LATEST NEWS
Employee at Buffalo Ridge Walmart arrested on 37 counts of theft
An employee at the Walmart at Buffalo Ridge Plaza in The Villages has been arrested on 37 counts of theft. Dominic Justice Dera, 21, of Leesburg, stole merchandise between Dec. 9 and April 7, according to an arrest report from the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office. Dera would go on...
Wildwood man arrested after allegedly selling drugs near church
A Wildwood man has been arrested after allegedly selling drugs near a church. Joshua Malin, 27, was taken into custody on Thursday on charges of possessing and selling drugs within 1,000 feet of a church, according to an arrest report from the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office. Malin, who has a history of drug use, allegedly sold $70 worth of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in 2023 near a house of worship. The name and address of the church were redacted from the arrest report.
Kentucky Derby 2024 winner Mystik Dan was trained at Marion County center
The winner of the 2024 Kentucky Derby has a Marion County connection, according to the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association. Mystik Dan, which won by a nose, was "trained by conditioner Ken McPeek at his Silverleaf Hills Training Center in Summerfield," according to the FTBOA. The horse went off at 18-1 odds.
Florida man arrested after stolen ring found for sale online by rightful owner: police
SUMTER COUNTY, Fla. - A Florida man's alleged attempt to cash in on stolen jewelry took a turn when the custom rings he tried to pawn wound up on a website that caught the attention of the rightful owner. Connor Sanford, 27, was arrested and charged with dealing in stolen...
The gates are more beneficial than you might think
Gate attendants merely slow down traffic enough to make roadways a bit safer, in theory. But have you every noticed the cameras taking pictures of all traffic both in and outbound? This is one of the main reasons you don’t hear too much of burglaries within the confines of The Villages. With every car and truck plate being photographed, it makes police work much easier when a burglary does occur, as there is a record of every vehicle coming and going. That narrows down the list of suspects considerably. The thieves know this and I’m grateful for those gates. This is one of the very few communities in the country where you can literally keep your doors unlocked without fear of burglary or home invasion. Trust me, the creeps who commit these crimes know about it.
South Carolina man arrested near entrance gate in The Villages
A South Carolina man was arrested in an unregistered, uninsured vehicle near an entrance gate in The Villages. Alfonso Olivares Chavez, 45, of Greenville, S.C., was driving a black Nissan Versa at 8:45 a.m. Thursday at U.S. 301 and Marsh Bend Trail near the entrance to the Village of DeLuna when an officer noticed the vehicle had a vanity tag that said, “Test Drive,” but did not have an actual license plate, according to an arrest report from the Wildwood Police Department. The officer asked Chavez where the car’s license plate was and he said he “just bought the vehicle and has not registered it yet.”
6 fun things to do Mother's Day weekend in and around Leesburg
Whether you want to keep this Mother's Day low-key or hope to make a memorable weekend out of the occasion, there's plenty to do to help moms feel special and loved. The Whimsy folks who host events at Sunsational Farms in Umatilla are celebrating moms on Saturday, May 11, with the Mother's Day Market, where 50-plus local vendors will hawk their wares, food trucks will feed the crowd and a DJ will entertain, and more. Takes place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 40541 Roger Giles Road, Umatilla. Details: Call 352-771-2013 or email whimsywafflemarket@gmail.com.
Wildwood Police to Turn to Social Media for Info on Trump Rally
Wildwood Police announced they will exercise their social media channels to get information out regarding the campaign rally for Donald Trump. The rally will be held on Saturday, May 11th and police will put out advance notice regarding details on the rally on their channels which include Facebook, X, and other popular channels.
Woman headed to prison in fatal hit-and-run on Rolling Acres Road
A woman is headed to prison after a hit-and-run crash on Rolling Acres Road killed a 40-year-old pedestrian. Tara Rene Schiessle, 32, of Lady Lake, pleaded no contest on Monday in Lake County Court to charges of leaving the scene of an accident involving death and leaving the scene of an accident involving serious injury. The former Lake Centre for Rehab physical therapist assistant has been sentenced to three years in state prison to be followed by three years of probation. Court records indicate the prosecutor’s office waived a four-year minimum mandatory sentence as part of the plea deal. A charge of insurance fraud was also dismissed as part of the plea agreement.
Central Florida family achieves rare feat with 4 valedictorian daughters
TITUSVILLE, Fla. - A Central Florida family is on the verge of making history as all four of their daughters clinch the title of valedictorian in their respective high school classes. With nearly 25,000 high schools across the nation, the competition for the valedictorian spot is fierce. Each year, only...
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