Ocala Gazette

12/08/2024

First Day Of School At Howard Middle School. 📸 Bruce Ackerman. For more photos, Click Here: https://www.ocalagazette.com/first-day-of-school-at-howard-middle-school/

10/08/2024

Today starts early voting.
According to the Florida News Service, more than 894,000 Florida voters had cast ballots in the Aug. 20 primary elections as of Friday morning, as the number continues to gradually increase. Data posted on the state Division of Elections website showed that 840,990 voters had cast ballots by mail, including 353,486 Republicans, 352,076 Democrats, 123,701 unaffiliated voters and 11,727 third-party voters. Also, 53,493 ballots had been cast at early-voting sites, including 32,098 by Republicans, 17,186 by Democrats, 3,831 by unaffiliated voters and 378 by third-party voters. Early voting started Monday in some counties and will go statewide Saturday. It will continue statewide through Aug. 17, though some counties will offer early voting Aug. 18.
To read up on candidates, check out our politics page: https://www.ocalagazette.com/archives/politics/

Early voting for the 2024 Primary Election starts tomorrow!

09/08/2024

“It feels good to be recognized,” said Brown, 72, of Ocala, who was wounded while serving in the U.S. Army in 1972. Brown said he was the point man when his unit was ambushed and he was shot in the arm.

Vietnam War veteran and Purple Heart Award recipient F.L. Brown called Tuesday, Aug. 6, an amazing day. He was one of the recipients who were honored for their military service during the Marion County Commission meeting, one day before National Purple Heart Day. “It feels good to be recognized,.....

09/08/2024

The goal of the shelter is that all animals that are adoptable will find forever homes. Can you help?

There currently are more than 200 animals awaiting adoption through the Humane Society of Marion County. That means there is a great need for humans to help care for the animals as they await a forever home. At this nonprofit, which was founded in 1964, volunteers are critical to meeting the mission...

09/08/2024

Jury selection will begin on Monday in the trial of Susan Lorincz, who was charged with manslaughter and assault after the shooting death of her neighbor Ajike “AJ” Owens in June 2023.

Jury selection will begin on Monday in the trial of Susan Lorincz, who was charged with manslaughter and assault after the shooting death of her neighbor Ajike “AJ” Owens in June 2023. The trial will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Aug. 12 in Courtroom 3A of the Marion County Judicial Center. Circuit Judg...

08/08/2024

Florida last week had its lowest number of first-time unemployment claims since the period around the Presidents’ Day holiday.

Florida last week had its lowest number of first-time unemployment claims since the period around the Presidents’ Day holiday. The U.S. Department of Labor on Thursday estimated that 5,095 claims were filed in Florida during the week that ended Aug. 3, down from a revised count of 5,472 claims dur...

08/08/2024

A final hearing in Circuit Court has been set for Monday, Aug 12 on the “Ocala Gazette’s” lawsuit against the Marion County Sheriff’s Office over its refusal to release public records relating to the Nov. 25, 2022 death of inmate Scott Whitley in the Marion County jail.

The “Gazette” seeks to obtain surveillance footage from Whitley’s jail cell that purportedly shows several detention deputies using what Whitley’s family claims was excessive force against the inmate to gain his compliance. Over the course of the 12-minute altercation that led to Whitley’s death, the nine officers involved deployed Tasers 27 times and used pepper foam and physical force to subdue him.

A final hearing in Circuit Court has been set for Monday, Aug 12 on the “Ocala Gazette’s” lawsuit against the Marion County Sheriff’s Office over its refusal to release public records relating to the Nov. 25, 2022 death of inmate Scott Whitley in the Marion County jail. The “Gazette” see...

07/08/2024

One astrophotographer and philanthropist is leaving his mark on the College of Central Florida, with the art installation of a composite of 90 of his photos of the cosmos.

One astrophotographer and philanthropist is leaving his mark on the College of Central Florida, with the art installation of a composite of 90 of his photos of the cosmos. Phil Rosenberg is a lifelong astronomer and astrophotographer, who now photographs the cosmos from an observatory in his own bac...

07/08/2024

The old headquarters of the Marion County School Board is going up for sale and will be available to the public to bid on.

The warehouse, at 506 SE Third Ave., and the vacant lot directly to the south will be open to bid on, potentially within the next two months. The downtown property has been owned by the school board since 1912. The vacant lot was used for school board parking.

The old headquarters of the Marion County School Board is going up for sale and will be available to the public to bid on. The warehouse, at 506 SE Third Ave., and the vacant lot directly to the south will be open to bid on, potentially within the next two months. The downtown property has been owne...

07/08/2024

“Lt. Patrick Riordan served the citizens of Florida with the Florida Highway Patrol for 39 years. His relentless efforts promoting public safety have no doubt saved countless lives.” -- Lt. Jim Beauford

Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Patrick Riordan, the longtime public affairs officer for Trooper B, which covers Marion and eight other North Central Florida counties, had his last radio call at a retirement ceremony in Lake City on Aug. 2 after 39 years of service. “(ID number) 79 is 10-42,” Riordan...

06/08/2024

Individual school grades are out. How did Marion County’s schools score this year, compared to the year before?

Individual school grades are out. How did Marion County’s schools score this year, compared to the year before? Marion County Public Schools earned an overall grade of a C for the 2023-24 school year, a decline from the previous year when the school district earned a B. The district credited its s...

06/08/2024

OFR addressed a fuel leak and the scene later was handed over to the Florida Highway Patrol and Florida Department of Transportation.

Ocala Fire Rescue reports that units responded Tuesday morning, Aug. 6, to a single vehicle crash on Interstate 75 at State Road 200 that left a semi tractor stuck on a guard rail and traffic backed up for approximately 11 miles. According to an OFR press release, an engine, rescue unit and battalio...

06/08/2024

The crash occurred around 6:41 a.m. and the 31-year-old pickup truck driver from Ocala, who was not injured, was wearing a seat belt. The victim was not wearing a helmet.

A 76-year-old Ocala man died after the bicycle he was riding on Maricamp Road veered into traffic and was struck by a pickup truck the morning of Aug. 6, the Florida Highway Patrol reports. According to the FHP press release, the bicycle ridden by the man on the north paved shoulder of Maricamp Roa...

06/08/2024

FDOT encourages community involvement and is offering the meeting in person and online. All attendees, regardless of which platform they choose, will receive the same information.

The Florida Department of Transportation will hold a public meeting at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 14, regarding plans to mill and resurface US 27/US 441 from the Sumter County line to south of US 301 (Abshier Boulevard) in Marion County. FDOT encourages community involvement and is offering the meeti...

06/08/2024

Every Marion County firefighter will now have two sets of bunker gear each, now that the county moved to purchase 170 new sets of equipment.

Every Marion County firefighter will now have two sets of bunker gear each, now that the county moved to purchase 170 new sets of equipment. On Tuesday, the Marion County Commission amended its original contract with the Municipal Equipment Company LLC to spend an additional $604,592 on equipment. T...

06/08/2024

For less than $5 a month, you can support a newspaper that serves the people of Marion County- not any special interests, no matter how powerful they may be.

Since we started the Gazette four years ago, we've printed in each issue a quote from a landmark 1971 case about the role the press should play because the principle remains at the heart of our mission.

"In the First Amendment, the Founding Fathers gave the free press the protection it must have to fulfill its essential role in our democracy. The press was to serve the governed, not the governors. The Government's power to censor the press was abolished so that the press would remain forever free to censure the Government. The press was protected so that it could bare the secrets of government and inform the people. Only a free and unrestrained press can effectively expose deception in government." U.S. Supreme Justice Black, with whom Justice Douglas joined in New York Times vs. United States.

Can we count on your support to continue this vital work?

Members and print subscribers have digital access to all Gazette articles posted. Become a member today and support in-depth local journalism in Marion County.

05/08/2024

A Coca-Cola delivery truck was hit by a tree that fell across Southeast 17th Street near the intersection of Southeast 25th Avenue while out making deliveries in the large wind gusts from Hurricane Debby in Ocala, Fla. on Monday, August 5, 2024. 📸 Cheryl Specht

05/08/2024

Hurricane Debby In Ocala – Aftermath of the storm 📸 Bruce Ackerman - For more photos and a short brief on Hurricane Debby, Click Here: https://www.ocalagazette.com/hurricane-debby-in-ocala-aftermath-of-the-storm/

05/08/2024

A newly filed PAC identified as the “Local Accountability PAC Florida” set up a digital billboard outside yesterday’s Women League of Voters candidate meet and greet. A spokesperson for the PAC told the “Gazette” that they intended to spend six figures in voter engagement leading up to the primary election to support Milton Busby, Jr. for sheriff.

05/08/2024

The long-awaited opening of the new Heritage Trail in west Ocala is now being postponed after inclement weather, brought on by Hurricane Debby, caused the Monday ribbon-cutting ceremony to be canceled.

The long-awaited opening of the new Heritage Trail in west Ocala is now being postponed after inclement weather, brought on by Hurricane Debby, caused the Monday ribbon-cutting ceremony to be canceled. The city of Ocala has not yet decided on a new date for the opening ceremony to take place. The We...

05/08/2024

As Hurricane Debby makes its way through north Florida after making landfall on Monday morning, Marion County Fire Rescue’s urban search and rescue task force is stationed in Marianna to provide aid in the Big Bend region.

Read here for the expected local impacts of Hurricane Debby in Marion County.

As Hurricane Debby makes its way through north Florida after making landfall on Monday morning, Marion County Fire Rescue’s urban search and rescue task force is stationed in Marianna to provide aid in the Big Bend region. Hurricane Debby made landfall Monday morning near Steinhatchee, Florida as ...

04/08/2024

Major Crimes is investigating.

Deputies responding to a report of shots fired at a southeast Marion County residence on Saturday night found two people deceased from gunshot wounds, according to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. MCSO Public Information Officer Zach Moore indicated at the scene, in the 14200 block of Southeast...

03/08/2024

There were city dispatch delays in response to this week's laundromat explosion that hurt four people. Read what we've gleaned thus far with this link: https://www.ocalagazette.com/city-of-ocala-emergency-dispatch-continues-to-struggle/

03/08/2024

The crash occurred at Northwest 13th Street and US Hwy 41.

Two people were killed and two were critically injured in a two-car crash Friday afternoon on U.S. Highway 41 in northwest Marion County. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a pickup truck driven by a 54-year-old Dunnellon man was traveling north on U.S. 41 when it left the roadway to the right...

02/08/2024

Marion County officials have declared a local state of emergency as the Invest 97L storm system develops and moves toward the west coast of Florida.

Marion County officials have declared a local state of emergency as the Invest 97L storm system develops and moves toward the west coast of Florida. As of Friday morning, the Marion County area has a 40% confidence level of seeing direct and indirect impacts, said the Marion County Sheriff’s Offic...

02/08/2024

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday declared a state of emergency for 54 counties, most along the Gulf Coast and in northern Florida, as a tropical wave with a high chance of strengthening into a more-threatening storm was on a path that could reach the state this weekend.

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday declared a state of emergency for 54 counties, most along the Gulf Coast and in northern Florida, as a tropical wave with a high chance of strengthening into a more-threatening storm was on a path that could reach the state this weekend. The declaration was for Alachua,...

01/08/2024

The crash involved a small dump truck, a box truck that had “significant front-end damage that trapped the driver inside” and an SUV with two occupants, per Ocala Fire Rescue.

At least four people were injured in a multi-vehicle crash Thursday afternoon on northbound Interstate 75 near mile marker 352 (State Road 40), according to Ocala Fire Rescue. Two of the injured people were transported to the hospital on trauma alert and the northbound lanes of the interstate were t...

01/08/2024

As announced last month, the Ocala Gazette is launching a membership program to ensure the sustainability of our efforts on your behalf. For those who prefer to read their news digitally, we request a monthly commitment of $4.75 a month to enjoy full access. Print subscribers will be able to access digital news using their subscription account login and need to take no further action.

All membership dollars go directly to sustaining the type of in-depth journalism our readers have come to expect from us. We hope you will support our efforts by joining with this link: https://bit.ly/3WMctuH

To read more about why this measure is necessary, please read this letter from our publisher: https://www.ocalagazette.com/letter-from-the-publisher/

Dear Ocala/Marion residents, The Ocala Gazette newspaper is at a crossroads. When we started four years ago, our goal was to keep our community connected but also deliver in-depth reporting that the other local news outlets didn’t have the guts to touch. We feel that is the type of information tha...

01/08/2024

The funds have been allocated to internal programs like the Community Partnership Schools at East Marion and College Park, Reading Pals and to external partner organizations, all aimed at removing barriers to children’s learning and development.

United Way of Marion County recently announced a commitment of $850,000 in funding for education programs from July 2024 to June 2026. “These funds have been allocated to internal programs like the Community Partnership Schools at East Marion and College Park, Reading Pals and to nine external par...

01/08/2024

There are three Circuit Court judge groups on the ballot for all Marion County residents this primary season, but only one set of candidates are vying for the Group 20 seat currently assigned to Marion County: Ben Boylston and Barbara Kissner Kwatkosky.

The other two seats on the ballot, Groups 13 and 7, are in the Fifth Circuit, which encompasses Marion, Lake, Sumter, Levy, and Citrus counties. Since judges can be transferred within the circuit, all registered voters in the five counties will have the opportunity to weigh in on the nonpartisan judicial races in the Aug. 20 election. Here is a little background on the six candidates:

There are three Circuit Court judge groups on the ballot for all Marion County residents this primary season, but only one set of candidates are vying for the Group 20 seat currently assigned to Marion County: Ben Boylston and Barbara Kissner Kwatkosky. The other two seats on the ballot, Groups 13 a...