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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.

An OCPS bus struck a van Friday morning in Apopka.
The Apopka Chief
August 15, 2025
Wreck occurred amid bus diversion to middle school.
Scott Garland
The Apopka Chief
August 14, 2025
Olympia assistant coach to take reins.
Jim Keck
The 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
The 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…
Kids play at the splash pad at Kit Land Nelson Park to beat the heat Tuesday afternoon.
The Apopka Chief
July 29, 2025
Apopka is under an Extreme Heat Warning along with the rest of Orange County from noon to 7 p.m. Tuesday. Forecasters anticipate dangerous heat, with temperatures…
Apopka Chief homepage
The Apopka Chief
July 26, 2025
Big thanks to all of the residents who quickly signed up for our new membership program. We launched on July 17, and within five days, more…
Jim Keck
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'
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…
An office building with the number 400 going horizontally down a column. A newspaper vending box stands in front of this column. The words "The Apopka Chief and The Planter" and "Apopka Office Supply" appear on the front window of the office.
The Apopka Chief
July 17, 2025
The Apopka Chief’s new free distribution model is designed to promote readership and value for advertisers.We’ve been pleased to hear from members of the community who…
A group of women gather together and smiling. In the background is a castle.
The 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'
FWC reports that fish kill on Lake Apopka is due to algae bloomThe Apopka Chief
February 7, 2025
Hello Folks, I hope you are havin’ a great week, and you are enjoyin’ a few warm days this week. The weather has been just awesome and…
WHS girls basketball beat Evans, advance in tournamentThe Apopka Chief
February 7, 2025
The Wekiva girls’ basketball team advanced past the first round of the 2025 FHSAA Girls Basketball 6A District 5 Tournament with a dominant victory over Evans.
Apopka's Steven Novak celebrates after scoring the game-winning goal.
Boys water polo season starts with a win over Bishop MooreThe Apopka Chief
February 7, 2025
This week marked the beginning of the Apopka water polo season, and the Blue Darters started off right with a win for the boys team.
Apopka boys basketball falls to Bartow, dominates East RidgeThe Apopka Chief
February 7, 2025
This week, the Apopka boys’ basketball team began their postseason journey with their first game of the 2025 FHSAA Boys Basketball 7A District 3 Tournament.
Wekiva basketball falls to East River, end season with 12-14 recordThe Apopka Chief
February 7, 2025
Unfortunately, the Wekiva Mustangs boys’ basketball team has concluded its season after losing in the first round of the 2025 FHSAA Boys Basketball 6A District 5…
All Transmission World is a Total Car Care Shop serving cars, trucks, and company fleetsThe Apopka Chief
February 7, 2025
Chances are you’ve invested thousands of dollars in your vehicle, so properly maintaining it is important. All Transmission World would like to make sure you’re on…
February obituaries 2025The Apopka Chief
February 6, 2025
February 7, 2025 Glenna E. Boetcher, age 95, of Zanesville, Ohio and previously of Zellwood, FL, passed away at Genesis Morrison House on February 2nd ,…
For over 20 years, Maltby’s Tree Service and Landscaping has specialized in all phases of tree serviceThe Apopka Chief
January 31, 2025
Winter season is here and we’re experiencing colder weather. Leaves are still falling, grass has temporarily stopped growing, and some animals have gone into hibernation. So,…
Hunt Club Medical Care is dedicated to one very important thing, keeping you healthyThe Apopka Chief
January 31, 2025
Primary care plays an integral part in your overall health. Wellness visits, disease prevention, illness diagnosis and chronic disease management all begin with a dedicated primary…
40+ Double Dutch Club wins awardThe Apopka Chief
January 31, 2025
The Orlando 40+ Double Dutch Club are honored to win the best performance award at the January 20 Martin Luther King Jr. Parade in Apopka, organized…