Life in the foxhole: 97-year-old Villages veteran reflects on D-Day, Battle of the Bulge

Irving Locker’s backyard turtle preserve is what you would call his happy place. Just off his backyard in The Villages, at any moment you can spot a handful of the reptiles moving about the expansive field. It was December of 1944, nearly 77 years ago. Locker had just survived D-Day months before, landing on Utah Beach with his gun battalion. To this day, he can recall the chaos of the wounded on the beach.

AdventHealth opens Clermont ER

If you live in Clermont, you will soon have a new place for emergency care. AdventHealth announced the opening of a new ER there next year. The 19,000 Square foot facility has 24 patient rooms and two child-friendly rooms.

3 major events light up Central Florida

Central Florida plays host to three huge events this weekend. In Orlando, the Electric Daisy Carnival is expected to draw thousands to Tinker Field. Thousands more are enjoying music at the Welcome to Rockville festival at the Daytona International Speedway while Leesburg will welcome bikers to Bikefest 2021.

Veteran raising money for military families

At 312 feet above sea level, Sugarloaf Mountain is one of the highest points on the geographic Florida Peninsula. The hill is in Lake County, near the town of Clermont. A resident who lives near Sugarloaf Mountain has set up a water station for cyclists and collects donations for military families.

Oviedo Mayor Sladek secures another term; Stile ousts Mt. Dora Mayor Hoechst

Crissy Stile has secured a victory in the race for Mount Dora mayor, ousting incumbent Cathy Hoechst, by winning 59% of the vote while incumbent Megan Sladek easily won a second term as Oviedo's mayor fending off two opponents, Abraham Lopez and Kevin Hipes, by winning 68% of the vote.