Ocala | featured news

Marion County voters recently agreed to increase the sales tax from 6 percent to 7 percent. But it will be 2018 or even 2019 before the first road is repaired, the first building is built, and the first new emergency vehicle rolls out.

An Ocala man fired from his job Wednesday for stealing from co-workers was arrested Friday by Ocala Police Department detectives and charged with breaking into his former employer’s business and removing more than $10,000 worth of electronics and a construction equipment.

A woman with prior drunken convictions was arrested late Friday by a sheriff’s deputy who found her asleep in the parking lot of a gas station and a toddler in the backseat.

Emotions were overflowing at third base at one of the baseball fields at the Ocala Rotary Sportsplex Friday night as family and friends attended a candle light vigil in memory of Gianni Fabian Garcia.

Sheriff’s detectives have arrested two men and are looking for a third in connection with a home invasion robbery that occurred last month.

An Ocala man was the victim of scam, sending more than $16,000 for a luxury car.

A one-time youth counselor who “snapped” last year was found guilty of child abuse this week after a six-person jury heard hours of testimony about his attack on a 16-year-old boy.

Laurie Whitaker, Open Arms' new executive director, said the facility's staff has learned a lot since the place opened, both about the facility's limitations and the needs of its clients. The program has grown from three clients to 12.

Thirteen candidates have submitted their names for the judicial vacancy to be left by the retiring Circuit Judge David Eddy.

Three Ocala police officers have been disciplined in connection with an off-duty incident at a local bar.
Officer Casey Walsh was suspended 30 hours, was removed from the SWAT Team, and no longer serves as a department trainer. Officers Jessica Nasworth and Derek Vitale were each slapped with 20-hour suspensions.