Ocala News Daily

🚨 College Of Central Florida Completes $7 Million Renovation Of EMS Training Facility. The College of Central Florida will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony April 2 at 10:30 a.m. to open the renovated Building 19 on its Ocala campus at 3001 SW College Road as the new home for the Emergency Medical Services program. The upgrades added high-tech simulation labs featuring a mock apartment, fully equipped ambulance, emergency room, high-fidelity patient simulators, and virtual and augmented reality tools. The nationally accredited program offers an EMT certificate, Paramedic certificate, and Associate in Science degree.

🚨 A new Puerto Rican barbecue restaurant is nearing completion along Easy Street in Ocala. Martin’s BBQ is finishing construction at 2601 SW 19th Avenue Road after two years of development that included demolition of the former Gathering Cafe in late 2023. The location sits next to several other new restaurants that have opened on the corridor since July 2023. Founded in 1962 in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, the chain specializes in rotisserie chicken, wand ribs, arroz con gandules, maduros, yuca, and mofongo. This will become the third Florida site after locations in Kissimmee and Tampa. No opening date has been announced.

🚨 Trulieve is building a new medical cannabis dispensary at the former Belleview Pizza site. The dispensary will occupy the building at 5428 SE Abshier Boulevard in Belleview where the longtime restaurant closed permanently in June 2024 after 50 years in business. Trulieve secured demolition and remodel permits over the past eight weeks and has begun interior work that includes new partitions, ADA restrooms, millwork, ceilings, and mechanical upgrades plus exterior signage. The project continues without an announced opening date and will join Trulieve stores already operating in Summerfield, Lady Lake, and Ocala.

🚨 Marion County Residents Rally Against Proposed Closure of Sparr Elementary School Community members, including parents, teachers, and former students, urged the Marion County School Board to reconsider closing Sparr Elementary School due to its deep ties to families across generations and the uncertainty it creates for educators' jobs. Speakers emphasized that school is more than a building for young children and highlighted concerns over rapid changes that leave little time for adjustment. The board, facing declining enrollment and financial challenges from undercapacity schools, had previously discussed closing Sparr Elementary and rezoning students for the next school year. After emotional testimony, the board postponed any rezoning decision until the 2027–2028 school year and plans additional community meetings to gather more feedback.

🚨 Hundreds Attend Sixth Annual Festival Latino in Downtown Ocala The sixth annual Festival Latino took place in downtown Ocala on Saturday, March 7, organized by Party Mix Productions. The event ran from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Citizens’ Circle, located at 151 SE Osceola Avenue, and drew hundreds of residents with free admission and parking. Attendees enjoyed live music and dance performances, including free salsa and bachata lessons. The festival offered authentic Latin cuisine from food trucks and vendors, local arts and handicrafts, and a kids zone with family-friendly activities and games.

🚨 Marion County Utility Workers Qualify for International Lineman’s Rodeo After Top Performance Utility workers from Marion County qualified for the International Lineman’s Rodeo in Bonner Springs, Kansas, later in 2026 after competing at the Duke Energy Lineman’s Rodeo held over the weekend in Winter Garden. Corey Sill of Ocala won first place in the Apprentice Overall category, while journeyman team members Charles McNulty and Noah Scarpetta of Dunnellon, along with Jonathan Radomski of Inverness, took first place in the Journeyman Overall category. The rodeo provides a controlled environment for lineworkers to practice complex repairs and restoration tasks, reinforcing safety standards and technical precision for emergency outages. Duke Energy emphasizes that these competitions help maintain a resilient electric grid, with the 2026 event supported by 45 volunteers, 75 students and staff from five Florida community colleges, 70 judges, and 15 bucket truck operators.

🚨 Ocala Driver Secures Top Fuel Victory at NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville Ocala's Josh Hart won the Top Fuel title at the 2026 Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Florida, defeating Doug Kalitta in the final round with a 3.733-second run at 337.83 mph. In his debut with John Force Racing, Hart set the track speed record on Friday and earned his first No. 1 qualifier position on Saturday, while dispatching opponents including Dan Mercier, Tripp Tatum, and Antron Brown. The victory ended Hart's nearly five-year winless streak since his 2021 win in Gainesville. The 42-year-old driver, sponsored by Burnyzz Speed Shop and Speedmaster, expressed gratitude to his new team and John Force for the opportunity, noting their record-breaking performance in the first weekend.

An Ocala man is suing Outback Steakhouse after alleging a toilet in the handicap stall shattered and collapsed while he was using it in March, causing severe injuries. Case was filed last month in December.

Positive news for Marion County roads: 2025 has one of the lowest traffic fatality totals in the past decade, with around 78 reported so far.

Tragic update from a crash in Marion County: A 25-year-old pregnant woman lost her unborn baby after a collision with an RV that also claimed a 5-year-old's life. Our thoughts are with their families 🕊️

Florida's 2025 black bear hunt (first since 2015) resulted in 52 bears killed statewide, per FWC reports.

Marion County's new animal shelter on W Highway 40 is getting extra upgrades for better animal care. Their opening is now pushed to spring 2026.

Exciting upgrades underway at Ocala Skate Park! Expansion includes new bowls, a snake run, and more space.

Ocala's first Dutch Bros Coffee is now open in east Ocala at Six Gun Plaza 👀