WILDWOOD

An empty lot on State Road 471 in Sumter County is where thousands of utility company trucks are parked and waiting for Hurricane Idalia to pass.

A Purple Alert was issued Saturday for a man missing out of Wildwood, according to the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office.

A man was arrested early Sunday in Sumter County after leaping from the second floor of a building at a condo complex that he’s accused of crashing into and burglarizing.

A Sumter County public school teacher was arrested this week, accused of abusing a special needs student in their class.

A 15-year-old Sumter County girl was killed last week during a horse-riding competition in Florida.

An "expanding sinkhole" prompts a traffic alert in Sumter County.

After coming up with a space exploration mission, a Sumter County 15-year-old won NASA’s Power to Explore student challenge.

The Chitty Chatty Golf Cart Bridge, acquainted with drivers on State Road 44 as an iconic piece of signage for The Villages, is closed until further notice following a vehicle strike, according to the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office.

A man was hospitalized early Saturday after being robbed and shot on a dead-end road in Sumter County, an incident that resulted in three arrests before day's end, deputies said.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement issued a missing child alert for a 12-year-old Sumter County girl.

A teenager was killed in a single-vehicle crash in Marion County, troopers say.

A motorcyclist was killed in a crash with a pickup truck in Sumter County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Volunteers pack shoeboxes of toys and school supplies to send off for Operation Christmas Child

A Wildwood driver was killed after crashing on State Road 44, troopers say.

A Pennsylvania man died and his passenger was seriously injured Wednesday after their SUV was rear ended by a pickup truck at an intersection near Wildwood.

A Kissimmee man was arrested in connection with a crash on I-75 in Sumter County that killed a man from Tennessee and seriously injured his three passengers, one of whom was a 12-year-old boy, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

A child riding in a van died Saturday evening in a crash on Florida’s Turnpike near Wildwood that left two others with serious injuries, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

A Silver Alert has been issued for Gregory Vincent Devon Heverling, 72, of Altoona, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis wants new legislation to combat Critical Race Theory in schools and workplaces statewide.

A Wildwood man has died from injuries suffered in a crash with a car that happened Monday.

A 21-year-old Ocala woman died when her car collided with the rear of a Sumter County fire truck, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Police say a Florida woman is dead after her her parachute malfunctioned as she was skydiving.

At least one person was killed and many others were shot at a Father’s Day event in Wildwood.

A reward for information is being offered in the case of two Sumter County teens who were found dead off County Road 219 in Wildwood Wednesday.

A truck driver making stops in Wildwood came upon the bodies of 16 and 17-year-old boys Sunday morning.

Deputies with the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office are investigating a double homicide Wednesday after the bodies of two teens were found off County Road 219.

A 77-year-old faces a felony charge after she shouted a racial slur at a Burger King worker and threw her burger at the victim, Wildwood police say.

WILDWOOD, Fla – A Wildwood mom is calling for justice for her son 20-year-old Jermonick Luther Jr., who was found dead in the back of a burned SUV on Saturday. “I pray and I’m a praying woman, God’s got the last say here,” Crystal Cummings said. Cummings says it was her son, Luther or better known as J.J., who was found dead inside the trunk of an SUV on Saturday. According to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, witnesses said they saw a man running away from the scene. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is investigating.

WILDWOOD, Fla. – UPDATE: A missing 14-year-old Sumter County girl has been found safe, according to officials. ORIGINAL STORY: A missing child alert has been issued for a 14-year-old Sumter County girl. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement issued the alert for Miryah Perry, of Wildwood, on Monday. The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office said Miryah is considered a runaway. Anyone with information about her whereabouts is asked to call 911 or the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office at 352-769-2621.

WILDWOOD, Fla. – Voters lined up early Tuesday to cast their ballots as early voting began in Sumter County. The first day of in-person voting in Sumter came after every other county in Central Florida began early voting on Monday. Throughout the day, there were lines at several polling locations across the region, with some areas experiencing wait times of more than an hour. According to the Orange County Supervisor of Elections, 16,179 people cast their ballot in-person Monday. In Sumter County, there are six polling locations for early voting:Laurel Manor Recreation Center 1985 Laurel Manor Drive, The VillagesAllamanda Recreation Center 1515 St. Charles Place, The VillagesRohan Recreation Center 850 Kristine Way, The VillagesTierra Del Sol Recreation Center 808 San Marina Drive, The VillagesVillages Sumter County Service Center 7375 Powell Road, Room #102, WildwoodBushnell Annex 316 E. Anderson Ave, BushnellEarly voting in Sumter County is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Oct. 20 until Oct. 31.

WILDWOOD, Fla. – A Wildwood police officer was arrested Wednesday following allegations that she misused the department’s internal computer system, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. [TRENDING: Newlywed couple killed in plane crash | Ballot for dead wife meant to ‘test system’ | FSU president tests positive for COVID-19]Agents said the Wildwood Police Department requested an investigation into Christine Reynolds' behavior in May and found that she used another officer’s credentials to access the department’s internal systems and emails, which she then downloaded and disseminated without permission. Reynolds, 48, is facing a charge of offenses against users of computers.

SUMTER COUNTY, Fla. – A man who was armed with a shotgun while making suicidal threats was shot by a deputy in Wildwood Tuesday night, according to the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office. The witness fled the scene in order to call 911 and meet with deputies to lead them to the man’s location near State Road 44 and County Road 153, records show. A deputy shot the man as he “made a move” for the shotgun, according to a news release. The deputy who fired his weapon has been placed on paid administrative leave, which is standard procedure. Authorities did not provide details on where the man was shot or his condition.

Paul Quisenberry drops his daughter Audra, 6, off at Premier Martial Arts on her first day of school Monday, Aug. 24, 2020, in Wildwood, Mo. The first grader will attend her classes virtually while spending her days at the martial arts studio because her school is shut down due to COVID-19. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

WILDWOOD, Fla. – An 18-year-old was shot and killed Monday in Wildwood, according to police. Officers responded to reports of a shooting along Warfield Avenue and Missouri Avenue around 4 p.m. and found the man lying in the road suffering from a gunshot wound, according to a news release. Emergency medical personnel pronounced him dead at the scene, according to Wildwood police. Investigators said officers immediately established a crime scene and began conducting interviews with any potential witnesses. It was not immediately clear if police located any potential suspects or persons of interest.

SUMTER COUNTY, Fla. – A 25-year-old Wildwood man is accused of driving away from Sumter County deputies with a child in the car, according to the Sheriff’s Office. The deputy knew Jackson had multiple warrants out for his arrest in Sumter County, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Jackson drove away from the traffic stop leading deputies on a pursuit through the city and into rural areas of Sumter County, according to investigators. Investigators said deputies found a child around the age of 4 in the car. Jackson was transported to the Sumter County Detention Center.

WILDWOOD, Fla. – Sumter County investigators are looking for the people who sparked panic outside the gates of a Father's Day car show in Wildwood. The video also captured a woman pulling what appeared to be a gun out of a pouch from around her waist. Sessler said the Father's Day event started more than 50 years ago, in the field across from his home. He said many of them were from outside the Wildwood area, and he said those are the people who caused the trouble. The event organizer told News 6 the violence happened outside the gates of the event, which she said were sealed when the incident took place.