Weekly, local community newspaper with a focus on Sumter County, Florida The Times was established in 1881 and has been a county newspaper ever since.
The Times focuses on issues that are important to Sumter residents, whether it's hard news or feature, government or sports. Times readers encompass a wide variety of demographics, from the descendants of the pioneer families, to families who are new to the area. The Times publishes several special interest sections each year. Those sections include, but are not limited to, Discover Sumter County,
a high school graduation section in the spring, a football section in the fall, a Bushnell Fall Festival section in October. Deadline for the printed Times is Friday at 5 p.m. for advertising and Monday at noon for editorial content. Please submit editorial content as early as possible, because we are unable to guarantee that an item will run a particular week in the printed publication. Comments posted on the Sumter Sun Times webpage or page may also be published in the printed edition, the e-edition or on the webpage of the Sumter SunTimes, along with the person's name.
12/09/2025
Living Nativity this weekend in Bushnell.
If you're looking for a nativity experience, you might want to visit the annual drive-thru Living Nativity in Bushnell this weekend.
The event lines the streets around First Baptist Church of Bushnell, taking up an entire block with everything from Bethlehem to the crucifixion and ressurection, portraying the story of Jesus.
According to coordinators, it's new, improved and more meaningful than ever and they can't wait for the community to experience it.
They invite the public to joing them on Saturday, Dec. 13 or Sunday, Dec. 14, for this year’s updated Drive-Thru Living Nativity.
The experience opens promptly at 6 p.m. and will be open until 8 p.m. nightly. The images are from the 2023 experience.
12/04/2025
This Friday and Saturday - Christmas fun all around!
Friday, Dec. 5 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Winterfest and Light Up Wildwood Christmas Parade
Winterfest at Wildwood City Hall will open at 5 p.m.
The parade begins at 6 p.m. at Wildwood Middle High School.
The Winterfest will include photos with Santa, snow slide, vendors, kids’ zone, train ride, a s’mores station, food trucks and more.
The tree lighting ceremony will be at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 6 - 11 a.m.
Lake Panasoffkee Christmas Parade - Traditional Christmas will roll down C.R. 470.
Saturday, Dec. 6, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Christmas on the Florida Frontier at Dade Battlefield Historic State Park in Bushnell.
Celebrate a pioneer Christmas at Dade with old timey music, wreath making, punch tin crafting, caroling, rag, corn husk and clothes pin doll making, soap carving, period demonstrators, home-made wassail, popcorn over a fire, candle-making, old time general store, frontier foods and more.
The cost is $5/vehicle for park entry and event.
Saturday, Dec. 6 at 6 p.m.
Webster Lighted Night Parade. Parade along Market Street and a market night at the Webster Farmer’s Market. This year’s theme is Christmas on the Farm.
Saturday, Dec. 6
Downtown Bushnell - Light Up Bushnell Parade
and Santa in the Park.
It’s the annual Light Up Bushnell event with a "lighted" Christmas parade, slated for 5:30 p.m. with festivities in the park until 8:30 p.m.
The fun will include cookies and hot cocoa, Christmas snippets on the big screen, visits with Santa, a cookie decorating contest, photos, vendors, food trucks and more.
The event will be held at the Marge A. Thies Plaza Park in Bushnell - 117 E. Joe P. Strickland, Jr. Avenue.
11/28/2025
District declares Phase I water shortage ... read the story on the Sumter Sun Times website. Click the link below.
Sumter Sun Times Wildwood hosting Winterfest Updated Nov 26, 2025 The City of Wildwood’s annual Winterfest will be held Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, from 5 to 9 p.m.
11/28/2025
Upcoming Election:
There will be a special election on Dec. 9, 2025 for State Senate District 11. The challenge for the seat is between Democrat Ash Marwah and Republican Ralph E. Massulo, Jr.
Early voting will be from Nov. 29 - Dec. 6. Mail-in voting - residents can contact the Sumter County Supervisor of Elections to register for elections.
Elections notice:
According to the supervisor’s office, there is a select group of registered voters that are scheduled to receive a texting campaign and/or robo call message from the Democratic Party, asking them to renew their Vote by Mail requests for the 2025/2026 election seasons. The supervisor’s office notes that the calls, “… are not from the Sumter County Supervisor of Elections. The group's goal was to educate the voters on the need to re-register their Vote by Mail requests after each General Election cycle.”
11/14/2025
Today, Friday, Nov. 14 is the last day to nominate your favorite for their chance to be named Reader's Choice Best for 2026.
Voting will start mid-December.
To nominate your favorite - from sports to food and drink, performer to customer service group, event to venue, visit the website and make your nominations - absolutely free!
Fall around the county
Images from events around the county - pages 4 and 5 of this week's Sumter Sun Times.
Click the links to view community, business and organization fun.
Victim finally identified in 55-year-old unsolved murder
Sumter County, Fl.
To read the story, see additional photos, click the image.
Murder victim from 1971, Little Miss Lake Panasoffkee, finally identified Oct 29, 2025 Oct 29, 2025 Updated 1 min ago Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Maureen L. (Cook...
10/15/2025
UPDATE:
📢 Safety Update — Threat Determined to Be a Hoax
The Sumter County School District was one of 47 counties across Florida to receive a “swatting” email threat last night. After a thorough investigation by law enforcement, it has been confirmed that this threat was a non-credible hoax.
There is no threat to our schools. While the message caused concern statewide, law enforcement agencies—including the FBI, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Homeland Security, and local Sheriff’s Offices—worked swiftly and collaboratively to ensure the safety of students and staff.
We want to extend our sincere gratitude to our local, state, and federal partners for their immediate response and continued commitment to school safety. We also thank our students, staff, and families for their patience and trust as we worked through this situation together.
Student and staff safety will always remain our top priority.
Original post-
From the Sumter County Sheriff's Office and the Sumter County School Board yesterday:
⚠️ District Safety Update
The Sumter County School District has been made aware of a possible threat to schools circulating through a “swatting” email thread. Districts across the State of Florida have received this same message.
While we do not believe this to be a credible threat, we are taking it seriously and working closely with our local and state law enforcement partners to keep everyone safe. Out of an abundance of caution, there will be an increased law enforcement presence on our campuses tomorrow to ensure the safety and security of our students and staff.
As always, we remain committed to transparency, vigilance, and the safety of our school communities.
10/10/2025
Property appraiser to speak at next meeting
The Sumter County Republican Club will meet at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025. Their guest speaker will be Joey Hooten, Sumter County Property Appraiser. He will discuss how he implements the policies of the state and county commissioners.
He will also discuss the proposal to eliminate property taxes in Florida and its impact on county government.
The public is invited to hear Hooten speak. It’s also an opportunity to learn more about Republican values.
They will meet at the Sumterville Community Building, at 2427 C.R. 522 Sumterville.
10/09/2025
In this week's Sumter Sun Times - In and Around City of Bushnell, Florida
Pages 4 and 5 of this week's Sumter Sun Times ....click the link.
Missing endangered adult
Christopher Daniel Johnson DOB 01/07/1984, has been reported missing on Sept. 27, 2025. He was traveling in a black 2019 Nissan Versa bearing Florida tag 35DAYL.
He is described as a white male, 5’11, weighing approximately 200 pounds, with brown eyes. His last known address is in Palm Bay, however the vehicle was last seen in the area of I-75 and W C 48, Bushnell on Sept. 27, 2025.
Several attempts have been made to contact him by phone, however it is believed his phone is deactivated. He reportedly made statements to friends that believe he is depressed.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office 352-793-2621. Please reference case number 5696. This all the information we have at this time, we will provide more if/when it becomes available.
09/26/2025
Most recent update from the Marion County Sheriff's Office:
Caden has been located safe in Williston. This investigation is still ongoing. More updates will be provided as they become available.
_________________________________
Update on missing endangered male - Caden Rex Speight
Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) detectives, Aviation Unit, Field Force Unit and Mounted Unit are continuing to search for Caden Rex Speight, who remains missing and is believed to be endangered.
Through the initial investigation of the shooting, reported in the 12800 block of SW Highway 484, around 4:10 p.m. yesterday, and Caden’s disappearance, detectives obtained information and collected evidence that are unsupportive of the initially reported facts.
Primarily, at this time, there is no evidence to indicate that he was taken by four Hispanic men in a light-colored van.
It is possible that he left the incident location on a black bicycle with a red and grey tent, which he purchased at Walmart on SW 19th Avenue Road, in Ocala, just prior to this incident being reported.
Since Caden is still a missing endangered juvenile, MSCO is asking anyone who may have seen a male matching his description with a dark-colored mountain bike and a tent to call 911.
"We respond to every 911 call with a determination to ensure justice is served and the truth revealed. But any law-enforcement officer will tell you that when these calls involve juveniles, it takes on an even greater intensity. This case is no different,” said Sheriff Billy Woods.
“My deputies responded immediately, and I have dedicated all of my available resources to respond to this event. Initial information was later determined to be inaccurate; however, we always give everything we have until the investigation takes us into a different direction. I appreciate the many citizens who gave us tips and information to help my detectives. Understand, I will continue to have all of my available resources committed to locating this young man."
In the original report, the teen went missing from Marion County on Thursday at about 4 p.m. He was was last seen in the 12800 block of SW Highway 484, Dunnellon. He was wearing a T-shirt and blue jeans. They also released information on a shooting in the same area, at approximately the same time. They noted that when deputies arrived, they located a vehicle that belonged to the Speight, but he was not at present.
If you were in the area at that time and have any information about this incident, please call MCSO at (352) 732-9111.
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The Times was established in 1881 and has been a county newspaper ever since.
The Times focuses on issues that are important to Sumter residents, whether it's hard news or feature, government or sports.
Times readers encompass a wide variety of demographics, from the descendants of the pioneer families, to families who are new to the area. We also publishe several special interest pages or sections each year. Those sections include, but are not limited to, Discover Sumter County in November, a high school graduation section in the spring, a football section in the fall, a Bushnell Fall Festival section in October, an Easter/spring events section and a Sumter youth livestock section earlier in the year.
Deadline for the printed Times is Friday at 5 p.m. for advertising and Monday at noon for editorial content.
Please submit editorial content as early as possible, because we are unable to guarantee that an item will run a particular week in the printed publication.
Editor Brenda Locklear has been with the Sumter County Times for the 33 years, just moving into the editor position last year. She is a fifth generation Floridian and moved to Sumter County from Tampa in 1980.
Through the years, the Sumter County Times and staff have been honored with several awards, in a variety of categories. The newspaper has been recognized for general excellence and layout, special sections and ad design.
Locklear has been honored with writing and creative awards, from news and features to special sections.
LCNI, parent company of the Times, owns newspapers, radio and television stations and specialty publications, including the Citrus County Chronicle.
