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Ocala Gazette
District introduces new alternative learning plan for 2024-25 school year
Students who are expelled, suspended or require accommodations will no longer attend the two alternative learning schools in Marion County, after the district dissolved the sites and instituted a new alternative learning plan. The district’s previous alternative learning schools, New Leaf and Silver River Mentoring & Instruction, were dissolved over the summer after the expiration […]
RELIGIOUS COLUMN: Writing a novel with first-hand experience
After spending 30 years in the newspaper industry, I retired and started writing novels. The truth is, works of fiction also require a certain amount of factual information. Most of my written projects involve about 60% research and 40% writing. This point brings me to my current project, my 11th novel, “The Shepherd’s Walk; from […]
Gentry wins Republican nomination for Florida House District 27
Richard Gentry won the Republican nomination for Florida House of Representatives District 27 in the primary election and will be the candidate to face Democrat Andy Ferrari and Libertarian Dennis Simpson in the general election in November. Throughout the district, which encompasses parts of Lake, Marion, and Volusia Counties, Gentry received 6,331 votes, while opponents […]
Daly wins Circuit Court Judge seat 7
Erin Daly wins Group 7 Circuit Court seat, currently assigned to Hernando County, with 142,175 votes to Derek Saltsman’s 60,819. The judicial race was nonpartisan and all voters in the 5th judicial circuit had the choice on their ballot. The 5th judicial circuit consists of Marion, Sumter, Lake, Citrus, and Hernando counties. This is a […]
Davis to retain circuit court seat 13
Incumbent Judge Heidi Davis won another term serving in circuit seat 13 against challenger Zack McCormick- 125,496 votes to 79,041. This judicial seat is currently assigned to Lake County. The judicial race was nonpartisan and all voters in the 5th judicial circuit had the choice on their ballot. The 5th judicial circuit consists of Marion, […]
Marion County will get new circuit judge
Marion County resident, Barbara Kissner Kwatkosky defeated Ben Boylston for Group 20 Circuit Judge seat 105,690 votes to 97,737. Her term will begin Jan. 1 upon the retirement of Judge Gary Sanders at the end of the year. The judicial race was nonpartisan and all voters in the 5th judicial circuit had the choice on […]
State offers school chaplain guidelines
The Florida Department of Education on Tuesday issued what it described as a “model policy” to help school districts carry out a controversial new law that allows volunteer school chaplains. Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. said in a statement the model policy provides guidelines “to ensure that credible chaplains can volunteer in Florida’s schools.” Gov. […]
Woods wins reelection for Marion County Sheriff
Billy Woods has been reelected as sheriff after defeating Republican opponent Milton Busby in the 2024 primary election. Woods received 44,763 votes, while Busby received 14,620. Woods was first elected in 2016, then reelected in 2020. He ran unopposed in the 2020 election. He earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice administration and business management […]
Campbell wins reelection to Marion County School Board
Allison Campbell has been reelected to represent District 1 on the Marion County School Board after defeating challenger Beth McCall. Campbell received 29,836 votes, while McCall received 26,770. Campbell has served on the school board since she was first elected in 2020. Campbell has three children enrolled in Marion County Public Schools. She earned her […]
Curry wins a second term as District 1 Commissioner
Marion County Commissioner Craig Curry defeated Sarah Almeida Dennis in the primary election, 33,589 votes to 22,072. Curry congratulated Dennis on her good turnout. “She worked hard, her family worked hard, and she had a really good showing.” Since both candidates are Republican, and there was no write-in candidate, all registered Marion County voters had […]
McClain wins the District 3 primary election
Marion County Commissioner Matthew McClain defeated David Blackwell in the primary election to retain the district 3 seat he was appointed to by Gov. Ron DeSantis last September. Because there is a write-in candidate, Rich Brown, the primary race was decided only by Marion County registered Republicans. 26,778 voted for McClain, 8,512 voted for Blackwell. […]
Election websites down in Marion, multiple other counties
The Marion County Elections website is down, along with other elections websites in several counties, as the polls close and results begin to come in for the Primary Election on Tuesday. As of 7:30 p.m., users reported trouble accessing votemarion.com. “About 60 Supervisor of Elections offices all use the same...
This time, the patient saves the clinic
Patients and staff at Citra Family Health were teary-eyed on June 13 as the clinic prepared to shutter after a 30-year run. But just hours before the owners were to close the doors, longtime patient and local resident Al Goodman stepped up and bought the clinic business, allowing the healthcare provider to remain open. Goodman […]
Community members, neighbors respond following jury trial
The guilty verdict on Aug. 16 in the shooting death of 35-year-old mother of four Ajike “AJ” Owens in southwest Marion County by then 58-year-old Susan Lorincz took less than two hours of jury deliberations but capped 14 months of emotionally charged discussion about the case. Although four additional charges were dropped or not pursued, […]
July jobless rate up slightly
The jobless rate in the CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion region was 4.9% in July, up 0.4 percentage point over the month and 0.9 percentage point greater than the region’s 2023 rate of 4.1%. The labor force was 219,011, virtually unchanged over the year. There were 10,831 unemployed residents in the region, an increase of 887 compared […]
Dunnellon man dies, passenger injured in single-vehicle crash
A 61-year-old Dunnellon man died as the result of a single-car crash in Levy County on the afternoon of Aug. 18, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The crash occurred around 3:50 p.m. as the sedan driven by the victim traveled east on Highway 40 at Southeast 115th Avenue. “While attempting to negotiate a left […]
County offers free adoptions of shelter animals
Marion County Animal Services is reporting that the shelter is at critical capacity with more than 292 puppies/dogs and 300 kittens/cats in its care. Through Sept. 10, the organization is offering free adoptions for all canines, felines and other animals. The endeavor is part of the Clear the Shelters nationwide...
NONPROFITS IN THE NEWS: Rotary Club of IMPACT Ocala is chartered with 12 members
The Rotary Club of IMPACT Ocala officially chartered on Aug. 13 with a dinner event to welcome 12 new chapter members into the Rotary International family. The Rotary Club of IMPACT Ocala is a service-driven organization dedicated to making a significant impact through small-scale, manageable service projects that collectively bring about meaningful change in the […]
Have your voice heard: Serve on a government advisory board
As a citizen, taxpayer and voter, it can sometimes feel like government moves along without you. But, in addition to contacting your board and council members, you can also have a voice in local government by helping out on a volunteer board. Maybe you’re an expert in commercial real estate; maybe you know a lot […]
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