Art of Aging exhibit
AUGUST 12 - AUGUST 18, 2022
The City of Ocala might be SCOTUS-bound
VOLUME 3 ISSUE 32
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The ride of a lifetime
By Julie Garisto julie@magnoliamediaco.com
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ayor Guinn and the Ocala City Council are proposing a filing to the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a 2018 federal ruling against them in light of recent Conservative wins, and the ramifications of that might be far-reaching. In a special meeting of the Ocala City Council on Friday, Aug. 5, city attorney Patrick Gilligan recommended taking a 2014 Federal Court ruling against the city to the U.S. Supreme Court. The governing body present unanimously complied. Councilmember Kristen Dreyer wasn’t present. The ruling concerned a lawsuit in protest of a 2014 downtown prayer vigil organized by city officials in response to a series of West Ocala drive-by shootings. Former/deceased Ocala Police Chief Greg Graham met with spiritual leaders and pastors to solicit support for a prayer vigil on the downtown square. Abigail Sutherland, senior litigation attorney for the American Center for Law & Justice, has volunteered to represent the city for free and addressed the Council about the proposed SCOTUS filing by phone. “We have to determine which path we’re going to take before next Friday,” she said, adding that there’s a long history of city governments leading citizens in prayer. “The other issue is a hotly debated issue -- standing,” she added, explaining that standing suggests proof of the right to sue. “The Plaintiffs were unable to establish there was any city funding to present the vigil,” Sutherland stipulated. “For that reason alone, that makes this a strong case to bring before the Supreme Court for review.” Sutherland also informed the Council that if the Supreme Court does not agree to hear the case or if the city loses the appeal, that the city “will be on the hook for the plaintiffs’ attorney fees” for an amount estimated at around $275,000. Mayor Guinn weighed in, See City, page A6
Dr. Tiffany Atteberry, 46, who competed along with 45 other riders from around the world in the July 23-Aug. 1 Mongol Derby race. [The Equestrianists/Shari Thompson]
Ocala equine veterinarian Dr. Tiffany Atteberry conquers the Mongol Derby, earning a spot on the podium. By JoAnn Guidry Special to the Ocala Gazette
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overing 600 miles across the Mongolian Steppe, the Mongol Derby is billed as the longest and toughest horse race in the world. And it starts at a full gallop. “The start of the race is so intense and so fast. It’s like a cavalry charge,” said Dr. Tiffany Atteberry, 46, who competed along with 45 other riders from around the world in the July 23-Aug. 1 race. “You are randomly assigned a Mongolian horse for the start, so you don’t have any
idea what you’re getting. But it’s obvious that the fastest horses are chosen for that first leg to get everyone’s adrenaline going and it works. My first horse was like a Ferrari and got me off to a great start.” By the end of her first day riding across the rugged terrain, Atteberry experienced her initial challenge as she looked for a place to spend the night. “I was riding alone up in the mountains and couldn’t find a local ger or yurt to stay at for the night. And it was pouring rain,” explained Atteberry, noting that riders competed from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. “So, I backtracked to an old
well house that I had seen. I was able to get water for the horse from the well and hobbled him for the night. I got out my camping gear and settled into the well house for shelter.” But when race officials, who track all the riders through GPS, came to check on Atteberry, they were not pleased with her situation. “The race officials were concerned about my safety. I was advised to meet up with riders Chris Walker and Patrick Hefffron, who were camping in a nearby See Mongol, page A3
Ocala officials envision golf carts tooling around downtown But the growth management office is hosting a pair of meetings on Aug. 18 to get the public’s take on their ideas first. By Julie Garisto julie@magnoliamediaco.com
A Vivian Price drives her golf cart on Southeast 24th Terrace in Ocala on Tuesday, August 9, 2022. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2022.
lmost anywhere you go, golf carts are shuttling by like Fred Flintsone having a “yabba-dabba-do time” but without all the fancy footwork. The mini vehicles have surged in popularity both on and off the greens. Some drivers even trick their rides out with automobile- and truckinspired grilles and other accessories. In Ocala, a pair of downtown meeting sessions will address just where drivers can venture out on city streets. The city has posted a notice encouraging “downtown business owners, current golf cart permit holders and those potentially impacted
by proposed changes” to attend feedback/ information sessions at noon and 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 18, at the Brick City Center for the Arts, 23 SW Broadway St. The meetings are free and open to the public. The meetings will explore a “potential” extension of the current boundaries where golf carts are allowed, said Rachel Fautsch, the city’s community outreach manager. City staffers will be on hand to answer questions, and they will provide the same information at both meetings. For reference, the city has posted on its website a map of boundaries where golf carts are permitted. See Golf, page A5
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