Hi Ocala! We have the latest buzz right here. Let's keep you in the loop and get this morning started right! ☀️
In today's newsletter:
Also on today's calendar: Free Bra Fittings to Support Breast Cancer Awareness and 9 more events.
Today's riddle: What do you call a paper airplane that can't fly? 🤔 (Answer below!)
From our Partner
Today's Ocala Patch AM is brought to you in part by T-Mobile - America's Best Mobile Network, according to Ookla Speedtest. Based on analysis by Ookla® of Speedtest Intelligence® data 1H 2026. We thank T-Mobile for their support in helping to keep communities like ours connected and for making today's Ocala Patch AM possible.
Find a T-Mobile store near Ocala.
1. Ocala man ID'd as winner of $105,000 lottery ticket sold at local Publix (ocala-news.com) — A local Ocala resident has claimed a $105,641 Fantasy 5 jackpot from a ticket bought at the Publix in Heath Brook Commons on SW College Road, adding to a streak of big wins along the State Road 200 corridor. Several nearby Publix stores and gas stations have recently produced six-figure Fantasy 5 and multimillion-dollar Powerball prizes, with Marion County players topping $15 million in lottery payouts this year.
2. Marion County's EMS safety net praised by grand jury has funding gap (ocalagazette.com) — Ocala Fire Rescue and Marion County Fire Rescue's community paramedicine teams are providing thousands of free lift assists and in-home checks for mostly elderly residents, but the funding that keeps this safety net running is increasingly fragile. With a proposed homestead exemption change threatening non-school tax revenues and no clear way to bill for non-transport care, local leaders warn Ocala's senior-focused EMS support could face serious cutbacks.
3. Five Paddock Market businesses ordered to close over unlicensed activity (wcjb.com) — Several food businesses inside Ocala's Paddock Market, including Mojito Ice Bar and Colombian Bakery, have been ordered to close immediately over unlicensed activity tied to missing water and sewer hookups. One owner says he spent months trying to secure permits and now faces relocation, while the city of Ocala and market owners have yet to publicly respond to the shutdowns.
4. 119-year-old Marion County school building faces uncertain future (arcpublishing.com) — A 119-year-old former school building in the heart of Ocala's historic district may be sold by the Marion County School District, and neighbors fear it could be demolished. Preservation advocates and former Mayor Kent Guinn are urging officials to slow down, address mold and safety issues, and fully explore options before deciding the building's fate at an upcoming public meeting.
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
Ok Ocala! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: "What do you call a paper airplane that can't fly?" — Stationary (Thank you David H. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what's happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.
Sign up for free local newsletters and alerts for the
Ocala Patch
Patch.com is the nationwide leader in hyperlocal news.
Visit Patch.com to find your town today.