Crime · The Villages, FL
Benden Lebeau Guerrier, 19, of Ocala, pleaded no contest in Sumter County Court to child abuse without great bodily harm after having sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old girl in the parking lot of Mallory Hill Country Club in The Villages. He was sentenced to four years of probation and 120 hours of community service. The incident occurred in the early morning hours after the juvenile victim snuck out from a friend's sleepover in The Villages and connected with Guerrier via Snapchat. Deputies used Snapchat subpoena records and an undercover account to identify and ultimately arrest Guerrier on a warrant.
Local Politics · The Villages, FL
The Community Development District 1 Board of Supervisors is accepting applications to fill Seat 2, the unexpired term of supervisor Ellen Cora, 83, who died Sept. 21 after a battle with cancer. Cora moved to The Villages in 2001, was sworn in as a CDD 1 supervisor in 2010, and chaired the board for several years; her term runs through November 2030. Applicants must be qualified electors under Florida Statute 190 and submit applications to District Clerk Jennifer Farlow by 5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 29, at 3571 Kiessel Road in Brownwood or via email. The board will interview applicants at 8 a.m. Friday, Jan. 8, 2027, at Savannah Center. A celebration of life for Cora is scheduled Dec. 11 at the Chula Vista Recreation Center.
Community News · The Villages, FL
Rumors of significant cutbacks by The Villages Entertainment Department have prompted frustration among residents, including the cancellation of a local veterans tribute that attendees learned about only through a private sponsor. A Project Wide Advisory Committee member criticized the Developer for failing to communicate changes, citing also rumored reorganization of Christmas tree lighting events at town squares. The editorial calls on The Villages Entertainment Department to provide transparency about future programming decisions affecting residents who purchased into an active-lifestyle community.
About Your Local News in The Villages
Every night we go through the news sites and public notices that cover The Villages, FL. When several outlets report the same council vote, you read about it once.
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