COVID-19 pandemic voted Marion County's top story of 2020

Dec. 31—There has never been a No. 1 story of the year that has negatively affected every person in Marion County, from retirees and schoolchildren to businesses, government and social services agencies.

In nine months, more than 17,000 people have been infected with COVID-19 and more than 450 people have died. Some businesses went under, while many residents lost jobs, especially in the hospitality sector.

The disease swept through long-term care and correctional facilities at a rate higher than the state average. Nearly 40% of all of Marion's deaths have been people living in long-term care facilities.

Though most of deaths were over the age of 64, several younger people also passed away.

The Ocala Star-Banner newsroom voted the 2020 pandemic as a unanimous No. 1 story of the year. The pandemic topped several other important, and tragic, stories that in other years would have likely risen to the top spot.

But the coronavirus pandemic has touched us all. It started with schoolchildren having to attend the last nine weeks of the 2019-20 school year taking online classes. College of Central Florida had to do the same.

Some residents, and government officials, such as the Ocala Mayor Kent Guinn and Sheriff Billy Woods, fought mask mandates.

It has been a struggle for so many, and that has put much stress on social service agencies. Funding and donations for many social service agencies, which are desperately needed in a pandemic, dried up.

People overwhelmed food pantries and community leaders had to lead online fundraisers in hopes of keeping agencies stay alive. The pandemic has even delayed trials and other official court proceedings.

There where shortages of toilet paper, sanitizer and Lysol. Some people have said it has seemed like the community was hit by a hurricane, though instead of rebounding in a few weeks it has been ongoing for nine months and counting.

There was a positive light, a ray of hope, that began to shine earlier this month. Vaccines began arriving in Marion County and were first given to frontline workers and the elderly in long-term care facilities.

2. Death of Greg Graham: The Ocala police chief was killed in a plane crash on Oct. 25. The Cessna 172 he was flying left a private airport in Belleview, developed some type of engine trouble and crashed near Dunnellon.

3. Downtown hotel: Hotelier Danny Gaekwad opened The Hilton Garden Inn, at 120 E. Silver Springs Blvd., in late October, ending a nearly three-year project that has contributed to the transformation of downtown Ocala.

4. World Equestrian Center: The WEC held its first week of events, beginning on Dec. 13 with "The Tom Power Christmas Challenge." The venue features 18 outside rings, four indoor rings, four restaurants and a hotel.

5. New distribution centers: Amazon will open on a 46-acre site in the Ocala/Marion County Commerce Park and Dollar Tree is building on 198 acres at the new Florida Crossroads Commerce Park off County Road 484.

6. New superintendent: Superintendent of Schools Diane Gullett took over as Marion County's first appointed superintendent of schools, replacing the last elected school superintendent, Heidi Maier.

7. On Top of the World: Developer Ken Colen announced plans to build a charter school, the Ina A. Colen Academy, and an indoor swimming venue that is being billed as one of the best in the nation.

8: Queen of Peace fire: Steven Anthony Shields was arrested and accused of setting a fire inside Queen of Peace Catholic Church.

9. New city manager: Twenty-year city of Ocala veteran Sandra Wilson was named the new city manager in June, replacing John Zobler, who resigned in December 2019.

10: Death of Kelly Preston: Preston, a Marion County resident and wife of John Travolta, died in July. Travolta used Instagram to announce that his wife of 28 years died after a two-year battle with breast cancer.

11. Seath Jackson case: Charlie Ely won her freedom in mid-2020. Ely, 27, is one of five people convicted in the 2011 murder of Seath Jackson. The alleged ring leader, Michael Bargo, was sentenced a second time to death row in 2019.

12. Ocala awards: The city of Ocala was named the best place for small businesses and the No. 6 city to retire. The Ocala/Marion County Chamber & Economic Partnership (CEP) was named the best chamber in the nation as business growth continues.

13. Trump rally: About 7,500 people attended a rally at the Ocala International Airport on Oct. 16 to see President Donald Trump during his campaign sweep through the country in the weeks before the Nov. 4 election.

14: Veteran could be deported: U.S. Marine Corps veteran Paul Canton lost his appeal to become an American citizen. Despite serving four years in the military in the early 1990s during the Persian Gulf War, he could be deported.

15. Class of 2020: For 13 years, the Star-Banner followed a group of 12 students from kindergarten to 12th grade. The final story had to be done via Zoom due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

—Baseball bat murder: Chad Paul Anciaux was arrested and charged with first-degree murder after authorities say he hit his girlfriend numerous times in the face and head with a baseball bat. The incident was caught on motel security video.

—Child charged in attack: A 9-year-old boy was charged with attempted murder of his 5-year-old sister when he stabbed her multiple times in her upper body. The charges were later dropped.

—Nebraska fugitive: Howard Farley, a fugitive from Nebraska since 1985, was arrested in Marion County. Federal officials alleged he took on the identity of an infant after he was identified 35 years ago as drug smuggler.

—Kelly Preston, 57, actress and Marion County resident

—Greg Graham, 58, Ocala police chief

—Edward "Eddie" Jaworski, 78, an advocate for veterans

—Dr. Ed Anderson, 90, a noted Ocala dentist and Marion County School Board member who helped the effort to desegregate Marion County schools

—"Tony" Wu Li, 46, owner of Tony's Sushi Japanese Steakhouse in Ocala

—Lawrence Arnold Mayhew, 86, the founder of Hungry Bear Drive-In and Mayhew Pest Control

—Cary Grant McCollum, 82, former mayor of McIntosh and longtime north Marion County community figure

—Hank Steinbrenner, 63, New York Yankees owner, thoroughbred breeder, car enthusiast, secret philanthropist and rock 'n' roll guitarist

—Bruce Swedien, 86, legendary sound engineer behind Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'

—The Rev. Fred Maeweathers Sr., 82, served the faith community here for nearly four decades.

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(c)2020 the Ocala Star-Banner (Ocala, Fla.)

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