$1 million scratch-off prize claimed by Ocala woman
An Ocala woman recently claimed a $1 million prize from a $50 scratch-off ticket that she purchased at a local convenience store. On Monday, the Florida Lottery announced that 47-year-old Jennifer Hatchett claimed a $1 million prize at the organization’s headquarters in Tallahassee on May 8. According to the...
Disabled students can use state vouchers to attend Beacon College’s pre-college programs
Beacon College is the first Central Florida college to accept school vouchers for students with disabilities to enroll in its pre-college programs. Students on the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities will now be able to enroll for free in three pre-college programs on the campus. The...
Ocala Fire Rescue puts new rescue vehicle into service
With the addition of a new rescue vehicle that went into service on Monday, Ocala Fire Rescue has now equipped all seven of its fire stations with engine and rescue units. Rescue 7 officially rolled into service on Monday, August 25, at OFR Station 7. On Friday, August 22, Station 7 welcomed the addition of the new...
Groundbreaking set this week for new $20 million Paradise Recreation Center
A groundbreaking ceremony will take place this week for the new Paradise Recreation Center on the Historic Side of The Villages. The groundbreaking will take place at 9 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 28. Villagers are encouraged to attend. In May, the Amenity Authority Committee awarded a $16.3 million contract for the...
Marion County, FL, China King faces administrative complaint after recording 15 violations
China King at 9590 SW Highway 200, Suite 9, in Ocala, Marion County, was cited for 15 total violations during a routine food inspection on August 22, 2025, by the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation. The inspection resulted in an administrative complaint recommendation and requires a follow-up...
FDOT repaints crosswalk near Pulse memorial site, SpaceX scrubs Starship test flight, and Leesburg...
Good morning, Central Florida. Here's what you need to know today. Unsettled weather resumes on Monday with a front stalled to our north, putting us in a region of ample moisture streaming across the peninsula. This will fuel occasional showers and storms, not just limited to the afternoon hours, so it's best to keep...
Ocala motorcyclist run over by SUV in fatal accident on US 441
A 66-year-old Ocala man who was fatally run over on U.S. Highway 441 after he lost control of his motorcycle on Saturday morning is at least the 16th motorcyclist killed on Marion County roadways this year. The fatal accident occurred near the intersection of U.S. Hwy 441 and NW 223rd...
Controversy forces Leesburg officials to move meeting to larger venue
Leesburg’s Monday night commission meeting has been moved from City Hall to the Venetian Gardens Center to accommodate the large crowd expected due to the controversy over the future of the city’s shuffleboard complex. The meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. The commission is considering donating that portion...
Road rager sentenced for slashing tire in parking lot in The Villages
A man has been sentenced for slashing a tire in a parking lot in The Villages as the result of a road rage encounter. John Robert Caldwell, 63, of Wildwood, pleaded no contest this past week in Sumter County Court to a charge of criminal mischief. He has been placed on probation for one year and was ordered to...
Work expected to ramp up on new Walmart Neighborhood Market
Work is expected to ramp up soon on the Walmart Neighborhood Market on County Road 466. This past week Town of Lady Lake Growth Management staffers held a pre-construction meeting with the site work contractors for the new Walmart at the corner of County Road 466 and Cherry Lake Road.
