TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—The Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Office of Statewide Prosecution today announced the conviction and sentencing of Willie Marion Jenkins, a St. Petersburg heroin trafficker. OSP prosecuted the case and a Pinellas County jury found Jenkins guilty of trafficking illegal drugs and conspiracy to traffic illegal drugs. The Honorable Frank Quesada imposed a 25-year state prison sentence on the defendant. Jenkins’ conviction follows guilty pleas from four criminal associates.

In September 2014, authorities arrested Jenkins, along with associate Mary Hampton, following a several months-long investigation into the heroin distribution by Jenkins’ network of drug dealers in South St. Petersburg. The Drug Enforcement Administration and St. Petersburg Police Department conducted the investigation, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. During the investigation, law enforcement seized approximately four ounces of heroin and one firearm. [Read more…]

FREE English as a Second Language (ESL) classes at First Baptist Church of Ocala, 2801 SE Maricamp Road, Ocala, FL 34471.  Classes begin Wednesday, August 29th, and are held weekly.  All classes begin promptly at 6:00 pm, ending with conversation and refreshments at 7:15 pm. There are 3 levels of classes (beginner, intermediate and advanced) taught by loving & caring instructors.  If needed, there are fun & entertaining programs such as Awana for your children, and child care provisions are available, as well as programs for teens and adults.  Please contact the church office at (352) 629-5683 for more information.

(OCALA, Fla.) August 16, 2018 – Ocala Fire Rescue is proud to present the department’s second annual report to the community, showcasing the milestones, achievements, and progress made in the year 2017.

Molded by the dynamic nature of the fire service and its demands, Ocala Fire Rescue has continuously served this community since 1885. For more than 133 years the department has evolved to satisfy citizen’s needs. The year 2017 was no exception, in fact, it was noteworthy, marking the initiation of construction for Fire Station #7 (completed earlier this year), a rebuilding project, and improved Insurance Service Office (ISO) fire protection rating to Class 2, among other accomplishments. [Read more…]

Businesses You Can Trust

Sponsored by TomL Publishing LLC

THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING

OBL Members

Boys and Girls Club / April Savarese

Writing Nicely Karin Nicely

Yandle’s Quality Building Material / Mr & Mrs Yandle

Ocala Insurance / Riley Smith (Thanks for the Door Prize)

Edward Jones Financial Advisor / Eric Hollander [Read more…]

The Boys & Girls Club of Marion County was invited to meet and skate with Erin Jackson.

Ocala native and former Boys & Girls Club member, Erin Jackson, is a world champion inline speed skater and the first African-American woman to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Long Track Speed Skating Team. After winning 11 world championship medals and more than 45 national championships in a decorated inline skating career, Erin transitioned to the ice in 2017 to pursue her Olympic dream. Less than a year later, the 25-year-old phenom earned a spot on Team USA [Read more…]

It was a great event. Ribbon cutting celebration and open house at Brookdale Chambrel Pinecastle to  show off their facility. The Independent Living /Alzheimer’s & Dementia Care facility is one of the best. The event was well attended by residents and CEP/Ocala Chamber of Commerce members. The food was great, prepared in house. Great DJ, and staff. While I was there I shared an elevator to the second floor with a nice looking elderly lady. I asked “do you live here? She said “yes I do!” I asked “how do you like it here?” She replied “The staff here does a great job.” Pictured here are the staff, residents and visitors group dancing to music. Before it was over everyone was dancing. Great fun and I’m sure the residents loved it.

CVS has been in business since 1972 providing excellent home improvements for N Central Florida residents. Over the years, CVS has established an impeccable service record with over 68,000 home improvement projects completed and along with that, some very satisfied customers.  For over eighteen (18) consecutive years, CVS was voted the “Best of the Best” by the customers they serve. For all of your replacement windows screen enclosures, garage screen doors and many other home improvements, call Bobby at 352-425-0317 and visit www.cvswindowsfl.com.

Get AMPed for a summer of FREE concerts with the Levitt AMP Ocala Music Series! There will be free live music, good food and fun for the entire family every Friday night from June 15 to Aug. 17, 6 to 9 p.m. at Webb Field.

The Levitt AMP Ocala Music Series returns for a second year to elevate the Webb Field at the Ocala Martin Luther King Jr. Recreational Complex—an underused space located in the once-thriving neighborhood of West Ocala—capitalizing upon the momentum of the last year to build awareness of the neighborhood’s rich history and ongoing revitalization efforts, while providing a dynamic space for the community to come together.

Presented by the Marion Cultural Alliance (MCA), a nonprofit catalyst and advocate for cultural impact in the Ocala community in partnership with the City of Ocala. [Read more…]