Dunnellon
LATEST NEWS
Unexpected safety tip from Marion County could keep families connected during emergencies
OCALA, Florida - As Hurricane Milton approaches, Marion County officials have shared an unexpected safety tip to help residents stay connected even during long-term service outages. The tip involves activating the satellite messaging feature on certain smartphones.For iPhone 14 and newer models, users should ensure their phones are updated to the latest operating system, enable iMessage, and set up emergency contacts and family sharing, according to Ocala Fire Rescue. Google Pixel users with models Pixel 9 and newer can access emergency satellite features by setting Google Messages as their primary app and using the satellite option to call 911. Additionally, the Federal Communications Commission has granted permission for Starlink and T-Mobile to enable satellite texting services for Florida residents ahead of the storm. Users will know they are connected to a Starlink satellite if their phone shows one-to-two bars of signal and the network name reads "T-Mobile SpaceX."This feature is beneficial for emergency services and roadside assistance, although messages may take longer to send under these conditions, stated the source.
Some Marion residents opt to stay at a shelter
A number of Marion County residents headed for local public shelters Wednesday morning as concern about the local impact of Hurricane Milton continued. Gail Powell was one of the evacuees who came to the Lake Weir High School shelter. She brought along her cat, Greyson. “This is the first time...
Rocky Mount utility crews transition emergency response from western North Carolina to Florida
As Hurricane Milton approaches landfall, crews from North Carolina are preparing to head to Florida to assist in hurricane recovery. Some of those crews come from Rocky Mount's Department of Energy Resources. Casey Temple has been working 16-hour days restoring power in Western North Carolina. "Everybody knows what it's like...
Gentiva Ocala Metro India Fest
The free community-wide cross-cultural experience held October 5th at Citizens’ Circle in downtown Ocala, which was hosted by the Strategic Community Alliance, featured a flash-dance mob, trivia competitions, a fashion show, Indian food and beverages, art, activities for kids, and classical, folk and Bollywood dances.
It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency:
Our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. As a platform hosting over 100,000 pieces of content published daily, we cannot pre-vet content, but we strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation.