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The Villages
Friday, May 3, 2024

Ocala man arrested in death of 17-year-old in April

Ethan Ruiz and Charisma Francisco
Ethan Ruiz and Charisma Francisco

A 19-year-old Ocala man was arrested Saturday in the death in April of a 17-year-old.

Ethan Ruiz had been at the wheel of a 1997 Honda two-door on April 14 on Marion Oaks Boulevard in Marion County, according to an accident report at Florida Highway Patrol. The car left the roadway and struck a concrete utility pole.

Charisma Francisco, a junior at West Port High School, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident by Marion County Fire Rescue. Ruiz was airlifted from the scene of the accident to Ocala Regional Medical Center.

He is now facing a charge of vehicular homicide. He was booked at the Marion County Jail.

Ruiz was said to be involved in street racing when the accident occurred.

Villagers don’t have gates but the Morse family does

A Village of Country Club Hills resident, in a Letter to the Editor, points out The Villages is not a true gated community, but the Morse family is living behind gates at their compound.

Villager says his Black Lab has been attacked by unleashed dogs

In a Letter to the Editor, a Village of Dabney resident reports that his Black Lab has been attacked by small unleashed dogs.

The gates are more beneficial than you might think

A Village of Palo Alto resident suggests the gates are of more value than just slowing down traffic. He explains in a Letter to the Editor.

Shockingly light sentence in hit-and-run death

A Village of Antrim Dells resident was shocked to read about the sentence a woman received after a hit-and-run crash on Rolling Acres Road claimed the life of a pedestrian and seriously injured a second man.

They are ruining the reasons people have chosen The Villages

A Village of St. James resident who moved to Florida’s Friendliest Hometown a decade ago, fears The Villages is ruining the reason people chose to buy homes here.