VOLUME 2 ISSUE 3
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July is National Picnic Month
JULY 16 - JULY 22, 2021
Local COVID-19 cases rise, delta variant confirmed By Carlos Medina carlos@ocalagazette.com
The week prior, the county reported a 5.3% positivity rate and
For a second week in a row, Marion County experienced an uptick in time included at least one case of the to records released by the Florida For the week ending July 8, the county registered 251 new cases and reported an 8.6% positivity rate of those tested, reports state.
up from a 2.3% positivity rate and 110 cases reported during the week reports. is likely fueled by summer holidays including Memorial Day and the Fourth of July. “As we move into the summer months and associated holidays there is an increased opportunity
social interaction,” according to an of Marion County spokesman. The recent uptick is far from the more than 1,500 cases reported per week locally during past surges. Ackerman said there was one in Marion. The variant is also known as B.1.617.2 and can spread more easily, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Budget talks get heated between sheriff, commission By Joel Bronson joel@ocalagazette.com Discussions became a bit heated when the Marion County Commissioners’ budget workshop Multiple issues arose between commissioners during Monday The annual tussle between the
See COVID, page A3
Libertad!
due to the oversight the commission
In his proposal to the hire eight additional deputies and communications center, among other new positions for the jail. The communication center is a particular sore spot between the The issues date back to 2019, Public Safety Communications operated by the county. In 2011, the the PSC, which was under direct county supervision as a separate administrative department. The joined the consolidation. pulled out and partnered with the law enforcement 911 operators and dispatchers. Those employees
Ocala residents support Cuban protestors By Carlos Medina carlos@ocalagazette.com More than two dozen people held a rally near the downtown square on July 12 in support of the protests that erupted across the Cuban island nation a day earlier against food shortages and high prices. Cuban heritage, chanted for a free
democracy for the country that has been under communist rule since 1965. “Libertad! Libertad!” shouted Jessica and Monica Caparros as the sisters are American, their mother, Carolina, was born in Cuba and lived under the communist state. “It very bad. There needs to be a change,” said Carolina Caparros,
calls.
Mike Perdigon, who arrived crossing the treacherous Florida about organically via social media connections among the local Cuban community. support the Cuban people in their
years ago.
employees pay. The county now has to spend at least $500,000 to match The dispatchers all share the same space. Commissioners Michelle Stone and Kathy Bryant argue the split at the communications center is causing morale issues and duplicating services at the expense of the taxpayers.
See Cuba, page A6
See Budget, page A3
Ocala’s horse community rallies behind Paralympians By Emily Papa Ocala Gazette
the 2008 Paralympic
Two Marion County competitors, both among the world’s best, hope to participate in this year’s Summer Paralympic Lauren Barwick is looking forward to her
Paralympic appearance. will compete for the United States, some in the local horse community are helping them raise money to make the expensive journey. A highly accomplished equestrian, Barwick won gold and silver at
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silver and bronze at the in Normandy. She also won several medals at
discipline in which she is See Paralympics, page A11
Inside: New Fire Chief ....................... A2 City Council Elections .......... A4 Commentary ...........................A5 State News ............................... A8 Sports ..................................... A10 Creative’s Corner ................... B2