Andy Fillmore

Two pillars of the local agricultural industry were inducted into the Marion County Agricultural Hall of Fame during a banquet on Nov. 21. Dr. Harrell Phillips, a veterinarian and cattleman, and Scott Seiler, recognized for his leadership in peanut production and the beef cattle industry, were inducted during a celebration that included videos of their […]

The mother of shooting victim Ajike “AJ” Owens said during a press conference on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, that her family has gotten some relief and is ready to heal but there's still a ways to go to get justice for her daughter “We're able to breathe now; we want to help others,” Pamela Dias […]

A 65-year-old Apopka man died and six others were transported to local hospitals with injuries following a multi-car crash on Interstate 75 in northwest Marion County on Nov. 28. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the crash occurred around 5:52 p.m. on I-75 northbound at mile marker 365, which is near the County Road 318 […]

Both drivers died after a van reportedly crossed the center line of a northeast Marion County roadway and crashed head on into a sport utility vehicle Wednesday night, December 4, 2024, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The crash occurred around 8:35 p.m. on County Road 315 near Northeast 222nd Street, according to an FHP […]

Be vigilant. That warning, given by the late Jack Edge, a former Ocala resident and survivor of the Dec. 7, 1941, surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, which drew America into World War II, was echoed at the 2024 Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day event held at the Marion County Commissioners Auditorium on Dec. 7, 2024. […]

The Ocala Jeep Club's hurricane-delayed 27th annual Jeeptoberfest, which featured a vendor event and obstacle trails to test the skills of Jeepers from novice to expert, was held Dec. 7 and 8 at the Florida Horse Park in southeast Marion County. “The event is about fun, camaraderie and giving back to charity,” said the club's […]

Grace Marketplace, a low-barrier shelter for the homeless and hungry in northeast Gainesville, claims a 47% reduction in people living on the streets of Alachua County, with many people put on the path to permanent housing. Officials say the 23-acre facility former correctional facility could serve as a model for a low-barrier shelter in Ocala/Marion […]

The Kiwanis Club of Ocala's annual Pancake Day event was held Dec. 14 at Eighth Street Elementary School in southeast Ocala. People of all ages enjoyed pancakes and sausage, along with a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus, while supporting Camp Kiwanis and other youth-focused outreaches of the club. Nick Navetta, a member of the […]

Quincy and Craig McCoy planned, like many couples, to renew their wedding vows on their 30th wedding anniversary, which was Dec. 26, 2022. But the vow renewal ceremony would have to wait. Quincy, 55, an Ocala native, was diagnosed in 2021 with triple negative stage four breast cancer and would undergo a double mastectomy and […]

An affordable housing project aimed at helping people experiencing homelessness took a major step forward on Dec. 18 when local officials took part in a groundbreaking ceremony for Mercy Village, a two-phase, 79-unit complex in northwest Ocala. The project, expected to be fully completed in about a year, will include a 59-unit apartment building backed […]