Pennsylvania snowbird arrested at Mardi Gras in The Villages
A Pennsylvania snowbird was arrested after celebrating Mardi Gras in The Villages. Troy Lynn Long, 62, was driving a white Yamaha golf cart at about 6 p.m. Friday at Lake Sumter Landing when he was pulled over for blue lights which were illuminating both sides of the bottom exterior of the golf cart, according to an...
Chicken Finger Phenom Raising Cane’s Announces Opening Date for First Ocala Location
OCALA, FL (352today.com) – The 352 has been waiting on this one for a while now. The first location of national chicken finger chain Raising Cane’s, originally announced back in the fall of 2024, will open at 2410 SW College Rd. on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. The 30-year-old...
Peach Valley Cafe replacing shuttered Bob Evans in Ocala
A Florida-based restaurant chain that specializes in Southern-style meals is opening its first location in Ocala at the site of a Bob Evans that recently closed its doors. Peach Valley Cafe is renovating the site at 3535 SW College Road/State Road 200. Formerly occupied by Bob Evans, which abruptly closed its doors...
Traffic congestion along I-75, SR 200 in Marion County after multiple accidents
A stretch of Interstate 75 in Marion County is heavily congested on Monday afternoon, and the highway’s interchange with SR 200 is also backed up as emergency personnel respond to multiple accidents in the area this afternoon. According to the Florida Department of Transportation, congestion is being reported...
Ocala Walmart employee accused of stealing Bose headphones
An Ocala Walmart employee was recently arrested after allegedly stealing a pair of Bose headphones valued at over $400. On Tuesday, a Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputy arrived at the Walmart located at 9570 SW Highway 200 in Ocala in reference to a theft incident involving a store associate, according to the...
Woman accused of shooting Marion deputy in patrol car has been sentenced
The woman who law enforcement and prosecutors said fired several shots at a sheriff's deputy who was transporting her to the Marion County Jail after arresting her from a traffic stop was sentenced to 40 years in prison on Feb. 16. Rheanna Diane Harden told the court that she was going through hard times, but it...
Leesburg man arrested after allegedly attacking his ex-girlfriend
A Leesburg man was arrested on a charge of battery after allegedly pushing his ex-girlfriend into a table and hitting her head. An officer responded to a trespassing incident at the home of 33-year-old Jordan Richard Bedford’s ex-girlfriend at 7:50 p.m. Monday, Feb. 9, according to an arrest report from the Fruitland...
State Road 19 in Ocala has reopened after wildfire
OCALA, Fla. — State Road 19 in Ocala has reopened to traffic in both directions from State Road 40 and County Road 314 south of Salt Springs in northeast Marion County, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. The roadway was closed earlier because of...
Villager who took nasty fall at postal station shares valuable lesson with fellow residents
Last week Monday evening, I went to the postal station about 9 p.m. I retrieved my mail and as I was going back to my car. I lost my balance and landed in my back and hit my head pretty hard. It was bleeding a lot. Fortunately, I had some tissues in my pocket and made a compress. I was unable to move. I was able to...
Villager will lose driver’s license after crash near Morse Gate
A Villager has lost his driver’s license after a crash near the Morse Gate. Michael Latourette, 66, who lives on the Historic Side of The Villages, pleaded no contest to a charge of driving under the influence this past week in Sumter County Court. He will lose his driver’s license for six months, has been placed on...
