Farmland Preservation Festival
VOLUME 4 ISSUE 13
$2
Pg B3
MARCH 31 - APRIL 6, 2023
Archaeologists interested in WEC Jockey Club
It’s his time to shine
The WEC Jockey Club shown Monday, March 20, 2023, in Reddick. [Alan Youngblood/Ocala Gazette]
Native American and historic artifacts discovered during CRAS survey By Rosemarie Dowell rosemarie@ocalagazette.com
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recent Cultural Resources Assessment Survey (CRAS) of the WEC Jockey Club property has identified nine new archaeological sites, three of which were recommended for avoidance or further testing to assess their eligibility for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Those are the major findings by the nationwide archaeological firm SEARCH Inc., which conducted the Phase I survey in December on behalf of the 1,000-plus-acre property’s owner, Golden Ocala Equestrian Land, LLC., which plans to develop it. Of the nine newly recorded sites on the site located on West County Road 318 near Irvine, four are Native American, one is historic while the remaining four have historic and Native American components, according to the
CRAS, a copy of which the “Gazette” obtained March 23 through a public records request. Although no structures, human remains or other evidence of Fort Drane, a Second Seminole Indian War fort erected on the sugar mill and cotton plantation of Col. Duncan L. Clinch in 1835 were found, one of the sites was tentatively identified as possibly containing artifacts that date to the fort’s period of occupation, the CRAS noted. At 3,000-acres, or four-square miles, the plantation, with multiple structures, likely encompassed most if not all the Jockey Club property as well adjacent land, including a large mining operation directly to the south. Whether Golden Ocala decides to investigate further the three newly recorded sites that were recommended for further testing or avoidance remains unknown. Dr. Joe Knetsch, Ph.D., a retired
research historian for the State of Florida and noted expert on the Seminole Indian Wars who has written extensively about Fort Drane, said SEARCH fell short in the Phase I survey, which he’s read, especially in its shovel testing. “There were an awful lot of buildings on the plantation and up to 3,500 soldiers camped at Fort Drane at one time, as well as many civilians and volunteers,” said Knetsch. “Why haven’t we seen any historical or archaeological evidence of that? They should have done more testing and looked a little harder.” SEARCH’s fieldwork included the excavation of 564 shovel tests, along with metal detecting throughout the massive property, including areas closest to the purported location of the fort itself, a 150-yard-by-80-yard fenced enclosure with two blockhouses and several other buildings. But Knetsch, author of “Fear and See Archaeologists, page A4
Heated debate over “book banning” takes over school board meeting By Caroline Brauchler caroline@ocalagazette.com
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he audience came in by the busload for Tuesday’s Marion County School Board meeting with one topic in mind for discussion: the content of books in school libraries. Thirty-seven speakers addressed the board to either oppose the banning of books in the district’s libraries, what many called censorship, or support the removal of what some deemed “pornographic” books from schools. The discussion stemmed from comments made by Gov. Ron DeSantis earlier this month. During a press conference on March 8, DeSantis sought to debunk what he said was a “hoax’’ that books were being banned in public schools. He said libraries were not being emptied; only books containing pornographic,
violent or inappropriate content would be removed. DeSantis mentioned Marion County as one of the school districts with a book called “Flamer” available to students. “Flamer” and another book mentioned by the governor, “This Book is Gay,” have already been removed from all MCPS media centers and libraries, according to the libraries’ “objections” list. “Flamer” tells the story of a 14-year-old gay Filipino boy at summer camp navigating self-acceptance and bullying. “Flamer” has been removed from shelves based on the claim that it is inappropriate and pornographic, with references to masturbation and genitals. Superintendent Diane Gullett stated at the beginning of the meeting that the district’s libraries follow state law and school board policy regarding content and that
parents and families may search library catalogs, read policies, restrict titles from their children and object to library materials if they see fit. The process to challenge library materials or to restrict the content that one’s child may read can be found on the MCPS Library Media
Program website. Gullett ensured the audience that the district is in compliance with House Bill 1467, saying that all school media specialists involved in the selection of library materials have completed an online training program. The See Pornography?, page A2
Books that were said to contain pornography and presented by members of Ocala Christian Academy and the Central Baptist Church are displayed outside before the “Citizen Emergency Rally To Stop Pornographic Books” in Marion County Public Schools libraries rally during a meeting of the Marion County Public School Board in Ocala on Tuesday, March 28, 2023. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2023.
Cam Amen on “American Idol,” episode “605 (Auditions)” on Sunday, March 26. [ABC]
‘American Idol’ contestant Cam Amen took care of his younger siblings in Ocala before making it onto the hit ABC series. By Julie Garisto julie@magnoliamediaco.com
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am Amen nervously walked onto an “American Idol” audition set in New Orleans last Sunday night and walked off, quite possibly, a new star on the rise. With sweaty palms, singing through tears, the former Ocala resident managed to give a soul-stirring performance of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” during “Audition, Episode 605” of the ABC talent competition series. “I had been already trying to audition and get on for about eight years,” Amen told the “Gazette.” “Through that time, I used to practice and get better, and just last year is when I said that I was going to start saying yes to every opportunity.” Celebrity judges Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan were visibly moved throughout Amen’s performance, reacting with surprise to his high notes and emotive inflections. They gave a standing ovation and even embraced the contestant. The trio unanimously said “yes,” promoting Amen to another round. Born Cameron Osterloh, Amen, now 27, grew up in Indianapolis and adopted his surname from his girlfriend Erica Amen, who joined him on the set of his successful audition. The couple met while he worked at World of Beer in The Villages, and she was celebrating her birthday on a Florida vacation. They now live together in Omaha. “I was working, and they had karaoke, and she challenged me to get up there and sing,” Amen recalled. “She didn’t know that I was the guy that always sings on karaoke nights.” Letting his emotions pour out with a raw but measured vibrato, Amen soulfully hit the high notes before the judges and his dynamic range revealed a gentle beauty and grace complemented by a weathered, blues-like maturity. The tune was a favorite of his late See Local, page A2
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INSIDE:
WEC Jockey Club Settlement.... A6 Veterans Funeral........................... A9 Puzzles............................................. B4 Calendar......................................... B5 Ocala Open Recap........................ B8
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