OG Digital Edition 08-14-2026

VOLUME 7 ISSUE 33

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Local crash statistics Page A5

August 14 - 20 2026

Jail whistleblower criticism of jail has been silenced Medical care liaison settles lawsuit for retaliatory firing against Woods as scrutiny over jail deaths continues.

By Jennifer Hunt

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ormer Marion County Jail medical liaison Mary Tolbert Coy has settled her whistleblower lawsuit against Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods for $60,000, ending a case in which she alleged she was fired in retaliation for raising concerns about medical

care and conditions inside the jail.

Under the settlement reached last month, Coy and her attorney, Marie A. Mattox, P.A., will receive a total of $60,000, and Coy must dismiss the lawsuit with prejudice within See Mary Tolbert Coy, page A2

Welcome home, Bears!

From homecoming king to inmate For years, James Vidican’s family has sought help for his severe mental illness. Jail records show a cycle of psychosis, violence, suicide precautions and isolation instead.

South Marion High School opens its doors for first time

The family of James Vidican, Victoria Pettinato, his sister, Deborah Vidican, his mother and his father, James Vidican, left to right, pose with photos of him as they talk about his mental health issues and numerous arrests during an interview at the Freedom Public Library in Ocala, Fla. on Friday, August 7, 2026. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]

By Jennifer Hunt jennifer@ocalagazette.com South Marion High School is shown as students arrive for the first day of school in Marion Oaks, Fla. on Monday, August 10, 2026.

By Jennifer Hunt

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or the first time in 21 years, students in Marion County walked through the doors of a newly built public high school Monday as South Marion High School welcomed its inaugural class.

In the days leading up to the grand opening, new Principal Ken McAteer was filled with anticipation. Speaking at the Marion County School Board Meeting on July 28, he set the tone for the new era. "Let today be the start of something new. For the almost 2,000 students attending South Marion for the first time, their first day will

be the beginning of an exciting journey in a beautiful new facility with awesome teachers and strong parental and community support."

Kevin Christian, the district’s Director of Public Relations, said the more than $180 million school, built on a 115-acre campus near Marion Oaks, is opening its doors at an initial capacity of 2,011 students.

However, South Marion High was designed with the future in mind. The school holds the potential to grow to an ultimate capacity of 2,711 students. This will be made possible by a third-floor buildout that is currently under construction.

McAteer led a video tour of South

Marion High School before it opened, outlining some of its features: • The school features a modern administrative and student guidance suite at its front entrance.

• Academic facilities include standard science classrooms equipped with dual sinks, safety zones and teacher demonstration stations.

• For vocational and technical training, the school features a main computer lab designed to hold 40 to 50 computer stations, alongside a modern health science lab.

See School, page A3

L

ong before he was cycling through the isolation cells of the Marion County Jail, James T. Kirk Vidican was crowned homecoming king at Belleview High School. Popular, smart, and athletic, James had written a high school montage about his dream to pursue a psychology degree, hoping his future would be "enriched with a lot of colors."

But by the time he turned 18, a severe psychiatric crisis took hold.

He signed himself out of high school and began a rapid, tragic descent.

Then came the delusions. His See James Vidican, page A9

Keeping competitive

Ocala Fire Rescue’s tentative new fire union contract outpaces county rates.

By Jennifer Hunt

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he City of Ocala has reached a tentative threeyear collective bargaining agreement with the Professional Firefighters of Ocala (IAFF Local 2135), marking a baseline pay raise for municipal firefighters as the regional race to

recruit and retain first responders reaches a fever pitch.

The agreement, scheduled to run from Oct. 1 through Sept.

30, 2029, implements a major restructuring of starting pay scales and structural updates to pensions and promotions. It represents an attempt by Ocala to maintain competitiveness in a North-Central

Florida labor market that has been heavily disrupted by recent raises for Marion County Fire Rescue workers.

The tentative agreement is expected to be ratified by the union body this week and then come before city council for approval during their regularly scheduled meeting on Aug. 18.

WHAT’S CHANGED? The most significant change in the tentative agreement is the complete overhaul of baseline starting wages for municipal Firefighter/EMTs and Firefighter/ Paramedics. Under Ocala’s contract, all EMT classifications receive an immediate $14,250

increase to their base pay, while all Paramedic classifications receive a $15,250 increase.

This restructuring resets Ocala Fire Rescue's starting salary brackets across all front-line classifications: See Ocala Fire Rescue , page A7

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New city auditor...................................A7 Water restrictions................................A8 Marion Senior Services......................A9 Veteran...................................................B2 Puzzles....................................................B7 Bird of the Week...................................B9

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August 14 - 20 2026 | OCALA gAZEttE

Mary Tolbert Coy Continued from page A1 15 days of receiving the funds. The agreement includes no admission of wrongdoing by Woods or the Marion County Sheriff ’s Office.

Coy, a registered nurse and certified jail auditor, worked as the MCSO’s medical liaison, monitoring the performance of the jail’s contracted medical provider, Heart of Florida, and reporting her findings to jail leadership. She was terminated Aug. 27, 2024.

Her lawsuit alleged the firing came after she repeatedly raised concerns about inmate medical care and reported issues to outside agencies. Woods denied that Coy was subjected to discrimination or retaliation and maintained that the MCSO had lawful business reasons for terminating her employment.

The terms of the settlement also address what happens if she is called to testify or produce records in other legal proceedings involving her former work at the jail, a provision that could have implications beyond her case.

The settlement agreement is silent as to the Heart of Florida Health Center, which was not a party to the lawsuit.

When the Gazette recently asked Coy whether she would be willing to speak about the quality of medical care she witnessed Heart of Florida provide at the jail during her tenure, Coy expressed a desire to do so but said she first needed to consult with her attorney.

BREAKING DOWN THE SETTLEMENT

For Woods, the $60,000 payment creates a strategic hedge, balancing a modest taxpayer expenditure against the risk of going to trial and being made to release documentations during the discovery process. Those documents could prove that Coy’s warnings about substandard care at the jail were warranted, unspooling more of the jail's internal workings into the public record. By settling, Woods avoids a jury’s scrutiny without conceding an inch of moral or legal ground.

The "Settlement Agreement and General Release" details several core mandates: • Payment Details: A total sum of $60,000 is to be paid to Mary Coy and the law firm of Marie A. Mattox, P.A. • Dismissal Requirements: Within 15 days of receiving the funds, Coy is required to dismiss the lawsuit with prejudice, permanently muzzling her ability to refile these specific retaliation claims.

• Non-Admission Clause: Woods explicitly disclaims any liability, discrimination or retaliation. The document asserts that the agency

had "lawful business reasons" for Coy’s termination on Aug. 27, 2024—a firing that saw her benefits cut on Sept. 1 without the legally required offer of COBRA bridge health insurance.

• Nondisparagement: The agreement includes a mutual nondisparagement clause, legally binding both parties to refrain from making negative public commentary regarding the litigation or the underlying employment dispute.

THE "INTERVENTION" CLAUSE REGARDING FUTURE TESTIMONY

The agreement seems to acknowledge the MCSO remains deeply wary of what Coy could reveal in future proceedings, leading to the inclusion of a stringent "Intervention Clause."

Section 5 of the settlement agreement functions as a legal tether, operating as an early-warning system for the sheriff ’s legal team.

By requiring Coy to maintain a level of "cooperation" regarding future subpoenas, the MCSO has essentially installed a gatekeeper between the whistleblower and any external investigative body, including Disability Rights Florida or the U.S. Department of Justice or any of the other agencies Coy admitted notifying of the jail’s dangerous inner workings.

The requirements of Section 5 are uncompromising: • Coy must provide immediate telephonic and written notice to the MCSO if she is served a subpoena or any legal process related to her former employment.

• The sheriff retains the specific right to "intervene" and object to the production of any documents or her testimony before she ever takes a stand.

It allows the MCSO to monitor where and when Coy is being asked to speak, providing Woods’ attorneys a chance to suppress information that might implicate the facility’s leadership.

In a period of mounting interest in the Marion County Jail’s medical services brought about by extensive reporting by the “Gazette” in recent months, this clause ensures that Woods can attempt to block the very oversight Coy was fired for trying to provide.

Regardless of the settlement, Coy would have to answer all questions regarding her work for the sheriff and inmate care truthfully when subpoenaed.

THE HUMAN COST OF FIRED OVERSIGHT

The conclusion of this litigation does not erase the systemic neglect

Coy attempted to expose; rather, it transitions the legal battleground.

Between 2021 and 2026, at least 42 inmates died in the custody of the MCSO—a rate estimated to be three to four times the national average and one of the highest in the state of Florida county jails.

Just last month, inmate Daniel Durden, 51, died while in custody.

MCSO said the agency still investigating the death and declined to provide any information.

Coy had been the last internal check on a system that has since gone dark; medical compliance reporting at the jail ceased the day she was fired and has not been reinstated.

The sheriff hired an outside vendor, Taylor Consulting, at half the cost after Coy was terminated to monitor the jail; however, records obtained by the “Gazette” indicate the consultant does not draft any reports noting compliance by Heart of Florida and the Florida Model Jail Standards and has visited the jail in person only a handful of times in the past two years.

This new arrangement sits in stark contrast with how Coy operated. She worked inside the jail for years and had direct daily contact with nurses and inmates.

Her consistent reporting to jail leadership while working as the medical liaison for the sheriff 's office reflected grave concern for the welfare of the inmates and sometimes negligent medical staffing and follow-up to inmate concerns.

THE WHISTLEBLOWER’S WARNING: FALSIFIED RECORDS AND SYSTEMATIC FAILURES

Coy’s documented warnings, often discounted by Woods, predicted these fatal outcomes with chilling accuracy. Her reports described a culture of "deliberate indifference" that showed little regard for human life.

Key takeaways from Coy’s investigative audit reports include record falsification, ignored grievances by disabled inmates, and medical neglect, all in opposition to Florida Model Jail Standards, MCSO and HOF own policies of care.

While Woods told Marion County commissioners earlier this year he "doesn't give a crap what the media is saying" and claimed inmates get "better medical service than you and I," the paper trail of bodies and the disappearance of all medical oversight since August 2024 suggest otherwise.

The settlement may end Coy's lawsuit, but for the families of the 42 individuals who have died under the care of MCSO, the questions about the operation of the Marion County Jail remain unanswered.

Examples of in-custody deaths (2021-2025) • Scott Whitley III: Ruled a homicide after being crushed by six deputies. The MCSO refused to release surveillance videos until the “Gazette” filed a lawsuit for its disclosure. The sheriff paid Whitley’s elderly parents $100,000.

• Mayra Ramirez: Disability Rights Florida found "probable cause" for medical neglect in her death.

However, under Florida law there was no one to file a lawsuit against Woods.

• Jacob Oakie: Died of a massive infection. "Stat" order blood tests showing a critically high white blood cell count sat unreviewed for days. Dr. Jose Rodriguez ordered his transfer to the hospital only after a use-of-force incident occurred. Oakie died shortly after. His family has recently filed a federal lawsuit against Woods and HOF. • Daryl Davidson: Davidson moaned for help for days during a detox, pleading, "This is inhumane,

I need an ambulance." A nurse refused him medication. An autopsy later revealed 50 separate wounds on his body; jail staff had documented only four. The medical examiner just recently changed her findings as to cause of death due to viewing jail video that reflects use of force by jail guards right before his death.

• Juan Miranda Valentine: In a chilling corroboration of Coy’s "falsified records" claim, a jail nurse documented Valentine’s vitals and a pain level of five out of 10 more than an hour after he had already been pronounced dead at AdventHealth.

• Dennis DiGenova: A 73-year-old veteran whose death was deemed a homicide was beaten at booking by two corrections deputies, then left on the floor of a cell for two days until nurses called 911. The medical examiner said the cause of death was homicide. The family has filed a federal lawsuit against Woods.

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August 14 - 20 2026 | OCALA GAZETTE

School Continued from page A1 • The health science facility connects directly to two traditional classrooms and is structured to simulate a realistic clinical environment for patientcare instruction.

• The campus dining facilities include an indoor cafeteria built to seat 686 students, but the space is expanded by an outdoor covered canopy area that seats an additional 180 students, allowing the school to accommodate between 850 and 900 students for dining.

• The school also houses an 800-seat auditorium and stage, which serves as the largest auditorium at a traditional high school in Marion County.

• For athletic programs, the campus includes outdoor basketball courts and will debut with a full selection of sports in its first year, having secured coaching staff for nearly every team.

Pointing at the towering ceilings, McAteer noted this was only the beginning. "In year two when the third floor is built out, we will have state-of-the-art chemistry, physics, and wet lab biology classrooms.”

At the July 14 school board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Danielle Brewer introduced a funding request to purchase furniture to make this third floor functional.

While the excitement surrounding the opening of South Marion is undeniable, the home of the SMHS Bears football team hit a temporary snag.

During the July 28 school board meeting, a regular agenda item brought to light an issue on the athletic field. "Unforeseen subsurface void conditions," or what Board Member Nancy

Photos by Bruce Ackerman Ocala Gazette

Students cast long shadows as they walk to their first class through the courtyard on the first day of school at the new South Marion High School in Marion Oaks, Fla. on Monday, August 10, 2026.

The football stadium is shown at the new South Marion High School in Marion Oaks, Fla. on Tuesday, August 11, 2026. Subsurface voids that could lead to sinkholes were found under the field during a ground-penetration radar test done in June 2026. The Bears will have to wait until at least Oct. 29, 2026 to play their first home game on the field while it is being repaired for $671,917.

Principal Ken McAteer directs cars in the car line on the first day of school at the new South Marion High School in Marion Oaks, Fla. on Monday, August 10, 2026.

Thrower clarified in layman's terms as the possible formation of sinkholes.

To ensure the safety of the students, the board approved

Compensation Amendment No. 5 to the construction manager contract, allocating $671,917 in capital funds to address the issue.

Deputy Superintendent

Public Notice IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION IN RE: ESTATE OF SHIRLEY O. JOHNSON, Deceased.

FILE NO.: 2026-CP-1364 NOTICE TO CREDITORS (Summary Administration) The administration of the estate of SHIRLEY O. JOHNSON a/k/a SHIRLEY ANN JOHNSON, deceased, whose date of death was April 3, 2026; is pending in the Circuit Court of Marion County, Florida, Probate Division; File Number 2026-CP1364; the address of which is 110 N.W. 1st Avenue, Ocala, Florida 34475. An Order of Summary Administration was entered on June 26, 2026, and the name and address of the person assigned control of the assets are JOHN G. JOHNSON and JULIE R. JOHNSON, c/o 539 N.E. 45th Court, Ocala, Florida 34470, the adult children of the decedent, and their attorney is Davis R. Watson III, Davis R. Watson III, P.A., 2201 S.E. 30th Avenue, Suite 202, Ocala, Florida 34471.

All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate, including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims, on whom a copy of this notice is served must file their claims with this Court WITHIN THE LATER OF THREE MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR THIRTY DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons who have claims or demands against the decedent’s estate, including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims, must file their claims with this court, WITHIN THREE (3) MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT SO FILED WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. THE DATE OF FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE IS AUGUST 14, 2026.

Attorney for Petitioner: DAVIS R. WATSON III Florida Bar No.: 117996 DAVIS R. WATSON III, P.A. 2201 S. E. 30th Avenue Suite 202 Ocala, Florida 34471 (352) 732-8080 Email: davis@daviswatsonlaw.com NOTICE UNDER FICTITIOUS NAME LAW PURSUANT TO SECTION 865.09, FLORIDA STATUTES Notice is hereby given that the undersigned, desiring to engage in business under the fictitious name of Hudoff Design located at 10 Juniper Trail Crse., Ocala, FL 34480, in the County of Marion, City of Ocala, State of Florida, 34480, intends to register the said name with the Division of Corporations of the Florida Department of State.

Dated at Ocala, Florida, this 12th day of August, 2026.

Name of Owner(s) or Sole Proprietor: Gary S. Hudoff III

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA IN RE: ESTATE OF JOYCE ORME, Deceased.

File No. 2026-CP-1681 Division PROBATE NOTICE TO CREDITORS The administration of the estate of Joyce Orme, deceased, whose date of death was June 6, 2026, is pending in the Circuit Court for Marion County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 110 NW First Avenue, Ocala, Florida 34475. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative's attorney are set forth below.

All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. The personal representative has no duty to discover whether any property held at the time of the decedent's death by the decedent or the decedent's surviving spouse is property to which the Florida Uniform Disposition of Community Property Rights at Death Act as described in ss. 732.216-732.228, Florida Statutes, applies, or may apply, unless a written demand is made by a creditor as specified under s. 732.2211, Florida Statutes.

The written demand must be filed with the clerk.

ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT'S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The date of first publication of this notice is August 14, 2026.

Attorney for Personal Representative: COLLEEN M. DURIS, B.C.S. Florida Bar Number: 975140 500 NE 8th Avenue Ocala, FL 34470 Telephone: (352) 732-7020 E-Mail: service@ocalaelderlaw.com; angie@ocalaelderlaw.com Personal Representative: Jeramiah Stepp 120 Savannah Ridge Angier, North Carolina 27501

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA IN RE: ESTATE OF CHARLES K. RUSE, JR. Deceased, File No. 2026-CP-1773 Division PROBATE NOTICE TO CREDITORS The administration of the estate of Charles K. Ruse, Jr., deceased, whose date of death was July 14, 2026, is pending in the Circuit Court for MARION County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 110 NW First Avenue, Ocala, Florida 34475. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative's attorney are set forth below.

All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. The personal representative has no duty to discover whether any property held at the time of the decedent's death by the decedent or the decedent's surviving spouse is property to which the Florida Uniform Disposition of Community Property Rights at Death Act as described in ss. 732.216-732.228, Florida Statutes, applies, or may apply, unless a written demand is made by a creditor as specified under s. 732.2211, Florida Statutes.

The written demand must be filed with the clerk.

ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT'S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The date of first publication of this notice is August 14, 2026.

Attorney for Personal Representative: Colleen Duris, B.C.S. Florida Bar Number: 975140 500 NE 8th Avenue Ocala, FL 34470 Telephone: (352) 732-7020 E-Mail: service@ocalaelderlaw.com E-Mail: angie@ocalaelderlaw.com Personal Representative: Barbara L. Ruse 1020 SE 5th Street Ocala, Florida 34470

Ben Whitehouse explained, "This amendment is providing $671,917 in capital funds... to address unforeseen subsurface void conditions... going towards the investigation, remediation and site restoration of the athletic field … to protect the longterm safety and integrity of the campus.”

Join the

Whitehouse said substantial completion of the word is expected on or before Oct. 29. Until the ground beneath the field is fully stabilized and safe, Whitehouse assured the board that McAteer "has been working diligently and has arranged for playing his home football games at other sites while the field is being restored.”

Team

FULL-TIME POSITIONS

Faculty – Respiratory Care – (220 day) Citrus • Chief Financial Officer – CF Foundation Faculty – Nursing (220 Day) – Ocala • Coordinator Food Services Educational Advisor • Print and Design Specialist

PART-TIME POSITIONS

Adjunct – Foreign Languages • Adjunct – Humanities & Social Sciences – Levy Adjunct – Hospitality - Chef • Adjunct – Mathematics – Levy Adjunct – Adult Education – Levy • Adjunct – Communications – Effective Speaking Adjunct – Dental Assisting & Dental Hygiene Clinical Dentist – Health Sciences Dental Programs Instructor – Welding - Levy • Adjunct – Human Nutrition • Public Safety Officer Conference and Food Services Staff • Instructional Aide I – Vintage Farm Instructional Aide – Engineering • Enrollment Specialist Visitor Services Specialist – AMA • Orientation Specialist

HOW TO APPLY

Go to cf.edu • Click CF Careers • Select View Job Openings or by the following link https://myjobs.adp.com/collegeofcentralfloridaexternalcs/cx Submit an electronic application, a copy of unofficial transcripts and a resume online.

A copy of transcripts from an accredited institution must be submitted with the application for positions requiring a degree.

3001 SW College Road, Ocala, FL 34474 CF is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Registration Now Open!

Now Accepting Applications for First Friday Art Walk Open applications for: Visual & Performing Artists, Arts Organizations and Sponsors

Full Season Deadline: Sept. 7 Apply online: www.ocalafl.gov/artwalk 352-629-8447

@ocalaculturalarts

ocalafl.gov/artwalk

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August 14 - 20 2026 | OCALA GAZETTE

COMMUNITY NEWS

By Susan Smiley-Height susan@magnoliamediaco.com pursue college degrees while reinforcing Spherion’s ongoing commitment to supporting the next generation of leaders, according to the press release.

Delien has distinguished herself through volunteer service at AdventHealth, where she supports hospital staff and helps care for patients while balancing athletics, extracurricular activities and a part-time job at Publix.

Inspired by her experiences at AdventHealth, she plans to pursue a degree in healthcare and follow her passion for making a difference in the lives of others, the release noted.

Greg Thompson is the executive and artistic director of The Civic, which has received its first-ever NEA grant. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette file photo]

T

OCT RECEIVES NEA GRANT FOR ‘RENT’

he Civic (Ocala Civic Theatre) has been awarded its first-ever National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) grant, in the amount of $20,000. The Civic is one of 50 America 250 grant recipients selected nationwide to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States through the arts. The grant will support “RENT,” the production launching The Civic's 76th season.

Jonathan Larson's Pulitzer Prize-winning, Tony Awardwinning musical helped redefine American musical theatre when it premiered in 1996. Set against the backdrop of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, the work explores healthcare, housing insecurity, poverty, identity, friendship, loss and resilience through the lives of a community that reflects the many experiences, backgrounds and perspectives that make up America. Thirty years later, its themes continue to resonate, inviting audiences to reflect on the enduring ideals, persistent challenges and shared humanity that continue to shape the American experience, the news release noted.

The grant will support a public table read, facilitated conversations, educational programming and partnerships with community organizations. “’RENT’ reminds us that the theatre is one of the few places left where people from every walk of life gather in one room, share one story, and leave having seen one another a little differently,” said Greg Thompson, executive and artistic director of The Civic. “That's the kind of civic experience the arts make possible. This isn't simply a celebration of an award—it's an investment in the belief that stories can strengthen communities, inspire conversation and bring people together.”

Lee Schwartz, assistant library director for the Marion County Public Library System, poses with the automated external defibrillator unit installed at the headquarters branch in Ocala from the American Heart Association through a grant from the HCA Healthcare Foundation. [Submitted photo]

T

CF OPENS NEW CAMPUS STORE

he College of Central Florida’s bookstore re-opened July 27, under new management with BibliU. It is in Building 36 on the Ocala Campus at 3001 S.W. College Road.

CF students now have access to the new MyCF Books program, which provides day-one access to all required digital textbooks and courseware in their online student portal. Through the flat-rate program, MyCF Books, students will have access to required course materials for one predictable cost, helping reduce uncertainty around textbook pricing and making it easier to be prepared for class. The MyCF Books program piloted for students during the summer, with the full launch starting in the fall term, which begins Aug. 17.

S

SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

pherion Staffing and Recruiting of Ocala recently announced that Katiana Delien, a 2026 Lake Weir High School graduate, has been named a recipient of the annual Sandy Mazur Excellence in Leadership Scholarship.

Created to celebrate the legacy of former Spherion President Sandy Mazur, the $5,000 scholarship recognizes students who exemplify the leadership, determination and commitment to serving others that defined her career.

Since its launch in 2019, the program has helped students

David Miller, owner of Spherion Staffing and Recruiting in Ocala, presents Katiana Delien the Sandy Mazur Excellence in Leadership Scholarship.

[Submitted photo]

H

‘LIBRARIES WITH HEART’ LAUNCH

CA Florida Ocala Hospital and HCA Florida West Marion Hospital have announced a partnership with the American Heart Association and Marion County Public Library System to launch the “Libraries with Heart” program.

Made possible through a grant from the HCA Healthcare Foundation, the program has outfitted six Marion County public libraries with automated external defibrillators (AEDs). Additionally, patrons with library cards can check out blood pressure monitoring kits, giving residents a way to track their blood pressure and take an active role in managing cardiovascular health.

As one example of the educational aspect of the partnership, Dr. Himanshu Shukla, the board-certified director of the electrophysiology program at HCA Florida Ocala Hospital and HCA Florida West Marion Hospital, presented a talk in June called "Heart Wise" at the library system headquarters branch in Ocala.

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August 14 - 20 2026 | OCALA gAZEttE

COMMUNITY NEWS

SELECT YEAR 2026

By Florida News Service SELECT CRASH COUNTY

PEREZ STEPPING DOWN FOR BRAZIL POST

MARION SELECT CRASH TYPE ALL CRASHES

DATA IN THIS VIEW COVERS CRASHES OCCURING BETWEEN 1/1/2026 AND 8/6/2026.

DATA IS CONSIDERED PRELIMINARY AS OF 08/08/2026

ALL CRASHES

FATALITIES FROM ALL CRASHES

3,597

INJURIES FROM ALL CRASHES

3,083

53

TOTAL FATAL CRASHES

52 TOTAL INJURY CRASHES

1,885 MARION

TOTAL BICYCLE CRASHES

62

PERCENTAGE OF ALL CRASHES INVESTIGATED BY EACH LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY TYPE

TOTAL BICYCLE FATALITIES

1 Sheriff Dept.

5.81% (209)

TOTAL MOTORCYCLE CRASHES

105 TOTAL MOTORCYCLE FATALITIES

Police Dept.

34.39% (1,237) FHP 59.80% (2,151)

13 TOTAL PEDESTRIAN CRASHES

105

© 2026 Mapbox © OpenStreetMap

TOTAL PEDESTRIAN FATALITIES

TOTAL HIT AND RUN CRASHES

TOTAL HIT AND RUN FATALITIES

TOTAL HIT AND RUN INJURIES

646

0

167

6

TOTAL CRASHES

600

DATA IN THIS VIEW COVERS CRASHES OCCURING BETWEEN 1/1/2026 AND 8/6/2026.

400

200

DATA IS CONSIDERED PRELIMINARY AS OF 08/08/2026.

0 Jan 2026

Feb 2026

Mar 2026

Apr 2026

May 2026

Jun 2026

Jul 2026

Aug 2026

H

ouse Speaker Daniel Perez announced his formal resignation effective Aug. 21, as he prepares to be the U.S. Ambassador to Brazil under President Donald Trump.

In a letter to members of the House on Friday, Perez, a Miami Republican, wrote that upon being confirmed for the post by the U.S. Senate he intends to “begin my tenure once I take the oath of office, which will be later this month.”

“Serving in this House and as your Speaker has been the honor of my life. We have been on a sometimes thrilling and sometimes tumultuous journey together,” Perez wrote. “As you look back on this term, I hope you feel, as I do, that we have done right by this House and the people of Florida. Until we meet again.”

Perez' term in the House was to end with the general election in November due to term limits.

Speaker pro tempore Wyman Duggan, a Jacksonville Republican, will act as Speaker through the end of the current term, but Perez wrote House Speaker-designate Sam Garrison, R-Fleming Island, will assume the duties in September.

“Practically speaking, I have notified Speaker-designate Garrison that his team may assume control over the House’s operations on September 8th so that he will have more time to prepare for the start of his term,” Perez wrote.

Garrison was reelected this year without opposition.

Duggan isn’t running for reelection due to term limits.

President Donald Trump nominated Perez for the office on June 1.

Perez, R-Miami, has long been a Trump supporter and helped pass a redrawing of Florida’s congressional districts after the President had called on GOP-led states to pass new maps to help Republicans maintain control of the U.S. House.

Trump has been a supporter of Perez in his tenure as Speaker, even though Perez and Gov. Ron DeSantis have clashed publicly over the past two years.

Public Notice IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION IN RE: ESTATE OF VICKIE VICTORY DAVIS, Deceased.

FILE NO.: 2026-CP-1789 NOTICE TO CREDITORS (Summary Administration) The administration of the estate of VICKIE VICTORY DAVIS a/k/a VICTORY VICKIE DAVIS a/k/a VICKIE L. DAVIS a/k/a VICKIE V. DAVIS a/k/a VICKIE DAVIS, deceased, whose date of death was April 9, 2026; is pending in the Circuit Court of Marion County, Florida, Probate Division; File Number 2026-CP-1789; the address of which is 110 N.W. 1st Avenue, Ocala, Florida 34475. An Order of Summary Administration was entered on August 9, 2026, and the name and address of the person assigned control of the assets is ROBERT HEATH, P.O. Box 1007, Meeker, Colorado 81641, the brother of the decedent and Successor Trustee of the decedent’s Trust, and their attorney is Davis R. Watson III, Davis R. Watson III, P.A., 2201 S.E. 30th Avenue, Suite 202, Ocala, Florida 34471.

THE ESTATE IS INSOLVENT AND HAS NO NON-EXEMPT ASSETS WITH WHICH TO SATISFY CREDITOR CLAIMS. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate, including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims, on whom a copy of this notice is served must file their claims with this Court WITHIN THE LATER OF THREE MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR THIRTY DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons who have claims or demands against the decedent’s estate, including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims, must file their claims with this court, WITHIN THREE (3) MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT SO FILED WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. THE DATE OF FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE IS AUGUST 14, 2026.

Attorney for Petitioner: DAVIS R. WATSON III Florida Bar No.: 117996 DAVIS R. WATSON III, P.A. 2201 S. E. 30th Avenue Suite 202 Ocala, Florida 34471 (352) 732-8080 Email: davis@daviswatsonlaw.com

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA. IN RE: THE ESTATE OF DENNIS G. SIBISKI, Deceased.

CASE NO: 2026-CP-1690 NOTICE TO CREDITORS The name of the decedent, the designation of the court in which the administration of this estate is pending, and the file number are indicated above. The address of the court is 110 N.W. 1st Avenue, Ocala, FL 34475. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are indicated below.

If you have been served with a copy of this notice and you have any claim or demand against the decedent’s estate, even if that claim is unmatured, contingent or unliquidated, you must file your claim with the court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF A DATE THAT IS 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER YOU RECEIVE A COPY OF THIS NOTICE. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons who have claims or demands against the decedent’s estate, including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims, must file their claims with the court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT SO FILED WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. EVEN IF A CLAIM IS NOT BARRED BY THE LIMITATIONS DESCRIBED ABOVE, ALL CLAIMS WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN FILED WILL BE BARRED TWO YEARS AFTER DECEDENT’S DEATH. The date of death of the decedent is: September 9, 2025.

The date of first publication of this Notice is August 14, 2026.

The personal representative or curator has no duty to discover whether any property held at the time of the decedent’s death by the decedent, or the decedent’s surviving spouse, is property to which the Florida Uniform Disposition of Community Property Rights at Death Act, as described in sections 732.216 – 732.228 F.S., applies, or may apply unless a written demand is made by a creditor as specified under section 732.2211, F.S.

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA. IN RE: THE ESTATE OF GEORGE A. RUKSTELA, Deceased.

CASE NO: 2026-CP-1736 NOTICE TO CREDITORS The name of the decedent, the designation of the court in which the administration of this estate is pending, and the file number are indicated above. The address of the court is 110 N.W. 1st Avenue, Ocala, FL 34475. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are indicated below.

If you have been served with a copy of this notice and you have any claim or demand against the decedent’s estate, even if that claim is unmatured, contingent or unliquidated, you must file your claim with the court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF A DATE THAT IS 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER YOU RECEIVE A COPY OF THIS NOTICE. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons who have claims or demands against the decedent’s estate, including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims, must file their claims with the court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT SO FILED WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. EVEN IF A CLAIM IS NOT BARRED BY THE LIMITATIONS DESCRIBED ABOVE, ALL CLAIMS WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN FILED WILL BE BARRED TWO YEARS AFTER DECEDENT’S DEATH. The date of death of the decedent is: May 6, 2026.

The date of first publication of this Notice is August 7, 2026.

The personal representative or curator has no duty to discover whether any property held at the time of the decedent’s death by the decedent, or the decedent’s surviving spouse, is property to which the Florida Uniform Disposition of Community Property Rights at Death Act, as described in sections 732.216 – 732.228 F.S., applies, or may apply unless a written demand is made by a creditor as specified under section 732.2211, F.S.

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA. IN RE: THE ESTATE OF PATRICIA J. THAYER, a/k/a PATRICIA J. DAMIATA THAYER, a/k/a PATRICIA D. THAYER, Deceased.

CASE NO: 2026-CP-1769 NOTICE TO CREDITORS The name of the decedent, the designation of the court in which the administration of this estate is pending, and the file number are indicated above. The address of the court is 110 N.W. 1st Avenue, Ocala, FL 34475. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are indicated below.

If you have been served with a copy of this notice and you have any claim or demand against the decedent’s estate, even if that claim is unmatured, contingent or unliquidated, you must file your claim with the court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF A DATE THAT IS 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER YOU RECEIVE A COPY OF THIS NOTICE. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons who have claims or demands against the decedent’s estate, including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims, must file their claims with the court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT SO FILED WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. EVEN IF A CLAIM IS NOT BARRED BY THE LIMITATIONS DESCRIBED ABOVE, ALL CLAIMS WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN FILED WILL BE BARRED TWO YEARS AFTER DECEDENT’S DEATH. The date of death of the decedent is: March 23, 2026.

The date of first publication of this Notice is August 14, 2026.

The personal representative or curator has no duty to discover whether any property held at the time of the decedent’s death by the decedent, or the decedent’s surviving spouse, is property to which the Florida Uniform Disposition of Community Property Rights at Death Act, as described in sections 732.216 – 732.228 F.S., applies, or may apply unless a written demand is made by a creditor as specified under section 732.2211, F.S.

Attorney for Personal Representative: JOSHUA L. MOSES Richard & Moses, LLC Florida Bar No. 119304 226 NE Sanchez Avenue Ocala, FL 34470 (352) 369-1300 Primary Email: Josh@RMProbate.com

Attorney for Personal Representative: JOSHUA L. MOSES Richard & Moses, LLC Florida Bar No. 119304 226 NE Sanchez Avenue Ocala, FL 34470 (352) 369-1300 Primary Email: Josh@RMProbate.com

Attorney for Personal Representative: JOSHUA L. MOSES Richard & Moses, LLC Florida Bar No. 119304 226 NE Sanchez Avenue Ocala, FL 34470 (352) 369-1300 Primary Email: Josh@RMProbate.com

Personal Representative: ANITA M. SIBISKI 16290 SW 14th Court Ocala, FL 34473

Personal Representative: NANETTE C. RUKSTELA 2270 NE 146th Avenue Silver Springs, FL 34488

Personal Representative: EDWARD R. WINEGARD P.O Box 866 Fort McCoy, FL 32134

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION IN RE: ESTATE OF CHARLES H. ARMSTRONG , Deceased. File No. 2026-CP1788 NOTICE TO CREDITORS The administration of the estate of Charles H. Armstrong, deceased, whose date of death was July 5, 2026, is pending in the Circuit Court for MARION County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 110 NW First Avenue, Ocala, Florida 34475. The names and addresses of the personal representatives and the personal representatives' attorney are set forth below.

All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. The personal representative has no duty to discover whether any property held at the time of the decedent's death by the decedent or the decedent's surviving spouse is property to which the Florida Uniform Disposition of Community Property Rights at Death Act as described in ss. 732.216-732.228, Florida Statutes, applies, or may apply, unless a written demand is made by a creditor as specified under s. 732.2211, Florida Statutes. The written demand must be filed with the clerk.

ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT'S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The date of first publication of this notice is August 14, 2026.

Attorney for Personal Representatives: Colleen Duris, B.C.S. Florida Bar Number: 975140 500 NE 8th Avenue, Ocala, FL 34470 Telephone: (352) 732-7020 E-Mail: service@ocalaelderlaw.com E-Mail: angie@ocalaelderlaw.com Personal Representatives: Cynthia Prewitt 620 NE 118th Avenue Road Silver Springs, Florida 34488 Peter Patterson 5708 Summerbrook Court Leesburg, FL 34748

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA Case No.: 2026-1745-CP IN RE: THE ESTATE OF MIGUEL A. RAMOS, Deceased/ NOTICE TO CREDITORS The administration of the estate of MIGUEL A. RAMOS, deceased, whose date of death was April 26, 2026, is pending in the Circuit Court for Marion County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 110 Northwest First Avenue, Ocala, Florida 34475. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below.

The personal representative has no duty to discover whether any property held at the time of the decedent’s death by the decedent or the decedent’s surviving spouse is property to which the Florida Uniform Disposition of Community Property Rights at Death Act as described in sections 732.216-732.228, Florida Statutes, applies, or may apply, unless a written demand is made by a creditor as specified under section 732.2211, Florida Statutes.

All creditors of the decedent, and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF THREE (3) MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR THIRTY (30) DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN THREE (3) MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS AND DEMANDS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN SECTION 733.702 OF THE FLORIDA PROBATE CODE WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The date of the first publication of this Notice is August 14, 2026 Personal Representative: CYNTHIA CEILAN 6720 NE 1 st Place Ocala, FL 34470 Attorney for Personal Representative: JANET W. BEHNKE Florida Bar No. 135969 Janet W. Behnke, P.A. 500 NE 8 th Avenue Ocala, FL 34470 Phone: (352) 732-6464 janet@behnkelaw.net

A6

August 14 - 20 2026 | OCALA GAZETTE

Collaborative community NE Ocala family gets home makeover through Bless This House initiative.

By Andy Fillmore andy@ocalagazette.com

F

or a northeast Ocala homeowner and her son, a house makeover donated through a community-based program dubbed Bless This House was a godsend.

For the CEO of the lead contracting firm on the project, it was what God said to do—and fast.

Bless This House is a community outreach organized and spearheaded by the Women’s Council of Realtors/Ocala, Marion County, which is part of an 88- year-old organization with networking across 40 states and ties to national and local realtor groups.

Local WCR president and project chair, Christie Casey, stated in a press release that Bless This House is a community service project dedicated to restoring hope one home at a time. She collaborated with President-Elect Sarah Cooke to

establish the Bless This House project.

“Bless This House represents what can happen when a community decides to show up for one another. Every paintbrush, every repair, every donated item and every volunteer represent someone choosing kindness,” Casey stated.

About 50 people involved in the project, including contractors, donor vendors and well-wishers, were on hand to pray and watch the homeowner and her son arrive in a horse drawn carriage for the finished house reveal on Aug. 3. The two ripped down a poster, unlocked the front door and entered the house for the first time since the job completion.

The recipient, who was not identified and for whom photography was restricted, was selected through a screening process, according to the lead contractor, based upon level of need and resources available.

Jeremiah Bennett, managing member and CEO of Benmar Construction, lead contractor on

The family that received a home makeover is flanked members of the Bless This House project organized by the Women’s Council of Realtors of Ocala/Marion County. The family, which preferred to remain anonymous, entered their home for a first look at a reveal held on Aug. 3, 2026. [Andy Fillmore/Ocala Gazette]

the project, offered an invocation before the homeowner crossed a “Home Sweet Home” welcome mat at the front door.

“Fantastic, truly amazing,” said the homeowner after opening her front door. Fresh paint, newly finished ceilings and new accessories could be seen, but evidently her personal touches like artwork remained.

The homeowner was described as working in a position that involves counseling and helping others and she feels this is a blessing in return.

The house received a “much needed” floor to ceiling “gutting,”

new cabinets, fixtures, some furniture and landscaping, and new fencing from Florida State Fencing. Thermo Solutions of Ocala installed a new air conditioning system and Florida Legacy Construction, represented

by Travis Strickland, provided new cabinets.

Altogether, about four dozen builders and donors completed the makeover.

Bennett said the job was completed in around 12 days when the type of major redo involved typically takes about three months. He and his project managers, including

Zach Farrah and Sam Steed, worked with partner contractors and vendors to get the job done quickly.

Bennett said back when he was “swinging hammers” to help build up the Ocala commercial and residential contracting company established by his father, Gary Bennett, he looked forward to serving the community “and do what God calls us to do.”

“It humbles me,” he said.

To learn more, go to wcr.org/ network/wcr/eastern-region/ florida/ocala-marion-county

Government advisory board vacancies

By serving on a local board, your experience and knowledge can influence governmental decisions and help you, fellow citizens and local government.

Staff report

H

ere are the vacancies for various boards in the cities of Marion County and the county itself. ~~~~~

CITY OF BELLEVIEW:

The city link is: belleviewfl. org/151/Boards-Committees The application document is: belleviewfl.org/DocumentCenter/ View/39/City-Board-ApplicationPDF?bidId=

Planning & Zoning Board

Description: The board acts as an advisory panel to the commission for planning and zoning issues. They also hear and decide variance and special exception requests.

The board is subject to the Sunshine Regulations and must file financial disclosure forms upon appointment and annually thereafter. Meetings are held the second Tuesday of each month at 5:30 pm. One vacancy. For more information, visit belleviewfl. org/175/planning-zoning-board ~~~~~

CITY OF DUNNELLON: The city link is: dunnellon.org/ government/boards-commissions

Planning Commission

Description: The commission has an administrative review function whereby it reviews all changes to the City’s Comprehensive Plan, by amendment, evaluation, addition and appraisal for consistency with the existing plan and reviews all land-related/ zoning ordinances to determine consistency to the plan. The commission holds quasijudicial hearings with regards to land planning/zoning cases, site plan reviews, variances,

special exceptions, and review/ appeal of administrative orders, and forwards its findings/ recommendations to the City Council. Meetings are the second Tuesday of each month at 5 p.m.

Police Officers & Firefighters Pension Board

Description: The duty of the board is to operate and administer the Fire and Police Pension Plan in accordance with the direction of the City Council. Duties include, but are not limited to, administration of the plan assets. Members of this board are required by the State of Florida Commission on Ethics to complete a Form 1 Statement of Financial Interest upon being appointed and every year thereafter. The State also requires each member to complete a Form 1F Final Statement of Financial Interest within 60 days of leaving or terminating your board membership. Meetings are the third Tuesday of the second month of each quarter at 8:30am. ~~~~~

CITY OF OCALA: The link is: ocalafl.gov/ government/city-departmentsa-h/city-clerk/boards-andcommissions The City Council appoints individuals to serve on more than 20 boards, advisory committees and commissions. These volunteers are from all over Ocala and their experience, knowledge and expertise help influence decisions affecting the city by providing advice and feedback to leaders and council. Each board has its own page and application link. Many boards have specific requirements, such as living within the city limits, being a qualified city voter or owning real property within city limits. The requirements, if any, are detailed

for each board on its page. To learn more, email clerk@ocalafl. gov or call (352) 629-8266.

Firefighters' Retirement System Board of Trustees

Description: The sole and exclusive administration of, and the responsibility for the proper, effective operation of the retirement plan.

Vacancies: 2

Historic Preservation Advisory Board

Description: The board oversees the historic resources of the city and advises City Council and departments on matters relating to these resources, as well as manages Certificates of Appropriateness for properties within the Tuscawilla Park and Ocala Historic Districts. Attend informational or educational meetings, workshops and conferences; advise on development of goals, objectives and policies for historic preservation; advise city departments on matters relating to historic resources in the City; advise individuals on preservation of historic structures; educate public on economic benefits of same; and submit annual report to SHPO covering annual activities.

Vacancies: 1, for an architect

Municipal Arts Commission

Description: The commission shall act in an advisory capacity to the city government in connection with the artistic and cultural development of the city and aesthetic aspects of city activity.

Membership qualifications: The commission shall consist of 11 members to be appointed by the city council for a term of up to four years on the basis of experience and interest in the cultural arts. Whenever possible, the membership shall include a representative from the College of Central Florida's Visual and Performing Arts Department, Fine Arts for Ocala, Marion County School Board, Marion Cultural Alliance, Ocala Civic Theater and the Ocala Symphony Orchestra..

Vacancies: 1

Municipal Code Enforcement Board

Description: The Code Enforcement Division enforces codes that pertain to zoning laws, nuisance abatement, contracting and permitting requirements of the city and state, occupational licenses, sign codes, alcohol location permits and many other local ordinances and state statutes. The board hears cases relating to code violations. Empowered to levy fines and place liens on property if violation not corrected.

Vacancies: 2

Police Officers' Retirement System Board of Trustees

Description: The board administers and manages the system provided and serve as trustees of the fund.

Membership qualifications: Five-member board, two police officers (elected by the majority of police officers), two residents of the city (appointed by City Council) and one member chosen by a majority of the other four members of the board. Form 1 Financial Disclosures are required to be submitted annually to the Florida State Ethics Commission.

Vacancies: 1

Tree Commission

Description: It shall be the responsibility of the Tree Commission to develop and administer a written plan for the care, preservation, pruning, planting, replanting and removal of trees on property owned or controlled by the city and on property owned or controlled by all other governmental entities when this property is located within the city limits.

Membership qualifications: All will be licensed tree surgeons, licensed landscape architects, licensed landscaping contractors or other interested citizens chosen for their knowledge of, concern about and participation in issues affecting the city’s urban tree population.

Vacancies: 1

Utility Advisory Board

Description: The board advises and makes

recommendations to City Council on matters relating to management of city-owned utilities, including Ocala Electric Utility and Ocala Water Resources.

Membership qualifications: Whenever possible, the membership shall include a representative member from: electric residential customer, electric commercial customer, electric large power customer, water residential customer, water small commercial customer, water large commercial customer, council person customer, education/medical customer, non-profit/governmental, finance customer, two at large members.

Vacancies: 1

West Ocala Redevelopment Advisory Committee

Description: The committee is appointed as an advisory board to the Community Redevelopment Agency for the area defined as the West Ocala Redevelopment Subarea.

Vacancies: 1 ~~~~~

MARION COUNTY An application can be downloaded at marionfl.org/mycommissioners/advisory-boards and can be printed or saved as a PDF. Email completed forms to commissionadmin@marionfl.org.

Applications can also be obtained at the Marion County Board of County Commissioners’ Office at 601 SE 25th Ave., Ocala, or by calling (352) 438-2323.

Code Enforcement

Responsibilities: Must be Marion County residents with experience in zoning and building control, preferably in fields such as architecture, engineering, general contracting or subcontracting. They have the authority to adopt hearing rules; subpoena violators, witnesses and documents; take testimony under oath; and issue legally binding orders to resolve violations and impose fines per county ordinance. Members are required to e-file Form 1 (Statement of Financial Interests) with the Florida Commission on Ethics.

Vacancies: 2

A7

August 14 - 20 2026 | OCALA GAZETTE

Ocala Fire Rescue Continued from page A1

• Firefighter/EMT: Starting annual minimum raises from $52,020.27 to $66,270.27, with an annual maximum of $82,100.

• Firefighter/Paramedic: Starting annual minimum raises from $62,640.67 to $77,890.67, with an annual maximum of $91,758.

• Fire Equipment Operator (FEO) / EMT: Starting annual minimum raises from $60,710.18 to $74,960.18, with an annual maximum of $93,204.

• Fire Equipment Operator (FEO) / Paramedic: Starting annual minimum raises from $71,330.58 to $86,580.58, with an annual maximum of $102,851.

• Captain/EMT: Starting annual minimum raises from $71,055.72 to $85,305.72, with an annual maximum of $110,894.

• Captain/Paramedic: Starting annual minimum raises from $81,676.12 to $96,926, with an annual maximum of $153,081.79.

Beyond base pay, Ocala’s agreement maintains structured promotional upgrades to their base pay that range between $2,393 to $3,589 when they achieve benchmarks.

TRANSITION TO A 24/72 SCHEDULE

Following the national and statewide trend toward reducing firefighter work hours to combat fatigue and improve mental health, Ocala’s contract officially commits the department to a 42-hour workweek (24 hours on, 72 hours off ) shift schedule. The city has established an implementation deadline of Sept. 30, 2029, matching the timeline of MCFR's schedule reform.

Until the 24/72 transition is fully implemented, OFR will maintain its existing "half-Kelly

Day" schedule under Article 9.4. This structure grants shift employees one fixed 24-hour shift off duty within a 42-day cycle, known as a “Kelly Day” in firefighter vernacular. Because the Kelly Day drops once every six weeks, it reduces the traditional 56-hour workweek to an average of 52 hours per week.

Upon the transition to the 24/72 schedule, these Kelly Days will be discontinued. Furthermore, Ocala’s Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) overtime threshold will drop from 106 hours to 84 hours in a 14day period once the 24/72 work schedule is implemented.

PENSIONS

The contract provides a finalized structure for the local Ocala Firefighter Retirement Plan, managed by the Ocala Firefighter Pension Board of Trustees. Under Article 22, the city agrees to fund the plan based on actuarial requirements, mandating that the first $200,000 in Chapter 175 premium tax revenues received each year go directly toward reducing the city's annual required pension contribution. Any revenues exceeding that $200,000 threshold will be split equally, with 50% applied to reduce the plan's unfunded actuarial accrued liability and the other 50% deposited directly into a dedicated cost of living allowance fund to protect retirees.

HOW IT CONTRASTS WITH MCFR’S NEW CONTRACT

Historically, OFR has offered higher salaries than their county counterpart and with these new contracts, that trend continues.

For starting firefighter/EMTs, Ocala’s annual minimum is set at $66,270.27, slightly outpacing

MCFR’s newly approved starting Firefighter/EMT pay of $65,000.

For starting firefighter/ paramedics, Ocala also edges out the county on starting dualcertified Paramedics, establishing a baseline starting minimum of $77,890.67 compared to Marion County's starting Paramedic rate of $75,000.

Both Ocala and Marion County are marching toward the same 24/72 shift schedule destination with a final implementation deadline of Sept.

30, 2029. However, the transitional schedules they are using to bridge the gap differ:: • OFR maintains its established "half-Kelly day" schedule (Article 9.4), which keeps Ocala's intermediate workweek at a lower average of 52 hours per week.

• MCFR operates on a traditional 56-hour average workweek. Under their transitional timeline, they are utilizing a three-

week (21-day) Kelly Day rotation as a bridge to reduce intermediate hours before making the final jump to 24/72. The one exception to this is MCFR crews that run ambulances only within the city, and they have a full Kelly day, giving them a 48-hour work week until the transition.

Ocala operates its own independent, municipally governed Firefighter Pension Board of Trustees, allowing the union and city to bargain local rules regarding the distribution of state premium tax revenues. MCFR has no localized pension board, with employees participating directly in the statewide Florida Retirement System (FRS).

The statewide FRS makes it very easy for firefighters to transfer between county departments

throughout the state without impacting their retirement track; however, Ocala’s pension investment ends when firefighters cease working for the city.

The aggressive restructuring of both contracts highlights a stark reality outlined in the Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association’s recent White Paper on Recruitment & Retention. Across the state, fire departments are grappling with severe labor shortages and fierce competition among departments for firefighters, particularly those that are dual-certified as paramedics.

With 71% of all projected vacancies across Florida fire departments requiring certified Paramedics, municipal and county agencies are no longer just comparing themselves to national averages—they are in a direct, daily battle with their immediate neighbors to keep emergency response rigs fully staffed.

been working on and with the new position we'll be moving forward with it,” Iovino said.

Dreyer said when she asked Iovino about his approach to developing an audit plan that he’d come with something prepared.

“Vincent had an attachment that he brought, which was a very well-done spreadsheet,” Dreyer said. “It looks like one that I have hanging on my wall for my business, and what it allows is other people to come in and know how to do his job, which I appreciate because a lot of times we silo ourselves.”

With the death of Bridgeman, the city auditor’s office is down to just two auditors. Hilty said that although he was impressed with most of Iovino’s answers, he didn’t like the fact Iovino suggested that the city could move forward without hiring a third auditor. Watt, the chief of

staff, offered some context.

“He was hired to focus on the IT portion of our audits several years ago…up until that point, we didn't have somebody that had that expertise, but that's where he has had his focus,” Watt said. “I don't think he has much of a concept of what it entails to audit the whole rest of the city properly, and that's been why he believes we only needed two. Randall was adamant that he had to have a minimum of three.”

One person who would agree is Senior Assistant Internal Auditor Vaughn Gritton, who was also a finalist for the position.

“I would think there needs to be a third person, whether you know you appoint me as internal auditor or not,” Gritton said.

“The process of being able to review and have quality is going to take another set of eyes.”

4. PENSION SYSTEMS AND GOVERNANCE

Fresh set of eyes

Ocala promotes new internal auditor from within city hall.

By Steve Collins steve@ocalagazette.com

T

he city of Ocala’s information technology auditor is slated to become the city’s top watchdog.

The City Council voted 4-0 on Aug. 11 to promote Vincent Iovino to the position of internal auditor, although one council member said his preference would’ve been to extend the search. The internal auditor reports directly to the City Council, and responsibilities include digging into city finances to catch waste, fraud or noncompliance. The position had been vacant since the previous internal auditor, Randall Bridgeman, died on May 10.

Iovino was one of three candidates to interview with the City Council on Tuesday.

He has been the city’s IT auditor since April 2022 and previously did auditing work for the city of Gainesville and Florida International University.

Although Iovino’s new salary still must be negotiated, Chief of Staff Christopher Watt told the City Council that the salary will likely fall between $113,000 and $120,000.

The four council members who voted for Iovino were Council President Ire Bethea Sr., Kristen Dreyer, Barry Mansfield and James Hilty Sr. Council President Pro-Tem Jay Musleh wasn’t present for the vote but met earlier with the candidates.

Although he voted to hire Iovino, Mansfield said he’d have preferred to have interviewed more candidates.

Public Information Officer Gregory Davis had previously said that there were 29 applicants

for the position and Watt narrowed the list to four finalists.

Watt said Tuesday that one of the finalists dropped out after accepting a different position.

Iovino told the “Ocala Gazette” after the meeting that he’s excited to hit the ground running.

“The first thing is making it a very vibrant internal audit department, very transparent,” he said. “I’m looking forward to working with everybody on improving the city.”

In terms of transparency, Iovino said he wants to implement an electronic system that would allow city council members and the people involved in specific audits to be able to monitor progress in real time.

He said he hopes to rollout the system in his first 90 days in the new position.

“This is something that I had

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August 14 - 20 2026 | OCALA GAZETTE

Photos courtesy Mid-North Florida American Poolplayers Association The Cue Carnage team, with Capt. Gary Duke, Steve Allard, Byron Wilridge, Chad Wadsworth, Candy Kuehl and Bill Kuehl (not pictured).

Rack ‘em up

Among the local pool teams competing in Las Vegas is Best Served Cold, which includes, front, from left, Frank Toil, Hailey Dorman, Mike Swinehart and Jacquelyne Trent, and back, from left, Rey Santamaria, Belea Keeney, David Swinehart and Kaleb Swinehart. [Submitted photo]

Five Marion County pool teams compete in world championships in Las Vegas.

Special to the Gazette

F

ive Marion County amateur pool teams recently traveled to Las Vegas to compete in the World Pool Championship, American Poolplayers Association world finals. This year, the APA is hosting more than 1,900 teams comprised of 14,152 players during its annual world competition at the Westgate Resort.

The Ocala area teams are Best Served Cold, Ohana and Racks on Racksss, competing in the 8-ball field from Aug. 4-9; and Cue Carnage and X-Cues Us competing in the 9-ball field Aug. 11-15.

“We’re so proud to send our teams out to the Vegas for this honor,” said area league operator Claudia Cardinal. “Each team won its local division then moved up through regional contests and then world qualifier tournaments to win. The hard work and dedication to the sport they’ve all shown is phenomenal.”

Local APA teams play in various venues around the county, including Downtown Billiards, Snowbirds Billiards

and Good Time Bar & Grill. The fall season begins Aug. 31 and all skill levels are welcome.

“Many of our players are beginners,” Cardinal said. “Because of the APA’s equalizer handicapping system, all players have a legitimate chance to win a match.”

The APA is the world’s largest pool league, with players from the United States, Japan and Canada represented in team play.

You can reach the Mid-North Florida APA by calling (352) 446-2121. For more information about joining a league, go to poolplayers.com/locator

The Rackss on Rackssss team includes Capt. John Parkin, Byron Wilridge, Roger Chamberlain, Daniel Kelleher, Tammy Stiles, Michelle Klix and Heather Bass.

The X-Cues Us team includes Capt. Casey Kasten, Daniel Rupakus, Jason Kasten, Bill Padgett, Doug Lilly, Tara Zackery, Anthony Zackery and Satesh Ramsaran (not pictured).

Team Ohana, with Capt. Steward McClure, Missi Branham, Sonseeahray Jones, Sean Knowles, Ashley Knowles, Nate Miller, Brittany Mancil and David Jones (not pictured).

Watering restrictions still apply Area including Marion County is under Phase III water shortage.

Staff report

Y

es, it has been raining, but not quite enough to lift watering restrictions.

The St. Johns River Water Management District’s watering restrictions are designed to ensure the efficient use of water for landscape irrigation. The restrictions allow enough water to maintain healthy landscapes year-round. The mandatory restrictions specify the time when watering may occur, the amount of water that may be applied and the days when watering may occur.

A Phase III Extreme Water Shortage has been declared due to ongoing drought conditions across portions of the district, which includes Marion County.

Below-average rainfall, declining groundwater levels and reduced river flows continue to place significant stress on regional water resources. Water shortage declarations are temporary measures used to help protect water supplies during extended dry periods. Conditions are monitored regularly and additional restrictions may be implemented if conditions continue to worsen.

Under a Phase III water shortage: • Landscape irrigation is limited to one day a week and prohibited between the hours of 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.

• Irrigation of new plantings, including sod, is further restricted.

• Commercial, industrial and institutional users must suspend certain non-essential water uses.

• Aesthetic water use is prohibited and additional restrictions apply to activities such as street and pressure washing.

• Wasteful and unnecessary water use is prohibited.

• Residents, businesses, agricultural operations and other water users are encouraged to proactively plan for continued dry conditions and the potential for additional restrictions.

Landscape irrigation in areas subject to a Phase III Extreme Water Shortage is limited to one day per week. If you have not reset your irrigation timer so irrigation only occurs one day per week and only between the hours of 6 p.m. and 8 a.m., this should be done immediately, according to the district. Residents are also encouraged to inspect irrigation systems for leaks and ensure sprinklers are only watering landscaped areas, not streets, sidewalks or driveways, to help prevent unnecessary water waste during ongoing drought conditions.

For more details, go to sjrwmd.com/ wateringrestrictions

Map courtesy St. Johns River Water Management District

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August 14 - 20 2026 | OCALA GAZETTE

Marion Senior Services gets $100K national grant The funds will help shorten the agency’s Meals on Wheels waitlist.

By Jennifer Hunt jennifer@ocalagazette.com

M

arion Senior Services announced this week that it has received a $100,000 grant from Meals on Wheels America, which the nonprofit says will help it begin serving some of the more than 900 homebound seniors on its Meals on Wheels waiting list.

The money comes through the national organization's 2026 Meeting Unmet Need initiative, which funds local providers working on senior hunger and isolation.

In April, Meals on Wheels America announced a $70 million unrestricted donation from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott,

which the organization called a transformational gift.

Meals on Wheels America has not said whether the Meeting Unmet Need grants draw on the Scott donation. However, in its April announcement, the organization said it was taking a deliberate approach to spending the money and was focused on strengthening the network's long-term capacity, including addressing infrastructure gaps that limit how many seniors local providers can serve. So far in 2026, $10 million has been awarded through the Meeting Unmet Need initiative to 61 local providers nationwide, according to the agency's announcement, including $4 million distributed this summer.

"Across the country, Meals on Wheels providers are working tirelessly," Ellie Hollander, president and CEO of Meals on Wheels America, said in a statement provided by Marion Senior Services. She said the initiative is meant to help local programs expand their reach.

Marion Senior Services has been delivering meals to homebound residents across Marion County for more than five decades. In addition to Meals on Wheels, the organization provides transportation, in-home support and other critical services that help seniors remain safely in their homes.

The national organization said nearly 14 million seniors worry about having enough food and

that 56% report feeling lonely.

One in three local Meals on Wheels providers has a waiting list, with seniors waiting an average of four months. It also said 98% of providers report infrastructure needs over the next three years that will affect how many older adults they can reach.

While this grant marks an important milestone, the local program clarified that community support remains

essential. Marion Senior Services continues to seek volunteers, donors and community partners committed to helping eliminate the Meals on Wheels waiting list and ensuring every senior has access to nutritious meals and compassionate care.

Information about volunteering or donating is available at marionseniorservices. org or by calling (352) 620-3501.

James Vidican Continued from page A1 family watched in horror as James stayed up all night, weeping over an open Bible and claiming every word in it was written about him. He hallucinated that the backyard was water and tried to "swim" in the dry grass. He broke his grandmother’s furniture and tossed it into the yard of the family’s multi-generational home.

He believed former President Barack Obama was his biological father, that television hosts were speaking directly to him, and eventually, that he was Jesus Christ.

For years, the Vidican family has experienced the mounting frustration of begging the legal system for help, only to have their pleas ignored. During one court appearance, James's mother Deborah Vidican attempted to read a statement detailing her son's extensive psychiatric history and begging for a mental health evaluation. Instead, she felt Circuit Judge Peter Bingham rebuked her.

"The judge handed me my ass," Deborah recalled.

James’s adult sister Victoria Pettinato expounded, “He told her to basically stay in her lane … and that she can't get a law degree on Google” The family feels that the system’s indifference has put both James and the community at risk. This is the fifth time James has been incarcerated in the last three years. When the jail releases James, they do not alert his family. Because his Social Security disability benefits stop during incarceration, he is cast onto the streets with no money, no ID, and only the clothes on his back.

Drifting in severe psychosis, James, now age 34, relies on sheer "muscle memory" to walk the dark roads from the jail back to his father's house in southwest Ocala "Last time, it took him about 24 hours to get home," his father James Vidican Sr. estimated.

James would arrive in the middle of the night, hostile and delusional, attempting to force his way inside.

The family’s deepest fear is not that James is malicious but that his delusions make him incredibly dangerous. "He would never hurt a person," his father explained. "But he'll beat the hell out of a demon, and where's the next demon going to appear?"

Jail records from 2026 reveal that this nightmare is actively playing out inside the Marion County Jail, where the Marion County Sheriff 's Office is failing to protect both James and those housed around him.

In a span of just seven months this year, from January to July, James was involved in at least 11 violent altercations or suicidal crises. On March 9, 2026, James brutally beat cellmate Ivan Reyes, leaving him disoriented and bleeding from his mouth and nose with head trauma. James openly admitted to deputies that he "kicked and punched" Reyes because he believed Reyes was a "demon.”

In other incidents, James was locked in a cell with John Essex, an inmate who had explicitly warned deputies, "I will kill anyone you put me in a cell with.”

James was also punched in the face by Albert Landgren while on suicide precaution, and struck another inmate with a book while shouting, "I am not Harry Potter, I’m Jesus Christ.” Yet, despite this violence, MCSO investigators repeatedly opted for internal "Disciplinary Reports" and 30-day lockdowns rather than securing emergency psychiatric hospitalization.

The “Gazette” has asked the jail’s medical provider, Heart of Florida, via email to explain publicly any information about the level of medical care it can provide to people like James who end up at the jail, but its director, Matt Clay, has not responded.

James Vidican, right, is shown in a family photo with his father, James Vidican.

James Vidican is shown in a family photo from when he was a Cub Scout.

Photo courtesy Vidican family

James Vidican is shown in photos from when he was the captain of the Belleview High School Rattlers soccer team in 2010.

There was once a sliver of hope. During a stay at a state psychiatric hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic, James was placed on Clozaril (clozapine), an antipsychotic. The family said they saw a glimmer of their son return when he was under its influence. "He became completely... normal. It was him again," his sister Victoria and mother Deborah recalled.

However, Clozaril requires strict monthly blood monitoring due to severe liver and kidney risks. Unable to maintain compliance once released, James stopped taking it. Because abruptly stopping Clozaril

James Vidican, left, is shown in a family photo with his sister, Victoria Pettinato.

carries a high risk of death, doctors placed him on a "do-notprescribe" list.

Without a secure, longterm residential facility, James remains completely unmedicated, cycling endlessly through a broken jail system.

Instead of receiving stabilized psychiatric intervention or being civilly committed to a state hospital, Vidican was trapped in a continuous, dangerous cycle: suicide precaution, rehousing in multi-inmate cells, a violent explosion or beatdown, disciplinary lockdown, and a return to the exact same volatile environment.

The “Gazette” sent questions

James Vidican is shown in a family photo from when he was Prom King at Belleview High School.

to Major Charles McIntosh who oversees the Marion County Jail asking why James’ repetitive history of violence and active delusions of seeing “demons” and “Jesus” prevent him from being housed with other inmates, but McIntosh did not answer the questions.

The Vidican family hopes that the state will step in and commit James to a facility that can help him keep the demons away.

According to James’ public defender, a hearing has been set before Marion County Judge LeAnn Mackey-Barnes for Aug. 13 to have James’ competency evaluated. The “Gazette” will report on the outcome of that hearing.

James Vidican: 2026 custody timeline at Marion County jail • Jan. 1 (3:54 a.m.): While in the Medical Pod, Vidican experiences a severe psychiatric episode, yelling, "They’re going to kill me in here, I’m not safe! God told me... they are going to kill me."

He is placed on Suicide Precaution (SP) and housed in the Medical Delta Section.

• Jan. 10: Now housed in Alpha Pod cell 108 • Jan. 24 (2:10 a.m.): While still housed in Alpha Pod cell 108, Vidican begins making explicit suicidal statements. He is placed on SP and rehoused in Medical Pod, Delta Section.

• Feb. 9 (12:44 a.m.): Housed in Medical Delta Cell 106, Vidican is seen pacing in an agitated state and yelling at sleeping inmate Jacob Southall before spitting on him. He is separated and placed in Cell 107.

• Feb. 18 (9:50 a.m.): During a Disciplinary Report (DR) hearing, Vidican becomes highly disruptive, cursing, making inappropriate gestures, and banging on tables. He is evaluated and rehoused in Alpha Pod for confinement.

• Feb. 21 (6:45 a.m.): Housed in Alpha Pod cell 120, Vidican gets into a physical fight with cellmate John Essex. Essex had actively warned deputies, "I will kill anyone you put me in a cell with." Vidican sustains scratches to his forehead, cheek, neck, and a lip abrasion.

• Feb. 27 (midnight): Inmates in Alpha Pod cell 120 report that Vidican is actively attacking cellmate Jeffrey Maclean. Vidican tells deputies, "I heard voices telling me he wants to kill me." He is placed on SP and rehoused in Medical Delta Cell 106.

• Feb. 27 (12:38 a.m.): Just 38 minutes after being placed in Medical Delta Cell 106 for suicide precaution, Vidican is punched in the face by inmate Albert Landgren. He sustains scratches behind his right ear.

• March 8: He is now housed in Alpha Pod cell 119 • March 9 (2:31 p.m.): Still housed in Alpha Pod cell 119, Vidican brutally beats his cellmate, Ivan Reyes. Reyes is found disoriented, bleeding from his nose and mouth, and suffering from head lumps.

Vidican openly admits to deputies that he kicked and punched Reyes because he believed Reyes was a "demon." Vidican's right hand is swollen from the beating, but he is cleared to remain in the pod.

• March 31 (8:09 p.m.): In the Medical Recreation yard, Vidican

aggressively walks up to inmate Cody Pruitt and strikes him in the face with a book. Pruitt fights back. Vidican tells deputies: "I am not Harry Potter, I’m Jesus Christ. I heard voices telling me he wants to kill me." He is placed on SP and rehoused in Medical Delta Cell 101.

• May 3 (10 a.m.): While in Medical Charlie Section, Vidican reports a life emergency, claiming he is "Jesus," that everyone is trying to kill him, and that there is a "list" with him as the next target. He is placed on SP and rehoused in Medical Delta Cell 103.

• May 7 (7:25 a.m.): Returned to Medical Charlie Section, Vidican becomes agitated because his bunkmate yelled at him over a mattress. He is placed in Administrative Confinement and then Alpha Pod cell 207. On May 13, he is found guilty at a jail disciplinary committeehearing and sentenced to 30 days lockdown.

• May 27 (6:23 p.m.): Back in Medical Charlie Section, Vidican gets into a fight with Rodney Harmon. Deputies find Vidican on top of Harmon. Vidican is treated for neck scratches and rehoused in Alpha Pod, Bravo Section cell 111.

• May 30 (noon): Three days later, while locked in cell 111, Vidican fights with cellmate Eric Brewster. Vidican sustains an open lip wound, chin abrasion, and blood in his nostril. He is rehoused in cell 216.

• June 22 (8:30 p.m.): Vidican reports, "I'm feeling suicidal." He is evaluated, placed on SP, and rehoused in Medical Delta Cell 107.

• June 30 (3:45 a.m.): Housed in Medical Pod, Charlie Section, Vidican gets into an argument with Jose Cotto. Cotto punches him, and Vidican flees to the bathroom.

• July 5 (10:26 a.m.): Housed in Medical Charlie, Vidican is assaulted by Cameron Whyte. Vidican reveals the fight started because Whyte "owed him a moon pie" (bartering). Vidican refuses medical evaluation and remains in the Medical Pod. On July 14, he pleads guilty to fighting, theft, and bartering, and receives 30 days in a lockdown area.

• July 8 (12:18 p.m.): Housed in Medical Charlie, Vidican shoulder-checks inmate Anthony Hendry over a video visitation monitor. Hendry retaliates by striking Vidican multiple times.

Vidican is treated for cheek redness and rehoused in Alpha Pod cell 208. On July 14, he is found guilty of battery and receives another lockdown sentence

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August 14 - 20 2026 | OCALA GAZETTE

People, Places and Things “Art Of Aging: Living In Color” Opening Reception

By Staff Report

T

he Marion Cultural Alliance and Marion Senior Services annual collaborative exhibition celebrates the beauty, wisdom and creativity of aging through artwork created by talented local artists ages 55 and older. The exhibit opened with a reception on Aug. 7 at the Brick City Center for the Arts in downtown Ocala.

Guests enjoyed connecting with artists, light refreshments and experiencing the stories, perspectives and expressions that

make the exhibit so meaningful.

Through a variety of artistic styles and mediums, “Art of Aging: Living in Color” celebrates the many ways we continue to learn, create, connect and thrive throughout every stage of life.

In addition, there is a series of Lunch & Learn programs, scheduled on Wednesdays throughout August, that will explore topics related to healthy aging, creativity, wellness and lifelong learning.

To learn more, go to mcaocala.org

Photos by Bruce Ackerman Ocala Gazette

Grace Dunlevy, Susan Reid and Danuta Jacob, left to right, look over Jacob's "Summer Joy," an acrylic and oil on canvas, during the opening reception for the “Art Of Aging: Living In Color” gallery exhibit at the Brick City Center for the Arts in Ocala, Fla. on Friday, August 7, 2026. The Marion Cultural Alliance and Marion Senior Services annual collaborative exhibition celebrates the beauty, wisdom and creativity of aging through artwork created by talented local artists ages 55 and older. The exhibit opened with the reception on Aug. 7 at the Brick City Center for the Arts in downtown Ocala.

Beth McCall, Jennifer Martinez and Jaye Baillie, left to right, pose together during the opening reception for the “Art Of Aging: Living In Color” gallery exhibit at the Brick City Center for the Arts in Ocala, Fla. on Friday, August 7, 2026

Ginger Cruze, Ashley Justiniano, Aubrey Myrick and Cailin Cruze, left to right, pose together during the opening reception for the “Art Of Aging: Living In Color” gallery exhibit at the Brick City Center for the Arts in Ocala, Fla. on Friday, August 7, 2026.

Beth McCall, Jennifer Martinez and Clint Smith, left to right, pose together during the opening reception for the “Art Of Aging: Living In Color” gallery exhibit at the Brick City Center for the Arts in Ocala, Fla. on Friday, August 7, 2026.

Holly Yocum poses with her original photography on canvas, "Talent, determination and ability at every age," that was taken in France, during the opening reception for the “Art Of Aging: Living In Color” gallery exhibit at the Brick City Center for the Arts in Ocala, Fla. on Friday, August 7, 2026.

Donald Frame, center, poses with his photograph of his sisters in a pool with Julie Weiss, left, and Judy Harriss, right, during the opening reception for the “Art Of Aging: Living In Color” gallery exhibit at the Brick City Center for the Arts in Ocala, Fla. on Friday, August 7, 2026.

Ashley Justiniano, Jaye Baillie, Aubrey Myrick, Jonia McGill and Chelsey Marques, left to right, pose together during the opening reception for the “Art Of Aging: Living In Color” gallery exhibit at the Brick City Center for the Arts in Ocala, Fla. on Friday, August 7, 2026.

Artwork is shown on display during the opening reception for the “Art Of Aging: Living In Color” gallery exhibit at the Brick City Center for the Arts in Ocala, Fla. on Friday, August 7, 2026.

Bob Levenson, left, and Jennifer Martinez, right, pose for a photo during the opening reception for the “Art Of Aging: Living In Color” gallery exhibit at the Brick City Center for the Arts in Ocala, Fla. on Friday, August 7, 2026.

Judy Dumont poses with her Dogs Inc. service dog in training, George, 9 months, during the opening reception for the “Art Of Aging: Living In Color” gallery exhibit at the Brick City Center for the Arts in Ocala, Fla. on Friday, August 7, 2026.

FREE FIRST SATURDAY + “FLORIDA LORE” STORYTELLING Saturday, September 5 Admission is free from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. to enjoy the galleries and Artspace.

At noon in the auditorium, master storyteller and professor Dr. Caren Neile brings Florida folklore to life, from the Ashley Gang to Bellamy Bridge, in an engaging exploration of the legends that continue to shape the state’s cultural imagination. Free to attend.

Food trucks will be on-site throughout the day.

This Free First Saturday is sponsored in part by CAMPUS USA Credit Union and Florida Humanities.

Appleton Museum, Artspace and Store -an equal opportunity college-

Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday, noon-5 p.m.

4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd. | AppletonMuseum.org

Scan the QR code to learn more about the event.

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August 14 - 20 2026 | OCALA GAZETTE

Photo By Andy Fillmore

Special To The Ocala Gazette

Attendees watch the Marion County Memorial Honor Guard at the “Home for a Hero” program House Blessing event held Monday, Aug. 10, 2026 in the Rainbow Lakes area about two miles north of Dunnellon. The event saw a veteran family of four get the keys to a new three bedroom house on Southwest 101st Place Road available on an affordable mortgage through a community program spearheaded by the Housing Finance Authority of Marion County.

Air Force veteran, family receive new home through Homes for Heroes

Members of the Marion County Memorial Honor Guard prepare to present colors at the “Home for a Hero” program House Blessing event held Monday, Aug. 10, 2026 in the Rainbow Lakes area about two miles north of Dunnellon.

Luis Murillo shakes hands on Aug. 10, 2026 with Samantha Emidy as he enters the family’s new home made possible with an affordable mortgage under the Home for a Hero community program spearheaded by the Housing Finance Authority of Marion County.

Seen in background right is Murillo’s wife, Sophie Murillo and in foreground left is Mitziel Malave.

Members of the Housing Finance Authority of Marion County at the “Home for a Hero” program House Blessing event held Monday, Aug. 10, 2026 in the Rainbow Lakes area about two miles north of Dunnellon. Left to right: Aracelis Rivera; Bernadine Rich; incoming Director Dan McCall; Project Grant Manager Donnie Mitchell; Karen Hatch; and, Sherri Meadows (speaking).

By Andy Filmore

U

.S. Air Force veteran Luis Murillo and his family have a new home and a new chapter in their lives thanks to the community-based “Homes for Heroes” program.

“This is life changing,” said Murillo, 42, as he stood outside the three-bedroom house with his wife, Sophie, and their children, ages 5 and 10. The couple declined to name their children for “security reasons.”

The Housing Finance Authority of Marion County, or HFAMC, a state-authorized agency established to facilitate affordable housing, organized the “Homes for Heroes” program and selected the qualified veteran.

The homesite property on Southwest 101st Place Road in Rainbow Lakes, about 2 miles north of Dunnellon, was donated

by Marion County, and house construction funds were donated by a local business founder.

The family will pay a specialrate monthly mortgage attainable within the family’s budget.

A home blessing was held Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, to turn the house keys over to the family.

Members of the Marion County Memorial Guard

presented the colors, and the national anthem was played to open a brief ceremony before the Murillos entered their new home.

County Commissioner Matt McClain turned the keys over to the Murillos. “(This is the) beginning of many happy memories,” McClain said. He said the homesite property was donated through the county’s Surplus Property Program.

Luis Murillo told attendees the new house was the “start of a new chapter in life” for his family.

Donnie Mitchell, grant manager for the HFAMC, spoke at the home blessing. “(This) veteran family deserves the opportunity to attain the American Dream,” Mitchell said.

Luis Murillo’s military job was working on aircraft bodies.

He served three years with a deployment.

The couple feels the move will “definitely be a big upgrade” and a safe place for the kids to thrive.

Luis Murillo said the family was renting a home and the new house is a “100% upgrade.”

He said construction in their neighborhood had made it difficult for the children to be outside.

Luis Murillo, now a stay-at-home father, said the couple had tried to obtain a mortgage, but a new home

Marion County Commissioner Matt McClain presents house keys to Luis and Sophie Murillo on Monday, Aug.10, 2026, during the “Home for a Hero” House Blessing event held at the family’s new residence on Southwest 101st Place Road in the Rainbow Lakes. The homesite property about two miles north of Dunnellon was donated by the county and the house construction funds were privately donated.

for the family would not have been attainable if not for the HFAMC “Homes for Heroes” program.

The Murillos provided a tour of their home for attendees of the home blessing.

The HFAMC is a stateauthorized agency established to “unite both public and private entities to serve all areas within the county,” according to its website.

“Our main goal as the HFA (MC) is to help families and individuals in Marion County by helping with affordable housing options,” the website states.

The recipient selection process in the “Homes for Heroes” program for this house took more than a year.

“We wanted to make sure that the opportunity was

made available to as many veterans and veteran families in our community as possible.

We reached out to veteran organizations throughout Marion County and distributed flyers to organizations, individuals, and anyone who might know a veteran family that could benefit from this opportunity,” Mitchell wrote in an email.

The HFAMC reached out to veterans groups such as Veterans Helping Veterans USA of Marion County and made a podcast to spread the word. “(The) family who ultimately received this home found the opportunity through the flyer posted on our website,” the email stated.

Don Beaudet, former CFO of Capris Furniture Industries of

Ocala, was on hand for the home blessing. He said the founder of the company, described as an immigrant and Vietnam War veteran, donated the funds for construction of the house.

Stephan Forrester, a neighbor a few doors down who was working outside, welcomed a veteran to the neighborhood.

He described the neighborhood as quiet, with one entrance road in and out.

Forrester, also an Air Force veteran, was deployed to Iraq in 1994 and Kosovo in 1999 and served in combat.

“I’m glad he’s here,” Forrester said.

To learn more about HFAMC, visit hfamc.org.

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August 14 - 20 2026 | OCALA GAZETTE

Chronic pain is missing from America’s heat warnings

By Feinuo Sun Assistant Professor of Demographics, Sociology and Population Health, University of Texas at Arlington

W

hen a heat wave arrives, the public health advice follows a familiar script: drink water, watch for heat stroke, check on people with heart or lung conditions. That list saves lives. But it leaves out something that shapes daily life for millions of older Americans – chronic pain.

In a new study, public health professor Kai Zhang and I followed over 35,000 adults over age 50 across two decades, matching each person and their reports of chronic pain to the temperature history of their neighborhood.

We wanted to know whether living with extreme heat or cold – not one bad week, but months or years – changes whether pain interferes with people’s lives.

The results suggest that chronic pain deserves a place in how the country prepares people for extreme weather. They also show that rural residents may be the least protected.

WHAT HIGH-IMPACT PAIN MEANS

Researchers use the term high-impact chronic pain for

pain lasting at least three months that limits what a person can do: work, socializing and self-care. It is not occasional aching. It is pain that affects your decisions.

For adults over 50, that matters enormously. Pain that makes it hard to stand, carry groceries or sleep through the night is a leading reason people lose the ability to live on their own.

Farmers and ranchers have to be out in the heat, and chronic pain can’t slow them down. Mark Makela/Getty Images Temperature affects the body in different ways that can lead to pain: Cold appears to increase pain sensitivity and stiffen joints, which is why people with arthritis often brace for winter.

Heat affects the body through dehydration, broken sleep and the way it quietly shrinks the range of things a person is willing to do in a day. On hot days, for example, people may walk less, and less movement can lead to stiffer joints and weaker muscles, which makes the pain worse.

What makes heat waves dangerous is often not the afternoon temperature peak but the hot nights that don’t cool off, leaving the body with no opportunity to recover.

WHAT WE FOUND

We tracked when each neighborhood hit temperatures

that were extreme for that place. A day topping 84 degrees Fahrenheit (28.9 Celsius) in Maine, for example, would be among the hottest 5% of days there over the past decade. In Houston, meanwhile, it would have to reach 96 F (35.4 C) to be in the top 5% for heat, considered extreme.

We compared every community against its own 10year record rather than a single national cutoff to see how months or years of exposure to extreme cold or heat temperatures in those communities affected their residents.

Two things stood out: Among the one-fifth of our sample who lived with many extreme-cold days, reports of high-impact pain went up.

However, those facing occasional cold spells didn’t report the same effect. People seemed to adapt to one hard winter, but adapting became harder over years of extreme cold.

Extreme heat was split by geography and by wealth: • For urban residents, sustained heat showed no link to developing new pain. For rural residents, the connection was stronger. One likely reason is that people in rural areas may spend more time working outside or have older homes that are harder to cool and less access to cool places.

• Among the poorest older adults, sustained heat was also associated with a higher chance of developing high-impact pain.

Among the wealthiest, it was not, likely because of better access to air conditioning, healthcare and being able to stay out of the heat.

Those who could get out of the heat were least likely to report feeling new chronic pain.

THREE KEY LESSONS

Nearly every tool U.S. communities use to lower heat risk is designed for a city environment: cooling centers, tree canopy programs, urban heat island maps.

Rural areas have different challenges. Rural homes are often older and harder to keep cool.

Energy costs tend to take a larger share of income. On top of that, rural hospitals have been closing across the country, leaving residents driving farther to reach healthcare.

Agriculture has the oldest workforce in the country – the average producer with decisionmaking roles on a farm is now about 58 years old, and nearly 40% of the farmland is owned by farmers who are 65 or older.

Retirement does not move people out of the heat in rural areas, either.

The findings hold three key lessons for helping older adults:

1. Chronic pain belongs on lists of heat-related health risks, in our view. State and county heat plans flag cardiac and respiratory patients, but not the people whose independence depends on managing pain. With warning, people can plan ahead and get help, knowing chronic pain may worsen.

2. Cooling assistance programs need to be tailored to rural needs – the weatherization, energy assistance and delivery through trusted local channels that those homes need – rather than offering scaled-down versions of urban programs.

3. In the clinic, a patient’s housing and local climate details belong in their documented pain history, next to diagnosis and medication, to help better direct treatment.

Rising global temperatures are increasing the risk that people will be exposed to extreme heat for weeks at a time. In one highrisk summer, 2024, Phoenix saw 39 days with temperatures that didn’t drop below 90 F (32.2 C), even at night.

So, if you have a parent or grandparent facing a heat wave, particularly in a rural area, consider asking not just whether they’re drinking enough water to stay healthy but also whether their back or knees have been worse than usual. The pain may be connected.

SEASON 76 • 2026-2027

So many worlds to explore.

July 10-12, 2026

July 17-19, 2026

Oct. 29 – Nov. 15, 2026 Sept. 3-20, 2026

Jan. 28 – Feb. 14, 2027

March 11-28, 2027

Dec. 9-20, 2026

April 29 - May 16, 2027

Season tickets on sale now!

4337 E. Silver Springs Blvd. Ocala, FL 34470 (352) 236-2274 • ocalacivictheatre.com

B4

August 14 - 20 2026 | OCALA GAZETTE

Cyclospora spreads through human waste – so how did it get on food?

By Joan Rose Professor of Water Research; Director, Water Alliance, Michigan State University

T

he nationwide cyclospora outbreak is very likely a result of sewage contamination in the food supply, according to scientific researchers and public health officials.

The parasite’s spread can become a self-perpetuating cycle. Cyclospora is found only in humans, where it replicates in the intestinal tract, causing severe diarrhea. The organism reproduces by releasing oocysts, which are excreted in those human feces. In the U.S., feces usually end up in sewage systems.

In many states, sewage water is treated – though not always in ways that remove or kill the oocysts – and then released into waterways and can be used to irrigate crops. The oocysts mature in the environment with warm temperatures in about a week. Then a human comes along and eats the irrigated food or drinks the water and gets sick, releasing more oocysts into sewage systems.

I am a public health water microbiologist who collects sewage water and tests it for evidence of harmful pathogens, such as cyclospora. The first time I studied cyclospora was in the first outbreak ever documented in the U.S., a small, 45-case outbreak in Florida in 1995.

The cause was initially suspected to be strawberries grown in California, but later it was determined it was more likely due to imported contaminated raspberries from Guatemala. That country’s raspberries were also associated with much larger outbreaks in 1996 and 1997. At the time, little was known about this singlecelled protozoan pathogen.

More than 30 years later, the largest outbreak ever recorded in the U.S. has sickened more than 22,000 people, and contributed to the deaths of two in Michigan,

undergoes additional filtration and disinfection for reuse before being spread directly on landscapes or crops. The volumes, however, are not readily known. And other treated sewage, which undergoes only standard secondary treatment, is discharged into rivers, streams and reservoirs that could provide irrigation water.

But few states regulate efforts to remove or monitor protozoa such as cyclospora in treated sewage. Filtration can remove protozoa but must be designed and operated correctly.

Chlorination is not effective, but ultraviolet light does inactivate cryptosporidium and eimeria, a chicken protozoan highly related to and used as a surrogate in studies testing methods of killing cyclospora by the food safety industry.

where I live and work. Using treated sewage to irrigate crops is common in many places, especially where groundwater and surface water are in short supply.

WHAT’S IN WASTEWATER

There are two reasons researchers like me collect sewage and monitor what’s in it.

The first is to evaluate levels of disease in a community.

Measuring viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 in untreated sewage helped paint a picture of the spread of COVID-19 and the emergence of variants as the pandemic continued.

The second reason is to determine whether and how sewage treatment removes, inactivates or kills pathogens.

It is not easy to measure cyclospora oocysts in sewage, contaminated water or food. Even modern laboratory methods have trouble reliably detecting low levels of oocysts, which can still cause disease.

Cyclospora oocysts have been found in sewage around the world. A range of studies across the world shows that they can be detected in up to 25% of sewage samples – but not all studies report how high or low the concentrations of the oocysts were. So it can be hard to say exactly how widespread it is.

A person who is infected with cyclospora excretes somewhere between 100 and 10,000 oocysts per gram of feces for as long as 60 days. Based on what is known about other fecal pathogen excretions from patients, related to the concentrations of those pathogens in sewage, I estimate that there could be anywhere from 1 to 100 oocysts per liter in sewage.

Our laboratory at Michigan State University is developing a method to more accurately detect this parasite even at lower levels in sewage. This type of wastewater surveillance may help determine when an outbreak is beginning to subside and where larger numbers of people are

still affected. In addition, this information could allow sewage treatment plant managers to regularly monitor their discharges.

WHAT HAPPENS DURING SEWAGE TREATMENT?

There isn’t clear data on how well standard sewage treatment processes reduce the numbers of cyclospora oocysts. But there is information on two other similar protozoa that also cause significant diarrhea in humans: Cryptosporidium produces an oocyst about half the size of cyclospora, and giardia produces a cyst that is similar in size to cyclospora.

From 2001 to 2003, my laboratory studied the occurrence of those protozoa at six sewage treatment plants – one each in Arizona and California and four in Florida. All had been approved by their respective state regulators for nonpotable reuse, including irrigation of landscapes and, in some cases, crops.

In that study, we found these protozoa in all the untreated

sewage we tested, indicating there is some portion of the population that is infected and excreting their cysts or oocysts.

The five treatment plants whose processes included disinfection with chlorine were able to get rid of a high percentage – but not all – of the protozoa in their discharged wastewater. Some cysts and oocysts remained intact, with the potential to cause disease, even in water that had gone through the entire treatment process, as it is known that wastewater chlorination does not kill these protozoa.

From that data, it seems reasonable to assume that at least some small proportion of cyclospora oocysts also survive sewage treatment processes and are released back into the environment, where they can survive for months.

WHAT ABOUT REUSE?

Across the U.S., 200 billion gallons of treated sewage wastewater are used for irrigation of agricultural lands each year.

Some of that wastewater

WHAT IS NEEDED FOR BETTER RISK ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT?

As floods and droughts occur routinely across the U.S. and around the world, sewage may overflow into bodies of water or be used directly on crops. That increases the risk that diseases, including protozoa such as cyclospora, which are transmitted through ingestion of fecal matter, may spread through food and water supplies.

And because cyclospora oocysts mature in outdoor heat, it is possible that increasing temperatures, such as heat domes, could speed up their maturation, exposing more people to the infectious form of the parasite.

Modern technology and techniques are capable of monitoring water quality, detecting harmful pathogens and eliminating them. Expanding monitoring of wastewater for protozoan diseases and other dangers can help prevent outbreaks and slow the spread of disease from sewagecontaminated water in the future.

Public Notice IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION IN RE: ESTATE OF CHARLES L. MCLEOD, Deceased.

FILE NO.: 2026-CP-1361 NOTICE TO CREDITORS The administration of the estate of CHARLES L. MCLEOD, deceased, whose date of death was January 10, 2026; is pending in the Circuit Court for Marion County, Florida, Probate Division; File Number 2026-CP-1361; the address of which is 110 N.W. 1st Avenue, Ocala, Florida 34475. The name and address of the Personal Representative and the Personal Representative’s attorney are set forth below.

All creditors of the decedent and other persons, who have claims or demands against decedent’s estate, including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims, and who have been served a copy of this Note, must file their claims with this Court WITHIN THE LATER OF THREE (3) MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR THIRTY (30) DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons who have claims or demands against the decedent’s estate, including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims, must file their claims with this court, WITHIN THREE (3) MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT SO FILED WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. THE DATE OF FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE IS AUGUST 14, 2026.

Personal Representative: CYNTHIA LORRAINE MCLEOD DESGUIN 15072 N.W. 100th Avenue Road Reddick, Florida 32686 Attorney for Personal Representative: DAVIS R. WATSON III Florida Bar No.: 117996 DAVIS R. WATSON III, P.A. 2201 S. E. 30th Avenue Suite 202 Ocala, Florida 34471 (352) 732-8080 Email: davis@daviswatsonlaw.com

NOTICE OF ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF UPLANDS STEWARDSHIP DISTRICT The Board of Supervisors (“Board”) of Uplands Stewardship District will hold its organizational meeting on August 25, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. at Live Oak Hall, 8413 SW 80th Street, Suites 7 & 8, Ocala, FL 34481. The purpose of the meeting is to consider the appointment of staff including, but not limited to, manager, attorney, and others as deemed appropriate by the Board; to consider the services to be provided by the District and the financing plan for same; to consider certain documents related to the issuance of special assessment bonds; and, to conduct any other business that may come before the Board. A copy of the agenda may be obtained from Governmental Management Services – Central Florida, LLC, 219 E. Livingston Street, Orlando, Florida 32801, 407-841-5524 (“District Manager’s Office”).

The meeting is open to the public and will be conducted in accordance with the provisions of Florida law. The meeting may be continued to a date, time, and place to be specified on the record at meeting. There may be occasions when Board Supervisors or District staff will participate by speaker telephone.

Any person requiring special accommodations at this meeting because of a disability or physical impairment should contact the District Manager’s Office at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to the meeting. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the Florida Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1, or 1-800-955-8771 (TTY) / 1-800-955-8770 (Voice), for aid in contacting the District Office.

A person who decides to appeal any decision made by the Board with respect to any matter considered at the meeting is advised that this same person will need a record of the proceedings and that accordingly, the person may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, including the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based.

George S. Flint, District Manager Governmental Management Services – Central Florida, LLC

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August 14 - 20 2026 | OCALA GAZETTE Public Notice

Friends and family enter Greater Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church at 515 N.W. 6th Terrace, Ocala , on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026 to attend a Celebration of Life for a community leader Whitfield Jenkins who passed away July 28, 2026 at age 85. [Andy Filmore]

Life of local civil rights leader commemorated

By Andy Filmore Andy@ocalagazette.com

W

hitfield Jenkins would’ve surely given his Celebration of Life an A+.

More than 400 family members, friends, clergy and politicians gathered Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, at Greater Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church in Ocala to remember and honor Jenkins, who was hailed as a community leader and champion for social justice and civil rights.

At least one speaker recalled how Jenkins, the first Black teacher at Osceola Middle School, used the expression “A+” as praise for excellent work and achievement.

“The Celebration of Life was everything he and I would’ve wanted,” said Loretta Pompey Jenkins, his wife of 56 years, a few days after the ceremony.

Loretta Pompey Jenkins is a past president of the Marion County Chapter of the NAACP. Loretta Pompey Jenkins said she was touched by the many people who turned out to give back the love and respect her husband showed toward the entire community.

“He stood tall,” she said.

Whitfield Jenkins, a father, threeterm president of the Marion County Chapter of the NAACP, U.S. Army combat-wounded veteran of the Vietnam War, educator and staunch advocate for civil rights and voter empowerment, died July 28, 2026, at age 85.

Whitfield Jenkins was big in stature, yet had a soft voice and a manner that commanded respect, at least one speaker said.

Ocala City Council President Ire Bethea recalled Whitfield Jenkins as a tireless fighter for equal rights and read a city of Ocala proclamation honoring him.

The proclamation described Whitfield Jenkins as a “legendary civil rights leader” who left an “indelible mark” on the community.

The proclamation noted that Whitfield Jenkins earned a bachelor’s degree from Florida A&M University and a master’s degree from Rollins College.

He was an educator with Marion County Public Schools from 1967 to 1972 and later served as an adjunct professor of criminal justice at thenCentral Florida Community College, now the College of Central Florida, and worked with the Florida Department of Corrections for 30 years, according to the proclamation.

Whitfield Jenkins was a board member of the United Way, Boys & Girls Club and Ocala Housing Authority, the proclamation stated.

The proclamation was signed by the five members of the City Council and Mayor Ben Marciano.

Whitfield Jenkins was an accomplished athlete who was attending the Denver Broncos training camp when he was drafted into the Army, according to his obituary.

Loretta Pompey Jenkins confirmed her husband once sparred with Muhammad Ali when the famous boxer was in Florida for a match.

A video was shown with a message from Leon Russell, chair of the NAACP National Board of Directors, and the Rev. Eric Cummings also spoke.

State Rep. Yvonne Hinson spoke of Jenkins’ help in a case involving a group of Gainesville youth and Jenkins’ unwavering commitment to justice.

Jenkins’ daughter, Rose Delilah Jenkins, and sons, Drs. Jordan Jaiya John and Sultan Ali Jenkins, all shared insights about their father.

Sultan Ali Jenkins spoke about a letter his father once received on official KKK letterhead regarding a “disagreement.”

When Sultan Ali Jenkins expressed an urge to respond to the letter, his father said to be calm and “fight by resisting.”

“My father touched many lives and left an imprint on many,” Sultan Ali Jenkins said.

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August 14 - 20 2026 | OCALA GAZETTE

LOCAL CALENDAR LISTINGS

Government AUG. 17, 24, 31

Marion County Development Review

Office of County Engineer, 412 SE 25th Ave., Building 1, Ocala 9am The committee meets each Monday to review and vote on waiver requests to the Land Development Code, major site plans and subdivision plans. See marion. fl.legistar.com/calendar.aspx for agenda and minutes.

AUG. 18, SEPT. 1, 15 Marion County Board of County Commissioners

McPherson Governmental Campus Auditorium, 601 SE 25th Ave., Ocala 9am

The commission meets the first and third Tuesday of the month. Agendas, minutes and video are available at marionfl.legistar.com/ calendar.aspx

Ocala City Council

Ocala City Hall, 110 SE Watula Ave., Ocala 4pm The council meets each first and third Tuesday of the month. Agendas and minutes are available at ocala.legistar. com/calendar.aspx

Belleview City Commission

Belleview City Hall, 5343 SE Abshier Blvd., Belleview 6pm The commission meets the first and third Tuesday of the month. Agendas, minutes and video available at belleviewfl.org/200/agendasminutes

AUG. 25, SEPT. 8 AND 22

Marion County School Board

1614 E Fort King St., Ocala 5:30pm The board meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month. Agendas and minutes are available at go.boarddocs.com/fl/marion/ board.nsf/public

SEPT. 9

Dunnellon City Council

Dunnellon City Hall, 20750 River Dr., Dunnellon 5:30pm The council generally meets the second Wednesday of the month. Agendas, minutes and video are available at dunnellon.granicus.com/ ViewPublisher.php?view_id=1

Community AUG. 6-SEPT. 25

Free diabetes selfmanagement classes

Howard Academy Community Center, 306 NW 7th Ave., Ocala 5:30-7:30pm The Community Home Project, an initiative of the Marion County Hospital District, is hosting the eightweek series. Classes are open ages 18 and older who are prediabetic, diabetic or for those who support someone with diabetes. Attendees will gain knowledge and skills to better manage diabetes, including guidance on improving eating habits, increasing physical activity, monitoring body numbers and preventing complications associated with diabetes. To register, call (352) 671-4186 or email chp@mchdt.org.

AUG. 15

Pints for Paws

The Black Sheep, 128 SW Broadway St., Ocala 11am-5pm To benefit the Humane Society of Marion County.

Silent and live auctions, music, T-shirts for sale, adoptable canines and more.

For details, call (352) 7893040.

AUG. 16 AND 30

Boat & Brunch

Silver Springs State Park, 5656 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala Beginning at 9am Enjoy a 30-minute tour on the world-famous glass bottom boats, followed by brunch in the Springside Cafe. Park admission of $ per person not included. Alcoholic and specialty beverages available for purchase. For tickets, go to fareharbor. com/embeds/book/

silversprings/items/660075/ calendar/2026/08/?fullitems=yes to learn more, call (352) 261-5840.

AUG. 19

CPR overview

DOH-Marion, 1801 SE 32nd Ave., Ocala 9-11am The Florida Department of Health in Marion County, in partnership with Ocala Fire Rescue, invites pregnant and postpartum mothers, caregivers, and their families to attend a free, noncertificate CPR overview.

Participants will learn how to respond to cardiopulmonary emergencies until first responders arrive and how to assist a choking victim. OFR emphasizes the importance of early CPR initiation for infants and toddlers to help increase the chances of survival during emergencies. Registration is recommended at forms.cloud. microsoft/g/mUuwLVr4qL. For more information, call (352) 622-1161 or (352) 644-2674, or email CHD42WIC@FLHealth. gov.

AUG. 22

EqualiTea

Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E Silver Springs Blvd. Ocala 12:30pm Join the Democractic Women’s Club of Marion County for the eighth annual event honoring women who fought for the right to vote.

The keynote speaker will be Florida House Democratic Minority Leader Christine Hunschofsky. Register at https://secure.actblue.com/ donate/equalitea2026

AUG. 23

Chuck's Piggy Bank fundraising auction

Circle Square Cultural Center, 8395 SW 80th St., Ocala 1pm Event proceeds will benefit the nonprofit Chuck's Piggy Bank and Marion County Memorial Honor Guard. Free buffet sponsored by Cody's Roadhouse, cash bar, 50/50 raffle, live and silent auctions and themed basket raffle.

The mission of Chuck's Piggy Bank is to provide pet food and monetary support for veterinary care to pets of veterans, low-income people and unhoused people in the community and surrounding area. It operates pet food pantries at Veterans Helping Veterans and Saving Mercy Village. To learn more, call Mary Beth Bell at (585) 9434227.

AUG. 26

Marion Careers and Colleges Expo

CF Ewers Century Center at, 3001 S.W. College Road, Ocala 5-7pm The College of Central Florida and Marion County Public Schools present the free event to offer high school seniors, transfer students, current college students and their families the opportunity to explore career paths and talk with dozens of vendors representing colleges and universities, trade schools and local career opportunities.

The expo is part of the Florida College Tour. For more information, visit cf.edu/ events

SEPT. 12

Fall craft fair

Christ the King Anglican Church, 4440 SE 3rd Ave., Ocala 9am-3pm The Anglican Church Women event will include handmade crafts from local artists, food

Arts

AUG. 16

Roosevelt Collier Band

Midgett Black Box at the Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE Ninth St., Ocala 7:30pm Experience the soul-shaking sounds of 4× Grammy-nominated pedal steel guitarist. Blending blues, gospel, rock and swampy funk, Collier delivers an electrifying performance filled with powerful grooves, masterful musicianship and unforgettable energy. Get tickets at reillyartscenter. com CAPTION FOR ITEM BELOW: Get your groove on with the Yacht Rock Gold Experience. [Photo courtesy Reilly Arts Center]

AUG. 21

Yacht Rock Gold Experience

Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE Ninth St., Ocala 7:30pm Set sail with for a night of smooth classics from the late ’70s and early ’80s. Featuring the iconic sounds of the Doobie Brothers, Fleetwood Mac, Steely Dan and more, this feel-good tribute brings timeless hits, incredible harmonies and the ultimate yacht rock party to the stage. Learn more at reillyartscenter.com

AUG. 22

Wildflowers – A Tom Petty Tribute

Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE Ninth St., Ocala 7:30pm Relive the magic of Tom Petty with The Wildflowers, a tribute experience that captures the heart, soul and sound of the Heartbreakers like no other. It’s a hit-packed night of nostalgia and rock ‘n’ roll charm.

Presented by WindFM. Learn more at reillyartscenter.com

AUG. 23

Music Box 1: Cello & Ivory

Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE Ninth St., Ocala 3pm Celebrate the expressive voice of the cello in an afternoon of warmth, lyricism and global color. OSO Principal Cellist Lyle Lamboley joins forces with pianist Alan Clark for a musical journey that travels across centuries and continents, exploring some of the most beloved melodies in the repertoire. Get tickets at reillyartscenter.com

AUG. 28

“Propeller: A Film by John Travolta”

Marion Theatre, 50 S. Magnolia Ave., Ocala 7:30pm Set in the golden age of aviation, a young airplane enthusiast, Jeff (played by newcomer Clark

and more, with proceeds to benefit ACW charities. To learn more, call (352) 351-9727.

THROUGH SEPT. 29 “Treehouses: Look Who’s Living in the Trees”

Shotwell), and his mother (Kelly Eviston-Quinnett) set off on a one-way cross-country odyssey to Hollywood, which transforms a simple flight into the trip of a lifetime. Between airline meals, charming flight attendants (played

by Ella Bleu Travolta and Olga Hoffmann), unexpected stopovers, larger-than-life passengers and a thrilling glimpse at first class, the journey unfolds in moments both magical and unexpected, charting the course for the boy’s future.

Learn more at reillyartscenter.com

THROUGH AUGUST

Robert Varis art exhibit

Silver Springs State Park, 5656 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala Hours vary The Friends of Silver Springs State Park host a display in their welcome center and gallery. The artist will participate in a meet and greet from 2 to 4 p.m. on July 25. Some of the works he created for the exhibit include “Woodpecker,” “Cuban Tree Frog” and “Cormorant and Lizard.” The exhibits are free to view. There is an entry fee of $2 per person at the park. To learn more, go to fb.com/ thefriendsofsilverspringsstatepark

THROUGH SEPT. 13

My Country, ’Tis of Thee: Celebrating American Art and Design Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala Hours vary Drawn from the Appleton’s permanent collection, the exhibition highlights a wide range of American expression across time periods, subjects, media and functions. It also explores the role Florida and its natural wonders, including those of Marion County, has played as a source of inspiration for artists. For details, go to appletonmuseum.org

• Landscapes by Nancy Bowden, on display until Dec. 2 at the Clerk’s Office inside City Hall, 110 SE Watula Ave. • “Stillness in Motion,” by Gwen Morrison, on display until Dec. 3 at Ocala City Hall, 110 SE Watula Ave. • “Through the Looking Glass,” by Linda Bourassa, on display until Dec. 16 at the Eighth Avenue Adult Activity Center, 830 NE Eighth Ave. • “Creative Voices,” by Arts in Health Ocala Metro, on display until Dec. 17 at the Mary Sue Rich Community Center at Reed Place, 1821 NW 21st Ave. • “Waterscapes” by Marjorie Dodrill, on display until Dec. 22 at the Ocala International Airport, 1770 SW 60th Ave. All exhibitions are free and open to the public during each facility’s regular business hours. For more information, go to ocalafl.gov/ artincityspaces

THROUGH DEC. 31

Photography exhibit by Keith Sackin

Arts in Health Ocala Metro Healing Arts Gallery, 2880 NE 8th Road, Ocala.

Office hours A native of Ocala, Sackin attended Emory University before a spinal cord injury in 2001 reshaped his path. His photography explores disability, embodiment, memory and human connection. AIHOM is a nonprofit organization that connects art and healing. Its programs include music, dance, performing and visual arts. To learn more, go to aihocala.org

THROUGH JAN. 24

“Life, Labor and Lens: Randal Levenson’s Working-Class America”

City of Ocala Cultural Arts Division art exhibitions include:

Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala Times vary Drawn from the 80 works by Levenson in the Appleton’s permanent collection, “Life, Labor and Lens” features 25 black-and-white and color photographs that evoke a sense of familiarity and nostalgia. For more information, go to appletonmuseum. org or call (352) 291-4455.

Discovery Center, 701 NE Sanchez Ave., Ocala 10am-4pm Guests can roam from tree to tree and explore habitats trees provide for animals, search for signs left by raccoons, woodpeckers, bears and other species, cross a suspension bridge and climb through two

treehouses, become animal trackers, come face to face with wildlife, move along the Forest Sound Dance Floor, build a treehouse, learn about sustainable logging and explore how trees are used in everyday life. For more information, visit mydiscoverycenter.org

THROUGH DEC. 3 AND BEYOND

Art in City Spaces

B7

August 14 - 20 2026 | OCALA GAZETTE

Sudoku is played on a grid of 9 x 9 spaces. Within the rows and columns are 9 “squares” (made up of 3 x 3 spaces). Each row, column and square (9 spaces each) needs to be filled out with the numbers 1-9, without repeating any numbers within the same row, column or square.

Across 1 Groundbreaking 5 Nae sayer 9 Hosp. area 14 Do-re-mi 16 Beard dye in some cultures 17 Boiling point?

18 Tore 19 Vouch for 20 __ rock 21 Enduring style?

24 Shared surname in cinema 25 Red __ 26 Extended time off, briefly 27 Checkpoint container 28 Tony Gwynn's "The __ of Hitting" 29 "Mental Illness" Grammy winner 30 "Genius!"

35 "Calm down" 36 Coldwater breed that originated in Niigata, Japan 37 Funds to supplement HDHPs 38 Spots 39 Sloth, for one 40 Oreo __ cake 42 French Laundry offering 45 Tibetan singing __ 46 Over the line, in a way 51 Monk who won the 2017 Jerry West Award 52 Window on the house 53 Cut off 54 Seasonal salutation 55 Elizabeth of "Love & Death" 56 Extra social media accounts, casually 57 Likely to root around in someone else's medicine cabinet

Down 1 Spanish pronoun 2 Soft drink option 3 B-school entry req.

4 Bind 5 Finalize 6 Part of many a linen blend 7 Simmering 8 "Sweeney Agonistes" monogram 9 Musical sentence 10 Get a hold of 11 Whole food?

12 Arnold Palmer ratio 13 Stuff 15 "__ in Chemistry": Bonnie Garmus novel 20 Crimean resort 22 Food 23 Gran 24 Eugene or Gary 27 Low points of some performances 28 "Midsommar" filmmaker Aster 29 Air drops?

30 Udder part 31 Whooped it up 32 Zoë who won a Pulitzer Prize for the 1935 play "The Old Maid" 33 Mallet target 34 Hip-strengthening exercises 39 __ tofu 40 Loss 41 Gathers 43 Jute binder 44 Mushroom hunter's prize 47 1979 revolution site 48 Critter on some pj's 49 Brunches, say 50 Crush it, informally 51 Eponym of a tunic suit 52 Vax overseer

ANSWERS TO PUZZLES ON PAGE B9

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August 14 - 20 2026 | OCALA GAZETTE Public Notice

Public Notice

Public Notice

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA CITY OF OCALA, FLORIDA, Plaintiff, v. CASE NUMBER: 2024-CA-1952 ABAKE ASSONGBA and ANTHONY WIHLBORG-DEROSA, Defendants. NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, in accordance with Section 45.031(2), Florida Statutes, that, pursuant to the Final Judgement of Foreclosure, entered in the above-styled cause on or about October 17, 2025 and the Order Resetting Foreclosure Sale, entered on or about July 29, 2026, the Clerk of the Circuit Court in and for Marion County, Florida, Gregory C. Harrell, will sell to the highest bidder for cash on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at 11:00 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, at www.marion.realforclose.com, the following described real property, located at 1131 S.E. 47th Street, Ocala, Florida 34480, as specifically identified in said Final Judgement of Foreclosure, to wit: Lot 15, CEDARS AT BELLECHASE, according to the map or plat thereof as recorded in Plat Book 10, Pages 9 and 10, of the Public Records of Marion County, Florida; And Lot 4, HERON TRACE AT BELLECHASE, according to the map or plat thereof, as recorded in Plat Book 11, Pages 6 and 7, inclusive, of the Public Records of Marion County, Florida. Commonly known as: 1131 SE 47th Street, Ocala, Florida 34480 ANY PERSON CLAIMING AN INTEREST IN THE SURPLUS FROM THE SALE, IF ANY, OTHER THAN THE PROPERTY OWNER AS OF THE DATE OF THE LIS PENDENS MUST FILE A CLAIM WITHIN 60 DAYS AFTER THE SALE OR BEFORE THE CLERK REPORTS THE SURPLUS AS UNCLAIMED.IMPORTANT IF YOU ARE A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY WHO NEEDS ANY ACCOMMODATION IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROCEEDING, YOU ARE ENTITLED, AT NO COST TO YOU, TO THE PROVISION OF CERTAIN ASSISTANCE. PLEASE CONTACT THE ADA COORDINATOR AT THE OFFICE OF THE TRIAL COURT ADMINISTRATOR, MARION COUNTY JUDICIAL CENTER, 110 NW 2ST AVENUE, OCALA, FL 34475, TELEPHONE (352) 4016710, AT LEAST 7 DAYS BEFORE YOUR SCHEDULED COURT APPEARANCE OR EVENT, OR IMMEDIATELY UPON RECEIVING THIS NOTIFICATION IF THE TIME BEFORE THE SCHEDULED APPEARANCE OR EVENT IS LESS THAN 7 DAYS; IF YOU ARE HEARING OR VOICE IMPAIRED, CALL 711. CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I HEREBY CERTIFY that a true and correct copy of the foregoing was filed electronically with the Clerk of the Court using the State of Florida, Florida Courts E-Filing Portal system, which will send a notice of electronic filing to all counsel of record in this matter, this 12th day of August 2026 and will be published in the Ocala Gazette on August 14, 2026 and August 21, 2026. WILLIAM E. SEXTON CITY ATTORNEY, CITY OF OCALA, FLORIDA Florida Bar Number 0037197 DANA DAMMAR Florida Bar Number 1058020 CITY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE CITY OF OCALA, FLORIDA 110 S.E. Watula Avenue, Ocala, Florida 34471 Telephone: (352) 629-8549 E-Mail: ddammar@ocalafl.gov

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA AVA B. GOODSON, Plaintiff, VS. NICOLE MARIE GOODSON FKA NICOLE JOLLEY AKA NICOLE MARIE JOLLEY AND STEPHEN RAY GOODSON AKA STEPHEN R. GOODSON AKA STEPHEN GOODSON, AS HUSBAND AND WIFE, DISCOVER BANK, SYNCHRONY BANK, AND ONEMAIN FINANCIAL GROUP, LLC, Defendant(s).

CASE NO.: 2025-CA-2117 NOTICE OF SALE UNDER FLORIDA STATUTES CHAPTER 45 NOTICE IS GIVEN that, in accordance with the Final Summary Judgment of Mortgage Foreclosure entered on or about July 29, 2026, in the above-styled cause, the Clerk of Court in and for Marion County, Florida, will sell to the highest and best bidder for cash by electronic sale at www.marion.realforeclose.com, on September 3, 2026, at 11:00 a.m., the following described real property: Lot 12, Block E, COLEBROOK, according to the plat thereof, recorded in Plat Book 2, Page 26, of the Public Records of Marion County, Florida.

Physical Address: 676 NE 35th Loop, Ocala, Florida 34479 Any person claiming an interest in the surplus from the sale, if any, other than the property owner as of the date of the lis pendens must file a claim within 60 days after the sale.

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I HEREBY CERTIFY that a true and correct copy of the foregoing has been furnished by mail or eservice on this 6th day of August 2026, to: Synchrony Bank, 965 N Keller Rd., Altamonte Springs, FL 32714; Onemain Financial Group, LLC c/o Thomas Lobello, Esq., mail@rolfelaw. com and tl@rolfelaw.com; Discover Bank, CT Corporate System, 1200 South Pine Island Road, Suite 240, Plantation, FL 33324; Nicole Maria Goodson fka Nicole Marie Jolley, 447 Harmon Drive South, Dunlap, Tennessee 37326; and Stephen Ray Goodson aka Stephen R. Goodson aka Stephen Goodson, 447 Harmon Drive South, Dunlap, Tennessee 37326.

JUDICIOUS LAW, P.A. By: BRADFORD J. TROPELLO, ESQUIRE bit@judiciouslawpa.com ma@judiciouslawpa.com Post Office Box 369 Ocala, Florida 34478 (352) 509-5015 Florida Bar No.: 42694

CASE NO.: 25CA001463AX TRUIST BANK, as successor by merger to SUNTRUST BANK, Plaintiff, vs.

KAREN L. THURBER, UNKNOWN SPOUSE OF KAREN L. THURBER, UNKNOWN TENANT #1, UNKNOWN TENANT #2, and all unknown parties claiming an interest by, through, under or against any defendant, or claiming any right, title, and interest in the subject property, Defendants. / NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NOTICE is hereby given pursuant to the Final Judgment of Foreclosure, entered July 23, 2026, and entered in Case Number: 25CA001463AX of the Circuit Court in and for Marion County, Florida, wherein TRUIST BANK, as successor by merger to SUNTRUST BANK , is the Plaintiff, and KAREN L. THURBER, UNKNOWN SPOUSE OF KAREN L. THURBER, UNKNOWN TENANT #1, UNKNOWN TENANT #2, are the Defendants, the Marion County Clerk of the Court, Gregory C. Harrell, will sell to the highest and best bidder for cash, by electronic sale on-line at www.marion. realforeclose.com , beginning at 11:00 o’clock A.M. on the 18 th day of November, 2026 the following described property as set forth in said Final Judgment of Foreclosure, to-wit: Property Address : 21515 NW 40th Ave, Micanopy, FL 32667 Property Description : Lot 4, Orange Lake Shores, according to the map or plat thereof as recorded in Plat Book H, Page 2, Public Records of Marion County, Florida, and that part of Lot 3, Orange Lake Shores, described as: Beginning at the Southerly most corner of said Lot 3, said corner being on Bass Lagoon, thence N. 55°30' W., along the Southwesterly line of said Lot 3, 102.65 feet to Canary Lane, thence N. 47°33'10" E., along Canary Lane, 10.00 feet, thence departing from said Canary Lane, Southeasterly to a point on Bass Lagoon, this is N. 47°33'15" E., 17.95 feet from the Point of Beginning, thence S. 47°33'10" W., along Bass Lagoon, 17.95 feet to the Point of Beginning.

Any person claiming an interest in the surplus funds from the sale, if any, other than the property owner as of the date of the lis pendens must file a claim before the clerk reports the surplus as unclaimed.

If you are a person with a disability who needs any accommodation in order to participate in this proceeding, you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain assistance. Please contact ADA Coordinator at the Office of the Trial Court Administrator, Marion County Judicial Center, 110 NW First Avenue, Ocala, FL 34475; Telephone: (352) 401-6710; or email: ada@support. circuit5.org, at least 7 days before your scheduled court appearance, or immediately upon receiving this notification if the time before the scheduled appearance is less than 7 days; if you are hearing or voice impaired, call 711. __/s/ Arthur Barksdale____ Arthur S. Barksdale, IV, Esq. Florida Bar No.: 0040628 DI MASI | BURTON, P.A. 801 N. Orange Avenue, Suite 500 Orlando, Florida 32801 Ph (407) 839-3383 Fx (407) 839-3384 Primary E-Mail: jdlaw@orlando-law.com Attorneys for Plaintiff

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 5TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO. 25CA002172AX RAINBOW SPRINGS PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC., a Florida non-profit Corporation, Plaintiff, vs.

UNKNOWN HEIRS, BENEFICIERIES, DEVISEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MARION CREDITORS, TRUSTEES AND ALL COUNTY, FLORIDA OTHERS WHO MAY CLAIM INTEREST PROBATE DIVISION IN THE ESTATE OF EDWARD J. File No.: 2026-CP-001749 DESMAREST, DECEASED, et al, Defendant(s).

IN RE: ESTATE OF / DAVID ROBERT SCHWARTZ (A/K/A D. ROBERT SCHWARTZ), Deceased .

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of DAVID ROBERT SCHWARTZ (A/K/A D. ROBERT SCHWARTZ), deceased, whose date of death was July 12, 2025, File Number 2026-CP-001749 is pending in the Circuit Court for Marion County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 110 N.W. IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MARION 1st Avenue, Ocala, FL 34475.

COUNTY, FLORIDA The names and addresses of the PROBATE DIVISION personal representative and the personal IN RE: ESTATE File No.: 2026-CPrepresentative's attorney are set forth OF 001601 below.

ROBERT S. WROBLEWSKI, Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS (Summary Administration)

All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court WITHIN THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.

The administration of the estate of ROBERT S. WROBLEWSKI, deceased, who died on February 26, 2026, File Number 2026-CP-001601, is pending in the Circuit Court for Marion County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 110 N.W. 1st Avenue, Ocala, FL 34475. The names and addresses of the All other creditors of the decedent and petitioner and the petitioner’s attorney are other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate must file their set forth below. claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS All creditors of the estate of the decedent AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST and persons having claims or demands PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. against decedent's estate other than those for whom provision for full payment was made in the Order of Summary Administration must file their claims with this Court WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN SECTION 733.702 OF THE FLORIDA PROBATE CODE. ALL CLAIMS AND DEMANDS NOT SO FILED WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER APPLICABLE TIME PERIOD, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED .

The date of the first publication of this Notice is

August 7, 2026.

Attorney for Person Giving Person Notice: Giving Notice: EDWARD W. SOULSBY, B.C.S. TROTTER & SOULSBY, P.A. 4064 SR 44, Suite B Wildwood, Florida 34785 Telephone: (352) 205-7245 E-Mail: ed@trotterlaw.com 2nd E-Mail: justin@trotterlaw.com

MARK R. WROBLEWSKI Petitioner 146 Spezia Drive Oxford, Michigan 48371

NOTICE OF SALE PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 45 ( To be published in The Ocala Gazette) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to Order Granting Plaintiff’s Motion to Reschedule Foreclosure Sale and to Disburse from Registry dated August 4, 2026, entered in Case No. 25CA002172AX in the Circuit Court in and for Marion County, Florida wherein RAINBOW SPRINGS PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC., is Plaintiff, and UNKNOWN HEIRS, BENEFICIERIES, DEVISEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES AND ALL OTHERS WHO MAY CLAIM INTEREST IN THE ESTATE OF EDWARD J. DESMAREST, et al, is the Defendant, I will sell to the highest and best bidder for cash online on: SEPTEMBER 10, 2026 at www.marion.realforeclose.com the Clerk’s website for online auctions at 11:00 AM ET in accordance with section 45.031, Florida Statutes, the following described real property as set forth in the Final Judgment, to wit: LOT 41, BLOCK 161, RAINBOW SPRINGS COUNTRY CLUB ESTATES, ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF, AS SAME IS RECORDED IN PLAT BOOK "T", PAGE 46, OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA. A/K/A: BLK 161, LOT 41, DUNNELLON, FL 34432 .

ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN SECTION 733.702 OF THE FLORIDA ANY PERSON CLAIMING AN INTEREST PROBATE CODE WILL BE FOREVER IN THE SURPLUS FROM THE SALE, IF ANY, OTHER THAN THE PROPERTY BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT'S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The date of first publication of this notice is August 7, 2026.

Attorney for Personal Representative: EDWARD W. SOULSBY, B.C.S. Attorney for Co-Personal Representatives Florida Bar Number: 0488216 TROTTER & SOULSBY, P.A. 4064 SR 44, Suite B Wildwood, Florida 34785 Telephone: (352) 205-7245 Fax: (352) 205-7305 E-Mail: ed@trotterlaw.com 2nd E-Mail: justin@trotterlaw.com Personal Representative: CAROL A. SCHWARTZ 17765 SE 85th Causton Court The Villages, Florida 32162 ALEXIS LAUCIRICA 2154 Hospitality Lane Murfreesboro, Tennessee 37128

OWNER AS OF THE DATE OF THE LIS PENDENS MUST FILE A CLAIM BEFORE THE CLERK REPORTS THE SURPLUS AS UNCLAIMED. Dated August 4, 2026.

Florida Community Law Group, P.L. Attorneys for Plaintiff P.O. Box 292965 Davie, FL 33329-2965 Telephone (954) 372-5298 Facsimile (866) 424-5348 /s/ Jared Block Jared Block, Esq. Fla. Bar No. 90297 Email: Jared@flclg.com SERVICE LIST

UNKNOWN HEIRS, BENEFICIERIES, DEVISEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES AND ALL OTHERS WHO MAY CLAIM INTEREST IN THE ESTATE OF EDWARD J. DESMAREST, DECEASED C/O STEVEN BRAVERMAN, ESQ. (GAL) STEVEN@BRAVERMANPA.COM

Public Notice IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION File No. 26CP000317AX IN RE: ESTATE OF

Public Notice

Public Notice

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MARICLOSE AND ABANDON ROAD(S)

ON COUNTY, FLORIDA POG MO THOIN INVESTMENTS, LLC, a Texas limited liability company Plaintiff, V. PHYLLIS GAIL HAMES A/K/A ESTATE OF LYN NICOLE FARUGIA, PHYLLIS G. HAMES A/K/A DECEASED, ANY AND ALL UNKNOWN PHYLLIS DAVIS HAMES Deceased.

HEIRS, BENEFICIARIES, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES, SPOUSES, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND ALL OTHERS WHO MAY CLAIM (Summary Administration) THAT PART OF S.W. 44th TERRACE (60 AN INTEREST IN THE ESTATE OF LYN TO ALL PERSONS HAVING CLAIMS FEET WIDE) LYING NORTH OF S.W. NICOLE FARUGIA, UNKNOWN TENANT OR DEMANDS AGAINST THE ABOVE 44th LANE (60 FEET WIDE) AND WITH- #1, and UNKNOWN TENANT #2, ESTATE: You are hereby notified that an Order IN THE PLAT OF COUNTRY OAKS, RE- Defendants. of Summary Administration has been CORDED IN PLAT BOOK T, PAGE 92 OF Case No.: 2026-CA-0589 entered in the estate of Phyllis Gail THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF MARION NOTICE OF SALE Hames a/k/a Phyllis G. Hames a/k/a COUNTY, FLORIDA, BEING MORE PAR- NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to Phyllis Davis Hames, deceased, File TICULARLY DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: Final Summary Judgment of Foreclosure, entered in Civil Case No. 2026-CA-0589 of Number 26CP000317AX, by the Circuit Court for Marion County, Florida, Probate COMMENCE AT THE NORTHWEST the Circuit Court of the 5th Judicial Circuit Division, the address of which is 110 NW CORNER OF SAID COUNTRY OAKS; in and for Marion County, Florida, wherein, 1st Avenue, Ocala, Florida 34475; that the THENCE N89°59'27"E ALONG THE POG MO THOIN INVESTMENTS, LLC, Decedent's date of death was September NORTH LINE OF SAID COUNTRY a Texas limited liability company is the 1, 2025; that the total value of the estate Plaintiff, and ESTATE OF LYN NICOLE is $8,000.00 and that the names and OAKS, A DISTANCE OF 567.32 FEET FARUGIA, DECEASED, ANY AND ALL addresses of those to whom it has been TO THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF UNKNOWN HEIRS, BENEFICIARIES, SAID S.W. 44th TERRACE, SAID POINT assigned by such order are: DEVISEES, GRANTEES, ASSIGNEES, ALSO BEING THE POINT OF BEGIN- LIENORS, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES, Address Name Thomas 2890 Euston Road NING; THENCE CONTINUE N89°59'27"E SPOUSES, AND ALL OTHERS WHO Nigel Winter Park, FL 32789 ALONG THE NORTH LINE OF SAID MAY CLAIM AN INTEREST IN THE ESHames COUNTRY OAKS AND SAID S.W. 44th TATE OF LYN NICOLE FARUGIA are the a/k/a TERRACE, A DISTANCE OF 60.00 FEET Defendants, I, Clerk of Court, Gregory C. Thomas TO THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF Harrell, will sell to the highest and best Hames SAID S.W. 44th TERRACE; THENCE DE- bidder for cash AT WWW.MARION.REJohn 4669 SE 98th Lane, PARTING SAID NORTH LINE, PROCEED ALFORECLOSE.COM, AT 11:00 A.M. on Freeman Belleview, Florida 34420 S00°00'33"E ALONG THE EAST RIGHT- August 27, 2026, the following described Hames II OF-WAY LINE OF SAID S.W. 44th TER- property as set forth in said Final SummaPaul Eugene RMC Main Unit RACE, 114.17 FEET TO THE POINT OF ry Judgment of Foreclosure, to-wit: PropHames DC# U00091 CURVATURE OF A CURVE CONCAVE erty situate in Marion County, Florida: 8035 County Hwy-231, Lake Butler, Florida NORTHEASTERLY, HAVING A RADIUS The South 300.99 feet of Lot 2, Block 2, 32054 OF 25.00 FEET AND A CENTRAL AN- Ocala Thoroughbred Acres, according to ALL INTERESTED PERSONS ARE GLE OF 87°42'21"; THENCE SOUTH- the map or plat thereof, as recorded in Plat NOTIFIED THAT: Book M, Page(s) 85 through 91, inclusive, All creditors of the estate of the Decedent EASTERLY ALONG THE ARC OF SAID of the Public Records of Marion County, CURVE AND SAID EAST RIGHT-OFand persons having claims or demands Florida. Together with 1982 DEBO Mobile against the estate of the Decedent WAY LINE, 38.27 FEET (CHORD BEAR- Home ID #6414D1549. other than those for whom provision for ING AND DISTANCE OF S43°51'44"E, Marion County Parcel ID# 2331-002-002 full payment was made in the Order of 34.64 FEET) TO THE POINT OF CUSP Electronically Filed Marion Case # Summary Administration must file their OF SAID CURVE, SAID POINT BEING 26CA000589AX 07/30/2026 05:03:49 PM claims with this court WITHIN THE TIME ON THE NORTH LINE OF AFOREANY PERSON CLAIMING AN INTEREST PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA MENTIONED S.W. 44th LANE (60 FEET IN THE SURPLUS FROM THE SALE, IF STATUTES SECTION 733.702. ALL WIDE); THENCE N87°42'54"W ALONG ANY, OTHER THAN THE PROPERTY CLAIMS AND DEMANDS NOT SO SAID NORTH RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE, OWNER AS OF THE DATE OF THE LIS FILED WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER 110.09 FEET TO THE POINT OF CURVA- PENDENS MUST FILE A CLAIM BEAPPLICABLE TIME PERIOD, ANY TURE OF A CURVE CONCAVE NORTH- FORE THE CLERK REPORTS THE SURCLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR WESTERLY, HAVING A RADIUS OF PLUS AS UNCLAIMED. MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT'S DATE 25.00 FEET AND A CENTRAL ANGLE OF If you are a person with a disability who OF DEATH IS BARRED. 92°17'39", SAID POINT BEING ON THE needs any accommodation in order to The personal representative has no duty WEST RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE OF AFORE- participate in this proceeding, you are ento discover whether any property held at MENTIONED S.W. 44th TERRACE; titled, at no cost to you, to the provision the time of the Decedent's death by the THENCE DEPARTING SAID NORTH of certain assistance. Please contact the Decedent or the Decedent's surviving ADA Coordinator; 110 Northwest 1st AvRIGHT-OF-WAY LINE, PROCEED spouse is property to which the Florida enue, Ocala, Florida 34475; (352) 401NORTHEASTERLY ALONG THE ARC Uniform Disposition of Community 6710 at least 7 days before your schedProperty Rights at Death Act as described OF SAID CURVE AND SAID RIGHT-OF- uled court appearance, or immediately in Sections 732.216-732.288 Florida WAY LINE, 40.27 FEET (CHORD BEAR- upon receiving this notification if the time Statutes, applies, or may apply, unless a ING AND DISTANCE OF N46°08'17"E, before the scheduled appearance is less written demand is made by a creditor as 36.06 FEET) TO THE POINT OF TAN- than 7 days. If you are hearing or voice specified under section 732.2211, Florida GENCY THEREOF; THENCE CONTIN- impaired, call 711.

Statutes. The written demand must be UE ALONG SAID WEST RIGHT-OF-WAY Dated this 30th day of July, 2026. filed with the clerk.

LINE, N00°00'33"W, 109.76 FEET TO /s/ Caleb V. Smith Caleb V. Smith, Esquire The date of first publication of this Notice THE POINT OF BEGINNING. Attorney for Plaintiff is August 14, 2026.

Florida Bar No.: 1008368 445 NE 8th AveSaid Public Hearing will be held during nue, Ocala, FL 34470, (352) 732-8030 (t) Attorney for Person Giving Notice: a regular session of the Board of County (888) 399-3129 (f) cs@flagocala.com FAMILY FIRST FIRM Commissioners, Marion County, Florida Counsel for Petitioner at the McPherson Governmental Campus IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR Auditorium, 601 SE 25th Avenue, Ocala, MARION COUNTY, /s/ Elizabeth S. Bradley Ryan J. Saboff, Esquire Florida, 34471-2626.

FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION Florida Bar Number: 1010852 File No. 2026CP001462 Christopher F. Torchia, Esquire The public is invited to attend said hear- IN RE: ESTATE OF Florida Bar Number: 270120 ing or submit their written comments priElizabeth S. Bradley, Esquire or to the hearing date. Be advised that if BILLIE ANN OBAR, Florida Bar Number: 1065227 any person or persons wish to appeal a 1030 W. Canton Avenue, Suite 102 decision of the Board of County CommisWinter Park, Florida 32789 sioners, Marion County, Florida made at Deceased.

Telephone: (407) 574-8125 the above advertised meeting, a record of Fax: (407) 476-1101 the proceedings will be needed by such E-Mail: ryan.saboff@familyfirstfirm.com NOTICE TO CREDITORS E-Mail: chris.torchia@familyfirstfirm.com person(s) and a verbatim recording may E-Mail: elizabeth.bradley@familyfirstfirm. be needed. Please govern yourself acThe administration of the estate of BILLIE com cordingly.

ANN OBAR deceased, whose date of Secondary E-Mail: probate@ death was February 22, 2026, is pending familyfirstfirm.com This procedure shall be in accordance in the Circuit Court for Marion County, with the provisions of Chapter 336, Flor- Florida, Probate Division, the address Person Giving Notice: ida Statutes. A petition and resolution to of which is PO Box 1030, Ocala, Florida close and abandon the above described 34478. The names and addresses of the Thomas Nigel Hames, Petitioner road shall be considered by the Board personal representative and the personal 2890 Euston Road after required publication of this notice. representative's attorney are set forth Winter Park, Florida 32789 Persons wishing to do so should provide below.

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTH their written comments on this subject to All creditors of the decedent and other JUDICIAL CIRCUIT the Office of the County Engineer, 412 SE persons having claims or demands IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, 25th Avenue, Ocala, Florida, 34471, prior against decedent's estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served FLORIDA to the 30th day of September, 2026. must file their claims with this court ON Case No. 2025 CA 2861 FIDUS FUND I, LLC, a Delaware Limited OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS The County Commission Auditorium is a Liability Company, Plaintiff, v. E.R. AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST handicapped accessible facility.

Anyone VISION PROPERTIES, LLC, a Florida PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 Limited Liability Company; EFRAIN requiring special assistance under the DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE ROJAS MARIN, individually; EUDIMIA Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. OCASIO CARMONA, individually; requiring language assistance (free of The personal representative has no duty SILVER SPRINGS SHORES charge) should contact the County's ADA to discover whether any property held at RESIDENTS' ASSOCIATION, INC.; a Officer at (352) 438-2345 or TTY or Relay the time of the decedent's death by the Florida Not For Profit Corporation; number (352) 438-2357 a minimum of 48 decedent or the decedent's surviving LINN CONTRACTING LLC, a Florida hours in advance of the hearing so approspouse is property to which the Florida Limited Liability Company; and ALL Uniform Disposition of Community priate arrangements can be made.

UNKNOWN TENANTS IN POSSESSION, Property Rights at Death Act as described Defendants. in ss. 732.216-732.228, Florida Statutes, Date to Run: 9/14/2026 NOTICE OF SALE applies, or may apply, unless a written NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant demand is made by a creditor as specified to the Final Judgment of Foreclosure Original Proof of Publication to: under s. 732.2211, Florida Statutes. entered in the above-captioned case Office of the County Engineer All other creditors of the decedent and on July 22, 2026, that GREGORY C. Attn: Melanie Marino other persons having claims or demands HARRELL, Clerk of the Circuit Court 412 SE 25th Avenue against decedent's estate must file their in and for Marion County, Florida will Ocala, Florida 34471 claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS sell the following property situated in AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST Marion County, Florida, more particularly INVITATION TO BID: Electronic bids will PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. described as follows: Lot 23, Block 269, Silver Springs be received by the City of Ocala, via online ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN Shores Unit No. 17, according to the submittal only before 2:00 P.M. (EST) on THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN map or plat thereof, as recorded in October 20, 2026. NO EXCEPTIONS TO FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 Plat Book J, Pages 138 through 145, OPENING TIME WILL BE ALLOWED. WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. inclusive, of the Public Records of Paper submissions will not be NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME Marion County, Florida. Parcel I.D. No.: accepted; all bids must be submitted PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY 9017-0269-23 electronically online at www.bidocala. CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR Property Address: 21 Pine Course com hosted by ProRFx. Please be aware, MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT'S DATE Trak, Ocala, FL 34472 bidders must be pre-registered in ProRFx OF DEATH IS BARRED. at a public sale, to the highest and best I am disclosing that AI has been or may bidder for cash, via Online Auction at: before submitting a bid. Bids shall be for have been used in the filing, and certify, www.marion.realforeclose.com, on the following project: that each and every citation to the law Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at 11:00 or the record in the document, has been a.m. EST, ITB# CIP/260955 Water Resources independently verified as accurate.

IF YOU ARE A PERSON CLAIMING Improvement Program The date of first publication of this notice is A RIGHT TO SURPLUS FUNDS August 7, 2026.

REMAINING AFTER THE SALE (IF Specifications and details of the bid ANY), YOU MUST FILE A CLAIM WITH are available for review and electronic Attorney for Personal Representative: THE CLERK NO LATER THAN 60 submittal at: http://www.bidocala.com/ DANIELLE WHITE, ESQUIRE DAYS AFTER THE SALE. IF YOU FAIL Florida Bar No. 1035906 TO FILE A CLAIM, YOU WILL NOT solicitations/ VELIZ KATZ LAW BE ENTITLED TO ANY REMAINING 630 North Wymore Road, Suite 330 FUNDS. AFTER 60 DAYS, ONLY THE NOTICE OF FICTITIOUS NAME Maitland, Florida 32751 OWNER OF RECORD AS OF THE DATE Notice is hereby given that the underOF THE LIS PENDENS MAY CLAIM THE signed, pursuant to Section 865.09, Flor- Telephone: (407) 849-7072 Facsimile: (407) 849-7075 SURPLUS. Notice of Sale to be Published ida Statutes, intends to register the ficti- E-Mail: VelizKatz@VelizKatzLaw.com in the Ocala Gazette. tious name: Secondary: Probate@VelizKatzLaw. Sandberg Phoenix & von Gontard P.C. PINK PIGLET BAKERY com Attorneys for Plaintiff Post Office Box 3948, Sarasota, Florida with the Florida Department of State, Divi- Attorney for Petitioner sion of Corporations.

34230-3948 Personal Representative: By:/s/ Daniel J. Jackson, Esq. Florida Bar Owner: Alisia E. Davis No. 1015499 Address: 5353 N US Hwy 27, Apt 207, Oc- FRED OBAR d j a c k s o n @ s a n d b e r g p h o e n i x . c o m , ala, FL 34482 2025 NW 46TH TERRACE eserve@sandbergphoenix.com OCALA, FLORIDA 34482 Marion County, Florida.

Notice is hereby given that on October 6, 2026, at 10:00 AM, or as soon thereafter as practical, a public hearing will be held by the Board of County Commissioners, Marion County, Florida to consider the petition by Marion County, to close and abandon certain road(s) described as follows, to wit:

B9

August 14 - 20 2026 | OCALA GAZETTE

Bird of the week Double-crested cormorant Week of August 14th thru August 20th 2026 ARIES

March 21-April 20

You have been burning the candle at both ends, Aries.

You can’t run on caffeine and grit all of the time. Find a day to rest before your body makes that decision for you.

TAURUS

April 21-May 21

Someone is testing your patience this week, Taurus.

Before you stick to your guns, ask yourself if this is a battle worth fighting and then proceed.

GEMINI

May 22-June 21

It’s time to mute as much internal noise as possible, Gemini. Focus on one project and make a concerted effort to finish it before jumping to the next thing on your to-do list.

CANCER

June 22-July 22

Cancer, the stars are washing over your emotional sector, making you confront what you have been sweeping under the rung for some time. Trust your feelings.

LEO

July 23-August 23

Leo, the universe is asking you to give others a shot to shine and for you to step into the background. Use this week to refine your talents out of the spotlight.

VIRGO

August 24- September 22

Virgo, keep your eyes open for a chance encounter mid-week that could spark a great new idea. Let go of the need to control the outcome and just go with the flow.

LIBRA

September 23October 23

Collaboration is your superpower this week, Libra.

If you’ve been stuck on a professional problem, run it by a colleague. The answer may lie in a perspective you haven’t considered yet.

SCORPIO

October 24November 22

Your financial intuition is incredibly sharp, Scorpio.

Trust your instincts right now. It’s a great week to pitch a big idea, ask for a raise or reevaluate your budget.

SAGITTARIUS

November 23 -December 21

Sagittarius, you are feeling an itch to break free from your routine but don’t know where to begin. Don’t drop everything just yet. Explore little adventures first.

CAPRICORN

December 22January 20

There are a lot of ideas floating around in your head, Capricorn, but none have solidified into action just yet. Seek the opinions of others to identify a path forward.

AQUARIUS

January 21-February 18

Aquarius, every time you think you have a plan in place, the variables change. That’s alright because you always have a backup idea should different scenarios present themselves.

PISCES

February 19-March 20

You can’t predict where a relationship will go, Pisces. This week it is best to simply maintain the status quo. Things will be revealed soon enough.

At a glance, these large waterbirds are very similar in size and shape to anhingas, which can often be found together. A quick way to tell them apart is by the shape of their bill—“C” for curved cormorants and “A” for arrow-like anhingas. Cormorants can stay underwater for up to a minute and dive to depths of more than 20 feet. Because they lack oily waterproof feathers, they’re typically seen sunning themselves to dry out. This pair was photographed at Shalom Park in Ocala.

Photo by Michael Warren. See more at https://michaelwarren.com/birds

Animal Crackers

Broom Hilda

ANSWERS FOR PAGE B7 Sudoku

Middletons

Jumble

Gasoline Alley

Crossword

ADAGE CAMEO GENIUS HOTTER Answers: The pub advertised the upcoming darts tournament to their — TARGET AUDIENCE

B10

August 14 - 20 2026 | OCALA GAZETTE

Florida pediatricians rebuke Trump vaccine order Ana Goñi-Lessa Florida News Service

received only a small fraction of the vaccines required today. In those times, people were much healthier and of course, the high rates of autism now observed did not exist. So there's a reason for such epidemic rates of autism,” Trump said.

Claims that vaccines cause autism are unfounded and have been proven to be false according to numerous studies over decades of research. Dr. Tara Williams, a pediatrician and associate professor of pediatrics in Orlando, said the debate of whether vaccines cause autism has been “settled,” and the president’s executive order will undo years of hard work.

“This is unprecedented, but that’s not unusual in this administration," she told the News Service of Florida. “It’s unfortunately going to end up being at the cost of a child developing severe measles complications before this madness will end.”

In a statement, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics Dr. Andrew Racine called the executive order “dangerous.”

The order “will do nothing to support families of children with autism or advance understanding of the condition,” Racine said in a released statement. “The only

P

ediatricians in Florida are pushing back on President Donald Trump’s executive order calling for changes to the childhood vaccination schedule.

And the state’s leading pediatric medical association, the Florida Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said they’re not on board.

“We don’t answer to this nonsense, we don’t recommend changing it,” said Dr. Rana Alissa, president of the FCAAP and an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Florida. “We go by evidence-based science, we don’t go by politics and politicians.”

On Monday, Trump signed an executive order that advocates for the split of measles, mumps and rubella vaccine into three separate shots; directs the government to research vaccine safety; and directs all states to provide religious and medical exemptions from vaccine mandates.

At his press conference in the Oval Office, Trump promoted previously debunked information that vaccines cause autism spectrum disorder.

“Decades ago, children

purpose of this announcement is to sow confusion so that more people doubt the importance of vaccines. Delaying or skipping shots is risky, especially as measles continues to spread and children go back to school.”

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo have been outspoken critics of vaccine mandates. This year, DeSantis, First Lady Casey DeSantis and Ladapo pushed hard to expand vaccine exemptions for K-12 schools. All measures to do so, however, failed to make it past

the finish line in the Legislature.

So far in 2026 Florida has reported 155 cases of measles, according to the Florida Department of Health. Most of those cases stemmed from a January outbreak in Collier County at Ave Maria University.

Herd immunity for measles requires a 95 percent vaccination rate, according to the World Health Organization, yet the average vaccination rate for Florida’s kindergartners this year is 88.9 percent, according to DOH data. Sarasota County has the lowest vaccination rate with 82.1 percent, while Calhoun

County has the highest rate with 98.7 percent.

The closest Florida got to a 95 percent vaccination rate was in 2017, when the average was 94.1 percent.

Alissa said the president’s move will worsen the rates of herd immunity in Florida that pediatricians have been trying to raise for years.

“We almost eradicated measles, but no, let’s bring it back,” she said. “Please listen to your pediatrician. Please listen to the people who studied, not the people who have power to talk on TV.” BOB WINES

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