VOLUME 6 ISSUE 49
$3
Festival at Fort King Pg B1 December 12 - 18, 2025
School district outlines northend redistricting options; County Commission declines to participate
Ocklawaha River drawdown is a major attraction
By Jennifer Hunt Murty jennifer@OcalaGazette.com
M
arion County Public Schools is moving toward a wide reconfiguration of attendance boundaries with its first focus on the north end of the county—changes district officials say are essential for financial stability, long-term planning and compliance with state requirements to maximize school capacity. But the contentious question of school concurrency—whether county development decisions should account for school capacity— continues to loom over the process. The boundary committee will meet through December and share recommendations early next year at community meetings planned for January through March.
SIX NORTH-END SCHOOLS UNDER REVIEW
At a Nov. 6 school board work session, Deputy Superintendent Ben Whitehouse presented utilization data for six elementary schools— Anthony, Fessenden, Oakcrest, Ocala Springs, Reddick-Collier and Sparr. The numbers show what he called “very challenging imbalances” across the northern area: Ocala Springs at 119% utilization, Reddick-Collier at just 47%, and three others well below ideal capacity. When combined, the six campuses total about 82% utilization, a level Whitehouse called “ideal” for flexibility and efficiency. He reminded the board that redistricting alone will not be easy: “No one likes change… but the only way to guarantee failure is inaction.” One major proposal involves consolidating Sparr and Anthony elementary schools into a new school on the Sparr site, where See School district page A8
Aerial view of the Ocklawaha River during the current drawdown. [Photo by Michael Warren]
Lowered water levels appeal to fishermen, bird watchers and many others. By Margaret Spontak Special to the Gazette
W
hen the Ocklawaha River drawdown happens every three to four years, people come from far and wide to see what the Rodman Reservoir from Eureka to the Kirkpatrick Dam near Palatka looks like closer to natural river water level. During the drawdown, the water is drawn down from 18 to 11 feet above mean sea level for approximately three months to manage invasive aquatic vegetation and sediments. The current drawdown is scheduled to continue through March 2026. Shore and boat fishermen come in mass to reap the fishing benefits of the drawdown. Hikers, paddlers and wildlife photographers come to see some of the re-opened springs, giant cypress trees and abundant wildlife. Birders like Ocala’s Michael and Louanne Warren and Seminole Audubon Society members Leslie Martin and Marguerite Terwillegar like to visit by land and water to catch a glimpse of birds
flocking in to partake in the fish feast. These outdoors lovers were invited to a recent media and community leader tour to share their excitement and help identify the variety of species discovered that day. Although the group had a windy day on the water, resulting in fewer avian treasures, Martin identified 22 species including 130 great egrets, 53 white ibis and a group of six limpkins on a single tree. Martin revealed that, “The species of the day was an American bittern, a species that is often hard to spot as it forages head down around aquatic vegetation.” Michael and Louanne Warren were enthralled by the magical stump forest that has become almost petrified over its 50 years of existence. Everyone was asked by tour guides Erika Ritter and Karen Chadwick to envision how that forest graveyard would look like decades from now if it was transformed into a restored river with 7,500 acres of cypress forest on both sides of the river. “Once restored, this area will attract birders and other nature lovers from across the state and country,” Terwillegar said.
The birders and local Putnam County leaders, Palatka Mayor Robbi Correa, former Putnam County Tax Collector and County Commissioner Linda Myers and former Palatka mayor Vern Myers, discussed the importance of nature tourism, including wildlife viewing, to the region’s economy. Myers, president-elect of the Great Florida Riverway Trust, shared with the group how added recreation improvements at the Kirkpatrick Dam and Buckman Lock and along the St. Johns River could bolster outdoor recreation area in the region. “Trips like this help show people what they can gain from river restoration,” she said. An April 25 press release by the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation stated that the corridor, which includes the Ocklawaha River restoration area, supports at least 114,000 jobs and $30 billion in annual value from tourism, agriculture, forestry and related industries. Strengthening the corridor through more diverse outdoor See Attraction, page A9
CSX promises to move dumped rail ties in Dunnellon By Jennifer Hunt Murty jennifer@ocalagazette.com
H Residential dwelling in Chatmire with crane and dumped rail ties on Dec. 4, 2025. [Jennifer Hunt Murty/Ocala Gazette]
ours before a packed community meeting in Dunnellon on Dec. 4, railroad giant CSX told local officials it will remove thousands of creosote-soaked railroad ties stored near homes and the Rainbow River — a
reversal that came only after Marion County commissioners and the city prepared to go to court against the company, the property owner and Track Line Rail LLC, a Texas-based company disposal firm. At the meeting, state Rep. J.J. Grow told residents the company “made the decision to remove all the railroad ties from Dunnellon”
after weeks of pressure from citizens, the city, Marion County and state lawmakers. “I think we all appreciate the fact that the railroads built this country, but we need them to be responsible citizens of the country as well,” Grow said, recounting how his office was See CSX promises, page A2
READ DAILY NEWS AT OCALAGAZETTE.COM
INSIDE:
Pearl Harbor Remembrance...... A7 FTBOA holiday open house....... B2 Fiber art exhibit............................ B3 Local gift guide.............................. B4 Calendar......................................... B6
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