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It's Debate Day! Stream the 2026 Apopka Mayoral Debate. Visit WESH.com to watch the live stream starting at 5:30PMIt's Debate Day! Stream the 2026 Apopka Mayoral Debate. Visit WESH.com to watch the live stream starting at 5:30PM

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Author

  • Ronnie Lovler

    Ronnie Lovler has 40 years of experience in journalism, including assignments all over Latin America for CNN and CBS. Ronnie teaches journalism at UF and public speaking at Santa Fe College. She was a recent fellow in the Gerontological Society of America’s Journalists in Aging Fellows Program and a previous Knight International Journalism Fellow in Bogota, Colombia. She is an editor and contributor for the book titled, Local Lives in a Global Pandemic: Stories from North Central Florida and a contributing author to the anthology Alone Together: Tales of Sisterhood and Solitude in Latin America. She began her career in journalism at the San Juan Star in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Ronnie resides in Gainesville and loves to travel.

Zeke Williams is a regular customer at Angel's Diner in Palatka.
The Apopka Chief
July 13, 2026
Old school restaurant remains in operation after 94 years
Representative Doug Bankson
The Apopka Chief
July 10, 2026
A while back I wrote about SB 382 (HB 243), legislation sponsored by Sen. Truenow and Rep. Benarroch that proposed new safety protocols for electric bicycles,…
Mayor Nick Nesta
The Apopka Chief
July 9, 2026
One of the most talked-about issues in Florida today is the possibility of eliminating property taxes. If this proposal ultimately reachesthe ballot, the decision will rest with Florida's voters.…
Jim Keck
The Apopka Chief
July 8, 2026
Hello Folks, I hope everyone had a great Independence Day with their family and friends on the day that some of us identify simply as the “4th of July!” We…
Jake Vest
The Apopka Chief
July 7, 2026
Soccer is fun to watch – at recess. You get 40 kids running 37 different directions, screeching, waving arms, kicking when there’s no ball anywhere near them, jumping,…
Mayor Nick Nesta
The Apopka Chief
July 2, 2026
If you’ve been following recent news, you’ve likely heard discussion about Gov. Ron DeSantis’ proposal to significantly reduce and potentially eliminate property taxes on homesteaded properties in Florida. This is one of the most far-reaching…
Jim Keck
The Apopka Chief
July 1, 2026
Happy Birthday, America! This Saturday will be our 250th year of independence from British rule. I hope you and your family enjoy the celebrations safely here…
Jake Vest
The Apopka Chief
June 30, 2026
Haven is a recidivist. She is one of those curses of the judicial system’s revolving door, repeating her offenses as soon as she is released – systematically…
Representative Doug Bankson
The Apopka Chief
June 26, 2026
In the midst of summer, not only have the temperatures increased, but also the happenings of the 2026 campaign season. As I alluded to in my last…
Mayor Nick Nesta
The Apopka Chief
June 25, 2026
Government works best when citizens are informed. Too often, people only hear about city government when there is a problem or controversy. My administration is committed to…
Nick Nesta
OP-ED: New culture greets a growing Apopka The Apopka Chief
June 4, 2026
By Mayor Nick Nesta  Apopka has always been a city built on hard work, community and opportunity. What began as a small agricultural town has grown into one…
The Apopka Woman’s Club’s “Lilo and Stitch” themed booth was awarded Best Decorated Booth at this year’s annual Apopka Halloween in the Park event on Saturday, Oct. 25.
Over 50 groups joined in Halloween in the Park The Apopka Chief
October 30, 2025
The annual tradition of the  Apopka Parks and Recreation Department’s Halloween in the Park event was one of the biggest in city history on Saturday, Oct. 25 at…
Jim Keck
“Fishing slows in approach to Labor Day–so should you”The Apopka Chief
August 29, 2025
By Jim Keck Hello Folks, Well, we made it home from vacation. We visited friends and family in Tennessee and Virginia. It was just as hot…
Jim Keck
August brings more than football – its National Fishing MonthThe Apopka Chief
August 8, 2025
Hello Folks, Welcome to August. This month is National Fishing Month. August is one month from gettin’ us closer to some cooler days. It’s been a…
Jim Keck
Panzironi and Bak win ABA Bass Series TournamentThe Apopka Chief
August 1, 2025
Hello Folks, I hope you’re enjoyin’ your summer and stayin’ cool. It must be because I’m gettin’ older, but this year it’s really been hot, and…
Jim Keck
ICAST held annual convention on Orlando last week The Apopka Chief
July 25, 2025
Hello Folks,  We are in the dog days of summer, but the fishin’ isn’t too bad for most folks.   Folks’re gettin’ on the water real early…
Jim Keck Goin' Fishin'
Fish in Apopka area lakes are biting! The Apopka Chief
July 18, 2025
Hello Folks,  I hope everyone had a great weekend, and, hope- fully, you got a chance to do some fishin’. We have some rain comin’ in…
A group of women gather together and smiling. In the background is a castle.
Aging Matters: Study shows more older, married women traveling aloneThe Apopka Chief
July 11, 2025
By Ronnie Lovler Connie Combs, 78, is a retired schoolteacher and an inveterate traveler. She took frequent trips with her husband, Gerry Combs, primarily within the…
Jim Keck Goin' Fishin'
Rodman Reservoir survives after DeSantis veto The Apopka Chief
July 10, 2025
Hello Folks,   I hope you had a great 4th of July weekend and you got a chance to enjoy our waterways and maybe do a little…
Jim Keck Goin' Fishin'
FWC undertaking restoration effort for native plantsThe Apopka Chief
July 4, 2025
Hello Folks, Happy 4th of July, and Happy Birthday to America! We will be 249 years old this year. I hope everyone has a great weekend…