Ocala man allegedly grabs shotgun, threatens worker on neighboring property
An Ocala man was arrested on an aggravated assault charge after he allegedly armed himself with a shotgun and threatened a worker who was clearing a neighboring property. On Friday, August 1, a Marion County Sheriff’s Office corporal and deputy responded to the incident location on SW 142nd Loop. Upon arrival, the...
Rivers with the most alligators in Florida: Here’s a list of the top 5....
If seeing viral videos of alligators on front porches, golf courses, in pools or at the beach while scrolling through social media feels normal to you, you just might be a Floridian. About 1.3 million alligators call Florida home — but where do they live when they aren't popping up where they aren't welcome? If you...
Free line dancing classes at Ocala activity center
Ocala will host another installment of its free line dancing classes this week. The classes take place every Wednesday, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Forest Community Center at Sandhill Park. The park is located at 777 S County Road 314A in Ocklawaha. The line dancing classes are made...
Convicted felon busted with drugs and firearm following chase near Mulberry Grove Plaza
A Belleview man was arrested for possession of drugs and a firearm following a chase near Mulberry Grove Plaza in The Villages. Deputies observed 53-year-old Michael Benjamin Heilig in a blue Chevy pickup truck headed south on 1600 U.S. Hwy. 441 in Summerfield around 6:10 p.m. Saturday, according to an arrest report...
Walmart worker caught allegedly stealing merchandise while on break
An employee has been arrested after allegedly stealing merchandise while on break at her job at Walmart at Buffalo Ridge Plaza in The Villages. Sharon Dennise Rodriguez Carrasquil, 45, of Ocala, was arrested this past Friday on five counts of theft. The loss prevention team at Walmart had been tipped...
Women from Romania use stolen SNAP/EBT cards to buy baby formula in Lake County
A pair of women from Romania were arrested for fraud after using stolen SNAP/EBT cards to buy infant formula in Tavares, Leesburg and The Villages. A detective was informed of stolen SNAP/EBT cards being used by two women, later identified as 22-year-old Maria Rebeca Mielu and 24-year-old Rosaura Vaduva, at stores in...
Mother sues Ocala landlord over retaliation for housing discrimination complaint
An Ocala mother claims her landlord retaliated against her after she filed a federal housing discrimination complaint in which she claimed she was being subjected to “invasive and racially charged actions,” including multiple inspections and unwritten rules. The Florida Commission on Human Relations (FCHR) filed the...
Ocala teen overcomes adversity, advances to final 32 of American Ninja Warrior
An Ocala student overcame the biggest upset in American Ninja Warrior history to charge his way into the next round of the finals, where he is one of 32 contestants competing for the $250,000 grand prize. Garemore set the fastest qualifying time during the three semifinal rounds of the popular...
A message for Villagers upset about ‘outsiders’ at the square
I know I have written this before, some years ago. For those of you in The Villages who complain about “outsiders” getting in your “gated” communities, shopping and enjoying the entertainment at “your” town squares, you need to remember you can’t change that! Your streets, roads, shops, and entertainment are ALL open...
One dead, two injured in I-40 crash; driver arrested
A deadly three-vehicle collision on Interstate-40 early Sunday morning claimed the life of a Florida man and led to the arrest of a Sallisaw woman on suspicion of driving under the influence, according to an accident report issued by Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP). The crash reportedly occurred around 1:35 a.m....
