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For July 19, 2024
HEADLINE NEWS:
Feature Headlines
John Ricketson, longtime Apopka Chief/Planter publisher, dies at 84
Over his 45-year ownership of The Apopka Chief, John Ricketson left his mark on this city and thousands of lives.
Snowy egret flies over Lake Apopka
A snowy egret makes its home among the marshes of the Lake Apopka North Shore and Wildlife Drive, located on the North Shore of...
- 2025 millage rate decision tabled at July 10 meeting
- City Council votes to approve grant, award contracts
- City/MetroPlan funding agreement update
- City Council votes on Columbaria contact
- Council awards contract for Northwest Water Treatment Plant 1.0 MG Ground Storage Tank
- Police chief authorized to accept Department of Transportation grant
- Find obituaries and church news starting on page 11A
OUR POSITION:
Chief Publisher ‘JR’ helped shape Apopka for generations
By Patrick McGuffin, Guest editorialist
Long-time publisher and owner of The Apopka Chief and The Planter newspapers, John “JR” Ricketson, passed away at the age of 84 and moved into his eternal reward on July 16, 2024.
THE VOICE OF THE COMMUNITY: OPINION & ARTICLES OF INTEREST
Vision 2050 is in planning stages
Christine Moore, County Commissioner District 2
Balancing the varying needs of healthy communities is required in good governance. The Board of County Commissioners (BCC) will likely submit two constitutional amendments regarding protecting rural lands and controlling excessive annexations to the citizens for their consideration this November. Read Moore on page 2A.
Schools need up-to-date info
Melissa Byrd, Orange County School Board, District 7
As usual, summer is flying by and we are quickly approaching the start of another school year. The 2024-25 school year will begin on Monday, August 12. Read Byrd on page 2A.
Plan was to make women, children dependent on government
Ike Hayden, Editorial
The great Greek philosopher, Democritus (470-370 B.C.) wrote that “cheats and hypocrites are those who do everything with words and nothing with actions.” That statement, although written many centuries ago describe Joe Biden precisely. Read Ike on page 2A.
Letters to the Editor:
Assassination attempt was made
Editor: We humans love to sanitize words, make them more palatable. Acceptable. Less threatening. Assassinate is one of those words that just can’t be sanitized. ~Patti Bankson
Police Beat: STAY INFORMED. Get the details: who, when, and why arrests were made in our community by subscribing to The Apopka Chief today.
Lifestyle
Lazy Day Pot Roast will make your kitchen smell good for...
In his book, Hearty Country Cooking, Mark Sohn, says: “To ‘pot-roast’ is to braise. Using several cups of liquid and a covered pot, I...
FWC says there is three breaches to Emeralda Marsh on Lake...
Hello Folks,
I hope and pray you are havin’ a great week, and you are plannin’ a fishin’ trip real soon. There are a few folks...
Sports
Apopka athletic legends join Scott at fundraiser
Apopka football legend Sammie Smith (l) stands with Roger Williams (c) and Donald Scott (r) during the recording of Williams’ radio show “Talkin’ Old...
Jalen Carter’s youth summer camp gets better every year
Last weekend Apopka High School was home to Jalen Carter’s annual free youth football camp. From the campers to the Apopka players and coaches...
Blue Darter Football is only one month away from Kickoff
We are officially just a month out from the beginning of the Apopka Blue Darter 2024 football season. After falling to the Sanford Seminoles...
Wekiva girls basketball team is still hungry, want more
Perhaps training taking place during the summer months is no more valuable to any team than a state championship contender. In the case of...