New ABC series ‘R.J. Decker’ gives shout-out to Marion County in premiere
A new television series set in Florida featured a brief reference to Marion County in its nationwide premiere last week. R.J. Decker, which stars Scott Speedman (Felicity, Grey’s Anatomy) as the titular character, debuted on Tuesday, March 3. The series follows Decker, who is described as a disgraced newspaper...
Longest FBI shootout ever breaks out at this notorious Florida home
MARION COUNTY, Fla. – Lurking in the woods of Ocklawaha is a large, two-story house built nearly 100 years ago. No one lives there anymore, but that wasn’t always the case. Originally, the home was built on Lake Weir in 1930 by the Bradford family, and it was...
Marion County courthouse: 3 prison sentences in luring minors cases
A man charged in connection with the shooting death of a friend was in court on March 2 for a pre-trial detention hearing. Here's what we know about that and other cases heard at the Marion County Judicial Center the week of March 2. State v. Gregory Stearn Who were the lawyers? Assistant State Attorney Drew Brandies...
Comedy show will benefit House of Hope recovery program
An upcoming comedy show will benefit the House of Hope recovery program. Comedian Al Ernst will perform at 7 p.m. Friday, March 27 at Hope Lutheran Church in The Villages. Ernst is the three-time Carnival Cruise Lines entertainer of the year. He lives by the mantra “laughter saves lives” every day.
Rural community of Citra reopens fair after pandemic hiatus to raise development funds
Citra’s Orange-A-Fair made a comeback on Saturday after a six year pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic with a goal this time of raising money to renovate the community center and to turn the community’s old bank, built in the 1920s, into a museum of local history. Citra...
Multiple injuries reported when truck crashes into school bus on US Highway 301
A commercial truck collided with a stopped Alachua County school bus on US Highway 301 at 7 a.m., seriously injuring the truck driver and causing minor injuries to four children. Emergency responders transported the injured truck driver and children to UF Health Shands Hospital, and northbound lanes on US Highway...
Wildwood commissioner casts rare vote against proclamation
Designed to raise awareness of organizations, issues or events, Wildwood City Commission proclamations are approved routinely. It’s extremely rare for a public official to vote against them. But Wildwood Commissioner Joe Elliott did just that Monday, casting a nay vote against a flood awareness proclamation. Approved...
Pair found passed out with syringes and puncture wounds at park
A pair from Lake County landed behind bars on drug charges when an officer found them passed out with fentanyl in their possession. An officer patrolling Marsh Memorial Park, located at 36545 Yale Retreat Rd., spotted a silver 2004 Ford with the passenger side door open around 12:40 a.m. Monday, March 2, according to...
Unlicensed driver from Mexico stopped on Florida Turnpike
A man from Mexico was arrested for driving without a license after being stopped on the Florida Turnpike without headlights on in the fog. A trooper saw 48-year-old Oswaldo Gonzalez driving a white Ford F-350 on the turnpike in Leesburg around 7:40 a.m. Saturday Feb. 28, according to an arrest report from the Florida...
Marion County Public School Board Work Session Focuses on Discussions, Details and Decisions
OCALA, FL (352today.com) – Rezoning and consolidating elementary schools on Marion County’s Northend is hardly a new conversation, and it’s one that’s vitally important. It appears that staff’s recommendation is not to move forward for the 2026-2027 school year. However, it’s all too apparent that change...
