Wonder. Explore. Create.
The Discovery Center is Ocala’s local children’s museum! Located at Tuscawilla Park, the Discovery Center is a place for kids to learn in a fun, hands-on way. From rotating quarterly exhibits to STEAM-centered classes, there is plenty of reasons to check out what’s new at Discovery Center!
Ocala’s cultural community is robust. It is comprised of organizations big and small, independent artists, arts education providers, and regionally known facilities and festivals, all of which provide the city and county with programs that range from the performing and visual arts to culinary arts and historic preservation. The City of Ocala is a strong proponent of arts and culture in the community. This includes partnerships with local art organizations and the development of visual, performing arts and educational science programming.
The City of Ocala Cultural Arts & Sciences Division presents many events and programs including public art, First Friday Art Walk, the biennial Ocala Outdoor Sculpture Competition, Art in City Spaces exhibitions, Tuscawilla Art Park Series, the Levitt AMP Ocala Music Series, and partnerships with community events around the city. The Discovery Center features quarterly science exhibits, permanent animal exhibits, educational classes, exhibit dates nights and summer camp. Continue reading
On May 19, 2022 at approximately 9:30 a.m., Lake County deputies responded to a home located at 42221 Dogwood Avenue in DeLand regarding an unresponsive four-month-old male infant. The infant, Logan Bixler, was transported to AdventHealth DeLand where he was pronounced dead.
Detectives began investigating, at which time methamphetamine was discovered in the home.
Following the Medical Examiner’s autopsy on the child, toxicology results were received on September 9, which showed that methamphetamine was present in Logan’s system. The results indicated that the death was sudden after ingestion, likely by consuming or inhaling methamphetamine. The official cause and manner of Logan’s death was determined to be accidental overdose on methamphetamine. Continue reading
On July 17th 2021 Lake County Sheriff’s Deputies along with EMS responded to 16815 Sarah’s Place, Clermont regarding an unresponsive male in a vehicle in the parking lot. The individual was identified as Pavel Mata who was transported to Four Corners ER where he was pronounced deceased. An autopsy was performed on Mr. Mata however a cause of death was undetermined pending toxicology testing.
On August 23rd 2021 toxicology testing returned indicating a lethal dose of Fentanyl was present in Mr. Mata’s blood; the cause of death was updated to indicate “Accidental”.
Detectives continued their lengthy investigation to include DNA testing and forensic digital searches. As a result it was learned that an individual named “Kevin” (who had been known to be present with Mr. Mata prior to his death) was in fact Kevin Richardson (06/01/1997). Surveillance video from the parking lot showed Mr. Richardson in the vehicle interacting with Mr. Mata. Mr. Richardson was located and interviewed by detectives at which time he admitted to obtaining what he claimed to be a Percocet pill from an unidentified drug dealer and provided it to Mr. Mata. Mr. Richardson stated that he observed Mr. Mata to need medical attention after ingesting the pill but claimed Mr. Mata declined; thereafter Mr. Richardson left Mr. Mata’s presence. According to detectives the alleged Percocet pill was likely counterfeited and contained a lethal dose of Fentanyl. Continue reading
Lake County sheriff’s deputies responded to the area of Merrell Avenue in Umatilla just after 3:25 p.m. this afternoon regarding a report of shots fired. Upon arrival, responding deputies discovered an adult male at a residence located at 38946 Merrell Avenue who had been shot. Paramedics attempted to transport the male to AdventHealth Waterman in Tavares; however, he passed away during transport.
The identity of the deceased male is not yet being released.
Anyone with information concerning this incident can call Central Florida CRIMELINE at 1-800-423-TIPS, where they can remain completely anonymous and can be eligible for a cash reward.
This is an ongoing investigation and additional details will be released as they become available.
A 33-year-old Leesburg man is in custody following an investigation into a drug-related death that occurred in June 2022.
Detectives began the death investigation at a home located at 4100 Holly Hill in Lady Lake on June 25 when the deceased, 38-year-old Harry Cooper, was found in a bedroom along with evidence of drug use. The Medical Examiner’s Office ruled Cooper’s death as an accidental drug overdose of fentanyl.
Detectives have worked diligently throughout the course of this investigation and based upon phone records and surveillance video, they determined that 33-year-old Albert Robert Springs of Leesburg is the man responsible for dealing the lethal drugs to Cooper.
Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Springs and he was taken into custody on Wednesday, November 16. He was booked in at the Lake County Detention Center with no bond on a charge of Death by Unlawful Distribution of Fentanyl.
His booking photo and additional information can be found by visiting www.lcso.org and clicking the “Inmates” tab.
Like this one….
Dear please help us,
How’s it going over there in the States? I hope you’re fine.
I am Mrs. Anna and Lucas from UKRAINE, my mother and I want you to help us move from UKRAINE to your country because after the explosion we lost all the members of our family, not to mention me and my elderly mother.
We have enough money to buy a house over there and you will also help us invest our family’s money in any good business of your choice that will bring us annual or monthly income.
All we need is your help and assistance to help us move forward and move to YOUR COUNTRY and you will be our only family because we don’t know anyone over there and my mother never wants to stay here in UKRAINE because she always remembers to she late children and her husband’s grandchildren, so she’s always heartbroken, that’s why we decided to move.
Contact me in my private email: xxxxxxxxxxx
Thank you,
Mrs. Anna and Lucas, UKRAINE.
Recently my wife received a phone call from a woman representing her as the office personnel of the electric company. She had my name and my wife’s name. She said she had a work order to shut our electricity off. We have a little farm out side of Dunnellon Florida. I am not sure what was said after that until she used the name Duke energy, we have Sumter Electric Co-op. My wife said we use SECO electric the woman quickly said well call your company and straighten this out and hung up.
Watch yourself on these kind of calls. You can panic and easily be taken advantage of, stay calm and think, don’t give them any information, call your power company or what ever they are threatening to turn off. Don’t use a phone number they give you. Look up your own phone number. Never give them your personal information.
Fraud Hotline 1-866-966-7226
Elaine Has Your Back
Ron and Elaine came to Florida after having a successful trucking company up north. They sold it and moved to Florida. Ron and Elaine Maillaro got involved with Fair Tax listening to Neil Boortz and reading the Fair Tax book by Boortz and Linder. They started volunteering in 2008 just after the establishment of the Florida Fair Tax Education Association ( 501c (3) ). They became presenters then they were elevated to Marion County Co-ordinators then to District Co-ordinators to finally Ron made President and Elaine made Secretary of the FFTEA. Their mission is to change how the government is funded by enacting HR 25, the Fair Tax Act. A system based on consumption rather than income.
I have known Ron and Elaine for about ten years and they have worked hard to educate people on the Fair Tax and signing up politicians to further the Fair Tax Cause and to get rid of the IRS.
What is Fair Tax and how does it work? For instance if you buy a car you pay tax, the second and the third time that car is sold there is no tax, no double and triple taxation and you are not taxed until you buy something. You pay tax once on something and that is it! No tax unless you spend!
Washington County’s Health Officer Dr. Christina Baumann, M.D.
Dr. Christina Baumann says, “In 2020, the western states, in particular, had the largest increases in fentanyl availability in the illegal drug market; and in our state, there was nearly a 70% increase in drug overdose deaths in compared to 2019.”
FLORIDA
Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody has launched the One Pill Can Kill website with resources about the dangers of fentanyl. More and more, she says the opioid is being hidden in drugs like marijuana and cocaine, unbeknownst to the user.
“People need to know that just one pill laced with fentanyl is enough to kill a full grown adult,” Moody says in a video about the new website. “Fentanyl is now the leading cause of death for American adults between the ages of 18 and 45.”
