Opens in a new tab
Our Sales Department is Open New Year's Day 11:00AM - 4:00PM
Service & Parts Will be Closed January 1st
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

Author

  • JC Derrick

    J.C. Derrick is publisher for The Apopka Chief. He spent 18 years covering sports, education, and politics in Texas and Washington, D.C., before joining The Apopka Chief in 2025. J.C. is a member of the Florida Press Association Board of Directors.

Jim Keck
Lake levels remain very low even after rain
May 13, 2026
Even with the rain this week, we STILL need more, folks! Please keep prayin’ for more rain, because our lakes are really gettin’ low! Lake Monroe and Lake Jesup are extremely low, so be careful if you plan on fishin’ out there.
Jake Vest
OP-ED: Life was a long, hard ride for David Allan Coe
May 7, 2026
That’s why we could relate to David Allan Coe — his songs let us channel our inner outlaw. Nashville tried to ignore him, Texas didn’t know…
Jim Keck
Don’t run aground getting to those fish!
May 5, 2026
The fishin’ is still pretty doggone good right now, and folks are catchin’ lots of shellcrackers around the pads in Lake Kissimmee east of Lake Wales.
Melissa Byrd
OP-ED: OCPS making hard health coverage calls
May 5, 2026
Health insurance costs are out of our control nationwide, and the price of insurance is skyrocketing for everyone. For instance, just last year, insurance companies requested a…
Representative Doug Bankson
OP-ED: Special session tackles redistricting
May 1, 2026
At the time of the publication of this article, the Florida Legislature will have completed its first Special Session for 2026. Legislators convened starting Tuesday to discuss Gov. RonDeSantis’ draft (released…
Jim Keck
The shellcrackers are bedding, and they are biting 
April 30, 2026
John at Bitters Bait & Tackle reports that folks are catchin’ plenty of catfish and shellcrackers on the St. Johns River, most of 'em up under the 417 bridge in Lake Jesup. You can also catch some shellcrackers in…
Jake Vest
OP-ED: What if kids got what they deserved on Awards Day?
April 29, 2026
Another school year is about to be put into the books, which means it is just about time for Awards Day.
Melissa Byrd
OP-ED: Schools facing financial crisis
April 28, 2026
Right now, our public schools are in a financial crisis that is starting to significantly affect our staff and our students. The common thought is that our budget is bloated…
Jim Keck
Let’s go fishing and enjoy this Chamber of Commerce weather
April 24, 2026
We need to crank up our prayers for some rain. The lake levels are droppin’, our yards are dryin’ up, and the plants are in dire need of…
Jake Vest
OP-ED: Yard work is like poetry—it has no rhyme or reason
April 24, 2026
“April is the cruelest month.” That is the opening line of T.S. Eliot’s  “The Wasteland,” a classic chunk of so-called poetry that Mrs. Rusk tried heroically to explain to a room full of…
Apopka girls, boys water polo teams fall in Tidal Wave CupThe Apopka Chief
April 7, 2025
By Marshall Tempest  Reporter   In their annual Tidal Wave Cup, the Apopka boys and girls water polo teams suffered tough losses against cross-town rivals the Wekiva…
Wekiva suffers big loss, weather suspension The Apopka Chief
April 4, 2025
By Marshall Tempest   Reporter   The Wekiva High School baseball team has just four more games in the regular season after this week's matchups against Mount Dora…
Hunt Club Medical Care is dedicated to one very important thing: keeping you healthyThe Apopka Chief
April 4, 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…
Jim Keck Goin' Fishin'
Tourney held on The Harris Chain, folks catchin’ their limit of panfishThe Apopka Chief
April 4, 2025
Hello Folks, I hope you had a great weekend and, hopefully, you got to do some fishin’. There was lots of activity on The Harris Chain…
Wekiva softball drop to 4-7 after back-to-back losses The Apopka Chief
April 3, 2025
By Marshall Tempest  Reporter  The Wekiva softball team is trying to turn its season around after going 2-2 over the last four games. This week the…
Apopka’s Johnston grabs gold, silver at World Masters AthleticsThe Apopka Chief
April 3, 2025
By Seth Johnson and Marshall Tempest  Reporters   Jumpin’ Joe Johnston of Apopka brought home the hardware after competing last week in the World Masters Athletics Indoor…
Apopka softball wins first home game The Apopka Chief
March 31, 2025
By Marshall Tempest    Reporter    The Apopka softball team snapped its first losing streak on Friday, March 28, when it defeated the Windermere Wolverines 5-4 with a…
Apopka baseball steamrolls Wekiva, 16-1 The Apopka Chief
March 31, 2025
By Marshall Tempest   Reporter    The Apopka Blue Darters dominated crosstown rival Wekiva, 16-1, on Friday, March 28, to improve to 2-0 in the friendly confines of…
Jim Keck Goin' Fishin'
Rain needed, but fish still biting on area waterwaysThe Apopka Chief
March 28, 2025
Hello Folks, We need some rain, so hopefully, we will get some this week. The water at the ramps is gettin’ kinda low, and some rain…
Schroeder Dental Group provides superior oral care with a courteous and professional attitudeThe Apopka Chief
March 28, 2025
Are you someone who shudders at the thought of visiting the dentist?  If so, the Schroeder Dental Group makes it a priority to ensure every patient…