Saturday, September 13th, 2025

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Good morning, Ocala. Here's your local news at a glance for Saturday, the 13th of September.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ Ocala is set to host its 8th annual Recovery Festival—organizers have not yet released detailed timing or venue information. WCJB
- ➤ Habitat for Humanity of Marion County raised walls for two new homes in Ocala on September 10th—one build for single mother Britney Mann and one Realtor Build for Christina and Curtis Jones. Both families put in sweat equity and completed homeowner education classes to earn their keys, showing strong community support. Ocala-News
DRINK NEWS
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EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ Marion County Public Schools officials refuted Sheriff Billy Woods' claim that gun-sniffing dogs are not used in elementary schools—board chair Lori Conrad explained that the district’s search policies include elementary schools, developed with input from the sheriff’s legal team, in response to his comments following a recent bus incident. WCJB
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods and the Ocala Police Department no longer enforce Florida's open carry law for firearms after an appeals court ruled it unconstitutional; both agencies said they do not expect the ruling to be reversed soon. Ocala-News
- ➤ The Marion County Board of County Commissioners adopted three property tax assessments for unincorporated areas for tax year 2025/26—one of which doubles the solid waste tax assessment—after a nearly four-hour public hearing on September 10. Ocala Gazette
- ➤ Officials will soon improve the intersection of Southeast Front Road and Southeast Foss Road after residents voiced concerns about dangerous driving. The changes are expected to make the area safer—local commuters look forward to fewer risks on their daily drives. WCJB
- ➤ Marion County Commission will consider a new rule on September 16 that lets the county post legal notices only on its website—removing checks from local newspapers. Officials claim this change will save taxpayer money—but critics say it may lower transparency and limit public oversight. Ocala Gazette
REAL ESTATE NEWS
- ➤ Data from Realtor.com show that homes in Marion County sold for a median price of $280,000 in June, down 3.3% from May’s $289,700—single-family homes dropped 2.4% while existing condominium prices increased 9.5%. Ocala StarBanner
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ Nine high school football games were played Friday night in Marion County as North Marion, West Port, Ocala Christian, Vanguard, Trinity Catholic and Belleview hosted while Dunnellon, Forest and Lake Weir played on the road—fans tracked scores during game breaks. Ocala StarBanner
- ➤ Vanguard won 42-3 on Friday, Sept. 12 at Booster Stadium in Ocala when Jasman Thomas blocked a punt by Leesburg's kicker William Henderson, which led to a touchdown and set the stage for a dominant performance. The strong win showed the team's excellent play throughout the game. Ocala Gazette
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MCA Annual Auction & Closing Party
5-7 p.m. — Marion Cultural Alliance at Brick City Center for the Arts — Supports local arts — Experience a festive evening with art and community spirit while bidding on unique auction items.
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Matt Schofield Live
7:30-9 p.m. — Reilly Arts Center — Cost unknown — Experience the virtuoso guitar skills and emotive vocals of Matt Schofield, a multi-award winning British Blues musician.
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Marion Oaks Hispanic Heritage Celebration
11 a.m. - 3 p.m. — Marion Oaks Community Center — Free entry — Celebrate Hispanic heritage with art activities for kids and live entertainment.
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The Grass Roots Concert
5-8:30 p.m. — Circle Square Cultural Center — Ticket purchase required — Enjoy a lively performance with classic hits from the renowned Rock and Roll era.
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Absolute Queen - A Tribute to Queen
7:30-9 p.m. — Reilly Arts Center — Tickets available — Experience the electrifying atmosphere of a live Queen concert with mind-blowing costume changes and all the classic hits.
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