New dog bar with 5,000-sq-ft park coming to site in east Ocala
A well-known restaurant group in Ocala has taken over a space that has been closed for several years and is in the midst of transforming it into a full-service dining and off-leash play experience for residents and their canine companions, promising a spot “where dogs are appreciated and humans are tolerated.”
Woman sentenced after reporting bogus hit-and-run crash in The Villages
A woman has been sentenced after reporting a bogus hit-and-run crash in The Villages. Tonya Marie Jones, 54, of Wildwood, pleaded no contest this past week in Sumter County Court to a charge of reporting false information to police. She has been placed on probation for six months and was ordered to perform 25 hours...
The Florida Smokehouse Where the Pulled Pork Sells Out Before the Dinner Crowd Shows...
If you have ever wondered why people drive to Ocala just for barbecue, Big Lee’s has your answer tucked between clouds of hickory smoke. Get there early, because the pulled pork can vanish before dinner even starts, and the line still cheers when the pit door swings open. Friendly...
Villager wants freedom after barricading himself in home in standoff with cops
A Villager who barricaded himself in his home for several hours after an alleged attacked on his wife is hoping to be set free after nearly a month behind bars. Tyler Gentry McKee, 35, was arrested at the conclusion of the standoff on Dec. 23 at his home at 4985 McLaughlin Terrace in the Village of Chitty Chatty. He...
Cold front brings rain, wind, then freezing temps
ORLANDO, Fla. – Saturday will stay pleasant through the rest of the day, with highs in the 70s across the region, so enjoy it while you can. Another blast of cold air is on the way. A cold front moves through Sunday, bringing increasing rain chances around 40-80% across...
Arctic blast: Central Florida faces freezing temperatures, high winds, and showers
ORLANDO, Fla. – A strong cold front pushing through Central Florida on Sunday will be bringing in some of the coldest air seen so far this year. A wind advisory is in effect for portions of our area starting at 10 a.m. and lasting until 5 p.m. Winds are...
Dunnellon man, 19, dies in motorcycle crash on U.S. 1 in Brevard
A 19-year-old motorcyclist from Dunnellon was killed Sunday, Jan. 18, in a pre-dawn, one-vehicle crash in central Brevard County, Florida Highway Patrol reported. The man, whose name was not released, was riding a Suzuki RX1000 southbound in the inside lane of U.S. 1 near Puma Valley Way around 3:52 a.m. when he...
Report sheds light on golf cart rollover crash in The Villages
The release of a Florida Highway Patrol accident report is shedding light on a golf cart rollover crash in The Villages. An 80-year-old Village of Belvedere resident was driving a blue 2020 Yamaha golf cart at 4:41 p.m. Jan. 6 traveling south on Oak Forest Drive approaching Melville Loop in the Village of Glenbrook...
We are wasting too much water on grass in The Villages
I would absolutely love to be allowed to install artificial grass. I would recommend The Villages provide some guidelines on certain types that can be selected by the homeowner to ensure that we get the acceptable look. Besides the water issue, it would be great to decrease the amount of chemicals that are used and...
Woman jailed after going on spending spree with Villager’s stolen credit card
A woman spent the weekend in jail after going on a spending spree with a Villager’s stolen credit card. Stephanie Odell, 37, of Summerfield, was incarcerated at the Lake County Jail following her arrest on a warrant charging her with a felony charge of fraud. In August, a Villager...
