2 hours ago by Joe Byrnes (WMFE)
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An 80-acre wildfire that threatened homes in southwest Marion County last week was likely caused by an outdoor burn that got out of control. Photo: MCFR via Facebook
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Marion County is asking residents to cease all outdoor burning because of dry conditions.
The so-called “voluntary burn ban” comes as the Florida Forest Service rates the fire danger as moderate in the county and very high in most of Central Florida.
Campfires are allowed within designated recreational areas only, pursuant to applicable regulations and guidelines, county fire officials said.
Deputy Chief Bart Walker of MCFR said “our lack of significant rainfall has increased the wildfire danger within Marion County, and he asks the community to comply with this voluntary ban.”
Ocala Fire Rescue officials said there s no burning within the city limits unless you have a permit. Authorities said no burn permits are being issued by the Florida Forest Service due to the lack of rainfall.
Highlands fire
Last Friday, a fire torched 80 acres in the Florida Highlands, a residential area that is north of the Citrus County line and south of County Road 484 on the edge of State Road 200.
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Andy Graham is the managing director of APG Partners. With 40 years of diversified financial services experience, including 30 years as a private-equity investor, he has been involved with a wide variety of businesses ranging from well-established to startup. Over the past 15 years his efforts have been focused on healthcare, with a particular emphasis on dental support organizations (DSOs).
Within healthcare, he has served as chairman, board member or adviser to Access Health Dental, Acorn Dental Capital, Aspen Dental, Dental Partners, GI Scientific, Pure Dental Brands, and TenBrook Orthodontics.
Graham earned B.A. and MBA degrees from Dartmouth College.
Question: How did you get involved in healthcare and provider networks?
Drunk driver arrested after crashing into Beaverton church March 16 2021
The crash happened slightly after 4 a.m. on Wednesday, March 10 at the Fifth Street Church of Christ.
When Bart Walker received a phone call one morning, he did not expect to hear that a drunk driver had crashed into the Fifth Street Church of Christ in Beaverton, where he is an elder of the church.
Earlier that day, Beaverton police say 20-year-old Walberto Villatoro-Morales of Beaverton crashed his car into the church. Officers responded to the scene after reports of a loud crash near the intersection of Southwest Fifth Street and Filbert Avenue, slightly after 4 a.m.