essay contests were honored at the Tuesday, Feb. 18, luncheon meeting at the Back Room Steakhouse on Rock Springs Road in Apopka. https://theapopkachief.com/foliage-sertoma-club-recognizes-city-flag-essay-contest-winners/

02/20/2025

Several park projects around the community are now under development including many amenities at the Northwest Recreation Complex with some help from a $13.1 million Tourism Development Tax (TDT) Grant, according to Radley Williams, city parks and recreation director, who spoke at the Wednesday, Feb. 19, Apopka City Council meeting.

$13.1 million county grant to fund some Northwest Recreation Complex projects Several park projects around the community are now under development including many amenities at the Northwest Recreation Complex with some help from a $13.1 million Tourism Development Tax (TDT) Grant, according to Radley...

02/19/2025

Orange County staff and local community members celebrated the groundbreaking for the $10-million second phase of the Lake Apopka Connector Trail that will connect two existing trails—West Orange Trail along McCormick Road and Lake Apopka Loop Trail in Magnolia Park, Apopka. https://theapopkachief.com/orange-county-breaks-ground-lake-apopka-connector-trail/

02/19/2025

The Apopka Chief is closing a chapter in its 102-year-old existence and opening a new one with the transfer of ownership from the Ricketson family to Mainstreet Daily News, a subsidiary of Orlando-based MARC Media. The acquisition was completed on Thursday, Feb. 13.

Newspaper switches to free distribution The Apopka Chief is closing a chapter in its 102-year-old existence and opening a new one with the transfer of ownership from the Ricketson family to Mainstreet Daily News, a subsidiary of Orlando-based MARC Media. The acquisition was completed on Thursday, Fe...

02/18/2025

The third annual Celebrating Legends of Apopka Black History Month event will celebrate a new group of 28 Black community members who left indelible marks in the Apopka area and its history. Some of the legends that will be honored are Charlotte Branch, Pearl Louise Mason, and Charles "Charlie" Taylor, Sr. https://theapopkachief.com/apopka-black-history-month-event-to-celebrate-28-legends/

02/18/2025

Orange County 2 Commissioner Christine Moore: Today, most of us recognize the value and impact of a quality trail system. However, most people do not know what a heavy lift it is for local government to fund and build a trail system. https://theapopkachief.com/moore-many-entities-have-been-involved-in-phase-2-of-lake-apopka-trail/

02/17/2025

At the latest Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Board meeting, the plat for repurposing a property for use of affordable houses and a public park was front and center after the Apopka City Council voted to table the plat at its Jan. 15 meeting. https://theapopkachief.com/plat-for-repurposing-eighth-street-property-subject-of-cra-meeting/

02/14/2025

Florida Sen. Geraldine Thompson, a staunch civil rights advocate during her nearly two decades as a legislator, died on Thursday, Feb. 13, following complications from knee replacement surgery. She was 76. https://dos.fl.gov/historical/museums/blackhistorytaskforce/senator-geraldine-f-thompson/

02/14/2025

As you know, John finished his race as caretaker last July. Today marks the formal end for the rest of the Ricketson family, Eileen, Joe and Jerry, who have sold the business to Orange County-based MARC Media, which also owns Mainstreet Daily News in Gainesville.

John and Eileen Ricketson purchased The Apopka Chief in 1980, and it quickly rose to statewide prominence in the coming years. Led by editor John Peery, who served at the Chief for 45 years until his passing in 2023, Apopka's newspaper won numerous Florida Press Association sweepstakes titles for best overall weekly newspaper performance—honors still memorialized by trophies in our office on Park Avenue. https://theapopkachief.com/our-position-the-apopka-chief-will-continue-to-have-birthdays/