Woman gives false name when questioned about allegedly kicking in door
A Leesburg woman was arrested after giving police a false name while being questioned about allegedly kicking in someone’s door. An officer responded to a Leesburg residence where 33-year-old Wendy Shabrina Rolle kicked in the door around 10:25 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, according to an arrest report from the Leesburg...
My tips for reducing or eliminating property taxes in Marion County
I see a lot of people struggling with property taxes in Marion County and found some information that may help, for those that didn’t already know. Property taxes in Marion County can feel heavy, but Florida offers a wide range of exemptions, classifications, and tax-saving programs that can lower your bill—sometimes...
72-home development near busy Ocala intersection up for review
The Marion County Planning and Zoning Commission will review a proposed development that would bring 72 homes to a 19.62-acre site near one of Ocala’s busiest intersections. Capozolli Hills will be presented to the commission during its regular meeting on Monday, November 24. The project was previously presented to...
The Florida Trail That Takes You To A Ghost Town Few People Know Exists
Hidden deep within Florida’s wilderness lies a trail that leads to one of the state’s best-kept secrets: a forgotten ghost town. The St. Francis Trail winds through Ocala National Forest, offering adventurous hikers a chance to explore history and nature in one unforgettable journey. Most people have no...
Ocala Resident Pleads Guilty to Pointing Laser at Marion County Sheriff’s Helicopter
Adam Santiago Lugo, 41, of Ocala, Florida, has pleaded guilty to a federal charge of aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft. The incident took place on August 2, 2025. Lugo pointed a green laser at a Marion County Sheriff's Office helicopter from his home. The helicopter was assisting in a burglary investigation at...
Speed skater Brittany Bowe’s goals for 4th Olympic Games include gold medal
Star long track speed skater Brittany Bowe, from Ocala, Fla., is not shy about her goals for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan. She wants to come home with a gold medal.
Habitual traffic offender caught driving with suspended license
An Ocklawaha man with a history of habitual traffic offenses was arrested for driving with a suspended license. A deputy stopped 54-year-old Christopher Michael Jones in a blue sedan with no headlights at 7049 SE 92nd Loop, Belleview, around 2:15 a.m. Thursday, according to an arrest report from the Marion County...
DUI suspect runs vehicle off road on the way home from bar in Leesburg
An Ocala man was arrested for driving under the influence after running his vehicle off the road with no memory of how he got there. A deputy with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office saw 30-year-old Devin Gene Preston run off the road toward a retention pond at the U.S. Hwy. 441 interchange at 2:30 a.m. Saturday,...
Pair arrested on drug-dealing charges after traffic stop
Brianna Monique Ward, 22, of Ocala, and Travarious Deshaun Wilson, 28, of Bronson, were arrested yesterday on drug-dealing charges after a traffic stop for driving 101 mph on I-75; Wilson was also charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon after three pistols were reportedly found in the vehicle. The...
Rabies alert issued for Marion County after local raccoon killed with disease
The Florida Department of Health in Marion County (DOH-Marion) has issued a rabies alert following a confirmed case of the virus found in a raccoon in Ocala. The alert was issued on Thursday and is effective immediately. It is in response to a raccoon that tested positive for rabies after it was killed in the Meadow...
