TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General James Uthmeier is announcing the statewide results of Florida’s participation in a nationwide organized retail theft blitz operation. Working with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, authorities made 44 arrests, including three illegal aliens, and recovered more than $207,000 in stolen assets. The Florida Organized Retail Crime Exchange (FORCE) played a significant role in this crackdown. The nationwide blitz operation targeted criminals, and organized crime rings that prey on retailers.
“Due to great coordination among our state law enforcement and Florida Organized Retail Crime Exchange, 44 criminals were arrested as part of a nationwide organized retail theft blitz,” said Attorney General James Uthmeier. “The rule of law means something in Florida; this is another example of our state working with law enforcement to stop criminals.”
“FDLE was proud to take part in the National Organized Retail Crime Blitz in support of Attorney General James Uthmeier’s initiative to crack down on retail crime across the state,” said FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass. “We are a law-and-order state, and together with our local and state partners are committed to protecting Florida’s businesses and communities.” Continue reading
Jul 04
Exploration Hike
8:00 AM – 9:30 AM Ferndale Preserve in Clermont7/48/19/510/3 Plus More
Join staff and explore the habitats and species of Ferndale Preserve. Hike intensity: Vigorous. Reservations required.
Jul 04
Star Spangled Spectacular
Star Spangled Spectacular 2025 ????
???? Friday, July 4th
???? Ski Beach Park – 201 Dixie Ave, Leesburg, FL 34748
???? Festivities kick off at 4 PM
???? Fireworks light up the sky at 9 PM
???? FREE & open to the public!\
Get ready for a red, white, and BOOM celebration at Leesburg’s biggest Independence Day party! Join us at scenic Ski Beach Park for an unforgettable evening featuring:
???? Live music by the high-energy party band, Groove Slayers
???? Delicious food trucks
????️ Merchandise vendors
FREE Carnival Rides
???? Family fun and patriotic vibes all evening long
???? A breathtaking fireworks finale over Lake Harris at 9 PM
Bring your lawn chairs, blankets, and stars-and-stripes spirit—this is a celebration you don’t want to miss!
???? Want to be a sponsor or merchandise vendor?
Email specialevents@leesburgflorida.gov to get involved.
Let freedom ring—Leesburg style!
Friday, July 4, 2025 | 6 -10 p.m. | Free to attend
Tuscawilla Park | 800 NE Sanchez Ave.
Celebrate Independence Day with an unforgettable evening at Patriotic Skies! Enjoy a spectacular fireworks display that lights up the night sky, live music to keep you dancing, and a fun-filled Kids Zone featuring games and activities for the whole family. Satisfy your cravings with a variety of delicious food from local food trucks, offering everything from savory snacks to sweet treats. Whether you’re relaxing with loved ones or enjoying the entertainment, this free event is the perfect way to celebrate America’s birthday in style. Don’t miss out – bring your chairs, blankets, and your patriotic spirit!
Entertainers
Bryce Mauldin, originally from Webster, FL, is bringing serious Florida fire to the Nashville country scene. As a fully independent artist, he’s racked up over 20 million streams on his original music and built a massive following across social media with a sound that appeals to fans of both classic and modern country.
From high-energy hits like “City Limits”—channeling the rock-influenced edge of Jason Aldean—to the heartfelt, steel-guitar-driven “Seeing Somebody Else,” Bryce’s music spans generations and styles while staying true to his roots. His songwriting is personal yet universally relatable, giving a voice to fans through real-life storytelling.
With his distinctive style and growing momentum, Bryce Mauldin is quickly carving out his place as one of country music’s rising stars.
Emma Forgette
In the world of country music, few voices shine as brightly and authentically as Emma Forgette’s. Born in New Jersey but rooted in Ocala, Florida, Emma is quickly making her mark on the contemporary country scene.
She began her musical journey just three years ago at age 17, exploring opera, rock, pop, and theater, but always returning to her first love—country music. Her powerful voice and wide range draw comparisons to some of the genre’s greatest female artists, and her dream of performing at the Grand Ole Opry feels well within reach.
Emma’s musical foundation runs deep. She played first-chair flute through school and is now learning guitar, adding to her already impressive artistry. Offstage, she’s a true country girl—living on a family farm, collecting cowboy boots, and embracing the simple joys of rural life. Continue reading
(NAPSI)—Americans are living nearly a decade longer than they were in the 1970s. That’s great news—but staying healthy into your 80s and beyond requires extra care and an eye towards prevention. The protection provided by vaccines plays a key role in helping keep you healthy and preventing severe illness and potential long-term complications, especially for older adults and individuals with immunocompromised conditions.
As people age, their immune system naturally weakens—it becomes slower at recognizing and fighting off viruses. At the same time, lungs become more vulnerable, and chronic conditions such as heart disease or diabetes can make it harder to recover from illnesses such as COVID-19. Similarly, people of all ages with weakened immune systems—whether from certain health conditions or medications—face a higher risk of severe illness because their bodies also struggle to mount a strong defense. In both cases, a reduced ability to fight infectious respiratory disease increases the risk of serious complications and hospitalization. Continue reading
Ocala, FL — The Ocala Metro Chamber and Economic Partnership has been named a finalist for the 2025 Chamber of the Year award, presented by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE). ACCE is an association based in Alexandria, Va., with over 1,600 chambers of commerce and related business and economic development organizations as members, representing more than 9,000 professionals in the industry.
The award, sponsored by GrowthZone, is the most prestigious and competitive award in the chamber industry, recognizing excellence in operations, member service and community leadership. Those honored with the Chamber of the Year designation have demonstrated organizational strength and impacted key community priorities, such as education, transportation, economic prosperity and quality of life.
“This year’s finalists represent excellence in the chamber industry,” said ACCE President & CEO Sheree Anne Kelly. “Each has shown how chambers can lead as community partners, forward-thinking leaders and problem solvers to drive growth and make a lasting impact on regional prosperity. We congratulate them on this well-deserved recognition.” Continue reading
The Town of Lady Lake is pleased to announce the release of its 2024 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report, as required by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP). This comprehensive report is designed to keep residents informed about the quality of their drinking water and the measures taken to ensure it remains safe and dependable.
“Our goal is to provide residents with a reliable supply of high-quality drinking water,” said Public Works Director C.T Eagle. “We want our community to understand the ongoing efforts we make to safeguard our precious water resources.”
The Town continually monitors for contaminants in drinking water in accordance with state and federal regulations. Lady Lake is proud to report no violations for water quality and full compliance with all federal and state drinking water standards.
Lady Lake’s drinking water is sourced from three water treatment plants, which include five wells within the community, drawing from the Floridan Aquifer—one of the most protected aquifers in the world. The water is treated using aeration and chlorination to ensure effective disinfection. Continue reading
The following found or abandoned property will be disposed of according to Florida State Statute 705 on the scheduled purge date unless ownership can be proven. If you have proof of ownership, please contact the Evidence Section at (352) 751-1576.
- A cellphone was recovered on March 29, 2025, at Snooky Park, 120 W. Lady Lake Blvd. It is scheduled for disposal on June 27, 2025.
- A wallet containing a driver’s license, Veteran’s Administration card, and credit cards was recovered on March 30, 2025, at US Hwy 441 & Hermosa St. It is scheduled for disposal on June 28, 2025.
- A men’s ring was recovered on April 2, 2025, at 1403 Paradise Dr. It is scheduled for disposal on July 1, 2025.
- A bicycle was recovered on April 14, 2025, at 533 Del Mar Dr. It is scheduled for disposal on July 13, 2025.
- An iPad was recovered on May 28, 2025, at 1403 Paradise Dr. It is scheduled for disposal on August 27, 2025.
- A cellphone was recovered on May 31, 2025, at CR 25 & Line Rd. It is scheduled for disposal on August 29, 2025.
If you believe any of these items belong to you, please reach out before the scheduled purge date.
The Lady Lake Library participated in the Lake County Library System’s annual Food for Fines initiative in May, which forgives $1 of overdue fees for every food item donated.
The Lady Lake Library forgave $244.40 in fines and collected over 500 items for its local food bank, the Lady Lake Christian Food Pantry, which feeds 350 families each month. Started in 1998, the Food Pantry is an off-campus ministry of North Lake Presbyterian Church that provides supplemental groceries for families in need in Lady Lake, The Villages, Summerfield and Weirsdale.
The no King’s protest in Ocala was scheduled on June 14th, which is a day to celebrate the red white and blue, Flag Day. It was also the 250th birthday of the United States Army! Instead, the left is trying to encourage riots in Florida, as what is occurring in LA. We will not permit that in Florida, we enforce law and order. We salute the Ocala police department for their continued service and support of our community. The Marion County Republican executive committee attended the Williston watermelon festival to promote our President’s achievements, economic vitality, innovation and economic agility and adherence to constitutional principles. We are a Republic! The real reminder that the REAL No Kings day has been Independence Day, July 4, since 1776!
By TomL
What would you do if someone said “I’m going to kill you?” You would go to law enforcement and report it. Think about what you would do if it was a foreign country threatening you? You would report it to a federal Law Enforcement. Well that is what just happened. For forty years, we, I, You have been in danger for years from a country and we don’t know why.
We have gone through many Presidents and none have done a thing but make us live under the threats. This president does not expect us to live under threats. He did something about it and apparently and will do his best for our country not to expect us to live under threats.
So you countries out there, you have sent people here to threaten us and have paid people to riot in our country. Our president and his law enforcement team will find you and send you packing or put you in jail. We are the United States off America! You can’t do that to us any more. When this president can no longer do the job like term out. Others are in place to help the country to live in peace.
The ruler of the country that has been threatening us is still alive. His purpose in life is to destroy our country and destroy Israel. Please let us live in peace!
