Ocala News

The Ocala Star Banner has been sold by the New York Times/Tribune along with a number of other Florida based newspapers including the Lakeland Ledger, the News Chief in Winter Haven; the Gainesville Sun and the Sarasota Herald-Tribune to the Halifax Group, a private holding company which already owns the Daytona Beach News Journal, for [...]

Bill Ray has the fear that many others probably do which is that managing and promoting the facility will become a burden on the county. I would have to say I disagree with Bill Ray on his opinions in regards to the takeover of Silver Springs by Marion County as expressed in today’s Ocala StarBanner. [...]

The Ocala Star Banner is a primary newspaper and source of information here in Ocala Florida and a great many of the ideas and stories we comment upon or share with our members come from Ocala.com and the Ocala Star banner staff. As the largest newspaper in Ocala they get the scoop on the best [...]

Officers arrest three at Friday night DUI checkpoint – Most area residents kicked off their weekend plans under a blanket of smothering heat. More than 330 motorists traveling north late Friday in the 4900 block of Southwest 60th Avenue in Ocala had their plans altered when a mandatory "show and tell" exercise conducted by local law enforcement swung into operation. [Ocala Star Banner]

I for one am glad to see such great enfrocement of the drunk driving laws. This is one thing that has always bothered me. Why do we still have drunk people getting into cars? why wouldn't they build something into cars that stop the drivers from ever starting their cars drunk? I think all new cars should have the breathalyzer installed and functioning for every driver.

What do you think?

Baseball event to help homeless children – The Marion County Sheriff's Office is hosting Home-runs for Homeless Children, a softball tournament fundraiser to benefit the Marion County Public School Initiative. The all-day tournament will be held in Citra at Wrigley Fields on Sept. 25. "I knew we had some good softball players and wanted to do an event that first responders would want to participate in. It's also a great way to promote agency camaraderie," said Jenifer Lowe, MCSO assistant public information officer. [Ocala Star Banner]

Banks tightening their loan standards – Banks say they have money to lend and they want to make loans. And interest rates are low, which makes them very attractive to borrowers. But many local businesses that are looking for financing are still finding it difficult to get their hands on the money they need to expand their operations or to follow their entrepreneurial dreams. [Ocala Star Banner]

Who sends their kids to Kids Zone still? What kind of parent sends their kids to a chidrens facility staffed and or managed by a crackhead? I just do not understand how a parent can let their child stay in this school when it is so apparent this woman still runs the place.

Do you have kids in Kids Zone? Care to explain why?

Ex-Kids Zone operator at center again – Former Kids Zone USA operator Chris Perera is apparently working with the day-care center again. [Ocala Star Banner]

As someone who has lived in the Ocala National Forest for a number of years and has heard the military jets dropping munitions at the U.S. Navy's Pinecastle Bombing Range and has felt the ground shake when they do it I am well aware of the fear many forest residents have about a crash. I remember the walls shaking in our home and wondering to myself just how close those planes were and how easy it would be for a mistake to be made. I not only feared the planes crashing but a pilot error that released a bomb to close to the house. Our home in the forest seems to be on some flight path and it is not uncommon to watch airplanes in the sky all the time.

Following is a discussion on the Blog entry item titled: Snipes loses appeal; prison term upheld.
Below is the discussion so far. Feel free to add your own comments!

Snipes loses appeal; prison term upheld – A federal appeals court on Friday upheld actor Wesley Snipes' convictions and three-year prison sentence for not paying taxes. [Ocala Star Banner]

Snipes loses appeal; prison term upheld – A federal appeals court on Friday upheld actor Wesley Snipes' convictions and three-year prison sentence for not paying taxes. [Ocala Star Banner]

Wesley Snipes is going to prison and my first thoughts are will he make a movie about his life and the wrong turns he has taken. Why a man who came into this world with so little would have a problem with giving some back when he finally made it is beyond me. I feel sorry not for him but for the folks he could have helped but instead he forsake for the splendor of money. Had Mr Snipes gotten a good CPA he could have donated some of that money to good charities and offset his overall tax thereby saving not only some money on taxes at the end of the year but maybe earning some respect and integrity in the process.

Details emerge in case of car that hit house – Police have arrested an Ocala ophthalmologist whose red Corvette spun out of control Wednesday night and barreled into the front room of a neighbor's home on Southwest 33rd Street. [Ocala Star Banner]

You have to wonder how good an ophthalmologist this woman can be if she did not see a house in the road. I find it ridiculous that it takes a near deadly accident to highlight bad driving behaviors in people. I wonder if those people who saw her speeding in the neighborhood feel now that they should have done more to avoid this situation. Thankfully there were no serious injuries or damages for that matter but having a speeding car crash into your home must certainly be unsettling to the family in question.