Ocala Fire Rescue Welcomes 12 Members to its Special Operations Team 

(OCALA, FL.) Oct. 16, 2026 – Ocala Fire Rescue is proud to announce the induction of 12 fire service members into its Special Operations Team, a significant milestone under the 2026-2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement, which took effect on October 1st, 2026.

With this expansion, the Special Operations Team has grown from 32 to 44 members. This strategic enhancement reflects our commitment to ensuring our community receives the highest level of emergency response capabilities and that we have a robust team ready to respond to critical incidents.

The Special Operations Team is composed of highly trained personnel who have dedicated at least four years to Ocala Fire Rescue. Members are specifically trained in technical rescue and hazardous materials identification and response. They undergo rigorous training that includes completing at least five specialized courses in areas such as Trench and Collapse Rescue, Vehicle and Machinery Rescue, Hazardous Materials, Confined Space Rescue, Rope Rescue, and Structural Collapse Operations, among others. Continue reading →

I joined Florida Gateway College in Lake City to announce $3 million for workforce training, the largest federal grant in the college’s history!

This funding will help build a new Building Construction Technology Center, including a 4,800-square-foot construction lab, and launch new trade programs for students across our rural communities. These opportunities will help students learn a trade and prepare for good-paying jobs close to home. Team Kat proudly sent a letter of support backing FGC’s application.

Thank you to Dr. Barrett, Dr. McIntire, and the entire FGC team

Ocala Symphony Orchestra Opens 51st Season with World Premiere by

GRAMMY-Winning Composer Michael Daugherty

“Pictures at an Exhibition: From Dalí to Mussorgsky” pairs Daugherty’s new Dalí-inspired work with masterworks by

Rachmaninoff and Mussorgsky, October 24–25 at the Reilly Arts Center.

OCALA, Fla. (Oct. 20, 2026) – The Ocala Symphony Orchestra opens its 51st season this weekend with Pictures at an

Exhibition: From Dalí to Mussorgsky, a program built around a world premiere by multiple GRAMMY® Award-winning

composer Michael Daugherty. Music Director Matthew Wardell conducts performances on Saturday, October 24, and

Sunday, October 25, at the Reilly Arts Center.

The centerpiece is Daugherty’s The Hallucinogenic Toreador, commissioned by the Ocala Symphony Orchestra and

inspired by the art and life of Spanish Surrealist Salvador Dalí (1904–1989). The work takes its title from Dalí’s 1970

painting, considered his last great Surrealist canvas, which depicts death and resurrection in the Spanish bullring. That

painting is part of the collection at The Dalí Museum in nearby St. Petersburg, home to more than 2,400 of the artist’s

works. Continue reading →

Dear Editor

My goal in life is to be a people person and encourage them to help one another! Just “Keep Moving Forward!” I have always said I do business with a person, not a business. When a person gives you a promise normally you can count on it!

That is why I like the CEP Ocala Florida, they use the term”Moving Forward” every day and they don’t talk politics at meetings, although some work very hard for candidates.

My dad raised me as a Democrat he said “they were for the working man” and I believe they were until Barak Husain Obama. I still don’t believe was a US citizen!

I stay the course for many years voting for the person I like! Late in life I figured it out. Some of the Democratic states were stealing us blind. I say COVID started the whole thing. They dumped money into funds to help their people, then they realise there was no one checking it, no feed back on where the money was going and new funds were born! Billions of dollars were taken out of our tax money. I believe once we get our economy stabilized and the fraud is minimized we should be able to pay down the debt!

We should show Elon Musk a lot of gratitude for the brain power working behind the scene.  Elon lost a fortune because of terrorist ruining his products.

From The Optimist !

By TomL

Some info for the web.

I read a complaint about the Ocala City Manager was making more than the Governor. That’s BS what the Governor makes is not visible, let’s look at it!

Complaint: Ocala City Manager earns more than Governor Ron DeSantis,  making  double his gubernatorial salary. (ON THE SURFACE)

• Ocala City Manager (Peter Lee): $267,608 annual base salary.
• Florida Governor (Ron DeSantis): $141,400 annual state salary.

Salary Comparison Breakdown.

Peter Lee Position Annual Base Salary Key Additional Benefits / Income

Ocala City Manager $267,608     21% employer retirement contribution, $750 monthly car allowance, and standard executive insurance.

Florida Governor $141,400 Continue reading →

It was an honor to join First Coast bright and early to help send off an incredible group of veterans traveling to Washington, D.C., for an Honor Flight celebrating their service and sacrifice.

Local and statewide healthcare leaders together at Gainesville District Office for a roundtable on the challenges facing providers and patients across North Central Florida.