VOLUME 6 ISSUE 27
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Happy Independence Day!
JULY 4 - 10, 2025
Sandra Wilson, the new city manager for the City of Ocala, right, talks with Diane Gullett, the new Superintendent of Marion County Public Schools, left, in Ocala on June 25, 2020. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]
RN Rosemary Keegan, left, was the first health professional to receive the COVID-19 vaccination at Ocala Regional Medical Center, from RN Jackie White, on Dec. 23, 2020. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]
President Donald J. Trump speaks at the podium during his campaign rally at Ocala International Airport in Ocala on Oct. 16, 2020. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]
Shane Alexander, the former Ocala Fire Chief, who had been fired, left, talks with his attorney, Paul Donnelly of Donnelly Gross, right, during the Ocala City Council meeting on July 6, 2021. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]
Manal Fakhoury thanks her campaign as she loses the mayor race with 3,358 votes to incumbent Kent Guinn’s 6,497 votes, during a gathering at the Ocala Hilton on Sept. 21, 2021. [Alan Youngblood/Special to the Ocala Gazette]
Susan Lorincz becomes emotional before being sentenced to 25 years by Circuit Court Judge Robert Hodges, as her defense attorney, Morris Carranza, right comforts her at the Marion County Judicial Center in Ocala on Nov. 25, 2024. Lorincz was found guilty of manslaughter in August for the June 2, 2023 shooting death of Ajike "AJ" Shantrell Owens, who Lorincz shot and killed through her own closed and The reconstructed fort is shown at the Fort King National Historic Landmark in locked front door. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] Ocala on Nov. 30, 2020. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]
OUR FIFTH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE
Cotton grows in a field at the intersection of West SR 40 and Southwest 60th Avenue in Ocala on Nov. 16, 2021. There is a zoning change proposed for the property. [Alan Youngblood/Special to the Ocala Gazette]
North Marion players pile on top of each other after defeating Bishop Moore 5-4 in the regional final on May 16, 2023. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]
Miss Diplomat, filly consigned by Bobby Jones Equine LLC, Agent V, is shown to prospective buyers during the OBS October Open Yearlings Sale on Oct. 13, 2021. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]
Reenactors with the 14th Brooklyn and the First Florida Artillery fire a replica of an 1841 Mountain Howitzer cannon that shoots a 12-pound cannonball during the First Heritage Skills Day at the Fort King National Historic Landmark in Ocala on Dec. 12, 2020. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]
Then Ocala Mayor Kent Guinn talks about the homeless in his office at City Hall on Dec. 8, 2020. [Bruce Ackerman/ Ocala Gazette]
Trinity Catholic head coach John Brantley III celebrates with the game ball for his 90th win after Trinity Catholic defeated John Carroll Catholic 22-10 in the FHSAA State Semifinal in Ocala on Dec. 2, 2022. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]
Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods, left, and Ocala Police Chief Greg Graham, right, watch protestors during a Black Lives Matter protest in Ocala on Sept. 16, 2020. Graham later died in a plane crash. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]
Allison Campbell celebrates her win in the Marion County School Board District 1 race over Lori Conrad as her son, Connor, 10, leaps into her arms on Nov. 3, 2020. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]
The old Reddick High School is shown on Northwest Gainesville Road on July 26, 2021. It was later demolished. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]
Top stories since 2020: A look back at the ‘Ocala Gazette’s’ most impactful reporting. By Jennifer Hunt Murty jennifer@ocalagazette.com
S
ince launching in 2020, the “Ocala Gazette” has been committed to delivering local journalism that informs, holds power brokers
accountable and reflects the heart of Marion County. Over the past five years, we’ve covered stories that sparked change, uncovered the truth and celebrated the resilience and richness of our community. From in-depth investigations and
watchdog reporting to profiles of everyday heroes and historic local moments, these are the stories that shaped Ocala—and that we’re proud to have brought to you. Here’s a roundup of some of the most significant and talked-about pieces since our first issue hit the stands, along with
links so you can find the complete articles. In many cases, there were numerous articles about a given topic, all of which can be found on our website.
See FIFTH ANNIVERSARY, page A4
READ DAILY NEWS AT OCALAGAZETTE.COM
INSIDE:
Electric buses ............................... A8 Rally in the rain ......................... A10 WEC complex approved ........... A11 Home & Garden ........................... B1 Calendar ....................................... B6
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