VOLUME 5 ISSUE 32
$2
Wooster Walk 36x48 Acrylic on Canvas by Jeff Sekler
AUGUST 9 - AUGUST 15, 2024
Build an art collection you will love Pg B1
City of Ocala emergency dispatch continues to struggle Reporting and editorial by Jennifer Hunt Murty jennifer@ocalagazette.com
to calls for help. These are serious concerns in life-or-death situations when seconds count.
Editor’s note: The author of this article lives in an automaticaid area of Marion County, where in an emergency, OPD and OFR would likely have closer units to respond. The split communication center, the two CAD systems, in addition to challenges related to cell phones, are all factors pointing to extra challenges hindering first responders as they respond
Hearing on “Gazette’s” lawsuit against sheriff scheduled for Monday
A
n explosion this week at a northeast Ocala shopping plaza that left four people injured also revealed more cracks in the emergency response operations in the city of Ocala, a subject the “Gazette” has been reporting on for the past six months. Ocala Police Chief Michael Balken said the first of
numerous 911 calls came about the explosion rang into the OPD call center at 18:17:33. We are still waiting for the computer-aided dispatch (CAD) report to understand the first minute and 45 seconds of the initial call. Ocala Fire Rescue’s incident report reflects that at least one caller thought more people were likely injured. The report quotes a portion of the CAD report more than a minute and a half into the call: See Emergency, page A3
Look to the stars
Local astrophotographer Phil Rosenberg to have work installed at Appleton
By Jennifer Hunt Murty jennifer@ocalagazette.com
A
final hearing in Circuit Court has been set for Monday, Aug 12 on the “Ocala Gazette’s” lawsuit against the Marion County Sheriff ’s Office over its refusal to release public records relating to the Nov. 25, 2022 death of inmate Scott Whitley in the Marion County jail. The “Gazette” seeks to obtain surveillance footage from Whitley’s jail cell that purportedly shows several detention deputies using what Whitley’s family claims was excessive force against the inmate to gain his compliance. Over the course of the 12-minute altercation that led to Whitley’s death, the nine officers involved deployed Tasers 27 times and used pepper foam and physical force to subdue him. The lawsuit asks Circuit Judge Steven Rogers to determine whether the records the newspaper is seeking are subject to disclosure; to find that MCSO had a duty to disclose these records; to find that MCSO’s delay in releasing the records was unjustified; to find that MCSO’s refusal to release the records was unlawful; to order MCSO to permit the “Gazette” access to the footage without delay; and to award the “Gazette” compensation for attorney’s fees, costs and expenses accrued. Even if the footage was exempt, as claimed by the sheriff, the judge could overcome the exemption by ruling it must be released because it is a matter of public interest. Such was the case when news outlets successfully sued for the release of surveillance video footage of the 2018 Parkland high school mass shooting in order for the public to understand the questionable police response. See Lawsuit, page A2
Phil Rosenberg at his observatory, located in Marion County. [College of Central Florida] Left: “Seagull Nebula (August 10, 2023),” Phil Rosenberg (American, b. 1946), Astrophotography of 90 images. [College of Central Florida]
By Caroline Brauchler caroline@ocalagazette.com
O
ne astrophotographer and philanthropist is leaving his mark on the College of Central Florida, with the art installation of a composite of 90 of his photos of the cosmos.
Phil Rosenberg is a lifelong astronomer and astrophotographer, who now photographs the cosmos from an observatory in his own backyard in Weirsdale. Now retired, he dedicated his career to governmental human resources and intelligence. He currently serves on the board of the College of Central Florida Foundation, the
School district to sell old central warehouse, vacant lot to the highest bidder
The school district is preparing to sell its warehouse, at 506 SE Third Ave., and the adjacent property [Jennifer Hunt Murty/Ocala Gazette] 2024.
By Caroline Brauchler caroline@ocalagazette.com
Crime scene photo of the cell at Marion County Jail where Scott Whitley was killed. He was held in the cell without clothing, bedding, or medication days.
Appleton Museum of Art, and the PACE Center for Girls, and he is an honorary board member for Broward College. An installation featuring Rosenberg’s photography has now been unveiled at the College of Central Florida Appleton Museum of Art. The installation, titled “Art on the Up and See Rosenberg, page A3
T
he old central warehouse of the Marion County School Board is going up for sale and will be available to the public to bid on.
The warehouse, at 506 SE Third Ave., and the vacant lot directly to the south will be open to bid on, potentially within the next two months. The downtown property has been owned by the school board since 1912. The vacant lot was used for
school board parking. The school board hired attorney John McGraw—of the McGraw, Rauba & Mutarelli law firm—as outside counsel to advise the board on next steps for the sale. McGraw advised the board that it should sell the warehouse and the neighboring parcel separately. The school board, along with McGraw, is going to spend the next three weeks coming up with a plan for sale and drafting contracts. Then, the school board must publish notices in the newspaper for three consecutive weeks until an advertisement can be run to begin accepting bid submissions. The warehouse lot is 1.34 acres, and the lot to the south is 0.26 acres. As of 2023, the warehouse property had a market value of $1,862,582. The assessed value was $1,313,767, with the value of the land assessed at $838,656 and the value of the building at See School, page A2
READ DAILY NEWS AT OCALAGAZETTE.COM
INSIDE:
Additional Gear for Firefighters.... A5 Child Safety Travel Tips.............. A9 Home Sale Prices.......................... B5 Puzzles............................................. B7 Calendar......................................... B8
Subscribers will receive their paper through USPS on the USPS schedule. Subscription orders must be received by 5 pm on Tuesday in order to be included in the following week’s delivery. Starting at $10/month ocalagazette.com/subscribe