VOLUME 6 ISSUE 46
Horse Farms Forever Conservation Summit
$2
Pg A6
November 21 - 27, 2025
Cool business move
DeConna Ice Cream has dipped into using solar energy at its distribution center in northwest Marion County. By Susan Smiley-Height susan@magnoliamediaco.com
O
n the bright and sunny afternoon of Nov. 18, things were chill at the DeConna Ice Cream distribution center in Reddick, in northwest Marion County, as the business owners hosted a celebration to show off their cool new solar energy installation.
Cold Case Volunteer Unit disbanded after 24 years amid policy changes, internal tension
The endeavor was a partnership with DeConna Ice Cream President Nick DeConna and his father, Vince DeConna, and Alex Khokhlov and Jason Gonos, co-founders of PPM Solar, based in Gainesville. “We started in November of 2024 to build this project,” said Nick DeConna. “We were looking at the financial side of it and helping reduce our energy
cost, and also the attractiveness of renewable energy, good for the environment, good for the Earth, and that's when Jason put together a proposal. And now these solar panels power the building and we work with Duke Energy and they credit our account for any over-production.” When asked if he had noticed See DeConna Ice Cream, page A9
Alex Khokhlov, left, and Jason Gonos, center, co-founders of PPM Solar, talk with DeConna Ice Cream President Nick DeConna, right, about the array of solar panels producing energy in a field at DeConna Ice Cream on West Highway 318 in Reddick on Nov. 18, 2025. [Photo by Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]
‘Olympus Odyssey’
By Jennifer Hunt Murty jennifer@OcalaGazette.com
T
he Marion County Sheriff ’s Office has quietly disbanded its 24-year-old Cold Case Volunteer Unit, an initiative that brought together retired detectives and veteran law enforcement professionals to assist with longdormant homicide and missing-persons investigations. The shutdown followed a series of restrictive policy changes, new administrative controls and, ultimately, internal dissatisfaction by some of the volunteers about how the program was managed—concerns documented in emails obtained by the “Gazette.”
A SUDDEN SHIFT TO “PAUSE” THE UNIT
On Oct. 2, volunteers received an email from MCSO Lt. Paul Bloom instructing the group that the unit was immediately halted. “After discussion, we have decided to pause the cold case volunteer unit right now as the new detectives get their feet under them. Their call volume has increased significantly with the growth of the county and more full-time detectives are needed,” Bloom wrote. Bloom added that the agency’s long-term goal was “to have a person specifically assigned to only inactive/
See Volunteer Unit page A2
Stevie Bryant, left, of Artify Ocala, portrays a living statue as she poses with Monica Garces, right, during the Marion Cultural Alliance’s 18th annual Applaud the Arts Olympus Odyssey at the Appleton Museum of Art in Ocala on Nov. 15, 2025. [Photos by Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]
The annual Applaud the Arts soiree was carried out this year with a Greek mythology theme. By Susan Smiley-Height susan@magnoliamediaco.com
T
he Marion Cultural Alliance has gotten really good at producing stunning Applaud the Arts events, as might be expected when numerous artists and patrons of the arts
put their creative minds to work. The 18th annual Applaud the Arts event, which took place Nov. 15 at the Appleton Museum of Art, was no exception as it perfectly executed the theme of “Olympus Odyssey” and with guests going all-out with inventive costumes. According to Britannica.com, Mount
Olympus was regarded as the abode of the gods and the site of the throne of Zeus. Greek mythology involves stories of gods, heroes, monsters and rituals of the ancient Greeks and Classical antiquity. The myths and legends helped determine See ‘Olympus Odyssey’, page A8
Medal Day honors Marion County Fire Rescue recently hosted an awards ceremony to acknowledge superior performances. By Susan Smiley-Height susan@magnoliamediaco.com
T Fire Chief James Banta. [Photo courtesy James Lucas/Marion County Fire Rescue]
he Reilly Arts Center was awash in a sea of navy and light blue Marion County Fire Rescue uniforms, many of them layered with medals and ribbons, during the organization’s second annual Medal Day Ceremony,
which took place Nov. 14. “Our annual award winners were nominated by their peers, subordinates and supervisors for sustained superior performance throughout the year. Nomination packages were submitted and graded by a panel of chief officers. The selections were then validated by our three deputy chiefs and the fire chief,”
explained MCFR Public Safety Information Manager James Lucas via email after the event. In his opening remarks, Fire Chief James Banta noted that it was “incredible to see this room filled with our firefighters, families, friends and supporters. Tonight is all about you — the See Medal Day honors, page A10
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INSIDE:
Surprise luncheon........................ A4 Creative approach........................ B1 Thanksgiving history................... B2 TLC fundraiser.............................. B3 Calendar......................................... B8
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