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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.

Jake Vest
The Apopka Chief
April 15, 2026
I am not sure what can be done to a shirttail to improve its ability to not be stuffed into britches, but there’s a market for it. Should you happen…
Jim Keck
The Apopka Chief
April 14, 2026
I hope everyone is enjoyin’ this great weather we’ve been havin’… nice and cool in the mornin’ and then gettin’ up in the 80s durin’ the day! Those cool breezes in the heat of…
Apopka players posed for a group picture with the remaining Little Leaguers after the game.
The Apopka Chief
April 10, 2026
The Apopka Blue Darters baseball team secured a 6-2 win over Olympia on Little League Night Thursday at J. Barnes Field. Dozens of Little Leaguers turned…
Mayor Bryan Nelson
The Apopka Chief
April 10, 2026
Our strategic plan will align our vision, mission and core values with goals that can be measured. With general revenues and expenses just crossing the $100 million mark, we…
Jim Keck
The Apopka Chief
April 9, 2026
We’re finally gettin’ some rain this week, and I just want to thank all of you for your prayers. The rain will not only help our lakes, but…
Jake Vest
The Apopka Chief
April 9, 2026
When Apollo 8 circled the Moon in 1968, it was a big deal, as it is this time with Artemis. Sending humans that far out into space is an incredible achievement, the sort…
Melissa Byrd
The Apopka Chief
April 7, 2026
As I have shared before, keeping up with maintenance on more than 220 buildings is a big job. I think OCPS does a pretty good job of doing it. Thanks…
Representative Doug Bankson
The Apopka Chief
April 3, 2026
Over the last few decades, the biking industry has seen a rise in the use of electric bicycles (also referred to as e-bikes). In the Central Florida…
Jim Keck
The Apopka Chief
April 3, 2026
Folks, we really need rain, so keep those prayers goin' for two to three more inches of rain. The fishin' is still doin' real good in most of the lakes and rivers in our area, and the shellcrackers should start bitin' real soon.
Mayor Bryan Nelson
The Apopka Chief
April 3, 2026
As we close out March of 2026, I would like to take this column to thank all the men and women who helped to achieve our…
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…