On a somber note, a tragic incident occurred on October 16th at Lake Lillian in Belleview, Florida. A man was found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound on a public bench near the lake.
According to reports, a woman and her mother discovered the body during an everyday walk and immediately alerted authorities. Belleview police responded quickly, covering the scene and securing the area with caution tape.
Nearby businesses heard the sound of the gunshot but didn't see anything amiss.
What makes this incident particularly troubling is its proximity to a playground, where children were actively playing while the scene was being processed.
Identification was made, but they have not yet released the man’s name as the investigation remains ongoing and his family needs to be notified first. We will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.
Join Ocala Recreation and Parks this Saturday, October 19th from 5 to 10 PM at Fort King for a family-friendly, free event.
From 5 to 7 PM, enjoy games, crafts, and activities perfect for kids, hosted by the City of Ocala and Marion County Public Library.
Starting at 7 PM, gather inside the Fort for ghostly tales from the Ocali Storytelling Guild. A brief intermission will give little ones time to leave before spookier stories take center stage from 8 to 9 PM.
As you head back to your car, walk along Fort King's Legends Trail, with optional stops to meet some legendary characters from Fort King's history!
No tickets needed—just show up for the fright-filled fun! Costumes are welcome, but there’s no trick or treating. Pack bug spray, water, a blanket, and a flashlight.
For more details, visit the City of Ocala website!
Friday is a teacher workday so students of MCPS will be out and about roaming the wilds. Be sure to watch out for pedestrians all day October 18th.
If you were wondering if there would be any hurricane related make up days. It looks like Marion County students will need to be in class on Nov 25th.
The students would have been out of school for a continuous nine days. Getting out of school at the end of day Friday November 22 and not going back to school until Monday December 2nd.
Now, they will come into school on Monday the 25th and will be released at the end of that day instead. So while it is only one makeup day, some parents are concerned since they had already made plans to visit family next month beginning on Saturday November 23rd.
My husband and I differ on this one. He was raised that unless you are physically incapable of attending, you are going to school. My parents were more of the view that you learn just as much if not more from structured family life experiences outside of school.
Is it still playing hookie if you are spending the time visiting grandparents and with your parents full knowledge? Let me know what you think, are your kids going to school on Monday the 25th or are you signing them out?
Get ready for an extraordinary shopping experience at the Super Gigantic Indoor Marketplace! With 150 booths in a massive indoor space, there’s something for everyone.
Antique enthusiasts will delight in vintage goods, rare collectibles, and timeless pieces—perfect for both seasoned collectors and curious newcomers! And for all you bargain hunters, the garage sale section is a treasure trove! Discover everything from household items to hidden gems at unbeatable prices.
It’ll be located at the World Equestrian Center in Expo Center 2, from 9 am to 4 pm on October 19th, and from 10 am to 3 pm on October 20th. The venue is pet-friendly, and those under 13 do not require a ticket. Hurry on in to grab the best deals!
Attention, theater fans!
Get ready to laugh as actor Tim Mooney brings his one-man show, Lot o’ Shakespeare, to Ocala Civic Theatre on Saturday, October 19!
In this captivating performance, Mooney becomes a theatrical powerhouse, taking on monologues from every Shakespearean play. It’s described by fans as “Shakespeare, but make it bingo!” With 38 monologues and six sonnets given the opportunity to be chosen randomly by the audience, expect lightning-fast laughs and prizes like T-shirts and coffee mugs for winners.
Join Ocala Civic Theatre for Lot o’ Shakespeare, live on stage this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $35 for adults and $17 for ages 18 and younger.
Grab yours anytime at www.ocalacivictheatre.com or by calling (352) 236-2274. Don’t miss this epic fun!
Mark your calendars for this week's Sunset Songs Series, where we are excited to welcome the unique musical stylings of @saxsquatch!
Saxsquatch is a 7’ tall multi-instrumentalist, producer, and electronic music artist from North Carolina. He has accumulated over 3 million followers online through releasing music with legends such as John Oates, Billy Ray Cyrus, and the band WAR.
Saxsquatch’s live show is a mind-bending experience showcasing his music production, stage plot, and saxophone skills over original music, remixes, and crowd participation.
This is a FREE all ages concert and guests may bring chairs and blankets. Dancing is strongly encouraged!
???? Wednesday, Oct. 16
????Ocala Downtown Square
???? 6 to 8 p.m.
It's sure to be a fun and memorable evening filled with great music and a lively atmosphere. ????
Billy Bob Thornton's Band Coming Back to Ocala
Billy Bob Thornton and The Boxmasters will perform at the Reilly Arts Center in Ocala on October 17, 2024. Formed by Thornton and J.D. Andrew in 2007, the band is touring to promote their new album, “Love & Hate in Desperate Places.”
The tour starts in late August.
If you missed the show last time, you missed out on a really great time! My husband and I went and it was great original music, dancing was strongly encouraged and it was just a feel good event. Obviously Billy Bob Thornton and the Boxmasters had a great time in Ocala as well as this is their only show in all of Florida!
Hurricane Milton’s trajectory wobbled slightly, which meant Ocala was no longer in the path of the hurricane.
After rapidly intensifying in the Gulf of Mexico, Milton surged from a 60-mph tropical storm on Sunday to a 180-mph Category 5 hurricane by Monday, a 130-mph increase in just 36 hours. Though a Category 6 classification doesn’t officially exist, this storm's intensity has reignited discussions among experts about the need for an additional category beyond the current scale, which tops out at Category 5 (winds above 157 mph). As climate change drives more extreme storms, many argue that the current scale, developed in the 1970s, is becoming inadequate.
The Saffir-Simpson scale, created by Herbert Saffir and former National Hurricane Center director Robert Simpson, categorizes hurricanes based on wind speed, with Category 5 covering all wind speeds beyond 157 mph. Simpson once said this limit was set because winds stronger than Category 5 would cause catastrophic damage regardless of a building's engineering. Some experts have proposed adding a Category 6 for storms with winds exceeding 192 mph, though there are concerns that focusing solely on wind speeds could mislead the public, as water – not wind – is often the deadliest aspect of hurricanes.
A lesser-known but fascinating hurricane indicator is the “Waffle House Index.” Used by FEMA and other officials, the index helps gauge a hurricane's impact based on whether Waffle House restaurants in the storm's path remain open. Known for staying open during severe weather, Waffle House’s operations serve as a practical barometer for local conditions. The index uses a stoplight approach: green means the restaurant is fully operational, yellow signals limited service (often running on generators or short supplies), and red means it’s closed, signaling extreme conditions. With over 1,600 locations in hurricane-prone areas, Waffle House’s status is often a reflection of the storm’s impact on a community.
FEMA acknowledges that businesses like Waffle House can be key indicators of a community's recovery process. In a 2017 post, FEMA noted that open businesses like hardware stores enable people to gather the necessary supplies to rebuild and recover from the storm.
Since opening in 1971, Walt Disney World has closed unexpectedly for a total of nine events as of 2024:
Hurricane Floyd (1999) – The first time Walt Disney World closed due to weather.
9/11 Terrorist Attacks (2001) – Closed early on the day of the attacks.
Hurricane Charley (2004) – Closed due to the Category 4 hurricane.
Hurricane Frances (2004) – Closed during the storm's approach.
Hurricane Jeanne (2004) – The park was closed again for this third hurricane that season.
Hurricane Matthew (2016) – Closed due to the storm’s path near the Orlando area.
Hurricane Irma (2017) – Closed for two days due to this major hurricane.
Hurricane Dorian (2019) – Closed for parts of the day when Dorian approached.
COVID-19 Pandemic (2020) – Closed from March 15 to July 11, marking the longest closure in its history.
Because families sometimes spend years saving and planning their family trip to Walt Disney World they will only close for significant events like 9/11 and the COVID-19 global pandemic, and catastrophic weather events.
Walt Disney World closed for the 10th time in its history for Hurricane Milton.
What are your thoughts? Should there be a category 6 storm?
Seven additional public schools in Marion County will open this evening at 6pm to host residents evacuating due to Hurricane Milton.
These additional schools include:
*Belleview Middle School (10500 SE 36 Ave., Belleview)
*Forest High School (5000 SE Maricamp Rd., Ocala)
*Horizon Academy at Marion Oaks (365 Marion Oaks Dr., Ocala)
*Lake Weir High School (PET FRIENDLY at 10351 SE Maricamp Rd., Ocala)
*Liberty Middle School (4773 SW 95 St., Ocala)
*Madison Street Academy (401 NW Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Ocala)
*North Marion Middle School (2085 W Hwy 329, Citra)
This brings the total number of school shelters in Marion County to 10 including these previously-announced shelters:
*Fort McCoy School (16160 NE CR 315, Fort McCoy)
*Vanguard High School (PET FRIENDLY at 7 NW 28 St., Ocala)
*West Port High School (PET FRIENDLY for special needs residents only at 3733 SW 80 Ave., Ocala)
Shelters open to the public at 6 p.m. Tuesday. Those seeking shelter should bring their own medications, FOOD, and other essentials. Pet owners seeking shelter for animals should also bring their own pet supplies including crates.
For more information, contact the Citizens Emergency Hotline at 352.369.7500.
Due to the current projected path of Hurricane Milton, Marion County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Management officials have issued a mandatory evacuation order for those living in mobile homes, RVs, modular-type homes, and site-built homes constructed before 1994 within Marion County.
Those living in these homes should know that if they remain in these locations, emergency personnel will not respond to their location until it is deemed safe to do so. Residents are encouraged to first seek shelter with family or friends living in a site-built home constructed after 1994 to ensure compliance with modern hurricane building codes. If that option is not available, Marion County has several shelters listed below for residents to utilize.
I75 heading North is congested all the way from Sarasota on up to Georgia as a massive evacuation attempt is underway especially from residents in Tampa.
If you decide to leave the area, another route may be a better option.
Make arrangements to not have electricity for an extended period of time. Pick up any prescriptions so you have them on hand in case the pharmacy is unable to open for a while.
Arrange alternate cooking methods. Fill your freezers with water jugs to help keep your food colder longer even without electricity.
As Hurricane Milton approaches, I want to take a moment to remind everyone how important it is to take this storm seriously. Now is the time to prepare—secure your property, gather any essentials, and make sure you have a plan in place.
At the same time, know that we’re all in this together. If the worst happens, we are here for each other as a community. Whether it's lending a hand with cleanup, sharing supplies, or just checking in, we will look out for one another. This is Ocala, it’s what we do.
Let’s prepare, stay safe, and be ready to help each other through whatever comes our way.
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