The “Black Fortress,” a 15-acre parcel in Dunnellon that’s surrounded by stacks of more than 1,500 tires, much to the annoyance of the neighbors. (Photo courtesy of Rita Gomez)
When I was growing up in Pensacola, the local radio station often ran ads for a tire repair business whose slogan was, “Tires ain’t pretty.” I thought of that simple declaration this week when I heard the story of a big fight in Dunnellon over used tire disposal.
The person who told me the story is a woman in her 70s named Rita Gomez. She lives on a 30-acre parcel of land with a horse, a herd of cattle known as Zebu, and quite a few gopher tortoises. She’s far enough out in the country that her driveway is a mile long…