Ocala, Florida — In October 2023, detectives responded to Advent Health in regards to an unresponsive 9-month-old child. The child later died.
At that time, the cause of the baby’s death was not known.
During the investigation, detectives learned that the mother, Kacy Kincaid, 33, was in possession of Fentanyl. A detective attempted to interview Kincaid, however, she was under the influence of either drugs or alcohol and could not hold a conversation.
A search warrant was then obtained for a sample of Kincaid’s blood.
While waiting for the test to come back, Kincaid was transported to jail and charged with drug trafficking for being in possession of 5 grams of Fentanyl.
Her blood test eventually came back positive for Fentanyl.
Later in the investigation, detectives also learned that the baby’s death was caused from Fentanyl, methamphetamine, and xylazine toxicity
On January 24, 2024, Kincaid was arrested and charged with aggravated manslaughter.
Florida — A new Florida bill is aimed at preventing children under the age of 16 from accessing popular social media platforms regardless of parent approval.
The bill was passed by the House on Wednesday.
Oddly enough, even with other pressing issues, the house said the bill is top priority for the chamber’s speaker.
The bill targets any social media site that tracks user activity, allows teens to upload material and interact with others, and uses addictive features designed to cause excessive or compulsive use.
The bill does not target apps used for private messaging.
Those who support the bill say that social media exposes children to bullying, sexual predators, can lead to depression, suicide, and an addictive obsession.
Critics say the bill is government overreach and have expressed that the cost of trying to enforce the bill is too high.
Ocala Police responded to the intersection of Magnolia Avenue and West Silver Springs Boulevard after two elderly pedestrians, a husband and wife in their 80s, were struck by a car.
The incident took place on January 25 at approximately 6:40 p.m.
According to police, a witness stated that the vehicle involved was traveling westbound on East Silver Springs Boulevard and had the green light as it approached the intersection.
When the vehicle entered the intersection, the couple began to cross the roadway from north to south using the crosswalk.
The witness stated that the pedestrians were crossing the roadway against the “do not walk” indicator when the car struck the couple.
They were transported to a local hospital where the 89-year-old man later died.
The 83-year-old woman is currently listed in stable condition.
Florida — A Deland anger management therapist, identified as Travis McBride, is facing first-degree premeditated murder charges.
McBride is accused of killing Clinton Dorsey, 51.
The victim was identified as 51-year-old Clinton Dorsey.
Deland police said the two were involved in an ongoing dispute when McBride pulled out a gun and shot Dorsey. McBride then dragged Dorsey’s body across the road and stuffed him in the trunk.
McBride attempted to clean the blood from the road then fled the scene.
Authorities said witnesses watched the entire incident unfold.
Detectives located McBride a short time later and placed him under arrest. Dorsey’s body was in fact found in the trunk of McBride’s car.
So far, police do not have a motive nor do they know the relationship between McBride and Dorsey.
Marion Oaks — Authorities are still searching for a 33-year-old man who shot and killed a Marion Oaks woman early this month.
Records show Milagros Guzman Lopez, 47, was gunned down at a shopping plaza in Marion Oaks on Friday, January 12.
Article continued below
Milagros Guzman (deceased)
According to Witnesses, a man, later identified as Melvin Arias, had an argument with Lopez in front of a nearby Marion Oaks business. Witnesses said during the argument, Arias went to his car, retrieved a handgun, and shot Lopez.
Arias then fled the scene.
He is currently wanted and on the run.
Arias is considered armed and dangerous. If you see him, call 911.
23-year-old Kamrun Oshea Goffe (left) and 20-year-old Jaden Burton (right)
Ocala, Florida — Murder charges have been dropped against two men who are cousins after prosecutors say they had a valid claim of self defense.
Ocala police said the incident occurred on January 6 in the 2200 block of SW 2nd Street, Ocala.
Police said when they arrived they found that 21-year-old Patrick “PJ” Stanley, Jr. had been shot in his leg. He was transported to a local hospital where he later died from his injuries.
During the investigation, police arrested 20-year-old Jaden Burton and 23-year-old Kamrun Oshea Goffe in connection with the homicide.
Police said the shooting stemmed from a pre-arranged drug deal gone bad.
Prosecutors said that video and witness testimony evidence supports the fact that the men acted in self-defense.
The charges were dropped and the cousins were released from jail on January 12.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is now offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of a man wanted in connection with two murders.
A warrant was issued for Enrique Martinez, 26, in November after he killed a homeless man.
Martinez is also suspected of killing of 20-year-old Sierra Hernandez in early January.
Martinez is wanted on charges of first-degree murder, possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, and tampering with evidence.
Martinez is described as an adult Hispanic male with brown eyes, black hair, about 5-feet, 6-inches tall and weighing about 146 pounds.
He has two tattoos: one on his left wrist that reads”W7″ and one on the left side of his neck that reads “Natalia.”
According to authorities, Martinez goes by the nickname “Kiki.”
Sheriff Grady Judd said Martinez has family throughout Florida and that they have been helping to hide him.
Martinez is considered armed and dangerous. If you see him do not approach him and immediately call 911.
Ocala — Recruiting is under way for deserving young adults interested in taking part in Marion County’s next Phoenix Rising YouthBuild.
To kick off the program, an Open House will be held Tuesday, Jan. 16 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Martin Luther King Community Building/Ocala Fire Museum, 615 NW Martin Luther King Jr., Ave., in Ocala. The drop-in event is designed to acquaint interested participants, family members and community partners with Phoenix Rising YouthBuild. Light refreshments will be provided.
The award-winning program, now in its 13th year, helps revitalize economically challenged neighborhoods while making a positive difference in the lives of those ages 18-24 who are willing to work, in need of a high school diploma or, those who have a diploma but are below a ninth-grade math and/or reading comprehension level., and interested in employment and/or postsecondary education or training.
Those interested in enrolling in the program must attend one of the orientation sessions that take place Wednesday, Jan. 17 from 2-4 p.m.; Thursday, Jan. 18 from 10 a.m. to noon and 2-4 p.m.; and Friday, Jan. 19 from 10 a.m. All sessions take place at the CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion career center, 2703 NE 14th St. in Ocala.
Because space is limited, those planning to attend must schedule a session in advance by calling 352-291-9550, ext. 1215 or by texting YB to 352-299-4499.
Through Phoenix Rising YouthBuild, students receive hands-on and classroom training designed to develop workforce skills that lead to employment. A key feature of the program involves construction of Habitat for Humanity of Marion County homes for deserving families. Additionally, students have the opportunity to earn their high school diploma as well as industry-recognized certifications and bi-weekly training stipends, performance incentives and other supportive services.
Phoenix Rising was spearheaded in 2011 by then Ocala Police Chief Sam Williams in collaboration with CareerSource CLM and its youth services provider, Eckerd Connects Workforce Development, Habitat for Humanity of Marion County, the City of Ocala, and other community partners.
Major funding for the program comes from a grant obtained by CareerSource CLM from the U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration. Current federal funding for YouthBuild is $844,712. The two-year grant covers training for 48 students and construction of four homes.
In addition to YouthBuild, CareerSource CLM, Eckerd, Habitat, and the City of Ocala, Phoenix Rising’s primary partners are the College of Central Florida (Hampton Center), Equal Housing Opportunity, HBI (Home Builders Institute), Impact – An Entrepreneurial Initiative of the CEP presented by Ausley Construction, Marion County Board of County Commissioners, Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Neighborhood Housing and Development Corporation, and United Healthcare Community Plan.
Phoenix Rising YouthBuild has become a national model of what communities can build when public and private partners work together. It has earned recognition from the Florida League of Cities, National League of Cities and Harvard’s School of Business. Phoenix Rising also received the Clarence E. Jordan Award, Habitat for Humanity International’s highest honor for creativity and innovation in building homes and communities.
For more information, call 352-291-9550, ext.1215.
AT&T confirmed outages for thousands of users, Monday. Many began reporting outages as early as Sunday morning.
A spokesperson for AT&T said the issue was due to bad weather in multiple areas.
The company says it is working to correct the issue.
According to customers, when they attempt to access U-verse TV an error message pops up that reads: “U-verse is not available at this time. Please try again later.”
AT&T sys the company will do their best to keeps customers online.
Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods and his wife were caught red-handed calling turkey to a baited area during a hunting trip in Madison County.
The incident, which was intentionally concealed, took place in 2021. The incident was not leaked to the press until 2023 and Sheriff Woods was heard on camera stating that the only people who would ever know about the incident would be him and his wife.
Instead of immediately issuing the sheriff and his wife a $500 citation, the officer who caught the sheriff, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Officer Randy McDonald, took the matter all the way to FWC Director Sutton before finally being told to issue the sheriff a ticket.
Typically, any other FWC officer would not hesitate to issue a civilian a citation for calling turkey to a baited area which is a Second-degree misdemeanor and punishable by up to 60 days in jail and up to a $500 fine, if convicted.
Woods was given a mail-in citation for $300 so he could avoid court and his wife received a warning.
The nearly two-hour ordeal was captured on body cam, however, nearly an hour of that body cam footage was missing from the FWC video when requested.
FWC verified that there was loose corn spread on the ground where Woods and his wife were hunting.
Ocala, Florida — Six Marion County Sheriff’s Office detention deputies are under investigation after an inmate at the Marion County jail died while being subdued.
The officers are being considered “victims” and Sheriff Billy Woods is concealing their identities under Marsy’s Law.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) says they are gathering information for potential new fishing regulations at the Skyway Fishing Pier State Park.
FWC says new regulations could be put into place to protect pelicans and other birds.
Potential rule changes could include prohibiting the possession of hook-and-line gear with more than one hook such as sabiki rigs, and chicken rigs, and prohibiting possession of any multiple hooks such as treble hooks and topwater plug lures.
If the changes take place, anglers would also be limited to three sets of hook-and-line gear per person while fishing within the park.
Light Up Ocala is a longstanding community tradition to kick off the holidays that attracts thousands to downtown Ocala.
This year marks the 38th anniversary of the holiday merry-making event!
Light Up Ocala will have over 100 vendors including crafts, art, and plenty of food options to choose from!
Live entertainment will fill the air with festive sounds and an interactive kids zone will keep the whole family entertained.
You won’t want to miss the Junior Sunshine holiday parade with a special appearance by Santa. All of this culminates in the most exciting part of the event: lighting up downtown Ocala!
WHEN
Saturday, November 19, 2022, from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
In foreground, George Snyder, “Florida Pink Ignition,” 1997, acrylic on canvas, 80 x 80 in.
Ocala, Florida — This December, the Appleton Museum of Art, College of Central Florida, will open three new exhibitions featuring a wide variety of mediums – from cut paper to mixed media to ceramics and textile art.
Two solo exhibitions on view Dec. 3-June 18 will feature the work of Florida artists. In the second-floor Modern & Contemporary Galleries, see the intricate work of Jacksonville-based artist Hiromi Mizugai Moneyhun in “Paper Thin and Shadow Deep.” Moneyhun moved to Florida in 2004 from her hometown of Kyoto, Japan. Her three-dimensional, cut-paper pieces are the result of a multistep process and are both traditional and modern at the same time. Her most significant early influence was “ehon,” a general term given to Japanese picture books, especially those that featured images taken from original paper cuts by Giro Takihira, who also was known as a woodblock print artist. Moneyhun’s tenacious attention to detail and abundance of patience is exemplified in each of her works, and they invite the viewer in for a closer inspection of her mastery of this technique.
Article continued below
Hiromi Mizugai Moneyhun, UKIYO The Floating World, detail of “CHICKEN,” 2012, papercut, 44 x 20 in.
The work of Gainesville-based poet and visual artist Debora Greger will be featured in the second-floor Balcony Gallery for Florida Artists. In “Pre-Post Poetic,” the 28 mixed-media works were created from 2019-2021 and juxtapose pre- and post-pandemic themes of the everyday world. Using a variety of materials and imagery with handstitched elements, each piece is rich with content for the viewer to explore.
Enjoy some of the biggest works in the Appleton collection in “Big and Bold,” on view in the Edith-Marie Gallery Dec. 16-May 21. All are works of modern and contemporary art, many of which have never been exhibited at Appleton. Over a century separates the earliest and most recent works, which range from paintings and ceramics to sculptures and oversized prints. Visitors will be welcomed with Theodore Victor Carl Valenkamph’s 10-foot wide, 4-foot-tall ship painting. Other featured works will include a two-foot-tall, hand-coiled clay vessel by Victoria Garcia. Handpainted in 2000, her black-and-white piece epitomizes indigenous Zuni and Pecos motif designs and techniques. The vibrant acrylic colors on George Snyder’s “Florida Pink Ignition” are painted with precision on a circular canvas, creating a mesmerizing optical experience.
Article continued below
Debora Greger, “Look Room: Inside Looking Out III,” 2020, mixed-media collage, 12 x 18 in.
“December 13 marks 35 years that the Appleton Museum has met our founder’s goal of art for all,” said Jason Steuber, Appleton director. “Mr. Appleton’s and his family’s visionary gift and groundbreaking generosity have allowed 1.5 million visitors to access more than 24,000 artworks spanning 5,000 years. We invite our community to visit your Appleton Museum of Art to enjoy the holidays and these special exhibitions.”
The Appleton Museum, Artspace, and Store are open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday, noon-5 p.m. Admission is free on the first Saturday of each month. A campus of the College of Central Florida, the Appleton Museum of Art is located at 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, east of downtown on SR 40 (exit 352 east off I-75 or exit 268 west off I-95). Parking is free. For more information, call 352-291-4455 or visit AppletonMuseum.org.
Florida — The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has filed an Executive Order to waive the commercial spiny lobster trap tag requirements for the 2022-2023 license year.
This waiver is in response to the significant losses suffered by Florida commercial spiny lobster fishermen as a direct result of Hurricane Ian. In order to assist these commercial fishermen in their return to business, all spiny lobster traps in or on Florida waters are not required to have a current-year trap tag for the remainder of the 2022-2023 commercial spiny lobster season.
“Hurricane Ian impacted a major portion of the Florida fishing community, and we will be with them every step of the way as they rebuild stronger than before,” explained FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto. “As we work with our partners and stakeholders to identify the needs of commercial fishermen impacted by this powerful storm, we will continue to use all available resources to support them.”
“Getting Florida’s commercial fishing industry the assistance they need to recover from this disaster is a top priority for the FWC,” stated FWC Commissioner Robert Spottswood. “This waiver is just one step of many we are taking to provide relief to those fishermen affected by Hurricane Ian.”
“The impacts of Hurricane Ian will be felt for years to come. The FWC is working diligently to assist the commercial fishing industry to get back to work while assuring the conservation of our resources,” said FWC Executive Director Eric Sutton. “Waiving these requirements will help them get their traps back in the water quickly, ultimately contributing to the economy in areas of the state that are most in need.”
Florida — Our lives are a balancing act between necessities and demands. As Americans, we all work diligently to earn a living, raise our children, and live productive lives. Many take time to make their community better in some way, either through a community giving organization or just giving of their volunteer time. And we all like spending time on the things we love, such as hobbies, sports or just relaxing when we are able.
This is typical American life. However, there is a movement that is working to change this forever. It is rooted in socialism and is antithetical to American principles. Until recently,
it has not been able to gain much traction. That has changed.
I speak of course about the onslaught of progressive movements that have found their way into our society via institutions, schools, and our government bodies. Things such as,
Critical Race Theory, Cancel Culture, usurping an individual’s medical autonomy, stripping parents of their rights, and finally, our right to keep and bear arms are all in the Progressives’ plan to change the face of America.
When one embraces these ideals, they are considered, “Woke”; which is a term devised from misconceptions of a warped worldview. Aside from this movement’s advancing foothold in our everyday lives, it threatens to remake America into something it never was meant to be and Floridians, with the leadership of Governor DeSantis, have learned that these ideals must be stopped.
My opponent has openly called for her followers to “Stay Woke”. I am not sure if she buys into all of these malicious concepts, but her lack of leadership has netted the citizens in her district nothing in the way of meaningful legislation that would make their lives better. That does not make her a bad person. Not at all. She has fought for change. Unfortunately, change that most citizens in Florida would not consider in their best interests.
I have little experience drafting legislation; however, I know how to listen and find out what people need, which I feel is an important precursor to writing good legislation. Let it be known, I will adhere to the U.S. Constitution and the Constitution of Florida and work for all Floridians.
As your legislator, I will work to address many issues. However, my platform focuses on three key issues that are paramount, in my view, to keep Florida free. They are, securing our schools to ensure the safety of our children, protecting our 2nd Amendment right to bear arms, and restoring parental rights.
Our schools should be a place for our children to learn without fear. Past ideas have not worked. I know what will.
Whether or not someone likes guns, our right to bear arms is an integral part of why we are American and free. It is non-negotiable with me.
As a parent, I know all too well that parents have the right to raise their children in the manner they deem appropriate, barring neglect and abuse. To this end, school officials not only have a duty to their students but to the parents that entrust their children to them. I will not abide by anyone indoctrinating them into Wokeness, CRT, gender grooming, or any other demented ideal.
This is where I stand. I hope we can find common ground and stop the onslaught of these ideals as we are all Americans and most just want to exercise our right to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness without government interference.
I hope you will stand with me on November 8th. A vote for Hollye Merton is a
vote to Keep Florida Free.
Hollye Merton Republican Candidate FL House District 21
Florida — On Thursday, September 29 – one day after Hurricane Ian made landfall in the Southwest part of the state – Florida USAR Task Force 8 (FL TF-8) was mobilized.
A 27-member team comprised of Urban Search & Rescue (USAR) specialists from Ocala Fire Rescue (8), Marion County Fire Rescue (10), Gainesville Fire Rescue (8), and a chaplain deployed to assist with the aftermath of Hurricane Ian.
After 13 days of search missions through flooded streets and dry terrain covered in debris, the members of FL TF-8 have returned home.
Ocala Fire Rescue wishes to extend a special thank you to all who deployed and a warm welcome to those returning home safely.
“Thank you for working tirelessly to alleviate the devastation Hurricane Ian left behind, said Ocala Fire Chief Clint Welborn. “Your selflessness embodied the core values of the fire service during these trying times.”
Ocala, Florida — On Friday, Oct. 7, at approximately 8:52 p.m., Ocala Fire Rescue’s Engines 1, 3, and 4, Rescue 1, Tower 1, Battalion Chiefs 11 and 22, and a Safety Officer were dispatched to the 1900 block of SW First Street after a residential fire was reported in the area.
Units arrived on the scene at 8:55 p.m. to find a single-story abandoned home fully engulfed in flames.
The fire was under control within three minutes of the units’ arrival and extinguished by 9:02 p.m.
Ocala, Florida — The Marion County Legal Support Association is now accepting applications for the Mary Sullivan Scholarship Award in the amount of $500.00 for students interested in obtaining a degree in the legal field.
The deadline to apply for the scholarship is December 1, 2022.
No application fee.
For scholarship information and/or an application packet, please contact Scholarship Chair, Lisa M. Wilson, FRP, at lisa@deananddean.net.
