Good morning, Ocala.

The Home Depot has launched its Labor Day Sale offering buy-one-get-one-free Milwaukee tools and discounts on grills, patio sets and appliances for local shoppers through Wednesday, Sept.

9.

Flags will be flown half-staff in Florida until sunset Sept.

1 to honor country music icon Dolly Parton, who died Aug. 25 after a brief battle with cancer. Her family requested that instead of flowers, donations be made to her Imagination Library.

Registration for the 2026 black bear hunt will open on Sept.

11 at 10 a.m. in Marion County; applications are accepted until Sept. 21 (submitted online or at local tax collector offices) and hunters must be 18 by Oct. 1 to join the drawing.

City officials unveil the new custom O-Line Trolley today at 10 a.m. at Downtown Square to replace the temporary shuttle used since Sept.

18, 2025—this free circulator service connects downtown parking, businesses and cultural landmarks as part of a three-year pilot funded by a federal grant plus matching city funds.

On Aug. 27 at 12:23 p.m., the Estella Byrd Whitman Community Center in west Ocala received a $650K grant from HRSA to expand preventive care and chronic disease services in a federally designated medical desert in Marion County.

DOH-Marion County warns residents to avoid blue-green algae in Lake Weir since testing is underway due to the bacteria’s potential to cause skin irritation and illness (and advises keeping pets away when blooms are visible).

Canvas Ridge Farm Inc. purchased a 13.77-acre horse farm on NW Hwy 225A for $1.3 million on Aug.

20, with the deed recorded on Aug. 25 — the property, built in 2001, includes a three-bedroom home and equestrian facilities.

High school football action in Marion County unfolded as Forest played a Thursday game in Gainesville and South Marion competed in its first in-county matchup against West Port at Dunnellon on Friday.

Others featured North Marion versus Trinity Catholic and games in Belleview and Miami as scores were tracked.