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šŸŒ± How will OPDā€™s $226,495 patrol car request impact city funds?

Hello Ocala! Stay connected with the latest updates from around town. Let's dive in! ā˜€ļø

In today's newsletter:

  • How will OPDā€™s $226,495 patrol car request impact city funds?
  • How will Ocalaā€™s new Vision 2050 plan reshape your neighborhood?
  • Ocala man gets life sentence after child sex trafficking conviction

Today's riddle: What did the inventor of the knock-knock joke win? šŸ¤” (Answer below!)

From our Partner
Today's Ocala Patch AM is brought to you in part by T-Mobile. After investing billions to light up their network from big cities to small towns, T-Mobile is America's best mobile network in the US, according to Ookla Speedtest. We thank T-Mobile for their support in helping to keep communities like ours connected and for making today's Ocala Patch AM possible.
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Weather forecast:

  • Friday: Warm with plenty of sunshine, with a high of 90 and low of 59 degrees. šŸŒ¶ Hot!
  • Saturday: Partly sunny and warm, temps: high: 90, low: 62.
  • Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high of 87 and low of 62 degrees.

šŸ“° News we're reading

1. OPD looking to replace 4 vehicles totaled in separate crashes (ocala-news.com) ā€” Ocala residents should know that the police department is asking the city to spend $226,495 to replace four patrol vehicles totaled in crashes last year, a request heading to the April 21 council agenda. If approved, the purchase would use insurance reserves and existing OPD equipment funds, and could shape how the department maintains its patrol fleet going forward.
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2. Ocala Planning and Zoning Commission Approves Recommendation Request for Vision 2050 Plan (352today.com) ā€” Ocalaā€™s Planning and Zoning Commission has unanimously advanced the Vision 2050 plan, a long-range roadmap that will guide growth, housing, transportation, and public spaces across East and West Ocala, downtown, and the airport area. The draft emphasizes Safe Routes to School, mixed-use development, better transit and connectivity, and preserving historic and cultural areas, and now heads to the City Council for approval in May.
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3. ā€˜Despicable' Ocala man gets life sentence for sexually battering child (ocala-news.com) ā€” An Ocala resident has been sentenced to life in prison after a jury found him guilty of multiple child sex and human trafficking charges stemming from an incident reported in Marion County last fall. Investigators say forensic evidence, witness accounts, and cellphone records supported the victimā€™s detailed account, and the state attorney emphasized a zero-tolerance stance on crimes against children.
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4. Multi-Vehicle Crash Causes Major Delays on I-75 Northbound Near Ocala (thelegaladvocate.com) ā€” A multi-vehicle crash on I-75 northbound near Ocala at mile marker 354 is causing major delays late Thursday night, and drivers are being urged to use caution or seek alternate routes. Northbound lanes in Marion County are heavily impacted, and details on injuries and vehicles involved have not yet been released.
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5. Ocala-area athlete, coach, athletic trainer nominated for FHSAA awards (ocala.com) ā€” Ocala-area sports fans have three local standouts to cheer on at the FHSAAā€™s upcoming FLASHY awards, with nominees from Redeemer Christian and Belleview High representing Marion County. A multi-sport junior, a Belleview athletic trainer, and a cross country coach are all in the running for statewide honors, with finalists announced April 20 and awards handed out June 7.
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šŸ“ø Around Ocala

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šŸ—“ Upcoming Events in Ocala

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

    Thursday April 23
  • Morsels with Marion Chat and Chew Event
    Mary Sue Rich Community Center
    5:30 pm

šŸ“£ Ocala Shout Outs!

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šŸ—“ Events Nearby

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šŸ’¬ Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • REUNTED!!
    & such sweet dogs, too! My Son in law was followed home by these two pups wandering around Sunrise Elementary in Marion Oaks this morning. The dogsā€¦ (Nextdoor 74th Terrace - 84th Ave)
  • HAVE YOU SEEN THIS CAT???
    Sheā€™s not mine, but I love her. Shes my bff. Sheā€™s pregnant, and I havenā€™t seen her in almost 2 weeks, which as you can tell by my pics isnā€™t normalā€¦ (Nextdoor Shady Hill)
  • Sodexo, Inc. posted a job opening for Stock Worker and Receiver in Ocala. Apply here.
  • Chilli's posted a job opening for Line Cook - West Ocala Chili's in Ocala. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Ocala here.

Ok Ocala! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: The NO-BELL prize (Thank you Gina M. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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Stay in the loop with what's happening in Ocala

Never miss out on local news and events that matter to you.

Stay in the loop with what's happening in Ocala

Never miss out on local news and events that matter to you.