Ocala Gazette | August 14 - 20, 2020

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AUGUST 14 - AUGUST 20, 2020 | TWO DOLLARS

VOLUME 1 | ISSUE 7

City Council overrides Guinn veto, requires face coverings in businesses, churches

By Bill Thompson Deputy Editor

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Bishop J. David Stockton III, the Sr. Pastor at the Greater New Hope Church, poses for a photo in the Sanctuary of the church on Emerald Road in Silver Springs Shores, Fla. Stockton is the new president of the NAACP of Marion County. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2020.

Information is power New NAACP president embraces entire community

By Brad Rogers Executive Editor

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nformation is power.

That is the how Bishop J. David Stockton III views his role as the new president of the Marion County Chapter of the NAACP. The senior pastor of the Greater New Hope church in Silver Springs Shores said he believes too many Marion County residents live in an “information vacuum,” and he wants to change that.

“In my tenure, I want people to say they knew what was going on,” he said. “We want to be proactive rather than reactive.”

Among the initiatives Stockton has launched in his short time as president of the local NAACP are weekly live-streaming discussions where he talks about what is going on in the community and the organization, which he sees as one. Moreover, he is a regular attendee of School Board meetings as the school system ramps up to reopen schools.

“I’ve always been a community pastor,” he said. “I believe any ministry is an extension of the community.”

Stockton has been involved in the NAACP everywhere he has lived.

Born and raised in Columbus, Ohio – yes, he is an avid Ohio State fan – he also has lived in California, West Virginia, South Carolina and now, Florida.

And it’s not just a racial organization to him, but something more.

“It’s not an African American thing or a black thing,” he said. “It’s justice

for all.”

He said to do fulfill that mission – justice for all – the NAACP has to look at the community as all of Marion County, with its diversity of the forest, Silver Springs, the horse community, the retirement communities and so on.

“One of my main agendas is to make sure our community is identified as the entire county,” he said. “With all that is going on in our county, we have people who are living in poverty, living on the fringes. I want to be sure they are seen.

“I’m trying to be as effective as we can, and to do so we have to include everyone.”

Stockton, a 49-year-old widower and the father of four children, has a threepronged set of priorities for his term in office.

First, he wants to focus on growing the NAACP’s membership.

“The purpose of the NAACP is to be a net, all-encompassing, all reaching,” he said. “We have a great history and have to build on that.”

Next, the pastor is trying to get people in the community more information. In addition to his online chats, the NAACP has also hosted a candidate forum and is helping coordinate a group of churches that are planning to create “virtual learning camps” to help parents and students who are going to be taking online instruction once schools reopen on Aug. 24.

Finally, Stockton said celebrating the accomplishments of Marion County residents is high

on his priority list. He said too many Marion Countians achieve great things but are too often go unrecognized for their success.

“We have some talented people in our community,” he said. “But you don’t hear about people who are from here. We don’t celebrate them.”

When asked what role he believes the Black Lives Matter movement might play in Marion County, Stockton pauses and ponders.

“For me, the Black Lives Matter movement is a national necessity,” he said. “It is something that is, one, overdue. But more importantly, it is something that has to happen to start a conversation … a result of the squeaky wheel not getting oiled.”

He said what nonBlack people do not realize is the African American culture, unlike other ethnic groups, does not have its own community.

“In America, every culture gets to have their community – except the Black community,” he said. “I’ve never heard of Little Jamaica or Little Haiti. For the Blacks, our community is known as the hood or the projects. I think the Black Lives Matter movement is us saying, ‘Hey, we have something to offer.’”

But, he warns, extremism is dangerous to sustaining any message.

“The extremism of anything, well, I’m against it.”

For now, though, Stockton is looking to open dialogue with the entire community and try and break down divisions. It’s part of his information initiative.

“We politicize everything from religion to going back to school. Why does everything have to be Republican or Democrat?

When did political parties become more important than the public good?”

ask up, Ocala.

During an emergency meeting on Wednesday, a supermajority of the Ocala City Council overrode Mayor Kent Guinn’s veto of a mandatory face-covering ordinance. The 4-1 decision triggered the local law immediately, meaning businesses, including churches, hotels and government agencies, must require all patrons to wear some type of face covering upon entering and remaining inside.

The council indicated it would revisit the ordinance, which expires 60 days after adoption unless rescinded earlier, during its regular meeting on Tuesday.

During Wednesday’s session, council members expressed openness to entertaining revisions, including Councilman Brent Malever’s condition that houses of worship be excluded.

Behind the scenes, Malever had been considered a pivotal vote.

He voted against the original ordinance as it was proposed last month, but then voted for a revised, softer version on Aug. 4. Malever reiterated on Wednesday that he supports mask-wearing and the ordinance. But he also signaled that he may vote to sustain Guinn’s veto, issued Monday, if churches were not removed from the mandate. He also advocated for relieving business owners of the “risk,” as he put it, for violating it.

Malever ultimately joined the supermajority after the rest of the council indicated they would reconsider his recommendations next week.

City Attorney Rob Batsel told the board prior to the meeting that they could not make any changes to the ordinance on Wednesday. Legally, he said, considering Guinn’s veto was the only subject of the session.

Council President Jay Musleh dissented in the vote on Wednesday, although he added that he “wholeheartedly” supported wearing masks.

The ordinance carries no weight outside the city of Ocala. But people who live outside the city who visit Ocala to work or conduct business must comply.

Children under age 7 are exempt, as are people with pre-existing medical conditions who “cannot tolerate a facial covering” for medical reasons.

The provision for government agencies would not appear to apply to the Sheriff ’s See City Council, page 2

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AUGUST 14 - AUGUST 20, 2020 | OCALA GAZETTE

From City Council, page 1 Office, where Sheriff Billy Woods on Tuesday prohibited masks for employees or guests within the agency’s Ocala headquarters.

Restaurants, bars and theaters are excluded as long as people are sitting and eating or drinking. But those patrons must wear masks as they navigate to their seats or the exits.

The law also does not mandate masks for business owners, managers and employees who work in areas that is not open to customers, so long as they can maintain six feet of social distancing. That does not apply to food or beverage preparers.

The ordinance says the city seeks “voluntary” compliance. And those who don’t comply will be given an opportunity to do so.

But failing that, the business owner will be given a verbal warning, followed by a written warning for a second offense, and then a $25 citation for any subsequent violations.

Councilman Malever said that in addition to churches he believed the ordinance should be altered to put the onus on members of the public rather than business owners.

About 25 people addressed the council during the session, which was carried via Zoom.

Slightly more of those who addressed the council

criticized Guinn’s veto than supported the mayor, with some using terms like “irresponsible” and “reckless.”

They noted the spike in positive cases in recent weeks, and the petition from hundreds of local healthcare professionals in favor of the ordinance, as reasons Guinn’s veto should be rejected.

“The recommendation from our medical community in our great city says it all to me,” said John Schaefer, who urged the board to override Guinn.

“If I have a car problem, I take it to a mechanic. If I have an electrical problem, I call an electrician. If I have a dental problem, I go see a dentist. If I have a medical problem, I go see my doctor. So who I look at in this pandemic, which is extremely serious in our city, is the medical community. … When I have the medical community in my town tell me for my benefit, and my neighbors, that I should be wearing a mask when I’m out in public, that’s enough for me.”

On the other hand, Guinn’s supporters praised his willingness to respect individual liberty and to curtail government overreach.

Floyd Magwood said the “science was mixed,” and noted whether masks work is a city-by-city proposition. He said he had family

members who wore masks and still got sick from COVID-19.

“I don’t care what you say.

You can look it up from very well known scientists and doctors, you see information on both sides,” Magwood said, noting that an unresolved issue if the type of mask.

“Are we going to start requiring people to wear goggles, because even with the mask, the virus can still get into Councilman Matt Wardell, who suggested a city-wide mask mandate, during an Ocala your eyes?” he City Council meeting. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2020 added. “I think When the council took personal experience, having we need to err on up the debate after public been hospitalized with the side of freedom, and not comments, Mayor Guinn COVID-19. follow this mob rule, and let explained that his veto was “We need to be respectpeople decide.” rooted in concerns about ful of others, even if we “When I go into the enforcement and forcing don’t care about ourselves,” store, sometimes I may people to disclose sensitive he said.

“I don’t know where have my mask on. But the medical information in I got it from …, but this majority of the time I have order to justify not wearing thing is not a joke.” the ability to social distance a mask.

“We don’t seem to underfrom people. And that’s Still, other than Musleh, stand that this thing is real called personal responsibilthe rest of the council was out here,” Bethea added, ity and we’re continuing to adamant about overturn“We are our brother’s tear down the art of pering the veto, even as they keeper. As a councilperson, sonal responsibility when remained open to changes to me, this is the least that the government continues that may remove the burden we can do to try to come up to become our Mommy and from churches and business with some type of mandate Daddy. And we’ve got to owners. to impress upon citizens say no to that. We’ve got to Councilman Ire Bethea how important it is to look convince people without Sr., for example, said he out for one another. And the mandates, and without could not support the veto, mask is the first step.” enforcement of our police and argued for masks from department.”

In the woods west of Ocala, a dream of helping the poor comes to fruition

By Bill Thompson Deputy Editor

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bit west of Ocala, not too deep into where State Road 40 opens up into horse farm country, a big dream is being realized in a small building.

This generic office site, nestled among some spindly oak trees beside a freshly paved parking lot, is the new medical clinic for the Catholic mission known as Our Lady of Guadalupe, or La Guadalupana.

To an outsider, it doesn’t seem like a big deal.

Yes, the flooring, paint and fixtures are brand new.

But other than a reclining chair, the place is mostly empty, and some missing electrical outlet covers indicate more work must be done.

But Dr. Gabriel Umana surveys his surroundings around and sees the fulfillment of a quest.

“I’m out of words to tell you how excited I am,” he said, contemplating the inside of the building now planted among those skinny oaks.

“This is so exciting. You have no idea. We finally have a place to practice.”

Sixteen years ago, Dr. Umana and a small cadre of volunteer healthcare professionals established a medical clinic on the property,

the main feature of which was the small church. A few years later, a four-bedroom convent for nuns, a daycare center serving 48 kids and a modest food pantry arrived.

The point of the campus was to serve migrant farmworkers, most, if not all, of them undocumented laborers from Mexico and Central America.

Before the clinic, Umana said, the workers suffered in literal silence.

They kept hidden the hypertension, diabetes, sprains, cuts, depression, anxiety and other maladies they suffered for fear that visiting a local emergency room or medical office would bring prying questions about their citizenship status -- and possible deportation, if disclosed.

In 2004 the Rev. Alfonso Cely, then an associate pastor at Blessed Trinity Catholic Church in Ocala, which oversees La Guadalupana, proposed the idea of an on-site clinic.

It helped.

In its first year, the clinic reported just 32 patient visits, according to Florida Department of Health reports.

But the following year, that increased fivefold.

Over the ensuing years, between 2007 and 2019, the clinic’s volunteer doctors and nurses, who open the facility for a few hours just one night a month, wel-

From left to right, Dr. Gabriel Umana, Registered Nurse Sonia Torres (kneeling), Administrator Sandra Jacome and Dr. Jaime Rubio pose while holding plans for the new farmworker health clinic at Our Lady of Guadalupe, or La Guadalupana, Catholic mission in Ocala. The clinic is expected to open later this month. [Bill Thompson/OcalaGazette] 2020.

comed 254 patients a year on average, state data show.

Before the new building went up, the clinic was a small, open chapel in the back of the church. Thus, patients were seen in front of other patients -- hardly the ideal doctor’s visit most of us recognize.

Umana recalled that eventually the Rev. Patrick Sheedy, Blessed Trinity’s pastor, began a drive for a permanent solution.

In January 2019, after years of negotiations between the church, landowners and the Diocese of Orlando, the church bought five adjacent acres for $159,000.

In a letter to his parishioners at the time, Sheedy explained that the church had already banked $167,000 of the projected $430,000 needed to build an 1,800-square-foot clinic.

Under diocesan regulations, construction could not begin until the money was in place.

“The medical/dental clinic will allow the uninsured and underinsured proper healthcare, will reduce trips to the emergency centers, will prevent serious health problems through advanced care, and will greatly improve the overall health of our farm laborers,” Sheedy wrote in his missive.

“We have written to over 200 horse farms asking for their financial help. Most

of the clients who will use this medical and dental clinic work at their farms,” Sheedy added. “Pray for its success.”

Now, on that land, sits the clinic, awaiting the finishing touches before opening by the end of August.

In addition to three exam rooms, and possibly a fourth, it includes space for three dental chairs. There is also office space, a room for records or storage and maybe a lab.

“To me, this is beautiful,” said Dr. Umana, who praised Sheedy for his persistence in building on Cely’s foundation. “We’ve been waiting for four years.

Now we can practice the way we should be.”

He was especially excited by the pending arrival of dentists. “The dental service is new, and that’s big,” Umana said. “We all need to be able to smile, and to be able to eat.”

Umana noted the new facility will provide patients dignity and confidentiality.

But, just as importantly, having an actual clinic will permit Umana and his other volunteers to recruit other doctors, who may have been wary of utilizing the chapel.

And more doctors means being able to keep the clinic open more often and offer more services, he said.

“We’ll be able to have an

actual medical clinic,” said Dr. Jaime Rubio, who was recruited to volunteer at La Guadalupana five years ago.

The purpose of the clinic is to treat the basics.

Supplies are donated. The patients pay what they can. On average each year, according to state reports, they “contribute” about $26,000 a year toward its operation. Dr. Umana noted the care is not free, and what patients pay goes back into the clinic.

The clinic receives help from other providers and pharmacies. But the need exceeds that supply, the clinic’s providers said.

“We have so much work to do,” Umana said. The first priority is recruiting specialists to volunteer, preferably those who are Hispanic and bilingual.

The clinic would get a boost, Umana and Rubio said, if they could enlist podiatrists, orthopedists, gynecologists, cardiologists, neurologists, psychiatrists, dermatologists and surgeons.

But being attached to the church helps the volunteers remember what motivates them.

Sonia Torres, a registered nurse who does home health care and a founding member of the La Guadalupana clinic, noted, “I don’t serve the community. I serve God. I think that’s our mission.”

The new La Guadalupana Clinic that is nearing completion is shown on West Highway 40 west of Ocala, Fla. on Monday, August 10, 2020. Medical and dental services will be provided for free to people in the facility that is part of the Catholic Charities of Central Florida. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2020.

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AUGUST 14 - AUGUST 20, 2020 | OCALA GAZETTE

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Hands up! Drop the mask!

By Brad Rogers Executive Editor

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here are mandates, and then there are mandates.

Sheriff Billy Woods, from here on known as Dr. Billy Woods, got his mug splashed all over the national media this week after he issued a terse and, shall we say, defiant letter announcing that not only would he not require his 900 or so employees to wear face masks while on the job, he would forbid it. Going even further, the high sheriff also said anyone entering his offices – any of them – was also forbidden from wearing a mask. To make sure his edict was not misunderstood, every time Woods used the phrase “will not be worn” in reference to masks, he underlined it. Got it, Sheriff.

Loud and clear.

What’s so funny about Dr. Woods’s national news-making

letter, is that in saying he wasn’t about to adhere to no stinkin’ mandate by the city, the doc/ sheriff issued, well, a mandate.

And he was anything but politic about it. “… (M) y orders will be followed or my actions will be swift to address. Be safe!” he said in concluding his letter.

Now this rebellious, antimask streak is nothing new for Dr. Woods, who three weeks ago told a room full of doctors at a City Council meeting that there was no evidence whatsoever that masks help reduce the spread of COVID-19. Dr. Woods stuck by his claim in his letter this week, arguing (laughably, by the way) that, “We can debate and argue all day of why and why not. The fact is, the amount of professionals that give the reason why we should, I can find the exact same amount of professionals that say why we shouldn’t.”

I’m calling B.S., Dr. Woods. I got a $100 bill that says you can’t find 700 medical professionals -- like those who signed a letter to the Ocala City Council -- who will say no one needs to wear a mask, that they do no good slowing the spread of COVID-19.

That Dr. Woods’s letter made virtually every national media outlet is a testament to how out of step Dr. Woods is with accepted medical thinking. Like the doctor said during the City council meeting a few weeks back, “Next time you have surgery, remind me to tell your surgeon to not wear a mask.” Ouch.

Dr. Woods, unfortunately, doesn’t know better. He is just badly misinformed.

Ordering all masks off may have scored points with a small cadre of the community, but it’s the wrong message to send as Marion County faces a growing number of COVID-19 cases and deaths. And, it’s embarrassing.

Letter by Sheriff Billy Woods on face masks This letter was written and sent out on Tuesday, August 11.

Since then, Mayor Guinn’s veto has been overruled.

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s most of you are aware the City of Ocala is trying to put a Mask Mandate Ordinance in place. Although the Mayor vetoed that ordinance yesterday it will more than likely be overruled on the next City Council meeting with a super majority vote. Now, that ordinance exempts government entities and leaves the decision to the figure heads. So, as for us, my order will stand as is when you are on-duty/working as my employee and representing my Office – masks will not be worn.

The following are the exceptions and guidelines to be followed: Wearing Exceptions (only preapproved masks will be worn and yes they are ordering the masks): 1. When you are instructed to wear a mask by HR when they are following the CDC guidelines for essential workers, which is every one of you.

2. At the Courthouse – This is in compliance to the Fifth Judicial Circuit Chief Judge’s Order and is to be followed only as outlined.

3. At the Jail – They have their guidelines due to it being a confined environment and distancing is not an option.

4. At our Public Schools or Private Schools that have it as a mandate for their students. (This does not include extracurricular activity i.e.., sports games.)

Again this is a confined environment where distancing is a limited option.

5. At all of our Hospitals – This is a given that there

are positive cases within their facilities and the very high-risk individuals will be present as well.

6. Patrol (These are the ones that you should keep the mask in your pocket for): a. When responding to a Nursing Home or Assisted Living Facility. b. When responding to a known Covid 19 address alert from dispatch. c. When on a call that involves a High-Risk Elderly individual.

For all of these exceptions, the moment that enforcement action is to be taken and it requires you to give an individual orders/ commands to comply, the mask will be immediately removed.

As for special details and/or any special events (paid or not), masks will not be worn. Effective immediately the entity that has requested and has hired a deputy for a special detail will be given clear instruction by Darian Tucker at the time of their written request that masks will not be worn (unless one of the exceptions above applies). In addition, if you are the special detail deputy you will again advise the contact person that a mask will not be worn by you.

If at any time you are confronted by any individual complaining, berating you or just being a difficult individual, you will politely and professionally tell them “I am not required to wear a mask nor will I, per the Order of the Sheriff ” and then walk away from them. From that point on it will be my burden and responsibility to take care of the person and answer their problem, complaint or their question.

Effective immediately, any individual walking in to any one of our lobbies (which includes the main office and all district

offices) that is wearing a mask will be asked to remove it. In light of the current events when it comes to the sentiment and/or hatred toward law enforcement in our country today, this is being done to ensure there is clear communication and for identification purposes of any individual walking into a lobby.

All of our lobbies have glass barriers between you and them that the virus cannot magically go thru. If a person does not wish to remove the mask they will be asked to leave. If the individual is not comfortable with standing and waiting in the lobby with other individuals, politely ask for their cell number and advise them to stand outside or sit in their vehicle and you will text or call them with their completed transaction.

Now, I can already hear the whining and just so you know I did not make this decision easily and I have weighed it out for the past 2 weeks. We can debate and argue all day of why and why not. The fact is, the amount of professionals that give the reason why we should, I can find the exact same amount of professionals that say why we shouldn’t. Since the beginning of this pandemic the operation of this office has not changed and no wearing of masks has been put in place. With just at 900 employees, our number of cases so far has proven that the current way we are approaching the issue is working. This is no longer a debate nor is it up for discussion.

Please keep in mind this entire pandemic is fluid and constantly changing the way things are done. However, my orders will be followed or my actions will be swift to address.

Be Safe!

Sheriff Billy Woods Marion County Sheriff ’s Office

A response from Ocala’s doctors

©2020 Ocala Gazette, LLC

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he position taken by Sheriff Woods is wholly disheartening to the local health care community. We have always felt that first responders and law enforcement are partners with the health care community in the service of Marion County’s public health and safety.

During this public health crisis, our local health care providers have no political motivations.

We are dedicated to the care of our patients, the health of our community, and the preservation of a prosperous local economy.

The intensifying political division within the community has hindered our pandemic response and resulted in record growth of COVID-19, garnering national attention. We offer a public call for unanimity from local elected officials, the Marion County Department of Health, and local law enforcement in strongly encouraging the universal application of social distancing and the use of face masks, as a powerful demonstration of unity and consistency in the message of leadership at a time when it is so

desperately needed.

We further call on the general public, as a patriotic act of civic duty, personal responsibility and compassion, to use face masks when in public spaces, allowing our most vulnerable members of the community to more safely rejoin society.

Dr. David Kuhn, founder and medical director of Trinity Clinic, wrote this on behalf of the hundreds of doctors who also jointly wrote a letter to the Ocala City Council last month seeking a mandatory mask ordinance.

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AUGUST 14 - AUGUST 20, 2020 | OCALA GAZETTE

Three Republicans seek to succeed Moore in District 1 on County Commission

By Bill Thompson Deputy Editor

I

ncumbent Marion County Commissioner David Moore created an opening when he opted against running for a third term, seeking instead to become the new county property appraiser.

One of three Republican candidates hope to walk into that vacant seat for District 1 in what will be Marion County’s first universal primary for a countywide election.

Mike Behar, an ordained Christian minister from Belleview whose ministry focuses on families, pledges to address absentee fathers as an issue, arguing that is the root of much crime, poverty and other social dysfunction. He’ll seek to form a coalition of elected officials to promote stronger families, as well as the creation of a task force with local law enforcement to fight illegal drugs. He also is against raising property

taxes and calls for the county to set aside more savings.

Behar is a Vietnam-era veteran of the U.S. Air Force.

Craig Curry, longtime owner of an Ocala insurance agency, is a former Ocala mayor and city councilman.

His platform includes support for bigger paychecks for first-responders, protecting the Farmland Preservation Area, cracking down on litterbugs along county roads and curtailing the spread of urban sprawl.

Curry also touts his efforts to prevent the closure of the Appleton Museum, to launch the city’s risk management program and to battle illicit drugs and substance abuse, including organizing the first joint anti-drug task force involving Ocala police and the Marion County Sheriff ’s Office. Curry is also Florida Army National Guard veteran.

Michael Saxe is a retired 32-year New York City police detective and 9/11 first-responder who also served as a volunteer firefighter. Part of Saxe’s

platform is promoting smarter, not new, growth.

He proposes creating tax incentives for developers and businesses to redevelop abandoned strip malls and shopping centers. Saxe maintains that would help protect vital farmland from development and prevent urban sprawl. Saxe also pledges to work for greater government transparency and better training and equipment for county staffers.

District 1 primarily covers the southeastern part of Marion County.

Commissioners are elected countywide but must live in the district they represent.

The 2020 District 1 primary is a “universal primary contest,” meaning all voters, regardless of party, may participate because the winner on Aug. 18 will not face opposition on Election Day in November Commissioners serve four-year terms and make $84,434 a year, according to the state’s population-based formula.

Mike Behar

Craig Curry

Michael J. Saxe

Belleview businessman takes on incumbent Gold in District 3 commission race

By Bill Thompson Deputy Editor

M

arion County Commissioner Jeff Gold seeks a second term on the board. But first he must get past Belleview resident Bobby Dobkowski, Gold’s challenger in the Aug. 18 Republican primary.

Before entering local politics in 2016, Gold had been both a county firefighter and a sheriff ’s deputy. Trained as

a paramedic and an arson investigator, he retired from the fire department as a district lieutenant, and went to work for the Sheriff ’s Office, where he became a patrol supervisor, commander of the bomb squad and a SWAT member.

As commissioner, Gold promotes his work on improving Marion County’s roads, using his business acumen – he owns two companies – to improve county spending and bettering working

conditions for county first-responders.

Dobkowski, owner of a windowtreatments company in Belleview, has been a business owner in Marion County for nearly 25 years. He also enjoyed a 12year stint as a local conservative talkradio host, where he went by the name of Bobby D. Dobkowski says he is the “bluecollar Republican,” anti-establishment candidate, and that his campaign is about lowering taxes and

reducing regulations.

He argues that people should be skeptical when county commissioners say they’re not raising taxes because if you’re tax bill goes up, you got a tax increase.

He also says he will defend private property rights and promote “family values.”

District 3 primarily covers south-central Marion County.

Commissioners are elected countywide but must live in the district they represent.

The primary is open only to Republican voters.

That’s because the winner on Aug. 18 will face two writein candidates in November. They are Richard Brown of Weirsdale and Brigitte Smith of Ocala.

Gold defeated a write-in candidate to win the seat in 2016.

Commissioners serve four-year terms and make $84,434 a year, according to the state’s populationbased formula.

Jeff Gold

Bobby Dobkowski

Two insiders and one outsider campaign to be the new Marion property appraiser

By Bill Thompson Deputy Editor

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or the first time in more than two decades, Marion County is set to get a new property appraiser.

Property Appraiser Villie Smith is retiring after 23 years in the top job, and 45 years overall with the agency, and three Republicans seek to take his place.

Jimmy Cowan is a 28-year veteran of the agency, and since 2006 has led the largest departments in the office.

Cowan notes that over his career he has been involved in the evolution of the county’s property-valuing

system, including its development of computerized method of mass appraisals and mapping properties, and has trained numerous appraisers in their duties. He also points out that overseen the damage assessment department for nearly two decades, determining the impact of natural disasters on local properties. He has said he would like to continue the agency’s technological improvements, and add more staffers, since the department has witnessed significant downsizing as the county continues to grow.

Commissioner David Moore seeks to move over to the property appraiser’s

office after two terms on the County Commission. He has positioned himself as the outsider in the contest, touting his nearly three decades of experience in both real estate and finance. Moore also notes that in his time in office he has chaired the Value Adjustment Board, which considers disputes over property values.

Moore promises to deliver fair and equitable appraisals of all property, promote transparency and openness in government, improve efficiencies and advocate for the county with state officials.

Nick Nikkinen, currently an assistant

property appraiser for Marion County, is a 35-year of veteran of this field, but has been in Marion County only since 2016, having served in three other counties.

Nikkinen said he seeks to improve internal procedures including developing a “succession” plan to deal with the recent or pending retirements of several department veterans. He also has said the county should do more inperson inspections of property sales, rather than relying on digital photographs to meet legal requirements, and update the aerial photographs on the department’s website, and the website itself.

Marion County’s

property appraiser serves a four-year term and makes $146,342 a year under the state’s population-based formula.

The property appraiser’s main duties include setting values for all land, vacant and improved, as well as that of machinery and equipment, fixtures, furniture, and other items owned and leased by businesses, which are used by local government for taxing purposes.

The appraiser’s office also maintains all property records and administers the state’s property tax exemptions.

The winner on Aug. 18 will face write-in Kelly Taub in November.

Jimmy Cowan

David Moore

Nick Nikkinen

5

AUGUST 14 - AUGUST 20, 2020 | OCALA GAZETTE

County Commission prepares to talk trash as landfill space tightens

By Bill Thompson Deputy Editor

I

n 2011 the Marion County Commission got a garbage deal – but one of a of lifetime.

Faced with a growing population, a tight budget, a rapidly filling landfill, and no appetite from any quarter of the community to accept a new dump, the board cut a deal with a Sumter County firm that let Marion County in on the ground floor of a new landfill.

Commissioners inked a contract to deposit up to 2.5 million tons of garbage over 30 years for the unheard-of price of $8 a ton. That equated to $20 million total. Marion County could dump until it maxed out the trash or the contract expired.

But trash is piling up faster than anticipated.

An unexpected increase in the amount of commercial waste – or trash generated by businesses – is eating into the arrangement, county officials said.

Commissioners will meet on Sept. 1 to consider an extension to the original pact, which is now with a company called Heart of Florida Environmental.

Back in 2011 Marion County’s price could not be beat.

At the time the average tipping fee – the perton price someone pays to dump garbage – across the country was up to $45 a ton, and rising.

Even today, Heart of Florida charges its other customers $47 a ton.

In reality, Marion County pays about $29 a ton to ship its garbage to the Lake Panasoffkee disposal site. For each ton, that includes the $8 tipping fee, a $2 local tax levied by Sumter County and $12 in transportation costs.

Still, it’s a bargain, both fiscally and for relieving the political headache of possibly expanding Baseline Landfill or siting a new one in

Marion County.

But, according to data from county Environmental Services Director Jody Kirkman, success comes with its own drawback.

Marion County is using up its allotted “air space,” meaning the amount of empty room in the dump, faster than anticipated.

At the time of the original agreement, Marion County was handling about 130,000 tons of garbage a year at Baseline Landfill.

Kirkman provided the County Commission a report in April that showed the county had already shipped more than 71,000 tons of garbage to the facility since the project went full bore last year.

During all of fiscal year 2020, which expires on Sept. 30, Kirkman’s department projects just shy of 140,000 tons will be trucked south.

Kirkman’s report anticipates a continued 2.5 percent annual increase in volume. If that holds, the county would be out of air space by 2034 -- seven years ahead of the expiration of the contract.

It’s unclear where the increase in commercial waste is coming from. But simple economics plays a role.

Locally, Marion County’s transfer station at Baseline Landfill competes against another private one, Advanced Disposal in Ocala. Marion County’s tipping fee is $3 less than Advanced.

Commissioner Carl Zalak, who was on the board when the deal was reached, said the board is striving to reach a balance between the volume of residential and commercial waste.

Zalak noted the commission’s long-standing goal has been to preserve a 20- to 30-year cushion from the original pact for garbage generated by county residents.

“It will allow us to move that garbage down there without impacting what we want long term for the residential assessment,” Zalak said of a revised solid waste contract.

A Waste Pro worker dumps a load of garbage in the transfer station at the Marion County Landfill and Transfer Station. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2020.

The landfill, which is 260 feet tall, is shown at the Marion County Landfill and Transfer Station on Southeast Baseline Road in Ocala, Fla. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2020.

Three seek to replace Stacy for School Board District 1 seat

By Bill Thompson Deputy Editor

M

arion County School Board member Nancy Stacy’s decision to not seek re-election to a third term has inspired three possible successors to seek her District 1 seat on Aug. 18.

Shelia Arnett, a healthcare industry consultant who ran unsuccessfully for the board two years ago, has said her experience in business can bring much-needed unity to the fractured board.

She also believes the school district needs stronger discipline and anti-bullying policies and pledges to make public schools safer. She also sees the district’s budget issues, as related to COVID-19, as the biggest challenge facing the district, and promises to bring fiscal responsibility to the job.

Allison B. Campbell, communications director for the Community

Foundation of Ocala/ Marion County, argues that she is uniquely positioned to understand how to improve education.

She notes that she is the only candidate with children now in the school system. As a corporate executive and small business owner, she says she understands what employers want in workers. As an adjunct professor at the College of Central Florida, she sees first-hand how county students are educated, she adds. And as a doctoral student, she argues she understands the educational challenges created by COVID-19.

She proposes improving learning by boosting student attendance, working to manage the district’s budget better and making students better communicators.

Lori Conrad, a 25year elementary school teacher at varying grade levels in Marion County, says her experience in the classroom and in dealing with multiple

superintendents and School Board members over that time gives her insight the others lack.

Conrad, too, wants better accountability for student behavior and attendance policies. She also pledges to work for preserving teachers’ instructional time and reducing county-based testing. Additionally, she argues for putting more nurses in schools, boosting classroom funding, and advocating for arts, agricultural and vocational programs in schools.

School board races are nonpartisan. Board members are elected countywide but must live in the district they represent. The winner must get 50-percent plus one vote to avoid a runoff election in November.

District 1 primarily covers areas southeast and southwest of Ocala.

Members serve fouryear terms and are paid $40,286 a year under the state’s population-based formula.

He was referring to the $87 annual fee residents of Marion County pay along with their property taxes to cover solid waste service.

Zalak said it was important for the county to handle the growing amount of commercial waste so as to not renege on a commitment to residential customers, who otherwise could end up subsidizing businesses for their waste.

“We never wanted there to be so much commercial that it would start to shrink the time frame of how long we were going to be able to have residential garbage go under that contract,” said Zalak. “Residential garbage should be the garbage that is going there. Whereas the commercial garbage should be able to pay its own freight.”

On Sept. 1, Kirkman will present a pair of options, both spanning seven additional years, for the commission’s consideration.

One suggestion would add 140,000 tons for $3.3 million. The other increases the volume by 210,000 for $5.4 million.

“We’re trying to preserve the capacity that we have in the Heart of Florida (landfill) for our residents,” Kirkman said.

Commissioners also will discuss whether to raise the tipping fee to offset the growth in commercial waste.

“In our minds it’s to cover the additional commercial that we’re seeing, and to gain some life in the original purchase,” Kirkman said.

Kirkman added that the $87 assessment is indirectly related to the discussion.

“Right now, moving into next year, it still supports our needs,” he said. “Our goal for residential is to hold that as true as we can.”

The County Commission’s discussion does not affect residents within the city of Ocala.

City spokeswoman Ashley Dobbs said Ocala’s municipal service dumps its refuse at Advanced Disposal’s transfer station.

Shelia Arnett

Change in traffic control on North Magnolia

T

he City of Ocala Engineering Department began studying traffic signals along North Magnolia Avenue in December 2018.

Based on traffic studies, it has been determined that unwarranted traffic signals will be removed along North Magnolia at Northeast First

Street and Second Street.

As part of the removal process that began Tuesday, signals will flash red and all-way stop signs will be added to all approaches.

Message boards and necessary devices will be in place to notify drivers of the new traffic pattern.

Allison B. Campbell

Lori Conrad

[Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2020.

6

AUGUST 14 - AUGUST 20, 2020 | OCALA GAZETTE

Primary Election Day Marks 100 Years of Women’s Votes Voters will cast their ballots on August 18th, a century after the 19th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States was ratified.

By Lisa McGinnes Staff Writer

I

n 1920, Mrs. Rosa Belle Barco Veal got a very special birthday present. The Marion County wife and mother turned 40 on August 16th.

Two days later, on August 18th, 1920, American women were granted the right to vote, thanks to the 19th Amendment to the Constitution.

To say Mrs. Veal was excited would be an understatement. She went to see her Uncle Dan,

Marion County Supervisor of Elections Daniel M. Barco, to become the first registered female voter in the county. She was immediately appointed registration officer for her northwest Marion County precinct in Cotton Plant.

Exactly 100 years after the 19th Amendment was ratified, this Tuesday, August 18th, Mrs. Veal’s great-great-niece by marriage, Shelley Dunn, whose family still lives in Cotton Plant, can vote in Marion County’s primary election, along with around 137,000 other women.

“I have voted in every presidential election since I was 18, and most if not all local elections,” Dunn says. “Until recently, I was not aware that Aunt Rosa Veal was the first woman to register in Marion County and I am proud that she was so involved in registering voters and running a precinct.”

Females now make up more than half of Marion County voters, around 54 percent.

“How appropriate that we are conducting an election on the 100 year anniversary of the 19th

7

AUGUST 14 - AUGUST 20, 2020 | OCALA GAZETTE

Amendment,” said Marion County Supervisor of Elections Wesley Wilcox. Like Supervisor Barco 100 years ago, Wilcox has a reputation for following the letter of the law.

The 1920 amendment set the voting age at 21. As women of all ages were registering to vote for the first time, the Ocala Evening Star newspaper reported that some ladies in Tampa were reluctant to give one detail needed to register: their birthdate.

“We notice by our exchanges that in some counties ladies are allowed, on registering, to give their ages as ‘21 plus,’ read the Star. “But Supervisor Barco of Marion County allows no such camouflage. He says the women must follow the same form as men, for if no other reason, he believes any evasion will make the registration illegal.” Mrs. Veal’s uncle Dan was making sure women would be able to vote by ensuring everything was done by the book—just like Wilcox does today. And, even decades later, he has seen ladies who want to vote but don’t

want to admit their real age.

“About 15 years ago, soon after we started using the electronic poll books and started searching for voters by date of birth, I was checking in a young lady,” he remembered.

“I searched for her by the date of birth on her driver’s license. After several minutes of searching to no avail, she leaned down and whispered to me, ‘Try this date of birth.’

And sure enough, I located her record. Needless to say, the “public” date of birth on her driver’s license was almost a decade newer than her official date of birth.”

Wilcox has trained 755 election workers who will be at the polls this election day. Of them, 544, or 72 percent are female. Just like Mrs. Veal 100 years ago, they’ll be staffing precincts across Marion County, making sure everyone gets to cast their ballot.

The right to vote was not freely extended to American women. They had spent decades lobbying Washington lawmakers, writing letters,

protesting and picketing outside the White House through many cold winter months. Back in the mid-1850s, the first American suffragists including Susan B. Anthony were laying a foundation for the 20th century women who would endure violent attacks, arrest and hunger strikes to guarantee their right and the right of all the women who came after them to participate in the election process. In Florida, suffragists had been working since 1893 to secure women’s right to vote, and notable activists had included Mary Mann Jennings, whose husband William Jennings was Florida’s governor from 1901 to 1905.

Although Mrs. Veal and thousands of other Florida women who voted in 1920 were given that right with a federal Constitutional amendment, they were not the first women in Florida to vote. Because of some municipal codes, Florida women in 23 cities had actually been voting in local elections as early as five years before.

The tiny town of Fellsmere, Florida, near Vero Beach, with its population of just over 300, was the first city not just in Florida but in the entire South to allow women to vote. When the town charter was ratified by the state legislature in 1915, lawmakers didn’t notice the charter granted women full and equal privilege to vote in municipal elections. In June 1915, Fellsmere resident Zena M. Dreier was the first woman to cast her ballot in Florida— and anywhere south of the Mason-Dixon Line.

Wilcox encourages voters to acknowledge the significance of this election day.

“I hope we can all take a brief moment to recognize this remarkable accomplishment and to recognize those who have allowed us to have a stronger American voice,” he urged.

So when you receive your “I voted” sticker on Tuesday, tell the election workers “Happy anniversary!” It’s something to celebrate.

8

AUGUST 14 - AUGUST 20, 2020 | OCALA GAZETTE

Community

8/14

Marion County Friday Market

8/14

Animal Tracking & Track Identification

8/15 8/15

Fort King National Historic Landmark 10am Kids age 6-16 can track a park ranger through the woods and cast their own animal track. Register at www.ocalafl.org/ recpark. Call (352) 368-5533 for more information.

2726 Brownwood Blvd., Wildwood 9am-1pm More than 70 vendors offer fresh produce and crafts. www. thevillagesentertainment.com.

8/19

8/20

Brick City Farmers Market

8/20

CEP Business After Hours

SE 3rd Street and SE 3rd Avenue 9am-2pm A variety of vendors offer local fruits and vegetables, meats and seafood, fresh pasta, honey, arts and crafts, rain or shine. www. ocaladowntownmarket.com

Tuesday Talk: Business Advancement Series

8/11

CEP Equine Initiative

Ocala Downtown Market

8/18

8/18

8/20

Brownwood Farmers Market

8/16

8/18

Medicare and COVID-19

McPherson Government Complex, 601 SE 25th Ave. 9am-2pm Shop locally fresh fruits and veggies, cinnamon buns, jerky, freeze dried treats, olive oils and seafood.

Swap Meet Sunday

8/18

8/20

War Horse Harley-Davidson, 5331 N US Hwy 441 9am-3:30pm Swap and trade parts, church service, coffee and donuts and live music. www.warhorseharley.com

CEP, 310 SE 3rd St. and virtual 8:15-9:30am Ulli Munroe of Munroe Consulting presents on positive leadership and establishing trust. Attend the networking breakfast and presentation or attend online. www.cepocala.com.

SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) - virtual 2-3pm Learn more about Medicare in this free Zoom workshop offered online or by phone. Call (352) 692-5262 or email shine@agingresources.org for more information. www. floridashine.org

Tamarian Farms, 4615 NW 110th Ave. 2-3pm Contact louisa@ocalacep.com for more information.

Beautiful Moments, 3400 SW 60th Ave. 4-8pm Farmers and artisan vendors offer fresh produce, herbs, pasta, eggs, and baked goods as well as locally crafted soaps and jewelry. Masks required. www.brickcityfarmersmarket.com

Virtual 5-6pm Quarantine-style Zoom networking with small group sessions and door prizes. Reservations required at www.ocalacep.com.

Arts

8/729

The Art of Purpose: An Applied Arts Exhibit

8/18

Teaching Tuesday: Animal Origami

Brick City Center for the Arts, 23 S. Broadway Monday-Friday 10am-4pm; Sunday 11am-4pm This new exhibit, sponsored by Angie Lewis State Farm, celebrates applied arts, which integrate design and decoration into everyday and practical objects in order to make them aesthetically pleasing. Visitors to the gallery are asked to please social distance and wear a mask. Email Ashley.justiano@ mcaocala.org or call (352) 369-1500 for more information. www.mcaocala.org

Appleton Museum – virtual 10-10:30am The Appleton Museum presents a live streaming art project that the whole family can make at home with basic art and craft supplies. Online at www.facebook.com/appletonmuseum.

NonProfit Business Council

Ocala Police Department, 402 S. Pine Ave. 8:15-9:30am A free monthly professional development for NonProfit Business Council members. Contact kelsie@ocalafoundation. org for more information.

8/17

Marion County Development Review Committee

8/17

Ocala Board of Adjustment

8/18

Primary Election

8/18

Marion County Board of Commissioners

8/18

Marion County Commission Zoning Meeting

Biz Promoters Networks Group

Power Plant Business Incubator, 405 SE Osceola Ave. 11:30am-12:30pm Bring your own lunch. Email tom@ocalacep.com for more information.

Navigating Medicare.gov

SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) - virtual 2-3pm Learn more about Medicare in this free Zoom workshop offered online or by phone. Call (352) 692-5262 or email shine@agingresources.org for more information. www. floridashine.org

Government Office of the County Engineer, 412 SE 25th Ave. 9am The DRC votes on waiver requests, drainage/site plans, subdivision master plans, preliminary plats, improvement plans and final plats. Call (352) 671-8686 for more information.

Ocala City Hall, 110 SE Watula Ave. and virtual 5:30pm Limited seating. Visit https://zoom.us/j/94696168190 to participate online. Call (352) 629-8404 for more information.

All Marion County voting precincts 7am-7pm Visit www.votemarion.gov for more information or call (352) 620-3290 for more information.

Stiletto Network

Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE 9th St. 4-5pm Please wear a mask. Email April Savarese at asavarese@ bgcofmarion.com for more information.

McPherson Government Complex Auditorium, 601 SE 25th Ave. 9am Call (352) 438-2323 for more information.

Exceptional Mornings

Church of Hope, 3233 SE Maricamp Rd. 8-9am Presentation by Dr. Diane Gullett, Marion County Public Schools superintendent for CEP partners. Call (352) 629-8051 for more information. www.ocalacep.com

McPherson Government Complex Auditorium, 601 SE 25th Ave. 2pm Call (352) 438-2600 for more information.

8/19

1 Million Cups Ocala

Power Plant Business Incubator, 405 SE Osceola Ave. 9:30-10:30am Two local startups present their business idea to an audience of community entrepreneurs. Email ryan@ocalacep.com for more information.

8/18

Community Redevelopment Area Agency Board

8/19

Data to Dollars: Fundraising with Data

8/18

Ocala City Council

8/18

Belleview City Commission

8/20

Marion County Development Review Committee Staff Meeting

8/20

Rainbow Lakes Estates Public Advisory Board

8/19

Community Foundation Ocala Marion County - virtual 1-2:30pm This Part 1 workshop is part of the Nonprofit Academic Series by the Edyth Bush Institute for Philanthropy & Nonprofit Leadership at the Crummer Graduate School of Business at Rollins College. Holly Parish, MPA, CFRE will present. Part 2 will be held August 21st. Email kelsie@ocalafoundation. org for more information. Registration required at www. ocalafoundation.org

Marion County Parks and Recreation Advisory Council Parks and Recreation Conference Room, 111 SE 25th Ave. 3pm Call (352) 671-8560 for more information.

8/20

Summer Sweat Series

8/20

CEP 75 West Networkers

Paddock Mall, 3100 SW College Rd. 9-10am Free community yoga classes with local instructors, limited to 15 participants. Advance registration required; call (352) 2371223. www.paddockmall.com

Canterfield of Ocala, 9589 SW State Road 200 8-9:30am Call (352) 817-6984 for more information.

Ocala City Hall, 110 SE Watula Ave. and online 4:45pm Call (352) 629-8401 more information. Visit https://zoom. us/j/446885807 to participate online.

Ocala City Hall, 110 SE Watula Ave. and online 5pm Limited seating. Visit https://www.ocalafl.org/government/ public-notices to participate online via Zoom. Call (352) 6298401 for more information.

Belleview City Hall, 5343 SE Abshier Blvd., Belleview 6-8pm Call (352) 245-7021 for more information.

Office of the County Engineer Bldg 1 Conference Room, 412 SE 25th Ave. 8:30am Applicants may discuss proposed or current projects with county review staff prior to meeting formally with the Development Review Committee. Call (352) 671-8686 for more information.

Rainbow Lakes Estates Clubhouse, 4020 SW Deepwater Ct., Dunnellon 6:30pm Call (352) 489-4280 for more information.

9

AUGUST 14 - AUGUST 20, 2020 | OCALA GAZETTE

ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR

P

14

6pm Chris McNeil Hiatus Brewing Company

15

7pm Ecliff The Keep Downtown

16

11:30am Halfway Hippie Pi on Broadway

14

6:30pm Donavon Lee Brooklyn’s Backyard

15

7pm CCR Tribute Orange Blossom Opry

15

12pm Stephen Perry Bank Street Patio Bar

14

7pm Becky Sinn The Keep Downtown

15

8pm Grass Campers Pi on Broadway

16

1-4pm Jeff Jarrett Swampy’s Bar & Grille

14

7pm Friday Night Live Orange Blossom Opry

15

8pm Humans in Disguise Bank Street Patio Bar

20

7-10pm Jeff Jarrett Pi on Broadway

15

6pm Fareeza Ocala Downtown Square

15

9pm-12am Jeff Jarrett The Lodge

20

7pm Orange Blossom Opry Showcase Orange Blossom Opry

Back-to-school immunizations available

arents still have an opportunity to get a crucial back-to-school task taken care of before school starts — getting school immunizations. The Florida Department of Health in Marion County is offering two back-to-school immunizations opportunities within the month to help children get immunized before the first day of school.

The department will be providing immunizations by appointment on the following dates: • Wednesday, Aug. 19, from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Florida

Department of Health in Marion County (1801 SE 32nd Ave., Ocala).

• Saturday, Aug. 22, from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Florida Department of Health in Marion County (1801 SE 32nd Ave., Ocala).

To make an appointment to receive immunizations, call 352-644-2695 or 352644-2770 (español) during normal business hours Monday through Friday.

Students entering kindergarten or attending or transferring to a Florida public school need the following vaccines:

• Four or five doses of DTaP (diptheriatetanus-acellular pertussis) • Four or five doses of IPV (inactivated polio vaccine) • Two doses of MMR (measles-mumpsrubella) • Three doses of hepatitis B • Two doses of varicella (unless a history of varicella is documented by a healthcare provider) All students entering seventh grade must have a Tdap booster (tetanusdiptheria-acellular

pertussis).

College immunization requirements can vary; entering students should contact their schools to see what is required.

The Vaccines for Children program provides vaccines at no cost for children up to age 18 if the child is eligible for Medicaid, uninsured, underinsured (e.g. insurance doesn’t cover vaccines) or an American Indian or Alaskan Native.

When coming to get immunizations, individuals need to bring governmentissued photo ID and all immunizations and travel

records. A parent, guardian or individual who has power of attorney for medical consent must accompany anyone under age 18. A stepparent, grandparent, adult sibling of the minor, or an aunt or uncle can bring a minor child in for immunizations if they have written consent from the parent or legal guardian.

For more information, call the Department of Health in Marion County’s Immunizations Clinic at 352-644-2695 or 352-6442770 (español).

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10

AUGUST 14 - AUGUST 20, 2020 | OCALA GAZETTE

Marion ranks low on well-being of its children

By Brad Rogers Executive Editor

A

new national survey shows that Marion County is seeing fewer children living in poverty, more youngsters graduating high school on time and more children with health care coverage.

At the same time, it shows that academic proficiency among fourth- and eighthgraders is down, there are more overweight kids in our community and lowbirthweight babies are on the rise.

These are some of the findings from the latest Florida Kids Count, part of a national assessment of the state of children conducted biennially by the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

The Kids Count, which examines the economic, educational, health and family/community wellbeing of children, ranked Marion County 55th among Florida’s 67 counties. The Kids Count used 2012 as a baseline and compared that with 2018 figures to reach

OVERALL COUNTY RANK

55

its conclusions.

While some areas saw improvement in the condition of our children, overall, the county remains relatively low in comparison to other communities.

“We have not moved the needle,” said Beth McCall, executive director of the Marion County Children’s Alliance and a member of the School Board. “We need to find out why.”

Here is a summary of how Marion County fared: • In the area of economic well-being, Florida Kids Count found that 26 percent of local children live in poverty, down from 33 percent in ’12. It also recognized improvement in parents’ unemployment, a reduced housing cost burden and found the numbers of teens not in school or working fell from 11.4 percent to 9.8 percent.

• When examining education well-being, the study found that 60 percent of Marion County 3- and 4-yearolds were not in any

kind of school. It also found that the number of fourth-graders not proficient in language arts rose from 78 percent to 80 percent, while the number of eighth-graders not proficient in math jumped from 84 percent to 86 percent. The number of high school students not graduating on time, meanwhile, improved from 23 percent to 18 percent.

• Low-birthweight babies became a worse problem, going from 7.9 percent to 9.2 percent. The number of overweight or obese first-, third- and eighthgraders continued to be problem, rising from 38 percent to 41 percent. But the number of teens who said they use alcohol or drugs dropped sharply, from 38 percent to 29 percent.

• In the area of family and community wellbeing, the number of children living in singleparent households

remained constant at 38 percent. The number of children who endured “verified maltreatment” worsened, from 10 percent to 12 percent, while youth contacts with the juvenile justice system declined slightly.

“We have not moved the needle. We need to figure out why.”

-Beth McCall

Other findings of the Florida Kids Count assessment of Marion County include: 56 percent of births in Marion County were to unwed mothers; 67 percent of the county’s children are on Medicaid; immunization levels are at 94 percent; and births to mothers under 20 accounted for 7.7 percent of all births, compared with 4.8 percent statewide.

McCall believes people are not aware of how many children in Marion County are not doing well by one measure or another. She said that a community awareness campaign is needed.

“What are our next steps?” she asked. “I don’t know what the answers are, but we need to analyze the data and map out a plan.”

– 2019 FLORIDA CHILD WELL-BEING INDEX –

Marion County

Keeping a focus on where counties can make life better for our children & families Baseline Year

ECONOMIC WELL-BEING DOMAIN RANK

42

DOMAIN RANK

53

DOMAIN RANK

44

DOMAIN RANK

56

Number

33.0

2017

26.3

17,133

Unemployment rate

2012

10.2

2017

5.0

6,619

High housing cost burden (>30% income spent)

2008-2012

36.6

2013-2017

27.5

37,015

Teens not in school and not working

2008-2012

11.4

2013-2017

9.8

1,367

%

Current Year

%

Number

3 & 4 year old children not enrolled in school

2008-2012

54.2

2013-2017

60.6

4,340

4th grade students not proficient in English Language Arts

2014-2015

78

2017-2018

80

2,720

8th grade students not proficient in math

2014-2015

84

2017-2018

86

1,877

High school students not graduating on time

2012-2013

23.3

2017-2018

18.2

584

%

Current Year

%

Number

Low-birthweight babies

2012

7.9

2017

9.2

321

Uninsured children

2011

11.5

2016

6.4

4,266

Overweight and obese 1st, 3rd & 6th grade students

2012-2013

38.5

2017-2018

41.2

4,377

High school teens who used alcohol/drugs (past 30 days)

2014

37.9

2018

28.9

140

Baseline Year

FAMILY & COMMUNITY

%

2012

Baseline Year

HEALTH WELL-BEING

Current Year

Children in poverty

Baseline Year

EDUCATION WELL-BEING

%

%

Current Year

%

Number

Change

< < < < Change

= = = < Change

= < = < Change

Children in single parent families

2008-2012

38.0

2013-2017

38.3

21,164 Unchanged

Children living in high poverty areas

2008-2012

15.7

2013-2017

18.1

11,683

Children with verified maltreatment (per 1,000)

2012-2013

10.3

2017-2018

11.9

774

Youth contacts with the juvenile justice system (per 1,000)

2012-2013

26.5

2017-2018

25.0

718

= = <

We all do better when Florida’s children succeed. Find out how you can act locally and at the state level to ensure: (1) Children have access to health care; (2) Communities prevent child abuse, juvenile justice involvement, and substance abuse; and (3) Parents have educational and work opportunities that support their families.

www.floridakidscount.org /floridakidscount

@FLKidsCount

11

AUGUST 14 - AUGUST 20, 2020 | OCALA GAZETTE

Has your business been negatively impacted by COVID-19?

Loan, Grant, and Training Funds for Marion County Businesses Marion County wants to ensure that every business continues to grow through the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to an allocation of the County’s CARES Act Fund, assistance programs are now available for businesses of all sizes. Every business should be committed to keeping employees safe.

Bridge to Recovery Program The Small Business Assistance Program seeks to assist businesses with 25 or fewer employees who have been experiencing continuing negative impacts as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The business will need to submit an online application demonstrating the negative impact of COVID-19 and will be able to receive up to $15,000. The business will be expected to maintain the same number of employees. The company will report quarterly on their status for a period of 1-year.

Moving Forward Program The Business Assistance Program seeks to assist businesses with 26-100 employees who have been experiencing continuing negative impacts as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The business will need to submit an online application demonstrating the negative impact of COVID-19 and will be able to receive up to $40,000. The business will be expected to maintain the same number of employees. The company will report quarterly on their status for a period of 1-year.

Testing Capacity Enhancement Reimbursement Grant Private labs, clinics, and physician offices can apply to be reimbursed for the purchase of equipment, testing supplies, additional space, etc. to expand their testing capabilities.

Project Operating Safely (PPE Reimbursement Program) Project Operating Safely will provide up to $3,000 in reimbursements to local businesses with fewer than 100 employees and up to $10,000 for businesses with more than 100 employees for the purchase of necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) and other health and safety-related items and services. Businesses may apply once for a reimbursement and funds will be allocated on a first come, first serve basis.

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AUGUST 14 - AUGUST 20, 2020 | OCALA GAZETTE

At long last

By Katie Pohlman Guest Columnist

T

he Estella Byrd Whitman Wellness and Community Resource Center in West Ocala is back open for

business, and this time it is opening its doors to patients as a medical clinic.

After a five-month coronavirus pandemicinduced closure, the center reopened Aug. 4 and has so far seen five patients, said Carolyn Adams, the organization’s founder. The center can now treat patients for diabetes, hypertension, asthma

and other illnesses in the Tucker Hill neighborhood and beyond, thanks to a long-awaited rezoning that was approved by the Ocala City Council in February.

“We’re really pleased to be a medical home for individuals here,” Adams said.

Adams, who spent more than a decade working to create and open the center, said she is now focused on reaching out to more potential clients, obtaining the credentials needed to accept multiple insurance companies, and securing funding to pay the clinic’s doctor, hire staff and expand services.

The center will continue to provide informational classes, she said. And, during the pandemic, administrators plan to send out monthly flyers to ensure residents know what steps to take to protect themselves against COVID-19.

The center, a nonprofit named after Adams’ grandmother, is based in a modular

building that is located at 819 NW Seventh St., where Adams’ grandmother once lived.

The idea to create a clinic was the brainchild of Adams and her late husband, Arthur Adams, who announced their plans at a 2009 Governor’s West Ocala Neighborhood Revitalization Council meeting.

After several years of setbacks—including tearing down the original structure due to mold—the center opened in March 2018, five years after Arthur Adams died of a heart attack.

Now that the latest struggle, rezoning the property, is over, Adams said the center will slowly move away from a wellness center focus as it expands the medical clinic.

The clinic’s physician, Dr. Pamela Lewin, said she focuses on treating patients with the “greatest of respect,” adding that is something they might not have experienced at other medical facilities before.

The clinic also accepts

patients regardless of their ability to pay, she said.

“They’re not able to access the services adequately” at other clinics, Lewin said. “We want to get rid of that particular problem.”

Patients can visit the clinic to receive routine lab work, exams required for jobs or school, preventative treatment and more.

“We can treat more or less any medical illness that comes along,” Lewin added. “Whatever we would see in any other medical practice, we would see here.”

The center is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tuesdays, Wednesday and Thursdays and accepts walk-ins.

Every patient must wear a mask have their temperature taken to enter the building. The center will continue to host the Langley Health Services Mobile Dental Unit on site every second and fourth Wednesday of the month.

To learn more, visit estellawellness.com.

Dr. Pamela Lewin, M.D., D.P.H., F.A.A.F.P, Fonya Kendrick, a community health worker, and Carolyn Adams, ARNP, and CEO, left to right, pose for a photo in an exam room at the Estella Byrd Whitman Wellness and Community Resources Center on Northwest 7th Street in Ocala, Fla. on Tuesday, August 11, 2020. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2020.

The Estella Byrd Whitman Wellness and Community Resources Center is shown. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2020.

25 Years in Public Education

Dr. Pamela Lewin, M.D., D.P.H., F.A.A.F.P, poses for a photo in an exam room as she talks about holistic medicine. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2020.

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AUGUST 14 - AUGUST 20, 2020 | OCALA GAZETTE

WORD FIND

This is a theme puzzle with the subject stated below. Find the listed words in the grid. (They may run in any direction but always in a straight line. Some letters are used more than once.) Ring each word as you find it and when you have completed the puzzle, there will be 21 letters left over. They spell out the alternative theme of the puzzle.

In the kitchen Solution: 21 Letters

© 2020 Australian Word Games Dist. by Creators Syndicate Inc.

Illustration by David Vallejo

Apron Bench Bottle opener Casserole Chairs Cheese knife Cleaver Coffee machine Crockery Cupboards Egg timer

Fans Forks Fruit Ladle Melon baller Mugs Oven Pantry Range Refrigerator Scissors

Shelves Sink Spatula Spices Spoon Switch Teabags Tests Vase Vegetables

A bit on the nose

Cooking up a masterpiece

O. G. T o o n s

Members of Ocala Electric Utility work on lowering a Honda Civic that ended up standing on itsCreators nose on the support cable of a utility pole after a two vehicle Syndicate Date: accident on Northwest 10th Street near the intersection North Magnolia 737 3rd Street • Hermosa Beach, CA of90254 Avenue in Ocala, Fla. on Tuesday, August 11, 2020. No one was seriously 310-337-7003 • info@creators.com injured in the wreck that left the Honda dangling precariously on the support cable. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2020.

8/14/2

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AUGUST 14 - AUGUST 20, 2020 | OCALA GAZETTE

We encourage our readers to share their opinions through letters to the editor. All letters are subject to editing for clarity, length, taste and libel. Letters should contain the writer’s full name, address and phone number. Letters should be 200 words or less. To give as many readers as possible an opportunity, we publish only one letter every 30 days per writer.

Submit your letter to letters@ocalagazette.com.

History set stage for Black Lives Matter

By Miquell G. Mack Guest Columnist

Y

ou say Blacks lives matter, don’t all lives matter?

A perplexing question that I have heard asked on numerous occasions when people of different ethnicities are discussing the Black Lives Matter Movement. It is usually a person of the Caucasian ethnicity asking the question.

To someone of African American descent the question is perplexing because, to most of us, it is clear all lives matter and have value. The reason the Black Lives Matter Movement has life and relevancy is because of the attitudes and actions of the white race -- there is a question as to whether black lives matter and have as much value as white lives. White Americans have never had to question whether their lives matter or have value, so it may sound odd to them hear a people utter and affirm their lives

matter. Institutions from the courthouse to the graveyard have continually affirmed my white brothers’ and sisters’ value, or the thought that they subjectively are superior.

If one were to reflect on America’s history and its long and ongoing mistreatment of the American Negro, it should not be difficult to understand why black Americans must continually insist their lives matter and they are not inferior.

From the time most of our ancestors arrived as forced participants in the nightmare of slavery -kidnapped, put in chains, stolen from their families and communities, placed on ships where their conquers slept in cabins and bunks while our ancestors wallowed in human excrement chained together in the belly of the beast -there was a question of did our lives matter and were we less valuable than white people..

Once on American soil, families were further traumatized, separated, sold

as property and forced to work for free, in addition to being subjected to the most inhumane forms of slavery.

The yoke of racism was applied to black and brown and further strengthens the mythology of white supremacy. Racism is an ideology that gives expression to myths about other racial and ethnic groups, that devalues and renders inferior those groups, and that reflects and is perpetuated by deeply rooted historical, social, cultural and power inequalities in society. The concept of race was created as a classification of human beings with the purpose of giving power to white people and to legitimize the dominance of white people over non-white people The lives of black and brown people were subjected to unjust laws created by white men that designated them as chattel and perceived and treated them as less than a white man. In fact, the delegates between the Northern and the Southern states at the United States Constitutional

Convention (1787) agreed that three-fifths of the slave population would be counted for determining direct taxation and representation in the House of Representatives. These same institutions created laws and regulations even more diminishing and devaluing, such as the law stating a black man had no rights that a white man was bound to respect and many others that sought to perpetuate the ideology of white supremacy.

Sending non-whites to the back door of establishments, separate black and white water fountains, inadequate and unequal funding for schools were constant and continual reminders that one race was superior to another.

Denial of access to equal funding for housing and community development, and for the longest time the denial of the right to fully participate in this America democracy by being able to cast a ballot were specifically implemented to ingrain the idea into the minds and hearts of both whites and

blacks that they were not equal.

Then to watch black and brown people brutalized and murdered with apparent immunity by the very people whose sworn duty it to protect the community makes you again begin to question: Do I really matter?

When one suffers the impact of so many injustices and marginalization in this society the question rises again and again. Do our lives matter?

The Black Lives Matter movement shouts with a loud and clear voice and states unequivocally, that in fact our lives do matter.

The movement echoes the thoughts expressed long ago, paraphrasing the words of the Apostle Paul: there is no longer white, black and brown, slave and free, male or female. For we are all one in Christ.

astonishing 137-percent increase in children’s positive cases!

I hate to predict the inevitability that the children returning to school will infect each other with minimal symptoms … .and bring the virus home to their parents and elders with tragic impact.

Our federal, state and community-based officials are walking a tightrope with a serious gravitational

pull. My usually sunny optimistic outlook is now darkened in a gathering storm of fear.

The adage “Prevention is the Best Medicine” is taking a back seat to “Damn the Torpedoes, Full Speed Ahead!”

Miquell G. Mack is a native and lifelong Ocalan who is a lawyer and a part-time Methodist minister.

Letter to the Editor Damn the torpedoes ….!

I

’m receiving a steady flow of notices from my diverse advocacy network members reporting the loss of loved ones and colleagues suffering with COVID-19. My condolences to all family members who are suffering through this pandemic.

And my heartfelt admiration goes out to

the medical staff and first responders whose valiant efforts to preserve life deserve our support.

It’s troubling to see people ignore reality and saunter through their days without protecting themselves and others around them. Masks on, please!

The looming prospect

to re-open schools without respecting the life-saving guidelines set as standards by the CDC and Florida pediatricians is frightening.

A report published by the American Academy of Pediatrics in cooperation with the Children’s Hospital Association reveals a 90-percent increase in the number of positive cases of COVID-19 among children nationwide.

Florida is reporting an

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AUGUST 14 - AUGUST 20, 2020 | OCALA GAZETTE

New Vision. New Voice.

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Gullett foresees ‘a different kind of opening’

By Brad Rogers Executive Editor

W

ith Marion County Public Schools scheduled to start the new school year on Aug. 24, new Superintendent of Schools Diane Gullett told local children’s advocate on Wednesday that 2020 will be unlike any school opening we have ever experienced.

“Day to day, it will look very different operationally than it has before,” Gullet told the Marion County Children’s Alliance board.

“We anticipate a different kind of opening.”

The “very different” will include mandatory masks, except when

proper social distancing is possible; free masks and face shields for students and teachers to start; regular cleaning of desks and tables between classes; and fewer children in brick-and-mortar schools than in the past.

The reason there will be fewer students on most, if not all, campuses is because the School Board gave parents and students the option of either attending regular in-person school or getting instruction virtually online. As of now, Gullett said, about 70 percent of students are signed up to attend in-person classes, with the other 30 percent opting for online instruction.

But that is likely to change, the new superintendent said. She said

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as COVID-19 numbers continue to worsen in Marion County she anticipates more parents will opt to put their children in online classes “because it becomes more real.”

For now, teachers and support personnel are back on the county’s 51 school campuses undergoing a series of trainings, not the least being proper classroom cleaning and sanitization techniques and how to most effectively use the various online instructional programs.

She said administration officials are also preparing to deal with what is expected to be a significant number of students in need of mental health care. She explained that schools serve as “eyes and ears” that help protect children who are victims of

abuse or neglect, and with schools having been closed for so long there are likely to be many students in need of help.

Circuit Judge Jim McCune, a member of the Children’s Alliance board, gave credence to Gullet’s concerns, saying, “My dockets are blown up with domestic violence cases.”

On a final note, on the day Sheriff Billy Woods announced that he would order his deputies to not wear masks, except in certain instances, Gullet said school resource officers will indeed be expected to wear masks when on duty in the county’s schools. And any students or teachers who refuse to wear a mask will be disciplined.

16

AUGUST 14 - AUGUST 20, 2020 | OCALA GAZETTE

A year after prison, he has a job, a fiancée — and may lose it all

By Eli Hager The Marshall Project This article was published in partnership with NBC News and The Marshall Project, a nonprofit news organization covering the U.S. criminal justice system. Sign up for The Marshall Project’s newsletter, or follow them on Facebook or Twitter.

B

y the time Richard Midkiff walked out of a Florida prison last year at age 42, he had spent more than half his life behind bars for a crime he committed when he was 19.

Midkiff has now restarted his life: A full-time paralegal in Ocala, and the president of the board of a national organization providing legal help to incarcerated people, he begins his busy workdays at 5 a.m.

And last month, he proposed to his fiancée, Marianna Kuchma, on the beach.

But Midkiff may not have his freedom much longer. Because of a legal dispute over the wording of his 1997 plea agreement for his role in a murder — and despite the fact that he has not committed any new offenses — a Florida court on July 2 ordered him to report back to the Department of Corrections to spend 15 more years in prison. He is challenging the decision, and he filed for a rehearing with the 5th District Court of Appeal July 17. He remains free while the court decides whether to rehear the case.

In its ruling, the appeals court noted that Midkiff was a legal adult at the time of his crime, not a juvenile deserving of more lenient treatment. At the same time, the court acknowledged in a footnote that Midkiff appeared to have completed his prison time in a “remarkably favorable way” and to be a model of rehabilitation.

His former warden agrees. Midkiff is the “very embodiment of how we would all ideally want the justice system to transform people into productive, loving citizens,” said Kim Southerland, who ran Marion Correctional Institution in Lowell when Midkiff was serving much of his sentence there.

A warrant could be issued to take Midkiff back into custody at any time, though he is seeking a stay while he pursues an appeal. With the clock ticking, he is scrambling to get his fiancée’s engagement ring resized and to pay his elderly mother’s bills — he worries that he may never see her again as a free man.

And along with grappling with the possibility of “going right back to a place where I was told what I can eat, when I can shower, how I can interact with my family,” Midkiff said, he knows a new danger awaits him in prison: “I haven’t even gotten around to contemplating how I’m headed into a COVID-19 breeding ground.”

In 1996, when Midkiff was 19, he and a 17-year-old acquaintance robbed a man in the Orlando area who they thought would have drugs.

Midkiff sat in the getaway car while his friend, J. Patrick Swett, went inside the home with a gun.

“This doesn’t take away either of our guilt, which I have been trying to reckon with ever since, but nowhere in the realm of possibility did I think he would shoot this person,” Midkiff said.

Both Midkiff and Swett were charged with firstdegree murder; under the legal doctrine of “felony murder,” anyone involved in a crime that turns into a homicide can be charged with the killing even if they didn’t pull the trigger. Midkiff agreed to plead guilty to seconddegree murder and spend 38 years in prison.

The victim’s family, according to court records, wanted the shooter to get a longer sentence than Midkiff, so the judge gave Swett 38 and a half years.

(Neither the victim’s family nor Swett, who was also released from prison, could be reached for comment.)

In prison, Midkiff by all accounts transformed himself.

He started a program called Story Time Dads, which helped incarcerated fathers record videos of themselves reading books so that their children at home could read along with them. He was also the creator and program coordinator of a prison school called SAGE, which provided dozens of classes on topics including public speaking, interviewing, financial literacy, real estate, creative writing and philosophy.

“I even started going to him for help — I’d ask him, Can you build a new program for me to meet this need, or can you work with these inmates?” said Southerland, the former warden.

Midkiff also became a certified law clerk and one of the most prolific “jailhouse lawyers” in Florida, according to his advocates across the state.

So he took note when the U.S. Supreme Court issued a series of rulings in the 2010s declaring that prisoners who were sentenced to decades behind bars as juveniles — meaning under 18 — deserve to have their sentences reviewed to see if they had grown out of the adolescent mindset that contributed to their crime.

Midkiff ’s codefendant, Swett, who was 17 at the time of the crime, sought such a review and was granted a new sentence: time served.

him by her mother, who was a prison volunteer. (The day she had planned to come see him in prison for the first time happened to be the day after he was released; he had to call her to tell her that he was free and to cancel the visit.)

They’ve been together ever since.

They both knew that the Florida attorney general’s office had filed an appeal opposing Midkiff ’s release, but they were not concerned.

The trial court judge had ruled strongly in Midkiff ’s favor, and he

He was freed in 2018.

With the help of an outside attorney, Midkiff immediately filed a motion saying that the original plea agreement, as requested by the victim’s family and verbally agreed upon by all parties, said that the shooter should get more prison time than the getaway driver.

Therefore, if Swett’s sentence was being shortened, so should his. (The victim’s family did not attend Midkiff ’s hearing to fight his release.)

A judge agreed with Midkiff ’s argument, and he was released in June 2019.

Going free after more than two decades “was kind of like being a newborn except knowing how to walk and how to speak,” Midkiff said. Once, when he was waiting to cross a street, he jumped when he heard a robotic voice coming from the traffic light say, “Don’t walk!” His first night sleeping in a friend’s house, in a room with a soft bed and a door that he could open himself, he nearly had a panic attack.

On Midkiff ’s first Friday out, he went to dinner with Kuchma, who had been writing to him for years after being introduced to

had strong evidence of his rehabilitation — support from prison staff and volunteers, as well as colleagues on the outside.

Since his release, Midkiff has worked on hundreds of legal cases, with a special interest in those involving juveniles.

He’s also still in touch with his former warden, who asks him “about ideas for how to help these guys,” Southerland said.

“Which he doesn’t have to do. He could just move on with his life and forget prison.”

In February, Midkiff flew to New York City to speak to law students at New York University about his jailhouse lawyer work.

“He was so generous with his knowledge,” said Sukti Dhital, executive director of the NYU School of Law’s Robert and Helen Bernstein Institute for Human Rights, who invited Midkiff. “This story is not just about him but about all those he’s served and continues to serve.”

Through NYU, Midkiff became board president of the Legal Empowerment and Advocacy Hub, which works to democratize the law by helping incarcerated

people and pre-trial defendants themselves use it.

Apart from his work, Midkiff has spent the past year enjoying nonprison food and convincing Kuchma’s mother and siblings to let him marry her.

But then, after a year of freedom and just weeks after getting engaged, Midkiff ’s lawyer called him. “I have bad news,” Mark O’Mara said simply.

The appeals court had found that the language saying that Swett should get more prison time than Midkiff was written in Swett’s plea deal, not Midkiff ’s.

Therefore, Midkiff had no legal grounds to benefit from it.

Midkiff had long believed in the legal system — and he had trained himself while incarcerated not to cry. But the tears came quickly.

It all rushed back: “The 23 years of smells, of sounds, of fears, frustrations, regrets and the great losses of being in prison,” he said.

Undergirding the court’s ruling is the idea that Midkiff, who was a year into being a legal adult at the time of the crime, should not be able to benefit from Supreme Court rulings that said juveniles sent to prison for decades should get a second chance.

“Juvenile resentencing is not newly discovered evidence” in an adult’s case, the appeals court ruled.

But many experts on crimes committed by teenagers question the basis of the hard line that the court system draws at age 18. Brain science shows that there is no or very little difference between a 17-yearold and a 19-year-old in terms of impulse control, risk taking, being easily influenced by peer pressure and considering the consequences of one’s actions.

“There is no magic birthday when someone transitions from a child to an adult,” said Lael E.H. Chester, director of the Emerging Adult Justice Project at the Columbia University Justice Lab, which focuses on 18- to 25-year-olds.

Midkiff ’s case captures many aspects of what’s wrong with the American system of punishing young people, youth advocates said. For instance, the notion that everyone involved in a crime, even the driver, should be charged equally: This especially affects

teens, who tend to be influenced to do more impulsive, negative things when they’re in groups, research shows. And then there’s the notion of thinking of sentences as a strict number of years to be enforced no matter what, ignoring any rehabilitation that has occurred.

Midkiff and his legal team are pursuing a few strategies to keep him out of prison in a state where COVID-19 cases are spiking and 175 percent more common behind bars.

But they are running short on time.

The first option would be to get Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, and the state clemency board to commute his sentence. Midkiff had filed a petition for clemency while he was in prison, but once he got out, he assumed it was no longer necessary and let the application lapse; his lawyers are trying to update it and get it back on the governor’s desk.

Kuchma’s family members have all written to DeSantis pleading with him to help “Richie,” as they call their soon-to-be in-law. “Our family has embraced him and have a deep respect for who he is today,” her mother wrote. “The grandchildren look up to him! I have never seen my daughter so happy.”

DeSantis’ office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A spokeswoman for the state attorney general’s office, which argued in a brief that Midkiff ’s original plea deal did not entitle him to a shorter sentence, said in an emailed statement that nothing precludes him from seeking clemency “considering the unique circumstances of his case.” She declined to comment further because the case is ongoing.

The other possible route to continuing Midkiff ’s freedom is through the courts.

A three-judge panel of the appeals court decided that he should return to prison; now he will try convincing either the full court or the Florida Supreme Court, or even a federal court, to take up the case.

If he gets a hearing, Midkiff ’s legal team said that he would make an argument based on the common-law concept of “manifest injustice”: the idea that a ruling that might be internally logical should still be overturned if the resulting unfairness is so clear and directly observable it is shocking to the conscience.

“I am already free,” Midkiff said. “But now it feels like any minute the cops could show up and take me back.”

17

AUGUST 14 - AUGUST 20, 2020 | OCALA GAZETTE

Sample Ballot Be prepared!

Use this sample ballot to prepare for the upcoming election. Voters are encouraged to mark their choices ahead of time and bring it with them to the polls!

11

Official Primary Election Ballot Papeleta Oficial de Elección Primaria Official Primary Election Sample Ballot Official Primary Election Ballot August 18, 2020 / 18 de agosto de 2020 Papeleta Muestra Oficial de /Elección Primaria Democratic Partido Demócrata Papeleta Oficial deParty Elección Primaria Marion Condado de Marion, Florida AugustCounty, 18, 2020Florida / 18 de /agosto de 2020

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Florida / Condado deto Marion, Florida • Use a Black or Blue Pen or Marker.

• If you make a mistake, ask for a new ballot. Do not cross out, or your vote may not count.

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Official Primary Official Primary Election Ballot Official Primary Election Ballot 12 completamente ( • Instrucciones: Para votar, complete el óvalo ) al lado de su Papeleta Oficial deelección.

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Democratic Party / Partido Demócrata Nonpartisan / Republican Republican Party Party // Partido Partido Republicano Republicano Marion County, Florida / Condado deMarion Marion, FloridaFlorida / Co County, Marion Florida Marion County, County, Florida Florida // Condado Condado de de Marion, Marion, Florida Circuit Judge Board of County Commissioners 21

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Official Primary Election Ballot

por Uno) una marcador negro o azul.

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Official Primary Election Ballot Contienda Universal de Primaria

Universal Primary Contest

40

August 18, Juez 2020 /George 18 de agosto de 2020 G. Angeliadis de Circuito

Papeleta Oficial de Elección Primaria Representative in Congress Circuit Board of County Commissioners BoardJudge of County Circuit Judge (Vote Circuit Judgefor One) Property Property Appraiser Appraiser Democratic Party / Partido Demócrata State Representative 13 August 18, 2020 / 18 de agosto de 2020 5to Circuito Judicial, Grupo 22Judicial Junta de Comisionados del District 3 5th Circuit, Group District 1 Distr 5th Judicial Circuit, Group 22 5th Judicial Circuit, Group 22 Pam Vergara (Vote por Uno) Tasador Tasador de de Propiedades Propiedades Marion County, Florida / Condado de Marion, Florida District 20 Nonpartisan / No Partidista Juez de Circuito Prim Universal Primary Contest Universal Juez de JuezRepresentante de Circuito Circuito en el Congreso (Vote (Vote for for One) One) (Vote for One) Condado Universal School Board Distrito22 5to Circuito Judicial, Junta de Comisionados del Contest Junta deGrupo Com 5to Circuito Judicial, 5to Circuito Judicial, Grupo Grupo 223 Marion County, Florida /Primary Condado Florida (Vote (Vote por por Uno) Uno) Mike Behar REP Representante Estatalde Marion, 21 (Vote por Distrito 1 One) (Vote One) • Instructions: Tofor vote, fill in the oval completely ( Condado ) next toUno) your District choice.

(Vote for (Vote for One) 1 (Vote for One)Cond Distrito 20 (Vote por Uno) (Vote por Uno)Distr Jimmy REP • Use a Black or Blue Pen or Marker.

Jimmy Cowan Cowan REP (Vote por Uno) (Vote por Uno) Distrito 1 21 Craig Curry REP Contienda Universal de Contienda Primaria Consejo Escolar • Primaria Instructions: fill in the oval completely ( Universal )your nextvote tode your choice.

40 • If you make a mistake, askToforvote, a new ballot.

Do not cross out, orPrimaria may not count.

George G. Angeliadis Contienda Universal de Contienda Unive 40 40 40 40 Adam Christensen DEM George G. Angeliadis George David REP Kat Cammack REP David Moore Moore REP George G. G. Angeliadis Angeliadis (VoteDistrito for One) • Use a Black or Blue Pen or Marker.(Vote for One) 11 1 vote may (Vote for One) (Vote fo Michael J. Saxe REP (Vote por Uno) • If you make a mistake, ask for a new ballot.

Do not cross out, or your not count.

Official Primary Election Ballot • Instrucciones: el óvalo completamente ) al lado de su elección.

41(Vote por Uno)( 41 41 41 Philip DoddsPara votar, complete DEM Pam Pam Vergara (Vote po Pam Neil REP Ryan D. Chamberlin REP Neil "Nick" "Nick" Nikkinen Nikkinen REP (Vote Pam41Vergara Vergara (Vote for One) Vergara por Uno) 11 • Utilice una pluma o marcador negro o azul.

Papeleta Oficial de Elección Primaria School Board 42 42 School Board • Instrucciones: Para votar, complete el óvalo completamente ( ) al lado de su elección.

School Board Board of County Commissioners 42 of County Commissioners 42 por no Uno) Mike Behar REP Tom Wells DEM Mike Behar Yvonne Hayes Hinson DEM comete un error, pida una nueva papeleta.

No lo taches, o(Vote tu voto puede contar.

Todd Chase REP Board Official Primary Election Ballot August 18, 2020 / 18 de agosto de 2020 12 • Si District 1 School una pluma o marcador negro o azul. Board 42 District District 11 • Utilice REP District District 11 Mike Behar Papeleta Oficial de Elección Primaria 43 43 Craig Curry REP Curry Rodney Long DEM Republican Party / Partido Republicano Bill Engelbrecht REP • Si comete un error, pida Board una nueva papeleta.

No Arnett lo taches, o tu voto puede noCraig contar.

Consejo Escolar Circuit Judge of County Commissioners Consejo Consejo Escolar Escolar Shelia Universal Universal Primary Primary Contest Contest 1 State RepresentativeAugust 18, 2020District / 18 de agosto de 2020 11 Marion County, Florida / Condado de Marion, Florida Distrito 1 5th Judicial Circuit, Group District 1 Distrito 1 44 Distrito 1 Junta de Comisionados del Junta de Comisionados del Michael J. Saxeof County REP MichaelCircuit J. Sax Joe Dallas Millado REP DistrictPrimary 20 Official ElectionUniversal Ballot Craig Curry (Vote REP Board Commissioners Democratic Party / Partido Demócrata (Vote One) Consejo Escolar Juez defor Circuito Primary Contest for (VoteUniversal for One) One) Primary Condado Allison B. Campbell Condado Contest 5th Judicial Cir District 1 Papeleta Oficial de Elección Primaria (Vote por Uno)Grupo Gavin Rollins REP (Vote (Vote por por Uno) Uno) 5to Circuito Judicial, Marion County, Junta Florida / Condado de Florida 21 deDistrito Comisionados del Marion, Distrito • Instructions: To vote, fill in the oval completely ( Distrito ) next1311to your choice.

1 Representante Estatal Juez de Universal Primary Contest 48 Michael J. Saxe REP August 18, 2020 / 18 de agosto de 2020 (Vote for One) Condado Contienda Universal de Primaria Contienda Universal de Primaria Lori J.deConrad Arnett a Black or Blue Pen or Marker.

Shelia Shelia Arnett Arnett Judson Sapp REP Distrito 20 11 • Use 5topor Circuito Junta Comisionados Shelia del (Vote Uno) Jud (Vote forto Distrito 1One) for One) Nonpartisan / No Partidista (Vote forElection One) • If you make a mistake, ask for a new ballot.Primary Do(Vote not cross out, or your vote may not21count.

• Instructions: To vote, fill in the oval completely ( ) next your choice.

Contienda Universal de Primaria Official Ballot Condado 47 Allison B. Campbell(Vote fo Allison Campbell Allison B. Campbell James St. George REP (Vote (Vote por por Uno) Uno) Contienda Universal de Primaria 40 B. Marion County, Florida / Condado de Marion, Florida (Vote for por Uno) George G. Angeliadis • Use a Black or Blue Pen or Marker.

(Vote po (Vote for One) Distrito 1 Papeleta Oficial de Elección) alPrimaria • Instrucciones: óvalo lado de Lori su 11completamente ( • If you make a mistake, not crossOne) out,Universal or your vote may notJ.count.

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J. Conrad David Theus Para votar, complete REP el18, Contienda de Primaria 41 Conrad 40 August 2020 / 18 de agosto de 2020 Pam Vergara 51 (Vote por Uno) George G. Ang • Utilice una pluma o marcador negro o azul.

Official Primary Election Ballot 21 End Arnett (Vote for of One)Ballot 12 •oInstructions: vote, fill• in the oval completely ( )complete next to Shelia your choice.

• Si Amy comete un Wells error, pida una nueva No lo/taches, tuRepublicano voto puedeTo no contar.

Craig Curry REP Republican Party Partido Craig Curry REP Pope REP papeleta.

Instrucciones: votar, el óvalo ( por ) al lado de su elección.

School Board Papeleta Oficial dePara Elección Primaria 41 Hayes Mike completamente Behar REP Yvonne Hinson DEM Pam Vergara (Vote Uno) • Use a Black or Blue Pen• Utilice or Marker.

Fin de la PapeletaDistrict una pluma o marcador negro o azul.

Marion County, Florida / Condado de Marion, Florida 1 August 18, 2020 / 18 de agosto de 2020 51 Michael J. Michael J. Saxe Saxe REP • If youREP make a mistake, ask for a new ballot.

Do not cross out, or your vote may not count.

State Senator Circuit Judge End of Ballot 43End of Ballot End of Ballot School Allison B. Campbell 42 Property Appraiser Craig Curry REP Rodney Long DEM • Si comete un error, pida una nueva papeleta. No lo taches, o tu voto puede no contar.

Mike Behar REP Consejo Escolar Democratic Party / Partido Demócrata District 5 5th Judicial Circuit, Group 22 Fin de la Papeleta Fin de la Papeleta Fin de la Papeleta 52 Distr Tasador de Propiedades Board of County Commissioners Board of County Commissioners Distrito 1 21 43 •your Instrucciones: Para votar, el óvalo completamente (Board )Michael alFlorida lado deSaxe su elección.

J. Craig Curry REP REP Circuit Judge Senador Estatal Juezcomplete de State Circuito • Instructions: To vote, fill in the oval completely ((Vote ) next to choice.

Representative Marion County, Florida / Condado de Marion, of County Commissioners Consejo 48 for One) Lori J. Conrad District District 33 • Utilice una pluma o marcador (Vote for One) 53 negro o azul. 22 • Use a Black Distrito or Blue Pen 5 or Marker.

5to Circuito Judicial, Grupo District 23 5thREP Judicial Group District 1 J. Saxe (Vote por Uno) del Distr (VoteCircuit, por Uno) Junta de Comisionados Junta de Comisionados del vote • Si comete unmay error, pida una nueva papeleta. No lo taches, o tu voto puede noMichael contar.

• If you make a mistake, ask for a new ballot.

Do not cross out, or your not count.

(Vote for One) (Vote for One) Representante Estatal Juez de Circuito Universal Primary Contest 21 (Vote fo 54 Condado Condado • Instructions: To vote, fill in the oval completely ( ) next to your choice.

Jimmy Cowan REP (Vote por Uno) (Vote por Uno) Arnett Distrito Circuito Judicial,(Vote Grupo po Junta de Comisionados Circuitdel Judge 5toShelia Board of23County Commissioners • Use a Black Pen or Distrito 33 (or Blue Distrito • Instrucciones: Para votar, complete el óvalo completamente ) al lado deMarker. su elección.

(Vote for One) (Vote for One) Condado 40 5th Judicial Circuit, Group 22 District 1 Jennifer Bradley REP David Moore REP George G. Angeliadis • If you make a mistake, ask for a new ballot.

Do not cross out, or your vote may not count.

Allison B. Campbell (Vote for One) (Vote for One) 11 • Utilice Shelia Arnett una pluma o marcador negro o azul.

51 (Vote Universal por Uno) Primary Contest (Vote por Uno) Distrito Juez 1 Official Primary Election Ballot de Circuito (Vote por Uno) (Vote porElection Uno) Official Primary Ballot unHolifield error, pida una nueva papeleta.

No lo Nikkinen taches, o tu voto puede noPam contar.

41 • Si comete Jason G. REP "Nick" REP Vergara completamente Lori J. Conrad Allison B. Cam Contienda Universal de Primaria • Instrucciones: Para votar, complete ( ) al lado de su elección.

40 el óvalo Papeleta Oficial de ElecciónPapeleta PrimariaNeil 5to Circuito Judicial, Grupo 22 Junta de Comisionados del Cynthia Dela Rosa DEM George G. Angeliadis Oficial de Elección Primaria (Vote for One) Bobby Dobkowski Bobby D. Dobkowski REP • Utilice una pluma oREP marcador negro o azul. Judge State Representative School Board Board of D. County Commissioners 42 (Vote for One) 49 Circuit Condado August 18, 2020 / 18 de agosto de 2020 Property Appraiser 41 State District Representative August 18, 2020 18 de1un agosto deuna 2020 Richard Allen Rowe DEM Pam VergaraLori J. Conrad (Vote por Uno) • Si/de comete error, pida nueva papeleta.

No lo taches, voto puede no contar.

22 District 1 Group (Vote por Uno) 5th Judicial Circuit, 22 o tu Distrito 1 Tasador Propiedades Republican Party / Partido Republicano Jeff Gold REP Jeff Gold District REP District 20 Republican Party / Partido Republicano 11 Representante Estatal Consejo Escolar Universal Primary Contest Juez de Circuito School Board End of Ballot 42 Contienda Universal de Primaria (Vote for One) Mike Behar REP 40 George Marion County, Florida /Primary Condado de Marion, Florida Circuit JudgeG. Angeliadis Universal Board of County Commissioners Official Primary Election Marion County, Florida / Condado de Marion, Florida State Committeeman Distrito 22Contest Distrito 1 Grupo State Committeeman Junta de Comisionados del 5toBallot Circuito Judicial, 22 (Vote for One) District 1 Fin de la Papeleta (Vote por Uno) 51 12 5th Judicial Circuit, Group 22 Representante Estatal End of Craig Curry Pam Vergara REP 41 Papeleta Oficial de Elección Primaria Miembro del Comité Estatal (Vote for One) (Vote for for One) One)District 1 (Vote por Uno) Miembro del Comité Estatal Condado (Vote Consejo Escolar Juez de Circuito Distrito 20 Universal Primary Contest Fin de la P 53 (Vote Jimmy(Vote Cowan REPagosto de por Uno) (Vote por Uno) por Uno) for One) 21 completely (Vote (Vote for One) Distrito 1 Distrito 1 vote, fill in the oval ( ) next to your choice.

August 18, 2020 / 18 de 2020 Board Saxe School • Contienda Instructions:Universal To vote, de fill in the oval completely ( ) next 42to your choice.

Mike Behar del REP J. Judicial, 5toMichael Circuito GrupoREP 22 Primaria Junta de Comisionados (Vote por Uno) (Vote por Uno) ue Pen or Marker.

Contienda Universal de Primaria (Vote for One) 40 • Use Democratic Demócrata a Black or Blue Pen or Marker.

Joe Harding REP Shelia Arnett David Moore Party / Partido REP George G. Angeliadis (Vote for One) District 1 for One) Condado 43 stake, ask for a new• ballot.

Do (Vote nota cross out,ask or your notDo count.

(Vote por Uno) (Vote for One) Craig Curry REP(Vote por Uno) If you make mistake, forMarion avote new may ballot. not Florida cross out, /orCondado your vote may not count. Florida Consejo Escolar County, de Marion, (Vote por Uno) Randy Osborne REP Distrito 1 Randy Osborne REP 41 Russ Randall REP Allison B. Campbell (Vote por Uno) Neil "Nick" Nikkinen REP Pam Vergara Shelia Arnett Contienda Universal deJ.Primaria Michael Saxe REP G. Angeliadis Distrito 1 ara votar, complete•elInstrucciones: óvalo completamente ( complete ) al lado de su elección.

40 George Para votar, el óvalo ( ) al lado de su elección.

William Richhart REP William Richhart REP 48 Board ofcompletamente County Commissioners (Vote for One) Mike Behar REP Lori J. School Conrad Board Yvonne Hayes Hinson DEMfill in 21 (Vote for One) o marcador negro o azul.

47 • Instructions: To vote, the oval completely ( ) next to your choice.

Allison B. Campbell • Utilice una pluma o marcador negro o azul. 41 (Vote por Uno) District 1(Vote por Uno) District 1 IV Pam Vergara or, pida una nueva papeleta.

No lo error, taches, o or tu voto puede contar.

John H. Townsend REP John H. Townsend IV REP 43 • Si comete •un Use a Black Blue Pen papeleta. orno Marker. pida una nueva No lo taches, o tu voto puede no contar.

Craig Curry REP Rodney Long DEM Consejo Escolar Universal Primary Contest Lori J. Conrad Shelia Arnett • If you make a mistake, ask for a new ballot. Do not cross out, or your vote mayMike not count.

School Board 42 Behar REP Distrito 1 Circuit Judge Junta de Comisionados del 51 Property Appraiser Michael J. Saxe REP State Representative Circuit End of Judge Ballot District 1 Property Appraiser Allison B. Campbell (Vote for One) 5th Judicial Circuit, Group 22 ( 5th Tasador de Propiedades Craig Curry REP • Instrucciones: Para votar, complete elCondado óvalo completamente ) al Judicial lado de elección.

District 22 Circuit, Group 22 Fin(Vote desu lapor Papeleta Consejo Escolar Tasador de Board ofJuez County Commissioners Uno) dePropiedades Circuito Distrito 1 (Vote foruna One) • Utilice pluma o marcador negro o azul.

Representante Estatal Juez de Circuito Lori J. Distrito 1 Conrad End of Ballot (Vote for One) Michael Saxe REP District 3de 5tonueva Circuito Judicial, Grupo 22 o tu 5to Contienda Universal Primaria (Vote por Uno) • Si comete papeleta.

No lo taches, voto puede no contar. J.Grupo Shelia Arnett Distrito 22un error, pida una Circuito Judicial, 22 (Vote for One) (Vote por Uno) Fin de la Papeleta Junta de Comisionados del (Vote for One) (Vote for One) (Vote for One) (Vote por Uno) Condado Jimmy (Vote Cowan REP Circuit Judge Allison(Vote B. Campbell Board County Commissioners porofUno) Jimmy(Vote Cowan REP por Uno) por Uno) End of Ballot Distrito513 District 1 5th Judicial Circuit, Group 22 Shelia Arnett George G. Angeliadis David Moore REP Mike Behar REP Lori J. Conrad 40 54 Joe Harding REP David Moore REP George G. Angeliadis Fin de la Papeleta (Vote for One) Primary Juez de Circuito Universal Contest Allison B. Campbell (Vote por Uno) 49 5to Circuito Judicial, Grupo 22 Junta de Comisionados del Pam Vergara Neil Nikkinen REP Craig"Nick" Curry REP 41 Russ"Nick" Randall REP Neil Nikkinen REP Pam Vergara 48 (Vote for One) Lori J. Conrad School BoardCondado Board of County Commissioners Board Bobby D. REP Michael J.Dobkowski Saxe REP School Board of County Commissioners End of Ballot (Vote por Uno) Distrito 1 District 1 District 1 District 1 District 1 Universal Fin de la Papeleta Contienda de Primaria JeffofGold REP 40 Board County Commissioners 43 Consejo Escolar George G. Angeliadis Universal Primary Contest Consejo Escolar Universal Primary Contest 51 (Vote for One) District 3 Distrito 1 End of Ballot Junta de Comisionados del TO53VOTE, COMPLETELY FILL IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL ATTORNEY GENERAL State Committeeman Distrito 1 41 Junta de Comisionados del Pam Vergara (Vote por de Comisionados delUno) (Vote ForEstatal One) (Vote for One) Fin de la Papeleta OVAL NEXTCondado TO YOUR CHOICE. Junta Miembro del Comité (Vote for One) Condado School Board Condado (Vote por Uno) 42 Distrito 1 Rand Wallis of the Judge Kerry I. Evander of the Fifth ContestsShall Mike Behar REP (Vote Shall will Judge appearF.on ballots within theFifth por Uno) (Vote for One) Distrito 1 61 REP 61 Pam Bondi District 1 Distrito 3 Use a Contienda Black or Blue Pen de or Primaria Marker.

Universal District Court of Appeal be retained in district. District Court of Appeal be retained in (Vote por Uno) Shelia Arnett Contienda Universal de Primaria Curry REP Arnettoffice?

Shelia (VoteCraig for One) Consejo Escolar (Vote for One) office?

Typ:03 Seq:0002 Spl:01 Democratic (Vote for One) Typ:02 Seq:0007 Spl:01 Typ:01 Seq:0020 Spl:01 Typ:01 Seq:0001 Spl:01 DEM Republican If you make a mistake, don’t hesitate George Sheldon (Vote por Uno) Allison B. Campbell Randy(Vote Osborne REP (Vote por Uno) 47 Contiendas aparecerán en las papeletas Michael J. Saxe REP Allison B. Campbell Distrito 1 por Uno) to ask for a new ballot. If you erase (Vote YESfor One) dentro del distrito.

LPF J. Conrad Lori J.Behar Conrad William REP Bobby D.Richhart Dobkowski REP Bill Wohlsifer YES (Vote por Uno) Mike REP Lori or make Mike otherBehar marks, your voteREP may NO Craig Curry REP not count.

John H. Townsend IV REP Jeff Gold REP Shelia Arnett Craig Curry REP

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Official Sample Ballot - Marion County, Florida - General Election - November 4, 2014

Michael J. Saxe whose name REP State Committeeman To vote for a candidate End of Ballot Michael J. Saxe REP CHIEF Estatal Fin dedel laComité Papeleta is not printed on the ballot, fill in the Miembro Board of 48 County Commissioners 52 FINANCIAL Board of County (Vote forCommissioners One) OFFICER 61 write oval, and in the District 3 candidate’s (Vote District 3 For One) (Vote por Uno) name onJunta the blank line provided de Comisionados del for Junta de Comisionados del Jeff Atwater Condado Typ:02 Seq:0021 Spl:01 Randy Osborne REP 51 a write-in candidate.

Condado Distrito 3 (Vote for One) (Vote por Uno) REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS

DISTRICT 3

Bobby D. Dobkowski (Vote For One) Jeff Gold

Ted Yoho

REP REP REP

Distrito 3 William Richhart REP (Vote for One) William "Will" Rankin John H. Townsend IV REP (Vote por Uno)

Bobby D. Dobkowski

* *

N00

D0007

NO

B. Campbell End Allison of Ballot

Universal Primary Contest – Contest will appear for all parties within the district.

Fin de la Papeleta Lori J.DISTRICT Conrad COURT OF APPEAL REP DEM

61

D0050

State Committeeman State Committeeman Each Registered Voter has The Right To: REP Adam Putnam Miembro del Comité Estatal DEM Miembro del Comité Estatal Marihelen Wheeler • Cast (Vote a vote if he or she is in line when the polls are closing. for One) (Vote for One) Thaddeus Thad Hamilton DEM • Ask for andpor receive (Vote Uno) assistance in voting. (Vote por Uno) Howard Term Limits Lawson NPA ballots if he • Receive up to two replacement or she makes a mistake prior Typ:01Osborne Seq:0021 Spl:01 REP Randy Write-in Randy Osborne REP to the ballot being cast.

William Richhart REP 61 William Richhart REP GOVERNOR AND John H. Townsend IV REP If you have recently moved,John please ensure you H. Townsend IV thatREP

R0050

Democratic

Typ:03 Seq:0001 Spl:01 YES

REP

(Vote For One) REP

CIRCUIT JUDGE

Contienda5TH Universal de Primaria – Contienda JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, GROUP 3 aparecerá para todos(Vote los partidos For One)dentro del distrito.

Shall Judge Charles Alan Lawson of the Fifth District Court of Appeal be retained End of Ballot in office?

61 de Fin la Papeleta Typ:02 Seq:0051 Spl:01

D2630 Denise A. Dymond Lyn Democratic Nonpar N0001 Mary Hatcher

NO

COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE

Jeff Gold

(Florida Statute 101.043)

R0040 R0001

Photo and signature ID is required by Florida law even if the poll workers know you.

SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER

Cada votante registrado tiene el derecho de: DISTRICT 3

DISTRICT COURT APPEAL • Emitir su voto si él oOF ella está en línea cuando el centro de votación (Vote For One)cierre.

• Pedir y recibir ayuda en la votación.

Shall Judge Richard B. Orfinger of the James •Fifth Recibir papeletas de reemplazo si él o ellaBobby comete un error antes Districthasta Courtdos of Appeal be retained de que la papeleta sea emitida.

Republican in office?

Jane Moerlie 61

Democratic D0040por favor recientemente, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER NO de cambiar su dirección con el Centro LT. GOVERNOR asegúrese COUNTY COMMISSION DISTRICT 4 Typ:02 Seq:0021 (Voteyour For One)address change withSpl:01 the ElectionDISTRICT Center 4 (Vote For One) Typ:03 Seq:0001 Spl:01 Electoral ANTES de Votar.

Nonpartisan N0001 (Vote For One) BEFORE REP Rick Scott Voting.

DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL Chase Basinger Carlos Lopez-Cantera INFORMACIÓN DEL DÍA DE LAS ELECCIONES REP Carl Zalak III Shall Judge William David Palmer of the Boynton • Los centros de votación estarán abiertos de 7:00AM Angie - 7:00PM. ELECTION DAYSpl:01 INFORMATION R2630 Typ:01 Seq:0051 Republican Fifth District Court of Appeal be retained 61

Typ:02 Seq:0020 YES Si usted se haSpl:01 mudado

D0050

Election Center 981 NE 16th St PO Box 289 Ocala, FL 34478-0289 www.VoteMarion.com (352) 620-3290 (866) 479-3290 (toll free)

Democratic

61 • Polls are open from 7:00AM Write-in DEM- 7:00PM. Charlie Crist • Photo and Signature ID is required to vote

by Florida 101.043.

Annette Taddeo Typ:02Statute Seq:0021 Spl:01

• Identificación con foto y firma es requerida para votar de acuerdo al Estatuto in office? de Florida 101.043.

VOTING AT THE POLLS LPF ON ELECTION DAY: Adrian Wyllie

VOTAR EN EL CENTRO DE VOTACIÓN NO EL DÍA DE LAS ELECCIONES

Lateresa A. Jones

District Court of Appeal be retained in office?

For more information, please visit www.VoteMarion.Gov NPA Glenn Burkett R0040 Typ:01 Seq:0042 Spl:01 Jose Augusto Matos

Republican R2551 YES NO

61 Write-in

Please reverse side • El Centro Electoral no es un lugar de votación el Día desee las Elecciones.

DISTRICT COURT APPEAL • Tiene que votar en elOF centro de votación en el for distrito donde vive. additional ballot • El centro de votación abre a las 7:00AM y cierra a las 7:00PM. Judge Thomas D. Sawaya of the content • Shall Usted tiene que traer una identificación con foto y firma al centro de votación.

Fifth District Court of Appeal be retained in office?

Republican Para más información, visite www.VoteMarion.Gov YES NO

Marion County, Florida

The Election Greg Roe Center is not a polling location on Election Day. DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL You must vote at the precinct in which you live.

Polls open at 7:00AM and close at 7:00PM. Shall Wendy W. Berger of the Fifth Farid You Khavari must bring photo andNPA signature ID to Judge the polls.

Democratic

OFFICIAL SAMPLE BALLOT

• • • •

D0050 YES

lection November 6, 2012

0020 Spl:01

*

Representative in Congress 41 District 3 Representante en el Congreso 42 Distrito 3 (Vote for One) (Vote por Uno)

Democratic D0050 This Sample Ballot was prepared in accordance with Section 101.20(2), Florida Statutes, and furnished by Wesley Wilcox, Supervisor of Elections .

Typ:02 Seq:0021 Spl:01

This translation has been prepared in compliance with Rivera Madera v. Detzner, No. 1:18-CV-152-MW/GRJ, 2018 WL 4289625 (N.D. Fla. Sept. 10, 2018).

18

AUGUST 14 - AUGUST 20, 2020 | OCALA GAZETTE

Special 1-mill school tax revenues keep growing

By Brad Rogers Executive Editor

S

ince Marion county voters first approved the special 1-mill school tax in 2014, it has generated more money every year since its inception – including $20.3 million this past fiscal year -- and now funds more than 450 school system jobs.

The 1-mill tax was approved by voter referendum in 2014 and again in 2018 and was originally promoted as a means to restoring art, music, physical education and librarian jobs that had been cut during the recession in our local schools. The impact was immediate as the tax generated $15.9

million in its first year, $16.7 million the second year, followed by years of $17.7 million, $19 million and, finally the $20.3 million collected last year.

The growth of the tax revenues between the first and fifth years was 28 percent, said Theresa Boston-Ellis, the chief financial officer for the Marion County Public Schools.

Each time voters have approved the tax, it has been limited to four years.

During a recent budget presentation

by Boston-Ellis to the School Board, she laid out what the tax is doing for the school district. Here are highlights from last year: • About half the tax’s revenues

Senior Learners ‘Understanding Dementia Care’

S

enior Learners, Inc. is temporarily transforming from classroom to offering interactive summer courses online, through Zoom, for seniors age 50 or more.

Senior Learners will host “Understanding Dementia Care,” on Wednesday, Aug. 18, at 2 p.m., online. Instructor Gary Joseph LeBlanc, dementia care specialist and author, will present the A-Zs on dementiarelated diseases, positive ways to improve communication, and how to manage dementia behaviors and provide the best standards of care. The cost of the course is $5 and is open to the public 50 years of age or more.

Visit www.SeniorLearners. org or call 352-239-8780 to learn more and register.

Senior Learners, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing educational opportunities to seniors, who are at least 50 years old, by teaching noncredit, college-level classes, covering a broad range of academic.

go to class size reduction, funding 92 teaching positions and 212 teacher assistant jobs.

• Another $2.7 million is earmarked for P.E. teachers and P.E. techs, or assistants.

• Vocational programs, including 16 teachers, 3 bus drivers and money for vocational equipment and supplies, accounted for $1.9 million.

• Media services received $1.5 million, which mostly funded 15.5 librarian and 17 media/library aide positions.

• Twenty art teaching positions were paid for with

$1.3 million of the tax’s proceeds.

• Music programs received $1.3 million as well, funding 19 music teacher positions as well as music and other materials needed for instruction.

• A new category on which voters agreed to spend part of the tax is the state’s Safe Schools Program, which is aimed at hiring police and hardening schools against attacks.

Last year was the first year the referendum money was available to Safe Schools, and $1.2 million was allocated toward that effort locally.

• Finally, $432,100 was spent on new

Fort King visitor center set to reopen

A

fter closing facilities in March due to COVID-19, the City of Ocala Recreation and Parks Department will reopen the Visitors Center at Fort King National Historic Landmark, 3925 E Fort King St., to the public, on a limited basis, on Fridays and Saturdays.

Hours of operation will be

noon to 5 p.m.

In accordance with current recommended health guidelines, due to COVID-19, only five visitors at a time will be allowed inside the visitor’s center, and all guests must wear a mask to cover nose and mouth and adhere to a physical distance of six feet apart.

[Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2020

teacher training.

Boston-Ellis’ presentation stirred a reaction from School Board members, who acknowledged how much the school district depends on the referendum money and noted that the tax expires in June 30, 2023. School Board member Beth McCall encouraged the board to begin thinking about a campaign to ask voters to renew the tax one more time.

Board member Kelly King has been on the board for both past referendums and said the school system would likely have to lay off teachers if it did not have the 1-mill special tax. As a former teacher, she called the days of not having music, art and P.E. a nightmare for teachers

and schools.

“If we don’t have (the tax) we would have to absorb those positions,” King said.

“We would probably have to lay off people.

But I don’t know what it will look like in two years.”

Part of the referendum requires the School Board to appoint a committee of citizens to oversee the spending of the 1-mill tax dollars. The Independent Citizens Referendum Oversight Committee, or ICROC, issued its annual report on the tax on July 27. As part of the management of the tax, Boston-Ellis said the district likes to keep $3 million to $4 million in reserves. There currently is $4.39 million in the reserve fund.

Heart of Florida front line worker dies

A

n essential member of the HFHC inmate health care team passed away due to COVID -19 complications on Saturday, August 8.

Charles “Dan” Manrique, RN, 71, had been a valued member of the medical team since 2007. Manrique, an experienced and reliable nurse, was a charge nurse for the night shift staff at the Marion County Jail. Heart of Florida Health Center is the provider of inmate health services for the Marion County Sheriff ’s Office.

Through these challenging times, Manrique never wavered in his service to his patients and staff.

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of a dedicated and talented nurse of the Heart of Florida Health Center’s family,” said Maria Torres, chief health care administrator. “Our entire community is grateful to all the health care professionals and essential workers who continue to work the front lines during this pandemic.”

“Dan will be remembered as a HFHC HERO. He paid the ultimate sacrifice of taking care of others above all else,” said HFHC CEO Jamie Ulmer.

“Please pray for Dan’s family and loved ones through this difficult time.”

Suspected Ocala church arsonist pleads not guilty in one of several attacks on US Catholics this summer

By Bill Thompson Deputy Editor

O

ne month after he allegedly drove a van into the entrance of Queen of Peace Catholic Church, the suspect, one of numerous thugs who attacked Catholic churches across the nation throughout this summer, has pleaded not guilty.

Appearing in court by Zoom on Tuesday, Steven Anthony Shields, 24, pleaded not guilty through Assistant Public Defender Chad Hutcheson to charges of burglary, arson and fleeing from law enforcement.

Assistant State Attorney Victoria Cortez said prosecutors still intended to file attempted seconddegree murder charges

against Shields.

According to an article by Florida Catholic, a handful of people were in the church awaiting the start of Mass on July 11.

Around 7:30 a.m., Shields crashed a white van into the church entrance, poured gasoline around inside the building and then set it ablaze, sheriff ’s investigators said.

The Gazette could not reach the Rev. Patrick O’Doherty, pastor of Queen of Peace for 33 years, for comment.

But according to Florida Catholic, O’Doherty recalled that when Shields left the church, “a fireball came out behind him.”

He added, “I was 10 feet away from him.

Luckily, Mass hadn’t began yet and the pews weren’t packed.

There was about five

individuals in there, saying their rosaries before Mass.”

Shields, a Dunnellon resident, fled the scene but was captured and arrested within 20 minutes.

O’Doherty told Florida Catholic that he was saddened by the attack, but not surprised.

“I knew this could happen in this political and religious climate,” he said.

The fire at Queen of Peace was one of a lengthy string of violent acts targeting Catholic churches around the country this summer.

Some examples: A statue of Jesus Christ at a church in Miami was decapitated. Vandals torched a statue of the Virgin Mary in Massachusetts, and beheaded another

in Tennessee. The renowned St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City was marred by graffiti. At Providence College in Rhode Island, a Catholic school, a man was arrested for vandalism and assault after police said he spray-painted swastikas and antiCatholic language on gravestones at a campus cemetery, and fought a safety officer who attempted to stop him.

The Washington Examiner recently reported that Republican Rep. Chuck Fleischmann of Tennessee, who is Catholic, has written U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr about urging the Justice Department to crack down on “religious discrimination.”

“Since June there have been nearly a dozen reported

attacks on Catholic Churches around the nation,” Fleischmann wrote to Barr. “I find these attacks to be a disturbing trend, happening in multiple areas across the nation, including within my own congressional district.”

“These people who would desecrate any house of worship — whether it is a Catholic church or any other house of worship — need to know that it won’t be tolerated,” the lawmaker told the Examiner. “And I think it rises to the level of a hate crime.”

According to sheriff ’s reports, Shields told investigators he was on a “mission,” one he realized that morning. He also told investigators he had unspecified “problems” with the Catholic faith, and admitted setting

the fire.

In a 3½-minute YouTube video posted on Queen of Peace’s website, O’Doherty said, “Evil never attacks evil. So the church is something very good. And so I take the attack on the church as a sign that we’re doing the right thing here.”

O’Doherty said besides repairing the entrance and cleaning up the fire damage, the church would have to replace some artwork.

He added, “As lovely as this church is, it’s a building. It can be replaced.”

Shields is due back in court on Dec. 3. He is tentatively scheduled to go on trial on Dec. 21, court records show.

At least one of the charges against him carries a prison sentence of life, if he is convicted.

19

AUGUST 14 - AUGUST 20, 2020 | OCALA GAZETTE

Local librarians got creative as COVID-19 wrecked plans for summer programs Headquarters-Ocala Public Library children’s services librarian Jessica Parsons reading a story book to families/children during a virtual summer program.

By Bill Thompson Deputy Editor

C

OVID-19necessary restrictions on social distancing and mass gatherings have affected more than just churches, bars, restaurants, movie theaters and other crowd-friendly venues.

The precautions also have been tough on one place that typically flourishes during summer: Marion County’s public library system.

As the coronavirus wormed its way deeper into our social lives, library staffers were forced to become creative to fill the void that opened when scheduled programs were canceled.

One example was “Marion County Reads: A Million Minutes of Reading.”

Librarians improvised with a program to challenge patrons of all ages to collectively read for 1 million minutes between June 15 and July 31, and provided

logs for them to keep track.

On Aug. 7, the results were tallied: participants read a total of 1,179,566 minutes. Modestly valued gift cards were given to high achievers.

In other words, these book enthusiasts combined to fit the equivalent of 819 days of reading into six weeks.

“Since we knew were not going to be able to do the traditional programs, our staff decided to initiate the Million Minutes of Reading challenge,” explained Karen Jensen, the library system’s community liaison.

“Everyone was kind of holding their breath. But we were thrilled that we surpassed 1 million minutes of reading and excited that, in the midst of a very challenging summer, they chalked up those reading minutes.”

Yet that was not all that was needed to meet the coronavirus challenge.

Each June and July the library creates a theme to promote summertime reading.

For 2020, the theme was “Imagine Your Story.” But as COVID-19 restrictions limited in-person participation, Jensen said, it was the library staff who had to imagine different ways to reach the public – utilizing social media to do so.

“In the midst of addressing the realities of COVID-19, and in the interest of still making some quality programming available, we decided to go the virtual route,” Jensen said. “It was a rapid response to a need that we knew existed.”

Library data help explain.

During June and July of 2019, adult patrons borrowed 96,151 books, but for the same period this year that fell to 84,827, a decrease of 12 percent.

Last summer young adults checked out 6,050 books, compared to 4,480 this summer,

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down 26 percent.

But children’s borrowing habits exhibited the most dramatic drop.

In summer 2019, children took home 46,743 books. This year, that plunged to 27,868, or 40 percent below last year.

To compensate for the decline in library visits, librarians each Monday began posting Facebook videos of varying length primarily, but not always, targeted at children or their parents.

Their efforts included storytelling and book discussions, how-to tips for things like crafts and gardening, science experiments featuring typical household products, writing tips and more.

For adults, book clubs met via Zoom.

“It really grew as our staff became much more engaged and excited about this effort,” Jenson noted. “I’m never surprised at how creative our library staff are in bringing

really educational and entertaining programming to the public. But this definitely hiked that bar up to a new level that I think was pretty incredible.”

“The response that we got from those who visited our virtual efforts was a very positive,” she added.

“The fact that we were able to respond in the way that we did, and still provide curbside service, we heard from so many people how it was just a lifeline to them.”

Outreach efforts will continue in the fall, and because COVID-19 isn’t going anywhere soon, they will be limited by recommended safety parameters.

Jensen said the staff wants the public to know for the fall that the library remains open. But county libraries will also offer some “very carefully managed” inperson programming, as well as virtual initiatives.

For example, library staff will offer

“Fresh Air Story Time” at Ocala/ Marion County Veterans Memorial Park, where librarians will gather with participants under a park pavilion to share a book. That begins in September.

Jensen said the library is requesting those interested in this or other in-person programs – such as a discussion of the history of railroads in Marion County or “Talk Like a Pirate Day” for youngsters – call the library to pre-register. That’s so staffers know how to keep people separated.

“We are open to the public, and then we are just going to be as innovative as we can with programming while adhering to safe, social-distancing practices,” Jensen said.

“One of the great things about public libraries that probably most people realize is that over the years we have evolved to where technology is something we have embraced quickly.”

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