It looks like one of the more popular swimming spots in Marion County Florida will be closed for the Labor Day Weekend because of high fecal bacteria levels. Strangely enough you can still go tubing, boating and even scuba diving in the popular swim hole but no swimming in the shallow areas where the bacteria levels may be higher because of warmer water temperatures. They suspect fowl play in that it may be the overpopulation of birds and specifically the Muscovie ducks which poop the place all up and increase the levels of fecal coliform bacteria which are nasty when ingested by humans.

Did anyone have plans on going to KP Hole for the weekend and have your trip ruined because of crappy conditions? Share your Ocala experience with us!

The new Florida law dubbed “Stand Your Ground” is playing out in an Ocala courtroom as attorneys on both sides argue the schemantics of the law and when a person has the right to defend themselves with deadly force. In the Ocala case we have a young man who “defended” himself from a potential physical attack by shooting an unarmed man who attackked his car during a road rage incident. The defendant is charged with murder for shooting dead a man  who walked up to his car and began to assault the car and passengers. The defendant pulled a stolen handgun and shot the man for blocking his way in a threatening manner.

Hunters in the Hopkins Unit of the Ocala Wildlife Management area should be in the lookout for parts from the crashed military jet which landed in the area a few months back. Specifically they should keep an eye out for fan blades and other parts which have not been found and may prove important to determining the cause of the crash.

So for anyone who thinks it would be cool to have these parts for keepsakes or conversation pieces remember that the military needs to understand why this Harrier crashed and what can be done to avoid another crash in the future. DO NOT keep the jet parts!!

FWC asks if you have seen parts of a crashed Harrier jet | Ocala.com

Ocala has a new 911 communications center which is going to reduce response time to 911 calls in Ocala and Marion County. This is welcome news in a community of elder citizens who rely heavily upon the government to assist in emergency situations. Marion County Sheriff officers and emergency responders will be more able to respond with critical care and assistance for those in need.

Something strange is going on with the School Board and their fight against fellow member Jackie Porter. I have kept on top of this story and although I am not privy to detailed information it does appear to me that what she is doing is the right thing and she is being hushed for some unknown reason. Her efforts to determine what is going on with the roof at a number of public schools is the right course of action in my opinion. She is looking for the truth as to why we need to replace these failed roofing systems and it seems the rest of the school board is just pushing this along to install a new roof when there should have definitely been a search for the truth. What I don't understand is why the school board is trying to shut her down.

Stupidity is not a crime but being stupid will get you arrested as it should when you let your child hold a bong in it's lips. It's obvious this kid knew what to do with the bong and he must have learned this behavior from his family. The mother has been arrested for drug paraphernalia so I suppose a test was done to prove it was in fact a marijuana bong and not a tobacco pipe. What sentence do you think she deserves? Is this worth actual jail time or just probation? Should she lose custody of her kid over this? Mom arrested after pic of baby with bong

Black bear cub nicknamed Jarhead freed from large plastic jar after nearly two weeks | Ocala.com

Marion County took a $600,000 chance on building a water treatment pond to filter dangerous chemicals from run off water and it appears to be paying off far better than expected. The water treatment pond pre filters rain water run off for heavy metals and toxic chemicals before the water runs into the ground water and the drinking supply for so many people.

I think it’s wonderful they took the chance and it worked so well that they are now considering where else to use the technology and improve our ground water collection process to maximize and improve our usage of seasonal rains in Marion County. Let’s hope they find the funding for building more pre treatment facilities using more natural resources such as these man made wetlands and retention ponds.

Marion County pond treated for pollution | Ocala.com

Dove World Outreach Center will be offering outreach and education on September 11th by organizing a Quran book burning if they are granted the burn permit they filed for with the local fire department. I do find it ironic they chose to name themselves an Outreach Center and chose acts of hatred to engage discussion. Burning a Quran or Bible is an act of religious war and no church should partake or approve of these actions unless of course their intention is to start or promote a religious war.

Dove World Outreach Center is trying to make a name for themselves by announcing their proposed actions to the world via press release and interviews which have become fodder for late night television and opinion editorials. It is such a shame they are establishing themselves as a group promoting hatred, bigotry, ignorance and intolerance of others.

Cal Ripken world series begins in Ocala | Ocala.com

The Melinda Duckett trial against television personality Nancy Grace has been postponed so that one of the attorneys in the case can recuperate from knee surgery. I think it’s odd such a personal reason for an attorney to take leave and I ask myself why they need time off or why they can’t find a replacement attorney to push things through but I assume all parties wanted the extra time to better prepare a case in what is sure to be a volatile trial by jury.

I will refrain from injecting my personal opinion on this case for the simple fact I have a predisposed hatred of Nancy Grace and anything she does on television. I think her sensationalist news reporting and “hard hitting style” are disgusting and she has been wrong on more than one occasion with her slanted opinions and judgemental review of every non case in the world.

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