VOLUME 4 ISSUE 50
$2
DECEMBER 15 - DECEMBER 21, 2023
Centennial Celebration
NAACP Marion County Branch 5114 marked its 100th anniversary during a ceremony that recounted historic milestones. By Andy Fillmore andy@ocalagazette.com
A
100th anniversary celebration of the organizing of the Marion County Branch 5114 of the NAACP was
held Dec. 10 at New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church in Ocala. The centennial celebration also marked 80 years since the branch was chartered by the national NAACP. Clergy, past chapter presidents and current leaders spoke of the
branch’s many accomplishments and challenges over the decades, from civil rights protests in the 1960s and encouraging voting participation to standing up for A.J. Owens, a young mother who was fatally shot by a neighbor in a recent case with racial overtones.
Whitfield Jenkins, 82, president of the local chapter from 1984 to 1989, 1991 to 1992 and 1997 to 1998, was recognized by the chapter as “Freedom Fighter of the Century.” “It’s a humbling experience,” Jenkins said.
Jenkins said he continued a chapter project in 1984 from outgoing president Vera McLaughlin Alexander that involved a federal suit against the city of Ocala for allegedly not providing equal services to Black See Centennial, page A2
Hungry Bear Drive-In celebrates 50 years
Improvements to I-75 coming in 2025 A range of projects slated between State Road 44 and County Road 326 includes auxiliary lanes, bridge and interchange improvements.
The Hungry Bear is shown next door to Mayhew Pest Control on Southeast Osceola Avenue.
Motorists drive on I-75 as shown from the Southwest 66th Street bridge south of Ocala on Tuesday, February 1, 2022. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]
By Belea T. Keeney belea@magnoliamediaco.com
W
e’ve all seen it: Virtually every Friday by 3 pm, southbound traffic on Interstate 75 begins to slow down with vehicles stacking up at the County Road 484 exit to The Villages. Traffic in the right lane slows because of the stopped vehicles, which forces many vehicles to swiftly merge into the middle lane, which then also slows to a crawl. The left, passing lane becomes packed and eventually, it’s stop and go all the way from County Road 326 south to Florida’s Turnpike in Sumter County. Or, as is often the case, a major crash or minor fender bender happens, and then traffic stops completely. One out of nine days, all lanes on I-75 are closed due to an incident, according to the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). Every 13 hours, at least one lane of the crucial interstate highway is closed. The average duration of a lane blockage is three hours. FDOT officials say they are well aware of the many traffic-flow issues along I-75 through Marion County and have plans to help solve the problems, including adding auxiliary lanes, widening bridges and other improvements. Currently, the projects are in the environment and engineering analysis phase. Once right-of-way is procured and the design/build phase is completed, the department hopes See I-75 improvements, page A3
Cathy Mann holds an order out of one of the drive-in windows at the Hungry Bear on Southeast Osceola Avenue in Ocala on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023. The Hungry Bear is celebrating its 50th anniversary and is Ocala’s oldest surviving drive-in. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2023.
By Amy Panaia Davidson Correspondent
I
n 1973, when the Hungry Bear DriveIn eatery was built, it was unique in Ocala. And few people at that time gave it much of a chance to succeed. “This was the first drive-in (restaurant) in Ocala,’’ recalled Larry Mayhew, owner
Danielle Mann, left, cooks the first hamburger of the day as her mother, Linda Williams, center, and Cathy Mann, right, Linda’s daughter-in-law, look on.
of Mayhew Pest Control and son of Larry Mayhew, the original Hungry Bear owner. “But when they were building it, they kept telling my dad, ‘It’ll never make it.’” The elder Mayhew’s strategy of cooked-to-order meals served fresh from grill top to customer and delivered in a paper bag, however, would prove to be a winner. The burger eatery, still in
the same small brick building at 420 SE Osceola Ave., nestled next to the railroad tracks in historic downtown, just celebrated its 50th anniversary. “Where can you get fresh food to order these days?’’ Mayhew said. “And it’s been that way since the beginning.” In 2012, current owner Linda Williams See 50th anniversary, page A3
Marion County school district raises state rating from “C” to “B” By Caroline Brauchler caroline@ocalagazette.com
M
arion County Public Schools has earned a “B” grade from the Florida Department of Education for the 2022-23 school year after statewide school accountability reports have been released. The district’s score improved since its “C” grade last year, while the entire state underwent a major change in how schools would be graded by FDOE. Rather than using the usual system of grading schools and districts based on how students score in high stakes standardized testing, schools will now be graded based off progress monitoring for students through the Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST). Florida is the first state in the nation to make this change, according to FDOE. “Unlike end-of-year high-stakes testing, FAST is a progress monitoring system that
provides teachers, students and parents real-time, immediate and actionable data at the beginning, middle and end of the school year to drive student improvement,” according to FDOE. This year, Marion County earned 59% in points, an improvement since last year’s 53%. No schools received failing grades this year, including the McIntosh Area School, whose score improved from a failing grade in 2021-22 to a “C” this year. The highest-scoring schools in Marion County include Dr. N.H. Jones Elementary, Eighth Street Elementary, Ina A. Colen Academy, Madison Street Academy and Ward-Highland Elementary, all with a score of “A.” The lowest-scoring schools were Harbour View Elementary, ReddickCollier Elementary and Wyomina Park Elementary, all with a score of “D.” Because of the change in the grading system, schools and districts with poor or
Property of the week Spanning over 100+ acres at the heart of Horse County, this immaculate training facility offers a variety of amenities suited for multiple equestrian disciplines. With a half-mile gallop track, equine pool, round pen, and a eurocizer, there are multiple training options. A total of 26 stalls are spread between a large center-aisle barn and equipment barn, which also offer a barn office, feed room, tack room, and more. Two residences are on property, with the opportunity to further customize and build the property out as you see fit! $3,780,000 Valerie Dailey | 352-816-1080 | valerie@showcaseocala.com | showcaseocala.com
failing grades will not face any negative consequences for the 2023-24 year.
File photo: Diane Gullett, the Superintendent of Marion County Public Schools, during the Technical Working Group meeting at Marion Technical Institute on East Fort King Street in Ocala on Monday, Nov. 27, 2023. [Bruce Ackerman/ Ocala Gazette] 2023.
Get Ocala Gazette delivered right to your door! Subscribers will receive their paper through USPS on the USPS schedule. Subscription orders must be received by 5 pm on Tuesday in order to be included in the following week’s delivery. Starting at $10/month ocalagazette.com/subscribe