Founded in 2020, Ina A. Colen Academy is a tuition-free public charter school of choice located in the Calesa Township Community in Marion County, Florida.
The Academy serves students in grades Kindergarten through 8th grade providing a high-level academic program infused with a concentration in the arts and technology.
One area of focus will be project-based learning.
Project-based learning (PBL) is an alternative to textbook-driven instruction and has been proven to yield positive benefits for students of all ages. Students are more motivated to learn, gain a deeper understanding of academic content, and apply skills through practical opportunities, and across disciplines. Studies comparing learning outcomes for students taught via PBL versus traditional instruction also show that when implemented well and with a focus on standards alignment, PBL increases long-term retention of content, helps students perform as well as or better than traditional learners in high-stakes tests, improves problem-solving and collaboration skills, and improves students’ attitudes towards learning.
Another area will be social-emotional learning.
The process through which children and adults acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.
The school features a state-of-the-art security and camera system as well as a tunnel system coming in from trails that allow students to ride bikes to the school.
The school was funded by the Colen Family Charitable Trust and named after Trustee Ken Colen’s mother who was a teacher.
The school will open on August 10th with 215 students.
If you would like to learn more about the Academy go to https://iacafl.org/.
Spc. Bryan Keith, fire detection control specialist, Battery B, 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, helps a child with his reading work at Keller Elementary School.
Florida — On July 1, a new law went into effect that allows for military veterans to teach in a Florida classroom even if they do not have a teaching degree.
Critics and representatives of the teachers’ unions say this is an outrageous move and lowers the bar for quality instruction which will certainly hurt students.
According to the Senate, Florida expanded teaching opportunities for military veterans in 2018, which allowed the state to wave initial certification to teach for grades kindergarten through high school. However, those teaching any grade above sixth had to have some sort of advanced degree in the subject they were teaching.
Now, as of July 1, Florida is waiving all requirements for veterans and they do not even have to have a college degree. In fact, veterans will not even be restricted to which subject they can teach.
Something teachers across Florida say is a slap in the face to those who put in the time to earn their degrees.
The teachers union is also concerned about the mental health of many veterans being allowed in a classroom with students, especially small children.
Requirements for Veterans under the new law
At least 48 months of military service with an honorable or medical discharge;
At least 60 college credits with a 2.5 point grade average (out of 4) or above;
A passing score on a Florida subject area exam for bachelor-level subjects; and
A job in a Florida school district, including charter schools.
President of the Alachua County teachers union, Carmen Ward, in a public statement, said, “There are many people who have gone through many hoops and hurdles to obtain a proper teaching certificate. Teachers are very dismayed that now someone with just a high school education can pass the test and can easily get a five-year temporary certificate.”
The teachers union, said, “This move, without a doubt, will hinder students. The requirements under the new law are minimal and nothing compared to what certified teachers have gone through to become certified.” They went on to say, “Sixty college credits do not equal a teaching degree, and passing one exam in a subject is not the same as taking the state exam.”
On July 27, many citizens witnessed a deputy drive his patrol car into a retention ditch located in front of First United Methodist Church, located at 8851 W. Bradshaw St., Homosassa.
In an email, Linda Linthicum, Community Relations Specialist with the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office stated that a deputy had a “medical episode” which resulted in the deputy driving into the ditch.
Linthicum said, “Fortunately, the Deputy did not sustain any injuries but as a precautionary measure was transported for medical evaluation.”
A witness stated that the deputy exited the vehicle and appeared to be fine.
No video is available due to the fact that Citrus County patrol vehicles are not equipped with dash cams and deputies do not wear body cameras.
Ocala Post is raffling off $100 in free gas due to the economic hardship many families are facing because of high gas prices.
Proceeds from the raffle will go to one lucky school teacher. That teacher will then be able to use the funds for whatever he or she needs for the classroom. (The proceeds will NOT go to the school or school board, but directly to a teacher.)
Participants do not have to reside inside Marion County to enter.
Participants can enter as many times as they would like to increase their odds of winning.
The drawing will be held on August 30, 2022. The winner will be notified via email and Facebook.
How to enter: Simply select the number of entries and click the “buy now” button.
The 2022 spiny lobster season opens with the two-day recreational mini-season on July 27 and 28, followed by the regular commercial and recreational lobster season, which starts Aug. 6 and runs through March 31, 2023.
Spiny Lobster must have a minimum carapace length of greater than 3-inches and the measurement must take place in the water. The carapace is measured beginning at the forward edge between the rostral horns, excluding any soft tissue, and proceeding
“Spiny lobster season is an exciting time for anglers of all ages to be on the water,” said Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Commissioner Robert Spottswood. “It’s also a great time to practice safe boating and take care around Florida’s coral reefs.”
Learn more about bag limits, size limits, where to harvest, and other regulations at MyFWC.com/Marine by clicking on “Recreational Regulations” and “Lobster,” under the “Crabs, Lobster and other Shellfish” tab. If you plan to lobster in the Keys, another great resource is the Monroe County Tourist Development Council website KeysLobsterSeason.com.
Don’t forget to get your license and spiny lobster permit at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com.
If bully netting this season, please keep lights directed toward the water and avoid shining them at houses or people along the shoreline. Please be considerate of others by keeping sound levels low when near shoreline residences.
Don’t forget to use care around corals and other marine life. FWC launched the Florida Coral Crew to engage sportsmen and women in the effort to combat Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease. Before you go out looking for lobster, you can sign up to join the crew at FLCoralCrew.com.
Be safe when diving for lobster. Wear a life jacket when underway and do not drink and boat. When lobstering in open water, divers should stay within 300 feet of a properly displayed divers-down flag or device and within 100 feet of a properly displayed divers-down flag or device if near an inlet or navigation channel. Boat operators traveling within 300 feet of a divers-down flag or device in open water or within 100 feet of one on an inlet or navigational channel must slow to idle speed. For more information, visit MyFWC.com/Boating/Regulations and click on “Divers-down Warning Devices.”
Motorists can expect a temporary lane closure on S.E. 25th Avenue, between the intersections of S.E. 108th Lane and S.E. 105th Street, through August 4.
SECO Energy crews will be removing and installing an overhead power pole. Equipment and personnel will be in the County’s right-of-way.
County officials said that there will be barricades and signs in place to direct traffic through the work zone.
Drivers should expect delays and use alternate routes when possible.
Officials ask that all drivers remember to yield to roadside workers and obey posted speed limits. Speeding fines are doubled in a construction zone.
Julie Stinson with the Animal Services team plays with an adoptable dog in the play yard.
Marion County — Due to an influx of animals, Marion County Animal Services is nearing capacity and as such, Marion County Animal Services is waiving all adoption and redemption fees from now until August 31.
Marion County Animal Services appreciates all of the love from the community, and because of this, they want to find a way to help those in need. Not only are adoption fees being waived during this time, but Animal Services is also forgoing redemption fees for lost and found animals picked up by Animal Services (a value of up to $150)!
“We are waiving all adoption fees and redemption fees for all of August,” Director of Animal Services Jim Sweet said. “We want to provide the opportunity for Marion County citizens to visit our facility and add a best friend to their family or be reunited with their old friend. Right now, this is an amnesty period for anyone who may be trying to save to pay the fees associated with Animal Services housing their pet. We are waiving those fees because we want to give back to the community that gives so much to us.”
Some big improvements are in the pipeline for Marion County Animal Services in the near future. However, in the meantime, due to space constraints, Animal Services strongly depends on our residents retrieving lost pets or adopting pets to help free up space. It is essential that abandoned animals find good homes and lost pets get back to their rightful owners. With Animal Services waiving all fees, this will surely make things easier for everyone.
Citizens who are picking up their lost and found pets this month will also receive an additional bonus — a voucher for a free spay or neuter (a $75 value) upon redemption of their pet. These vouchers will allow owners the ability to schedule their pets’ spay or neuter surgery when it is convenient for them. Furthermore, if a lost animal is at the shelter and the owner does not have transportation to come into Animal Services, delivery services will be offered to get their lost and found pet back home!
Please remember that if adoption is not an option or you do not have a lost pet to retrieve, there are still many other ways to help! Donations are always accepted and help improve the lives of all animals within our animal center. You can donate in person, online at MarionFl.org/Animal, or mail your donation to Marion County Animal Services, 5701 SE 66th St., Ocala, FL 34480.
Tallahassee, Fla. – Recently, the insurance rating agency, Demotech, Inc. (Demotech), which provides financial stability ratings for Florida property and casualty insurers, indicated that it may downgrade ratings for up to 17 Florida insurance carriers. On July 25, 2022, Demotech President Joseph Patrelli stated in an e-mail to the Commissioner of the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR), that Demotech had informed these 17 insurance companies that the rating agency did not intend to take any rating action until further notice and planned to withhold the release of all ratings-related information until the completion of the rating process. It is unclear when the rating process will be concluded.
In the event Demotech does downgrade one or more of these 17 carriers, the ratings given may have an impact on the primary and secondary mortgage markets due to requirements contained within the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac guidelines. With limited exceptions, the guidelines require borrowers to maintain property insurance with a carrier rated “A” or better by Demotech. As such, there is a concern that a rating downgrade may cause a Fannie Mae- or Freddie Mac-backed mortgage to fall out of compliance with those guidelines.
As a result, the OIR, in conjunction with Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, has formed a temporary reinsurance arrangement program that meets the exceptions to the Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac guidelines. To protect Floridians and ensure the stability of the marketplace, lenders and servicers are therefore encouraged to evaluate the reinsurance program prior to requiring a replacement policy, or force placing coverage, based solely on a downgrade of an insurance company’s rating. For more information, please see OIR’s press release.
As the state regulator of state-chartered financial institutions, mortgage brokers, mortgage lenders/servicers, and loan originators, the Office of Financial Regulation (OFR) is sensitive to the challenges these industries may face as a result of a rating downgrade. The OFR is diligently monitoring potential ways to mitigate any adverse consequences of a potential downgrade. The OFR further encourages its regulated institutions and entities to monitor this situation closely and remains committed to working with its regulated institutions, entities, and stakeholders to ensure a thriving mortgage marketplace that works for all Florida consumers.
A&M Farms of Lyons, Georgia, is recalling select whole Vidalia onions packed on one pack line between June 20 – June 23, 2022, because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.
Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.
Consumers can identify the recalled Vidalia Onions by the purchase location, PLU 4159, and Little Bear brand on the PLU sticker as provided in the table at the end of the notice. The recalled Vidalia Onions are sold in bulk in the produce section of retail stores. The recalled Little Bear onions were available for sale to consumers on June 23 and 24 at WegmansExternal Link Disclaimer stores in the Rochester-area, Massachusetts, and at the Erie West and Erie Peach Street Wegmans stores in Pennsylvania.
The onions were also available for sale June 22 – 24, 2022 at Publix stores in the state of Florida and in Publix stores in Georgia in Barrow, Clarke, DeKalb, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Hall, Jackson, Oconee, and Walton counties. No other onions are included in this recall notice.
To date, no illnesses or adverse events have been reported. The company shipped the recalled product directly to retailer distribution centers in Florida, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania. The distribution centers further distributed the recalled product to retail stores in Florida, Georgia, New York, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania.
The recall comes after internal company testing detected Listeria on a single pack line. Although the company cleans and sanitizes its pack lines regularly, it is recalling onions packed on the implicated packing line before and after June 21 out of an abundance of caution. No other products grown, packed, or sold by A&M Farms are affected by this recall.
Anyone who has the recalled product in their possession should not consume it. The product should be disposed of and may return to the place of purchase with a receipt for a refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company’s information desk at 1-912-585-2058, M-F, 8 am – 4 pm EDT.
A&M Farms immediately notified customers who received the recalled product directly from the company and requested that they remove it from inventory. As a result, the product was available for retail purchase only at the stores and during the dates listed in the table.
A&M Farms is issuing this press release and keeping the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Georgia Department of Agriculture informed of its recall process to assure that consumers are properly alerted.
“The health and safety of consumers are our top priorities here at A&M Farms. We are glad that most of the implicated product never reached stores, but we are focused intently on alerting consumers in those areas that did receive the onions,” said Aries Haygood, co-owner of A&M Farms. “We stopped packing
on the implicated line, and I am personally overseeing a full cleaning and sanitation of the equipment and an internal review of our processes.”
Bumble Bee Foods, LLC has issued a recall on a specific SKU of smoked clams after FDA testing found detectable levels of PFAS chemicals in samplings of the product.
The recall only applies to a 3.75 can of Bumble Bee Smoked Clams with the UPC Label 8660075234 which came from a third-party manufacturer in China.
To date, there have been no reports of illnesses associated with this recalled product which was distributed nationwide to a limited number of retailers.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a diverse group of human-made chemicals used in a wide range of consumer and industrial products. PFAS do not easily break down and some types have been shown to accumulate in the environment and in our bodies. Available studies suggest associations between PFAS exposure and several health outcomes including but not limited to increased cholesterol levels, increases in high blood pressure and pre-eclampsia in pregnant women, developmental effects, decreases in immune response, change in liver function, and increases in certain types of cancer.
This recall does not involve any other Bumble Bee products and the company is working with the third-party manufacturer in China to further investigate and resolve this matter. This recall does not affect any other clam products distributed by Bumble Bee.
Consumers who have purchased the recalled products should discard them. Consumers can find the label UPC under the bar code on the back of the package. For any questions regarding the recall or reimbursement, they can contact Bumble Bee Consumer Affairs at 1-888-295-3627 between the hours of 9 AM and 6 PM EST Monday through Friday
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a California couple was killed Wednesday after their 2015 Tesla slammed into the back of a tractor-trailer.
FHP said the couple was traveling southbound on Interstate 75 towards the Paynes Prairie Rest Area when the Tesla exited the interstate, entered the parking lot of the rest area, and crashed.
The tractor-trailer was parked in a parking space.
The driver and passenger, a 66-year-old woman and a 67-year-old man were pronounced dead at the scene. Gainesville Fire Rescue responded and cut the couple from the vehicle.
The driver of the tractor-trailer was not injured.
FHP said it is unknown why the vehicle exited the interstate and drove through the rest area parking lot without stopping.
FHP did not release the names of the occupants who were killed.
On Tuesday, July 5, Ocala police were dispatched to the vicinity of State Road 200 and Southwest 60th Ave in response to an attempted burglary and carjacking suspect, later identified as Normad Eliud Rosario-Otero, 51.
According to reports, Rosario-Otero had attempted to burglarize a home not far from the intersection while the homeowner was asleep.
The homeowner told investigators that he got out of bed and walked to his living room to find Rosario-Otero opening his sliding glass doors. At that point, the homeowner said she pushed the man out of the doorway with a broom.
Rosario-Otero then fled the scene on foot and attempted to carjack a 74-year-old woman who was stopped at a stop light at the aforementioned intersection.
The victim tried to lock her car doors but had difficulty reaching the passenger door and Rosario-Otero was able to enter the vehicle from the passenger side.
Rosario-Otero tried to overpower the woman and push her out of the car. The woman said the man grabbed the steering wheel and attempted to press the gas pedal. However, the woman said she was able to keep her foot on the brake.
The woman told investigators that Rosario-Otero had attempted to enter other vehicles before he gained access to hers.
A Good Samaritan snatched Rosario-Otero from the elderly woman’s car and restrained him with a belt until police arrived.
The woman sustained bruising on her arm from where Rosario-Otero grabbed her.
During questioning, Rosario-Otero said he had been using cocaine, Xanax pills, and alcohol the evening before and stated he did not recall the incident.
In an email, one person who was involved, who did not want to be identified, stated “we taught him a lesson.”
Florida – As Florida heads into another month of hurricane season and afternoon thunderstorms become more common, Duke Energy Florida’s smart, self-healing technology continues to benefit customers during power outages.
Much like a GPS can reroute traffic during an accident, self-healing technology can automatically detect power outages and quickly reroute power to restore service faster or avoid the outage altogether.
Last year, this technology helped avoid nearly 250,000 extended customer power outages in Florida, saving almost 17 million minutes of total lost outage time.
“We are working hard to deliver electricity that is reliable, increasingly clean, and more secure,” said Duke Energy Florida state president Melissa Seixas. “We know that storms are increasing in frequency and intensity, so it’s important that we take steps today to protect the grid from the impacts of severe weather and increase reliability for all our customers.”
Currently, 53% of Duke Energy Florida customers are served by some form of self-healing or automated restoration technology, a 14% increase as compared to 2020.
Over the years, self-healing technology has provided tremendous benefit to Florida customers during times when Duke Energy experienced major outages on its system due to severe weather.
Tropical Storm Collin – June 2016. More than 11,000 extended customer power outages avoided, saving over 2 million minutes of customer interruptions.
Hurricane Hermine – September 2016. More than 27,000 extended customer power outages avoided, saving over 3 million minutes of customer interruptions.
Hurricane Matthew – October 2016. More than 1,000 extended customer power outages avoided, saving over 159,000 minutes of customer interruptions.
Hurricane Irma – September 2017. More than 12,000 extended customer power outages avoided, saving over 5 million minutes of customer interruptions.
Hurricane Michael – October 2018. More than 10,000 extended customer power outages avoided, saving over 1.8 million minutes of customer interruptions.
Hurricane Eta – November 2020. More than 13,000 extended customer power outages avoided, saving over 1.7 million minutes of customer interruptions.
Tropical Storm Fred – August 2021. More than 5,000 extended customer power outages avoided, saving over 1.2 million minutes of customer interruptions.
In 2021, smart, self-healing technology in Marion County helped avoid more than 43,900 extended customer power outages, saving over 2.7 million minutes of customer interruptions.
In less than 10 years, Duke Energy Florida expects to have 80% of its customers served by some form of self-healing technology. Click here to view Duke Energy Florida’s 2021 self-healing technology data by county.
Additionally, Duke Energy has reduced the average amount of time a customer experiences an outage by approximately 20% over the last five years, according to the System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI), which indicates the amount of time the average customer experiences a sustained outage.
Over the next 10 years, Duke Energy Florida will continue to make strategic investments in strengthening its infrastructure, reducing outage times associated with extreme weather events, reducing restoration costs, and improving overall service reliability.
Ocala — On Friday, July 1, 2022 at 1:30pm, Ocala Fire Rescue responded to reports of an industrial incident at the 1100 block of NW 1st Avenue.
OFR personnel arrived at the scene to find a worker with a hand entrapped in a conveyor belt atop a train car.
Crews ensured the equipment was powered down and rendered immediate aid. Using specialized tools, firefighters from Engine 3 and Tower 1 disassembled and removed parts of the conveyor belt system to free the worker’s hand, while members of Rescue 3 provided medical care.
The worker was freed from the machinery within 14 minutes of OFR’s arrival.
Once lowered to ground level, the worker was transported to the hospital by Marion County Fire Rescue.
No other injuries were reported.
Engine 3, Rescue 3, Tower 1, Battalion 22, and a Safety Officer were dispatched to the scene.
A truck is impounded for having custom suspension that authorities say is illegal.
On May 26, 2022, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed HB 1435 into law, which includes a previous statute that was struck down by the Florida Supreme Court.
This bill was essentially pushed by Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood.
Florida residents say reading the bill is enough to make a person who believes in the constitution, “cringe.”
The bill targets individuals who organize gatherings and get-togethers via social media and individuals who play radios or other devices to load.
A section of the bill, FS 316.3045, which allows cops to write tickets to anyone playing a radio that can be heard more than 25 feet away, was previously ruled by the Florida Supreme Court as unconstitutional.
The re-written statute includes factory radios, which many vehicles, particularly luxury vehicles, now come from the dealership with stereos equipped with amps and subwoofers. The same types of vehicles lawmakers drive around in.
The statute does not stop at car radios, the statute now reads in part as follows to include;
“Radio, tape player, compact disc player, portable music or video player, cellular telephone,
tablet computer, laptop computer, stereo, television, musical instrument, or other mechanical or electronic sound-making device or instrument, which sound emanates from within the motor vehicle, so that the sound is plainly audible at a distance of 25 feet or more from the motor vehicle.”
The statute exempts police vehicles. The statute previously exempted vehicles being used for political reasons and business vehicles such as ice cream trucks, but that verbiage has now been stricken from the statute.
Essentially, the way the statute reads, a person operating an ice cream truck could now be pulled over and cited. Additionally, any person using a loud horn or megaphone to express political views could have their rights violated.
The same statute was challenged in 2012, (STATE v. CATALANO) after a Pinellas County police officer pulled over an attorney, Richard Catalano, and wrote him a ticket for playing Justin Timberlake too loud from his factory stereo.
Catalano argued that the Florida statute impinges on his free speech rights and the supreme court agreed.
“The statute is invalid because it is an unreasonable restriction on the freedom of the expression,” reads the ruling. The ruling goes on to say that the statute is not only a restriction of freedom of expression but that it also is a violation of a person’s First Amendment rights.
The court stated, “There is a strong presumption that a statute is constitutionally valid, and all reasonable doubts about the statute’s validity must be resolved in favor of constitutionality.” See DuFresne v. State, 826 So.2d 272, 274 (Fla.2002).
“This Court has noted, however, that in a vagueness challenge, any doubt as to a statute’s validity should be resolved in favor of the citizen and against the State.”
Attorneys and stereo shop owners say police use loud music as a reason to pull people over in hopes of finding other violations and nothing more.
The statute also includes motorcycles with radios that can clearly be heard more than 25 feet away.
Some Florida sheriffs have already said they were sworn to uphold the constitution and will not enforce the statute, especially since it was previously shot down by the supreme court.
While MCSO and OPD refuse to answer questions from Ocala Post, Gainesville PD and the Volusia County Sheriff’s office said they will begin citing drivers who play loud music.
“GPD will enforce HB 1435, which was signed into law by Governor DeSantis on May 26, 2022,” GPD said in a statement.
Attorneys encourage any drivers who receive a citation for loud music to take it to court, preferably the Florida Supreme Court.
Additionally, HB 1435 targets what law enforcement has dubbed as “pop-up parties.”
This means, any event such as the annual gathering of trucks in Daytona Beach, that was organized via social media and not “sanctioned” by a local government.
Rep. Anthony Sabatini of Howey-in-the-Hills voted against the bill.
Sabatini, said, “[The bill] gives police too much power.”
Police, at their own discretion, can now designate a large area a “special event zone” if a large number of people gather. But so far, the law has been directed at those who drive pickup trucks and gather in Daytona.
Senators say the new law allows for law enforcement to impound vehicles as they see fit and write a citation for just about anything, including the suspension on a truck that an officer finds to be “out of compliance.”
Sheriff Chitwood said he would come after anyone who owns a truck that is jacked up. He would come after anyone who has a truck in which the bed has been converted to a swimming pool. He also said he would civilly come after any promoter who organizes an event and charge them with the cost of police manpower.
Chitwood also threatened to put a lien on the house of any parent if a promoter of the truck event lives with his parent(s).
Chitwood said he does not invite, as the Chamber of Commerce says, “wide-open fun.”
That’s bullsh*t,” said Chitwood.
Chitwood does not want “truckers” in his neighborhood. Instead, they want the event to relocate to Homestead Florida.
Attorney Laurence Miles says he is looking forward to helping the more than two dozen people who had their trucks impounded this past weekend in Daytona. He said it is inevitable that this bill will end up before the Supreme Court and has no doubt that it will be deemed unconstitutional.
Chitwood said events have to be planned legally. However, promoters said that they are always denied even though bikers, Jeepers, and every other organized event are always allowed.
Promoters say Chitwood and those who issue permits discriminate against certain crowds.
Sen. Bobby Powell of West Palm Beach also said that the bill gives sheriffs too much power and opens the door for law enforcement to deem an area for protestors as a “special event zone” in which protesters would be harassed by cops and have their vehicles impounded and civil penalties imposed.
Sen. Jeff Brandes, a St. Petersburg Republican said that the bill goes too far and would allow a sheriff’s department to declare an entire city or county a “special event zone” in an attempt to keep out a specific group.
Many senators say the bill is government overreach at best.
Brad Lansing, who owns a custom truck shop and also drives a “jacked up truck”, wrote, “Daytona is no longer a family-friendly town. It is more like visiting a Nazi town where you are constantly being followed and harrassed if you drive a truck.” He went on to say, “I cannot tell you how many countless times I have been followed in that town and stopped because of ‘suspicion’ that my suspension on my truck was too high. Every time I drive off with no ticket because ‘it barely meets the legal limit.’ It is harassment in the highest form and that is why I no longer patron that town and spend money.” Lansing said, “When that place becomes a ghost town the restaurant and other business owners who go under can blame their local government.”
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Photo from Spring Break Nationals in Daytona Beach
One event promoter wrote in a Facebook post that Spring Break Nationals in Daytona, sometimes called Daytona Nationals, used to be a huge deal. People came from all over to see show-stopping low riders and massive stereos. The promotor said they were always harassed by the local government…” particularly Chitwood and his crew.” Namely because during the show, which was permitted, authorities said the stereos in demo vehicles were too loud. Many of those vehicles belonged to audio designers such as Kenwood, Sony, and Orion. Daytona businesses lost thousands of dollars in revenue when the event was canceled.
Spring Break Nationals not only attracted the attention of major audio and other corporations but often drew in celebrities.
According to Daytona officials, law enforcement issued 688 traffic citations and towed 46 trucks Friday through Sunday during the truck meet.
Florida — Rock Dazé, Republican candidate for Florida House District 52, On June 10, vowed to sponsor legislation to ban drag queen shows aimed at children when elected.
Daze said he will sponsor the legislation if Rep. Anthony Sabatini’s proposal to make it a felony for an adult to bring a child to a drag show isn’t approved in a special session by then.
If the bill is passed, the new law would make it a felony for an adult to bring a child to a sexually-themed drag show and allow authorities to terminate parental rights over violations.
The issue came to light after Palm Beach allowed an event titled “Pride on the Block: Drag Show for Kids!”
Critics say the Palm Beach event was “very sexual” in nature and was specifically for children. Many of the children were under the age of 13.
Sabatini said Florida needs legislation to protect children from the “Woke sickness adults and parents alike are forcing on young children.”
Daze said, “I agree 100% with Rep. Sabatini’s proposal to ban drag shows aimed at children. It’s child abuse, and kids need to be protected from this kind of sexualization!” He went on to say, “If there is no special session on this bill, I will sponsor it when elected!”
Rock Dazé is an F-14 TOPGUN pilot U.S. Navy Captain (Retired) and an America First Patriot who said he will fight for election integrity, family values, the sanctity of life, and strong borders while looking out for working families, veterans, and seniors.
If you would like more information on Daze, visit rockforflorida.com or www.facebook.com/rockfloridadaze.
The recreational red snapper season will start June 17 in Gulf state and federal waters off Florida and remain open through July 31 with 12 days in the fall.
“We are excited about Governor Ron DeSantis’ recent announcement of this year’s 57-day Gulf red snapper season, which is the longest we’ve had since the FWC began managing the season in state and federal waters,” said Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Chairman Rodney Barreto.
For-hire operations that do not have a federal reef fish permit may also participate in the season but are limited to fishing for red snapper in Gulf state waters only.
If you plan to fish for red snapper in any state or federal waters off Florida from a private recreational vessel, even if you are exempt from fishing license requirements, you must sign up as a State Reef Fish Angler (annual renewal required). Sign up at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com. To learn more, visit MyFWC.com/SRFS.
State Reef Fish Anglers might receive a questionnaire in the mail regarding their reef fish trips as part of Florida’s State Reef Fish Survey. These surveys were developed specifically to provide more robust recreational data for the management of red snapper and other important reef fish and have allowed the FWC the unprecedented opportunity to manage Gulf red snapper in state and federal waters. If you receive a survey in the mail, please respond whether you fished this season or not.
When catching red snapper and other deep-water fish, look out for symptoms of barotrauma (injuries caused by a change in pressure), such as the stomach coming out of the mouth, bloated belly, distended intestines, and bulging eyes. When releasing fish with barotrauma, use a descending device or venting tool to help them survive and return to depth.
Ocala — An 18-year veteran of the Marion County Sheriff’s Office will not be prosecuted following his March 10 arrest on charges of domestic violence.
According to the State Attorney’s Office, the victim initially agreed to testify against Marion County sheriff’s Corporal Roy Allen Johnson, 42, but later, for unknown reasons, changed her mind.
Friends and family close to the case say they have witnessed Johnson’s behavior in the past and fear for the victim’s safety.
According to records obtained by Ocala Post, On March 5, multiple deputies responded to a residence after a caller reported a physical altercation between a deputy and a female victim.
When deputies arrived at the scene Corporal Johnson stated that he had been at a wedding with the victim and when he was ready to leave, she refused so he went home alone.
When Johnson arrived home, he tossed the victim’s clothes and a ‘Rae Dunn’ pottery collection outside.
When the victim returned home, Johnson said he locked her out because he was “tired of her sh*t.” Johnson also told deputies the victim was drunk which was later determined not to be true.
The victim stated that she came home to find all of her belongings on the front lawn and that, Johnson had destroyed her pottery collection.
The victim stated that when she attempted to walk towards the front door Johnson grabbed her by the back of the head and shoved her forward. The victim stated that she put her hands up to brace for her fall and her hand went through the window next to the front door.
According to the arrest affidavit, the victim was bleeding when deputies questioned her.
The victim stated that the argument had actually started on May 4 after she told Johnson that she wanted to help her friend set up for the wedding. The victim stated that Johnson attempted to track her location using her cellphone and became furious when he couldn’t find her.
Johnson was told on the day of the wedding that he should not attend but he showed up at a later time.
During questioning, Johnson left out details of the argument and what transpired after he left the wedding.
According to reports, after Johnson left he began sending rude and vulgar text messages to the victim and called her multiple names.
Some of the text messages were shown to other guests at the wedding who said they feared for the safety of the victim if she were to return home while Johnson was there.
This incident is not Johnson’s first.
In 2019, Johnson battered the same victim but she dropped the charges because Johnson agreed to get counseling. Johnson attended one session and never returned. Additionally, a few months prior to the May 5 incident, the victim stated that Johnson pushed her onto the bed with force and attempted to smother her with a pillow. The victim has an audio recording of the incident.
At the May 5 scene, when deputies attempted to separate the two, Johnson became loud, belligerent, and began using swear words toward the victim.
Johnson stated, “Some fu**ing judges granted a fu**ing injunction.” As he walked by the victim he told her, “Bye, you sorry bi*ch. Kiss my a*s.”
On May 10, five days after the incident, an arrest warrant was finally issued and Johnson was taken into custody and later released on a $2,500 bond. He was placed on unpaid suspension.
In an email to Ocala Post, friends of the victim have expressed great concern and say that Johnson has a “bad temper and a short fuse.”
In the email, an unidentified woman wrote, “I am afraid for her life. MCSO knows he’s explosive and does nothing but make excuses.”
Johnson, who is no longer on suspension and has returned to work, was also cleared of a shooting in March of 2019 after he shot an unarmed man who was fleeing. In that case, Johnson said he feared for his life because he believed that the suspect was armed.
As for Johnson’s May 10 arrest, during a news interview, Sgt. Paul Bloom, stated, “We do have employee assistance programs that are available. We routinely make them available. It’s anonymous. Whatever it might be, PTSD, maybe an addiction, it could be anything, just financial troubles and you need to talk to someone, you need a counselor. It’s available and we encourage it.”
Johnson appealed his suspension and stated that there was not sufficient evidence to prove he battered the woman.
Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods accepted Johnson’s appeal and reinstated him. Woods does not plan to take any further action against Johnson.
An Ocala Police Department officer, identified as Joseph Reid Kelly, 36, was arrested Monday after it was discovered that he filed a false report involving a May 11 crash.
Kelly, who is under investigation by Internal Affairs, has been suspended without pay.
Records show that on May 11, another Ocala police officer responded to the 800 block of Southeast 31st Street in regards to a single-vehicle crash.
Upon arrival, Officer Kelly told the responding officer, identified as Officer Marsden Easley, that [he] was the passenger of the vehicle and that the driver had taken off on foot.
Police said it appeared that the vehicle had been westbound, crossed over the median, and slammed into a guardrail causing extensive damage.
Officer Kelly told his fellow officer that he was at a bar and had gotten a ride from another patron. He stated that the tire popped and cause the vehicle to hit the guardrail.
Kelly said the man who was driving then got out and ran. Kelly said he did not remember where he met the man but gave the location of the last bar [he] had visited.
During the investigation, investigators pulled surveillance video from the area and quickly determined that Kelly was not being truthful.
The video showed that two men approached the vehicle after it crashed, while a third man was seen walking away from the crash. The man walking away from the crash was wearing clothes similar to what Kelly was wearing.
The witnesses told police that Kelly was in the vehicle alone and appeared to be stumbling when he exited the vehicle.
Surveillance from the bar showed that Kelly left the bar alone.
A 15-year-old Vanguard High School student, identified as Mackenna Rector, was killed in a head-on collision Tuesday morning.
Ocala police say a 56-year-old woman, not identified by name, was driving a Mitsubishi Montero and stopped at the light at the intersection of NE 25th Avenue and 14th street when a Toyota Yaris was driven by a 15-year-old boy went through the intersection and slammed into the Montero.
“The Toyota proceeded through the intersection, crossed over the center into the southbound lanes, and struck the Montero head-on,” said OPD.
Mackenna was a passenger in the Toyota.
Mackenna and the boy were rushed to UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville where Mackenna later died from her injuries.
The boy, who is also a Vanguard student, remains in the hospital.
School officials said Mackenna was a happy, energetic, 10th grader who was loved by many and loved everyone back.
The principal of the school, Christopher Carlisle, said a team of social workers would remain on campus as long as needed while Mackenna’s fellow classmates grieve.
As of May 12, investigators said they are still investigating the crash and have not yet determined who had the green light.
