Senior News for Ocala, Lady Lake & The Villages
The new church year begins on Advent Sunday, December 3, 2017. Advent is the time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas. The term is a version of the Latin word “coming.”
During Advent there will be the usual Sunday worship services of 8:15 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. The service and sermons will have the message within the theme of “Moving Toward the Manager.” [Read more…]
OCALA, Fla. (Nov. 7, 2017) – The City of Ocala is accepting applications for its Housing Rehabilitation Program. This program assists low to moderate income citizens with home repairs to eliminate life, safety and health hazards.
Eligible household repairs include roof leaks, inoperable heating and air, exterior window/door replacement, electrical repairs, water/sewer connections, plumbing repairs and ADA accessibility, such as bathrooms and ramps. [Read more…]
MARION COUNTY, Florida (November 6, 2017)- At approximately 8:30 a.m., on Monday, November 6, 2017, Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) deputies responded to assist with a vehicle accident at SE 92nd Place Road and Baseline Road in Ocala. Responding deputies observed a male subject exit one of the vehicles with a firearm. The subject fled from deputies, and multiple K9 Units, Patrol Units and MCSO’s Air One responded to search the area for him.
After several hours of searching, MCSO SWAT Team members located the subject hiding in the exterior bushes of a home in Golf Park Estates, and he was armed and refusing to cooperate with SWAT team members. During this encounter, the subject was injured by an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound and was immediately transported to a local hospital. He is currently receiving medical care and is listed in critical condition. [Read more…]
OCALA, Fla. (Nov. 6, 2017) – The City of Ocala and its FEMA-approved debris management contractor, Crowder-Gulf, are continuing to collect hurricane debris in all four quadrants of the City limits following Hurricane Irma. The third and final pass for debris collection began Wednesday, Nov. 1 and will be completed by Saturday, Nov. 18. Regularly scheduled collection for yard waste, junk and debris is expected to resume Monday, Nov. 20 for City of Ocala residents. [Read more…]
This week, as a member of the President’s Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis, I voted for a comprehensive plan to better combat drug abuse in our country and save lives. Our commission unanimously approved its final report that includes 65 strategic recommendations.
I have been honored to serve on the commission and I want to thank President Donald J. Trump for his leadership on this critical public safety issue—quickly creating this commission and declaring a national public health emergency to help address the opioid crisis. [Read more…]
The City will host these auctions regularly on the second Tuesday of each month from 9 a.m. to noon at the City of Ocala complex, 2100 NE 30th Ave., near building 300. Items available at this auction may include cell phones, chairs, computers, office furniture, TVs, VCRs, DVD players or other items the City no longer has a use for. [Read more…]
MARION COUNTY, Florida (October 31, 2017)- Detectives with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office
(MCSO) Major Crimes Unit arrested South Carolina resident John David Madura (DOB: 06/28/1979) after he had sexual intercourse on multiple occasions with a 15-year old female Marion County teenager. Madura was arrested in Minneapolis, Minnesota, for Possession of Child Pornography and during that investigation, Minneapolis detectives discovered videos on Madura’s phone of him having sex with the teenager and of her posed in lewd positions. An analysis of the videos revealed that they were taken at a residence in Marion County, initiating MCSO’s investigation.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Governor Rick Scott announced four reappointments and six appointments to the Medicaid Pharmaceutical and Therapeutics Committee.
Jennifer Lalani, 56, of Windermere, is a district pharmacy manager for CVS Pharmacy. Lalani received her bachelor of pharmacy from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy. She is reappointed for a term beginning October 17, 2017, and ending June 30, 2019.
Dr. Alan Smith, 67, of Tampa, is the senior medical director for WellCare Health Plans, Inc. Dr. Smith received his doctor of medicine from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. He is reappointed for a term beginning October 17, 2017, and ending June 30, 2019.
Dr. James Zenel, 57, of Trinity, is a physician at the James A. Haley VA Hospital. Dr. Zenel received his doctor of medicine from the Georgetown University School of Medicine. He is reappointed for a term beginning October 17, 2017, and ending June 30, 2019. [Read more…]
In an effort to comfort victims of violent or sensitive crimes, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) has obtained a therapy dog to assist deputies and detectives during criminal investigations. Lily, a five year old female Beagle/Corgi mix, was rescued from a euthanasia shelter and enrolled in the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office’s “Paws & Stripes College.” During this 8-week course, the dogs learn basic obedience skills, and selected graduates move into the advanced training program to serve as PTSD dogs, therapy dogs and child victim advocate dogs. Lily graduated from the program’s Law Enforcement Investigative Therapy Dog Course and she was given to the MCSO at no cost. Since she came to the MCSO in May 2017, Lily has received full certification as a therapy dog and is out working in our community.
Lily’s handler is MCSO’s Department of Children and Families (DCF) Investigative Liaison, Detective Janeen Henley-Freeman. Detective Henley-Freeman and Lily will focus on adult and children DCF investigations, missing persons, sex crimes, child abductions and child exploitation internet crimes assisting the victims of these crimes. Our goal is for Lily to help victims feel more at ease while speaking about their situation(s).
Three of the key areas on which the CEP focuses to drive our mission is Business Attraction, Business Retention, and Business Creation. Each of these areas is equally important as we seek to be the catalyst for a more prosperous community by serving as the voice of the business community and working to create and retain jobs and provide a return on investment for our partners. Not only are they equally important, but each has had recent successes.
Business Attraction
The CEP was able to officially announce recently that Mestizo Foods had purchased the former Golden Flake facility and would be establishing their headquarters and manufacturing operations here. Mestizo is a private label and third party snack food manufacturer. In other words, you will never see their brand on the store aisle, but you may very well purchase their products when you buy store-label potato chips or other snacks. The company will be adding 200 employees over the next year and looks forward to being an active corporate citizen. [Read more…]
