Ashley Brace

Ashley is a student at the College of Central Florida and Editor-In-Chief of The Patriot Press, with experience in journalism, media and student leadership.

Black and white photo of a roadside attraction called "Ocala Caverns." In front of the building stands a towering statue of a caveman holding a club over his shoulder, wearing a beard and patterned shorts. Three people stand near the statue, looking up at it, while a vintage car is parked partially in frame on the right side. The building has a stucco exterior with arched windows and is surrounded by trees and shrubs.
Local
3 months ago
Defunct Ocala: Ocala Caverns, a forgotten underground wonder

Exploring the lost landmarks and attractions that shaped Marion County’s past.

A historic black-and-white photograph of a large, two-story wooden house with a distinctive mansard roof featuring multiple dormer windows. The building has a wraparound porch on both levels, supported by slender columns with climbing vines. Tall windows line the sides of the structure. The house is elevated slightly above the ground and sits in an open grassy area with a few scattered trees and a smaller building visible in the background.
Local
3 months ago
Defunct Ocala: Kerr City, Marion County’s forgotten ghost town

Exploring the lost landmarks and attractions that shaped Marion County’s past.

A black-and-white photo of a riverside recreation area shows people gathered on benches along a sandy shoreline, with a large umbrella in the center foreground. A wooden dock extends into the water, where several people are swimming and interacting. Multiple covered tour boats are seen on the river, and dense trees line the opposite bank. A thatched-roof hut is partially visible among the trees. The setting suggests a popular leisure spot, likely from the mid-20th century.
Local
3 months ago
Defunct Ocala: The rise and fall of Rainbow Springs Attraction

Exploring the lost landmarks and attractions that shaped Marion County’s past.

Sepia-toned photograph of a small glider in front of the Taylor Field hangar at Ocala-Marion County Airport. The sleek, narrow aircraft is parked on the tarmac, with a man standing at the end of one wing. The hangar doors are open, with several people sitting just inside. Vintage automobiles are parked in the background under a cloudy sky, giving the scene a mid-20th-century atmosphere.
Local
3 months ago
Defunct Ocala: Taylor Field, Ocala’s first gateway to the skies

Exploring the lost landmarks and attractions that shaped Marion County’s past

Seven men in suits stand in front of the Paradise Park sign in Silver Springs, Florida, during the park's segregation-era operation.
Community
3 months ago
Defunct Ocala: Paradise Park and the parallel history of Silver Springs

Exploring the lost landmarks and attractions that shaped Marion County’s past.

Aerial view of Florida’s Silver Springs attraction, showing a large parking lot filled with vintage cars, curved boat docks along a spring-fed lagoon, and buildings surrounded by lush trees. The lagoon is lined with glass-bottom boats, and forested areas extend into the background. A road runs across the bottom of the image, separating the parking area from landscaped grounds and additional structures.
State
3 months ago
Defunct Ocala: Silver Springs, Florida’s lost jungle of wonders

Exploring the lost landmarks and attractions that shaped Marion County’s past.

Exterior view of Gilbert’s Hardware & General Store with STIHL and YETI signage, a parked vehicle, and lawn equipment displayed outside.
Community
3 months ago
Gilbert’s Hardware & General Store: A Marion County mainstay since 1986

From power tools to pulled pork, Gilbert’s Hardware has built nearly 40 years of trust, service, and small-town charm in northwestern Marion County.

A group of people prepare to slide down a pair of water slides labeled "Silver Bullet" at a water park. Two women in swimsuits are seated at the top of the slides, smiling. Behind them, other individuals, including a person in an orange and white wheelchair, wait their turn. The scene is surrounded by trees, and the slide structure is wooden with a sign overhead.
Features
3 months ago
Defunct Ocala: Where Wild Waters once flowed

Exploring the lost landmarks and attractions that shaped Marion County’s past.

A professionally dressed man with white hair and glasses smiling in front of a sign that reads 'College of Central Florida.' He is wearing a dark suit, striped tie, and a lapel pin.
Community
3 months ago
Leading by example: CF President Jim Henningsen’s commitment to community and service

Through visible leadership, service-learning initiatives, and a family-wide commitment to giving back, Henningsen reinforces CF’s mission to serve and uplift the Marion County community.

Side-by-side mugshots of Dianely Torres, a young woman with red hair and facial acne, wearing a striped jail uniform; one image shows her wearing glasses, the other without.
Crime & Safety
4 months ago
Former Marion County substitute teacher faces additional charges in child exploitation case

Investigators say 24-year-old Dianely Torres admitted to a sexual relationship with a student and may have more victims.

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