Around Florida

An Ocala man is behind bars in the Marion County Jail after being accused of attempted murder, stabbing and brutally battering a woman who escaped from his residence. Read more: Ocala man charged with attempted murder after woman reports brutal attack

A Community Development District 1 official contends that the numerous water main breaks in The Villages are proof that aging pipes need to be replaced. Read more: Official contends aging pipes in The Villages need to be replaced

A Villager’s adult son was arrested after allegedly attacking staff at UF-Health The Villages Hospital. Read more: Villager’s adult son arrested after allegedly attacking hospital ER staff

An Ocala pizzeria was shut down recently after a health inspector reported finding 10 violations – the most egregious of which involved rodent activity and issues with the storage of food items. Read more: Ocala pizza eatery shut down after health inspector finds piles of rodent droppings

A Dunnellon man was jailed recently after a woman claimed he strangled her after drinking beer. Read more: Dunnellon man jailed after nasty brawl with lady friend after drinking IPA beers

Complaints from neighbors prompted a public hearing Friday concerning the condition of a home in The Villages. Read more: Neighbors’ complaints lead to public hearing involving home in The Villages

Twelve more local residents have succumbed to COVID-19 as Florida continued to see a post-spring break increase in new cases and the virus reared its head at The Villages Charter School again. Read more: 12 more local COVID-19 deaths as virus continues to plague Villages Charter School

A crash shortly before 1 p.m. Friday at Buena Vista Boulevard and County Road 466A backed up traffic for at least a half a mile near the intersection. Read more: Crash backs up traffic on Buena Vista Boulevard

Twelve more local residents have succumbed to COVID-19 as Florida continued to see a post-spring break increase in new cases of the potentially deadly virus. Read more: 12 more local COVID-19 deaths as Florida sees significant spike in new cases

In addition to the accused kingpin of a drug trafficking operation in Summerfield, three other local men also were arrested recently by members of the Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team. Read more: 4 Summerfield men among those nabbed by specialized drug enforcement unit

A woman was arrested at the Tikki Hut in Oxford after a passenger tossed a cigarette from her automobile. Read more: Woman arrested at Tikki Hut after passenger tosses cigarette from car

An Ocala man with a prior battery conviction was arrested early Monday after he reportedly came home drunk and struck a woman and her juvenile daughter. Read more: Ocala man accused of battering woman and her daughter

A 22-year-old Ocala woman who admitted to shoving a man while he was trying to leave her said she did it out of frustration and because he was saying “hurtful things” to her. Read more: Ocala woman admits to shoving man who said “hurtful things”

A Summerfield woman with bloodshot, watery eyes found herself in jail Wednesday night shortly after spending time at a local bar. Read more: Confused Summerfield woman nabbed on DUI charge after leaving local bar

A Fruitland Park woman was arrested after allegedly attacking a man, prompting him to call 911. Read more: Fruitland Park woman arrested after alleged attack prompts 911 call

A 30-year-old Wildwood man who was once tased after being accused of stealing from the Honey Baked Ham store in Lady Lake is back in jail. Read more: Wildwood man once accused of ripping off Honey Baked Ham back behind bars

College of Central Florida will host a performance of Igor Stravinsky’s “The Soldier’s Tale” on Saturday, April 10, at 7:30 p.m. in the Charles R. Dassance Fine Arts Center, located at 3001 S.W. College Road in Ocala. Read more: College of Central Florida presenting Stravinsky’s ‘The Soldier’s Tale’

Restaurants and other businesses at Colony Plaza in The Villages were struggling to cope Friday morning after a water main break prompted a boil water notice. Read more: Water main break disrupts restaurant service at Colony Plaza

One more local resident has succumbed to COVID-19 as Florida surpassed 2.1 million cumulative cases of the virus and reported an increase Thursday of more than 7,900 new positive test results. Read more: One more local COVID-19 fatality as Florida tops 2.1 million cases of deadly virus

Village of Chitty Chatty residents are worried that poor lighting at the golf cart bridge over State Road 44 could be dangerous if not addressed. Read more: Residents complain about poor lighting at Chitty Chatty Bridge

An Ocala man was arrested recently after his lady friend claimed he came into her home while she was sleeping and struck her in the face and arm the next morning after she returned to her residence from taking a child to school. Read more: Man with history of violence flees residence after victim reports attack

Two men were arrested recently after Marion County sheriff’s deputies were called to a Citra residence to investigate a possible disturbance. Read more: Citra men wanted on warrants jailed after deputies respond to disturbance

Questions continue to surround the proposed formation of the Project Wide Advisory Committee II south of State Road 44. Read more: Questions continue to surround formation of PWAC II south of State Road 44

A resident of Community Development District 7 spoke out Thursday before the board of supervisors about her displeasure with the board’s direction on its relationship with the Project Wide Advisory Committee and changing legal counsel. Read more: Resident tells CDD 7 supervisors she’s unhappy about board’s direction

One more local resident has succumbed to COVID-19 as Florida surpassed 2.1 million cumulative cases of the virus and reported an increase Thursday of more than 7,900 new cases . Read more: One more local COVID-19 fatality as Florida tops 2.1 million cases of deadly virus

A drunk driving suspect was arrested after a rollover crash sent him to Leesburg Regional Medical Center. Read more: DUI suspect arrested after rollover crash sends him to Leesburg hospital

Motorists can expect intermittent lane closures on multiple roads inside of the Rainbow Lakes Estates through October 2021.  Read more: Lane closures expected within Rainbow Estates in Marion County

The John Bartram Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution is preparing to hear from an expert in environmental conservation and practices to reduce or reverse damage to waterways. Read more: John Bartram DAR Chapter to welcome expert in restoration of waterways

Sumter County sheriff’s deputies are searching for a bandit who stole at least one catalytic converter in Oxford recently. Read more: Sumter sheriff seeks help in nabbing Oxford catalytic converter thief

Members of the Wildwood Middle High School Boosters will be selling discount cards at two locations to help two of the groups at the school with expenses. Read more: Wildwood Wildcat Boosters selling discount cards to help fund student groups

The Ocala Wetland Recharge Park will be closed Monday, April 12, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., to repair a subsurface subsidence that manifested Tuesday, April 6. Read more: Ocala Wetland Recharge Park to temporarily close

A driver with a loaded gun in his vehicle was arrested with cocaine he claimed he uses to treat his “stomach ulcers.” Read more: Driver with loaded gun nabbed with cocaine used to treat ‘stomach ulcers’

The Eisenhower Recreation Center indoor facilities, outdoor facilities and sports pool will be closed for maintenance on Monday, April 12. Read more: Eisenhower Recreation Center and pool will be closed on Monday

The commander of the Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team in Marion County sent a clear message during a press conference Wednesday afternoon – his agents are targeting drug traffickers and taking dangerous and illegal narcotics off the streets at a rapid pace. Read more: UDEST touts recent drug busts highlighted by massive Fentanyl seizure in Summerfield

Seven more local residents have succumbed to COVID-19 as new cases of the virus continued to be reported Wednesday across Florida and the positivity rate increased – possibly because of the recent influx of spring breakers. Read more: 7 more local COVID-19 deaths as state’s positivity rate climbs after spring break

A 28-year-old Ocala man was arrested recently after he was accused of hitting his upset lady friend with a car door as she attempted to get out of his moving vehicle. Read more: Angry Ocala man jailed after woman suffers injuries while falling from his moving vehicle

Next week is National Animal Care and Control Appreciation Week and Sumter County commissioners marked the occasion Tuesday night with a heated debate about a neighbor dispute over a family dog. Read more: Sumter County commissioner and wife land in center of heated debate over dog

A Dunnellon man found himself behind bars recently after deputies stopped his vehicle on S. U.S. Hwy. 41. Read more: Dunnellon man jailed after multiple drugs found in vehicle during traffic stop

A 53-year-old Ocala man was jailed recently after he was caught driving at night with no headlights and then had a confrontation with Marion County sheriff’s deputies. Read more: Ocala man jailed after getting violent and attempting to escape from hospital

The Village Center Community Development District Board of Supervisors on Wednesday approved a fuel site management contract for a depot purchased last year for $1 million from the Developer. Read more: Fuel site management contract approved at $1 million depot bought from Developer

Thirteen people escaped injury Wednesday morning when a SUV rear-ended a school bus in Marion County. Read more: 13 escape injury when SUV rams into back of stopped Marion County school bus

The Amenity Authority Committee has accepted a $5.9 million bid for the construction of a new recreation center. Read more: AAC accepts $5.9 million bid for construction of new recreation center

A member of the Amenity Authority Committee has resigned due to health reasons. Read more: Amenity Authority Committee member resigns due to health reasons

Seven more local residents have succumbed to COVID-19 as new cases of the virus continued to be reported Wednesday across Florida and the positivity rate increased – possibly because of the recent influx of spring breakers. Read more: 7 more local COVID-19 deaths as state’s positivity rate climbs after spring break

Sumter County sheriff’s detectives are searching for a man connected to a recent physical altercation at the Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market in The Villages. Read more: Man sought after physical altercation breaks out at Villages grocery store

A suspect has been arrested after a woman reported $450 in cash was stolen from her car parked at a local Circle K. Read more: Woman reports $450 in cash stolen from her car at Circle K

A Del Webb Spruce Creek woman with a troubled legal past is behind bars in the Marion County Jail after she was caught driving with an expired license tag. Read more: 62-year-old Del Webb Spruce Creeker with sordid legal past back behind bars

A non-functioning headlight led to the arrest of a teenager allegedly in possession of a vape pen in Wildwood. Read more: Non-functioning headlight leads to teen’s arrest with vape pen in Wildwood

The Tierra Del Sol Recreation Center will be closed for power washing. We've got the date. Read more: Tierra Del Sol Recreation Center to be closed for power washing

Another retail plaza is on the drawing boards for the Villages of Southern Oaks along Warm Springs Avenue. Villages-News.com's Marv Balousek has details. Read more: New retail plaza will be constructed in Villages of Southern Oaks