On September 7, you can try your hand at saltwater fishing without needing a saltwater fishing license.
“License-free fishing days are a great way for Florida residents and visitors to get out on the water and find out why Florida is known as the Fishing Capital of the World,” a spokesperson for Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said.
This day is part of eight total license-free fishing days the (FWC) offers each year.
The saltwater waiver applies to any recreational harvest requiring a saltwater fishing license (e.g., crabbing, lobstering, scalloping, etc.) as well as fishing from shore or a boat. A snook or spiny lobster permit is also not required on these days.
Please keep in mind that all bag limits, closed areas, and size restrictions apply on these dates.
Fort McCoy First Baptist Church and FreeD.O.M. Clinic USA present free dental and vision event
The free clinic will be held on Saturday, September 14. Free tickets will be handed out the day before the event, on Friday, September 13, at 6 p.m. at the Fort McCoy First Baptist Church, located at 11350 E. Hwy 316, Fort McCoy.
Those who want a ticket should arrive early.
The purpose is to serve the uninsured, under-insured, homeless, and low-income residents of the community.
For more information, visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/freedomclinicusa/ or email info@freedomclinicusa.org.
If you would like to volunteer your services to help those in need, please visit www.freedomclinicusa.org.
Ocala Post is a proud sponsor of FreeD.O.M. Clinic USA.
Actual photo of snake- Florida cottonmouth, a.k.a water moccasin, a.k.a viper
With so much rain and rising water comes Florida nature.
Imagine finding a cottonmouth, a.k.a water moccasin, a.k.a viper, right outside the door of your home.
Well, on Tuesday, that is exactly what happened to one woman and her little boy.
At first, her little boy thought it was a black snake. However, when the mother looked closer, she said she immediately knew that it wasn’t.
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Actual photo of snake- Florida cottonmouth, a.k.a water moccasin, a.k.a viper (venomous)
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says this sort of thing is not uncommon during the rainy season, especially if you live near a lake, pond, river, or marshy area prone to flooding.
Although its aggression has been exaggerated through storytelling, a cottonmouth, which is a species of pit viper, can deliver a painful, and on rare occasion, fatal bite if threatened.
The cottonmouth is also the only semiaquatic snake in the viper family.
According to FWC, humans are rarely bitten, but if they are, it is typically because the snake was being mishandled.
Officials say that if you have small children and live in a wooded or marshy area that, you should teach your child snake safety and identification. If you as a parent are scared of snakes or do not wish to teach your child how to identify a venomous snake, then teach them to leave all snakes alone. Children can be curious, and though rare, Children’s Hospital says snakebites in small children do occur. Majority of bites occur when children play in a wooded area, are barefooted during snake season, or blindly reach into rocky areas or where wood is stored.
Unlike the rattlesnake, the cottonmouth typically slithers away from danger and will only strike when it is cornered and feels like it cannot escape.
The cottonmouth is a venomous snake, unlike the banded water snake, which is oftentimes mistaken for a cottonmouth and killed. The banded water snake, when threatened, will flatten its body and head, giving it the appearance of a viper, therefore scaring off predators. However, the menacing look the snake gives to warn off predators is the same reason humans often mistake it for a cottonmouth — that and the very similar colors and body markings.
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Banded water snake (non-venomous)
The banded water snake, while very similar in appearance to the cottonmouth, has rounded pupils and lacks the heat-sensing pits on its face. The cottonmouth has cat-eye like pupils, almost evil looking some say.
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Young cottonmouth snakes have striking patterns that fade with age. (Image credit: Leighton Photography & Imaging Shutterstock )
The juvenile cottonmouth also looks completely different from an adult. The juvenile has sometimes been mistaken for a corn snake or northern watersnake due to its brighter colors. The bright colors and yellow-tipped tail of a juvenile cottonmouth disappear as it gets older.
For more on identifying snakes, you can visit the Florida Museum.
The woman and the boy were not harmed during the encounter.
Ocala — Brick City Southern Kitchen & Whiskey Bar, located at 10 South Magnolia Avenue, was immediately shut down after an emergency order was issued on August 20, following a complaint inspection. The restaurant was allowed to reopen within 24-hours but will need a follow-up inspection after a time extension was given.
The Department of Business and Professional Regulation cites violations of Florida’s sanitation and safety laws, which are based on the standards of U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Food Code. High Priority violations are those which could contribute directly to a food-borne illness or injury and include items such as cooking, reheating, cooling and hand-washing.
Many of the offenses were repeat violations.
Violations:
A build-up of food debris, dust or dirt on nonfood-contact surface. Exterior of reach in drawer units near gaskets on cookline. The exterior of ice machine near a fountain machine.
Building components, attachments or fixtures in poor repair. A build-up of soil/debris on the floor under all reach-in units at the bar area and under reach in ice cream freezer. A build-up of dust on a wall in ware wash area. A build-up of dust on air vents throughout the kitchen. Also, the floor in disrepair throughout kitchen causing divots to retain standing water, throughout the kitchen. Also, the wall in smoker room has several holes due to screens missing, the ceiling in front of walk-in cooler is in disrepair and has a hole and light shield missing in the ware wash area.
Dead roaches on-premises. In the kitchen under prep table containing soup: One dead roach in a bin containing single service containers in a plastic pan. One dead roach near the door of Ice cream freezer in server pass thru. Five dead roaches on the floor under flour bin and reach in ice cream freezer in server pass thru.
Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried – wet nesting. Several pans on clean dish shelf.
Old labels stuck to food containers after cleaning. On several pans in clean dish area.
Live, small flying insects in the kitchen, food preparation area, or food storage area. Six live flys throughout the kitchen area.
Potentially hazardous (time/temperature control for safety) food identified in the written procedure as a food held using time as a public health control has no time marking. Onions on cook line from 11:00 with no time mark. Added.
Rodent activity present as evidenced by rodent droppings found. Eight rodent droppings on a table containing towels, disposable gloves, plastic wrap and pan next to the smoker in the back room containing smoker.
Accumulation of food debris/grease and/or mold-like substance on food-contact surface. Interior of reach-in freezer in prep area has food debris. Interior of the ice machine in kitchen has mold-like substance.
Commercially processed ready-to-eat, potentially hazardous (time/temperature control for safety) food opened and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked after opening. Hot dogs in reach-in cooler have no date mark. Date was added from pan in walk-in cooler.
No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. Sink in bar area. Placed towels near sink.
Carlos Eduardo Hampton, 22, Jonathan Arthur Floyd, 21, and Qwintin E. Augustus, 18
Detectives with the Ocala Police Department obtained arrest warrants for three thieves who broke into the Rural King, located at at 2999 NW Blitchton Road, on July 25. The Break-in occurred just before midnight.
Carlos Eduardo Hampton, 22, Jonathan Arthur Floyd, 21, and Qwintin E. Augustus, 18, are the three suspects named in the warrants. They are currently being held at the Pasco County Jail on other felony charges.
According to police, during the break-in, three males stole several firearms. Only one of the guns have been recovered.
An employee told police that someone broke into the store and went straight for the gun case, smashed the glass, and removed several handguns.
During the burglary, the employee saw someone running, but said they were not able to catch the thief.
The thieves are suspected of breaking into other Rural Kings throughout Florida.
A fourth suspect is on the run.
The three arrested face charges in Marion County of Criminal Mischief, Grand Theft, Grand Theft of a Firearm, and Armed Burglary.
If you have any information about the burglary or related burglaries, you are urged to call the Ocala Police Department at 352-369-7000, Crime Stoppers at 368-STOP, or text 274637 using keyword 368-STOP. Tipsters can also visit www.ocalacrimestoppers.com. Anonymity is guaranteed.
Motorists traveling in Marion County will experience the following lane closures:
On August 24 and 25, Northwest/Northeast 35th Street, between the intersections of North U.S. Highway 441/301 and West Anthony Road, will be temporarily closed due to the installation of storm crossings across the roadway near U.S. Highway 441.
Crews will place barricades, signage, and have flaggers to direct traffic through detours and the work zone while work is being performed at the following locations:
– North U.S. Highway 441 and Northwest 35th Street
– North U.S. Highway 441 and West Anthony Road
– Northwest 35th Street and Northwest Second Avenue
– West Anthony Road and Northwest 42nd Street
– Northeast 35th Street and Northeast Jacksonville Road
– North U.S. Highway 441 and Northwest 28th Street
Many of the aforementioned areas have a lot of traffic in the mornings. Drivers should plan accordingly. Drivers should expect delays and are encouraged to use alternate routes, when possible.
Work will primarily be during daytime hours.
Please note that construction schedules may change due to weather or other circumstances, and if this happens, the closure may be rescheduled.
Officials ask that all drivers remember to yield to roadside workers and obey posted speed limits. Speeding fines are doubled in a construction zone.
Shortly after 9 p.m., Wednesday, August 21, 2019, Citrus County Sheriff Mike Prendergast was involved in a vehicle crash in Hernando County.
Sheriff Prendergast was traveling north on U.S. Highway 19 in his agency vehicle returning home from a board meeting with the Sheriff’s Ranches Enterprises, Inc.
“While traveling north on US Hwy 19 just north of Weeki Wachee, a pedestrian attempted to cross the roadway and entered the outside traffic lane where Sheriff Prendergast was traveling,” the CCSO said in a statement.
The pedestrian, identified as 59-year-old Ronnie Anthony Heath, was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Prendergast submitted to a blood alcohol test, including a blood draw.
Troopers say Prendergast cooperated fully.
The CCSO says that alcohol was not a factor in this incident.
Officials say that the sheriff is “pretty shaken up” about the incident.
In an email, the CCSO wrote, “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the pedestrian during this difficult time.”
The recreational harvest season for snook starts Sept. 1 statewide, with the exception of state waters from the Pasco-Hernando county line south to Gordon Pass in Collier County. These waters remain closed to harvest due to impacts from a severe red tide in 2018.
Unique to the region, snook is one of the many reasons Florida is the Fishing Capital of the World.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) encourages anglers to use proper handling methods when releasing snook to help ensure the fish’s survival and the species’ abundance for anglers today and generations to come.
A snook permit, as well as a recreational saltwater license, is required to harvest snook unless the angler is exempt from the recreational license requirements.
Researchers ask anglers who harvest the fish to save their filleted carcasses and provide them to the FWC by dropping them off at a participating bait and tackle store. For the county-by-county list, go to MyFWC.com/Research and click on “Saltwater,” then “Snook” and “Snook Anglers Asked to Help with Research.”
These carcasses provide biological data, including the size, age, maturity and sex of the catch. This information is important to the FWC in completing stock assessments.
Beginning today through August 22, 2019, the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) joins its southeastern law enforcement partners to participate in the Operation Safe DRIVE (Distracted Reckless Impaired Visibility Enforcement) safety campaign.
Officials say that the Operation Safe DRIVE campaign is a high visibility, education, and enforcement initiative designed to deter behaviors that contribute to commercial and non-commercial motor vehicle crashes.
“As Florida’s children return to school, it’s imperative to share the road safely and avoid driving behaviors that place anyone on our roads in danger,” said Colonel Gene S. Spaulding, Director of the Florida Highway Patrol. “FHP Troopers will be highly visible during the three-day Operation Safe DRIVE initiative to educate and enforce aggressive, distracted and impaired driving on I-95, I-75, and I-10.”
Operation Safe DRIVE enforcement efforts will be focused on driver behaviors that include: aggressive driving, unlawful speed, following too close, improper passing/lane change, failing to move-over, failing to wear a safety belt, distracted driving, driving under the influence and hours of service violations.
Motorists should protect themselves and their passengers by learning how to share the road safely. FHP offers these tips for driving around large trucks:
•Stay out of the “No Zone.” Be aware that large trucks have large blind spots, also known as “No Zones.”
•Pass trucks with caution. Pass on the left side for maximum visibility and maintain a constant speed.
•Use extra caution around trucks. Be sure to leave plenty of room when you pull in front of a truck. Large trucks can’t stop as quickly as smaller vehicles.
•Practice patience around larger vehicles that are not traveling at the same speed as your vehicle.
•Exercise additional caution around school buses as children return to school.
•Report aggressive or dangerous driving by dialing *FHP (*347) or 911.
Ocala, Florida — A driver was transported to a local hospital Tuesday following a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of SE Fort King Street and SE 36th Avenue.
According to reports, Ocala Fire Rescue crews were dispatched to a motor vehicle accident with rollover at approximately 9:53 a.m.
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Engine 2, Rescue 2, and Battalion Chief 11 arrived to find a white Jeep SUV resting on its side on the grass. A second vehicle, an orange KIA, was upright in the middle of the intersection.
Engine crews assessed and secured the scene while medics worked on preparing the driver of the Jeep, who was outside of the vehicle, for transport.
The driver of the KIA had no injuries to report.
The accident is being investigated by the Ocala Police Department.
On Sunday, August 18, just before midnight, a deputy responded to a home on Orday Road in Sebring after a 911 hang-up.
The Highlands County Sheriff’s Office says hang-ups are common.
However, none of them make the cut when it comes to being memorable…until now.
When the deputy arrived, he was greeted by Gary Van Ryswyk, 74.
What he told the deputy was “nuts.”
Van Ryswyk stated that he had just performed a castration on a man, but unfortunately, he dropped the ball.
Inside the home, the Deputy found the man on a bed bleeding heavily from his groin, which was covered by a towel.
According to reports, the room was set up like a surgical center with medical equipment, painkillers, and a camera to record the procedure.
Next to the bed was a glass jar, and inside the jar was the man’s testicles.
The victim was immediately transported to a local hospital. He then had to be airlifted to a more equipped medical center.
The sheriff’s office says that the man is listed in stable condition.
Van Ryswyk told deputies that he had performed a similar procedure on a man in a motel a few years ago. He said he dropped the ball on that one, too. He could not remember the other man’s name. Van Ryswyk says [that] man went to the hospital, but law enforcement was never notified.
Van Ryswyk told deputies he had met this last victim on a website (http://eunuch.org/) on the dark web. The website is for people who have a fetish for castration.
Van Ryswyk told the victim that he had successfully experimented on animals and that, he had even successfully removed one of his own testicles in 2012.
According to the arrest affidavit, Van Ryswyk tried to perform the procedure on the victim a week earlier, however, when he attempted to sanitize the man’s genitals, “something came up.” He said the man immediately ejaculated and the procedure had to be delayed.
Van Ryswyk was arrested Monday by the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office and charged with Practicing Medicine without a License Resulting in Bodily Injury, which is a second-degree felony.
His bond was set at $250,000.
Anyone who has information about Van Ryswyk is asked to call Det. Roger St. Laurent at 863-402-7250 or email detectives@highlandssheriff.com. Tips can also be left anonymously on the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office app or through Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS or www.heartlandcrimestoppers.com.
A 15-year-old student from Seabreeze High School in Daytona Beach, Florida was arrested after posting a comment on the video game chat platform, Discord.
The boy, who was using a fake name, told gamers, “I Dalton Barnhart vow to bring my fathers m15 to school and kill 7 people at a minimum.”
The teen’s username on Discord was FalconWarrior920. His comment concerned other players and it was relayed to the FBI, who in turn contacted the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office.
Investigators used the boy’s IP address and contacted the internet service provider who then provided the address related to the IP address. They were able to trace him to a home in Holly Hill.
The boy admitted to making the comments but says he was only joking.
His family said there is a gun at the home but he does not have access to it.
“Joke or not, these types of comments are felonies under the law. After the mass violence we’ve seen in Florida and across the country, law enforcement officers have a responsibility to investigate and charge those who choose to make these types of threatening statements,” said Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood.
Online gamers had mixed emotions about the arrest. Some even went as far as offering IP blockers to other gamers to protect their privacy.
“Sometimes we talk sh*t when gaming,” one gamer wrote to The Daily. “Just because we talk smack and sometimes make off the wall or less than colorful comments does not mean our every conversation should be tracked. I understand recent events have everyone on edge, but not every gamer who makes comments about shooting someone is a killer. I like my privacy and I fully intend on using a VPN with IP blocker from now on.”
The mother of the child is angry that her son was arrested.
She said, “But he’s just a boy.”
Many parents have come to the boy’s defense and do not feel he should have been arrested.
The boy was arrested and taken to a juvenile detention facility.
Orlando, Florida – ESPN’s College GameDay football pregame show will be taped live at Disney’s Magic Kingdom for the University of Miami vs. University of Florida game.
According to the press release, College GameDay will take place from 9 a.m. to noon from the elevated train station on Main Street, U.S.A.
Fans who have already heard about the rules Disney has dictated have turned to social media in disgust, citing that Disney is taking all of the fun out of the game.
John Mullins, wrote, “How boring. Are we supposed to sit with our hands crossed and in silence? Flags, banners, and signs have ALWAYS been a part of gameday. How completely ridiculous.”
Thousand of fans say that signs are one of the most spectacular and memorable sights of College GameDay, however, Disney has banned flags, banners, signs, megaphones, whistles, and any other noisemaker.
Here is a list of just a few of the prohibited items listed on Dinsey’s website:
Horns, whistles, large megaphones or artificial noisemakers.
Strollers that are greater than 31″ (79 cm) in width and 52″ (132 cm) in length. Stroller wagons are also prohibited.
Wagons are prohibited at any theme park or water park. Wagons are prohibited at indoor venues at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.
Suitcases, bags, coolers or backpacks, with or without wheels, larger than 24″ long x 15″ wide x 18″ high (61 cm x 38 cm x 46 cm) are not allowed in any theme park or water park. Loose or dry ice is not permitted in these containers. Re-usable ice packs are recommended.
Folding chairs are not allowed in any theme park, water park or Disney Springs.
Selfie sticks, hand-held extension poles for cameras or mobile devices, flags and banners are not allowed in any theme park or water park.
Tripods or monopod stands that cannot fit inside a standard backpack or that extend over 6’ (182 cm) are not allowed in theme parks, water parks, Disney Springs or ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.
Balloons and plastic straws are not permitted at water parks, Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park or Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge (Kidani Village and Jambo House)
Balloons are also not permitted near the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.
Photography, videotaping or recording of any kind, or otherwise engaging in any activity, for unapproved commercial purposes.
Unauthorized events, speeches, or use of any flag, banner, sign or other material for commercial purposes, or as part of a demonstration.
We reserve the right to prohibit the use or storage of any other item not listed above that we determine may be harmful or disruptive, in our sole and absolute discretion.
In February, an Ocala police officer responded to Mesa De Notte restaurant, located at 2436 E. Silver Springs Boulevard, in reference to a theft.
According to the arrest affidavit, the owner said his accountant, Steven Cabrera, 37, stole a check in the amount of $36,812. The owner said he gave Cabrera a few weeks to repay the money, and when he didn’t, he called the police.
Bank surveillance showed Cabrera depositing the check into an account that did not belong to the restaurant.
Cabrera was arrested and booked into the Marion County Jail on April 5.
According to booking records, he was released later the same day.
On Friday, Cabrera pleaded guilty. Circuit Judge Steven Rogers withheld adjudication of guilt and Cabrera and was sentenced to four years probation and 100 hours of community service.
Additionally, Cabrera will be required to pay restitution and was ordered to stay away from the victim and his restaurant.
Had Cabrera received the maximum sentence, he was looking at 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
He was the accountant for the restaurant for nearly 10 years.
Cabrera has also been accused of scamming tenants out of thousands of dollars after he rented homes to individuals which were already in foreclosure.
Cabrera has not been charged with any other crimes at this time.
A mother, over Facebook, started a rumor that a student had not been suspended from school after making threats.
The mom claimed that a student had threated to shoot up Inverness Primary School and that, officials ignored the situation. The mother got everyone on the Facebook post in an uproar and caused many to feel and express unnecessary anger.
The attention-seeking mother could not have been more wrong.
The threats were actually made by Ryan Scott Connell, an inmate at the Citrus County Detention Facility.
This inmate was in custody at the time of the threats, therefore, officials say he is not a threat to the public and is not capable of carrying out his threats.
Connell has made threats to schools in the past and has been labeled by psychologists as “psychotic.”
He has threatened to do harm to children. During a court-ordered DUI class, Connell stated that he gets so angry sometimes that he could shoot up a school.
Connell’s father has told investigators that his sone has “extreme anger” issues and that, he is bipolar but refuses to take medication.
Because of his statements toward school, and due to the fact that Citrus High School teachers thought they had seen him on campus, he has been banned from all school grounds.
On luly 31, it was determined that Collell had failed a drug test and violated the terms of his probation. As he was being escorted out of the courtroom he stated that “people would pay.” While in transport to the detention facility, Connell stated, “I am going to come kill everyone at Inverness Primary School. I am going to fu**ing shoot everyone.”
Reports also state that as the transport van was driving past CHS, Connell stated that he wanted to drive a truck through the fence and kill all of the children on the playground.
The CCSO said that Connell is in custody and not a threat at this time — he is being held without bond. They said, if, when he is released, he will be monitored very closely.
The mother’s Facebook post has since been deleted.
Daytona Beach, Florida — A Daytona Beach man has been charged with making threats to commit a mass shooting after the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office was alerted to text messages in which the suspect detailed plans to shoot as many people as he could in a large crowd.
Tristan Scott Wix, 25, at Botefuhr Avenue, Daytona Beach, was arrested Friday after sending several concerning text messages.
The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office provided Ocala Post with some of those texts.
“A school is a weak target.. id be more likely to open fire on a large crowd of people from over 3 miles away.. I’d wanna break a world record for longest confirmed kill ever.”
“I wanna open fire on a large crowd of people from over 3 miles away before I die and I need a spotter (laughing cry face emoji)”
“What you wanna do after the fact, is your own business, if you want to plan to escape we can work on that. But I don’t intend on walking away alive, unless I see it fit.”
“But a good 100 kills would be nice. I already have a location (laughing cry face emoji) is that bad?”
“Ah well even if you told someone, me saying I wanna do it and think about it is not the same as actually doing it lol. Was kinda hoping someone would come into my life worth not doing it for, for the sake of all those people (laughing cry face emoji). I’m not crazy I just wanna die and I wanna have fun doing it, but I’m the most patient person in the world.”
Sheriff’s detectives and members of the Volusia County Crime Center worked with members of the New Smyrna Beach Police Department, Daytona Beach Shores Department of Public Safety, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to track down Wix.
He was located in a Winn-Dixie parking lot in Daytona Beach Shores.
Wix was taken into custody by Shores officers and the Volusia County sheriff’s detectives transported him to the Volusia Sheriff’s Operations Center for an interview.
Wix told detectives he does not own any firearms but is “fascinated with mass shootings.”
Sheriff’s detectives are in the process of obtaining a search warrant for Wix’s residence.
Wix was taken to the Volusia County Branch Jail, where he’s being held without bond.
Investigators said Wix does not claim to be a white supremacist or be politically motivated.
Wix is simply fixated on shooting people.
Information on this investigation is still coming in.
Marion County — Recently, there has been outrage on social media aimed toward the Florida Department of Health in Marion County for providing press releases to the media regarding restaurant employees who were infected with hepatitis A.
Ocala Post spoke with the health department to clarify some of the misinformation and false speculations being spread via Facebook.
First and foremost, the health department says they did not single out a specific restaurant. Officials say they follow the same procedures in every situation and that, the procedures clearly work and prevent hepatitis A from spreading from person to person, or employee to patron.
Secondly, the rumor that more than 50 restaurants in Marion County had infected employees, was, in fact, a rumor.
The following is the response from the county health department in its entirety.
To answer the public’s concerns:
The Florida Department of Health in Marion County has had 113 cases of hepatitis A in since January 1, and less than 4% of all individuals diagnosed with hepatitis A worked in the foodservice industry.
How the whole process works:
Within one day of a case of hepatitis A being reported to the Department of Health (DOH), a county health department epidemiologist interviews the affected individual to determine: the onset of illness, travel exposures, occupation, food history, housing, recent incarceration, use of drugs, social and environmental behaviors, and medical information.
Any time someone identifies his/her occupation as being a food service employee, the county health department investigator conducts a joint unannounced assessment of the facility with the regulatory agency of that establishment (Department of Business and Professional Regulation if it is a restaurant, Agriculture and Consumer Services if it is a grocery store). These protocols for investigating hepatitis A cases are based on the national standards from the FDA and the CDC.
During the joint assessment, the team reviews the roles that the food employee had in the facility, work schedule, hand hygiene practices if there is bare hand contact with ready to eat foods, illness policy of the facility, and previous inspection results from the appropriate regulatory agency. Per national (Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices) recommendations, close contacts of the infected case, including other food workers, are offered the hepatitis A vaccine.
If these criteria are not met, and/or the food employee was symptomatic while working, there may be a potential risk to public health. In these instances, the DOH provides timely recommendations for vaccination to protect those who might have been exposed. This may result in the DOH issuing a patron notification. If these conditions are met, there is little to no risk of exposure, and no patron notification is issued.
Patron notifications are vital to preventing the spread of hepatitis A and are only issued when necessary, as determined by these protocols. To prevent exposed individuals from contracting hepatitis A, the hepatitis A vaccine can be administered up to two weeks after exposure.
To date, the DOH has not identified a single case of hepatitis A transmission from a food worker to a restaurant customer in the state of Florida. This very low risk is because the process for patron notifications is so effective. Additionally, the sanitary protocols and policies that restaurants are required to follow (such as handwashing, glove use, sick policies, etc.) are designed to prevent the spread of any disease or infection, including hepatitis A.
The most important action that individuals can take to prevent hepatitis A is proper handwashing (20 seconds with soap and water) after using the restroom and before eating. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are not effective against the hepatitis A virus. Anyone who may be at risk of contracting hepatitis A, such as individuals experiencing homelessness or illicit drug users, should be vaccinated. Individuals with liver disease or those over 60 years of age with an underlying medical condition should speak with their health care provider about receiving the hepatitis A vaccine.
The Department of Health in Marion County continues to offer the vaccine for free Monday – Friday during normal business hours.
Charlie Horse Restaurant & Lounge, located at 2426 E Silver Springs Blvd, Ocala, is up for sale.
What would it take to buy the recently troubled restaurant? A whopping $799,000, according to Transworld Business Advisors, who is listed as the brokers on the listing.
The listing states, “Established 24 years, this owner is ready to slow down!”
The restaurant was established in 1983.
The restaurant has recently been the center of health issues.
In March of 2019, Ocala Post reported that the restaurant was closed down for roach activity, and they were not just shut down for one or two roaches. The health inspector noted that there were more than 30 live roaches near the bar and dead roaches in the chemical room and freezer.
That employee, who cannot be named, was vaccinated. A short time later, the owner of Charlie Horse announced that all current and future employees would have to be vaccinated.
The restaurant was inspected again on July 10, July 24, August 6, and August 7 following several complaints.
The health inspector noted several concerning, high priority health code violations, many of which were the same repeat violations from the March inspection.
July 10:
High Priority – Employee touched soiled surface and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. On cookline Male employee wiped face, wiped apron touched dirty towel without washing hands several times. Also, male employee touched raw beef and continued to work with food. Also, male employee washed hands with cold water and did not use soap to wash hands. Stopped multiple times by inspectors and told to wash hands.
High Priority – Potentially hazardous (time/temperature control for safety) food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. On cookline in ice: Dressing 62°. Spread cups in ice to bring the temperature down. In reach-in cooler on cookline: cheese 57°. Tomatoes 48-49°. All moved to different units.
High Priority – Raw animal food stored over or with ready-to-eat food in reach-in freezer – not all products commercially packaged. In the walk-in freezer: bags of portioned raw beef stored over ham and vegetables. In the reach-in freezer at cookline: raw chicken portions stored over raw fish portions. All moved.
High Priority – Stop Sale issued due to food not being in a wholesome, sound condition. Ice bin at bar area has soda gun-running thru it. Also, half and half had a date mark of 7/2/19 exceeding 7 days.
July 24:
High priority – Male employee did not wash his hands, continued to touch raw food after wiping his face with his hand.
August 6:
The build-up of food debris, dust or dirt on nonfood-contact surface. Hood filters on cookline are soiled. Around doors of reach-in cooler soiled.
High Priority – Clean, single-use gloves not handled in a sanitary manner. Container labeled “Fred’s gloves” has used gloves inside. Also, the male employee attempted to wash and reuse single-use gloves. Inspector coached manager and employee on proper handling of single-use gloves.
No conspicuously located ambient air temperature thermometer in holding unit. In the reach-in unit at cookline.
Wiping cloth chlorine sanitizing solution, not at proper minimum strength. Zero ppm on cookline.
High Priority – Employee handled soiled dishes or utensils and then handled clean dishes or utensils without washing hands. Male employee touched raw beef and continued to work with food. Male employee wiped clothes and continued to work with food. Male employee washed hands with cold water. Male employee began washing gloved hands. All had to be corrected by the inspector. Employee then properly washed his hands.
High Priority – Potentially hazardous (time/temperature control for safety) food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. In reach-in cooler on cookline: tomatoes 45°, 47°, 48°. Potato salad 45°. Slaw 46°. TCS food was placed in a unit within the hour. Unit is at an ambient temperature of 50°, all items were placed on TPHC or moved to a different unit.
Commercially processed ready-to-eat, potentially hazardous (time/temperature control for safety) food opened and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked after opening. In reach-in cooler, cheesecake has no date mark.
Reach-in cooler not maintained in good repair. Do not store potentially hazardous (time/temperature control for safety) food in this unit until the unit is repaired. Unit on cookline is at an ambient temperature of 50°.
August 7:
From initial inspection: Build-up of food debris, dust or dirt on nonfood-contact surface. Hood filters on cookline are soiled. Around doors of reach-in cooler soiled. **Repeat Violation** – From follow-up inspection 2019-08-07: No change. **Time Extended**
From initial inspection: Intermediate – Reach-in cooler not maintained in good repair. Do not store potentially hazardous (time/temperature control for safety) food in this unit until the unit is repaired. Unit on cookline is at an ambient temperature of 50°. – From follow-up inspection 2019-08-07: No change. **Time Extended**
Rumors about the restaurant closing its doors on August 16, circulated on social media this week. The owner has since stated that the business is not closing.
The restaurant is scheduled to be inspected again sometime this month.
Christopher James Jr – Photo submitted to Ocala Post
Family and friends say that they are still mourning the death of Christopher James Jr. and want answers as to why he was shot and killed on August 7.
A friend of the family, who respectfully requested not to be named, told Ocala Post that James was well-liked in the community. She also said that the family was greatly offended, and disappointed at how other media outlets handled the reporting of the shooting.
“[Christopher] was a good friend and a friend to the community,” she said.
Ocala Police Department detectives are still looking for information in regards to the fatal shooting.
Police said the call came in at approximately 10:45 p.m. Wednesday, August 7.
The shooting took place at Hope Villas apartments, located at 830 Northeast 28th Street.
Upon arrival, police found the body of a man, later identified as 23-year-old Christopher James Jr., near a shed in the parking lot. James was transported to Ocala Regional Medical Center, where he later died from his injuries.
A second man who was shot remains in an unnamed hospital. The name of the victim has not been released.
James was visiting a friend at the apartment complex. They were standing by a car talking when someone opened fire.
If you have any information about the shooting, you are urged to call the Ocala Police Department at 352-369-7000, Crime Stoppers at 368-STOP, or text 274637 using keyword 368-STOP. Tipsters can also visit www.ocalacrimestoppers.com. Anonymity is guaranteed.
An Ocala man was arrested Thursday after he struck the mother of his children with a golf club.
According to the Ocala Police Department, Darnell Gregory Headings, 31, said he came home from work to find that the house was a mess and that, no food had been prepared for him.
Headings then began to argue with the woman, at which time he grabbed a golf club and threatened to hit her with it.
The victim then told Headings to hit her, and he did — once in each leg.
The woman then took six of her seven children to Martin Luther King Park and called the police.
When an officer arrived, he reported that he could see the woman limping. The officer said he could see bruising and swelling consistent with being struck with a hard object.
Headings was located at King’s Food Store at 149 Southwest Martin Luther King Avenue.
He confessed to hitting the woman. Headings told police he was frustrated to come home and find a dirty house and an empty table after working all day.
Headings was arrested and charged with Aggravated Domestic Battery with a Deadly Weapon. He was also arrested in October of 2014 for domestic battery.
Headings next court appearance is slated for September 10, 2019.
Police said the children were present during the incident.
