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Sixteen Wildwood students awarded 2025 Jump Start Scholarships

5 days ago | villages-news.com | Jordyn Pennington

The Sumter Schools Enhancement Foundation, in proud partnership with the Wildwood Wildcats Booster Club, announced the 2025 recipients of the Jump Start Scholarship. Sixteen exceptional graduates each earned a 30-credit tuition and fee scholarship, opening doors to Florida colleges, universities and technical schools.
Woman in Cadillac arrested on drug charges after traffic stop near Lake Deaton Boat Ramp

1 week ago | villages-news.com | Jordyn Pennington

A woman was arrested on drug charges after her Cadillac was pulled over on State Road 44 not far from the Lake Deaton Boat Ramp. A deputy noticed the driver of a black Cadillac Escalade, later identified as 33-year-old Kara Mariah Weller, headed eastbound on State Road 44 with nonfunctioning passenger-side headlight around 10 p.m. Thursday, according to an arrest report from the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office. Another deputy saw it, too, and initiated a traffic stop.
Wildwood man allegedly punches two people then flees into Lake County

1 week ago | villages-news.com | Jordyn Pennington

A Wildwood man was arrested for battery after allegedly punching a woman and the man who got in between them. A deputy responded to a physical disturbance involving 21-year-old Ienosente Mauricio Crawford at an undisclosed residence in Wildwood around 2:45 p.m. Sunday, according to an arrest report from the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office. The deputy spoke with two victims, a man and a woman, about the incident. The man stated Crawford punched the woman, so he got in between them.
Convicted felon in stolen vehicle busted with glass pipes and bullets

1 week ago | villages-news.com | Jordyn Pennington

An Ocklawaha man was arrested when he was found in a stolen vehicle with glass pipes and live ammunition as a convicted felon. A deputy spotted 45-year-old Reginald Kenneth Jeffery in the driver’s seat of a stolen silver Ford F150 around 1:25 p.m. Tuesday, according to an arrest report from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. The vehicle was parked in Belleview, with the keys in the ignition. Jeffery was detained, and a glass pipe was found on the front passenger seat.
Odd behavior leads to drunk driving arrest at local 7-Eleven

1 week ago | villages-news.com | Jordyn Pennington

Odd behavior led to the arrest of a drunk driving suspect at a local 7-Eleven. Officers were parked at 7-Eleven, located at 2058 U.S. Hwy. 27/441, when they noticed a black passenger car pulling into the parking lot around 2:50 a.m. Sunday, according to an arrest report from the Fruitland Park Police Department. The vehicle remained parked for several minutes, prompting one of them to approach and make sure the driver, 48-year-old Brandon Michael Delle-Donne of Hollywood, was not lost.
Sumter County upgrades to 18-hole disc golf course at Lake Okahumpka Park

1 week ago | villages-news.com | Jordyn Pennington

The Sumter County Board of County Commissioners announced the official opening of Lake Okahumpka Park’s upgraded disc golf course this week. County leaders gathered Tuesday for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the entrance of the course to celebrate the completed project and formally invite the public to utilize the brand-new park feature. The disc golf course closed in May to undergo extensive construction to expand its features, scaling in size from a 9-hole course to an 18-hole course.
K-9 sniffs out meth in homeless man’s backpack behind RaceTrac

1 week ago | villages-news.com | Jordyn Pennington

A homeless man in Leesburg was arrested behind RaceTrac when a K-9 sniffed out methamphetamine in his backpack. An officer responded to a hold up panic alarm at RaceTrac, located at 324 N U.S. Hwy. 27/441, around 11:05 p.m. Monday, according to an arrest report from the Lady Lake Police Department. While enroute, dispatch advised that the staff said everything was OK, but wanted 52-year-old Eugene Thomas Henry to be trespassed.
Wildwood man arrested on DUI charge after leaving family reunion

1 week ago | villages-news.com | Jordyn Pennington

A Wildwood man was arrested on a drunk driving charge after he was seen driving erratically after leaving a family reunion. A deputy observed a white 2013 Chevy Silverado pickup truck right in front of them while headed eastbound on County Road 462 in Wildwood at 10:45 p.m. Saturday, according to an arrest report from the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office. He immediately noticed that the driver, 62-year-old Tony Alonzo Williams, was swerving in and out of his designated lane.
Uninsured motorist lands in jail after two traffic stops in single day

1 week ago | villages-news.com | Jordyn Pennington

A Mulberry man was arrested when he stopped for an unregistered and uninsured vehicle twice in one hour. An officer spotted the driver of a silver Jeep UT, later identified as 57-year-old Harold Smith, towing a red utility trailer near Huey Street around 9:35 a.m. Monday, according to an arrest report from the Wildwood Police Department. The trailer had no tag affixed to it. The officer turned on overhead emergency lights and stopped the Jeep.
Unlicensed driver from Mexico arrested at gas station on State Road 44 in Wildwood

1 week ago | villages-news.com | Jordyn Pennington

An unlicensed driver from Mexico was arrested for driving without a license after being spotted at a Pilot gas station in Wildwood with a suspended tag on his vehicle. A deputy observed a silver Nissan passenger car parked at a Pilot gas station, located at 493 E SR 44, Wildwood, at 10:25 p.m. Saturday, according to an arrest report from the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office. A check of the license plate showed it was suspended out of Tennessee.