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.

Firefighters stand near a ladder propped against the side of a Dunkin' Donuts building in Ocala, Florida, with a fire truck parked out front. One firefighter is climbing the ladder while another stands nearby among bushes.
Local
3 months ago
Firefighters quickly contain small fire at Ocala Dunkin’

Ocala Fire Rescue gave the all-clear after discovering the source was likely a light in the store’s exterior signage.

Smokey Bear stands next to reporter Ashley Brace, who is giving a thumbs up and smiling at the camera.
Local
3 months ago
Smokey Bear helps honor wildfire prevention at annual awards ceremony

Forest Service officials, firefighters, and librarians recognized at Marion County Public Library for advancing community education and reducing human-caused wildfires across Florida.

Aerial view of a partially constructed section of the Cross Florida Barge Canal cutting through forested land in central Florida.
Local
3 months ago
Defunct Ocala: Cross Florida Barge Canal left scars, stories, and a lasting legacy of ‘what ifs’

The ambitious project promised prosperity but ended in controversy, paving the way for today’s Cross Florida Greenway.

Firefighters from MCFR work to extract an individual from the overturned red SUV. The vehicle's side is crushed, and broken glass is visible as the responders use specialized tools to access the interior. The scene is lit by portable lights during nighttime rescue operations.
Local
3 months ago
Driver seriously injured after truck overturns in early morning Reddick crash

Marion County Fire Rescue crews used special tools to free the trapped driver after the pickup crashed through a fence and flipped upside down on West Highway 329.

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
4 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
4 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
4 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
4 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
4 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
4 months ago
Defunct Ocala: Silver Springs, Florida’s lost jungle of wonders

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

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