81-year-old Villager walks out of jail after 26 days behind bars
An 81-year-old Villager walked out of jail this week after 26 days behind bars. Marilyn Patricia Turner, who lives in the Hydrangea Villas in the Village of St. Charles, was set free on Monday after appearing in Sumter County Court. The Kansas native was arrested Oct. 15 after she allegedly...
Crowds Keep Coming as Hooters Finds Its Groove in The Villages
When Hooters opened its doors in The Villages last July, locals lined up early and kept the parking lot full for weeks. After months of serving wings with a smile and the classic orange shorts, the initial spectacle may have waned, but popularity hasn’t. What started as a much-welcomed...
1 hospitalized after shooting in Silver Springs Shores
OCALA, Fla. (WCJB) - A man was hospitalized after a shooting in Marion County on Friday morning. Marion County Sheriff’s deputies say a man was shot around 5:45 a.m. in the area of Oak Lane and Locust Pass Trail in Silver Springs Shores. The victim was taken to the...
Precautionary law-enforcement presence at Marion high school after man shot nearby
MARION COUNTY, Fla. – There will be an increased law-enforcement presence at Lake Weir High School on Friday after a man was found shot nearby, according to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies located the man while responding around 5:45 a.m. to the area of Oak Lane and...
New Home Depot in Ocala could replace previously approved apartment complex
Home Depot wants to build a new location in southwest Ocala at a site that was previously approved for an apartment complex opposed by residents in an adjacent retirement community. A special use permit for the proposed site in southwest Ocala will come before the Marion County Board of County...
Intoxicated woman allegedly rips out elderly sister’s hair during family fracas
An Ocklawaha woman was arrested for allegedly attacking her elderly sister when it was time to take her medication and go to bed. The sister of 72-year-old Gloria Jean Bowman called 911 during a fight in their shared residence at 5:10 p.m. Wednesday, according to an arrest report from the Marion County Sheriff’s...
Suspected shoplifter riding motorized scooter flees Walmart with stolen merchandise
A suspected shoplifter riding a motorized scooter fled Walmart with stolen merchandise. An employee of Walmart, located at 2502 Citrus Blvd., was monitoring surveillance when he noticed 56-year-old Russell Kott of Ocklawaha in the sporting goods section around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 4, according to a case report...
Villager arrested after raiding refrigerator at man friend’s home
A Villager was arrested after raiding a refrigerator at a man friend’s home. Janine Renee Rapka, 47, who lives in the Village of Santo Domingo, went to a home on Aloha Way on the Historic Side of The Villages on the afternoon of Friday, Nov. 7 and rang the doorbell, according to an arrest report from the Lady Lake...
Community Mourns the Loss of SkateWorld Owner Scott Christley
The Leesburg and surrounding community is mourning the sudden passing of Scott Christley, longtime owner of SkateWorld in Leesburg and a familiar face to generations of local families. News of his death was shared by his family this morning in a social-media post that described him as a devoted husband,...
Spruce Creek South resident suspected of DUI crashes golf cart near Walmart
A resident of Spruce Creek South was arrested after crashing a golf cart near Walmart with a blood alcohol level four times the legal limit. Deputies got a call regarding 73-year-old Jane Heroux, who seemed to be intoxicated, driving a red golf cart in Summerfield at 6:10 p.m. Saturday, according to an arrest report...
