Good morning, Ocala.

Employees at Wolfy’s of Ocala set up a memorial and donation jar to honor 72-year-old restaurant owner Diane German, who drowned in a pool on Northeast Sixth Street on Dec.

28 — offering support to her grieving family.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is on Monday, Jan.

19—the next holiday when schools in all 67 counties close for a three-day weekend + it is observed as a federal holiday honoring his civil rights legacy.

A new Walmart Neighborhood Market near Maricamp Road in southeast Ocala is nearing completion and has applied for a permit to sell beer, wine, and liquor.

Today the City Council will review the request, and the site will include nearly 100 employees + 166 parking spaces when it opens.

Unboxed Productions will begin its sixth season on Jan.

17 at 7 p.m. Eastern with the Celebrate UP Online Cabaret Variety Show and Unboxy Awards, while open auditions start Jan. 24 and its original play debuts in April at the Fertile Ground Play Festival in Portland (selected among 60 entries).

Miami-based artist Michael O’Khaen — donating his 9-foot, 440-pound Flamingo sculpture — is gifting the piece to become a permanent feature in Tuscawilla Park.

The $9,500 artwork is set for acceptance today at 4 p.m. at Ocala City Hall.

The Ocala Civic Theatre is hosting an improv intro class (ages 18+) on Fridays from Jan.

16 to March 20 from 7:30 to 9 p.m. and an acting-for-camera workshop (ages 16+) on Jan. 17 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The Civic.

Conservationists may soon propose adding black bears to the federal threatened species list after a December hunt killed 52 bears (held from Dec.

6 to Dec. 28), as reported by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission on Dec. 30.

Marion County Board will review a request from Herbert Lacy Richardson to convert over $16,000 in jail fees into service at Logos Lodge, where he completed a recovery program.

A similar plea from a single mother will be heard at 9:00 a.m. Tuesday at McPherson Governmental Campus Auditorium.

Marion County honors retired Army Captain Steve Petty by proclaiming January 10 as 'Steve Petty Day.' The board meets today at the McPherson Governmental Complex (following his Nov.

6 induction into the Florida Veterans' Hall of Fame) and will formally present the honor on Tuesday, Jan. 20.

A bill to remove Kirkpatrick Dam and restore the Ocklawaha River has been introduced to reconnect Silver Springs with Saint Johns River by 2032.

The measure aims to improve local water flow and environmental health.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says moving more and sitting less can lower chronic disease risk and boost overall health for everyone, and residents can use the Santos Trailhead (which offers 80 miles of bike trails) in southeast Marion County to stay active.

Studies show volunteering boosts physical + mental health and helps community members support each other through local programs; such efforts create a measurable difference for both volunteers and those they serve in Ocala.

Inspectors reviewed restaurants last week in Marion County.

In Ocala, some spots like American Sunday Plate Catering earned perfect scores while Carrabba's and Las Margaritas were flagged for issues with gloves and food temperature; managers have taken steps to fix the problems.

Erin Jackson and Brittany Bowe qualified for the Winter Olympics after earning spots at the trials in Milwaukee on Jan.

5. Jackson (defending her 500-meter title) will also race in the 1,000-meter while Bowe competes in the 1,000-meter, 1,500-meter and team pursuit events.

Athletes Erin Jackson and Brittany Bowe qualified for the Winter Olympics at the U.S. Olympic Trials, and local residents sent congratulations for the hometown stars.

They will represent Ocala on the world stage as they prepare for the upcoming games.

Young Artist Competition - Honors Recital

3-5 p.m. — Reilly Arts Center — Complimentary tickets for subscribers — Experience the inspiring performances of young musicians competing for soloist opportunities with the Ocala Symphony.

Cherokee Jazz and Rock Night

6-9 p.m. — The Pavilion at Green Gaits — Free entry — Enjoy smooth saxophone melodies and keyboard classics in a lively jazz and rock performance.

Free Movie: Rocky

12-2 p.m. — Epic Theatres of Ocala — Free entry — Experience the inspiring classic 'Rocky' and witness the power of perseverance and self-belief.

Mid Florida Truck and Tractor Pull

12:00 AM — Southeastern Livestock Pavilion — Adults $20, Kids $10, 6 & under free — Experience the thrill of roaring engines and powerful machines in a local favorite event.

Car & Craft Show

10 AM – 2 PM — The Arc of Marion — $15 cars, $10 crafts — Celebrate creativity and vehicles while supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Little Shop of Horrors Opening Night

5:30-7 p.m. — Ocala Civic Theatre, Inc. — Drinks available — Enjoy a pre-show gathering with the director on opening night of a beloved musical.

JUCO Baseball Showcase 2026

9 AM - 3 PM — College of Central Florida Ocala Campus — Registration fee required — A one-day event for high school players to showcase their skills to JUCO coaches.